Useful links
Becoming a parent can be difficult at times, but you are not alone. Your midwife, health visitor, GP, and social worker, are there to help, guide and support you throughout your pregnancy and the first few weeks and months of parenthood.
Below are a few other sources of advice and support that you may find useful.
If you need urgent health advice, please call your doctor, go to a walk in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies call 999 or visit A&E.
Hampshire
Family Lives – Family Lives provides information, advice, guidance and support on all aspects of parenting and family life.
Healthier Together (what0-18.nhs.uk) – Provides information and resources to improve the health of children and young people in Dorset and Hampshire.
Your Health Visiting Service – Hampshire | Health for Under5s – Provides information and details of what is on offer in your area.
#ReadyforParenthood campaign – NHS – Provides information and support to new parents and carers in the south east area.
Home-Start UK – Home-Start works with families in their home, providing compassionate, confidential help and expert support.
National
Tips for new parents – NHS – A quick guide to everything you need to know about caring for your new baby during those exhausting but wonderful early weeks.
Help and support for new parents – Start for Life – NHS – Further advice and support for new parents including information on local services, benefits, help to buy food, milk and vitamins, childcare and mental health support.
Barnardo’s Family Space | Barnardo’s Family Space – A comprehensive virtual family hub offering information, advice, guidance and support for all stages of your parenting or caring journey.
Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help – NHS – 24-hour helpline should you need urgent help.
Your mental health – Start for Life – NHS – Further advice and support for new parents.
Mental health problems and pregnancy – NHS – Information if you are feeling sad during pregnancy and its starting to affect your life.
Perinatal and postnatal mental health – Mind – Learn about mental health problems that can happen during pregnancy and after you’ve had a baby. This includes how to manage existing mental health problems during this time.
Support for mums and families | Maternal Mental Health Alliance – A UK-wide charity and network of over 125 organisations, dedicated to supporting all women and families impacted by perinatal mental health problems.
How to bond with your baby | NSPCC – Bonding with your baby can start before they’re born, and you can use similar techniques as your baby grows into a toddler. If you’re struggling to form an emotional bond, there’s lots of help available in this guide.
Bonding With Your Baby | Tommy’s – Some parents bond with their baby immediately, while others find it takes more time. This guide provides some ideas on how to spend quality time with your baby.
Bonding with your baby – Start for Life – NHS – Information on building a close relationship with your baby and understanding your baby.
Sleep and tiredness after having a baby – NHS – Useful tips that may help you feel more rested after having a baby.
Helping your baby to sleep – NHS – Lots of information including where your baby should sleep, establishing a bedtime routine and how much sleep your baby needs.
Babies and sleeping | NSPCC – If your baby won’t sleep through the night, as you’ve heard other babies do, it’s easy to feel worried or stressed. This guides provides information on sleep at different stages, sleep safety and tips for good bedtime routines.
The Lullaby Trust – Safer sleep advice for babies and support for families.
BASIS – Baby Sleep Information Source – For parents who wish to make informed choices about infant sleep and night-time care.
Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – NHS – Important advice on how to reduce the risks of SIDS as much as possible.
Parents – ICON Cope – All the latest advice and soothing techniques for a crying infant.
Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Cry-sis – Support for parents with crying and sleepless babies. Helpline number: 08451 228 669. Opening times: 9.00am – 10.00pm.
Soothing a crying baby – NHS – Lots of tips and useful advice on how to soothe a crying baby.
Babies and crying | NSPCC – Guide for supporting parents with crying.
Citizens Advice – Offer confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. Adviceline: 0800 144 8848.
Family Rights Group – A charity that advises parents, grandparents, relatives and friends about their rights and options when social workers or courts make decisions about their children’s welfare. They work with parents whose children are in need, at risk or are in the care system and with wider family members and friends who are raising children (known as kinship carers). Free adviceline: 0808 8010366.
NHS 111 – 111 Online will direct you to the best place to get help if you are worried about yourself or your baby.
Find your nearest A&E – NHS – Find urgent and emergency care services in your area.
Family Nurse Partnership – A voluntary programme offered to first time young mums and dads (aged 19 or under) for support throughout pregnancy and the first year of your baby’s life.
Young parents | Childline – Information and advice for young parents.
Find Help | Health for Teens | Hampshire – Details of specialist services available in your area or get in touch with your school nurse.
Solihull Approach – Provides free online courses for all parents, expectant parents, carers, grandparents and teens living in Hampshire.
Dads and partners | Tommy’s – A hub for dads, partners and non-birthing parents, providing information on pregnancy, birth, parenting and emotional support.
Becoming Dad: A guide for new fathers | Mental Health Foundation – This guide is to help you make sense of what it can be like to be a dad, to look after yourself and the others around you, and do the best possible job of becoming a confident father.