A WOMAN has set up a group for other women who became new mums during the pandemic.
Gina Lee from Lancing has launched a free website for families to write and read reviews of activity clubs, days out, child friendly pubs and restaurants.
The site, named Little Ankle Biters Sussex, will also provide tips and advice to and from parents on how to entertain children across the county.
Gina said: “New parents have suffered greatly during the pandemic from not having access to a local and vital support network typically developed at baby groups.
“I gave birth to my baby girl, Ava-Rae, 16 months ago and when my husband returned to work, it was just the two of us at home every day.
"I didn’t have the opportunity to meet other new mums and share experiences that provide reassurance when finding your feet in those early months.”
Gina experienced increased anxiety at the prospect of leaving her daughter to return to full time employment and a London commute.
When faced with redundancy from her role as retail planner for the Arcadia Group, Gina and her husband moved from Hertfordshire to her family home in Lancing for a better work-life balance and increased support network.
Soon after Gina moved back to Sussex, she started taking her daughter to baby ballet classes held in Brighton and West Hove, Shoreham, Haywards Heath and Peacehaven, all owned by Kelly Tyler.
Gina said: “BabyBallet with Miss Kelly was one of the first classes I could enjoy with Ava-Rae. It was a chance to meet other mums with similar age children and where I realised that Little Ankle Biters Sussex could help to connect new and time poor parents in addition to supporting local businesses that are crucial for our family friendly community."
Little Ankle Biters was founded in 2017 by Kate Gregory from Oxfordshire and Michelle Cairncross from Berkshire, who met when working together.
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The Little Ankle Biters team are ambassadors for flexible working and understand the challenges faced when returning to work from maternity leave. The free website has already been established by local mums in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire with plans to expand across the UK.
Co-founder Kate said: “We are thrilled to welcome Gina to the Little Ankle Biters team and are looking forward to seeing and experiencing all of the wonderful family fun that Sussex has to offer.
"We would also like to encourage Sussex families who are looking for staycation activity ideas to take a look at one of our other sites written by local mums.”
To celebrate the launch of this resource for local families, Little Ankle Biters Sussex has teamed-up with Jumpin Fun Inflatable Theme Park at Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
To be in with a chance of winning a Family Bounce Pass, visit Little Ankle Biters Sussex on Instagram at instagram.com/littleanklebiterssussex/ and simply follow them and like the competition post, tagging in a friend who you think would also like the chance to win.
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