NCT Croydon

Unfortunately, due to work commitments, NCT Croydon's volunteer has decided to pause involvement on leading activities for a time. This means Croydon's walk and talks will stop for now. If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer for the Croydon branch to continue the activities, please see more here-

Volunteering | Get involved | NCT Our network of over 3,000 volunteers offer welcoming and inclusive activities that help parents feel confident and connected, improving the wellbeing of over 70,000 parents every year.

📢📣 First Aid Course for 📢📣
Are you interested in gaining the skills and confidence to provide life-saving first aid for your little one?
NCT Beckenham and Borders has teamed up with Mini First Aid as we understand that accidents can happen unexpectedly. We welcome you to join our two-hour baby and child first aid classes designed to empower you with essential knowledge and confidence in the following areas:
🩹CPR
🩹Handling choking or unresponsiveness
🩹Learning up-to-date first aid treatments for burns
🩹Bleeds
🩹Breaks
🩹Head bumps
🩹Febrile convulsions
🩹Meningitis
Our classes are priced at just £22.50 per person and are perfect for new parents, grandparents, expectant parents, babysitters, or anyone eager to learn how to handle child-related emergencies.
🔗 For more information, please visit: https://www.nct.org.uk/local.../beckenham-and-borders

📢📣 First Aid Course for 📢📣

Are you interested in gaining the skills and confidence to provide life-saving first aid for your little one?

NCT has teamed up with Mini First Aid as we understand that accidents can happen unexpectedly. We welcome you to join our two-hour baby and child first aid classes designed to empower you with essential knowledge and confidence in the following areas:

🩹CPR
🩹Handling choking or unresponsiveness
🩹Learning up-to-date first aid treatments for burns
🩹Bleeds
🩹Breaks
🩹Head bumps
🩹Febrile convulsions
🩹Meningitis

Our classes are priced at just £22.50 per person and are perfect for new parents, grandparents, expectant parents, babysitters, or anyone eager to learn how to handle child-related emergencies.

🔗 For more information, please visit: https://www.nct.org.uk/local.../beckenham-and-borders

We don’t just ‘do’ courses. As the charity that supports people as they become parents, we run a range of free-to-access services, like our 45 NCT Baby Cafes across the UK, which were attended by 8,000 parents last year. 92% said their mental wellbeing improved due to attending the group, as connecting with other parents helped them realise they weren't alone in the problems they were experiencing.

The specialist support from breastfeeding counsellors at Baby Cafés also support parents to overcome their challenges.

"The counsellors are so friendly and kind. I call it my safe place as I can go there and talk through issues without feeling judged." (anonymous parent)

To find out more about our free-to-access services and other activities, see our 2022-2023 impact video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf5f2mjgDFk

If you'd like to see which activities are happening near you, click here: https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups

There’s help from the government for new parents with the cost of raising children, regardless of whether you're working or have savings. You can claim Child Benefit for up to £1,248 a year for a first child, and nearly £827 for any other children.

Visit gov.uk/claim-child-benefit or download the HMRC app to make a claim

Find out more on our webpage: https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/money-and-benefits/child-benefit

Do you want to help support parents and carers in Croydon? NCT Croydon are looking for volunteers to help run events as we expand our activity offering. Volunteering could also help you meet new people and gain new skills. More info on the role is available here-https://babble.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Community%20Volunteer%20Role%20Description%20March2023_0.pdf

You can also get in touch with our central volunteering team- [email protected]

1 in 13 babies are born prematurely. There can be many reasons why parents can’t always be involved in their baby’s care as much as they'd like to be. This can lead to mixed emotions - all of which are completely valid.

Today, on our friends at Bliss are highlighting the unseen challenges faced by premature babies and their families. If your baby does spend some time in neonatal care, you are not alone, Bliss is

Miracle Moon also provides a free community of support for NICU parents.

