Bump Start

This week we will be talking about all things nappies! How to choose them and how to use them. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of disposable vs reusable, look at different types of nappies and talk through how to use, wash and reuse cloth nappies.

Kate is a mum of two and founder of Kendal Parent Network.

Action for Children are commissioned by the council to run the South Lakeland Child and Family Support Service, including the Children’s Centre at St Thomas’s School on Kendal Green.

During this session, Sharon and Kay will tell you about the services they offer at the children’s centre, some information about how your baby’s brain develops, and tips for bonding with your bump and preparing for life as a new parent.

Lisa Joyce is a Kendal based designer with over 25 years’ experience of designing and developing baby products.

As well as winning over 50 product design awards, Lisa sat on both the British and European safety standard steering committees and is considered one of the UK’s leading experts in baby sleep products. Working with brands in the UK, Australia and the US, Lisa has a wealth of knowledge she will be sharing with us.

Action for Children is commissioned by the council to run the South Lakeland Child and Family Support Service, including the Kendal West Children’s Centre on Kendal Green.

During this session, Sharon and Kay will be talking about and demonstrating bathing, changing and dressing your baby. This will be a practical, hands-on session to help you prepare for looking after your newborn.

During this session Ann will share information on how you can prepare to breastfeed your baby, whether you plan to breastfeed for a day, a month, a year or beyond.

Though this topic will be our focus, Ann will happily answer any questions you have on feeding your baby – whether with breast, bottle or anything in between.

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. This week’s session will be focusing on breastfeeding positions. 

Becoming a new parent is a huge life change and experiencing a range of strong emotions is normal. You may notice that your baby has some strong emotions to deal with too!

This session aims to help prepare you for the highs and lows of parenting a newborn. We will explore the different emotions you might experience and discuss different tools and techniques for dealing with strong emotions – both yours and your baby’s.

Annabel is an accredited psychotherapist with a particular interest in relationship counselling and 10 years of experience working with individuals, couples, parents, families and young people.

Becoming a new parent is a huge life transition for you and your partner, so this session will offer you both support in making the transition as smooth as possible.

Kerry is a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor who runs local pregnancy and (baby friendly!) postnatal Pilates classes. During this session she will talk about the importance of movement in pregnancy for you, your baby and your pelvic floor.

Kerry usually likes to give a little taster of her classes during her Bump Start session, so be prepared for a little bit of movement – dads too!

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. 

This week we will be talking about all things nappies! How to choose them and how to use them. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of disposable vs reusable. We will look at different types of nappies and talk through how to use, wash, and reuse cloth nappies.

Kate is a mum of two and founder of Kendal Parent Network.

Victoria Wood is a newly qualified postpartum and birth doula. As a mother of four, Victoria is very aware that it takes a village to raise a child, and wants to do her bit to ensure more parents have the support they need.

During this session, Victoria will talk about the different kinds of support a birth or postpartum doula can provide for you during pregnancy, labour and your transition to parenthood.

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. 

Carissa is a trained carrying consultant who has helped over a thousand families to carry their babies. She attends our New Parents Support Group monthly at Outside-In to offer advice and guidance on baby-wearing, and to run a sling library. Carissa also has her own sling brand, KahuBaby.

South Lakeland Family Hub is a new service provided by Westmorland & Furness Council. This service replaces the Children’s Centres formerly run by Action for Children.

Alice is a local mum of three, practicing midwife, and hypnobirthing expert. She is passionate about empowering expectant mothers and educating birthing partners.

During this session, Alice will talk about what to expect during labour and birth. She will also share some tools and techniques to support an easier and more comfortable birth. Bring all your birth-related questions!

During this session Ann will share information on how you can prepare to breastfeed your baby, whether you plan to breastfeed for a day, a month, a year or beyond.

Though this topic will be our focus, Ann will happily answer any questions you have on feeding your baby – whether with breast, bottle or anything in between.

Lisa Joyce is a Kendal based designer with over 25 years’ experience of designing and developing baby products.

As well as winning over 50 product design awards, Lisa sat on both the British and European safety standard steering committees and is considered one of the UK’s leading experts in baby sleep products. Working with brands in the UK, Australia and the US, Lisa has a wealth of knowledge she will be sharing with us.

South Lakeland Family Hub is a new service provided by Westmorland & Furness Council. This service replaces the Children’s Centres formerly run by Action for Children.

Annabel is an accredited psychotherapist with a particular interest in relationship counselling and 10 years of experience working with individuals, couples, parents, families and young people.

