Warrington 0-19 Service information

General information

in an emergency, please call 999.
if you need advice or urgent medical help and cannot wait for a GP appointment, call NHS 111.

Health Visiting Team contact numbers

East: 01925 946858
South: 01925 946529
West: 01925 946915

All families are allocated a named Health Visitor, who will support you and your family from late pregnancy until your child starts primary school.

Once your child starts school, support is available from the School Nursing Team until your child finishes education in Year 13, or up to age 25 if they have SEND.

The Health Visiting Team delivers the Healthy Child Programme.

As part of the Healthy Child Programme, you will be offered:

a pre‑birth visit (in the later stages of pregnancy)
a birth visit (usually within 10–14 days of birth)
a 6–8 week visit
a 9–12 month development review
a 2–2½ year development review

Role of the Health Visitor

A Health Visitor is a qualified nurse or midwife with additional training in public health.

Your named Health Visitor will contact you to arrange appointments for you and your child. During appointments, you can discuss your child’s development, and receive advice and support.

Health Visitors offer guidance on:

Child health

sleep and behaviour
infant feeding, diet and nutrition
growth and development
immunisations
home safety
minor illnesses (Health Visitors can prescribe medicines for some conditions)

Family health and wellbeing

emotional health and wellbeing
postnatal depression and mental health

All parents are also sent a letter when their child is around 3–4 months old, offering additional support around topics such as weaning and home safety.

Please contact the service at any stage if you need advice or support, or if you have concerns about your child’s development, for example feeding, diet, behaviour, sleep, potty training, or meeting milestones.

Warrington Family Hubs

There are seven Family Hubs in Warrington. These offer integrated health and wellbeing services, universal and targeted support, and early learning activities for children, young people and their families.

Free antenatal infant feeding workshop

A free three‑hour workshop delivered by the Warrington 0–19 Infant Feeding Team, designed to help you feel confident and supported when feeding your baby.

Book by emailing bchft.infantfeedingworkshop@nhs.net with your name, address, contact number and due date.

VIDEO: Health visiting in your community

An inspiring look at the vital role health visitors play in supporting families and communities.

Pre‑birth

Support and entitlements

NHS Healthy Start – Warrington
Find out about the NHS Healthy Start scheme in this video from Warrington Borough Council.

Preparing for your baby

ICON – Infant crying
Information and guidance on infant crying and how to cope.

VIDEO: Bonding before birth
Find out why bonding with your baby before birth is so important.

Communicating with your baby

Words for Life
Visit the Words for Life website for tips and information on how to communicate with your baby from birth.

BBC Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People helps parents develop their child’s communication skills, with simple activities, play ideas and information about early development.

Learning to talk: 0 to 6 months – Start for Life
Chat, play and read with your baby from birth. Everyday interactions help support communication and early development, even when babies are very young.

Parenting apps and programmes

Baby Buddy
Baby Buddy is a free, multi‑award‑winning pregnancy and parenting app created by Best Beginnings, working closely with parents and healthcare professionals.

Start for Life email programme
Personalised NHS emails offering advice and support, tailored to the stage of pregnancy or your baby’s age, to support parents and carers throughout pregnancy and parenthood.

Health, sleep and wellbeing

The Solihull Approach
Support and guidance to help families understand and manage common infant and child sleep issues.

Oral health

Toothbrushing – HABIT
HABIT offers tailored oral health advice and parent‑facing resources, including toothbrushing models, leaflets, videos and online information to support healthy habits from an early age.

Building relationships

Ready to Relate toolkit
Babies are born sociable and ready to connect. The Ready to Relate toolkit helps parents understand, interact, communicate and build strong relationships with their baby.

Feeding your baby

Getting started with feeding

UNICEF Baby Friendly resources
Up to date leaflets and videos covering breastfeeding, responsive and safe bottle feeding, expressing and storing breastmilk, feeding at night, bonding with your baby, and Baby Friendly Initiative standards.

Off to the best start leaflet
Published by Better Health Start for Life and the Baby Friendly Initiative, this leaflet provides key information about breastfeeding for parents and health professionals (updated 2022).

