Newborn babies in Greater Manchester are to be given a ‘Bill of Rights’ to improve their chances of a long and healthy life.
The document includes measures such as teaching parents how to play with and cook for their children, making baby massage sessions available for all and providing more ‘breastfeeding-friendly’ buildings.
It has been drawn up by health chiefs and is expected to be backed by all 10 councils in the region.
The manifesto includes a 17-point list of ‘rights and assurances’ including the right to a smoke-free home, the right to ‘appropriate’ food and even the right to play.
Parents and prospective parents will be offered support to quit smoking and mothers will undergo alcohol screening tests to meet a child’s right to ‘a life free of alcohol and drug abuse’.
The manifesto enshrines an aim for babies to be breastfed and have a right to ‘high-quality postnatal care’.
That includes making baby massage sessions – which improve bonding and cut stress for mum and child – available to all.
There are also pledges to provide support, information and education for parents.
The manifesto, currently in draft form, has been drawn up by Greater Manchester Public Health Network director Will Blandamer.
It reads: “The investments made in the early years will see the returns manifested in higher educational attainment, reduced crime and safer, more cohesive communities and more successful young people.”
Mr Blandamer said: “The long-term future of Greater Manchester is about the health and wellbeing of the children.
“We want children to grow up where smoking and excessive drinking aren’t the social norm.”
Mr Blandamer said play is also essential to development.
He added: “There’s quite a lot of evidence that children learn balance, movement and hand-eye co-ordination from a really early age, through play.
“Even just romping around and tickling can be very beneficial to their development but sometimes new parents, especially fathers, can be quite nervous about how to play.
“We need to encourage them to play with their children as much as possible, passing on all that emotional and physical confidence that is the basis of activities in later life.”
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Bloody cheek!
New Labour = new depths of abject stupidity in our society.
FACT
New Labour = new depths of abject stupidity in our society.
FACT
The Realist SW14,
Care to back your FACTS up with any EVIDENCE?
I think this is a good idea, has potential to go wrong, but providing every baby with the best start possible can only be a good thing.
FACT - IMHO ;)
Greater Manchester politicians should admit that they have forced Foetus`s,Babies,Young Children to daily ingest large volumes of dangerous air pollution toxins far greater that pollution standards required by the EEC and the World Health Organisation which is show in the latest report that 50,000 now die each year from ingesting pollution toxins.
What a bloody cynical cheek to leave this vital vast serious issue out of what the young need is to breathe some much cleaner air which is a UN declaration as being the right of children.
These two faced disgusting local politicians who have ignored the facts in Greater Manchester for 15 years knowing they are complicit in
ensuring the young are being made to daily ingest huge levels of Particulate Toxins and Nitrogen Dioxides.
To read this latest outright insult to the young,shows why you should dump these well paid elected pretenders out of our lives and let intelligent and truthful people take over
"There are also pledges to provide support, information and education for parents."
Translation: We will continually interfere in you life, dictate to you what is best for you and your children and then indoctrinate you and your issue.
No taxation without representation!
After the expenses scandal!!!
Have they nothing better to do?
Breast feeding in public should not be permitted.
"drawn up by health chiefs"
Can someone tell me when the election for health chiefs was?
my daughter went back to college after her son was born but became seriousley ill 3 weeks later as any mother would she stayed with him in hospital for couple of weeks and colege told her not to bother returning.
Breast feeding in public should not be permitted.
griffin, stockport
Why? Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Does it make you feel funny "down there"??
It's the most natural thing in the world, you were probably breast fed. Shock. Horror.
Brooklands - urinating is more natural - we all do it!
gladys, that's very true! There's also a decent argument for not doing it in public or feeding it to babies thankfully!
BROOKLANDS
You are sick!
And just what is the baby going to do with this bill of rights? Or to use it's proper name - a pointless policy. If you want to improve the life quality of life for babies, put the money into front-line services that the public want, not fat cat salaries for senior managers to produce this drivel in an attempt to hide their lack of any clue.