Confident Parent Course
A practical 1 day course, for parents expecting their first baby.
About the Course
As a new parent you don’t know what you don’t know, but we do.
The Confident Parent Course is for parents who, quite frankly, feel overwhelmed by the information out there, want to do the best job they can do but don’t know where to start.
We can help.
As you take your first steps into parenting, you will be offered countless opinions, there will be hundreds of decisions to make and a heap of (negative) thoughts to tackle…
what car seat to buy
where will baby sleep / will baby even sleep?
are you a failure if you can’t or choose not to breastfeed
So before we go any further, let me tell you something. As a parent you have two goals (only), to keep yourself and baby alive. If you do that each day then you are succeeding and you should be so proud of yourself. You are the BEST parent for your baby and instinctively you will know what they need.
Our objective through the Confident Parent Course is for you to feel just that, confident. For you to back yourself and know that you can do this. We want to save you the stress and anxiety of thinking you should be doing it this way or that way.
So, together, we will:
cut through the overwhelm of what to do and what you need to buy and organise
translate and explain the words that just ‘appear’ when you have a baby and no one ever explains to you
equip you with the knowledge and confidence to be the parent you are meant to be
You will leave the course:
confident with all the essentials of raising a baby; sleep, feeding, nappies and safety
with a comprehensive manual to refer back to
with a clear idea of what you need, don’t need and what just might be ‘a nice to have’
with a support group to lean on
with access to the experts for 4 weeks post the arrival of your baby
Meet the Team (and Dougie)
The Confident Parent Course is run by Jo, Founder of Freckles, coordinated by the incredible Becca, Head of Training at Freckles and Hally, our trainer. Oh, and we mustn’t forget Dougie! Dougie is Hally’s youngest boy and he comes to training with her (us) and he’s utterly divine.
We’ve been working with Hally since the inception of our flagship Junior Nanny Course, at which she teaches the Baby Basics module and we are thrilled to have her teaching the Confident Parent Course as well.
Hally is the Mum to three boys aged; 5, 2.5 and 9 months. She is also a Norland trained Nanny and has worked with children of all ages for the past 12 years.
Her approach to teaching is easy going, informative and completely non-judgemental. She combines her Norland training with the realities of being a parent and is openly honest about her journey, what she’s learnt and what she might do differently if she had the chance.
Together, Jo, Becca and Hally make up the Confident Parent team - if you’re lucky you’ll get all 3 of them, but at least 2 of them will always be there to help you, answer questions and make sure you get everything you can out of the course.
Course Content
The course is jam packed with lots of different elements. We squeeze as much as we can in, and for the bits we can’t fit in we’ll guide you to resources to support you (for example we recommend a couple of brilliant baby first aid courses).
Each section is super practical and hands on. We have a variety of kit and equipment (and are always acquiring more) so that you can really experience a range of products on the market, and get an idea for what you need and maybe what you don’t need…
Carrying
Picking up baby
How to carry baby as they get older
Slings - different types and what to look for
Nappies
Reusable vs. disposable
Different types of wipes
What wipes to use on baby’s bottom at what age
Nappy rash - what is it and what you can do
What baby’s poo looks like (if we don’t warn you, it will freak you out!)
Feeding
Breast and formula
Making up a formula bottle
Storing milk (breast and formula)
Sterilising bottles
How to clean bottles (properly)
Different types of bottles and teats
How to wind a baby
What reflux is and how to manage it
Weaning
When to think about weaning
Baby led vs. spoon led
High chairs (self standing vs. clip on)
Bathing
How to bathe a baby
The importance of making sure baby is clean
What you might need
Sleeping & SIDS
Where can baby sleep
How to put baby down for a nap
Swaddling and what it is
Monitors
SIDS - what it is and NHS guidance
Different types of cots and sleep set ups
Car Seats & Buggies
Isofix and what it is
What to look for in a car seat
Rear facing vs. forward facing
How to strap baby in safely
The different types of prams
Packing a changing bag
Baby Safety
Baby safety around the house
Things for you to think about
Everything we teach is from a non-judgmental place. You are the best parent for your baby and our objective is to help you feel confident in that. For some families breastfeeding may feel right for others it will be formula. In some families they will swaddle and in others they won’t.
As a parent you have a choice as to how you raise your children and that is something that is granted to all of us. We want you to feel confident and knowledgeable about the choices you make.
Location
We hire a beautiful and spacious lodge, which is located in a small village just outside of Salisbury, Wiltshire. There is ample parking and plenty of space within the lodge to get comfy!
We recommend driving to the lodge, however, if you need to take public transport we would suggest getting a train to Salisbury station and then allowing 20 minutes for the taxi ride.
Course Dates & Pricing
Course Dates & timings
2021
Sunday 25 April
Sunday 11 July
Sunday 12 September
Sunday 24 October
Sunday 21 November
*all courses run 9am - 5pm
Pricing & purchase options:
You can attend the Confident Parent Course as a couple or as one adult.
A couple - £250
One adult - £150
Important things to note:
As the course is deemed education we are confident it will be able to go ahead, even with changing COVID restrictions. However, in the instance we have to reschedule a course, attending parents will be offered an alternative course date or a full refund.
A couple is defined as being from the same household, and only one set of resources will be given.
A negative covid test is required. The test will be provided by Freckles and is included in your ticket price.
The course size is limited to 12 parents.
The course is fully catered - with lunch, snacks and drinks provided throughout the day. Please just let us know of any dietary requirements.
Contact Us
For any questions or queries regarding the Confident Parent Course, please contact Becca and she will be able to help you.
