Healthy Start Scheme

Healthy Start Scheme is available if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of 4 years.  If eligible the scheme will help you to buy healthy food and milk.  If eligible you are also able to claim free vitamins for during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and vitamin drops for your child up to the age of 4 years. Follow the link to the healthy start scheme website Healthy Start Scheme

Local Children's Centres

Follow the link to find Children's Centres in Redbridge Children's Centres in Redbridge

Breastfeeding

Follow the link to find information about breastfeeding NHS breastfeeding

Safe Sleep Guidance

Follow the link to find information about safer sleep for babies The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families

Vaccinations

Follow the link to find information on vaccinations and when to have them NHS vaccinations and when to have them

Coping with a crying baby

Some babies who are otherwise completely healthy, cry excessively for hours at a time, and can’t be soothed no matter what you do. This crying is often referred to as colic, and can begin from when your baby is just a few weeks old, tends to peak around two months and can last until they are five months old. This can seem like an eternity when it’s your baby crying, so during these periods it is important to plan how you will manage. Babies cry, but you can cope .

Babies often cry more in the late afternoon or evening, and may raise their knees to their tummy, arch their back or clench their fists. Colic is common, and just as likely to affect breastfed babies as formula fed babies.

Excessive crying may be caused by indigestion and wind, or it might be your baby just needs a cuddle, skin to skin contact or some peace and quiet.

Excessive infant crying could also be associated with:

• Parental stress
• Depression
• Possible relationship problems
• Feelings of guilt, inadequacy and helplessness

If the crying is getting too much for you, it’s fine to put your baby in their cot for a few minutes while you take a break, as long as they are safe; once you feel ready, return to them.

ICON Cope is a project that provides simple and essential messages to help parents cope with their baby's crying. Follow the link to their website Parents - ICON Cope

Six top tips for combatting colic  Six top tips for combatting colic | Baby | Health for Under 5s

Soothing a crying baby  Soothing a crying baby - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Cry-sis, an organisation that offers support for families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies. Their helpline is 0800 448 0737, and is open 7 days a week from 9am – 10pm. Follow to link to their webiste  Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Cry-sis

The below video shows a parent with a young baby that wont stop crying and how to use the ICON resources.

Perinatal Mental Health Links

Follow the link to find information about the NELFT perinatal parent infant mental health service and Mind services Perinatal mental health information