To spread the word further we’ve made a number of our talks available on the website – check them out and have a listen!

Nurture is an Irish charity who offer timely and affordable professional counselling and supports surrounding pregnancy and childbirth mental health illnesses & emotional wellbeing to women, their partners and families in Ireland.

Some of the areas in which Nurture offers support and/or counselling include:

• Infertility
• IVF Disappointment
• Depression during Pregnancy
• Baby Blues
• Postnatal Depression
• Pregnancy Loss
• Newborn Loss
• Premature Births
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Postpartum Psychosis
• Men and Postnatal Depression

If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time in pregnancy, as a new parent or in any of the other other instances listed above Nurture are there to help. You can contact Nurture on 01 8430930 or email info@nurturepnd.org.

Nurtures counsellors offer compassion and respect to every woman, man and family who contacts them and attends their support services. Their counsellors are kind, friendly and extremely understanding women and men. They are more than respectful to every personal situation and offer each individual a confidential, judgement-free, independent counselling service.

Nurture are organising an Emotional Wellbeing Education Conference on Saturday 10th May 2014 in the Gresham Hotel which has some fantastic speakers and topics – for more information visit their website.

Our happy visitors shopping to their hearts content!

A few of our fab exhibitors…

The Early Learning Centre play area was a huge hit with our littlest visitors!

We had lots of bookworms visit our reading area where our brilliant readers entertained and excited all weekend!

The very talented Jo Jo painting lots of happy little (and bigger) faces!

One of our brilliant demos, here Gail from Harmony Yoga is teaching Mums, Dads and babies how to do yoga together

RTEjr’s Reuben entertains the crowds, young and old were rolling around with laughter!

Tickled Pink had everyone joining in and singing along!

Some of the Babytalk Team celebrating the end to a brilliant weekend!

Thanks again to everyone who came along, took part, exhibited or helped us to spread the word about Babytalk 2014! Keep an eye on our blog, Facebook and Twitter for news and updates, looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Reuben from RTEjr reading to lots of lovely little people in our reading area over the festival weekend.

Well I think it’s pretty obvious that we love books here in Babytalk. We created a series of graphics last year using our favourite quotes from Children’s books and we had a dedicated reading area at the festival to promote the habit of snuggling up to read a bedtime story from a very early age.

Reading with my little girl is truly my favourite part of the day, it’s something we have been doing since day one, we even read to my bump! It’s a simple an inexpensive activity that has huge benefits for both little folk and big folk alike.

Today is world book day and to celebrate we have three fab prizes up for grabs. We are very lucky here in Ireland to have lots of very talented Illustrators and Authors. Three of our favourites are…

Chris Haughton who has illustrated and written, A Bit Lost, Oh No George and his new book that is being released today – Shh! we have a plan. We are delighted to have a signed copy of Oh No George and a copy of A Bit Lost and Shh! we have a plan to give away as our first prize in today’s competition!

We also love Niamh Sharkey, she has written and illustrated lots of fab children’s picture books, we are very lucky to have  copy of I’m a Happy Hugglewug to give away with two gorgeous soft toys from the Disney version of her book – Henry Hugglemonster, with huge thanks to Golden Bear Toys!

You may have admired our gorgeous illustrated backdrop in the reading area over the festival, this was done by another of our favourite Illustrators – Chris Judge. Chris has very kindly given us a copy of The Lonely Beast and The Great Explorer as our final prize in celebration of World Book Day.

To enter our amazing competition simply like and comment on this post here or on our Facebook post with the name of your favourite children’s book. Winners will be announced next Friday.

Happy Reading!

UPDATE – Competition closed!

We are delighted to announce the three very lucky winners of our fab book prizes in celebration of World Book Day! The winners are…

1st prize – Elizabeth Burke
2nd prize – Noeleen Russell
3rd prize – Amy Marcella Mullen

Congratulations ladies, please email us at register@babytalkfestival.ie with your phone number and postal address to claim your prizes!

Happy long weekend everyone!

We had a blast at babytalk last weekend, thanks so much to everyone who took part in the festival. It was great to see so many Mums, Dads, bumps, babies wobblers and toodlers out having fun!

We’ll have full festival recap with photos for you next week plus competition winner announcements so stay tuned!

Rachel & Marie xxxxx

Cotton is Cotton right??  Well no, not exactly.  There are no chemicals whatsoever used in the production of Organic Cotton.  No insecticides or pesticides used in the cotton fields or chemicals during the manufacturing process and the dyes used are free from toxins!

