From early pregnancy through your child’s first years, having trusted support and clear, evidence‑based guidance can make a big difference. Health visitors are here to help during this important time – offering expert advice on your family’s health, supporting your emotional and physical wellbeing, spotting any needs early, and providing personalised support to help every family give their baby the best possible start in life.
To help, the iHV has put together a range of information and signposts you to reliable, trusted resources:
You can explore these by clicking the sections below:
Parents often say they wish their baby had come with an instruction manual - getting to know your own baby can take time. Here are some resources to help you make sense of how your baby communicates and how you can build your bond together. To find out more, click the links below:
📄 iHV Parent Tip:
Baby watching: Making sense of your baby
🎥 Video:
Top tips for dads - a short film by Kieran Anders from Dad Matters UK
➡️ External Resources:
Watch videos on getting to know your baby from the Association for Infant Mental Health UK
It’s completely normal to feel a wide range of emotions as you adjust to becoming a parent. Some parents may experience mental health difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, or intrusive thoughts. For some, this may be the first time they’ve noticed these feelings; for others, they may already have a mental health diagnosis before pregnancy or birth.
What matters most is knowing that you’re not alone and that support is available. Health professionals – including health visitors – are here to notice early signs, listen to your concerns, support your wellbeing, and help you access specialist services if needed.
The iHV offers the following resources to support parents:
📄 iHV Parent Tips:
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.
After a baby is born, it’s completely normal for couple relationships to shift as parents adjust to new roles and emotional demands. The iHV offers resources and signposting to other organisations to help you navigate this stage together:
📄 iHV Parent Tip:
Caring for a baby who is crying can feel overwhelming at times, but there are lots of things that can help. In the Parent Tip below, we’ve shared some simple facts about infant crying that many families find reassuring - along with practical ideas to help you feel calmer, more confident, and in control during this stage:
📄 iHV Parent Tip:
Disclaimer: This Parent Tip was produced during the Covid-19 pandemic - it contains lots of helpful information to support parents at all times.
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 signposts to the following trusted resources for parents and carers:
