As part of the new Child & Family Health Service a new support program for parents of children aged 0 to 8 weeks-Early Birds-has begun at the Flynn Drive Community Health Centre every Monday afternoon from 1.00pm to 3.00pm.
Early Birds began in January this year and is a friendly environment where parents from Alice Springs and the surrounding region can network and help each other with strategies for managing their babies.
Flynn Drive Community Health Centre Child and Family Health Nurse, Stephanie Gaynor, said the main focus is for new parents to meet each other and share the ideas around.
"It normalises having a baby-to know that others are in the same boat as you is really reassuring.
"Parents no longer feel like they're the only ones experiencing problems like trying to settle a restless baby in the middle of the night," said Ms Gaynor.
The two-hour session is spent discussing the experiences and issues of the past week, and parents are able to help one another with solutions and advice.
Two Child and Family Health Nurses from the centre facilitate the group each week as a support for parents and child developmental checks-as well as weighing and measuring of the baby-are held during the sessions at 4-weeks and 8-weeks.
Once the baby is 8 weeks of age, parents are offered to join the Territory Parent Support (TPS) program-another of the enhanced range of Child & Family Health Services offered to parents in Alice Springs.
To join the Early Birds, contact Flynn Drive Community Health Centre on 8951 6711.
Media contacts: Cameron Jackson 0401 114 113; Darrel Trueman 0401 116 203
Release date: Monday 29 June 2009