Things may be a little different this year, but that is not stopping Better Start Bradford and partners from hosting Baby Week Bradford 2020. They are thrilled to announce a fun-packed and educational programme for the third year running, with more than 30 free events taking place from 9 - 13 November 2020.

This year’s theme is ‘Why Wellbeing Matters’. As the pandemic continues, it feels more important than ever to focus on the wellbeing of the youngest members of the Bradford community and all those taking care of them. Many of the events and activities during Baby Week Bradford are opportunities to pick up hints, tips and inspiration to take back into everyday family life, helping build an environment that has wellbeing at its heart.

Last year, over 1,250 people attended baby-focused events across the district and although this year everything will be online or socially distanced, the programme is packed full of exciting  family events and activities, including story and rhyme times, music and singing sessions, baby massage and even a socially distanced viewing of a film at the Pictureville Cinema, especially for families and their babies. There is also a special workshop for grandparents.

The week will launch on the morning of Monday 9 November, 10:00-10:30am with The Big (Virtual) Baby Rave with BoomChikkaBoom. The event will be preceded with an opportunity to make homemade shakers and streamers to help everyone make as much ‘virtual’ noise as possible while bopping to the BoomChikkaBoom beat.

The programme also has a number of events for early years and healthcare professionals on topics ranging from infant mental health, health inequalities and foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Alex Spragg, Director, Better Start Bradford, said: “Together with our partners, we are delighted to be delivering the third Baby Week Bradford. This year has been very challenging for everyone, especially for families and carers that are coping with a very young family within the current restrictions.

"We hope that Baby Week Bradford 2020 will help to lift the spirits of families across Bradford with a lasting boost to their wellbeing. We are also thrilled that there are three Baby Weeks happening in November – Bradford, Leeds and Cheshire and Merseyside and we wish them every success.”

For further information about Baby Week Bradford and to download the full programme of free events please visit www.babyweekbradford.org 

In addition, there are two more Baby Weeks taking place across England in November 2020:

• Baby Week Leeds is back for the fifth time between 9 – 15 November 2020 with many amazing events and activities. For details of the week please visit www.babyweek.co.uk.
• Cheshire and Merseyside Baby Week launches its first ever Baby Week from 16 – 22 November 2020. Their programme of events can be found at www.improvingme.org.uk and includes a very exciting event on 20 November streamed live from New York and Liverpool.

Commenting on this year’s three Baby Week’s, Lucy Potter, Founder of Baby Week, said: “After the success of our Baby Week Leeds it’s been so exciting to see other areas such as Cheshire and Merseyside embrace the idea and plan their first Baby Week in 2020. The success of the idea is demonstrated by Bradford who are now celebrating their third Baby Week as Leeds moves into its fifth year.

"I'm looking forward to see how we can share joint-learning for the future and what Baby Week will look like across the Pennines. 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone so it’s really important that we share the positive news and learn from each other. We’re always excited to hear from other people and regions who are interested in running a Baby Week for their own communities.”

Better Start Bradford was set up to help children get the best start in life and is made possible thanks to a £49 million National Lottery grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.