Frodsham Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

Since we launched last year, we have been talking to some of these local businesses and organisations for our 'Up Close in Frodsham' series.

This week, we chatted to Hollie and Francesca, two 'Pandemic Mums' who have recently set up local baby and toddler group, Helsby Stay & Play.

Based at the new Community Sports Club, Helsby Stay & Play gives babies and toddlers a chance to interact and make friends with other children of their age, while their parents have time to meet young families also living in the local community.

Catering primarily for children aged 0-4 years, the group offers one and a half hour sessions full of fun and socialising, plus visits from special guests and monthly fancy dress parties!

Sensory play, nursery rhymes and pretty lights keep the little ones engaged, while the older children enjoy messy play, crafts, story time and more.

Frodsham Nub News chatted with Hollie and Francesca about the inspiration behind their business.

"Being first time mums is hard enough but doing it in a lockdown was so tough," Hollie says. "We were torn between keeping our bubble safe and introducing our new babies to their family - most if it was done through windows and at the door which just felt so sad.

"We actually met in lockdown. After Francesca messaged me on Facebook we realised we lived on the same housing estate and our boys were only two weeks apart.

"We started going for walks and talked about how we wanted to find somewhere to go, to meet other people who felt the same as us.

"We both were pregnant and gave birth during lockdown and missed out on so much like anti-natal and other groups where we would have normally met other people.

"We realised there weren't many of these groups around, and Helsby Stay & Play grew from there!"

With lockdown stretching from one month into the next, Hollie and Francesa became increasingly keen to introduce their little boys to new people and situations, to get them used to different social settings.

"We just felt it was so important for our boys to not be scared of the world around them just because they had spent the first three months of life in the house with only us," says Francesca.

"We wanted to the Stay & Play to be somewhere the children could play but also the parents could meet other people and share experiences and advice... and actually have some adult conversations!"

So, Hollie and Francesca set about completing a paediatric first aid course and researching the best activities and resources for baby and toddler play, ready to welcome local families to their new group.

Helsby Stay & Play opened earlier this month, and is already proving to be very popular with babies and parents alike!

"We have honestly been blown away by all of the amazing children and adults, it's actually been quite emotional and just makes us so happy that all of these people have somewhere to go," Hollie and Francesca say.

"To hear the parents say how much the children look forward to coming makes it all worthwhile.

"Seeing the difference already in the children who were so timid on the first week is the whole reason we started this."

Now that the group sessions are well underway, Hollie and Francesca have also begun hosting visits from health visitors and, lately, Sarah from Toes to Nose, a parent and baby massage business based in Frodsham.

As well as pregnancy massage, Toes to Nose specialises pre-crawling baby massage courses, which enable parents to bond and communicate with their little one while easing any tummy pain or discomfort they may have.

When Sarah visited Helsby Stay & Play, some of the mums were treated to a free hand massage while they chatted about the benefits of this calming baby therapy.

And that is not all from Helsby Stay & Play!

"We also have visits planned from local healthcare professionals, first aid and a lovely mould-making company for some lovely Fathers Day gifts," Hollie and Francesca conclude.

Helsby Stay & Play takes place at Helsby Community Sports Club on a Wednesday and Thursday (11am - 12.30pm and 12.45pm - 2.15pm) and Friday (10.30am – 12pm)

Hollie and Francesca offer a selection of snacks, cold drinks for the children and hot drinks for the adults, who can also access the Club café.

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, you must book your place at a session. This can be done by sending a message to the Helsby Stay & Play Facebook page or visiting the website.