Guide to bottle feeding leaflet
Also published by Better Health Start for Life and the Baby Friendly Initiative, this leaflet offers clear, practical guidance on bottle feeding (updated 2022).

Feeding support and entitlements

Healthy Start
Families on certain benefits may be eligible for free milk, fruit and vegetables through Healthy Start vouchers. You can check if you qualify using the online application form.

Vitamins for children
The government recommends that all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given daily vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D.

Nutrition and allergies

First Steps Nutrition Trust
An independent public health nutrition charity providing trusted information and resources to support eating well from pre‑conception to five years.

Infant feeding and allergy prevention for parents
A helpful booklet with advice on introducing allergenic foods safely.

Oral health

Toothbrushing – HABIT
HABIT provides tailored oral health advice and parent‑facing resources, including toothbrushing models, leaflets, online information and videos to support good oral health from an early age.

Safe sleep

Safe sleep guidance

Safe Sleep – The Lullaby Trust
Following safer sleep advice can significantly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sometimes called cot death. This guidance should be followed until your baby is 12 months old (adjusted for premature babies).

Safer sleep videos

Short videos covering safer sleep in different situations, including:

UNICEF: caring for your baby at night
A helpful leaflet with tips on keeping your newborn safe during sleep and at night.

Mental health

Support for parents

Parents In Mind North West
Feeling low, anxious, overwhelmed or alone as a new mum? Parents in Mind is a group of trained volunteer mums who offer one‑to‑one, group, face‑to‑face and online support. They provide a safe space to talk about the emotional challenges of becoming a parent.

NHS mental health support

NHS Warrington Talking Therapies
Part of the national NHS Talking Therapies programme, this service offers support for people experiencing anxiety and depression, including during pregnancy and after birth.

Perinatal mental wellbeing

VIDEO: Perinatal Positivity
Perinatal Positivity shares real experiences from women and men who have faced mental wellbeing challenges during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. The film aims to help parents feel emotionally prepared and supported, and to encourage people to seek help when needed.

Building relationships and emotional connection

Ready to Relate toolkit
Babies are born sociable and ready to connect. The Ready to Relate toolkit helps parents understand their baby’s emotional needs and supports early bonding, communication and relationship‑building.

Birth

Support and entitlements

Health Start Scheme – Warrington
Find out about the NHS Healthy Start scheme in this video from Warrington Borough Council.

Communicating with your baby

Speech and Language UK and Words for Life
Visit the Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives and Words for Life websites for information and ideas on how to communicate with your baby from birth.

BBC Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People helps parents develop their child’s communication skills, with simple activities, play ideas and information about early development.

Learning to talk: 0 to 6 months – Start for Life
Chat, play and read with your baby from birth. Even simple everyday interactions support communication and early development and help prepare children for school.

Parenting support and guidance

Baby Buddy
Baby Buddy is a free, multi‑award‑winning pregnancy and parenting app created by Best Beginnings, working closely with parents and healthcare professionals.

ICON – Infant crying
A helpful leaflet offering information and advice on infant crying and how to cope.

The Solihull Approach
Support and guidance to help families understand and manage common infant and child sleep issues.

Start for Life resources

Better Health – Start for Life
The Start for Life website brings together NHS‑endorsed advice, videos, tips and simple, healthy recipes to support parents and carers.

Start for Life email programme
Personalised emails offering NHS advice and support, tailored to the stage of pregnancy or your baby’s age, to support parents and carers throughout early parenthood.

Building relationships

Ready to Relate toolkit
Babies are born sociable and ready to connect. The Ready to Relate toolkit helps parents understand, interact, communicate and build strong relationships with their baby.

6–8 weeks

Communicating with your baby

BBC Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People helps parents develop their child’s communication skills, with simple activities, play ideas and information about early development.

Learning to talk: 0 to 6 months – Start for Life
Chatting, playing and reading from birth helps babies learn and develop. Everyday interactions support communication and help prepare children for later learning.

