Being a parent is a special time and watching your child grow and develop is an amazing experience. There may be times you wonder what you could be doing to support your child's development even more or need some extra support.
Kent Health Visiting Service offers the 'You and your baby course' for parents with a baby under six months in local Family Hubs.
We also have a range of online support including virtual workshops, digital courses and narrated PowerPoint presentations on a range of subjects.
The Born to Move app supports you and your child on the amazing journey from pregnancy, all the way to starting school.
Born to move is about encouraging play and interaction throughout your child’s early years, supporting their learning and development. Born to move
You can add your child's profile and record photos and milestones along the way to look back on, or to share with friends and family. Regular tips from your local health visitor will give you ideas to try with your child and other useful information.
Download the free Born to Move app and let us join you on this exciting adventure!
Remember your Health Visiting Team is here to support you every step of the way with any queries you may have.
Full Born to Move app terms and conditions are available.
Download the free Born to Move app and let us join you on this exciting adventure!
Ready for Baby is a free session for parents-to-be with expert NHS advice from your local health visiting team.
Supporting you to:
- develop a close relationship with your baby
- feed your baby responsively, however you choose to feed them.
- know when feeding is going well.
Find out more about:
- your baby's feeding cues
- the benefits of skin-to-skin
- feeding choices
- what's in a nappy
- responding to baby
- your baby's brain development
For more information and to book your place email kentchft.readyforbabyproject@nhs.net or ask your health visitor.
We offer virtual and face-to-face courses or a pre-recorded narrated PowerPoint available. Details of all courses including locations and dates of our face-to-face courses are available on the Kent Baby website.
Children's centres and health visiting teams are offering virtual workshops to guide you through the weaning journey. Visit the introducing solids page for more information and to find out how to book.
Some children's centres offer face-to-face sessions as well, please check with your local centre to see what is available in your area.
You can also watch our Introducing Solids PowerPoint videos which covers the topics we discuss on the virtual workshops. You can find these at the bottom of this page.
Kent health visiting and school health teams offer a monthly virtual session to help you understand when your toddler is ready with top tips to help get your toddler clean and dry.
The details for the virtual toilet training sessions are:
- The first Wednesday of each month from 1.30 to 2.30pm on Microsoft Teams.
Email to book a place: kentchft.toilettrainingworkshop@nhs.net
Visit our toilet training page for more information.
Understanding your child are free online courses for anyone who is pregnant or caring for a child in Kent. These courses help you develop as a parent as your family grows. They are available in 15 to 20-minute chunks, perfect for busy parents and carers.
- Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby - for anyone who is expecting a baby including friends and family. There is a course for female same-sex couples too.
- Understanding your baby - for anyone caring for a baby from birth to six-months-old. There are courses for parents caring for a preterm or sick baby in hospital.
- Understanding your child from toddler to teenager - for anyone caring for a child from six months to 19 years plus.
- Understanding your child with additional needs.
- Understanding your child's feelings (a taster course)
- Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing.
- Understanding your teenager's brain - for anyone caring for a teenager in Kent and one for teenagers themselves.
- Understanding your relationships
To access your free course go to https://inourplace.co.uk/ and register for an account with the access code 'Invicta'.
You need a smartphone, tablet or computer and an internet connection to access the courses.
If these courses raise any concerns please contact your local Health Visiting Team or School Health Team for more support.
Families can also access three online courses on coping with stress, communicating better wherever you are in your parenting journey and whether you are in a relationship or separated.
- Arguing better - how to approach disagreements.
- Me, you and baby too - how to navigate the changes that happen in a relationship when a new baby arrives.
- Getting it right for children - how to minimise conflict and the impact it can have on your children when you are separating or have split up.
Visit www.oneplusone.org.uk, select Kent as your area and set up an account with a username and password.
You need a smartphone, tablet or computer and an internet connection to access the courses. They are all free to access.
If these courses raise any concerns please contact your local Health Visiting Team or School Health Team for more support.
The Kent Health Visiting Team has produced a range of narrated presentations to support you and your child.