Health and Child Development
Starting Out
In the early days babies need lots of love and comfort to help them feel safe. Learn a few simple techniques to help your baby relax and get your baby into good sleep patterns. See these BBC Health web pages:
• Teething
• Crying and distress
• Crying endlessly
• Guiding your baby
• Listening and talking
If you need further support then it may be useful to contact your local Children’s Centre, your doctor or your NHS Health Visitor.
Toddlers
Up to the age of three, children are working out where they fit in the world and how much control they have over it.
Parents can help their children learn how to get on with others and develop confidence by making them feel loved and wanted. Sometimes a little help with parenting can be useful. Check out the following websites:
Encouraging independence in toddlers: helping them explore the world around them
You and your toddler: developing and cherishing the bond with your child
Preparing toddlers for school: preparing your child for nursery and preschool
Toddlers and sleep: establishing a routine and helping them settle
Toddlers and crying: tackling the tricky moments
Toddlers and discipline: encouraging good behaviour
Toddlers saying "no": coping with the "no" answer to everything
Toddlers and sibling rivalry: sharing their parents' affection
Toddler tantrums: understanding what triggers a temper tantrum
Toddlers' rituals: exhibiting odd behaviour can be perfectly normal
BBC Health has a whole section about all aspects of the health and development of toddlers.
If you need further support then it may be useful to contact your local Children’s Centre, your doctor or NHS Health Visitor. These can offer you advice and perhaps put you in touch with someone who can provide parenting programmes.
Parents Channel TV has a web for families in which various videos are available that may be helpful to families : http://www.parentchannel.tv/home
Please note: Birmingham City Council is not responsible for the content of other organisations' web sites.