Best Start Health Visiting Service
The health visiting service is provided and available to all children aged 0-5 years. The service aims to promote the health and wellbeing of your family and can offer practical advice and support on a range of topics
Find out more about the Best Start Health Visiting Service.
Child Health Clinic drop sessions over the Christmas and New Year period
Please check with the HV teams listed here below for openings. Sessions will not run on the public holidays.
Chat Health
ChatHealth is a confidential texting service for parents and carers, giving advice and support on children’s physical and emotional health. You can text about:
- Sleeping
- Toilet training
- Safety
- Minor illnesses
- Introducing solids
- Emotional health ...and more
Text your NHS Health Visiting Service on 07507 334150. Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays).
The Integrated review for 2 year olds
The Integrated Review is the sharing of information between you, your health visitor or community child development advisor and your child’s early years setting. This sharing of information is an opportunity to look at your child’s progress and strengths and also discuss what is needed to support your child’s health, wellbeing, learning and behaviour.
Please see further information.
Breastfeeding cafes
Do you need breastfeeding support, have a new baby or are you pregnant and want to find out more about breastfeeding and chat to other mums in a small friendly group. Then join us at our next session. No need for an appointment – just turn up! Find out more about Breastfeeding support.
Healthy Start vouchers
Healthy Start helps you give your family the very best start in life. If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old and you receive benefits or tax credits, you could qualify for Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic foods. Check to see if you qualify.
You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don't get any benefits or tax credits.
With Healthy Start, you get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins. The vitamins are available in exchange for vouchers from Best Start children’s centres and health centres.
All about your children’s teeth
We are pleased to let you know that the Kings College oral health team will be out in Croydon delivering information and advice sessions for children and parents.
The next session is Tuesday 21 August - Find out more.
How to refer yourself to a midwife if your are pregnant
You can now refer yourself directly to a midwife to reduce delays. See more information about Croydon University Hospital maternity services.
Time for me
Time for me is a group to help people cope with distressing thoughts and feelings. A crèche is provided.
Download the information leaflet.
Do you have concerns about your child’s speech and language?
Best Start Chatterbox Groups are drop-in groups for Croydon families with children under the age of 5 years old who have concerns about their child’s talking or interaction. They are run jointly by Children’s Centre and Speech and Language Therapy Staff across the borough to promote, encourage and support speech, language and communication development.
Download the Chatterbox Flyer - January to March 2019.
Family Nurse Partnership Service
For those aged 19 years or under going through their first pregnancy and provides dedicated support to parents to ensure that new families get the best start.
Keeping your home safe
If you are living in Croydon Council Housing with a child under 5 you may be eligible for a free home safety check where you may be able to get stair gates/ fire guards to improve the safety of your home.
More information is available on our home safety page.
Click here to request a home safety check.
Healthy homes
Are you a family struggling to heat your home and pay your fuel bills? If you own your home or rent it from a private sector landlord then Croydon Healthy Homes may be able to help. This scheme is aimed at families at risk of being in fuel poverty or with a member living with a medical condition which could be exacerbated by living in a cold home.
Visit our health homes page for more information and details of how to apply.
Just Live Well
Struggling to make changes in your life? Take the Health MOT now to find out if you are eligible for personalised support from trained professionals through the Just Live Well programme. This is a FREE 12-month lifestyle programme aimed at residents who want improve their health and wellbeing.
Further information can be found on the Just Live Well page.