Early YearsInformation Pathway

IntroductionThis Information Pathway covers pre-conception, pregnancy, infancy, toddler, and the pre-school period up to the age of five. It covers information from a national and local perspective, and signposts health professionals to related services and resources to support parents and carers. The layout has been designed to complement the core programme of visits as detailed in Health for All Children (Edition 4, 2003), otherwise known as Hall 4.

Hall 4 and the accompanying implementation guidance from the Scottish Executive (January 2005) outlines a programme of screening, surveillance and health promotion for children and young people across Scotland. This Information Pathway has been produced to support the development of standardised, quality assured services for children and families by detailing the core range of written resources that all parents and carers should have access to across Scotland.

Health professionals should be familiar with the three key resources, Ready Steady Baby!, Ready Steady Toddler!, and Off to a good start, and should refer back to them when discussing health information with parents. This Information Pathway suggests other leaflets which may be given to supplement these resources. It is not necessary to give parents every leaflet listed, except those marked with *. To request a resource in an alternative format please contact 0131 536 5500 or email nhs.healthscotland-alternativeformats@nhs.net

Ready Steady Baby! is the substantial key resource for new parents. It has been produced by NHS Health Scotland in order to provide new parents with most of the information that they will need before, during, and after pregnancy. The different health professionals who have contact with women throughout this time should go through Ready Steady Baby! with them and make a point of referring back to it. It has been designed to reduce the need for many different leaflets.

Ready Steady Toddler! is a hands-on guide for parents as they experience the changes their child goes through when they leave the baby stage behind and become an inquisitive and demanding toddler. With a practical problem-solving approach, this invaluable resource has sections on understanding toddler behaviour and ways for parents to tackle new challenges.

Off to a good start is a substantial and key resource dealing with breastfeeding. As with Ready Steady Baby! and Ready Steady Toddler!, health professionals who have contact with women at all stages should refer back to it and work through it with them.

Healthy Start replaces the welfare foods scheme. Eligible women (those on a low income, under the age of 18, or in receipt of benefits) can sign-up to the scheme and will receive vouchers to exchange for milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, infant formula, and multi-vitamins at participating outlets.

play@homeBaby, toddler and pre-school books are provided to families in Scotland with a child up to the age of five. Activities in the books promote all-round development and family communications. Health professionals should refer to the activities when discussing children’s physical, social and emotional growth, and the acquisition of speech and language skills. It can also be used by professionals as a resource to discuss baby massage.

NHS dental carePregnancy offers an opportunity to remind women to register with a dentist. NHS dental care is free during pregnancy and for one year after the birth of their baby. If women experience any problems registering with a dentist, or require more information, the NHS helpline number should be given: 0800 22 44 88.

Pre-conceptual careAll health professionals who have contact with women who may be contemplating pregnancy should advise them about healthy diet and lifestyle, e.g. physical activity, smoking, alcohol and substance misuse. This should also include the importance of folic acid and vitamin D.

Equality and diversityOne in five adults in Scotland has difficulty with reading/numeracy and learning acquisition. It is therefore important to ensure that information leaflets are not given out without full discussion of their contents. It may be more appropriate to consider other materials which may be available through local health promotion libraries. It is always advisable to check directly with the person about how best to liaise with them. NHS Health Scotland can be contacted about materials for families whose vision is impaired, or for sources of information in other formats. Contact NHS Health Scotland publications on 0131 536 5500.

Benefits and entitlementsWomen requiring advice about maternity benefits should be referred to their local Jobcentre Plus for guidance and support. In addition, all women will be given the new resource from the Financial Services Authority – The parent’s guide to money.

Translating and interpreting servicesWomen and families from minority ethnic groups may require assistance with language and the translation of written resources. Currently, translation and interpreting services are arranged independently by each NHS Health Board. Health professionals should contact their local equality and diversity officer for local arrangements within each NHS Board. Most of the NHS Health Scotland leaflets are reproduced in other languages or formats.