Soothing and sleep

ICON – Infant crying
A helpful leaflet offering information about infant crying and practical advice on how to cope.

The Solihull Approach
Support and guidance to help families understand and manage common infant and child sleep issues.

Physical development

Physical activity for children
Being physically active every day supports the healthy growth and development of babies, toddlers and pre‑school children.

Health and wellbeing resources

Better Health – Start for Life
The Start for Life website brings together NHS‑endorsed advice, videos, tips and simple, healthy recipes to support parents and carers.

Oral health

Immunisations

During pregnancy

Pregnant? Immunisation helps to protect you and your baby
This UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) booklet explains which vaccinations are recommended during pregnancy and how they help protect both you and your baby from infectious diseases.

For babies and young children

A quick guide to childhood immunisations for the parents of premature babies
This UKHSA booklet provides clear guidance on childhood vaccinations for babies born prematurely.

A guide to immunisation up to 13 months of age
Published by UKHSA, this booklet explains the vaccinations your baby will be offered in their first year of life.

A guide to immunisations at one year of age
This UKHSA guide outlines the vaccines given at around one year old and why they are important.

A guide to immunisation for pre-school children
A UKHSA booklet covering vaccinations from age two until starting primary school.

Immunisation schedules

The complete routine immunisation schedule (from January 2025)
This UKHSA chart shows the current routine immunisation schedule across all ages.

Complete routine immunisation schedule – translated versions
The immunisation schedule is also available in 32 community languages, with downloadable PDF versions.

NHS vaccinations and when to have them
View the NHS vaccination schedule and find out when routine vaccinations are offered.

Understanding vaccines

VIDEO: What would a world without vaccines be like?
A short film from The Royal Society exploring the impact vaccines have had on public health.

Vaccine Knowledge – University of Oxford
An independent, evidence‑based resource providing clear and reliable information about vaccines and infectious diseases.

Introducing solids

Getting started with solids

First Steps Nutrition Trust
An independent public health nutrition charity providing trusted information and resources to support healthy eating from pre‑conception to five years.

Weaning – Start for Life (NHS)
The Start for Life weaning hub brings together NHS‑endorsed advice, videos, practical tips and simple, healthy recipes to support families when introducing solid foods.

Nutrition and vitamins

Vitamins for children
The government recommends that all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given daily vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D.

Allergies and safe introduction

Infant feeding and allergy prevention for parents
A helpful booklet providing guidance on safely introducing allergenic foods as part of your child’s diet.

Physical development

Physical activity for children
Being physically active every day supports the healthy growth and development of babies, toddlers and pre‑school children.

Oral health

How to care for the teeth of children aged 0-3
A short, engaging video with Dr Ranj and Supertooth, offering practical advice on caring for your child’s teeth from an early age.

1 year

Communicating with your child

Learning to talk: 1 to 2 years – Start for Life (NHS)
Chat, play and read with your child every day. Even simple conversations and games help support language development and prepare children for learning as they grow.

Sleep and routines

The Solihull Approach
Support and guidance to help families understand and manage common sleep and behaviour challenges for babies and young children.

Oral health

VIDEO: The Tooth Brushing Song – Hey Duggee
Toothbrushes at the ready, Squirrels! A fun, engaging video encouraging children to brush their teeth for a full two minutes.

Building relationships

Ready to Relate toolkit
Babies and young children are sociable and seek connection. The Ready to Relate toolkit supports parents to understand, interact, communicate and build strong relationships with their child.

2 years

Communicating with your child

Words for Life
Visit the Words for Life website for information and ideas to support communication and language development.

BBC Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People helps parents support their child’s communication skills through simple activities, play ideas and information about early development.

Learning to talk: 2 to 3 years – Start for Life (NHS)
Chat, play and read with your child every day. Simple conversations, games and stories help support language development and prepare children for learning.

Activities to do with your child
Practical ideas and activities to support play, learning and development at home.

Behaviour and emotional development

Toddler tantrums
Temper tantrums often begin around 18 months and are very common at this age. Behaviours such as hitting or biting can happen as children learn to manage their emotions.

