Parents of newborns should seek info online

Council encouraging parents of newborns to seek online advice

ROTORUA 25.02.10: Rotorua District Council [RDC] is encouraging parents and families of newborns to seek help to keep their babies safe at bedtime and is recommending a 15 minute online training programme that could ensure a baby’s safety.

The council’s encouragement for parent training is in support of a recent plea from midwives for parents and caregivers to take extra care when putting babies to sleep. The midwives’ comments followed the death of two babies in a fortnight (Daily Post Sat. 20 Feb).

RDC recently became part of the ‘Change for our Children’ group, which has undertaken a national campaign to share the latest information on how to ensure safe sleep for babies in New Zealand.

The initiative is a collaboration involving district health boards, community organisations, and national organisations such as Plunket, Family Start and NZ College of Midwives. Its focus is on having all parents, grandparents and carers of infants feeling confident that they are providing essential protection for their new babies.

RDC community policy & resources manager Ann Esler says she supports Rotorua Hospital midwife Gwen Baars’ comments in the recent Daily Post article where she said grandparents, friends and other whanau members should also be made aware of the safe sleep principles.

“Many folks in our community help with the care of whanau members, and there are others such as grandparents who participate in the care of the newest members of their family,” says Ms Esler.

“Change for Our Children has a ‘Baby Essentials’ online presentation to promote the six principles for protecting a baby’s life - face-up, face clear, smoke-free, breastfed, close to parents and handle gently. The training package only takes 15 minutes to complete online and could make a difference in saving a baby’s life.”

Ms Esler encourages all parents and caregivers of newborns to review the information on website www.changeforourchildren.co.nz, and share it with others who could benefit from the ‘Baby Essentials’ information.

She said the Change for Our Children programme complements the work being undertaken by Mayor Kevin Winters and the Safe Families project.

“We encourage everyone to make themselves aware of and take on board these principles of protection to prevent further tragedies. In helping to prevent them, we are making a commitment to be part of a safe and caring community.”

ENDS

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