BookbugScottish Book Trust provides free Bookbug packs to every baby, toddler, three year old and Primary One child in Scotland and also runs free Bookbug Sessions where babies, toddlers and their parents enjoy rhymes, songs and stories in libraries. Health professionals should refer to the packs and sessions when discussing parent and child bonding and the acquisition of speech and language skills. Book packs should be gifted with details of their contents and reference to the importance of sharing books together.

Leaflets coded with * indicate that they must be given to or discussed with women. These meet the Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) standards.

Information PathwayStage

Pre-conception – Should be given at Booking

22–25 weeks

28 weeks

34–36 weeks

Leaflet

Folic Acid: What you need to know

Planning a pregnancy

Ready Steady Baby!

Pregnant – what next?Your guide to screening tests during pregnancy(Available in English – translations in Urdu, Polish and Chinese will be available later in 2010)

Healthy Start application form

FW8 prescription exemption form

Fit for Pregnancy

Seat Belts and Child Restraints

Buckle up for baby and you

Fresh Start

Pregnancy and work – what you need to know as an employee

The parent’s guide to money

My Pregnancy My Choice

MAT B1 maternity certificate (for claiming statutory maternity pay or maternity benefits)

Health in pregnancy grant (from 25 weeks)

Sure Start maternity grant form SF100 (women who are entitled to this grant will get this from Social Security and their health professional will sign after reinforcing health information)

Off to a good start

From bump to breastfeeding (DVD)

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain

Talking about postnatal depression

Joint Birth Registration – involving both parents

Produced by

NHS Health Scotland

Family Planning Association

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

Department of Health/NHS Health Scotland

Banner Business

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists

Department of Transport

Department of Transport

NHS Health Scotland

Department of Trade and Industry

Financial Services Authority

CHANGE

Department of Work and Pensions

HM Revenue and CustomsDepartment of Work and Pensions

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists

NHS Health Scotland

Scottish Government

Professional involved

GP/midwife

GP/midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

GP/midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

MidwifeMidwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

*

*

*

*

Stage

Post-birth

First health visitor visit approximately 11 days after birth

Leaflet

Newborn Hearing Screening consent form

A guide to the routine examination of the newbornYour guide to newborn screening tests (should ideally be offered prior to birth). (Translations in Urdu, Polish and Chinese will be available later in 2010). Your baby’s visit to the audiology clinic(Available in Chinese, Polish, English, Russian, Bengali, Lithuanian, Spanish, French and Urdu)Your baby has a hearing loss

Reduce the risk of cot death

Mastitis and Breastfeeding

Thrush and Breastfeeding

Sharing a bed with your baby – a guide for breastfeeding mothers

Protect your baby’s natural headshape: tummy time to play, back to sleep

Your guide to contraceptive choices – after you’ve had your baby

BCG and your baby

Your guide to longer-lasting contraception (Available in Bengali, Chinese, French, Hindi, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and English)

You and Your Baby

A guide to childhood immunisations for babies up to 13 months of age (Available in Chinese, French, Hindi, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and English)

Red Book

play@home book for babies

Meningitis Baby Watch postcards

Breastfeeding and returning to work (Available in Polish and English)

Talking about postnatal depression (this leaflet is given out antenatally but contents should be discussed again). (Available in Polish, Urdu and English)

Produced by

Local Audiology Department

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

Scottish Government

Breastfeeding Network

Breastfeeding Network

UNICEF

NHS Scotland

Family Planning Association

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

CHANGE

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Board

NHS Board/Local Authority

Meningitis Research Foundation

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

Professional involved

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Midwife

Health visitor

Midwife

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Midwife

Health visitor

*

*

*

*

Stage Leaflet Produced by Professional involved

First health visitor visit approximately 11 days after birth

Fit for Motherhood

First Teeth, Healthy Teeth

How safe is your child in the car?

