Baby bonding course helping Oldham mums feel less isolated
Emma Peake started the six-week Baby Bonding course, run by Oldham Family Hubs, in Failsworth a year ago, when her daughter Matilda was three months old.
It involves teaching parents about baby brain development and how to communicate with them with fun activities, which can be particularly helpful for anxious or worried parents.
Emma said: “Not only did the sessions provide support, it’s the long-standing contacts and friendships we’ve made from it.”
She still keeps in touch with her fellow mothers from the group, by regular play dates for their kids and even the occasional nights out.
Emma said: “We swap advice, asking each other ‘have you encountered this?’ and ‘how are you coping with this?’
“Our kids will hopefully carry on being good friends too.”
Read more: Oldham mums praise Family Hub for children’s development
Some of the activities and tips Emma learned during the course have become part of her daily routine, including a “hello” greeting song, which still soothes Matilda, now aged 16 months old.
The group was an important way for Emma to feel less isolated as a new mum.
She is originally from Barnsley and moved to the area eight years ago.
Emma said: “We joined when Matilda was three months old because one of the things I was always worried about was about being isolated.
“I’m not from around here and we had just had Covid. But we have now got these friendships.”
One of the more touching moments from Emma’s experience with the course was when she and one of her mum friends from the course bumped into their trainer Carli Keane while out for breakfast.
“She still remembered us, and she still remembered our babies’ names,” Emma added.
Charli, who runs the course with fellow parenting officer Michele Buckley, said: “It was so lovely to see them and to hear about everything the group has given them.
“And I almost shed a little tear when they gave me a hug.
“This is a real success story for our Baby Bonding sessions. It’s fantastic that the help and advice and friendships they have made during the course have made such an impact.”
Oldham Family Hubs offer a wide range of support for families of children and young people aged from birth to 19 and up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
Cllr Shaid Mushtaq, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Baby Bonding is one of the courses from our Family Hubs offer making a positive difference for the people of Oldham.
“It also shows the lasting impact from our parenting programmes on community resilience.
“It is great to hear that, not only are these group sessions helping parents to develop strong bonds with their babies and giving them the best start to life, they are forming important friendships and support networks.”
More information can be found online by searching Oldham Family Hubs. They also have a Facebook and Instagram account, which you can follow for updates.
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