Giving babies the best start in life

Sunderland is hosting National Baby Week for the first time this year to raise awareness of the importance of giving babies the best start in life and the wide range of support on offer to parents and carers across the city. To celebrate, there are a wide range of exciting events being held across the city for parents/carers and their babies and young children, as well as educational events for professionals.

The city's five Family Hubs are joining in by hosting open days throughout the week. Families are encouraged to visit https://www.mybestlife.org.uk/Sunderland-Family-Hubs/events to find out what is going on at their local Family Hub.

In addition to the open days, each Family Hub is hosting FREE live streamed baby massage workshops during Baby Week, in conjunction with Sweden's Bee Happy.

The workshops, which can be accessed via YouTube, are an ideal way for parents to learn baby massage techniques. Baby massage can help with a baby's flexibility, body awareness and coordination.

Evidence suggests it can also help with specific conditions like wind, colic and teething discomfort. In addition to live streaming the sessions, each Family Hub will be offering 10 parents the opportunity to attend each workshop.

Parents, carers and professionals can also take advantage of a free online session - Introduction to Baby First Aid for Parents / Professionals from 5:00-6:00 pm on Wednesday 20 November. To sign up for the online ticketed event, visit: https://babyweek.co.uk/event/introduction-to-baby-first-aid-free-online-session/

Councillor Michael Butler, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet member for Children's Services, Child Poverty and Skills, said: "I'm delighted that Sunderland Family Hubs are taking part in National Baby Week.

"The week shines an invaluable spotlight on giving all babies the best start in life while ensuring parents are supported through what is a magical, yet sometimes challenging, time.

"Babies don't come with a manual, but their early weeks, months, and years are key to their development, from attachment and trust to physical growth and social skills. Through the Family Hubs we are able to offer free activities, events, advice and guidance which can benefit the whole family." 

Baby Week will see also the launch of Sunderland's first Baby Box project. Working with The Children's Foundation - whose aim is to give every child the best start so they can lead healthy, happy lives - 60 families will receive a box containing essential items for baby's first few months which have been cited as helping to reduce child poverty.

The boxes include clothes, from newborn up to 6 months, a digital under arm thermometer, a bath and room thermometer, a bath towel, changing mat and books, as well as a mattress, mattress protector and 2 fitted sheets.

Speaking about the wide range of support on offer to parents and carers across the city, Jamie Scott, Together for Children's Interim Family Hubs & Family Support Service Manager, said: "In Sunderland, our five Family Hubs are committed to offering the best activities, events, and support for families with children aged 0-19, or up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

"Our ambition is to ensure that local families can access the right support, at the right time, in the right place, with the right people.

"Our Family Hub teams are dedicated, friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Whether it's offering a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers, helping babies and their parents relax and bond through baby massage sessions, or providing a fun play space for toddlers to explore, learn, and make friends, Sunderland Family Hubs are the closest thing to a baby manual that you can get."

Other events during Baby Week include a launch event at Bede Tower on Thursday 14 November which will provide an opportunity for parents and carers, councillors and senior professionals to meet and talk to professionals from a variety of baby and family focussed services to learn about the importance of ensuring babies in Sunderland receive the best start in life.

In addition, information will be shared on the upcoming launch of the Breastfeeding Friendly Sunderland Pledge, to update practitioners and families and encourage partners and businesses who provide a service to the public, to sign up to the Pledge, which enables a range of venues and spaces to proactively support breastfeeding in the city.

An exhibition of services event is also being held at Coalfield Family Hub on 19 November, which will allow professionals who work with families to find out more about services available to support families in Sunderland, as well as having the opportunity to network with peers.

For more information, visit: https://babyweek.co.uk/sunderland