Lewisham Health Visitors

02/01/2026

31/12/2025

Babies and children should never be left unattended in or near water including baths even for a minute. This includes when they are in a bath seat or in the bath with an older sibling. We know it takes approximately 20 seconds for a child to drown, it can be as little as 5cm of water and there is unlikely to be any splashing about, it tends to be silent. So please advise parents to take everything they need into the bathroom including their phone. Even popping out for a towel is too long. Have a look at the following website for more information: https://capt.org.uk/drowning/

24/12/2025

It's natural to worry whether your child is getting enough food if they refuse to eat sometimes.
But it's perfectly normal for toddlers to refuse to eat or even taste new foods.

Do not worry about what your child eats in a day or if they do not eat everything at mealtimes. It's more helpful to think about what they eat over a week.

If your child is active and gaining weight, and they seem well, then they're getting enough to eat.
As long as your child eats some food from the 4 main food groups (fruit and vegetables; potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates; dairy or dairy alternatives; and beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins) you do not need to worry. Find out more about what to feed young children.
Gradually introduce other foods and keep going back to the foods your child did not like before. Children's tastes change. One day they'll hate something, but a month later they may love it.

Keep offering a variety of foods – it may take lots of attempts before your child accepts some foods.

19/12/2025

Come connect, talk freely, and find support with other young mums.

✨ Free 8-week wellbeing group
🫶 Talk, create, journal & play with baby
📍 Downham Family Hub, Lewisham
🗓 Fridays 1pm–2.30pm (30 Jan–20 Mar)

Priority spaces for Lewisham parents.
Scan the QR code or book via the link in bio 💬

05/12/2025

🎄🎄Please see the list of community breastfeeding hubs that are open during the festive period. All breastfeeding hubs will resume as normal on Monday 5th January 2026. 🎄🎄

05/12/2025

🍼 Evlyn Breast-Feeding Hub
📆 Thursday 11/12/2025
⏰ 09:00am – 11:00am
📍 231 Grove Street, Deptford, SE8 3PZ

03/12/2025

🍼 Evlyn Breast-Feeding Hub
📆 Thursday 11/12/2025 and 17/12/2025
⏰ 09:00am – 11:00am
📍 231 Grove Street, Deptford, SE8 3PZ

28/11/2025

Tummy time is when your little one spends a short while on their tummy while awake, they are exploring a whole new world of movement.
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Tummy sleeping is a no-go so keep them wide awake during tummy time to ensure their safety.
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The benefits of tummy time range from stretching and moving, to honing your baby’s back, neck, and shoulder muscles, while mastering coordination in a fresh position.
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You can start right from birth. To begin with, you can put your baby on your chest for the calming sound of a heartbeat. Remember to stay cool and awake. At around 3 months, you can roll a towel under their armpits if head lifting is a challenge.

At first, just a few minutes daily is enough. You can gradually extend this time as they get used to the position.
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It is perfectly normal for your baby not to like it at first. The sensation of coordinating multiple muscles can be a learning curve.
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Remember, Tummy time is playful! So sing, touch, and make faces for interactive fun.

27/11/2025

When you first start breastfeeding, you may wonder if your baby is getting enough milk.
It may take a little while before you feel confident your baby is getting what they need.
Exclusive breastfeeding (breast milk only) is recommended for around the first 6 months of your baby's life. Introducing bottle feeds will reduce the amount of breast milk you produce.

Read Unicef's checklist How can I tell if breastfeeding is going well? for more guidance.

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/breastfeeding-assessment-tools/

19/11/2025

Weaning is all about introducing solids to your little one, usually beginning around the age of 6 months. It's a crucial phase in your baby's growth, and it's also a delightful journey of discovering new flavours and textures together. Initially, the quantity isn't as crucial as acquainting them with the concept of eating, as their primary source of nutrition remains milk. Remember, there's no need to rush into three meals a day right from the start. Start at a time that suits both you and your baby.

🌟SOME TOP TIPS🌟

- Let your baby explore by touching and handling their food, fostering a tactile connection.
- Always be present while your baby eats to ensure their safety, particularly to prevent choking.
- Don’t force your baby – wait until the next time if they are not interested this time
- When they display curiosity, your baby can start feeding themselves with their tiny fingers.
- When using a spoon, wait for the moment they open their mouth. Your baby might even want to hold the spoon themselves.
- Start with just a few bites or teaspoons of food, once a day
- Ensure food cools down if it's hot, and always do a quick taste test before offering it to your baby
- Avoid adding salt, sugar, or stock cubes to your baby's meals or cooking water

Gradually, you’ll be able to increase the amount and variety of food your baby eats until they can eventually eat the same as the rest of the family, just in smaller portions.

14/11/2025

Children develop their speech, language and communication skills at different rates. However, knowing what is typical can help you identify speech and language problems early.

05/11/2025

We know that the colder months can be difficult for families. You may be worried about the costs of living and have to make difficult choices for you and your family. Or you may be worried about paying your heating bills. You may be concerned about trying to keep your home warm, keeping draughts out and keeping your baby warm.

The recommended room temperature is 16-20 degrees, this may be difficult to maintain in the colder months. It can be tempting to wrap your baby up to keep them warm, however we know that overheating a baby increases the chances of SIDS (also known as cot death). Research shows babies are better to be cooler than too hot.
Follow the advice we've provided to practice safe sleeping with your baby.