Health Visiting
Health visitors are specialist community public health nurses who provide expert advice, support and interventions for families expecting a new baby or those with children under 5 years old.
You can contact your local Health Visiting team directly or be referred by a GP or healthcare professional.
The Kent Baby website
Go to the Kent Baby website for films, resources and links that can help you and your child on the journey from pregnancy to starting school.
Support from health visitors
The Health Visiting Service provides advice and support on:
- growth, physical and emotional development and learning through play
- breastfeeding, introducing solid foods and healthy eating
- immunisations
- common infections, skin problems and minor illnesses in children
- challenges such as teething, temper tantrums, sleeping, eating and toilet training
- post-natal depression, bereavement and violence in the family
- reducing accidents in the home.
The service will contact families to offer support at the following stages of a baby or child’s development:
- during the antenatal period (after 28 weeks)
- following the birth of your baby (usually before 14 days of age)
- between 6 and 8 weeks of age
- between 9 and 2 months of age
- between 2 and 2 and a half years of age.