All Torbay parents, caregivers and babies are invited to join us for the first ever Baby Week Torbay which runs from 14 – 20 November 2023.

Baby Week is a weeklong celebration of early childhood and aims to promote the best start in life.  

Through our Family Hubs, we’re running lots of free and low-cost events, activities, and workshops, all designed to ensure that every child under the age of 5 has the best start in life.

There are three Family Hubs in Torbay, at The Barn in Brixham, The Beehive in Paignton and ZigZags in Torquay, all run by Action for Children.

During Baby Week, all parents and caregivers will also get the chance to meet with practitioners, fellow parents, and other support networks.

The local team organising Baby Week Torbay has spent weeks planning a packed programme of events that covers everything from feeding clinics, play sessions and health sessions, to sensory play and training events aimed at early years practitioners.

The theme of Baby Week Torbay is ‘Connecting and Building Relationships – it all starts with a baby step’. The week will have a have focus on dads and father figures and connecting local organisations, colleagues, families, and caregivers.

Highlights of the first Baby Week Torbay include Baby Showers, the launch of DadPad, plus a special visit from author Anita Frost the creator of the Green Bean Collection.

On Monday 20 November between 1.30pm and 2.15pm, or 2.30pm and 3.15pm parents and their children are invited to join author Anita Frost at Together Church, The Echo Building, St James Road, Torquay, TQ1 4AZ for an interactive story time session. Little ones will get to meet Green Bean & Mr Bear while listening to the wonderful stories. The Storytime session is perfect for children aged one to seven years, with opportunities available to win a beautiful Green Bean story book and Green Bean.

Anyone who attends any of Torbay’s Baby Week activities will be in with a chance of winning one of 100 Green Bean books.

The invitation only Baby Showers take place in each of the Family Hubs, with more than 50 expectant parents attending to have fun and meet other expectant parents.

DadPad is the essential guide for new dads, helping them to get to grips with their new responsibilities, gain confidence, and offers the tools and practical skills to best support their baby and their baby’s mum.  

Expectant Dads and professionals are welcome to attend Torquay United on Wednesday 15 November at 1.30pm to meet the DadPad team. They will also be able to meet other Dads to help form their own support network as they work to navigate the early years.

Cllr Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Torbay Council, said; “Our Family Hubs are going from strength to strength since they opened earlier this year. What better way to bring families and essential early years services together than at a weeklong celebration of babies and their futures.

“We would love for local families to join the celebration by attending events that are planned not only in the Family Hubs but other community locations.”

Nicola McMinn, Deputy Chief Nurse at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said; “The first 1001 days of a child’s life, from conception to age two, is a window of opportunity. Leading child health experts agree that the care given during the first 1001 days has more influence on a child’s future than at any other time in their life.

“Baby Week is a fantastic opportunity to bring families, students, and professionals together in a supportive and informative way. Through sharing best practice and building support networks we can all ensure every child has the best start in life.”

Sadiya Salim, Director of Baby Week UK, said; “We know that the early years are crucial and lay the foundation for a child’s future development. That’s why Baby Week was setup to raise awareness about the importance of early childhood, promote the best start and to celebrate what already exists. We are delighted that Baby Week has grown every year as more and more communities have joined the celebration in the UK.”

Torbay is one of nine locations across the UK and the only region in the south west working with partners to promote the importance of early childhood, the first 1001 days and promoting services to families such as Family Hubs and early years settings.

Find more information about Baby Week including events taking place across Torbay.