We know walking with our babies means something...and it feels pretty momentous to be able to start evidencing it.
We're so chuffed to share the findings of our first user survey, which our friend Louise Platt at Manchester Metropolitan University (who leads the Walking with Babies project) kindly analysed and presented in this super snazzy report.
We did this survey back in 2021 and we worked with Louise last year to bring it all together - the words and insights our community shared really underpinned everything we tried and achieved in 2022.
What really comes out about walking with our babies, especially in a group, is connection.
Parents told us that walking in groups results in:
Connection to each other
Connection to our babies
Connection to nature
Just what us new parents could really do with 💛
We were really struck by how many people - about two thirds - said they had experienced challenges with their mental health during the postnatal period. It shows a huge need for parents to be able to have opportunities that care for and nourish them, at the same time as they’re caring for their babies.
Parents said getting out walking really helped their mental and physical health. But one of the key barriers people said they faced is not having anyone to get outdoors with.
This is why we’re so committed to helping parents come together and walk. It’s simply to help people meet each other, outdoors. We’re starting to show that once parents have these kinds of spaces for themselves, they can experience a whole range of benefits.
Thanks so much to everyone who contributed, and to Louise for her hard work on the report. We hope you enjoy having a read.
We're now diving into the analysis of 2022's community survey and we can't wait to share those insights too!
Thank you, Team Blaze ☀️
