Mayo Baby Week sees successful turnout

Nearly 200 babies and their caregivers attended events as part of Mayo Baby Week 2024.

The events ranged from interactive arts-based activities designed for babies, to information talks and workshops which took place in a range of venues across the county. 

All events were free, with many taking place in community facilities.

Mayo Baby Week is an action of Mayo Children and Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC), in partnership with the Mayo Infant Mental Health Forum. 

It was devised as a local celebration of International Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place in June each year. Funding was provided by Mayo CYPSC and Healthy Ireland.

_{Babies and Parents attending Art Crawl! In Ballina Arts Centre, as part of Mayo Baby Week recently (Photo: Teemlens Media)}

Feedback from parents attending the events was very positive. 

Mayo CYPSC coordinator Jarlath Munnelly said: “Parents who attended the events were very enthusiastic about Mayo Baby Week, and more importantly, the babies really enjoyed the interactive events.”

Chairperson of the Mayo Infant Mental Health Forum, Elizabeth Lambe, also expressed satisfaction with the weeks events, and the focus on the importance of early relationships in the lives of babies. 

“The core message of Mayo Baby Week this year was that early relationships really matter. This was the main takeaway for the many parents who attended events this year, the little things that parents and caregivers can do every day to strengthen those early relationships,” she concluded.