“We cover things such as when to introduce solid food, how to do that and the best foods to start with, plus share ideas on promoting active play for a baby’s physical, social and emotional development.
“Basically, the program covers all the info, skills and support needed to give babies a healthy start to life.”
Christine said the first 1000 days of a child’s life were incredibly influential in their development.
“Th INFANT program can help parents and caregivers navigate this challenging time,” she said.
“There are so many mixed messages, and many choices to make, and our program cuts through the confusion with professional support and information.”
The sessions draw on research from a host of trusted sources.
For example, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found as children grow, developing healthy eating habits are essential for teaching them to listen to their bodies and develop an understanding of their hunger needs, which can help prevent obesity.
And, the Raising Children Network promotes that active play helps strengthen a baby’s neck and upper body muscles and supports fine motor skills development.
“Our evaluation data shows that the parents and caregivers who have taken part in our pilot program feel more confident about introducing solid food to their baby,” Christine says.
“They also reported eating healthier food themselves after completing the program.
“It’s these early successes that makes us excited to open the program up to the general community … and we can’t wait to meet some of Bendigo’s beautiful babies.”
The next three-month INFANT session begins on June 17 at Kidzspace at the BCHS Kangaroo Flat site at 17 Helm Street. The entire program is free of charge and is supported by the City of Greater Bendigo.
Any adult family members, such as in-laws, grandparents, partners and siblings, are also welcome to come along and learn.
Go to the following links to book your place at all four sessions.
