Peek-a-boos, patty-cakes and all things baby

Do you have a new baby? Are you expecting? Or are you just thinking about adding to your family? Join us for the third-annual Baby Fair, sponsored by Mercy Hospital Iowa City, on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the North Liberty Community Library.

At the fair, you can talk with obstetricians, pediatricians, doulas and midwives — as well as more than 30 vendors including local non-profits and businesses — about all things baby at this free event.

Safe Kids Johnson County and the North Liberty Police Department will perform car seat safety checks. Families with young children can receive free vision screenings from the North Liberty Lions and Iowa KidSight, and dental screenings from The University of Iowa Pediatric Dentistry. Mini programs include yoga by Balance Yoga, Sing & Play & Learn Today by West Music and story times by the North Liberty Community Library.

The fair is part of the library’s Womb Literacy initiative which encourages new and expecting families to establish literacy habits, such as reading to children, even before they are born. Developing a daily reading routine before baby and chaos arrive makes it easier to continue after. 

“Research shows that school readiness, future success and lifelong learning are all impacted by reading and talking to your children early in their developmental years. Participating in these programs enables parents to also learn about early literacy skills so they are more confident as their child’s first teacher, right from the very beginning,” said Assistant Library Director Jennifer Jordebrek.

Each family attending the fair will receive a free hand-made knitted or crocheted baby item, while supplies last, through generous donations from the library’s Prairie Yarn Over and Stitching Around knitting clubs.