Health Visiting and Children's Centre service

Within Suffolk, our Health Visiting teams are integrated with our Children's Centres, providing a range of services to help you and your family stay safe, happy and healthy.

We also work alongside other agencies such as

• GPs and midwives
• school nurses
• early years' settings
• voluntary and community groups
• Other children's services such as social care

Health Visitors are qualified nurses or midwives with specialist community public health training and can offer families with children aged 0 to 5 years

• support for the health and wellbeing of your whole family, providing antenatal visits, a visit after the midwife ends her care once your baby has arrived, and support and advice until your child goes to school
• advice on healthy choices, e.g. breastfeeding, introducing solids and healthy eating
• developmental reviews to ensure your child is reaching their full potential
• advice on the childhood immunisation programme, which ensures your child is protected against disease and infection
• information about specific difficulties, such as postnatal depression
• support for your whole family into education, training or work
• advice and information on wider issues such as housing problems or domestic abuse 
• help with specialist services to support additional needs, e.g. speech and language
• support for you to feel confident in your parenting skills and to provide the best opportunities for your baby as their grow

What is a Health Visitor? 

What to expect from the Health Visiting Team (Brochure)

Some parents find the early years of a child's life both satisfying and rewarding but also challenging and frustrating. This is where the Health and Children's Centre team can help you. By working together, we can help ease some of the worries of being a parent and support you and your family to raise a happy and healthy child.

The Healthy Child Programme that you and your baby will be offered includes regular health and development reviews during their early years which will be carried out by your Health and Children's Centre team. This is recommended to make sure that your child stays healthy and is developing normally. Reviews can be done in your home, GP surgery, clinic, or Children's Centre, and provide you with time to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have.

The NHS gives further information about what to expect at health and development reviews.

In the sections below you can find details of our health visiting teams and child health clinics, plus lots of useful information and advice on a range of topics – including useful leaflets and resources that your health visitor may go through with you.

For all enquiries, information and health advice, please contact the Health Business Centre to speak to a clinician or advisor. Our Clinical Duty Team (health visitors and staff nurses) are currently available to offer health information and advice where you have questions about your child’s health and/or development. If your child requires additional support or assessment, we will inform your local health visiting team so that this can be arranged. Our Health Business Centre Advisors are available to plan or rearrange any health appointments for yourself and/or your child. You can telephone or email us on:

• Telephone: 0345 607 8866
• Email: childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk

Please note: Our line is busy during the day, which means you may have to leave us a voicemail with your query. Please include your name or your child’s name, date of birth and postcode so we can locate your health record and call you back as soon as we are able. We aim to return all voicemails on the  same working day or the following morning if you call us late in the afternoon. We currently operate Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) 0900-1700hrs.

If you have contacted the Health Business Centre we would welcome your feedback on the service that you received. Please click on the link below:

Feedback about the Health Business Centre

Within Suffolk, our Health Visiting Teams are aligned with our Children's Centres, providing families with young children under 5, a range of services to help you and your family stay safe, happy and healthy.  Our Health and Children's Centre services are delivered through our Family Hubs and as outreach.

Our Health & Children's Centres staff include

• Health Visitors
• Healthy Child Practitioners 
• Health & Children's Centre Advisers

Health & Children's Centres activities may include:

• Child Health Clinics
• Infant Massage 
• Post Natal group Early Days
• HENRY
• Stay & Play
• Parenting Support groups
• Advice about money, training and employment 
• Child and family health support such as Infant Feeding Support groups
• Outreach – bringing services to you

Find your nearest Health and Children's Centre Service.

Find out more about Family Hubs

ChatHealth is an easy way for parents and carers to confidentially ask our Health Visiting team for help about a range of issues by sending a text message.  

This service is provided by Suffolk County Council's Health Visiting Service covering all of Suffolk and aims to provide timely and convenient access to confidential health advice for parents and carers, including issues about:

• Infant feeding - breastfeeding
• Introducing solids
• Fussy eaters
• Sleep
• Behaviour
• Toileting
• Minor illnesses
• Child development
• Child health
• Parenting support
• Emotional wellbeing - parents / carers

Message us for confidential advice and support: 07312 277 020

The service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, excluding bank holidays.

Out of hours

Anyone who texts the service out-of-hours receives an automatic reply message that explains where to get help, and when they can expect a response.  Texts are normally replied to within one working day. 

For any appointment changes/cancellations, please telephone or email us to talk to one of our administrators.  The text service is for health and development queries/advice and is staffed by health visitors/staff nurses.

We welcome all kinds feedback from our service users as this helps our learning and service improvement. 

Give us your feedback on the Health & Children's Centre Team and Health Business Centre. 

Send us your compliments or complaints about the service you have received from Suffolk County Council

As a service we are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and as service users, you can provide feedback directly to them. Your feedback may help to inform when, where and what areas of the service to inspect. Please send your feedback about our service to the Care Quality Commission

Illness in Newborn Babies

After babies are born they have to breathe, suck, feed, wee, poo and stay warm.

The leaflets below to tell you how to keep your baby safe and healthy.  Do not delay seeking help if you have any concerns.

Coronavirus Parent information for newborn babies

Illness in newborn babies

Parent Tips

Visit Institute of Health Visiting: Top tips for parents

These include 

• Wheeze and Breathing difficulties
• Fever/High temperature
• Rashes: when should you worry
• Diarrhoea and Vomiting (D&V)
• Head injury
• Coping with chicken pox
• Coping with Scarlet Fever
• Childhood immunisations 1: An introduction to childhood immunisations
• Childhood immunisations 2: Frequently Asked Questions

Your Health Visitor is a nurse who can offer you advice on your child’s health, working in partnership with your General Practitioner (GP).

If you are concerned about your child's health, contact your GP to discuss the symptoms, or contact 111 for further advice.

It can be difficult to tell when a baby, toddler or child is seriously ill, but the main thing is to trust your instincts. You know better than anyone else what your child is usually like, so you'll know when something is seriously wrong. If your child requires urgent attention, call 999.

