Meet Nicole Bazinet of b.well.baby

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Bazinet. 

Hi Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
b.well.baby was created to fill a gap in services that I saw time and again working an occupational therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit and in early intervention. I saw the need for parent education and timely access to services. The idea for playgroups comes from my background as an early childhood educator. 

I have always loved babies. When I was 4 years old, I told people that I wanted to be a “baby doctor.” I first became an early childhood special educator, and then I was introduced to the world of therapy and the neonatal ICU from 2 parents. Once I learned I could be an occupational therapist in the NICU, I was hooked. I went to grad school at Boston University and have been working with babies and young children ever since. I have spent much of my career (10 years) working with the most fragile population in the NICU. I was always frustrated to learn about the limited services and long waitlists in the community once the infants were discharged from the hospital. In early intervention, I saw parents were isolated and also needed education on how to play and interact with their babies. I wanted to prevent children from needing therapy in the first place by providing this education. Occupational therapy is a practice that is misunderstood and under-utilized, especially in the infant population. My goal is to educate the public about occupational therapy and its benefits while at the same time, provide parents and caregivers with the tools their need to support their child’s development. 

So, what is occupational therapy, and how does it help babies? 

Occupational therapists help people engage and participate in the activities they do every day (occupations). A baby’s occupations include eating, sleeping, socializing, moving their bodies, playing, bathing, and more. Occupational therapy helps babies who are having difficulty in any of these areas so that they can reach their fullest potential. We also help parents in their occupation of caregiving. Occupational therapists are the ultimate problem solvers. We look at how we can adapt the environment, the activity or support the person so that they can participate in what they want or need to do! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle for me has been using the technology and becoming savvy with social media. 

As you know, we’re big fans of b.well.baby. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
b.well.baby connects and empowers parents and caregivers to support their baby’s development through playgroups, workshops, and occupational therapy. I am an occupational therapist and infant development consultant who provides education on infant development in various formats. I want parents to connect with their baby and each other during my playgroups. Parents are often disconnected from their extended family, pediatrician visits are short, and there is so much misinformation on the internet that is not specific to your child. My services help to combat these issues by providing a forum where parents can learn from an expert and have their specific concerns addressed in a personalized and accurate way. 

b.well.baby is unique because I focus on babies. I have a holistic approach to treatment by supporting infants in all the ways they spend their time; eating, sleeping, moving their bodies, playing, bonding with their families, and interacting with their environment. My playgroups are offered at different sites around the triangle, and I provide occupational therapy in the family’s home. 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I learned that my job wasn’t as secure as I thought is was and that I need to be flexible and have a variety of ways to support myself. 

I learned that the internet, while valuable, is not a substitute for in-person interactions. 

Contact Info:

• Website: bwellbaby.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/bwellbaby
• Facebook: facebook.com/bwellbaby