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists

NHS Health Scotland

Child Accident Prevention Trust

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

3 months Fun First Foods

Hassle Free Food

Bookbug baby pack

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

Scottish Book Trust

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

4 months Dental pack

Not naughty, but normal

Childsmile

NSPCC

Health visitor

Health visitor

12–15 months * Ready Steady Toddler!

play@home (toddler book)

Bookbug toddler pack

Help – my child won’t eat

Dental pack (at health visitor discretion)

A guide to immunisations at 12 and 13 months (Available in Bengali, Chinese, French, Hindi, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and English)

BCG and your baby (Available in Chinese, Polish, Urdu and English)

Behave yourself

Medicines are not child’s play

You and Your Little Child

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Board/Local Authority

Scottish Book Trust

British Dietetic Association

Childsmile

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Health Scotland

NSPCC

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

CHANGE

Health visitor/practice nurse

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Health visitor

Stage Leaflet Produced by Professional involved

3–5 years (remind parents/carers that all children are entitled to free eye tests from opticians)

* A guide to childhood immunisations from 3 years 4 months of age

Dental Packs (twice a year at 3 and 4 years of age)

Head Lice

play@home pre-school book

What’s happening to our children’s teeth? (DVD)

Bookbug pirate pack gifted to three year olds by pre-school system

NHS Health Scotland

Childsmile

NHS Health Scotland NHS Board/Local Authority

NHS Health Scotland

Scottish Book Trust

Health visitor

Early years providers

Early years providers

Health visitor

Early years providers

Early years providers

All women should have their own copies of Ready Steady Baby!, Ready Steady Toddler! and Off to a good start throughout; health professionals should also have a copy and be familiar with their content. They contain sections covering all of the key Hall 4 recommendations for health promotion.

Health for All Children (Hall 4)Recommended health promotion topics for discussion

Within first 10 days of life

Reducing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) risks

Parenting skills

Immunisation schedule

Support networks and services

Safety

Feeding

Oral health

Smoking

Any parental concern

Sleeping position

By 8 weeks

Nutrition Development

Safety

Smoking

Oral health

Immunisation schedule

Parenting skills

Support networks and services

Any parental concerns

Sleeping position

3 months

Nutrition

Development

Safety

Smoking

Oral health

Immunisation schedule

Parenting skills

Support networks and services

Any parental concerns

4 months

Weaning

Nutrition

Development

Safety

Smoking

Oral health

Immunisation schedule

Parenting skills

Support networks and services

Any parental concerns

12–15 months

Nutrition

Development

Safety

Smoking

Oral health

Immunisation schedule

Parenting skills

Support networks and services

Any parental concerns

24 months

Nutrition

Development

Safety

Smoking

Oral health

Immunisation schedule

Parenting skills

Support networks and services

Any parental concerns

3–5 years

Development

Safety

Nutrition

Smoking

Oral health

Physical activity

Parenting skills

Support networks and services

Any parental concerns

Useful websites for parents

www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com National Childbirth Trust: 0870 444 8708 (Breastfeeding Line)

www.laleche.org.uk The La Leche League: 0845 120 2918 (Breastfeeding Support)

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk The Breastfeeding Network: 0300 100 0212 (Support Line)

www.familyandparenting.org National Family and Parenting Institute website

www.depressionalliance.org The Depression Alliance

www.opfs.org.uk One Parent Families Scotland

www.capt.org.uk Child Accident Prevention Trust

www.bbc.co.uk/parentingwww.parentlineplus.org.ukwww.family.go.com/parentingwww.child-smile.orgwww.babyfriendly.org.ukwww.healthscotland.comwww.babycentre.co.ukwww.nspcc.org.ukwww.readysteadybaby.org.ukwww.vegsoc.org/info/infant.htmlwww.takelifeon.co.ukwww.eatwell.gov.ukwww.sleepscotland.orgwww.clearingtheairscotland.comwww.healthystart.nhs.ukwww.gosafewithziggy.comwww.mumsnet.comwww.netmums.comwww.immunisationscotland.org.ukwww.infoscotland.com/playtalkreadwww.scottishbooktrust.com/bookbugwww.moneymadeclear.org.uk/parentswww.maternal-and-early-years.org.uk

Reproduced by kind permission from an original by NHS Highland. 3365

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2010

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