Ready to Relate toolkit
Children are sociable and seek connection. The Ready to Relate toolkit helps parents understand, communicate with and build strong relationships with their child.

Sleep support

The Solihull Approach
Support and guidance to help families understand and manage common sleep and behaviour challenges in young children.

National Sleep Helpline
Confidential support from trained sleep advisors.
Available Monday to Thursday, 9am–11am, and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 7pm–9pm.

Eating, nutrition and allergies

First Steps Nutrition Trust
An independent public health nutrition charity providing trusted information and resources to support healthy eating from pre‑conception to five years.

Fussy eaters guide
Reassurance and practical advice for parents worried about fussy eating, which is common in toddlers.

Allergies
Information and support for children and families managing allergies.

Physical development

Physical activity for children
Daily physical activity supports the healthy growth and development of toddlers and pre‑school children.

Bladder and bowel support

ERIC – The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity
Support and information to help families manage bowel and bladder conditions, promoting confident, shame‑free care.

Children’s Bladder and Bowel Service
Specialist support provided by North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust.

Oral health

VIDEO: The Tooth Brushing Song – Hey Duggee
Toothbrushes at the ready, Squirrels! A fun, engaging video encouraging children to brush their teeth for a full two minutes.

How to care for the teeth of children aged 0-3
A short, engaging video with Dr Ranj and Supertooth, offering practical advice on caring for your child’s teeth from an early age.

School readiness

Communicating with your child

Words for Life
Visit the Words for Life website for information and practical ideas to support communication and language development as your child prepares for school.

Sleep support

National Sleep Helpline
Confidential support from trained sleep advisors for parents and carers.
Available Sunday to Thursday, 7pm–9pm.

Oral health

How to care for the teeth of children aged 3–6
A helpful video with Dr Ranj and Supertooth, offering advice on caring for children’s teeth in the early school years.

How to care for the teeth of children aged 7+
Another video with Dr Ranj and Supertooth, focusing on tooth care as children get older and gain more independence.

Potty training and childhood incontinence

Bladder and bowel support

Children’s Bladder and Bowel Service
Provided by North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, this service offers specialist support for children with bladder and bowel conditions, including continence and toilet training.

ERIC – The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity
ERIC offers trusted information and practical support to help families manage bowel and bladder challenges, promoting confident, shame‑free care for children and young people.

Local family support

Family Information Service (Warrington Borough Council)

The Family Information Service (FIS) provides free, impartial advice and guidance on all aspects of family life in Warrington. Support is available for families, children, young people and professionals.

Information and advice are available online, by phone, email or post, and include:

Community support

Community Food – Warrington Voluntary Action
Support for individuals and families who are struggling and need access to emergency food provision, or who would like to attend a community meal.

Talking Points – Warrington Voluntary Action
Talking Points offer help with the cost of living and wider support needs, providing access to advice, guidance and local services.

Useful resources

Health checks and advice

Baby Check – The Lullaby Trust
If you are worried about your baby’s health, Baby Check helps you decide whether your baby may need medical advice or treatment.

Healthy lifestyles

Stop Smoking – LiveWire Warrington
Stopping smoking has many benefits for your health and wellbeing and can also help you save money. Whatever your goals, LiveWire Warrington can support you every step of the way.

Use of electronic cigarettes before, during and after pregnancy
Guidance for maternity and other healthcare professionals on the use of e‑cigarettes around pregnancy.

Safety at home and in the community

Safety and your child
Most home accidents are preventable through improved awareness, a safer home environment and greater product safety.

Safety around dogs
Advice to help keep children safe when spending time with dogs.

Sexual health and contraception

Contraception advice – Warrington
Information on sexual health services in Warrington, including contraception, STI testing and support.

Sleep support

National Sleep Helpline
Confidential support from trained sleep advisors. Available Sunday to Thursday, 7pm–9pm.

Oral health

Information for patients and carers about adult oral healthcare
Guidance to help adults look after their oral health and understand available dental care.

Find a dentist
Search for a local NHS dentist using the NHS website.