Becoming a new parent is a huge life transition for you and your partner, so this session will offer you both support in making the transition as smooth as possible.

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. This week’s session will be focusing on breastfeeding positions. 

Becoming a new parent is a huge life change and experiencing a range of strong emotions is normal. You may notice that your baby has some strong emotions to deal with too!

This session aims to help prepare you for the highs and lows of parenting a newborn. We will explore the different emotions you might experience and discuss different tools and techniques for dealing with strong emotions – both yours and your baby’s.

During this session Andrew will talk about his experience of becoming a dad and give a male insight into the world of parenting.

Andrew is a dad of two and has worked with pre-schoolers for the last 9 years. Traditionally, parenting has been a female role in our society. Although this has now changed, there are still a lot of hangovers from this way of living and the pre-school industry is still mostly dominated by women. Andrew is passionate about men having a bigger role in child-rearing. 

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. 

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. 

Kerry is a physiotherapist and Pilates instructor who runs local pregnancy and (baby friendly!) postnatal Pilates classes. During this session she will talk about the importance of movement in pregnancy for you, your baby and your pelvic floor.

Kerry usually likes to give a little taster of her classes during her Bump Start session, so be prepared for a little bit of movement – dads too!

Wearing your baby in a sling or carrier is a wonderful way to keep your baby close and your hands free. During this session, Carissa will talk about the benefits of baby-wearing. She will explain how to do it safely. Carissa will also show you the different types of slings and carriers.

If you have your own sling or carrier, bring it along. Carissa can give you advice on how to use it before the baby arrives!

South Lakeland Family Hub is a new service provided by Westmorland & Furness Council. This service replaces the Children’s Centres formerly run by Action for Children.

Alice is a local mum of three, practicing midwife, and hypnobirthing expert. She is passionate about empowering expectant mothers and educating birthing partners.

During this session, Alice will talk about what to expect during labour and birth. She will also share some tools and techniques to support an easier and more comfortable birth. Bring all your birth-related questions!

During this session Ann will share information on how you can prepare to breastfeed your baby, whether you plan to breastfeed for a day, a month, a year or beyond.

Though this topic will be our focus, Ann will happily answer any questions you have on feeding your baby – whether with breast, bottle or anything in between.

Annabel is an accredited psychotherapist with a particular interest in relationship counselling and 10 years of experience working with individuals, couples, parents, families and young people.

Becoming a new parent is a huge life transition for you and your partner, so this session will offer you both support in making the transition as smooth as possible.

Lisa Joyce is a Kendal based designer with over 25 years’ experience of designing and developing baby products.

As well as winning over 50 product design awards, Lisa sat on both the British and European safety standard steering committees and is considered one of the UK’s leading experts in baby sleep products. Working with brands in the UK, Australia and the US, Lisa has a wealth of knowledge she will be sharing with us.

South Lakeland Family Hub is a new service provided by Westmorland & Furness Council. This service replaces the Children’s Centres formerly run by Action for Children.

For 2025, Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. This week’s session will be focusing on breastfeeding positions. 

Daisy is a practising NHS midwife and founder of Bundle of Joy, offering no-fluff, evidence-based antenatal education. Her sessions are practical, inclusive and designed to help you feel confident and prepared for birth, baby and beyond.

During this session, Daisy will introduce what antenatal education can cover — from understanding labour and birth to caring for your newborn and navigating the early days of parenthood. You’ll have the chance to ask questions and pick up real-world tips in a relaxed and supportive space.

Kendal Town Council has awarded funding for South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support, in collaboration with Kendal Parent Network, to deliver monthly antenatal breastfeeding workshops as part of the Bump Start programme. Each session will have a specific focus, chosen based on Ann’s experience of supporting local parents to breastfeed. 

Becoming a new parent is a huge life change and experiencing a range of strong emotions is normal. You may notice that your baby has some strong emotions to deal with too!

This session aims to help prepare you for the highs and lows of parenting a newborn. We will explore the different emotions you might experience and discuss different tools and techniques for dealing with strong emotions – both yours and your baby’s.

This week we will be talking about all things nappies! How to choose them and how to use them. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of disposable vs reusable, look at different types of nappies and talk through how to use, wash and reuse cloth nappies.

Kate is a mum of two and founder of Kendal Parent Network.

During this session, Emma will talk about the biology of newborn sleep, what to expect in the first weeks and months, and what is considered normal when it comes to night-time waking. She will explore how feeding, attachment and the fourth trimester influence sleep, as well as recognising tired cues, safe co-sleeping, contact naps and calming a crying baby.