The Pregnancy, Baby & Family Show incorporates a programme of free talks and children's activities throughout the day.
Listed below are the presentations to be given at the Pregnancy, Baby & Family Show on Sunday 15 September at the Culloden Hotel, Holywood.
You can pop along to any talk and join in if seats are available. However, to make sure of a place, you can also pre-book seats at your chosen sessions by using the form on this page.
Note: To reserve seats at a talk(s) you must first have purchased admission tickets for the event, which can be done by clicking HERE
(10.30 am) Your Guide to Potty Training
Speaker: Lisa Martin (Becalm By Lisa)
Lisa (Infant Potty Consultant) will speak about child-led potty training, including an explanation of the different stages of potty training and how to create the best environment for your child to meet this milestone and avoid common issues such as constipation.
Lisa will include:
There will be an opportunity for Q&A’s at the end of the session.
(11.15 am) Healthy Sleep Foundations
Speaker: Lindsey Hanna (Your Sleep Support)
Lindsey (Family Centred Sleep Consultant) will speak about understanding paediatric sleep and cutting through common myths and misunderstandings about infant sleep.
She will include practical advice on creating a sleep environment that promotes safe sleep and encourages healthy sleep foundations.
Lindsey will be discussing common challenges in the first year and how to navigate them.
There will be an opportunity for Q&A’s at the end of the session.
(12.00 noon) Nurturing Early Minds: The Vital Role of Books and Sensory Play in Infant and Toddler Development
Speaker: Madeleine Neilly, M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education (Wee Bookworms & Wunderkind)
In her talk, Madeleine will explore how early exposure to books and sensory activities impacts the development of babies and toddlers. She will discuss the benefits of reading to young children and the crucial role of sensory play.
Madeleine will also demonstrate how combining sensory activities with reading can create a more engaging and effective learning opportunity.
There will be an opportunity for Q&A’s at the end of the session.
(12.45 pm) Why Choose A Doula For Your Birth?
Speaker: Patricia Lubeck (Birth, Death, Trauma Doula)
Research is clear, hiring a doula improves your experience of pregnancy and birth.
Doulas educate, nurture, and protect you and your family unit so that you can focus fully on bringing your baby earthside. Beyond the practical benefits of a decrease in likelihood of a Caesarian birth and an increase in likelihood of a well-established breastfeeding relationship, having a doula also supports the relationship between mums and dads, as well as birthing family unit overall.
Doulas work for you. They are not bound by policies, they are simply there to champion your wishes and needs. While doulas don’t give advice or make medical recommendations, they do help you understand research, feel into your own instincts and empower your voice and choice along the way.
The real question is: ‘How could you NOT choose a doula for your birth?’
(1.30 pm) First Aid & Mental Health Awareness For The Family
Speaker: Bo Cheung (Little Medi-Monkeys)
Choking is every parent’s worst fear, but the reality is you will most likely encounter it at some stage of your parenting journey. With quick and confident action, you can assist a child who is choking to free their airway of obstruction and restore normal breathing.
Bo will demonstrate how to deal with choking in both newborn infants and young children and will explain the potential pitfalls of each scenario.
Bo will also discuss:
She will also take your questions on other first aid issues.
(2.15 pm) It’s All About Mum: YOUR Health Matters
Speakers: Mary Angela and Kathy (The Mummy Physios)
Pregnancy and birth bring significant changes to our bodies. Supporting our pregnant bodies is essential to enjoy a pain-free pregnancy and to be fit not only for the birth but also for the fourth trimester and beyond.
Pregnancy and postpartum can present many challenges such as pain, leakage, prolapse, constipation, intercourse issues, abdominal separation, C-section recovery, and core weakness.
This talk will be packed with crucial information that we wish all mums knew. Our aim is to educate you on why pelvic health is so important, when and who to seek help from if needed, and to provide you with a roadmap to recovery.
It is vital that birthing women are seen, held, and cared for as they navigate their new life as parents.
(3.15 pm) Concerned About Your Child’s Development?
Speaker: Dr Garry Carless B.Sc., B.App. Sc. (Chiro) (Holywood Chiropractic)
When we are born, we have several reflexes that help us to survive. For example, the rooting reflex helps babies find and latch onto the nipple to feed and anyone who has put their finger in a baby’s palm and seen how tight the baby holds on has seen the palmar reflex in action.
As we develop, our brains become more complicated and more capable of performing the tasks that the primitive reflexes were doing for us. Ideally, as our brain learns how to do the task the primitive reflex that was assisting in the reflex should ‘switch off’.
Some children, for a number of reasons, don’t fully turn off the primitive reflex. Imagine two people trying to drive the same car – it would be chaotic and inefficient. This is what happens in the brains of children with active primitive reflexes and can lead to:
ADHD/ ADD
Prone to anxiety
Inattention
Scoliosis
Motion-sickness
Poor hand eye coordination
Issues with gross motor control
Difficulty inhibiting negative emotions and temper tantrums.
Fidgets/ can’t sit still
Poor social skills
Join this presentation with Garry Carless to hear more.
Booking Form
Please complete this form and send to us using the ‘Submit Request’ button.