Please see below sources of support including groups and online advice for families in Medway:

If you need to seek advice or support please ring the Health Visiting duty line on 0300 123 3444

Medway families can now access some courses on the Solihull website ‘www.inourplace.co.uk’  for free. The courses are based on the Solihull Approach. An individual can  register on the site and then access the courses using the codeword Invicta. Here is the list of courses ~ please note that the ‘Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby’ & ‘Understanding your child’ are both offered in other languages.

These are the courses available:

  • Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
  • Understanding your baby
  • Understanding your child
  • Understanding your teenager’s brain
  • Understanding your brain (for teenagers themselves)

Medway Community Healthcare offers a variety of parent education:

  • A useful website for your information and ways to support your baby’s development from the antenatal stage through to 5 years old is the BBC site ‘Tiny, Happy People’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/activities
  • You and Your New Baby (postnatal group) - This is a 5 week series for new parents to attend with babies between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 months. We explore adjusting to parenthood; development; minor illnesses and ailments; feeding and oral health; play and sleep. In addition, this is a great opportunity to meet and make new friends with parents of similarly aged children. You and your new baby > (Please contact our central number on 0300 123 3444 to book a place).
  • Introducing Solid Foods - This is a single session intended for parents with babies 3-6 months old. The session fully explores the introduction of solid foods; the different approaches that people use and guidance on oral health and supplements. Please contact our central number on 0300 123 3444 to book a place.
  • And So to Bed - This is a single session for parents with babies and young children over 10 months old’. It looks at how we can help to ensure that our children develop healthy sleep habits and avoid/overcome any common difficulties. Complete the session by clicking here and then let us know you completed it by emailing medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net
  • Toileting issues age 3+ - If your child has some difficulty with toileting after the age of 3, please complete this session and then let us know you completed it by emailing medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net
  • Behaviour – In this single session we explore how to develop a positive relationship with your child, the appropriate expectations for behaviour in relation to age and managing common issues that arise. The session is intended for parents of children from 2 ½ to 6 years old. Complete the session by clicking here and then let us know you completed it by emailing medch.childrenscommunity@nhs.net

Useful Links

For advice on many of the common parenting questions visit www.nhs.uk

Moving onto solid foods

Toileting     

Helping you get a better night's sleep - The Sleep Council

Baby sleep

Parenting - influencing your child's behaviour

Positive Parenting

Parenting Advice & Support

Dealing with Difficult Behaviour

And so to bed 

Introducing solid foods 

Toilet training 

Back to Child Health Service