Since starting NeoNurture, I’ve had the pleasure of running a few talks and workshops for parents (mostly Mums), all focused on something I’m really passionate about — how to support your baby’s development in those early months and years.
Most recently, I held a lovely little “barn hangout” at The Barn KT9 — and honestly, it couldn’t have been a more perfect setting. It’s such a gorgeous, tucked-away farm location, with a real focus on supporting women through every stage, from pregnancy to postnatal recovery and beyond. I actually went there myself when I was pregnant, and later for a postnatal uplift course, so it felt really special to come back and now be part of what they offer. There’s such a calm, welcoming community feel there — exactly the kind of environment you want when you’re navigating early parenthood.
The session itself was a small group, which I absolutely love. It meant we could keep things relaxed, chat openly, and I could give really personalised advice while answering lots of individual questions.
But it got me thinking — why are these kinds of workshops so important?
You may have heard of the “first 1001 days” — the period from pregnancy through to your baby’s second birthday. During this time, your baby’s brain is developing at an incredible rate, with over a million neural connections forming every single second. It’s a window of opportunity that quite literally shapes how your baby grows, learns, and connects with the world.
And here’s the key thing I always emphasise in my workshops — as parents, you are the most important part of this.
Supporting your baby’s development isn’t about doing complicated physio exercises or getting everything “perfect”. In fact, most of what I talk about are simple, everyday interactions that you’re probably already doing without even realising how powerful they are ❤️
Things like:
- Talking, reading, and singing to your baby
- Responding to their sounds, movements, and expressions
- Learning their cues and what they’re trying to communicate
- Lots of cuddles, closeness, and connection
- That beautiful back-and-forth interaction we call “serve and return”
These moments are what build secure relationships — and they play a huge role in brain development.
Of course, I do also cover motor development — things like tummy time (starting on your chest is a great place to begin), spending time on the floor together, and introducing toys when your baby is ready. But again, it’s about keeping things simple, achievable, and woven into your daily routine.
Another big part of the workshops is helping parents understand what typical development looks like — and importantly, recognising that there’s a wide range of what’s considered “normal”. Every baby develops in their own way and at their own pace, and that’s something to be celebrated.
That said, there are certain key milestones that we keep an eye on, where it might be helpful to seek a bit of extra support. For example, if a baby isn’t yet sitting by around 9 months, or not pulling to stand by 12 months, it’s worth having a conversation with a professional.
We also talk through some of the more common difficulties I see — things like head-turning preferences — and, importantly, what you can do early on to help prevent or manage these. Because when it comes to development, early support really is key. The sooner we spot something, the sooner we can put simple strategies in place to help your baby thrive.
I absolutely loved running the recent barn hangout, and it’s something I’m really excited to do more of. There’s something so valuable about bringing parents together, creating a safe space to ask questions, and helping build confidence in those early days.
If you’d be interested in joining a future workshop, I’d love to hear from you — feel free to get in touch 😊
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