Healthy habits

Keeping active

It’s never too early to start encouraging your child to be active.

This will reduce the risk of issues developing later on such as weight problems

• Healthy lifestyles for children under five (HENRY) from Fitter Futures Warwickshire
• Born to move

Healthy Eating

There are lots of things you can do to make sure your child has a nutritious diet, and has the healthiest possible start in life:

Feeding and introducing solids

• Health visitors will invite you to a parent session around the introduction to solid food when your child is between 4-6 months of age
• For NHS online advice, see NHS – Your baby’s first solid foods
• From when to start, what to feed, to recipes, ideas and safe weaning see Start4Life Weaning

More on healthy eating

• You may be able to get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. You also get free vitamins. Find out more from Healthy Start
• NHS Start4Life

Family Weight Management and Food Culture Programme

Warwickshire Schools Health and Wellbeing Service support families and young people with weight management and positive lifestyle choices. For more information, please contact Warwickshire Schools Health and Wellbeing Service on 0330 024 5204.

Oral health

There are lots of things you can do to take care of your children's teeth.

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Follow these tips and you can help keep your kids' teeth decay-free:

• Dental care for mother and baby
• See the NHS guide Looking after your baby’s teeth for advice on brushing teeth, taking your baby to the dentist, sugar and tooth decay and using a dummy.
• See also NHS advice on caring for Children’s Teeth

Your mental health

No one said being a parent or carer was easy. Feeling anxious in the early days of having a baby, recovering from a difficult birth, lack of sleep, changes to relationships and other challenges can all lead to low mood or loss of confidence.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. One in five women and one in ten dads need help with their emotional wellbeing during pregnancy or in the first year after their baby is born.

Seeking help early is important as it will speed up your recovery.

Help for parents and carers who are feeling low or anxious.

Mental health support in pregnancy and following the birth of your baby for Coventry and Warwickshire residents:

• Coventry and Warwickshire partnership - Support during and after pregnancy

This external site has been created by local partners and CWPT that have a remit around mental health and wellbeing for parents and families during pregnancy and up to when a child turns two.

Parents and families may find additional sources of support via this site, particularly if they are feeling a range of difficult emotions and feelings during pregnancy or following the birth of a child.

Further mental health and wellbeing support.

Further information to support the health and wellbeing for you and your family.