Strep A

Find out about Strep A infections, including what the symptoms are, when to get medical help and how mild and severe Step A infections are treated, by clicking on this link for the NHS webpage: Strep A

Scarlet Fever

Find out about scarlet fever, including the symptoms, what to do if you or your child has it, how it's treated. how long it lasts and how it spreads, by clicking on this link for the NHS webpage: Scarlet Fever

Further guidance about Scarlet Fever can also be found on this GOV.UK webpage: Scarlet Fever: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Hepatitis

Since January 2022 there has been an increase in the number of children with acute hepatitis (liver inflammation). For further information about this click on the link below:

Increase in acute hepatitis cases in children - Information for parents / carers

Coronavirus Guidance

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Symptoms in Children

Parent Tips - Visit The Institute of Health Visiting to find guides for parents during COVID-19

Read NHS advice about COVID-19, including symptoms, testing and vaccination

Vaccine information - NHS England have produced videos in several different languages to provide clear information about the COVID-19 vaccine: COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Public Health England - Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young peoples mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak

World Health Organisation (WHO) Guide to Parenting in the time of COVID-19

Useful websites with information about illnesses and symptoms:

• NHS: Infectious illnesses in children
• NHS: Spotting signs of a serious illness
• NHS: Sepsis symptoms
• NHS: Meningitis symptoms
• Institute of Health Visiting: Top tips for parents
• Healthier Together - Parent Information sheets

Clinics are held across the county in a variety of venues where Health and Children's Centre staff provide support for:

• your child's growth and development
• sleeping
• infant feeding
• coping with minor illnesses
• managing a crying baby
• immunisations
• toileting
• any other concerns you have about your child, yourself or your family

We are now starting to provide drop-in clinics again and you can find details about these by clicking on the link below:

Child Health Clinics

Other clinic appointments will still need to be booked in advanced. If you wish to find out times of clinics or book a clinic appointment please contact our Health Business Centre:

• Telephone: 0345 607 8866
• Email: childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk

The cost of living is an important issue for people in Suffolk. There is a range of advice available for households, businesses and charitable organisations. 

Click on this link for the national government website to find what Help for Households is available. 

Click on this link for Suffolk County Council's Cost of Living Support page to find out what support is available or for ways people can offer support.  

The Suffolk Local Welfare Assistance Scheme helps people who are experiencing financial hardship. Click on the link above for more information about the scheme and to find out if you are eligible and how to apply for support from the scheme. 

Cost of Living Support - Help with Finances and Household Expenses (Suffolk County Council)

Help for Households in Suffolk (Suffolk County Council)

Infolink: Cost of living support in Suffolk

Foodbanks in Suffolk

For Lowestoft and Waveney residents please click on this link for support in your area: Cost of Living advice and support - Just One Norfolk

Please click on the links for further advice and support related to the cost of living issue:

• MoneyHelper: free and impartial help with money, backed by the government
• MoneyHelper debt advice locator
• NHS: money, work, benefits and social care
• Mental Health and Money Advice
• Macmillan Cancer Support: money, finance and insurance
• Citizens Advice: local search
• MoneyHelper: find services available if someone cannot afford food

As this is the first winter without any pandemic restrictions in two years, you and your children may be more susceptible to the usual winter bugs and viruses this year. Click on the links below for advice on how to protect yourself and your children and stay healthy this winter:

Healthier Together - Safety Netting and Parent information Sheets

GOV.UK - 5 ways to protect your under 5s this winter

Institute of Health Visiting - Top Tips for Parents

The Lullaby Trust - Baby Check: Is Your Baby Really Ill

The Lullaby Trust - Safer Sleep in Winter

The Lullaby Trust - Safer Sleep in Winter - downloadable booklet

Developmental Reviews

The NHS explains what to expect at health and development reviews.

Ages and Stages

Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQs) are a licensed product used by our staff across the Health and Children's Centres. They help us understand how your child is developing and are just one of the tools we may use during our contact with you.

All children develop differently.  The ASQ are something that we will use together to talk about the things your child is able to do, to think about any concerns you might have and how we can support you and your child with those.

They are split into 5 different areas;

• Communication: Your child’s language skills, both what your child understands and what he or she can say - this can be sounds, babbling or talking.
• Gross Motor: How your child uses their arms and legs for sitting, crawling, walking, running, and other activities.
• Fine Motor: How your child uses their hands and fingers - for example scribbling or picking up food.
• Problem Solving: How your child plays with toys and solves problems.
• Personal-Social: Your child’s self-help skills and how they play and interact with others.

The ASQ we use, is based on the age of your child by month, but we may decide together that this is not right for your child and decide to use a different age or an alternative assessment tool. This is nothing to worry about, we are just making sure we use the right tool for your child. 

You should receive a copy of the ASQ for your child along with your initiation letter.  Where possible, please complete the ASQ and bring it along to your appointment. 

We apologise to those of you who may have been directed to this page to download a copy. 

If you need a copy of the ASQ please email childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk. 

If you do not have access to email, please phone the Health Business Centre on 0345 607 8866, selecting the option for Health Visiting and then Administration – please then leave a message.

You can visit the ASQ webpage to download fun and easy activities to help support your child's development.

Scales for self weigh are now available in our Family Hubs and across Suffolk Libraries.

The guidance below will help with weighing your baby. This guidance can be used for most scales, however some scales may be different so please follow the guidelines for the scales that you use at the self weighing station. 

How often to weigh your Baby

Weighing your baby too often may cause unnecessary concern; the list below shows how often, as a maximum, babies should be weighed to monitor their growth. However, most children will not need to be weighed as often as this:

Weighing your baby naked

Step by Step guide

• If your child is under 2 it is recommended your child is naked when weighed
• Please ensure you have washed your hands or used the hand gel provided
• Before placing your baby on the changing mat, please make sure it is clean
• Undress your baby. Press the start button.  Wait for 0.000 to appear on the display. The scale is then automatically set to zero and ready to use.  If you are using a blanket, you can place this on first and reset the scales to zero by pressing the start button.
• Place your baby on the tray, ensuring that they lie as still as possible. If your baby can sit unaided, you can sit them on the scales. If not, please lay your baby on their back on the scales and ensure your baby is not holding onto anything which may affect the weight
• Take a note of the weight. Take your baby off the scales and redress them.
• Turn to page 51 of your Red Book to record the date, your baby’s age and weight.
• Clean the mat and the scales with the wipes provided
• Please take any dirty nappy home with you
• Wash your hands or use the hand gel provided

Recording your Baby’s weight in your Red Book

How to plot your baby's weight

Download the how to plot your baby's weight guide.

