Babies’ feeding and nutrition needs change as they grow, and it’s completely normal to have questions. Health visitors and their teams offer clear, independent, evidence‑based information to help you understand your options and make the choices that work best for your family.
To help, the iHV has put together a range of easy‑to‑use resources on feeding and nutrition topics. You can explore these by clicking the sections below:
England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you might be able to get help with buying healthy food and milk through the Healthy Start scheme. You’ll receive a Healthy Start card, which you can also use to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins to support you during pregnancy and while breastfeeding
- Vitamin drops for babies and young children, suitable from birth to 4 years old.
Scotland:
Best Start Foods is a payment that can help you buy healthy foods like milk or fruit during pregnancy and when your child is under 3.
Pregnant women in Scotland get free universal Healthy Start vitamins throughout pregnancy, containing vitamin C, vitamin D and folic acid. Vitamins are available from midwives, health visitors and some pharmacies. Breastfeeding mothers and children under 3 can also get free vitamin D supplements, which can be collected without applying.
You can find out more on vitamins A, C and D - what they are, why they’re important, and how they help your baby or child grow and stay healthy – in our Parent Tip:
📄 iHV Parent Tips:
➡️ External Resources:
The NHS offers clear, evidence-based information on vitamins for babies and children. You can find out more by clicking here.
Some babies and young children can find eating or drinking more difficult if they’re still developing these skills. If you’re worried about your child’s feeding or development in any way, our advice is “If in doubt, check it out” - your health visitor or GP can offer support and guidance on motor development. The resource below provides further information for parents and carers:
📄 iHV Parent Tip:
Also see our recommended resources on motor development.
Healthy eating and staying active are important for the whole family. In collaboration with Healthier Together, the iHV created the webpage below to help share ideas to support healthy eating and staying active for families.
The iHV is committed to ensuring that everyone supporting pregnant women, mothers and their families are equipped with the latest evidence-based advice on responsive infant feeding. The iHV does not produce its own resources on breastfeeding or infant feeding. Instead, we signpost to the following trusted resources for parents and carers:
➡️ External Resources:
Best Start in Life: Feeding your baby
We also recommend that you access our Little Sparks, Big Starts webpage created in collaboration with Ready to Relate to discover how the everyday moments of connection that build your baby’s brain and shape their future health and development.
External Resources
The iHV also recommends the following websites:
