Find out how to give your baby the best start in life this Bucks Baby Week

Parents, carers, grandparents and parents-to-be in Buckinghamshire are being invited to get involved, to find out more about the importance of child development in the early years and what they can do to ensure their baby gets the best possible start in life.

Every parent wants the best for their children, but did you know that you can start making a positive impact on your child’s chances of living a long, health and happy life as soon as you become pregnant? Research shows that what happens during the first 1,001 days (from pregnancy right through to a child’s second birthday) has lifelong effects on many aspects of health and wellbeing as well as educational achievement and economic prospects. During this time, brains lay the foundations for the emotional health, physical wellbeing and social skills needed to thrive as an adult.

Tying into the national charity Baby Week initiative which first came to the UK eight years ago, this year Buckinghamshire will be hosting its first Bucks Baby Week which aims to promote key messages around how to improve outcomes for babies during the first 1,001 days among professionals, families and the public.

Working with partners in health, social care and early years education, Baby Week will focus on increasing awareness of support services available for parents, parents-to-be and wider family members as well as promoting key messages about how to improve health and wellbeing outcomes during pregnancy and in the first two years of life among professionals, families, carers and the public.

Angela Macpherson, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Of course every parent or carer wants to give their child the best start in life but not everyone may be aware how much of a difference simple things such as reading and playing with your baby can make for their speech and language development. By the age of two, a child’s brain is already 80% developed, and has been making around one million new connections every second.”

“Being a parent or a carer is a wonderful experience, but it can also sometimes be overwhelming. We want to let anyone who may be finding it hard adjusting to parenthood or struggling to cope that there is a range of support and help out there and how to access it.”

Throughout Bucks Baby Week a range of free events and activities will be going on across the county. These include:

• Fun Bounce and Rhyme and Messy Play and Explore sessions
• Sessions for mums, dads, carers, parents-to-be and grandparents
• Baby and Child First aid courses
• Taster sessions on promoting early development holistically
• Specialist support for teenage parents

Some events are suitable for children up to the age of five so be sure to check ahead and bring toddlers and pre-schoolers along where welcome. More information on all the activities can be found online: https://babyweek.co.uk/buckinghamshire/