THE Princess of Wales laughed off a tiny baby’s surprise burp telling the ten-week-old tot “well done you”.
Kate, 41, shared stories with new mums and health visitors benefiting from a £50,000 grant from her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
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The money is helping a study that will trial the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Kate, wearing an aninal print dress with white heels, yesterday spoke to staff and told them “the more health visitors, the better” and hailed their “critical” work.
The Princess of Wales high-fived children and their parents who waited outside the Riversley Park Children’s Centre, in Nuneaton, to catch a glimpse.
Inside, the princess sat with new mums and babies including Mischa Kerr, 36, and her nine-month-old Talia Saliba-Kerr – who spent the entire session holding Kate’s right hand.
To Kate’s left, 10-week-old Raphael Pickering joined the conversion after letting out a burp – to much laughter.
Kate, believed to be wearing a £450 white and green leopard pansy print Petra silk maxi shirt dress by Cefinn, quickly replied: “Well done you.”
Red-faced mum Brogan Goodwin, 24, said afterwards: “I thought he was going to be sick, I thought ‘please don’t vomit on the princess’, but luckily it was only a burp.
“I’m going to wait till his 18th birthday to tell him.”
Mum-of-four Mischa said afterwards: “I’m sure someone recorded it (hand holding) and will show it to me but her brothers will be jealous.
“It’s great that she came down as it’s important that everyone learns what resources are available and the incredible work the health visitors are doing.”
The ADBB study, funded by Kate’s foundation, aims to support the profession to promote infant wellbeing and social and emotional development.
Thursday’s hour-long visit was a surprise to mum-of-three Lindsay Martin, 39, who arrived for an appointment for her son at the same time.
Three-year-old Nate Martin – wearing an Aston Villa shirt which is the club Prince William supports – decided to sit on the floor, meaning Kate bent down to have a chat.
I thought he was going to be sick, I thought ‘please don’t vomit on the princess’, but luckily it was only a burp.
Brogan Goodwin
Lindsay said afterwards: “I thought there was a fire drill because so many people were outside so I sat in my car for ten minutes.
“It was only when I saw so many people in suits that I realised it was something different.
“She initially came down to Nate and noticed his Aston Villa football shirt.
“I didn’t know she was coming today but I know William is a Villa fan and when she saw the shirt she said ‘I’ve seen that badge before.
“Nate sat down in the middle of the gangway and refused to move.
“She apologised for interrupting Nate’s medical appointment.”
Sitting with new mums, Kate cooed at the newborns and said “you forget how tiny they are first born” and discussed the importance of health visitors making home visits.
She added: “The first time (becoming a mother) having support of health visitors is so important.”
“Particularly during the first time you have expectations of what pregnancy will be like but everyone’s expectations are different to reality.
And said: “At this age they are so aware of different voices and environments.
And: “Having someone there to talk to is so important.”
Speaking about the ABDD scheme, she added: “How much you can pick up in terms of baby cues at such a small age and help pass on to parents this and signs to look for, and this is how they communicate with you, I find that fascinating.”
In a second room staff thanked Kate for choosing to pilot the ABDD to their area and warned of a shortage of health visitors.
Speaking to staff, Kate told them: “The more health visitors, the better.”
She said: “You play such a critical role in society for families and I’m aware of the pressure you are under.”
Talking about working with under-fives, Kate described how vital it was to have a “holistic” approach.
Particularly during the first time you have expectations of what pregnancy will be like but everyone’s expectations are different to reality.”
The Princess of Wales
She said: “Right at the beginning the more you can do to help facilitate that the better the opportunities are later on.”
On her ADBB pilot, she added: “I came here to see what’s going on, not only about the Alarm Distress Baby Scale project which is really exciting, but to thank you for the amazing job you are doing and to highlight and celebrate this critical area.
“It is such a wonderful and valuable role that you all play for the future of the whole society being able to celebrate that and perhaps put a spotlight and show public what work is going on behind the scenes.”
Kate was also invited to join an online ADBB training session which she politely accepted.
Despite the visit being kept underwraps dozens of local children waited outside to see Kate.
She went on a walkabout chatting to young schoolchildren, giving them high-fives, asking what they were studying in lessons and receiving flowers.
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