Apart from the obvious Environmental and Social benefits to the farmers who grow it, how does it benefit you and your baby?  Well a baby’s skin is very delicate and their skin is a lot thinner than adults, for this reason is it is important that their skin can breathe and Organic Cotton helps this.

A lot of babies suffer with eczema and other skin irritations and Organic Cotton can really help with these conditions.  Regardless of the rest of the clothes your baby wears, if the layer next to their skin is Organic Cotton then you are helping your baby’s skin to breathe!

Organic Cotton Clothing has come a long way in the last few years, previously the choice varied from a dull cream to an even duller grey!!!  Now we have lots of colours and styles to choose from and the quality cannot be matched!

Come along to the hipbaby stand at Babytalk Festival to see and feel organic cotton clothing for yourself and be in with a chance to win a fab prize of a €50 voucher to spend online!

For more details please see www.hipbaby.ie

Babytalk team member Geraldine shares her babywearing adventures…

Image credit: British Consortium of Baby Sling Manufacturers and Retailer

When writing posts for Babytalk I can almost always be relied upon to be entirely impartial, with one proviso – babywearing! I’m so eager to share my love of babywearing it’s impossible to hide my enthusiasm. So I won’t try! Here’s my personal babywearing story.

Before I became pregnant with my daughter I had never really heard of babywearing. I had seen photographs of women in other cultures, busily working while their baby peeped out from layers of richly coloured fabric. “How convenient!” I thought vaguely but I don’t think it ever cossed my mind that I might do that one day. While I was pregnant I read a few articles about wearing your baby and discovered it wasn’t just for mothers from other cultures, it wasn’t even just for mothers! The more I read the more the benefits became apparent; babies love the warmth and closeness, they are more easily soothed and less fussy, it allows the carer to get on with housework and engage with older children, it even exercises the tiny muscles the baby will use when he or she eventually becomes upright themselves!

I was convinced so I bought a deep green stretchy wrap – a long, long piece of soft, stretchy jersey – which I washed, aired and folded up ready for the new arrival. I watched all the tutorial videos and looked forward to trying it out. Since I had been asking family members about babywearing I was also sent a gorgeous handmade mei tai as a gift. A mei tai is a type of carrier originally used in Asia. It’s a large rectangle of patterned cotton with four straps at each corner, quick and easy to use. Now I had two baby carriers and just had to wait patiently for a baby to put into them!

My daughter arrived (twelve days “late”) and after a couple of weeks I decided to try out the stretchy wrap. Major hitch – she didn’t like it! I know now that it takes a little while to get used to wrapping and being wrapped but I was really worried I was somehow hurting her! After a few attempts with only slightly better results I sadly packed up the wrap for another day – or another baby!

Those carriers stayed in the press (and in the back of my mind) for a couple of months as my daughter got sturdier and heavier. She started teething, couldn’t nap (she was never a great one for naps) and I couldn’t get anything done. One particular day I realised that even though it was lunchtime I still hadn’t had breakfast and my arms were half out of their sockets. I had read about “sleepy dust”, the babywearers name for the magical, soporific effect of babywearing. I got the mei tai and somehow managed to get my baby into a back carry. She cried a little as I bobbed about in the kitchen but now I recognised the “tired” cry and knew she wasn’t uncomfortable. Ten minutes later she was fast asleep and continued to sleep for two whole hours. I danced for joy, silently and in slow motion. Now I had two hands free, a happy baby and could finally get something to eat!

As time went on and I became more confident I used my sling more and more. I joined an internet group where I could get advice from other parents and chat about babywearing. From them I learned how to use slings safely and comfortably by following the TICKS checklist (you can see the list above). I also joined Babywearing Ireland, a non-profit group for parents.

I’ve noticed more and more parents wearing their babies around and new vendors and sling types are popping up all the time. My daughter soon outgrew her mei tai and I replaced it with a SSC – soft structured carrier – with backpack style straps and buckles. Both my partner and I can use this as it adjusts to fit different bodies. We’ve worn her around the house, around the city and in the wilds, in buses, trains and airports, on a mountain in Norway and a mountain in Crete. I thought I had become a pro user until Babytalk Director Rachel showed me how she could feed her daughter in their SSC! No need to stop and find somewhere to feed while baby fusses – instant service! My baby is now a toddler and just about to outgrow her SSC but we’re definitely not stopping yet. With a whole world of toddler slings out why would we?

We have some great sling sellers taking part in the festival so you can try and then buy! WARNING – babywearing can be very addictive – once you buy one sling you will want more!

What?
The story of Babytalk begins all the way back in 2011 when I began my adventure into the world of making babies.

