Looking after your child

If you have any additional concerns you can speak to your Health Visitor.  In the meantime here are some links that may help and support you. 

 Allergies:  Visit Allergy UK to find our more about the common allergies that affect children

Asthma: Asthma is a common long-term condition that can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness, visit NHS Inform for more information 

 Cerebral palsy: Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by either damage to the brain, or abnormal development of the brain. This damage normally occurs before birth or during a child’s early development. Cerebral palsy is not normally progressive in nature.  Visit NHS Inform for more information 

 Cerebral Palsy Scotland: Our mission is to help people with cerebral palsy build skills, knowledge, confidence and relationships. We advocate for the CP community to have life-long access to knowledgeable, compassionate services and support. 

 Continence:  ERIC is the national charity dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health. Our mission is to reduce the impact of continence problems on children and their families 

 Croup: Children with croup have a distinctive barking cough and will make a harsh sound, known as stridor, when they breathe in, visit NHS Inform for more information 

 Cystic Fibrosis:  Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition in which the lungs and digestive system can become clogged with thick, sticky mucus, for more information visit NHS Inform 

 Cystic Fibrosis Trust: We're working towards a brighter future for everyone with cystic fibrosis (CF) by funding cutting-edge research, driving up standards of care and supporting people with the condition and their loved ones every step of the way 

 Down Syndrome: A baby with Down’s syndrome is born with more of chromosome 21 in some or all of the cells that make up their DNA. It’s also known as Trisomy 21. Visit NHS Inform for more Information 

 Down Syndrome Association:  We are a national organisation, committed to improving quality of life for people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others. 

 Meningitis:   can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults, visit NHS Inform for more information 

 Skin rashes in children: Skin rashes in children are common and are often nothing to worry about. Learn about some common skin rashes in children, what their symptoms are and how to treat them.  For more information visit NHS Inform 

 Tongue Tie:  Parent Club Scotland general information.  Watch this video for support and advice around breastfeeding  

 Good Egg Guide to Car Seats: The website gives you information on getting the correct seat from newborn through to school age children

 In Car safety from the Child Accident Prevention Trust: The website provides information around choosing the correct car seat

 Button battery safety from Child Accident Prevention Trust:  Why is so important to keep out of reach of children

 Poisoning prevention from Child Accident Prevention Trust: Some simple advice about preventing accidents with various household items.

• Factsheets also available in other languages on the same page

 How to prevent choking in children from the Child Accident Prevention Trust: Advice on what foods to avoid, how to introduce foods, what can cause choking.

What to do if child in choking

 Choking – What to do if your child is choking: Advice from St Johns Ambulance  

 Falls prevention advice from Child Accident Prevention Trust: Simple advice on measures you can take to help prevent accidents 

 Minor head injury advice from NHS Inform:  A link to NHS Inform pages on what to do if you suspect a head injury

Baby Sling Safety: TICKS used with permission of the UK Sling Consortium

Click on image to open PDF 

 Lullaby Trust : A charity supporting families with advice on Safer Sleeping

 Baby Sleep :  Website from the Baby Sleep Information Source helping parents make informed choices for their baby 

 Safe Sleep Scotland: We provide information, advice and education sessions about safe infant sleep 

A Baby's Guide to Safe Sleep

Safer sleep for babies: a guide for parents and carers. - Scottish Government

Click on image to open PDF

This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

Caring for your Baby at Nights

Click on Image to open PDF

 Cry-Sis Crying Babies:  Website with information and support for parents with crying and sleepless babies

 ICON Crying Babies: helping people who care for babies to cope with crying.

 Parent Club Scotland: Sleep information

 Scottish Cot Death Trust: Providing support for anyone affected by Sudden Unexpected Death

Childsmile is a national programme designed to reduce oral health inequalities and help improve Scotland’s oral health among children.  It is funded by the Scottish Government and has three main components; Toothbrushing, where we distribute multiple packs to children for take home use and support daily toothbrushing in nurseries and schools.  Community and Practice, where we address oral health inequalities through embedding support workers in communities to offer oral health support.  Fluoride Varnish, where we deliver preventative care interventions for children aged two years and upwards who are at increased risk of dental decay.

