The first 1,001 days of a baby’s development and life – from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday – are some of the most important they will ever experience. Those early months and years shape everything that follows: language development, emotional wellbeing, physical health and the strength of relationships that carry children through life. When families get the right support during this period, the difference can be lifelong.
That is why I was so pleased to be at the launch of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s first-ever Baby Week. The idea behind Baby Week is simple: bring together families, health professionals, early-years specialists and community organisations to shine a light on the services that help parents give their children the best possible start.
Throughout the week, families from across the county took part in low or no-cost activities, many aimed at babies but with plenty on offer for older siblings too. Parents had the chance to meet midwives, health visitors, family centre staff, mental-health teams, libraries, early-years practitioners and local charities. These sorts of events might look light-touch on the surface – story sessions, sensory play, music, information stalls – but the impact can be significant. A brief conversation with a professional or realising you’re not alone in the challenges of early parenthood, can make a huge difference to a family’s confidence and wellbeing.
Here in Peterborough, the launch event I visited at Serpentine Green was a real highlight. Stallholders and early-years partners came together to offer advice, run activities and answer questions. Talking to parents, one thing that came up repeatedly was how valuable it is to have support that is local, easy to access and joined-up. When you’re caring for a newborn or toddler, navigating a maze of separate services can feel overwhelming. Bringing everything into one place – even for a week – helps families understand what’s available and where to go next.
But Baby Week isn’t just about events. It’s also a reminder of something bigger: that early support is not an optional extra. For too long, national policy hasn’t paid enough attention to the crucial early months and years. When that happens, families can fall through the gaps, and challenges that could have been addressed early on become far more difficult and costly to fix later. Investing in babies and young children is one of the most effective ways we can build stronger, healthier communities.
Locally, we are lucky to have dedicated early-years professionals who work incredibly hard, often under real pressure. They deserve recognition for the support they give families every single day – from health visiting teams and maternity services to children’s centres, voluntary groups and community organisations. Baby Week was a chance to celebrate that work and to make sure parents know what help is out there.
I want to thank everyone involved in organising the week, and everyone who took part. Strengthening early support isn’t just good policy – it’s about giving every child the foundations they need to thrive. That is something we should all be proud to get behind.