Pregnancy and babies

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Every pregnancy and birth is different and life-changing. Many parents feel wiped out by the whole experience, just when they need energy for all the work ahead.

If you don't have an 'easy' baby, crying and sleepless nights can get to you. If there are health problems or a disability, there's even more to get to grips with.

Access parent resources, organisations and useful websites providing information on topics such as pregnancy, birth, childcare, baby sleep and breastfeeding. We hope you find the information you're looking for here, if not get in touch. And if there are any organisations or websites that have helped you, please let us know.

Parent resources on pregnancy & raising a baby

Babies (BBC)

Advice about all the common challenges and information about developmental milestones in your baby's first year.

Birth to five: Your NHS guide to parenting in the early years (NHS Choices)

A comprehensive guide to your child’s early years, from new born baby to toddler to nursery age.

Dad Talk

Provides opportunities for dads to talk on and offline, enables dads to access informtion and support that is specifically targeted at fathers.

Mumsnet: by parents for parents

Offers advice and information for parents and families - anything from pregnancy to starting school to troubled teens. The website has parents' chatrooms.

National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

Offers antenatal classes, local branch groups, and social and educational events. Telephone helplines for parents available.

Netmums

A family of local websites covering the UK. Each site offers information on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers, and has a range of parenting advice from pregnancy to teens.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Pregnancy (BBC)

Comprehensive pregnancy guide including pregnancy signs, pregnancy stages, pregnancy problems, and mother and baby health.

Ready Steady Baby! (NHS Health Scotland)

This website guides you through the phases of your pregnancy and the first 12 months with your new baby.

The pregnancy care planner: Your NHS guide to having a baby

This pregnancy planning guide covers everything from trying for a baby to pregnancy, common problems and childbirth.

Young parents survival guide (OPFS)

The guide has key information and advice for young parents including information for dads, coping with doctors, hospitals and clinics, housing issues and continuing your education.

Young womans guide to a healthy pregnancy (Tommys)

Free book for young woman aged 16-19, packed with helpful pregnancy tips and advice.

Cry-sis: support for crying, sleepless and demanding babies

Support for families in need of help with crying babies and baby sleep problems. Has a telephone helpline and website giving hints and tips on coping with excessive crying and sleeplessness.

Crying and sleeping in the first months of life (Understanding Childhood)

Explains why crying babies and baby sleep problems are so common, and gives straightforward advice for parents.

Newborns and crying (BBC)

Useful article about why newborn babies cry, ideas for how to soothe them, and what to do if you feel you can’t cope.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Sibling rivalry (Understanding Childhood)

Information about how children can react to a new brother or sister in the family.

Sleep Scotland

Support to families of children and young people with additional support needs and severe sleep problems. Telephone helpline available.

Your babys sleep (BabyCentre)

Series of articles covering a range of sleep-related issues from establishing good sleep habits, to your baby's breathing, to the pros and cons of co-sleeping.

Childcare factsheet (One Parent Families Scotland)

Childcare information and advice, including finding childcare - for single parents.

Childcare support for disabled children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides support for families with disabled children who wish to access childcare.

Daycare Trust

National charity campaigning for quality, affordable, accessible childcare for all. Has telephone helpline for parents and website search for local childcare information.

Flexible Childcare Services: childcare for all families

Quality, affordable home-based childcare for both lone and two parents families. Tailored services to suit your child and circumstances, particularly if your child has a disability or special educational need.

Guide to choosing a childminder (Scottish Childminding Association)

Information on what a childminder can do for you and your family, including the benefits and some issues you may want to consider.

Paying for Childcare

Website where you can find out about the financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of childcare.

Paying for childcare (HM Revenue & Customs)

Money-saving government scheme for working parents who pay for childcare.

Scottish Childcare

Website where you can find your local childcare information services in Scotland.

Scottish Childminding Association

Information to parents and carers about choosing childminding as a childcare option. They provide a telephone helpline.

Children first aid (British Red Cross)

Help on treating a wide range of baby and children first aid emergencies, including choking, unconsciousness, resuscitation, high temperatures and burns.

