Baby Basics prepares Team Shaw parents

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Medical Group Family Advocacy Program at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, offers soon-to-be parents the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of caring for their babies with Baby Basics classes scheduled for every other month.

Each class is free for military ID card holders and their spouses and is divided into three workshops, occurring from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of the month.

The workshops provide parents targeted hands-on education on topics such as nutrition, safe sleep, soothing techniques, coping with crying and properly installing car seats.

Expecting couples can gather information about the same topics online, but may not be able to trust what they read, said Chazz Valverde, 20th MDG Family Advocacy Program assistant. All of the information provided during Baby Basics is research based so parents can trust what they learn.

The class also helps families establish a relationship with the Family Advocacy Program, which can help them connect to military and local resources.

“(With the information), they feel better about their parenting skills and they feel more equipped to be able to parent,” said Patti Busser, Family Advocacy outreach manager. “It brings down the frustration level of parents and really helps them to be able to focus and do what they need to do while they’re at work. … If you’re overwhelmed and you really feel lost and alone, especially in parenting, it’s very hard to go and concentrate on the mission because you’re constantly worrying about what’s going on at home.”

The next class is scheduled to take place April 11, 18 and 25.

For more information about Baby Basics, contact Family Advocacy at 803-895-6091.