Bermuda Parent is the latest magazine to hit local newstands.

The 56-page first issue is free, but the next issue of the quarterly magazine will sell for $6.50, publisher and editor Katrina Ball said.

An initial 5,000 copies were printed.

Mrs Ball, a mom of two who works in the civil service, won the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation’s Rocket Pitch contest for entrepreneurs last year.

She came up with the idea for the magazine through personal experience as a new mom looking for information and advice on parenting.

She has launched a website, www.bermudaparentmagazine.com as well.

Ms Ball invested some of her own money in the venture as well as her $2,000 BEDC prize and worked evenings putting it together with the help of designers Total Marketing & Communications, and freelance local contributors and sales persons.

She was pregnant with new son Enoch at the time.

“It was like having twins!” she said.

The magazine was printed overseas by Martin Printing.

The first issue features such articles as the Top 10 Parenting Tips, Helpful Homework Hints, Breastfeeding Myths vs Facts, Budgeting and the Father’s Role.

It has a directory of services for children and parents and is filled with mostly local content and photos of Bermuda parents and children.

Ms Ball said advertisers had been very supportive and the venture had been a success so far.