The journey from pregnancy through your baby’s first year is full of wonder — and sometimes worry. Home-Start Newry & Mourne offers a range of programmes designed to support you and your baby through those precious early months, helping you feel confident, connected, and cared for.
We understand how crucial those first 1,001 days from the start of pregnancy are for your child’s development. That’s why we offer the right support at the right time.
Antenatal Support — Real Birth Programme
If you’re expecting, our Real Birth Programme is a 4-week antenatal course that helps you prepare for labour and birth in a relaxed, supportive setting. We also offer antenatal yoga and pilates sessions to help you stay active, ease aches and pains, and connect with other mums-to-be.
Programmes run in both Newry and Kilkeel.
Tiny Steps — Parent Infant Programme
Tiny Steps is our flagship programme for parents and babies aged 0 to 4 months. Delivered in partnership with the other Home-Starts in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area, this programme includes:
- Baby Incredible Years (8 weeks) — focusing on building a strong bond with your baby
- Infant Massage (5 weeks) — learning gentle massage techniques for your little one
- Sleep and Weaning Workshops — practical advice for those early challenges
- Sensory Play (4 weeks) — fun activities to support your baby’s development
Every baby who takes part receives a sensory play resource bag to take home.
This programme was independently evaluated in 2024 with very positive outcomes, and it is now a permanent part of our Service Level Agreement with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
You and Baby Programme
Run in partnership with the local GP Multi-Disciplinary Team, this 6-week programme is for first-time parents with babies under one year. It brings together a wide range of professionals — Speech and Language Therapists, GPs, Dieticians, Pharmacists, Mental Health Practitioners, Pelvic Health Physiotherapists, and Health Visitors — to offer hints, tips and advice for both you and your baby’s wellbeing.
Alongside the professional input, babies enjoy Baby Massage, Sensory Play, and Rhythm and Rhyme sessions.
Baby Cafe
Our Baby Cafe in Kilkeel is a relaxed drop-in for parents and babies aged 0 to 1 year. It’s a chance to get out, have a cuppa, and chat with other parents who are at the same stage as you — whether you want to talk about feeding, sleep, or just have a bit of adult conversation.
Stretch and Bond — Baby Yoga
Our baby yoga sessions in Kilkeel are a lovely way to bond with your baby through gentle movement. It’s good for you and good for your little one too.
“It really helped my anxiety knowing I had someone coming to help me out for an hour with my toddler while I had a really unsettled new born to manage.”
— Parent
How to Access These Programmes
All of our perinatal and infant programmes are free. Some run at set times of the year, so get in touch with us to find out what’s coming up next. You can self-refer or be referred by your midwife, health visitor, GP, or other professional.