Keeping your baby safe (BabyCentre)

Series of articles and questions, covering a range of baby safety issues, including accidental poisoning, buying equipment, immunisation and vaccination and home safety.

Safety advice (Child Accident and Prevention Trust)

Expert safety advice to parents to help you understand the risks, and give your children a safe environment to grow up in. Phoneline for safety advice and information.

Scottish Cot Death Trust

Provides a wide range of support for bereaved families and information about how to reduce the risks of cot death.

Capability Scotland

Works with families with disabled children and disabled people of all ages. Run a telephone advice service.

Childcare support for disabled children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides support for families with disabled children who wish to access childcare.

Contact a Family

Information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with any special need or disability. Has a telephone helpline.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Support, advice and information for families of children and babies with cystic fibrosis through helplines and publications and online services.

Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

Runs an information service with helpline about pregnancy and parenting for disabled parents.

Disabled Parents Network

Supports all parents with a disability and provides a telephone helpline service.

Downs Syndrome Scotland

Provides support, advice and information to people with Down's syndrome, their parents, carers and professionals.

Enable Scotland

Offers a range of services for children and adults with learning difficulties and support for families, including a helpline.

Family Fund: helping disabled children

Provides grants to low income families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, aged 17 years and under.

Grapevine Disability Information Service

Confidential advice and information for disabled people and their families in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. Telephone and text phone helpline available.

Kindered Scotland

Advice and information for parents and families looking for help with their child's additional support needs. Telephone helpline service.

Pregnancy and Parenthood for people with Cerebral Palsy 2011 (Capability Scotland)

Factsheet (PDF) for parents with cerebral palsy about pregnancy, birth and baby care.

Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: a guide for physically disabled parents

Addresses concerns such as: how disability may affect your pregnancy and birth, and vice versa; service accessibility; practical challenges in caring for your baby.

Scottish Spina Bifida Association

Information, helpline, family support and local support groups for parents and carers of a baby with spina bifida and spina bifida children.

Sleep Scotland

Support to families of children and young people with additional support needs and severe sleep problems. Telephone helpline available.

STEPS (clubfoot, hip dysplasia or any other lower limb condition)

STEPS offers confidential advice and support to people affected by hip dysplasia, clubfoot and other lower limb conditions.

Update: disability information Scotland

Provides general disability information and contact details of appropriate local and specialist organisations.

Baby communication (Best Beginnings)

Good examples of mums playing, talking and singing with their babies, together with a commentary and tips.

Bookbug: Scottish Book Trust early years programme

Gives free books to all Scottish children up to primary age. Also runs Bookbug sessions - free, fun and friendly events including songs, stories and rhymes.

Childs play: top ten tips (Parenting across Scotland)

All children can play, no matter what their age or ability. Here are some tips from Parenting across Scotland to help you and your child play.

Play Talk Read

Website with lots of ideas for improving your child's early learning by playing, talking and reading with them.

Talking Point

Talking Point gives parents and carers the information they need to help their children develop communication skills.

Words for Life

Ideas and activities for things you can do and ways in which you can get involved to help them develop your baby and child's language development.

Action for Sick Children (Scotland)

Information and advice on any aspect of caring for a sick child or young person. Also provides support to families and children at hospital and signposting to other sources of help.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis

A network of women across the UK and further afield who have experienced postpartum psychosis, offering information and support.

Allergies (BabyCentre)

Useful information about allergies including baby allergy symptoms, baby allergy testing, asthma, eczema and hayfever.

Allergy UK

Charity providing information on allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity. Telephone helpline available.

Being at the heart of your babys care (Best Beginnings)

Videos showing how you can play an important part of your sick or premature baby’s care by having lots of skin-to-skin contact and feeding them breast milk.

Birth Trauma Association

Supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience leading to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Bliss Scotland: for babies born too soon, too small, too sick

Advice and support to families of premature babies, special care and sick babies. They have a helpline, local support groups, information and publications.

