What would you like to know from your HV team with a baby 4wks to 4mths?

[thecaptaincrocfamily]

I have been tasked as a student HV to organise 6 sessions for parents on a range of topics and would really appreciate your feedback. It will help sessions to be relevant.
Thanks :-)

would really appreciate suggestions!

Hi. I go to a postnantal group run by the local HV team. The babies in our group are between 2.5 and 5 months. So far we started the first meeting with our names, our babies names and why we chose them. We've had a few general discussions (unstructured)and visiting speakers re weaning, dental care, safety in the home, car safety. We also talk about feeding and sleeping routines/issues. Immunisations eg swine flu vaccine as well as the standard ones. So far its been great all getting to know each other and talking to people going through the same sort of things. Our group has 6-8 Mums and is a course of 5, once a week. Its been useful sharing experiences and finding out other baby groups / activities in the local area. We have a speaker next week from the local council to give us info on the local activities too. I'm really enjoying it. Hope that helps, good luck.

my dd is 11mo and i can't remember that much from when she was that age, but judging from the posts on MN SLEEP is a key issue, especially method of getting them off to sleep and sleep training.

I assume that these sessions are for first time mums. Is this for a postnatal group?

I think its good to have some time in the session for the parents to socialise and ask questions. The postnatal group I went to eight years ago was a series of lectures with little chance of mixing with the other mums.

The post natal sessions I attended after DD had a theme each week, ie one week was first aid, one week dental health, one week weaning. Also had baby massage for the last one. They were a bit dull tbh.

For me, I would like stuff about how the baby affects your relationship with your partner and the change in role. Eg fighting over who is more tired, dealing with criticism when over tired and defensive etc

Thanks ladies They are great suggestions and I know some of the topics have been covered by my team.

So generally speaking how long would people like info giving and how much social time?
Would it be a good idea to have a question box so that people can be anonymous in asking them?

I know how dull they can be though as a parent as well.
So ideas
SLEEPING ROUTINES AND STRUCTURE
WEANING METHODS AND TIMING
BREAST/BOTTLE FEEDING ROUTINES
CAR SAFETY
HOME SAFETY
DENTAL CARE
RELATIONSHIP CHANGES
CONTRACEPTION?
PLAY/READING
BABY MASSAGE

Which of those are the most wanted?

You could do a session on real nappies.

Laura do you mean real as in cloth ones?
I do think a talk on those would be good but I'm not sure if that would be more helpful in the antenatal sessions, rather than postnatal?

I would just be very aware of the different parenting styles the mums might use. I went to a baby group run by the HV and me and another mum were made to feel weird and excluded because we chose to use slings, breastfeed (the first question every week was "how many bottles is he on!!") co-sleep and do baby-led weaning.

Eventually we just stopped going and went to each others' houses instead, but it still rankles 3 yrs on that our decisions were not given any respect and we were seen as weirdos.

Porker I have complete sympathy with what you have said and will definately take that into account.

As a parent unfortunately I had that HV attitude with dd1 but by dd2 was converted to be pro breastfeeding, co-sleeping and believe in advocating baby led weaning now. I didn't use a sling but didn't need to with either and when I did my back ached. I actually gave my sling to one of my mums at clinic!
I don't think its weird to use one though

Pooter I am so sorry I didn't have my glasses on!!

Haha!! Im glad you cant see me otherwise i may have taken that personally!

There is an antenatal group in our area run by the HV for first time mums.

First 6 sessions were:

1. Introducing everyone, birth experiences etc 2)Play. We did paint footprints of our babies feet. Talks about safety of certain 'toys' walkers, baby swings etc.
2. Safety at home
3. Toothcare 5)Weaning
4. Intro to baby massage

then 4 sessions of baby massage.

Was good, but have heard of people who said they would have liked to have gone with baby number 2/3/4 etc, although not sure how useful that would be.

Hope that helps

Hi Alice and sorry its taken so long to get back. It turns out that the agenda was pretty much set
I choose what to do first (thinking introductions and and emotional well-being)
then
baby massage
First aid and home safety
sleep/behaviour
weaning
Just the last week to decide which I thought could be questions not answered during other sessions or play/reading with baby/development?

What do others think would be useful? Financial assistance/returning to work?
Childcare?