Parenting Journey 
The Parenting Journey - Start For Life will support you from pregnancy until your child starts school. With a mixture of sessions from stay and plays in your Family Hub / Children’s Centre to your Health Visitor coming to visit you. It is a fun way for you to learn more about your babies / child’s development, speak to health and childcare professionals along with a chance to meet other parents.
Contact your Children's Centre / Family Hub, speak to your health visitor or contact family information service to find out when your next stop is.
Start For Life Journey - 12 Steps
Antenatal - Step 1
Stop 1 - A home visit from you're Health Visitor to talk about their role and discuss you and your family's health.
Step 2
Welcomes you to your local Children's Centre and provides a tour of the centre and what is available to you as new parents.
Find out more about Children's Centres and Family Hub's in Cheshire East and which is your nearest centre.
Useful information for this part of your 'Parenting Journey'
Health Visitor home visits - Steps 3 and 4
Step 3 - New Birth visit where your Health Visitor talks to you about you and your baby’s health and development.
Step 4 - At between 4 - 6 weeks your health visitor will visit you to provide on going support for you and your baby. They will also identify any additional help you feel you may need.
- NHS Antenatal Care - Everything you need for your parenting journey, from feeding and caring for your little one to relationships and looking after yourself.
- Start4Life - Parenthood information including breastfeeding, vaccinations, your mental health and much more.
- Baby Buddy App - provides advice to help you look after you and you baby’s mental and physical health.
- CATCH APP - free health app providing personalised information and guidance for parents and carers of children aged 0-5
Babies Together - Step 5
Birth - 12 months - A weekly stay and play session in your local children's centre / family hub providing activities for your babies development, information and advice from Family Service Workers and Health Professionals and an opportunity to meet with other parents and babies of a similar age.
Further information and support
- Safe Sleep Advice from the Early Start Team and the Health Visiting Service
- Home Safety Advice from the Early Start Team and the Health Visiting Team
- ICON - Information about infant crying and how to cope
- CAPT - Provides accident prevention in the home advice and guidance.
Activities
Weaning Together - Step 6
4 – 7 months - A session on introducing your babies to solid foods delivered jointly by Health Professionals and Family Service Workers. Contact your local Children's Centre / family hub to find out when the next session is.
12 month Review - Step 7
9 – 12 months - An opportunity to discuss your child’s health and development with a Health Visitor.
Toddler's Together - Step 8
Once you baby starts walking they can join our Todddler's Together session. This is a fun and active stay and play sessions in your local children's centre / family hub supporting your child's development. With information and advice from Family Service Workers and Health Professionals.
Further Support
2 Year Old Integrated Review - Step 9
Age 2 is an important time for children. It is the ideal time to celebrate your child's achievements and an opportunity to provide your child with any extra help they might need. This review brings together the thoughts of you the parent, your health visitor and your childcare provider.
Stay and Play Together - Step 10
From 2 years - A fun and active stay and play sessions in your local children's centre supporting your child's development. With information and advice from Family Service Workers and Health Professionals.
Further Support
Chat, Play and Read Together - Step 11
Age 3 – 4 years - Fun and active play sessions themed around favourite books to find out more about helping your child to chat, play and read at home.
Ready, Steady School Step 12
Ready Steady School - A fun and active play session to support you and your child in getting ready for school.
- If you need to speak to someone about your child’s transition into school please contact your local Children’s Centre / Family Hub and we can arrange a discussion for you with one of our Early Years Professionals.
More Information on your Parenting Journey
Follow us on our social media channels to see lots of information to support you on your Parenting Journey
Also like your local Children's Centre / Family Hub to find out what groups are running and when.
Useful websites
- Bookstart - Book recommendations and games for under 5's
- Safe from accidents - Downloadable Parents’ Pack aimed at helping parents identify the key risks of accidents and help prevent them.
- CATCH free health app aimed at parents and carers of children aged 0-5
For more information on your Parenting Journey contact your children's centre, speak to your health visitor or contact family information service