How to record your baby’s weight in the Personal Child Health Record (RED book)

Download the how to record your baby’s weight in the Personal Child Health Record (RED book).

After you have weighed your baby, record their weight in the Red Book. You will see a table similar to the one below.

If your Baby’s weight has

• increased or dropped, crossing 2 centile lines (the blue or pink curved lines on the weight chart) OR
• the weight is above the top centile line or below the bottom centile line OR
• the weight is on the bottom line (0.4th centile) and they haven't been on there before

Please contact the Health Business Centre on 03456078866 and they can review your this with you. You can also talk to the member of the team who are on site with you.

Where to go for Help

You can contact the Health Business Centre on 03456078866 Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17.00 or you can text us on 07312277020 Monday to Friday 09.00 to 16.30pm.

Family Hubs where you can self weigh your child

Please drop in to the following Family Hubs at the time indicated if you wish to weigh your child. 

 Suffolk Libraries where you can self weigh your child

Please click on this link for details of Baby Weighing Facilities in Suffolk Libraries where you will be able to self weigh your child. 

For guidance and advice about trying for a baby, including information about pregnancy, labour and birth as well as healthy lifestyles, please click on the link below:

NHS advice about pregnancy

Keeping well in Pregnancy

For information on looking after yourself and keeping your baby well in pregnancy click on the link below

NHS Keeping well in Pregnancy

Solihull Understanding Pregnancy, Labour, Birth and your Baby

This FREE course is for parents, grandparents and carers - for everyone in the new arrival's life who wants to access an antenatal course and build a strong, healthy relationship with the baby.

It integrates the traditional information given on an antenatal course with a new approach to starting your relationship with your baby before your baby even makes an appearance!

It explains how and why you are so important to this baby, whether you are the mother, father, partner, grandparent or birth partner.

The course has content you can trust. It was developed by Registered Midwives working with Clinical Psychologists and Health Visitors in the Solihull Approach team. It has the same content as the Solihull Approach face to face antenatal course of the same name.

Go to www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access and resumes where you left off.

Mum and baby app

Your personal NHS guide for pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Download on the App Store or Get it on Google Play.

Suffolk Wellbeing

Suffolk Wellbeing offers 3 free online courses for parents and mums-to-be that can help build a secure foundation for you and your developing child, supporting you on how to build a strong relationship/attachment, coupled with tried and tested strategies based on the cognitive behavioural therapy model.

You can find more information and access the free online courses on the Living Life to The Full website, or you can download the Are you... Living Life to the Full? flyer (PDF, 1.5MB).

Tommy's pregnancy and post-birth digital wellbeing tool

To help look after yourself and be prepared for after the birth, Tommy's website enables you to create a Pregnancy and Post-birth Wellbeing Plan.

Virtual antenatal breastfeeding workshops

We are holding a series of informal virtual breastfeeding workshops for parents to access support and share information about breastfeeding. If you would like to find out more information please click on the link below:

Virtual Antenatal Breastfeeding Workshop

Sleep, Baby and You workshops

We are holding a series of informal workshops for expectant parents to access support and advice about what to expect regarding infant sleep. For more information please click on the link below:

Sleep, Baby and You workshops

Maternity services and resources in Suffolk

Antenatal Education Hub for Suffolk and North East Essex - this is where you will find all your information for pregnancy, birth and post natal wellbeing

Norfolk and Waveney Maternity Resources - a multilingual site for maternity resources for residents in Lowestoft and Waveney

Midwifery services

• East Suffolk Pregnancy and Birth Services
• West Suffolk Pregnancy Referral
• West Suffolk Maternity Services - includes links to Antenatal Group Presentations (Pregnancy – Birth and Beyond, Breastfeeding and Active Birth classes)
• Norfolk and Waveney Maternity Services 

Other useful information

• NHS Pregnancy and Baby Guide
• Start4Life Pregnancy
• Your Pregnancy week by week
• National Childbirth Trust
• A Guide on the COVID-19 vaccine for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Solihull Understanding your Baby

Understanding your baby’ is for everyone around a new baby: supporting you and the new arrival from birth to 12 months.

This FREE course gives you information about your baby's brain development and your baby's physical and emotional development. It shows how important your relationship with the baby is for the baby's development.

It integrates the traditional information given on a postnatal course with this new approach to developing your relationship with your baby. It looks at your baby’s sleeping, feeding, crying, playing and childcare options.

If you have already done the Solihull Approach antenatal course 'Understanding pregnancy' you may recognise some of the Units about feelings and support, You may want to think about this again, now you have your baby. If you are a Dad you may recognise parts of the Module for fathers, but you may want to look at the Units again.

The course has content you can trust. It was developed by Health Visitors working with health professionals including Clinical Psychologists in the Solihull Approach team.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access to that course and resumes where you left off.

Health for Under 5's

The Health for Under 5's website provides useful information provided by health professionals that will help you to ensure your baby's health and wellbeing. 

Mum & Baby App

Your personal NHS guide for pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Download on the App Store or Get it on Google Play.

Best beginnings

Resources that give parents the knowledge and confidence they need to look after their own mental and physical health and to maximise their child's development. Baby Buddy is a free app that guides you through pregnancy, birth, parenting and beyond.

Visit the Best Beginnings website.

Understanding you

Unfamiliar feelings of anxiety and depression can often develop suddenly and range from mild to extremely severe, requiring different kinds of support or treatment. It is normal for new parents to experience broken sleep, relationship changes and impaired physical health as a result of pregnancy and giving birth. Often new parents dismiss their symptoms as a result of these changes. Healthy Suffolk has a helpful web page with information, advice and guidance including a downloadable leaflet on baby blues. 

Visit Healthy Suffolk information on maternal mental health.

Understanding baby

The Institute of Health Visiting has helpful factsheets to find expert advice on key areas of looking after your new baby, from when they are born to when they go to school. 

Visit the Institute of Health Visiting website.

Infant Feeding

For information, advice and guidance on all aspects of feeding please see the separate drop down called Infant Feeding

Tommy's Pregnancy and post-birth digital wellbeing tool

To help look after yourself and be prepared for after the birth, Tommy's website enables you to create a Pregnancy and Post-birth Wellbeing Plan.

