KeepaBeat First Aid Rochdale

KeepaBeat First Aid Rochdale First Aid training for parents, carers and children

 Weaning can be an anxious time for some parents and not all babies take to it as quickly as others so today we thought ...
14/01/2026



Weaning can be an anxious time for some parents and not all babies take to it as quickly as others so today we thought we could make life a little easier with a list of what you need to get started

A highchair โ€“ your baby needs to be able to sit up safely with a steady head

The highchair needs to have straps and be sturdy with a safe locking mechanism if it is folding - a footrest is ideal as it provides stability

Think about whether you want one with its own tray or one that can pull up to the table, if it has a tray is it easy to remove and clean?

Spoons โ€“ you can use any type of spoon with your baby but soft, rubber ones can be easier on their sensitive gums

Bowls โ€“ any old bowl will do but ones with a suction base are less likely to end up on the floor or on your babies head

Ice cube trays can be really useful for batch cooking lots of different fruits and vegetables to start your weaning journey ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฅ•๐Ÿฅฆ๐Ÿ…

Bibs โ€“ weaning is a messy process for most babies whilst they learn about feeding themselves and trying lots of new things, fabric bibs that can be thrown in the wash or plastic ones that can be wiped clean are both fine

Messy mat โ€“ A plastic mat under the highchair is a great idea for catching food that misses the mouth or gets thrown off the tray

Cup โ€“ Water is encouraged once your baby starts weaning and it is recommended to use an open cup as this teaches your baby how to sip

The most important thing to remember is fun ๐Ÿ˜›

If you are ready to start weaning your baby join us for one of our online weaning sessions

Source: NHS, Start For Life, Which

13/01/2026

๐Ÿ’™โค๏ธ FIRST AID FOR WEANING โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’™

Today we had a great turn out for our First Aid for Weaning session!

Loved how many really important questions were asked ๐Ÿฅฐ

Good luck on your Weaning journey, hope its full of fun watching your little ones explore different tastes and textures safely โค๏ธ

KeepaBeat Team ###

โ™ฅ๏ธ First Aid for Weaning is TOMORROW! โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿ“Bumble & Bee, Spotland Bridge Mill โฐ 1 - 2pm Bring your babies along for a play...
12/01/2026

โ™ฅ๏ธ First Aid for Weaning is TOMORROW! โ™ฅ๏ธ

๐Ÿ“Bumble & Bee, Spotland Bridge Mill
โฐ 1 - 2pm

Bring your babies along for a play while you learn everything that youโ€™ll need to know to begin your weaning journey with confidence.

With ONLY 4 SPACES LEFT now is the time to get booked on to tomorrowโ€™s First Aid for Weaning session!

Visit: www.keepabeat.com/rochdale to book your place!

  Open water in the winter โ„๏ธโ„๏ธโ„๏ธ As we move through January and February we are seeing colder daysโ„๏ธโ„๏ธโ„๏ธOpen ponds and ...
09/01/2026



Open water in the winter โ„๏ธโ„๏ธโ„๏ธ

As we move through January and February we are seeing colder daysโ„๏ธโ„๏ธโ„๏ธ

Open ponds and lakes may freeze over

Please teach your children the hazards of ponds and lakes when they appear to be frozen

Typically in the UK we do not have the temperatures to freeze open water to a point where it is safe to go on to skate or play

Itโ€™s very unlikely that the ice will be able to withstand the weight of a person or even a dog

Should an accident happen:
๐Ÿ“ž Call 999
๐Ÿ›Ÿ Shout โ€œfloat to liveโ€ (tilt your head back, extend your arms and legs and slowly move in circles)
โœ… Reach out to them (ideally laying down so you cannot fall in) and stay dry!
โŒ Do NOT ever enter the water yourself you are likely to get in to trouble too
๐Ÿš‘ Keep them warm and go to hospital

07/01/2026

๐Ÿ“ข About to begin your weaning journey? WE'VE GOT YOU! ๐Ÿ“ข

Bring your babies along to play while you learn First Aid for Weaning!

๐Ÿ—“ When? Tuesday 13th January from 1 - 2pm
๐Ÿ“Where? Bumble & Bee, Spotland Bridge Mill, Rochdale

From learning about when to respond to choking, to allergens and how to include them within your weaning journey, we will cover all things weaning helping you to feel prepared and confident.

