Grow my Baby- the new Medway campaign to help a baby's first 1000 days of life!

A new campaign has been launched by midwifery staff at the Medway Maritime Hospital called Grow My Brain.

It highlights the importance of mental stimulation in a baby's first 1000 days. That's its first 2 years and the 270 days before it's born when most of a child's brain development takes place.

Sarah Saunders sent this report from Medway Maritime Hospital, where a Valentines baby had just been born:

At just 6 hours old, Baby Eden is already giving her parents a lot to think about.

Feeding, the need for sleep, and care of other children all jostle for attention.

Midwifery staff at Medway Maritime Hospital noticed that with all the information about babies physical needs, staff messages about mental development and stimulation can easily be overlooked.

So they developed the Grow My Brain Campaign- simple interactions make little ones safe and secure.

The campaign encourages families to sing cuddle and talk to their babies - even before they are born.

The artwork is the brainchild of hospital staff.

Trude McLaren, Illustrator and senior midwifery sister:

Jo Maynard, Lead midwife for infant feeding:

Like many, Eden's parents already do the stuff in this campaign but they recognise its value.

The Grow My Brain campaign will help deliver positive messages about safety and stimulation to the parents of around 3,000 babies who will be born in Medway this year.

Then perhaps it will grow and be taken up by the rest of the region.