by Jill Philby

Getting ready for a baby is a big job. Babies need plenty of diapers, bottles, and clothing, but there are always things—and services—that parents and families may not realize are available. A breastfeeding parent may know that a breast pump would be a wonderful thing to have, but not know where to find one. They might also not realize that lactation specialists are available for breastfeeding issues. Maybe an expectant parent is weighing the pros and cons of a hospital vs. home birth or are considering having an additional professional attend their delivery but need to find resources that help them make those decisions.  If so, Ames Public Library’s Baby Fair is the place to be!

This year’s Baby Fair will be held on Saturday, March 22 from 10:00am to noon in Ames Public Library’s Farwell T. Brown Auditorium. The fair is a free, drop-in event where you can talk to a variety of childcare professionals and community organizations from the Ames area. These services are all aimed at supporting families as they journey from pregnancy to early childhood. 

Parent educators will be in attendance to answer questions and help connect parents to services that will help grow parent-child relationships. Doulas and prenatal care professionals will be on hand to answer questions about getting pregnant and pregnancy itself, while childcare experts and lactation consultants will be on hand for questions about newborns and their development. Or stop by to see how chiropractors and massage therapists can help parents before and after baby’s arrival. And while you are there, don’t forget to register for door prizes!

Before leaving the library, be sure to stop by the Youth Services desk and pick up the library’s Page One newsletter. In it, you can find out about what the library offers families. Not only do we have parenting books for every stage of parenthood, but we also have board books for little ones, weekly Baby Time storytimes just for babies and their grownups, and a twice-monthly Mothering Circle meetup.  Both Baby Time and Mothering Circle are designed to provide opportunities for connecting with other parents and families.

So, come for the Baby Fair, register for door prizes, and spend some time connecting with baby experts and other families. We hope to see you there!