Like most people, before the idea of having a baby stopped filling me with dread and fear, I had never given more than a few fleeting moments of thought to being a Mum and all that would involve. The most thought I had ever given to the idea of having a baby, was a list of names that I liked for the babies that I might have, one day in the very distant future.

So when the uncontrollable “want” began, I was quite overwhelmed by how all consuming it was. I suddenly went from not being particularly interested in babies and little people, to longing for my own little bundle of loveliness. And so it began… I started preparing myself for becoming a Mum. I’m a bit of a research nerd, so I delved into every book I could find, article I could google and advice I could get my hands on while we were trying to conceive. The thing that surprised me was that people don’t tend to talk a whole lot about this part of the journey to Mammyhood and Daddyhood. I know it involves jiggery pokery and that in Ireland we’re still a little afraid to talk about things like that, but still, I was shocked at how underground and difficult it was to find advice. So I began to reach out to people I didn’t know on forums and Facebook groups. I created a network of online friends that I could ask questions and bounce ideas off.

When we found out that we were going to have a baby, the penny really dropped. The reality of becoming a parent set in and I was scared. I had so many questions and I was given so much conflicting advice that I didn’t quite know what to do. I really just wanted somewhere I could go to chat with people that could offer good sound advice based on fact rather than hearsay, and even more importantly I wanted to meet fellow parents-to-be and make real life friends that I could hopefully share our parenting adventures with. That somewhere has become Babytalk Festival!

Why?
Well, mostly for very selfish reasons. We have designed Babytalk for us and our peers, we couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for so we decided to make it ourselves. We wanted to create something different, a fun experience where people can come together and celebrate little people and parenthood. It’s a big deal this parenting marlarkey – a life changing time full of excitement, joy, laughter, tears, tantrums, pooey nappies, dribble, worry, questions but most of all – love, and that’s what we want to celebrate. We also want to make it easier to access accurate information and to help connect people.

When?
The nicest time of year of course! Spring begins in February – the days begin to stretch, flowers pop their heads up and stretch towards to sun, animals (us included) come out from hibernation and things just seem a little brighter! We chose to have the festival at the end of February to celebrate spring – a fresh time of new beginnings. So save the date and come help us welcome the spring! Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd of February 2014.

Where?
We searched high and low, near and far to find our perfect venue. It took months of road-trips, site visits, meetings and scary decisions to find it. We had a lot to consider… from visiting other events we created a list of what we did want and what we didn’t.

Dream Venue List
Big, but not too big
Comfortable
Free car parking
Easy to find & good location
Good transport links
Nicely designed space
A blank canvas with potential
Good facilities
Reliable events team & staff
Lots of light
Unique & different
Green areas – we like trees!

We finally found everything we were looking for and then some in O’Reilly Hall, UCD in Dublin. It is a beautiful architecturally designed space set amidst the bustling UCD campus. The campus itself is well known, easy to get to and very green! There are lots of lovely woodland walks, a gorgeous lake that the hall overlooks, and plenty of green areas. Here is a link to a pdf of the woodland walks, why not make a day of your visit and take a stroll through one of the routes after Babytalk?

Looking forward to welcoming you, we hope you enjoy the festival as much as we have enjoyed creating it!

How many times have you heard in the news about a couple that conceived after giving up trying? Stress is a huge factor that affects us all. When we are under pressure, our bodies release hormones that constrict our blood vessels and put us on high alert. This chemical response is embedded in all of us–our fight or flight response. Unfortunately, these hormones actively fight the ones that we need to create a baby. It can be extremely frustrating for couples who are trying to conceive month after month with no baby to show for it. Frustration causes a vicious cycle, causing more stress that blocks your baby dreams.

The good news is that now you know and can take steps to offload your barriers to conception. The hormone you are most interested in when trying to conceive is that most notorious and elusive one – Oxytocin. In fact, oxytocin plays a huge role throughout the entire conception, pregnancy and bonding journey. Oxytocin is known under many names: the love hormone, the relaxation hormone and if it could be bottled (not that they haven’t tried) chemists might call it Liquid Trust.

