Parenting information and resources
Parenting information and resources
To support you in parenting and to help prepare you for the next stages, we've put together some parenting information and resources which we hope you'll find helpful.
- Physical wellbeing
- Mental wellbeing
- Speech, language and communication
- Potty and toilet training
- Crying in babies
- Sleeping and safe sleep
- Basic baby care
- Finance and housing
- DadPad app
Physical wellbeing
The Healthy Child Service are here to provide information and support to families and children.
The Healthy Child Programme for the early life stages focuses on a universal preventative service, providing families with a programme of screening, immunisation, health, and development reviews, supplemented by advice around health, wellbeing, and parenting.
Once your babies are born you will be provided by your midwives with a Red Book for child information and communication.
See further information about staying healthy and healthy eating.
Health checks
Health checks and other services are available for babies including:
- vaccinations and health checks
- newborn blood spot test
- newborn hearing screening
- child health clinics
- self-weigh your baby service
Immunisations
Immunisations give protection against some infectious diseases. See further information about childhood immunisations and immunisations in pregnancy.
Dental health and teething
If you're pregnant, and for 12 months after your baby is born, you're entitled to free NHS dental treatment.
See further information about dental health and teething.
Infant feeding
See information on introducing solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complimentary feeding, which starts when your baby is around 6 months old.
You may choose to breastfeed, chest feed, use expressed breast milk, or use infant formula and this is often a very personal decision. See further information about infant feeding.
Child development and play age guide
All children are unique and will reach development milestones at a time and rate that’s unique to them.
Our child development and play age guide identifies a range of child development stages for your information.
Accident prevention
Children need to explore and experiment, and many childhood accidents are a part of growing up but accidents to children can have a lifelong impact.
See further information about accident prevention in children.
Common illness in babies and children
Babies, toddlers, and children will get illnesses as their bodies develop immunity to infections, and it's hard to stop them getting unwell.
See further information on common illness in babies and children.
Vitamins for children
What happens in the first few years of a child’s life can shape their whole life.
See resources and information on vitamins for children.
Smoking, drugs and alcohol
Stopping smoking is one of the best things you will ever do for your health. Quitting is much easier when you get the right support and there are lots of options to choose from.
There’s help available in York at whatever level you might need it, whether that be with your own drinking or drug use, or because you are affected by someone else’s substance use.
Mental wellbeing
Healthy Relationships are important for yours and babies and children's well-being.
Improved mental health and wellbeing is associated with a range of better outcomes for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Find information and support for your mental health as well as information about family mental health.
Speech, language and communication
See useful information on speech, language and communication, including speech and language and child development.
Potty and toilet training
Some children take to toilet training quickly, others take more time. Either way, it's common to have questions and face setbacks as your child learns this new skill.
See more information about potty and toilet training.
Crying in babies
Crying in babies is normal, and comforting methods can help. It’s OK to walk away, never ever shake a baby.
See further information about infant crying and how to cope.
Sleeping and safe sleep
Babies have their own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it's unlikely to be the same as other babies you know.
See further information about sleeping and safe sleep for babies and young children.
Basic baby care
As a parent, you will have many questions and will probably spend a large part of the first few days after birth looking at your baby and getting to know them and what they need.
See information on basic baby care.
Finance and housing
There is help and guidance available for all your financial and housing needs.
If you're struggling financially or would just like to know what help is available, see our finance and housing advice.
DadPad app
DadPad is a free app to guide new dads and is endorsed by the NHS.
Have your say!
We would love to hear from you with comments and suggestions about developing or improving our service. Let us know how we can improve our service by completing the online anonymous feedback survey.