There will be a space set up with age appropriate toys for your children to enjoy while you take part in the session!

To book onto this life-saving course, visit: www.keepabeat.com/rochdale

    ๐Ÿคง๐Ÿšจโ˜ƒCroup is really common condition affecting the upper respiratory tract and mostly affects babies and small childr...
02/01/2026

๐Ÿคง๐Ÿšจโ˜ƒ

Croup is really common condition affecting the upper respiratory tract and mostly affects babies and small children, it is more common in Winter

Symptoms include:

A barking cough
A hoarse voice
Difficulty breathing
A high pitched, rasping sound when breathing in

It generally starts with cold-like symptoms and the symptoms of croup are generally worse at night

Croup usually improves on its own but you can do a few things to help:

Keep your child upright or on an incline
Comfort them to keep them calm (crying can make it worse)
Plenty of fluids
Give paracetamol if they have a temperature
DO NOT put your child in a steamy environment to relieve symptoms

Your child needs to be seen urgently if they:

Are struggling to breathe (their tummy may suck in under their ribcage)
Have a blue / grey tinge to the lips or skin
Are very sleepy
Are limp and floppy
Are drooling and finding it hard to swallow
Have a very high temperature

If you are concerned call 111 or 999 if they are declining or struggling to breathe, if croup persists for more than a few days get advice from a health professional

Source: NHS

We would like to wish all our customers a very Merry Christmas however you may be spending it. We thank you for all the ...
25/12/2025

We would like to wish all our customers a very Merry Christmas however you may be spending it. We thank you for all the support you have shown us this year. We look forward to continuing to provide your First Aid training in 2026 ๐ŸŽ„

To all the babies having their first taste of solid food today - enjoy โค๐Ÿ“๐Ÿฅฆ๐Ÿฅ•๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’™

  By now most people probably have Christmas Lights up which look amazing but can be a fire safety risk ๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ”ฅOlder fairy li...
19/12/2025



By now most people probably have Christmas Lights up which look amazing but can be a fire safety risk ๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ”ฅ

Older fairy lights with 240v can become dangerous if they are damaged, as when the bulbs blow they can cause the other bulbs to become very hot, it is really important to replace bulbs quickly with the power off, to reduce the risk of electrocution โšก

Hot lights and real trees are a fire risk as the tree dries out so these lights are not recommended (make sure to water your real tree daily) ๐Ÿ’ฆ

A much safer option is low voltage LED lights as these remain cool to touch and the bulbs are more durable โšก

LED lights also have a longer life expectancy and use less power โ€“ one downside is that the transformer can get warm which can then also become a fire hazard, make sure air can circulate all the way around it

Never overload sockets or extensions ๐Ÿ”Œ

Never leave lights on when you go to bed as fires can spread very quickly ๐Ÿ›Œ๐Ÿป

Make sure your lights conform to British Standard EN60598 โ€“ itโ€™s very tempting to buy bargain fairy lights online but there is a reason they are so cheap and they are probably not safety tested ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Never have lit candles near your Christmas tree ๐Ÿ•ฏ

Donโ€™t hang Christmas decorations from light fittings ๐Ÿ’ก

Make sure your smoke alarm is tested at least monthly but particularly at this time of year ๐Ÿ’จ

Have a safety plan that all your family is aware of in case of fire ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿš’๐Ÿงฏ๐Ÿš’

If you have followed all of the safety rules we would love to see your Christmas trees in the comments ๐ŸŽ…๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿคถ๐Ÿป

Sources: Fire Protection Online, Gov.uk, Fire Scotland

17/12/2025

๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ“ฃ FIRST AID FOR WEANING IS BACK! ๐Ÿ“ฃ๐Ÿ’™

Bring your babies to play, while you learn life-saving skills and develop your confidence around weaning!

On Tuesday 13th January at 1-2pm we are running our next First Aid for Weaning course at Bumble & Bee in Rochdale. This course provides parents and carers with vital information and support as they embark upon their weaning journey. From allergens to recognising the difference between gagging and choking, this course covers everything that you'll need to know to build your skills and confidence around weaning.

PLUS - Baby Sensoryยฎ Rochdale customers will RECEIVE A DISCOUNT when booking this session with us! Get in touch for more information about this.

