FORT BELVOIR, Va. – At one table, a group of expectant mothers and nervous fathers learned how to properly install a baby car seat. At another, several couples talked through the financial pitfalls of welcoming a new addition to the family, offering valuable insights into managing the new costs that are often associated with a growing family. And still at another table, mothers and fathers received hands-on Infant CPR training sessions, which saw a large number of participants, eager to learn lifesaving skills.
These were just three of the more than 20 exhibits provided by Army Community Service in Fort Belvoir’s first ever Baby Palooza held at the Community Center, Mar. 13. Over 200 parents benefited from day packed with informative sessions, engaging community exhibitors, and live demonstrations designed to empower parents with the tools and knowledge necessary for the crucial early stages of parenthood.
Exhibitors from various sectors under the Family Morale Welfare and Recreation umbrella, Fort Belvoir Fire Department, religious services, healthcare professionals, mental health provides, child safety, nutrition, doulas, and parent organizations, set up booths providing free resources, consultations, and products to help new and expecting parents navigate the complexities associated with child rearing. The air was filled with the spirit of community as families connected with local services and experts, gaining confidence in their parenting skills and resources.
Taneshia Gray, ACS Family Advocacy Program Manager, stated that her team put a strong emphasis on prenatal care and prevention, as well as providing information and resources to support parents on their journey into parenthood.
“I really just wanted to make sure that (parents) had a forum where they could come and get all these resources and meet those members in the community available to support them,” she added. “It's really great to be able to do this with the command team that we have because they're so supportive.”
Col. Joseph Messina, Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander, said that as a parent of five children himself, he understands the difficulty of welcoming a new child to the family and events like this go a long way to ease that transition.
“Families all the time are asking for more help and more resources as they're developing and growing their families,” he said. “The services that are provided here today by our Child and Youth Services and Army Community Services team is just fantastic.”
Parents moved from station to station, grabbing brochures and learning from experts at each booth. Just as popular were the tables of free giveaways from ACS which included diapers, baby bottles, ointments, lotions, and many other items. Parents were also able to get free copies of several bestselling baby books including What to Expect When You’re Expecting. There were also over 20 door prizes that were raffled every ten minutes where winners were able to choose from a myriad of baby items and of course, lots of free food.
Some of the booths included ACS, MWR, Military OneSource, Military and Family Life Counselors, Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services, CYS, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, the Red Cross, and many more.
In addition to the Baby Palooza, the Family Advocacy Program distributed a Baby Resource Guide which included 31 different partners and agencies in and around Fort Belvoir focused on infants and childcare. The resource guide included outlines for mindful motherhood, nurturing, mental health both prenatal and postpartum, parenting pro tips, and sleep safe guidelines.
Ashley Vega, a mother of one with another on the way, said she went to the Baby Palooza because she heard of the event through her spouse Facebook group and thought that the information was too important to pass up.
“I’ve gotten a lot of information but not just for my new baby, but for our other child as well,” she said, “and of course, lots of giveaways!”
The Family Advocacy Program’s Baby Palooza event set a new standard for community-driven support for families, underlining the importance of access to quality information and resources in the early stages of parenting. As the event concluded, the promise of continued support and future initiatives was evident, reinforcing the community’s commitment to fostering a nurturing and informed environment for its newest members.
For more information about the next Baby Palooza, learn about the resources available to parents, or to get a copy of the Baby Resource Guide, please reach out to the Fort Belvoir, Family Advocacy Program at (571)-231-7000/7001 or stop by their location at 5965 6th Street, Bldg. 1263, Fort Belvoir, VA.
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