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Family health visits

Health visitors support families and children during pregnancy and up to the age of 5.

Our health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who will explain which services are available to you in Camden and answer any questions. They can also support you with:

  • baby feeding and bottle feeding
  • immunisations
  • baby and child illnesses
  • sleep routines

Best Start for Baby

Best Start for Baby is Camden’s child development and parent support service for all families. We invite and welcome dads, partners, or other carers to appointments.

With this service, your health visitor will visit you at home:

  • while you are pregnant
  • when your baby is born
  • when your baby is 6-8 weeks old

When your baby is 3 months old, we will invite you to our baby development clinic at a Children’s Centre and Family Hub. We will offer you appointments at:

  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 9 months
  • 1 year
  • 2 years

Health visitors will:

  • talk to you about your baby’s development
  • help with any questions or worries you may have
  • talk to you about you and your partner’s wellbeing
  • help you find extra support if you need it

Understanding your baby

Safer sleep

Many parents feel anxious about their baby while they are sleeping. This may be for many reasons such as the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

This is rare and the risk to your baby is low. Your health visitor can give you advice about safer sleep, such as placing them on their back and keeping them at a comfortable temperature.

Visit the Lullaby Trust website for more advice about safer sleep.

Coping with crying

All babies cry. This can be upsetting and frustrating, but it is a normal way for your child to communicate when they need comfort and care.

Even if you feel frustrated, never shake a baby. You can learn more about what to do when a baby cries on the icon website. The NHS also has advice for soothing a crying baby.

And remember, your health visitor is there to help you with any concerns you may have.

Get in touch

If you have any other questions or need advice, you can:

  • call the health visiting service on 020 3317 3032, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  • email [email protected]