Find out about the local services and support in Nottinghamshire for children from birth to age 2 years.
You can also download the full Nottinghamshire Best Start offer 2026 booklet [PDF]
Printed booklets are also available for reference in Nottinghamshire libraries
On this page
- Dads and partners
- Breastfeeding and infant feeding
- Safer Sleep from day one
- Bonding with your baby
- Healthy Family Team new birth visit
- Registering your baby's birth
- Healthy Start
- Vitamins
- Healthy Family Team 6 to 8 week review
- GP health check at 6 to 8 weeks
- Family Hub Networks
- Vaccinations
- Feelings after birth
- Healthy family team 3 to 4 month review
- Keep talking together
- Healthy early months
- Libraries
- Weaning
- Looking after your baby's teeth
- Childcare and Early Education
- Safety in the home
- Healthy Family Team 1 year health and development review
- Bookstart
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Toilet training
Dads and partners
Tommy's Charity
Tommy's, the pregnancy and baby charity, has help and advice on how you can support your partner during pregnancy, preparing for labour and also looking after yourself on Dads and partners (Tommy’s).
Think Dads! Dad Pack
The Dad Pack is for all dads expecting a new baby. It contains information on preparing for labour, feeding and play, and to help dads look after themselves.
Download the Think Dads Dad Pack [PDF]
More support for dads
Find a range of information for new dads, parenting resources and sources of support on our Dads information page.
Breastfeeding and infant feeding
Support with feeding your baby is available from your midwife and Healthy Family Team. You can contact your local Family Hub to find out about the breastfeeding support they offer.
Read more about breastfeeding support on our Breastfeeding page.
You can also find information on responsive formula feeding on our Baby feeding and weaning page.
Dads and other family members and friends can find out how to support breastfeeding at Who can support with breastfeeding? (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS).
Safer Sleep from day one
The Lullaby Trust has lots of useful information about how to sleep your baby more safely, including safer co-sleeping.
If you have any questions or worries about your baby’s sleep, speak to your midwife or Healthy Family team and they will support you.
You can also find information on Safer Sleeping (Health for Under 5's)
Bonding with your baby
It’s great for both parents to have lots of skin-to-skin time across baby’s first weeks.
Holding baby close, soothing, cuddling and talking makes them feel safe and secure. It also releases the hormone oxytocin which helps your baby’s brain grow and develop.
Find more out about The Science of Cuddling (BBC Tiny Happy People).
Speak to your health visitor in the Healthy Family Team if you’re worried about your bond with your baby – they can arrange extra support.
Healthy Family team new birth visit
You will see your midwife soon after you leave the hospital. Before long, your care will move to the Healthy Family team.
By 14 days after birth, the Healthy Family team will visit you for a new birth review.
Dads and partners are welcome to attend.
Learn what to expect at a birth visit appointment in this 2-minute YouTube video:
Registering your baby's birth
You must register your baby's birth within 42 days of your baby being born.
Healthy Start
Find out if you are entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk with the Healthy Start scheme (NHS)
Vitamins
It is recommended that breastfed babies take vitamins from birth. Formula fed babies do not need them until they are drinking less than 500ml of formula milk a day as formula milk is fortified with vitamins.
Healthy Start vitamins contain the right amount and type of vitamins for babies and are produced by the NHS.
Vitamins are provided in many Family Hub buildings. You can buy them at low cost or get them free if you are on the Healthy Start scheme.
Or telephone to find your nearest Family Hub on 0300 500 8080.
Healthy Family Team 6 to 8 week review
At the review your health visitor will
- discuss your recovery after giving birth (both physically and emotionally)
- offer support around health promotion and development of your baby
- signpost you to services where needed
You will have the opportunity to ask any questions. Dads and partners are also invited to attend.
Learn what to expect at a 6 to 8 week review appointment from the Healthy Family team in this 2-minute YouTube video:
GP health check at 6 to 8 weeks
Your baby will be invited for a thorough physical examination. This is usually done by a doctor (GP).
You should also be invited for a 6 to 8 week postnatal check to review
- your pelvic health
- physical health
- mental health
- family planning
- health promotion e.g support losing weight, stopping smoking etc.
It is an opportunity for you to ask questions and get support to improve your health. A healthier parent will help create a healthier family.
Find out more about Your 6-week postnatal check (NHS)
Family Hub Networks
When you are ready to go out with your baby, you can join sessions at a Family Hub.
Family Hub teams can help you with:
- family support
- parenting skills
- health and wellbeing
- early years development
- communication and language
They offer other support too.
Or, telephone to find your nearest Family Hub on 0300 500 8080
Vaccinations
Remember to book your baby in for their vaccinations to give them the best protection.
These are offered for all babies, including those who are premature at:
- 8 weeks
- 12 weeks
- 16 weeks
- 12 months old
- 18 months
Read more about NHS vaccinations and where to have them (NHS)
Feelings after birth
After the birth of a baby, it’s normal to experience a range of different emotions due to hormonal changes in the body, and adjusting to parenthood.
While having a new baby can be a wonderful time it can also be challenging. It’s common for new mum's and dad's to feel overwhelmed, and experience some anxiety, worry, or stress.
