Babies Matter
Babies Matter is a programme to support both expectant parents and those with new babies who are facing disadvantages.
Over six sessions, the programme helps parents and carers to build confidence, competence, and community as they welcome their new baby to the world.
Why Babies Matter?
Babies Matter aims to help parents and carers lay a strong foundation for their family by building a strong attachment with their child, focusing on their understanding of their baby as well as looking after their own mental wellbeing.
Trained peer facilitators partner with local support services and healthcare providers, such as midwives, health visitors and children’s centres, to invite families along to the six-week programme.
The programme also actively focuses on strengthening the ‘parenting team’; investing in three areas of family life (‘baby’, ‘me’, and the ‘parenting team’) gives parents the tools to raise their baby in a strong family.
How Babies Matter works
Taster:
Mums, dads and carers are invited to meet the facilitator and group helper, and see what it’s like to be in a Kids Matter group.
Session 1:
In our first session, we talk about parenting teams (who we parent with), the physical and psychological impact of having a baby, and how our wellbeing impacts the wellbeing of our baby.
Session 2:
We discuss the importance of bonding with our baby and focus on practical ways for mums, dads and carers to facilitate attachment and balance their time (being sure to look after themselves whilst investing in their new family).
Session 3:
Understanding developmental milestones helps us meet our baby’s changing needs. We consider baby’s temperament, how we think and talk about our baby and how talking and listening will help us cope (emotionally) with a new baby.
Session 4:
If the relationship with our parenting teammate is strong, this will have a positive impact on our baby’s wellbeing. In this session, we talk about ‘ingredients’ for a strong relationship (including communication and listening) and how to disagree well (saying ‘sorry’ and forgiving one another).
Session 5:
As new parents and carers, we want to help the development of our baby’s amazing brain, and, in this session, we talk about how we can do that. We also discuss how to relate to and settle/soothe baby, and the importance of asking for help from parenting teammates when necessary.
Session 6:
In our final session, we remember (from previous sessions) that looking after ourselves, staying connected in our relationships and connecting to wider community will help us overcome challenges in parenting.
booster:
Mums, dads and carers reconnect to celebrate where positive changes are happening in their parenting. It’s also an opportunity to highlight challenges and to be reminded of skills learned from the programme.
If you would like to find out more about running a Babies Matter group in your local community, please contact us on partnership@kidsmatter.org.uk
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Partner with us
By working in partnership with churches, charities and community-driven initiatives to build strong families, we believe it is possible to see children in need flourish.
Our programmes
All parents need support but our peer-led and accessible programmes have been written for families facing disadvantages, in the community or in prison.
Impact
By evaluating our impact, we are able to assess the effectiveness of our programmes to ensure life-changing support for children impacted by poverty in our communities.