National Infant and Child Gastric Reflux Awareness Week 2023 – Please Share
National Infant and Child Gastric Reflux Awareness Week 31st May to 6th June
The Gastric Reflux Support Network NZ promotes National Infant and Child Gastric Reflux Awareness Week each year from 31st May to 6th June.
This year our Awareness Week theme is “Whānau Mental Wellbeing”. During this week we will acknowledge the impact having an infant or child with Gastric Reflux Disease has on the mental wellbeing of the entire whānau.
As we explored last year, more than anything parents want to feel heard and their feelings acknowledged. It is so important that the whānau is supported along with the sick child in this journey. Our Awareness Week as always will give our families a platform to be heard and seen and their feelings acknowledged. It will also provide resources on how they can care for their mental wellbeing.
Who are we? And, what do we provide?
Gastric Reflux Support Network NZ provides a supportive online forum where safe information and support can be shared. We have a number of private Facebook groups that allow our families to grow connections and support networks with others on similar journeys both within their region and Nationally. We also have individual groups for Laryngomalacia, Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders, those with feeding issues and our 13yr+ group.
We hold online coffee groups and help facilitate face to face meetups which allow our families to connect with others within their community.
We distribute care packages to members during hospital stays. These provide the infants and children with small toys and activities to help keep them entertained during their stay as well as Kiwi Parent magazine, featuring a reflux article we contributed to, and, a bar of chocolate for the caregiver. The child also receives a “Reflux Super Star” certificate, acknowledging their strength and resilience on this part of their journey.
We offer phone support on our 0800 number which allows families to be heard and understood while being taught tips to manage their child’s condition and their own emotional wellbeing. We are also contactable via our website and Facebook Page making us accessible to all areas of your community.
Our Website www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz, endeavours to provide safe and up to date information to our families and greater community on Gastric Reflux and its associated conditions, as well as management techniques. We welcome contributions from health professionals to keep this up to date and improve this.
We offer free membership to families and provide ongoing support with no financial obligation allowing our service to be accessed by all.
We kindly ask you follow these guidelines while promoting National Infant and Child Gastric Reflux Awareness Week https://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/guidelines-for-promoting-national-infant-and-child-gastric-reflux-awareness-week/
Please see our Facebook page for posts that can be shared: https://www.facebook.com/NationalInfantAndChildGastricRefluxAwarenessWeek/