If these feelings start to affect your daily life, you or your partner should speak to your Healthy Family Team, GP or self-refer to talking therapies to access some extra support.
Find local sources of support and advice on:
- Mental health before and after baby page
- Perinatal Mental Health Service (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS)
Family Hubs also provide support groups including Parent Help and Emotional Wellbeing groups (PHEW) which provide a safe environment to talk and gain support.
Find your nearest Family Hub team (Nottinghamshire County Council
Or, telephone to find your nearest Family Hub on 0300 500 8080
Healthy Family Team 3 to 4 months review
First-time parents will be offered a 3 to 4 month review with the Healthy Family Team.
The review will cover:
- how your baby’s brain is growing
- why attachment is important
- share ways you can enjoy positive and fun activities with your baby
The aim is to support you and your baby to build strong, loving connections. You can also ask any questions you might have.
Find out more, visit Healthy Family Teams (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS)
Keep talking together
Parents can strengthen the connection with their baby in many ways. You can do this by:
- gazing at them
- holding them
- smiling
- talking and singing
These activities help your baby feel close to you and keep them interested.
You can help your child learn to communicate both at home and when you are out. There are many simple things you can do together to support their early communication skills.
Family Hubs offer speech and language support through groups such as ‘Little Talkers Groups’ and ‘Baby Peep’.
Or, telephone to find your nearest Family Hub on 0300 500 8080
Healthy early months
When you’re feeling tired, being active may seem like the last thing you want to do but regular activity can relax you, keep you fit and help your body recover after childbirth.
Learn about Keeping fit and healthy with a baby (NHS)
Reducing your baby's exposure to second-hand smoke lowers health risks. Babies are more at risk because their airways, lungs, and immune systems are still developing.
Get free support to Quit smoking (Your Health Notts)
Telephone 0115 772 2515
Libraries
Babies love books! It’s free to join the library and borrow books. There are no overdue charges for children.
Lots of libraries have free and low-cost activities and sessions for babies and toddlers, such as Rattle, Rhyme and Roll sessions.
Find out more about the services on offer for children and families from libraries in Nottinghamshire (Inspire)
Email: ask@inspireculture.org.uk
Tel: 01623 677 200
Weaning
Introducing your baby to solid foods is called weaning. You can start weaning when your baby is about 6 months old and shows signs they are ready.
Learn more about weaning at What is weaning? (NHS Best Start in Life)
Contact your nearest Family Hub team to find out about weaning workshops.
Or, telephone to find your nearest Family Hub on 0300 500 8080
Find out:
- which foods can cause an allergic reaction
- how to safely add these foods to your baby's diet
- how to recognise signs of a food allergy
Learn more at Baby food allergies (NHS Best Start in Life)
First Steps Nutrition Trust has a guide to help you feed your baby well in their first year.
- The guide explains how to start solid foods.
- It covers healthy eating up to your baby's first birthday.
- You can read the guide online or download it from their website.
View or download the guide from Infants and new mums (First Steps Nutrition Trust)
Looking after your baby's teeth
Start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as they start to come through.
Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, just before bed and another time that fits in to their routine.
Find top tips on Looking after your baby's teeth (NHS)
NHS dental care for children is free and you should take your child to the dentist when their first baby teeth appear. Not all dentists will take on new NHS patients.
Childcare and early education
It’s good to start thinking about your childcare options. Your child will learn lots of important things when they are little, and this helps them to grow and develop.
Visit different childcare settings to see what feels right for your child.
Find local childcare near you on our Find childcare page.
You can get help with paying for childcare for babies from 9 months old. Find out about the childcare funding support that you can get on our Help with childcare costs page.
You can also View all schemes (Best Start in Life)
Or, you can telephone the advice line on 0300 500 80 80
Safety in the home
Prepare your home for when your baby is on the move and keep them safe from accidents.
Find tips on in-home child safety on:
- Child safety
- In-home child safety guide (Good Egg Safety)
- Toddler safety: 1 to 3 years (Health for Under 5's)
Healthy Family Team 1 year health and development review
Between 8 and 12 months your baby will be offered a review to check how they are growing and learning. The review includes key areas like language and learning, safety, eating habits and early behaviour.
Learn what to expect at the 8 to 12 month review appointment from the Healthy Family Team in the this 1 minute YouTube video:
Bookstart
Bookstart is a national programme that gifts free books to every baby to inspire and create a love of reading.
Every child in Nottinghamshire should receive a baby pack before they reach 12 months.
Ask your Healthy Family Team if you haven’t received yours yet or collect from your local Inspire library.
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Talk to your Healthy Family Team for any queries about your child’s development and for more information about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
To make sure your child gets the right support in place before they start school, health professionals will inform your local council if they believe a child under school age may have special educational needs or a disability.
Find a guide to local services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Nottinghamshire's SEND Local Offer
Toilet training
Most children begin to stop using nappies between 18 and 30 months.
You do not need to wait for a special milestone to begin toilet training. Some children may show signs that they are ready.
Every child learns in their own way. Take your time and go at a pace that works for you and your child.
Contact your nearest Family Hub team to find out about toileting workshops.
Or, telephone to find your nearest Family Hub on 0300 500 8080
Learn more about the Family Hub offer for Family health and wellbeing (Nottinghamshire County Council)