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When you’re a parent, every question is a good one

Best Start in Life supports parents with pregnancy, weaning, childcare, and school readiness advice in one trusted, easy resource.

Becoming a parent is one of life’s greatest joys but it can also bring plenty of questions.

From pregnancy to preparing your child for school, every stage of early parenthood can come with new decisions and uncertainties: I’m pregnant, what should I do first? Am I feeding my baby the right foods? Can I get financial support with childcare? How can I help prepare my child for school?

In many families in our community, parenting is very much a shared experience. Advice often comes from parents, grandparents, aunties and friends. While this support is invaluable, it can sometimes leave parents feeling overwhelmed when different people offer different guidance.

The truth is, many parents are navigating these questions every day.

That’s why the Best Start in Life website brings together information and advice from the NHS and government in one place — helping families find reliable information about pregnancy, feeding, childcare and preparing their child for school.

Starting your pregnancy journey

If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, the first step is to book your first midwife appointment. This is known as the booking appointment and should happen before you’re 10 weeks pregnant, where possible. To do this, you just need to self-refer online to your local maternity service. They will then contact you to arrange your first appointment and kickstart your pregnancy care. If you are already more than 10 weeks pregnant and have not yet booked this appointment, it’s not too late. You can still self-refer, and your local maternity service will support you with catching up on the care you are entitled to.

Dr Ruth Oshikanlu MBE

The Best Start in Life website also offers week-by-week guidance on having a healthy pregnancy, including diet, exercise and what to expect at appointments. You can also sign up for weekly emails for tailored advice throughout your pregnancy and up to your child’s 4^th year. Plus, the emails are also available in different languages.

Dr Ruth Oshikanlu MBE, nurse explains: “Doing what you can to have a healthy pregnancy gives your baby the best start in life. We know some women feel worried during this time because of stories they’ve heard or past experiences. That’s why the NHS continues to work closely with communities to better understand cultural needs and ensure women feel safe and supported during their care.”

Weaning your baby

Introducing babies to solid foods as they grow can feel like a huge step and it’s perfectly normal for parents to have lots of questions about how and when to start weaning and what foods are suitable. The NHS recommends waiting until your baby is around 6 months old before you start introducing them to solid food, alongside their usual breastmilk or formula. Weaning is all about introducing your baby to a varied diet and getting them used to different textures and tastes – so it’s perfectly OK if it takes several tries.

Many family meals can be adapted for babies by mashing or softening them- just make sure there is no added salt or sugar. However, there are a few foods babies should avoid, such as honey before the age of one.

For guidance on what foods to start with, what foods to avoid and weaning recipe inspiration, visit the Best Start in Life weaning Hub.

Dr Ruth Oshikanlu MBE, recognised expert nurse and health visitor: “Once your baby reaches six months, you can begin with the foods you normally eat at home. Soft foods are ideal and can be mashed, pureed, or offered as gentle finger foods. Babies can also enjoy mild spices, just avoid adding salt.”

Early years education and childcare

Formal childcare can help children to build confidence, communication skills and friendships. It also offers parents greater flexibility to work or make time for other important activities. Depending on their child’s age, parents may be eligible for up to 30 hours of government funded childcare each week for 38 weeks of the year. This can save a family an average of £8000 in childcare costs. To find out what you may be entitled to and how to apply, visit Best Start in Life.

An early years education expert said:

Dr Patricia Britto, Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychologist: “More and more families are making use of the funded childcare available to them and seeing the benefits for both their child and themselves. It can free you up to work and gives your child new experiences; nurseries, preschools and local childminders are often well equipped to understand and respect different cultures and backgrounds.”

Helping your child feel prepared and confident to start school might not be something you’ve thought about, or it might just not be at the top of your list. But the more we can do to prepare our children, the easier they’ll find going to school, making friends and settling in. The Best Start in Life Hub is the place to go for information about the simple everyday activities that you can do at home that will help.

Dr Patricia Britto, Educational, Child, and Adolescent Psychologist: “Helping children prepare for starting school isn’t about ABC’s and counting to ten. It’s building independence, growing communication skills and helping them to recognise how they are feeling. The good news is, you’re probably doing lots already to help them without realising it. Building confidence and independence through everyday activities like talking, playing, putting on their own coat and shoes and involving them in your everyday routines like laying the table and washing hands before mealtimes will help children feel prepared and excited for starting school.”