Bluebell at ParentLine Scotland

Dedicated postnatal depression telephone helpline - available to anyone in Scotland affected by postnatal depression.

Bottle feeding (Best Beginnings)

How to bottle feed a baby safely, including sterilisation, plus bottle feeding tips.

Breastfeeding and returning to work (NHS Health Scotland)

Breastfeeding Information for mothers who are thinking about combining working and breastfeeding. Includes maternity rights to breastfeed at work.

Breastfeeding Network

Network of breastfeeding support centres across the UK, including Scotland. Helpline and a useful website with breastfeeding tips and information.

Children first aid (British Red Cross)

Help on treating a wide range of baby and children first aid emergencies, including choking, unconsciousness, resuscitation, high temperatures and burns.

Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA)

Offers local parent-to-parent support through its nation-wide network, a specialist service for parents seeking help feeding babies with clefts and much more.

Congenital heart disease (British Heart Foundation)

Congenital heart disease affects about 1 in every 145 births. The British Heart Foundation has a wide range of publications and other resources for parents.

Cry-sis: support for crying, sleepless and demanding babies

Support for families in need of help with crying babies and baby sleep problems. Has a telephone helpline and website giving hints and tips on coping with excessive crying and sleeplessness.

Crying and sleeping in the first months of life (Understanding Childhood)

Explains why crying babies and baby sleep problems are so common, and gives straightforward advice for parents.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Support, advice and information for families of children and babies with cystic fibrosis through helplines and publications and online services.

Eczema (NHS Choices)

Helpful tips and advice about managing your child's eczema.

Epilepsy and having a baby (Epilepsy Action)

Information about epilepsy, anti-epileptic drugs, and pregnancy help you make informed decisions when planning your pregnancy, during pregnancy and after the birth.

Epilepsy in newborn babies (Epilepsy Action)

What causes epilepsy in newborn babies? Types of seizures. Getting a diagnosis. Anti-epileptic medication for babies, and more.

Existing health problems in pregnancy (NHS Choices)

Information about health conditions that can affect your pregnancy and your baby: diabetes, congenital heart defect, asthma, overweight, epilepsy, mental health problems, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease.

From bump to breastfeeding (Best Beginnings)

What is breastfeeding like? A series of videos following four mums who decide to breastfeed their babies.

Fun First Foods

Information on the different stages of weaning: what weaning is, when to start weaning. Offers advice about food and allergies.

Guide to HIV, pregnancy & women's health (HIV i-Base)

This guide explains what to do if you are diagnosed with HIV in pregnancy, and what to do if you already know you are HIV positive and decide to have a baby.

Healthy Start

Free food vouchers for low income families with children under 4 and pregnant women - exchanged for milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and infant formula milk.

Home Link

Provides support and befriending to families with young children who are under stress and experiencing difficulties in South Edinburgh and Midlothian.

Immunisation Scotland: your guide to immunisation and vaccines

Find out about immunisations and vaccines. Immunisation helps protect against serious diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough and polio.

La Leche League - breastfeeding support

Provides support to breastfeeding mothers including a telephone helpline and mother-to-mother online forums.

Little Peoples Plates: feeding the under 3s the food they need

Healthy eating website for parents of infants and toddlers. Provides tips and guidance about mealtimes, fussy eaters and lots more.

Miscarriage Association

Information, helpline and other support for people affected by pregnancy loss through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.

NHS 24

If you or your child is feeling ill call the NHS 24 helpline. Alternatively use the self-help guide on the website.

NHS Inform

NHS Scotland's health information service. Includes a health A-Z, common health questions, local and national support groups directory, and news on health issues.

Oral health for babies: birth to 3 years old (Childsmile)

How your health visitor or public health nurse can help you give your baby’s teeth the best start, and information about keeping your babies teeth healthy.

Perinatal depression (Action on Depression)

Information about post natal depression (PND) and ante natal depression with options on where to go for help.

Post Natal Depression & Puerperal psychosis

Website to support new mothers and their partners. Its main focus is puerperal psychosis but it covers post natal depression and the baby blues, treatments and help.

