Services and support for parents to be and new parents.
Being a parent for the first time can be amazing and daunting. It's completely normal to be apprehensive.
There are resources and support services to help you at the start of your parenting journey.
Local resources
The Community Children's Health Partnership (CCHP) is a partnership led by Sirona care and health CIC working with:
- Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health NHS Trust (AWP)
- University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHB)
- Barnardo's
- Off the Record
The partnership provides all the community child health and child and adolescent mental health services for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Services for new parents include:
Health visiting: information about health vising teams from the Community Children's Health Partnership. Health visitors are specialist nurses who can support you and your family during your child's early years.
Your local children's centre offer a range of support services, including parenting programmes. There are 4 Children's Centre hubs in North, East, Central and South Bristol.
Support is available for parents and children up to 5, which includes:
- health services
- parenting and family support
- drop-in sessions
- outreach services (information and advice to remote areas)
- early education and childcare
- links to training and employment opportunities
Support for your relationship whether parenting together or apart.
Attachment and bonding: support to help you and your new baby to form a strong, secure bond.
Parents' mental and emotional health and wellbeing: support for parents to be and new parents.
National resources
Home Start: a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families.
ICON Parents Advice: ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying.
Keeping well in pregnancy: how to look after yourself and your baby while you're pregnant from the NHS.
Parent Talk: free, down-to-earth advice for parents of children aged 0-19 online across the UK from Action For Children.
Local activities and meet-ups: from the NCT
NSPCC Baby parenting tips: tips and advice to help you through the early years as looking after a new baby can be a challenging time.