To find our upcoming classes, and to book, visit: www.keepabeat.com/rochdale

  ๐ŸŽ…๐ŸŽ…Its almost Christmas and there will be more items than normal with button batteries in and potentially packets lying...
12/12/2025

๐ŸŽ…๐ŸŽ…

Its almost Christmas and there will be more items than normal with button batteries in and potentially packets lying around ๐ŸŽ„

Did you know how dangerous lithium batteries are to little people? ๐Ÿ”‹๐Ÿ‘ง

If the battery becomes stuck within the nose, throat, or food pipe they can, within a matter of hours, cause catastrophic damage

They are hiding in many items all over the house. Some items you may even use every day (car keys and remotes) but at this time of year they are everywhere

Do a hunt around the house and youโ€™ll be surprised how many items contain them

To give you some clues these batteries are often found in:

๐Ÿ”‘ Car keys
โœ… Remote control for tv or fairy lights
โœ… Calculator
โœ… Kitchen Scales
โœ… Bathroom scales
โœ… Small flashing toys and the remote controls
โœ… Christmas decorations
โœ… 3D Glasses
โœ… Thermometers
โœ… Nightlights

How many can you find?

Make sure to keep unused batteries out of reach and dispose of used batteries properly as these can still cause damage - most supermarkets have collection buckets for used batteries

If your child swallows a battery follow this advice
โ˜Ž๏ธ Call 999 or take them straight to Urgent Care
๐Ÿ”‹Take the battery package or the item it came from with you
๐Ÿผ๐Ÿฅช Donโ€™t allow food or drink and donโ€™t encourage them to be sick

Have a Happy and Safe Festive Time

Its   and this week we are talking about the difference between gagging and choking as its been a while since we posted ...
10/12/2025

Its and this week we are talking about the difference between gagging and choking as its been a while since we posted this

This topic comes up most frequently when you start to wean your baby, some babies have no problem at all and other take a little longer to get use to all the new reflexes, tastes and textures

The most common time for parents to join us either online or in person is around weaning time as it can make people so anxious

Gagging is a normal reflex to protect the airway but can occasionally be a warning sign of a choking event

Gagging is usually loud and is accompanied by coughing and spluttering

Eyes may water and your baby may look quite red

Remember โ€˜Able to cough - hands offโ€™ ๐Ÿฅต

DO NOT be tempted to intervene yet - give them encouragement and stay calm

If they begin to choke this is when an object is partially or completely blocking their airway

You may notice their colour start to change to pale or blue and their cough may weaken or they may be silent

Remember โ€˜unable to breathe - its time to relieveโ€™ ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

This is when we need to intervene and perform our choking manoeuvres, you can access a downloadable choking guide through our website or even better join us in person or online to learn these vital skills

www.keepabeat.com/

  Lots of us will now be starting to wrap all the toys for Christmas ๐ŸŽ„This is such an exciting time but don't forget abo...
05/12/2025



Lots of us will now be starting to wrap all the toys for Christmas ๐ŸŽ„This is such an exciting time but don't forget about safety!

When we look at suitable toys for our children we are often drawn to brightly coloured, sometimes, themed toys that they know the characters of, but do we actually think about whether that toy is safe

Often gifts are bought online and it is not always obvious where that product is coming from and whether the product will fall within UK safety standards

To check safety you can look for CE marks that state whether the toy complies with European safety legislation or Lion marks which show the toy has been made by a member of the British Toy and Hobby Association

Always check the age range listed on the toy, often this is to do with small parts that can be a choking hazard, we all know babies and toddlers put everything in their mouths

Toys with magnets and button batteries can be particularly hazardous so need an extra special check (see next weeks post for button battery safety)

If toys are second hand make sure there are no sharp edges, that battery coverings are working correctly and there are no loose parts. Never donate damaged toys to charity as someone could end up injured

Be cautious of toys that may have a lanyard to carry around the neck such as walkie talkies, pretend mobile phones and some dressing up outfits as these can be a strangulation hazard

With cuddly toys. regularly check for loose eyes, noses, wear and tear etc as these can be a choking hazard or reveal sharp edges

Just remember its not spoiling their fun to keep them safe! ๐ŸŽ…๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ’–

Sources: CAPT, ROSPA, BTHA

Address

Bumble & Bee, Spotland Bridge Mills, Mellor Street
Rochdale
OL115BU

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

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