Public Health: Birth to Five Book

This book provides information on caring for children up to five years old and contact details for useful organisations - it is available in downloadable chapters.

Visit Public Health: Birth to Five.

NHS: Start4Life

Whatever you want to know about parenthood, from breastfeeding to when your baby will have their first vaccinations, you should find it here. We're here to give you the essential guide and lots of free tools for having a healthy, happy baby. 

Visit the NHS Start4Life website.

UNICEF: Building a happy baby

Advice and information for parents on getting to know their baby and setting up the foundations for a close and loving relationship, with a downloadable leaflet. 

Visit UNICEF: Building a happy baby.

Safer sleep

The Lullaby Trust safer sleep advice gives simple steps for how your baby should sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is more commonly known as cot death. The advice can give you the peace of mind to enjoy this special time. 

Visit the The Lullaby Trust: Safer sleep advice.

UNICEF's caring for your baby at night and the Lullaby Trust safer sleep for babies leaflets are designed to provide you with helpful and practical advice on reducing the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and coping at night.  Here you will also find the latest guidance on smoking, bed sharing, night feeding, safe sleeping environments and helping baby to settle.

NHS: your new baby

Advice on all the essentials of baby care, including breastfeeding, infant feeding, changing nappies, and washing your baby. 

Visit NHS: Your new baby.

Healthy Suffolk: children and young people

Information and advice services that are available in Suffolk. 

Visit Healthy Suffolk advice services.

Healthy Suffolk: coping with crying

Babies don't have the words to tell us what they want, and sometimes knowing what to do can be tough. Public Health has released a guide which may help you to cope with crying.

Visit Healthy Suffolk: Keep Calm.

Umbilical granuloma

An umbilical granuloma is an overgrowth of tissue during the healing process of the belly button (umbilicus). It usually looks like a soft pink or red lump and often is wet or leaks small amounts of clear or yellow fluid. It is most common in the first few weeks of a baby's life.

Visit Institute of Health Visiting: understanding umbilical granuloma.

Newborn Jaundice 

For information and overview of Newborn Jaundice visit NHS

Think 3 at 3 months

Tracking your baby’s movements, also known as motor developmental milestones, in the first few months of life is particularly important.  

To find out what movements you can expect your baby to make by 3 months and where to go if you are worried visit Think 3 at 3 months 

Workshop: Wellbeing -  living well with baby

Are you finding that the role of being a parent is impacting on your wellbeing? This workshop looks at all the changes which happen during this time and explore how these changes can leave people stuck in a negative cycle.  It also offers strategies on how to break this cycle in order to manage low mood and worry:

Living well with baby

Newborn Screening - Information Leaflets

These leaflets from Public Health England explain NHS newborn screening programme tests, possible results and follow up tests:

Newborn Screening: Information Leaflets

Health and Wellbeing - The First Few Years

This booklet created by Public Health Suffolk, which includes contributions from Midwifery, Health Visiting, Hospital & Community Paediatricians and nurses provides advice and guidance for parents of young children:

Health and wellbeing - the first few years 

Sleep, Baby and You workshops

We are holding a series of informal workshops for expectant parents to access support and advice about what to expect regarding infant sleep. For more information please click on the link below:

Sleep, Baby and You workshops

Health for Under 5's

The Health for Under 5's website provides useful information provided by health professionals that will help you to ensure your toddler's health and wellbeing. 

Solihull Understanding your Child

It's great that you are reading this! 99 out of 100 parents who do this course find it helpful. How amazing is that? So start your journey now!

Want to know a bit more about the course? Read on! 'Understanding your child' is an FREE online course for all parents, grandparents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. This course is a journey through knowledge. It builds up a way of looking at things that will be helpful for most situations.

This course has content you can trust. It has been written by Clinical Psychologists, Child Psychotherapists and other health professionals in the Solihull Approach team. It has also been awarded the UK Government's CANparent Quality Mark.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access and resumes where you left off.

ERIC leaflet potty and toilet training

Helps parents and carers to recognise when their child is ready to start toilet training, how to prepare, and what to do to make it a success. 

Visit ERIC's guide to potty training.

Understanding childhood leaflets

Young children react very differently to the triumphs and setbacks of their second and third years, so they need different kinds of support from their parents.  This website and the downloadable leaflets talk through what to expect and how, as a parent, you can help.              

Visit Understanding Childhood: Tempers and tears.

NHS information

Advice on all the essentials of your baby's development, including toilet training, play, speech, and managing temper tantrums. 

Visit NHS: Baby's Development, and click on the play and learning option and behaviour option.

Top tips for parents

The Institute of Health Visiting has helpful factsheets to find expert advice on key areas of looking after your new baby, from when they are born to when they go to school. 

Visit the Institute of Health Visiting website.

 Health and Wellbeing - The First Few Years

This booklet created by Public Health Suffolk, which includes contributions from Midwifery, Health Visiting, Hospital & Community Paediatricians and nurses provides advice and guidance for parents of young children:

Health and wellbeing - the first few years 

Health for Under 5's

The Health for Under 5's website provides useful information provided by health professionals that will help you to ensure your child's health and wellbeing. 

Solihull Understanding your Child

It's great that you are reading this! 99 out of 100 parents who do this course find it helpful. How amazing is that? So start your journey now!

Want to know a bit more about the course? Read on! 'Understanding your child' is an FREE online course for all parents, grandparents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. This course is a journey through knowledge. It builds up a way of looking at things that will be helpful for most situations.

This course has content you can trust. It has been written by Clinical Psychologists, Child Psychotherapists and other health professionals in the Solihull Approach team. It has also been awarded the UK Government's CANparent Quality Mark.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access and resumes where you left off.

NHS information

Advice on all the essentials for caring for your child, including the first day of school and separation anxiety.

Visit NHS: Starting school.

School nursing

Information about the school nursing service in Suffolk.

Visit Suffolk school nursing.

Emotional Wellbeing Hub

Information and advice if you are concerned about the emotional wellbeing and mental health of your child or young person aged 0 to 25 years.

Visit Emotional Wellbeing Hub.

