This month, we are highlighting the Better Health Start for Life digital tools, which include the Start for Life website, the Breastfeeding tool, and the popular Start for Life email program.
These tools are user-friendly and based on trusted NHS advice, featuring regularly updated content to keep families informed and engaged throughout the year. They are designed to help families access the right support at the right time, providing guidance and resources from pregnancy until their child's school years.
Please read on to find out more about some of the tools and resources available and how to get them.
Breastfeeding friend tool from Start for Life
The Breastfeeding Friend, a digital resource from Start for Life, provides practical information and advice on breastfeeding through Facebook Messenger.
It gives answers to a variety of questions asked by new mums, and tips on things like sore nipples and what to do if your baby cries during feeds.
Think of it as your health visitor, but since it is a digital tool, it is available whenever you need it—day or night.
To find out more about this service and how to get it please visit the better health website via the link below.
Start for Life Email Programme
This programme provides NHS trusted advice and support, with information tailored to and delivered at each stage of a mother’s pregnancy or baby's age.
The personalised emails have been created to support mums, dads, parents and carers throughout pregnancy and parenthood. They contain information ranging from nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, parent-infant relationships, coping with tiredness and looking after mental wellbeing, right through to introducing baby to solid foods.
The emails can be translated into a range of different languages, helping to engage those audiences where English is not their first language.
96% subscribers said they would recommend the Start for Life emails to new parents (according to a YouGov survey)
For more information on the email programme, and how to sign up please follow the link below
Start for Life website
The Start for Life website is a highly regarded resource for parents, with an impressive 15.3 million visits recorded in the 2024/25 period. This platform offers comprehensive, NHS-endorsed guidance on a wide range of topics, including pregnancy care, newborn health, developmental milestones, childcare options, and early educational resources.
Created with the intention of ensuring that every child receives a strong foundation for a successful future, the website equips parents with valuable tools, practical tips, and expert insights to support their children's growth and well-being during these crucial early years. By focusing on fostering healthy development and learning, Start for Life aims to empower families with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions for their children.
It includes:
- Updated pregnancy week by week guides
- ‘Baby basics’ content covering key questions of new parents ‘now your baby comes with an instruction manual’
- ‘Labour and Birth’ section
- Interactive ‘ready or not’ weaning quiz
- Updated easier-to-use recipe hub with multiple filters
- A vast range of trusted NHS advice
Find out more and access the Start For Life website via the link below.