Post Natal Depression Support Network

Post natal depression service providing information, support and help via its website, online forum, and telephone helpline.

Pregnancy & children (Healthtalkonline)

Video stories of parents on a number of pregnancy related issues such as antenatal screening, breastfeeding and immunisation.

Pregnancy and Parents Centre

Edinburgh based charity offering birth preparation workshops, baby health therapies and breastfeeding support to new parents.

Ready Steady Baby! (NHS Health Scotland)

This website guides you through the phases of your pregnancy and the first 12 months with your new baby.

Scottish Cot Death Trust

Provides a wide range of support for bereaved families and information about how to reduce the risks of cot death.

Scottish Spina Bifida Association

Information, helpline, family support and local support groups for parents and carers of a baby with spina bifida and spina bifida children.

Seasonal flu - information for pregnant women (Immunisation Scotland)

Videos and information on why women should have a flu jab in pregnancy, how safe it is and how to get one. There's also a helpline.

STEPS (clubfoot, hip dysplasia or any other lower limb condition)

STEPS offers confidential advice and support to people affected by hip dysplasia, clubfoot and other lower limb conditions.

The pregnancy care planner: Your NHS guide to having a baby

This pregnancy planning guide covers everything from trying for a baby to pregnancy, common problems and childbirth.

Together for Short Lives

Information about what care and support is available for families of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. They have a helpline.

Tommys: a charity giving babies the best chance of being born healthy

Funds research into pregnancy problems and provides information to parents. They have a helpline and a website with information about serious problems in pregnancy.

Twins and Multiple Births Association (Tamba)

Charity set up to help parents of twins, triplets and higher multiple births. They have a helpline, Scottish Twinsclubs and occasional courses for parents in Scotland.

Your babys sleep (BabyCentre)

Series of articles covering a range of sleep-related issues from establishing good sleep habits, to your baby's breathing, to the pros and cons of co-sleeping.

Adviceguide: online help from Citizens Advice

Comprehensive information and advice website on money, the law and rights.

Benefits and financial support (Directgov)

Series of factsheets about benefits for families including child benefit, child maintenance, child tax credit, housing benefits, maternity allowance.

Child Maintenance Options

Impartial information for both parents about child maintenance after divorce and separation. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of centres (CABs) all over the country, giving advice on money and rights, including consumer rights, discrimination and employment rights.

Divorce and separation (Money Advice Service)

Website giving impartial information on your finances if you are going through divorce or separation.

Expecting or bringing up children benefits (Directgov)

Money, tax and benefits information for parents, including maternity and paternity pay, child benefit and tax credits.

Family Fund: helping disabled children

Provides grants to low income families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, aged 17 years and under.

Kinship care (Adviceguide)

Rights and financial information for carers of a relative or family friend's child - from Citizens Advice Scotland. A specialist telephone helpline is also available.

Maternity Action

Information about employment rights, welfare benefit rights and health care rights for parents. They have a helpline.

Maternity rights for lone parents (One Parent Families Scotland)

Maternity rights at work, benefits you are entitled to if you are not working, and legal issues for unmarried parents in Scotland.

Money for Mums

Lots of information about family finances. Includes advice about benefits, tax credits, childcare vouchers, savings and returning to work.

Parents under 16 (Adviceguide)

Information for parents in Scotland who are aged under 16 on issues such as benefits, tax credits and maintenance.

Paternity leave (Fatherhood Institute)

Information for dads about applying for and taking paternity leave.

Paying for Childcare

Website where you can find out about the financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of childcare.

Paying for childcare (HM Revenue & Customs)

Money-saving government scheme for working parents who pay for childcare.

Effects of a new baby on a relationship (Dad Talk)

Advice for new dads if their partner doesn't want to have sex after the new baby is born.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Sex and relationships after birth (BabyCentre)

Series of articles and questions, covering sex after childbirth, your relationship after having a baby, breastfeeding and sex, contraception after birth and domestic violence.

Sibling rivalry (Understanding Childhood)

Information about how children can react to a new brother or sister in the family.