 Health and Wellbeing - The First Few Years

This booklet created by Public Health Suffolk, which includes contributions from Midwifery, Health Visiting, Hospital & Community Paediatricians and nurses provides advice and guidance for parents of young children:

Health and wellbeing - the first few years 

One of the biggest challenges for new parents is getting used to the changes that a baby will bring to their night-time routine.

UNICEF's caring for your baby at night and the Lullaby Trust safer sleep for babies leaflets are designed to provide you with helpful and practical advice on reducing the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and coping at night.  Here you will also find the latest guidance on smoking, bed sharing, night feeding, safe sleeping environments and helping baby to settle.

If you are struggling with sleep issues for your baby or child, please feel free to contact your Health and Children’s Centre team. 

Monitor Wires

When your baby is small you may have baby monitors, grow eggs or other electronic devices to keep help keep them safe. As your baby gets more active; pulling to stand, reaching; becoming inquisitive and exploring the world, their needs change.

When they reach this stage, it is important to think about moving the cot away from electrical wires and leads to prevent accidents. Remember - what kept your tiny baby safe can be dangerous for toddlers.

Useful websites for information about sleep:

• Healthy Suffolk - Safer Sleep . This includes a leaflet for Safer Sleep that is available in the following languages:
• Arabic
• Bulgarian
• English
• Lithuanian
• Polish
• Pashto
• Romanian

• NHS: Sleep problems in young children
• The Lullaby Trust
• Lullaby Trust Safer Sleep for Babies quick reference guide
• BASIS - Baby Sleep Information Source
• Product Guide - a guide to buying safer sleep essentials
• The Lullaby Trust - Baby Check: Is Your Baby Really Ill
• The Lullaby Trust - Safer Sleep in Winter
• The Lullaby Trust - Safer Sleep in Winter - downloadable booklet

Safer Sleep during COVID-19

Visit the Lullaby Trust for information on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and advice on caring for your baby during COVID-19.

Additional Safer Sleep videos

The following videos provide further advice around safer sleep for children:

Breastfeeding

Drugs and Alcohol

Sleep Position

Smoking 

Staying Awake

Room Temperature

Safer sleep for babies

Each year, 40,000 under-fives are admitted to hospital following accidents, and lots of these accidents are preventable.

Your Health and Children's Centre team can advise you regarding accident prevention in the home. The team may also contact you if your child has attended A&E, to offer any ongoing support if needed.

• Keeping Safe: Home Safety Tool (Word, 694KB)

Take the Healthy Suffolk quiz to find out if your home is a Child Friendly Zone, along with ideas to help you make your home safer for your child.

Useful websites with information on keeping safe:

• NHS: Accidents, first aid and treatments
• NHS: What to do if your child has an accident
• Institute of Health Visiting: Top Tips for Parents
• Child and Accident Prevention Trust
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
• Water Safety at Home - the Royal Life Saving Society
• NHS Sunscreen and Sun Safety

When to use safety gates

Safety gates can be used to

• Stop small children going up and down stairs unsupervised
• Reduce the risk of your child falling down stairs.
• Keep small children out of places where it is harder to keep them safe such as the kitchen.
• Keep small children and pets separate.

Consider where you might need safety gates in your home before your baby becomes mobile.

When to stop using safety gates

It can be difficult to know when to stop using safety gates. The time to remove them is when safety gates can cause a risk of accident.

Remove them if

• Your child can climb over them.
• Your child can open them.

Safety gates are only licenced for use up until your child is 2 years old and it is important for you to be aware that there are increased risks if using them with children over 2, however there may be occasions in your home that you need safety gates above the age of 2, for example if you have one child over 2 and younger children in the home.

In these situations

• Teach your child to safely get up and down the stairs when they are ready,
• Supervise your child around safety gates,
• Think about the type of gate you have, for example make sure they do not have notches that make the gate easier to climb for a toddler.
• Teach your older child to open and close them safely or ask for your help. Never let them climb over them.

How to fit a safety gate

There are a range of different safety gates available to suit your needs. When you are choosing a gate ensure you follow these steps below:

• Make sure they meet the safety standard BS EN 1930:2011 and follow the fitting instructions.
• If you are using second hand ensure they meet the standard and have fitting instructions.
• Ensure the gate is suitable for the space

When using safety gates remember

• Always keep the gate closed
• Do not climb over the gate as your child may copy you
• Regularly check the gate to ensure it is secure and in good condition
• Never stack one stair gate on top of another to make a taller barrier – this is very dangerous and can cause serious injury for your child.

Further Support

If you have further questions or require support please contact the health business centre on 03456078866.

Useful websites with information on keeping safe:

• NHS: Accidents, first aid and treatments
• NHS: What to do if your child has an accident
• Institute of Health Visiting: Top Tips for Parents
• Child and Accident Prevention Trust
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
• Water Safety at Home - the Royal Life Saving Society
• NHS Sunscreen and Sun Safety

A staggering 44% of British adults now suffer from at least one allergy, and the number of sufferers is on the rise, growing by around 2 million between 2008 and 2009 alone.

The most common causes of allergic reactions are:

• pollen from trees and grasses
• proteins secreted from house dust mites
• moulds
• foods (such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and eggs)
• pets (such as cats and dogs, and other furry or hairy animals such as horses, rabbits, and guinea pigs)
• insects (such as wasps and bees)
• medicines (these may cause reactions by binding to proteins in the blood, which then triggers the reaction)

Useful websites with information on allergies:

• NHS: Allergies
• Anaphylaxis Campaign

It's important to make sure that you get all the help that you're entitled to. The following websites provide information on benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran.

There is also information about council tax and housing costs, national insurance, payment of benefits and problems with benefits.

Useful websites for benefits advice which you can refer to:

• Citizens Advice: Benefits
• GOV.UK: Benefits

Bereavement is one of the most painful emotions the human body has to deal with during our lifetime. Grief is a natural process, but it can be devastating. There are also lots of national and local support groups, some of which are listed below.

If this is affecting you or your family at this time, you can contact your Health and Children's Centre team for support.

Useful websites with information on bereavement support:

• NHS: Coping with bereavement
• Suffolk Cruse Bereavement Care
• Suffolk Bereavement support organisations
• GOV.UK: Bereavement Support Payment
• Lullaby Trust: Bereavement support

For advice about finding and choosing childcare and how to access the funded early education entitlement for 2, 3 and 4-year old children, please visit childcare information and support for parents and providers.