During pregnancy, your immune system is weaker and in winter, it becomes even harder to avoid nasty viruses. There are lots of simple things you can do to protect yourself and your baby, which you can read more about here: https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/worries-and-discomforts/common-discomforts/pregnancy-tips-for-staying-healthy-winter

Unfortunately due to illness this morning's walk and talk has been postponed to next Friday, 17th November. Apologies for any inconvenience and we hope to see you next time.

Returning to work after parental leave can be a big adjustment. It might involve finding childcare or deciding whether to reduce your hours, all whilst adapting to a new routine. Here are some things to consider before you return: https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/returning-work

It is very important to try and keep babies safe from infection, particularly in the first few weeks of life. Babies have immature immune systems, which means that they are particularly at risk from infections so we’re reminding visitors to follow the THANKS guidance – Think Hands And No KisseS:
-
💧 Wash your hands before you touch a baby.
💋 Do not kiss a baby unless you are their parent or main carer – and even then, avoid kissing if you have an infection, are unwell, or have recently been unwell
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It is also important not to visit a baby if you are ill, have recently been ill or have an infection. This includes colds and active cold sores as well as diarrhea and vomiting illnesses. More details here: https://bit.ly/45Ebga9

"There's Acknowledgement but its performative" - FiveXMore Clo and Tinuke. Mind the Gap Podcast Mind the Gap Podcast where host Malone Mukwende sits down with Clo and Tinuke from FiveXMore to discuss the organisation they have built.Five X more is an or...

This year NCT is partnering with Big Give, with the aim of raising over twenty thousand pounds to help more women and people cope with the demands of having a baby and becoming a parent. Between 11 – 18 October every pound we raise will be matched up to ten thousand pounds, meaning we can support even more women and parents. To find out more, visit our website: https://www.nct.org.uk/about-us/media/news/big-give-2023

This week is , a week for bereaved parents to remember their baby’s lives. It provides them with a safe space to come together as a community, share their story if they wish and support each other.

At the end of the week, at 7pm on Sunday 15 October, you can join the global Wave of Light event by lighting a candle to remember babies who have died.

You can find out more about the week and Wave of Light: https://babyloss-awareness.org/

Being an expectant parent or a parent to young children can be challenging and lonely. Our NCT Parents in Mind service is a perinatal mental health peer support programme we run in several locations, providing peer support for parents from people with lived experience.

We also have articles on our website about how you might be feeling after your baby is born: https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/how-you-might-be-feeling

Thinking about starting your baby on solids in the next few months? This weekend only, we are offering our NCT Introducing Solid Foods online workshop for just £29, down from £35. The reduction will apply to courses from September to February. https://www.nct.org.uk/courses-workshops/nct-introducing-solid-foods-workshop?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ITS_flash_sale&utm_content=ITS_flash_sale_TW

New guidance from the Food Standards Agency advises pregnant women to avoid eating cold-smoked and cured fish, including smoked salmon, gravlax and sushi, because of the risk of listeria. Find out more information on their website. https://food.gov.uk/listeria

We have lots of ways to support you if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. There are articles on our website about common questions and how to access support: https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding

Even if it hasn’t been the sunniest summer of recent years, our NCT volunteers have been creating opportunities for parents to meet and chat, like this fab picnic run by by
! see if there are any volunteer-led actitivies happening near you:
https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups

As World Breastfeeding Week comes to a close, remember we’re always here for you with feeding support and information. However you’re feeding; if you’ve got questions or concerns, call us today: 0300 330 0700.

It’s ! This year’s theme is Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference to working parents. If you’re pregnant and planning to breastfeed, or are currently on maternity leave, here are some tips on managing your return to paid work: https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/returning-work/breastfeeding-and-returning-work

We have NCT Baby Cafés across the UK and Channel Islands, where you can drop in for feeding support: https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups
Our NCT Infant Feeding Line (call 0300 330 0700) is open every day from 8am to midnight, even at weekends, and is free of charge.

Elaine Lambe, one of our NCT charity trustees, explains why you should consider standing for our Board of Trustees – even if it’s not something you’d normally do! You have until 28 July to express an interest: https://nct.org.uk/about-us/trustee-election-2023