March ‘15 - June ‘15 Full guide to local pregnancy, baby, toddler and family groups, including Antenatal courses, plus a complete diary of local NCT events and What’s On in the area! Features include: Breastfeeding support Children’s party ideas Top Tips on dealing with reflux and colic ©NCT, Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace London W3 6NH, Registered charity no. 801395 For details of local course dates, see Page 36 2 Hello from the Editor Hello everyone! This issue will see us leave the cold Winter months behind, move through warmer Spring days and hopefully towards a hot summer! It’s been an exciting couple of months for our branch, with new volunteers and committee members coming forward. At a recent NCT training day up in Yeovil, our Area Link Officer, Tabis, had this to say, “The NCT Bridport and Lyme Regis Branch team have been working really hard to create plenty of opportunities for new parents in the area to meet up and make friends - the weekly activities calendar is impressive! This is such an important part of what NCT is about, and I know the team of volunteers are dedicated to providing an accessible and fun branch for the local community. It has been a real pleasure to see the branch going from strength to strength.” It was reassuring to hear that we are doing so many things so well and it’s a great time to get involved. We’re a friendly bunch and would love to welcome new people to the team that work behind the scenes at events and activities that go on so that we can achieve even more! And with 2015 being the 30th anniversary of the Bridport and Lyme Regis branch, we would love to be able to celebrate in style later in the year... watch this space! Coming up in this issue: We’ve got plenty to keep you busy through the seasons with our Diary, packed full of activities for you and your little ones...check out the yellow pages in the middle. If you are breastfeeding, thinking about it or need support to move onto the next stage, find out about the support groups across Dorset on page 17. To party or not to party... what a question! If you’re not sure what to do for your little one’s next birthday, read some of the suggestions from mums who’ve been there and got the T-shirt, starting from page 22. Our ‘Top Tips’ section this month looks at reflux and colic and how to survive the witching hour with your sanity intact (or at least attempt to!) Find out more on page 42. And finally, as always, we have an extensive round up of all local activities for babies and toddlers in the What’s On guide, starting on page 46. As ever, please get in touch if you have any questions or comments about this newsletter or our branch in general. And don’t forget to find us on Facebook for the most up to date news! Love … Anna x [email protected] 3 Who’s who in Bridport & Lyme Regis NCT Here to support all parents, the NCT aims to give accurate, impartial information so you can decide what’s best for your family, and introduce you to a network of local parents to gain practical and emotional support and make friends. We’re a small and friendly branch – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any of us! For all general branch enquiries Branch Coordinator Dee Lanning [email protected] or call 07740 349 393 Honorary President Ellen Simon 01308 898 750 Treasurer Alex O’Dwyer [email protected] Parent Services Rhona Passmore [email protected] Administrator Link Membership Coordinator Lindsay Noble [email protected] Newsletter Editor Anna Foxx Neal [email protected] Antenatal Class Bookings Fiona Makin [email protected] Antenatal Teacher Ellen Simon 01308 898750 Antenatal Social Group Katie Lamb Just Bumps: [email protected] Danni Tattershall Bumps, Babies & Beyond: Chloe Jackman [email protected] Post-Natal Groups Alex O'Dwyer Open House: 01308 421 819 Victoria White & For table bookings Nearly New Sales Anna Foxx Neal [email protected] or call 07847 534 464 First Aid Training Rhona Passmore [email protected] Ellen Simon & Breastfeeding Counsellors 01308 898 750 or 01308 863 362 Emma Gale Find our NCT webpage at: www.nct.org.uk/branches/bridport 4 Here we meet some of the volunteers who organise and host our local events and generally keep things ticking along: I'm Laura, Henry's Mum. I really enjoy volunteering at Bumps, Babies & Beyond, as it great to be able to 'give back' to this group after gaining so much from it, when I was a really new Mum. This group has been a great way to make new friends, get support and has been a big part of my maternity leave so far. Hi, I’m Katie, Cameron’s mum. I started going to Bridport NCT groups as a “bump”, to meet some other mums in the area. From when Cameron was about 7 weeks old, I started to go to groups, to get out of the house and to socialise with other mums and babies. I have decided to volunteer as I know how important the groups are to mums and expectant mums. Our branch is in need of more volunteers and committee members – without people willing to help out, our full diary of activities can’t happen! See page 55 for more information… Please mention NCT and this Small Talk newsletter when you contact any of our services or advertisers! www.facebook.com/nctbridport @BridportLymeNCT 5 Branch News Nearly New Sales Saturday 6th December saw us taking over the Reception area and main hall of Sir John Colfox School for another fantastic Nearly New Sale. With over 30 sellers and just under 200 bargain hunters, we saw many people happy with what they had bought and sold (including a great selection of homemade cakes!) Goodie Bags As a special Christmas treat we had some extra special goodie bags at the last sale, with Golden Tickets in a number of lucky bags. We would like to say a BIG thank you to all the local companies who supported us and contributed some fantastic vouchers and prizes! Baby Gear Bridport Beauty & Beyond Bridport Clipper Tea Beaminster Fizzy Boppers Oathill Farm Netherbury The Shed Johnnie Boden Symondsbury Kettlewell Colours Sunny Days Nursery Crewkerne Bridport Lesley Waters Cookery Symondsbury Estate School 6 Dates for 2015 We’ve got plenty of sales to look forward to this year: Saturday 7th March – 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Sir John Colfox School, Bridport Saturday 6th June - 2.00 - 4.00pm, - Uplyme Village Hall Saturday 12th September – 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Sir John Colfox School, Bridport Saturday 5th December – 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Sir John Colfox School, Bridport Remember – NCT members get in 15 minutes early, so don’t forget your membership card! Sellers For anyone looking to sell, it’s a great way to clear out the loft, the shed and the cupboards and claim back some space as well as making a bit of cash along the way. We provide two tables per seller and you can bring a clothes rail with you. It is also an opportunity to sell larger items such as cots or pushchairs. You only pay for the table, you keep all the money you make on the day! Reserve your spot at our next sale for just £12.50 payable either by cheque or PayPal (50p for a stamp or an additional 50p admin charge for PayPal please). For more details and to reserve your spot, please email us at [email protected] Make sure you contact us early to avoid disappointment! 7 8 Nearly New Sales Buyers For buyers, it’s a chance to grab a bargain, treat your little one to some new outfits or snap up some kit ready for the next phase, as well as enjoying a delicious cake and seeing what’s in your Goodie Bag! Bag a Bargain! Entry from 2pm (1.45pm for NCT members ) Entry is £1 per person and goodie bags are also £1 each Volunteers If you would like to get involved in the preparation for any of the sales, even just to help with putting up posters, stuffing bags or serving refreshments, we’d love to hear from you. The sales are huge fun and, if you volunteer, you are able to get an advance preview of the bargains too! We believe that these events are hugely beneficial for local families who rely on them to buy and sell second-hand baby kit. As an NCT branch we also rely on these sales as a vital source of income – we’re a charity and the money we make at the sales, after our costs, all goes towards funding our activities in the local area. We look forward to seeing you there! To get involved or to find out more, please email Vicky and Anna at [email protected] 9 Every Tuesday 1.00pm – 2.30pm Bridport Children’s Centre Once a week, on a Tuesday lunchtime at Bridport Children’s Centre, a group of mums host our regular NCT coffee group Bumps, Babies and Beyond. It is a friendly, informal group which offers mums, dads, grandparents or other carers the opportunity to come along and enjoy a cup of tea and a chat while the little ones play in the safe environment of the Children’s Centre.