There is government help for childcare support for parents. Find out what offers of childcare support is available to you on the Childcare Choices website. 

Healthy Suffolk: coping with crying

Babies don't have the words to tell us what they want, and sometimes knowing what to do can be tough. Public Health has released a guide which may help you to cope with crying.

Go to Healthy Suffolk: Keep Calm.

Coping with crying during COVID - 19 Pandemic

It is hard at the best of times coping with a crying baby. However, it is much more difficult when you are confined to the house and separated from your usual activities and support from family and friends. With this in mind, the Institute of Health Visiting have put together a few facts on infant crying which we hope you find helpful – and, most importantly, some tips on how to get through this time and feel more in control and safe.

Coping with a crying baby during COVID-19 Pandemic

Watch how do you settle your baby

Close involvement of dads from birth supports positive family/couple relationships and dads have an important role to play in child development. Relationships between dads and their children matter from day 1.

Resources just for Dad or Dads to be

• A Dads guide to Breastfeeding
• Fatherhood institute
• Emotional Health and Well being - Fathers
• Dads Matter
• Dad Life tips and advice to help you navigate parenthood and body with your baby 
• New Dads your guide to good mental health
• How can Dads get involved

When it comes to teething, all babies are different. Your baby will probably get their first tooth sometime during their first year.

Your Health and Children's Centre team member will give you a dental pack during your child's routine one-year development review.

If you have any concerns regarding your baby's teething and dental health, please contact your Health and Children's Centre team for advice, or attend one of the drop-in Child Health Clinics.

You can find a dentist locally on the NHS website, or contact NHS England on 0300 311 223.

Useful advice on looking after your child's teeth:

• NHS Looking after your baby's teeth
• NHS Take care of your teeth and gums
• Dairy UK - Information on dairy, nutrition and health
• Dental Health Care

Dental Health during COVID 19

How to access dental health services during lock down

Dental health during lock down

Supporting children's oral health

Sometimes marriages and relationships end in divorce or separation and couples have to go their separate ways. If you have children, it's important that your break-up goes as smoothly as possible to have as little impact on them as you can manage as a relationship break down can affect all other areas of your life.

If this is affecting you or your family at this time, you can contact your Health and Children's Centre team for support.

Useful websites with guidance to help you make this difficult transition easier for you and your family:

• Relate: Help with separation and divorce

Everyone has the right to live without violence and fear. Domestic violence includes any form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse between people within a close relationship. It affects women, men and children, and can happen in any family, immaterial of class, religion or culture. It is estimated to occur in a quarter of all households.

If this is affecting you or your family at this time, you can contact your Health and Children's Centre team for support.

Useful websites to access help and support:

• Suffolk Police: Domestic abuse
• GOV.UK: Domestic abuse - how to get help
• HelpGuide: Domestic violence and abuse
• Victim Support: Domestic abuse
• Women's Aid: What is domestic abuse?
• Lighthouse Women's Aid
• Leeway

Drug and alcohol misuse are two significant issues facing people today, and they can be very harmful to your physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

Drug and alcohol treatment services for adults and young people in Suffolk are provided by Turning Point in conjunction with Suffolk Family Carers and Iceni. 

Useful websites with information on drug and alcohol support: 

• Healthy Suffolk: Drugs and alcohol
• NHS: Drug addiction - getting help

A well-balanced diet is essential for children in their early years and starts with establishing good eating patterns necessary to ensure they grow and develop appropriately.

Your Health and Children's Centre team can offer you advice around healthy eating habits and how to boost your child's relationship with food as well as helping to deal with the challenges that may arise. They are available to provide support in order for you to give the best opportunity for your child to grow into a healthy and confident adult. Staff are trained in the HENRY approach: Henry: Healthy Start, Brighter Future.

You may also find the following websites useful:

• NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
• NHS: Vitamin D
• NHS: Vitamins for children
• Healthy Start NHS
• First Steps Nutrition Trust
• NHS Start4Life
• Unicef: Research on infant nutrition
• Change4Life: Fun ideas to help your kids stay healthy
• OneLife Suffolk: Helping people lead healthier lives
• iCash: Integrated Contraception and Sexual Health services
• Institute of Health Visiting: Parent Tips - Vitamins A,C and D

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. To find out if you are eligible click on this link for the Healthy Start website. 

Download the healthy start scheme guide.

Click on this link for information about the Healthy Start Voucher Scheme

If you're homeless, or at risk of losing your home, we may be able to provide you with housing related support.

Housing related support can help to resolve the problems that are contributing to your housing issues, including:

• managing your mental or physical health
• problems with drugs or alcohol
• difficulties managing a budget or paying your rent or mortgage
• problems getting or staying in work or education

Useful websites for housing advice:

• Suffolk County Council: Homelessness and housing support

As a parent, you may not like seeing your baby or child being given an injection. However, vaccination will help protect them against a range of serious and potentially fatal diseases.

Vaccines do

• get safety tested for years before being introduced – they're also monitored for any side effects
• protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
• reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated

You can find information on the childhood immunisation schedule, including the ages at which they should ideally be given, reasons for vaccinating, and managing side effects on the NHS page about vaccinations.

If you're not sure whether you or your child has had all your routine vaccinations, ask your GP surgery to find out for you.

Useful websites with information about vaccinations:

• NHS: NHS vaccinations and when to have them
• NHS: Why vaccination is safe and important
• NHS: Tuberculosis (TB)

Immunisations during COVID-19 

Watch a video about the about the importance of getting immunisations even during the covid-19 pandemic.

NHS England have produced videos in several different languages to provide clear information about the COVID-19 vaccine:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Knowing what to expect in terms of feeding your baby, should help you feel as confident as possible when you have just given birth. 

Antenatal sessions, whether held by the NHS or another organisation, should cover the most important aspects of infant feeding, such as attachment, positioning, expressing, common questions and concerns, and how to overcome them.

Your Health and Children’s Centre team can help you with any concerns regarding responsive infant feeding. There are also lots of groups and drop-ins for you to attend for support and advice with responsive infant feeding.

You can click on this link for the Parent's Guide for the Breastfeeding Policy

Here is a list of our Health and Children's Centre breastfeeding support groups and national support helplines.

