Okehampton Library is now offering free self-weigh facilities for parents to weigh their babies in a new partnership between Libraries Unlimited and Devon Public Health Nursing.

Last Monday (February 21) the library launched its new baby self-weigh service becaming one of sixteen libraries across Devon to offer such a service as part of a new scheme between Libraries Unlimited and Devon Public Health Nursing which offers health visiting and school nursing across Devon.

Okehampton was chosen as one of the sixteen libraries due to the discontinuation of the free self-weigh service at the Ockment Centre and a recognition that the town’s library serves many of Okehampton’s outlying towns and villages as well.

Fiona Mocandpuri, first assistant at Okehampton Library said: ‘They used to do the weighing at the Ockment Centre so if they are not doing it there there’s nowhere else. And there’s all the surrounding towns, we have a wide catchment area.

‘Some of the mums said to me that during lockdown they were unable to weigh there babies and had to weigh them on  the kitchen scales.’

The service will be available to parents every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30am in a closed-off area of the library.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for public health, communities and equality said: ‘Devon Public Health Nursing recognises that parents would benefit from being able to access safe calibrated scales in key central community locations.’

All Devon libraries involved in the scheme will hold their free self-weigh sessions during the library group’s free Bounce and Rhyme sessions, a weekly play group aimed at children under five.

The play group aims to stimulate babies and young children with nursery rhyme singing and improve their social skills through interaction with other similar-aged children.

Ms Mocandpuri said that the sessions had also benefited the adults through meeting and befriending other parents and carers.

Okehampton Library’s Bounce and Rhyme sessions take place on Tuesday morning between 10-10:15am and all parents and carers using the weighing service will be invited to attend.

Emma Doran, infant feeding lead for Devon Public Health Nursing, said: ‘Our new partnership with Libraries Unlimited will enable all parents to make use of scales to weigh their babies in libraries near where they live.

‘They will be given safe guidance around the weighing and plotting of babies and children’s growth, in an environment that will help their little ones with speech, language and communication.

‘Of course these facilities shouldn’t replace parents being in contact with a health visitor if they have concerns around any aspect of their baby’s growth or feeding.’

Tavistock, Ottery St Mary, Totnes, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Teignmouth, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, St Thomas, Exeter, Dawlish, Newton Abbot, Cullompton, Tiverton and Exmouth libraries are also involved in the scheme.

Anyone wishing to attend a Bounce and Rhyme session must book in advance by calling the library on 01837 52805.