So how does one get their hands on some of this Liquid Trust? Picture this: a day off work spent with your loved one, having a picnic in the park, the hot sun beating gently down on you. After that, a long, luxurious soak in the jacuzzi while sipping champagne. Then, your favourite meal is lovingly prepared by your partner and eaten together by candlelight. Finally, you both enjoy an intense lovemaking session followed by a mind-blowing orgasm. Maybe this wouldn’t appeal to everyone, but you get the picture. An experience like this would set you up with enough oxytocin for at least a week. Busy couples and families would be hard pressed to find the kind of time and effort needed to achieve this scenario, but you could start off with loads of hugs. Hugs relieve stress like nothing else. “We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, 12 hugs a day for growth.” (Virginia Satir)

Obviously there is more to baby dreams than hot water and candlelight. When is the best time to have sex? Does smoking affect my fertility? What’s most helpful to eat? Your Neighbourhood Midwives will be at the Babytalk Festival to listen to you and give you the latest in fertility breakthroughs. Stop by our exhibition and get a free health check. Midwives know the secrets of fertility and our answers will give you the confidence to achieve your baby dreams.

Dan Oakes, Registered Midwife, is the father of three boys. Dan founded Neighbourhood Midwives Ltd. in 2012, with Tracy Donegan, bringing the best in Irish maternity care straight to the heart of your home before and after your hospital birth.

Most children start walking between 10 and 18 months, although this varies from child to child. Even though you may want to protect your baby’s feet when they are beginning to walk, it’s important to avoid structured shoes until your child is ready to walk outdoors. While still learning indoors, bare feet are good for grip, or soft-soled booties or socks will suffice. Once your child is able to walk unaided or walk about most of the day, you may need to invest in a proper, protective-soled pair of shoes.

Paediatricians and podiatrists recommend that children’s early shoes allow for natural movement and development of the feet. Medical studies show that they should be as close as possible to walking barefoot, while still allowing for protection from the external environment (such as cold temperature, hard floors, outside surfaces, etc). To achieve this, shoes should be as soft and flexible as possible and also allow the child’s feet to breathe.

Feet take time to develop

It takes about 18 years for a human’s foot to develop fully. The foot contains 22 partially formed bones at birth. These are spongy and soft and at a few months old the foot can even be pushed out of shape by a tight sock, restrictive sleep suit or sheets! By about four years, the bones will have increased to 45 partially fused bones, but it will take the next 14 years for these bones to fuse together to form the adult foot with 26 bones (28 if you include the sesamoid bones at the base of the big toe).

Buying well-fitted shoes, from a trained shoe fitter is hugely important as ill-fitting shoes can affect the alignment of bones. There is no such thing as an average foot, and feet change as they mature. Feet vary in arches, insteps and toes too, so getting the shoes fitted correctly is a must for your child’s comfort.

The longer a child walks without shoes, the more they are allowed to develop naturally. Experts recommend letting your child go barefoot or sock-covered for as long as possible to allow tiny feet to develop for longer. Of course, when they are eager to get outside and exploring, it’s time to protect their feet with proper shoes. It’s also important to check children’s feet every four to six weeks to ensure their shoes still fit correctly. Children’s feet grow, on average, two full sizes a year until they are four years old.

Tips for buying first shoes

A very flexible sole
Bend the shoe in your hand, checking it for flexibility. Ideally, you should be able to fold the shoe in half. For outside wear, the sole should be thick enough to protect baby’s feet from sharp or rough objects. Children before the ages of four years of age should be in a flexible shoe in order for muscles to develop without restriction of movement. Breathable uppers and lining

Select shoes that are preferably leather or canvas (not synthetic). Have a look at where the leather is cut and feel the leather with your fingers. The synthetic leather is smoother and has a synthetic (usually black) material backing. Using shoes that do not breathe can cause bacterial problems with your child’s feet at an early age.

No high-tops and definitely no heels!
High-top (ankle) shoes or boots can restrict the movement of a baby’s ankles, possibly leading to developmental problems. And heels can drastically effect the development of your child’s feet. Look for plenty of toe room. Toe room is not only important in making sure that baby’s feet have room to grow, but also baby needs to be able to wiggle his/her toes freely. It’s best to have about 1cm of space (or one finger width) in the toe area.

A comfortable interior
Put your fingers inside of the shoe and check for any hard seams or ridges that might irritate your baby’s foot.

No arch support
Arch support should not be built into shoes for children under the age of three (unless directed otherwise by a professional). The arches, bones, and ligaments of the feet are still developing, and the feet need to grow and develop naturally without being artificially supported. As the child progresses from three years of age upwards arch support becomes more important.

Expert Advice

“A baby’s first pair of shoes should fit well around the ankle and instep to support the foot in walking, this should have a little room at the toes. Use big toe or second toe if longer as length guide and leave approx 5mm more in length. The sole of the shoe should be stable and quite stiff on the shank (this is just after the heel area). It should also flex at the front of the shoe. Most babies toe walk (up to three years), but getting the right shoe can help support the foot and ankle in their first steps.”

– Veronica Daniels, Podiatrist