Find out about UNICEF Baby Friendly and why Suffolk County Council are committed to achieving this award.

Virtual antenatal breastfeeding workshops

We are holding a series of informal virtual breastfeeding workshops for parents to access support and share information about breastfeeding. If you would like to find out more information please click on the link below:

Virtual Antenatal Breastfeeding Workshop

Baby Friendly Venues in Suffolk

Click on the link below to find details of Baby Friendly venues in Suffolk:

Baby Friendly Venues in Suffolk

The SNEE Infant Feeding Padlet / Breastfeeding Suffolk app

SNEE Infant Feeding Padlet

Working together with Ipswich, Colchester and West Suffolk Hospital Trusts.

The Breastfeeding Suffolk app is built for new mothers who are breastfeeding their newborn. The app features helpful tools that allow mothers to track feed times, record child development milestones and read daily information cards related to their breastfeeding cycle.

The app also contains important contact details for local organisations and links to other helpful information, to ensure new mothers are up to date and informed throughout the full breastfeeding period.  You can download the app via The Healthy Suffolk website.

UNICEF offer a range of helpful leaflets and tips for parents. Below are the ones parents find most helpful:

• Please note: the information on Vitamin D has been updated and can be viewed here: NHS: Vitamin D 
• UNICEF Breastfeeding Guide (PDF, 77KB)
• UNICEF Breastfeeding: Foreign language resources
• NHS: Expressing and storing breast milk
• UNICEF: Baby Friendly Initiative
• UNICEF: Infant Formula and Responsive Bottle Feeding - a guide for parents
• UNICEF: Caring for your baby at night
• UNICEF: Introducing solid foods
• UNICEF: Building a happy baby - A guide for parents

NHS Start4Life provides lots of helpful information and advice on breastfeeding  Below are the ones parents find most helpful:

• NHS Start4Life
• NHS Start4Life - Breastfeeding
• NHS: Breastfeeding - the first few days
• NHS Start4Life: Guide to bottle feeding (PDF, 1.6MB)
• NHS Start4Life: Breastfeeding Friend from Start4Life on Amazon Alexa
• NHS Start4Life: Breastfeeding Friend from Start4Life on Google Home and Assistant

Other useful websites and information:

• Breastfeeding Network
• Healthy Suffolk: Breastfeeding
• First Steps Nutrition Trust
• The Breastfeeding Companion - free video-based breastfeeding tips and guidance
• A Guide on the COVID-19 vaccine for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Introducing your baby to solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complementary feeding starts when your baby is around 6 months old. You should introduce your baby to a varied diet, alongside their usual breast milk or infant formula.

Your Health and Children’s Centre team can help you with any concerns regarding introducing solids. There are also lots of groups and drop-ins for you to attend for support and advice.

10 top tips for introducing your baby to solid foods

If you would like to attend an ‘Introducing Solids information session’, please contact your local Health and Children’s Centre team.

Here are websites and information that you may find useful: 

• NHS Start4Life: Weaning
• NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
• UNICEF: Introducing Solid Foods leaflet
• First Steps Nutrition Trust
• NHS Healthy Start
• NHS Change4Life

Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives than at any other time. A booklet has been written to help you as a parent know what to expect during these vitally important years by focusing on the seven areas of learning and development which are covered in this Early Years Foundation Stage Parent Guide .

Your child's development is a continuous process that is unique to your child. Each baby, child and young person does not progress at the same rate.

Your Health and Children's Centre team can support you to help your child achieve their potential. The team will offer you routine contacts to review your child's development. This ensures that early help can be put in place for you and your child should you need it. 

If you are concerned about your baby, child or a young person's health and development, please contact your general practitioner or Health and Children's Centre team at any time.

You may find the websites and information helpful:

• GOV.UK: Early years foundation stage - sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old.
• NHS Start4Life: Baby - the essential guide and lots of free tools for having a healthy, happy baby.
• Hungry Little Minds - simple, fun activities for kids, from newborn to five.
• Play ideas
• BBC Tiny Happy People - activities to help develop your child's communication skills
• Help children aged 2-4 learn at home
• NSPCC Look, Say, Sing, Play

Watch this video to find out how you can encourage your child's confidence and self esteem.

Please share your feedback about mental health support during and after pregnancy. Healthwatch England have created a national survey that will help identify how well people feel they have been supported in Suffolk. Please click on this link for Healthwatch Suffolk for more details about the survey. Please click on this link for the Healthwatch Survey.

Being pregnant is a time of change, but this can also be a time of feeling worried, fearful, excited and joyful.  Although all of these feelings are completely normal, for many women, some of these changes can be distressing and more severe.

The 'baby blues' are due to the sudden hormonal and chemical changes that take place in your body after childbirth.  This can affect many women and should only last for a few days.  However, for some women, these symptoms can be more severe and last longer, and could be postnatal depression.

Depression and anxiety are thought to affect 15-20% of women in the first year after childbirth.

Signs of postnatal depression may include:

• feelings of being unable to cope, hopelessness and excessive anxiety
• not being able to stop crying
• panic attacks
• concerns about bonding with your baby

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please talk to a Health Visitor or someone you trust. Your Health and Children's Centre team are trained to recognise postnatal depression and anxiety and have techniques and resources that can help you.

It's also important to see your GP. If you don't feel up to making an appointment, ask someone to do it for you.

Useful websites and information:

• Tommy's: The Pregnancy and Post-birth Wellbeing Plan
• NHS: Postnatal depression
• Emotional Wellbeing Gateway website
• Get Me Out The Four Walls - local charity offering support to parents
• Wellbeing Service - Offers a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues
• Samaritans - Offers listening and support to people in time of need
• Association of Postnatal Illness - registered charity who offer support to mothers who are suffering from postnatal illness
• PANDAS - a national charity that offers support to any parent suffering from perinatal mental illness
• MIND - a mental health charity that provides helpful information on mental health, psychiatric medication and much more
• Action on Postpartum Psychosis - Information & peer support to women who have experienced Postpartum Psychosis and their families
• Royal College of Psychiatrists - provides information on postnatal psychosis and depression
• Anxiety UK - provides support for people suffering with anxiety
• Family Lives - offers parenting advice and support
• No Panic - help with dealing with Panic Disorder
• Living Life to the Full - free online courses covering low mood, stress and resilience
• Onelife Suffolk - find activities in your local area that may help with your wellbeing
• Institute of Health Visiting - Emotional Health and Wellbeing for mothers

Helpful Apps / Mobile Resources

• Shout - 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, if you’re in crisis and you need immediate help
• Baby Buddy - Provides easy access to trusted, evidence-based information and self-management tools during the transition to parenthood and throughout the early stages of parenting.

