Annual Babywearing ‘Wear a Hug’ fair
Babywearing Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation run by a network of volunteers all passionate about promoting safe babywearing and its benefits for both children and caregivers. It is a voluntary, community-based organisation with an nationwide network of sling libraries, meets and online support.
The annual ‘Wear a Hug Fair’ which takes place on Sunday, October 1 at the Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth, Co. Kildare from 10:30am-5pm, is Ireland’s largest gathering of baby wearers. Last year it attracted over 1,000 attendees.
The fair will have over 45 stands, with everything from slings and babywearing accessories, to natural parenting products, a sling library for trying on slings and baby carriers, a fashion show, demos and talks, a sling meet and children’s entertainment. See www.babywearingireland.ie
How to pack healthy lunchboxes
Lunches provide around one third of children’s daily nutritional needs, so it’s important to put some thought and planning into them. Here are some tips from Safefood on how to prepare a healthy lunchbox.
Include a wide variety of foods: starchy foods, protein, dairy, and fruit and vegetables
- Try to offer different foods every day – no one wants to be eating a ham sandwich five days a week!
- Vary the types of bread e.g. pitta bread, bagels, wholemeal rolls – keep a stock in the freezer
- Cook extra rice/pasta in the evening – these can make interesting salads
- Theme your lunchbox on a different country, e.g. Italian – try a pasta salad, Mexican – fill flour tortillas
- Home-made soup (in a Thermos flask) is great for cold days, while salads are light and refreshing for warmer weather. Both are packed with essential vitamins and minerals
- Fluids are important for children – up to six cups of fluid should be encouraged daily. Milk and water are the best options. Straws and brightly coloured drinks bottles can make rehydrating more interesting.
Father and son fun run
A ‘Father & Son Fun Run’ will be one of the first fundraisers organised by the Keith Duffy Foundation and its first corporate partner, Costcutter, in both Cork and Dublin next month.
Critically ill children and young people, and those with a disability or learning difficulties, are the focus of the new charity, which will host a number of high-profile annual events, such as the Keith Duffy Ball and Golf Classic, as well as smaller events and local fundraisers for chosen charities around Ireland.
“We want to go direct to the people in need, helping individuals, families and schools, in particular, so that funds raised make a real and immediate difference,” Keith Duffy [pictured] said.