At Childsmile we work closely with nurseries and schools as well as health visitors, dental practices, The Public Dental Service and the Oral Health Improvement team to reduce inequalities in oral health and ensuring access to dental services for every child across Greater Glasgow & Clyde.  Childsmile can assist families with young children giving oral health advice and help register and maintain regular attendance at the dentist.

We work in partnership with the Health Visitors to assist families with children from birth to pre- school age, offering advice on healthy low sugar weaning foods, suitable drinks and snacks for babies, dental registration from birth and when to introduce toothbrushing.

We work closely with education staff and school nurses to deliver the National Toothbrushing Programme and Fluoride Varnish Programme in designated nursery, primary and additional support needs schools throughout Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The Childsmile team provide oral health resources to Health Visitors, registered child minders and dental practices as well as delivering and setting up all the toothbrushing resources for the Toothbrushing Programme.

The Childsmile Programmes are delivered by a team of Dental Health Support Workers and Oral Health Practitioners/Assistants.  The Dental Health Support Workers deliver all of the Childsmile Programmes, while Oral Health Practitioners/Assistants deliver the Toothbrushing programme in allocated nursery and primary schools.  We also have Extended Duties Dental Nurses within the team who can deliver the programme within dental practice and apply the fluoride varnish within practice and within nursery and school settings.

 Childsmile is working to improve the oral health of children across Scotland and ensuring they have access to NHS dental services.  Click on the link for more information and ask your your health visitor should you require additional support from your local oral health team

 How do you access dental services in Greater Glasgow & Clyde? Click on the link to help you locate a dental practice in your area or to find out what to do if your child requires urgent dental care.  If you require further support please speak to your health visitor who can contact your local oral health team for advice

 CLAPA: Do you have a baby/child with a cleft lip and/or palate? Click on the link to give you more information.  CLAPA (Cleft lip & Palate Association) is working to support, connect and empower everyone affected by cleft in the United Kingdom.  For any other concerns or advice in relation to cleft speak to your health visitor

 The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) is the national society dedicated to improving the oral health of children from birth to 16.  They have some fantastic resources for parents/carers & children to support good oral health.  Kidsvids, dental check by one, preventative advice & advice for parents of children with autism & much more.  Follow the link to find out more

Teething  NHS UK information pages: How to help your baby with teething and how to look after their teeth.

***Need an introduction to this section HVs?***

 NHS Inform: This takes you to the immunisation pages of NHS Inform, it includes information on when to immunise and why immunise

Protect your child against serious diseases – Public Health Scotland.  

Click on image to open PDF

This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them

 What to expect after immunisations – Babies and children up to 5 years : This information tells you about the common side effects of immunisations that might occur in babies and young children up to 5 years of age.  

The page has links to factsheets and booklets in other languages 

Vaccines whilst pregnant (Whooping Cough)

*** Needs introductory text***

Twins trust – multiple birth information  Registered charity UK, our mission at Twins Trust is to provide our families with the information and support they need to enable them to thrive

Breastfeeding Twins:

 Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK:  This is a charity set up for parents to share their stories and have peer support

Sleeping: Information about sleeping twins from the baby sleep information source

 Royal Hospital for Children: Information from the Neonatal unit on caring for baby in hospital and once baby is home too.

A Parent's Guide to their new baby born a little early

Click on Image to open PDF

Bliss – for babies born premature or sick, registered charity UK wide.  Accessibility using Recite which reads the texts aloud in English 

 Premature Babies: NHS Inform Ready Steady Baby section

If you are worried or concerned about a child please contact your local area child protection team…..

• Inverclyde HSCP Children and Families Social Work Team 01475 715365
• Renfrewshire Social Work 0300 300 1199
• East Renfrewshire Children’s Services 0141 577 8300
• West Dunbartonshire 0141 562 8800
• East Dunbartonshire 0141 777 3000
• Glasgow 0141 287 0555

Also the out of hours service:

• Glasgow and Partners Emergency Social Work Services (out of office hours) : 0300 343 1505

Your nearest Police Station or phone 101

In an emergency phone 999

***Needs Introductory Text as of 18/1/24***

Ready Steady Baby Book (this is available in various languages and easy read) 

First Aid:  To find out about basic first aid and what to do in an emergency visit NHS Inform for some information. 

Your Guide to the Baby Box

To get the box, your midwife will fill in a Baby Box registration card with you between your 18-20 or 28 week appointment. Your midwife will send this card away to register you for your Baby Box, so you won’t need to do anything else.