Being a parent is one of the most important jobs there is. It has amazing rewards, but it can also be very challenging.  Here are some FREE resources you might find useful

Solihull Understanding your Baby

Understanding your baby’ is for everyone around a new baby: supporting you and the new arrival from birth to 12 months.

This FREE course gives you information about your baby's brain development and your baby's physical and emotional development. It shows how important your relationship with the baby is for the baby's development.

It integrates the traditional information given on a postnatal course with this new approach to developing your relationship with your baby. It looks at your baby’s sleeping, feeding, crying, playing and childcare options.

If you have already done the Solihull Approach antenatal course 'Understanding pregnancy' you may recognise some of the Units about feelings and support, You may want to think about this again, now you have your baby. If you are a Dad you may recognise parts of the Module for fathers, but you may want to look at the Units again.

The course has content you can trust. It was developed by Health Visitors working with health professionals including Clinical Psychologists in the Solihull Approach team.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access to that course and resumes where you left off.

Solihull Understanding your Child

It's great that you are reading this! 99 out of 100 parents who do this course find it helpful. How amazing is that? So start your journey now!

Want to know a bit more about the course? Read on! 'Understanding your child' is an FREE online course for all parents, grandparents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. This course is a journey through knowledge. It builds up a way of looking at things that will be helpful for most situations.

This course has content you can trust. It has been written by Clinical Psychologists, Child Psychotherapists and other health professionals in the Solihull Approach team. It has also been awarded the UK Government's CANparent Quality Mark.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access and resumes where you left off.

Solihull Understanding the impact of the pandemic on your child

Reflective learning to understand the impact of the pandemic and how to support your child.

This course is a bitesize, focused programme typically taking just thirty minutes to follow. We hope it will be a useful engagement tool for lots of families across the country with young children. It will help you to reflect on how your children’s social experiences, learning, and other developments might have been affected.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access and resumes where you left off.

If you would like some support with any aspect of parenting, please contact your Health and Children's Centre team.  You can also find parenting advice and support to help with your child's development on The Parent Hub.

Useful websites and information:

• NHS: Dealing with child behaviour problems
• Institute of Health Visiting: Top tips for parents
• NSPCC: Positive parenting leaflet
• NSPCC Parents' Leaflets
• Unicef: What's on your mind? How parents can start the mental health conversation with their kids

The first day at school can be challenging for both children and parents, but with a little preparation, it will be easier for you to cope.

Some of the key skills to help your child develop before they start school are:

• going to the toilet
• washing their hands
• dressing and undressing
• using a tissue
• tidying up
• feeding themselves
• knowing how to share

If you feel you would like support, your Health and Children's Centre team can help you with techniques to encourage these skills and behaviours.

You may find these websites helpful:

• Pacey: Being school ready
• Suffolk Libraries: Bookstart and storytime resources

If you have a question about your child's health or development, speak to your health visitor, nursery worker, GP or a professional who works with them.

For further information, support, and guidance for parents and carers go to the Suffolk Local Offer website.

You may also find this information useful:

• GOV.UK: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
• Contact: for families with disabled children

Early Years Notification Service

Early Information about your child helps the local authority to plan ahead to meet their needs. This is called Early Notification. Please click on this link to find out more about Early Notification:

Early Years Notification for Children under 5 Years

Solihull Understanding your child with additional needs

This online course is for parents with a child with additional needs. It is for parents, relatives and friends of children who may have a physical or learning disability or who may have autistic traits. In the UK, you may be within the SEND (Special educational needs and disability) system.

This course is in 2 sections. Level 1 lays the foundation for understanding your child. Level 2 looks at some particular aspects of parenting: sleeping and anger management, together with more about how we interact with each other. Understanding this can make it easier to work with your child's behaviour as well as supporting their development. Once you finish Level 1 you can progress to Level 2 if you would like to. You can print off a certificate at the end of the course as well as one at the end of Level 1.

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and follow instructions to set up an account.  Once you have created an account enter the access code: WOLSEY.  Your account will remember your access to that course and resumes where you left off.

Over one million children in the UK have some kind of speech language and communication needs. This is known as SLCN for short.

Every child is different. Their needs depend on different factors, including:

• which areas of speech, language and communication they struggle with
• how severely these areas are affected
• what skills and strengths they have
• how they need to use their skills
• their level of confidence and self-esteem

Take a look at BBC Tiny Happy People and Hungry Little Minds for activities and ways you can help develop your child's communication skills.

If you are worried about your child's speech and language, you can contact your Health and Children's Centre team.

You may find the following links useful:

• Talking Point
• ICAN
• Afasic: Voice for life
• Action for Stammering Children
• The British Stammering Association
• Words For Life - National Literacy Trust
• Start4life: Learning to Talk (age 1-2)
• Start4life: Learning to Talk (age 2-3) 

Speech and Language Therapy services 

For under 5's your the referral route for Speech and Language therapy is via your Health & Children's Centre.  If you are worried about your child's speech, language or communication you can call

• If you live in East or West Suffolk call the Health Business Centre on 0345 607 8866
• If you live in Lowestoft or Waveney call Just One Number on 0300 300 0123

To find out more about the Speech and Language Therapy team and what they offer click on the links below

• East and West Suffolk
• Lowestoft and Waveney

Toilet training is an important milestone and a new skill for your child to learn. Every child is different, so it's best not to compare your child with others.

Your Health and Children's Centre team can advise you on how to gauge if your child is ready for toilet training and give you some tips on how best to start this.

Useful websites about toilet training help and advice:

• NHS: How to potty train
• ERIC: When to start potty training

The Young Parent’s Pathway is a home visiting voluntary service within the 0-19 Health Visiting service that supports mothers to be under the age of 20 years old, who live in Suffolk. Please click on this link to find out more information about the Young Parent's Pathway.