This resource explains why moving on from bottles or dummies at the right time can be helpful for your baby, and when this is usually recommended. It also offers simple, practical tips to make the change as smooth as possible for you and your baby.  

📄 iHV Parent Tip:

Supporting your child to stop using bottles and dummies 

These resources offer gentle, practical guidance to help you navigate common behaviour challenges and support your child’s development: 

📄 iHV Parent Tip:

Looking after yourself when your child's behaviour is difficult to understand

Relationships with dads matter right from the start, even during pregnancy, and play a big part in helping babies feel safe, connected and ready to learn. The time from pregnancy to your child’s second birthday is a really important stage for their development, and the experiences they have during these early years help shape their future. 

📄 iHV Parent Tips:

How can dads get involved? 

Understanding your mental health and emotional wellbeing following the birth of your baby (fathers)

🎥 iHV Film:

“Invisible” follows Luke’s journey as he becomes a dad to baby Josh. The film is a dramatised story based on real experiences, created after talking to many dads from different backgrounds. It highlights some of the challenges that can affect dads’ mental health in the early days of parenthood.

Some parts of the film may feel emotional or difficult to watch, especially if you’ve been affected by similar experiences. If you’re finding things hard as a parent, it’s important to reach out – talk to your GP or health visitor – they can help, even if you’re not sure what to say, you don’t have to struggle alone. You can also find support through MIND (0300 102 1234) at www.mind.org.uk.

 🔗 Watch here

You can ask your health visitor about sexual health and ways to improve your health to be fit for, during, and after pregnancy. New parents often have questions about sex and intimacy during this time – with common questions:

• What is normal? 
• What will people think if I ask for advice? 

This interactive leaflet can also help you think about contraception choices and planning a future pregnancy, with answers to common questions. 

Lots of things happen during sleep; babies and children grow, their brain develops, their bodies heal and repair, and their brain processes the day. Children who are overtired in the long term can become more active and wanting attention, and this can be mistaken for not being tired.

Settling and sleeping difficulties are very common in the under-fives, and more than half of all children may have difficulties settling or sleeping at some point in childhood. For further information, click the links below: 

📄 iHV Parent Tips:

Sleep and the older child

Supporting sleep habits in children with additional needs

For information regarding safer sleep please see our staying safe and preventing injuries section. 

Sometimes children may witness or go through something that feels very scary or overwhelming. Every child responds differently, and it’s natural for them to need extra comfort, reassurance, and support afterwards. If you would like more guidance on how to help a child or young person after a traumatic event, please take a look at the resource below:

📄 iHV Parent Tip:

Supporting children and young people after a traumatic event

Please see our Pregnancy, birth & early parenting section for information and resources to support your mental health and wellbeing.