Carly Budd
Why did you want to teach baby massage?
As a paediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) I love health promotion and felt this real calling to expand into the mainstream parent and baby sector and bring with me my knowledge around child development, play and connection. I found Blossom & Berry to train in baby massage as a way to support families from the get-go whilst bringing in my experiences as a health professional. But it became more than this, it became the perfect way to connect the first 1001 days with the outcomes of a lifetime.
What was your experience of training with Blossom & Berry like?
I did 1-1 training with Gayle nearly 9 years ago and I loved it. It was amazing having the online material to back up what I had learnt in person too. I loved the practical elements but also being an absolute science geek, I loved that it was rich in the evidence for using love and touch to build babies brains (one of my favourite subjects).
What has teaching baby massage given you?
Teaching baby massage was the best decision I ever made. Not long after qualifying I had my first baby. Not only could I use what I learnt with my own little one but it also gave me a new way of working that supported my new role as a mummy. I began with small classes in my living room, to fully booked workshops and courses in my own venue as well as in parents’ homes within my local area.
I am so passionate about the benefits of baby massage (and yoga) and loved the ripple effect I was having in my community. I was totally honoured to be asked to become a lecturer for Blossom & Berry as well as their in-house Paediatric Occupational Therapist. I have now supported many new baby massage teachers across the world in the learning journey, which makes me incredibly happy and proud. I am very proud of the CPD course I wrote for Blossom & Berry, combining my OT head with my baby massage and baby yoga expertise for the Baby Massage and Baby Yoga for Babies with additional needs training.
Not only this but it has opened the doors for me to create my own online courses via my Developmental Play Academy.
What do you enjoy as a result of being a teacher?
The impact you get to have in your own home to across the world through teaching and practising the power of love, touch and connection.
I love what I do, it’s a calling, an act of service and I feel very blessed ❤️