Discover a range of free services to support you and your family, including a dedicated Dad Zone at the end of the page.
Association for Infant Mental Health
The Association for Infant Mental Health's Getting to Know Your Baby videos have been designed to help parents, caregivers, and health professionals to know how to support the development of a baby’s emotional wellbeing.
Baby Buddy
The free Baby Buddy app supports parent/carers throughout their pregnancy and parenting journey, day by day. Whether you’re a mum, dad, co-parent or caregiver, Baby Buddy empowers you to feel confident, giving you the knowledge and practical skills to look after yourself and give your child the best start.
Contact
Contact is a charity for families with disabled children who offer a telephone support service, alongside further information and advice.
Flo
Flo is a completely FREE text message system for pregnant and postnatal families in Dudley. It sends helpful text messages which include videos and links to support families through pregnancy and the first six weeks of life with a baby.
To find out more, please speak with your midwife, watch the Flo introduction video on YouTube or read the info sheet.
ICON
ICON offers support to those who care for babies to cope with crying.
Remember, if you need help, or are feeling stressed, please speak to someone. You can speak to your family, friends, midwife, GP or health visitor.
Libraries
Find your local library through Better.
Lullaby Trust Baby Check App
The Baby Check App – Produced by the Lullaby Trust, featuring 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness.
New Baby Network
The New Baby Network connects parents and families together in safe, non-judgmental spaces to create a strong social network
Facebook: @NewBabyNetwork
Self-management programmes
Self-management programmes - Courses for people with long term health conditions, including specific courses for adults who have a caring responsibility.
Telephone: 07976 637404
Email: smp@dudleycabx.org
TED talk
How every child can thrive by five (video) - A TED talk by Molly, aged just 7, about the importance of parents' interactions in how children and adults develop.
UNICEF
Developmental milestones - Everything you need to know about your growing two-month-old.
Online courses suitable for parents
Brighter Beginnings
Brighter Beginnings early years workshops - Workshops for families with disabled children aged 5 and under.
Dudley Parenting Programmes
The Dudley Parents website is a one-stop-shop for access to resources and programmes including:
- Five to Thrive
- Triple P programme
- Solihull approach
- Dad Pad
The Open University
Supporting physical development in early childhood - a free course helping parents understand how physical activity improves child mental and physical health development.
Dad Zone
This area provides additional information specifically aimed at dads.
Local Groups
Your Local Family Hub is a place where families can access a range of local services for their community. Activities are open to male carers.
Additional Resources
Acacia Family Support - Pre and postnatal depression support services for dads and partners.
Ask Marc - Help and support for men affected by domestic abuse.
Dads and Partners - NHS website offering support during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Dad.info - Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers run by the charity ‘Spurgeons’.
Dadpad - the essential guide for new dads, developed with the NHS and free for Dudley residents.
Dadvengers - supporting dads to have the confidence to be inspiring parents while also promoting positive mental health for men.
Digidad - An online E-Learning platform full of father friendly content.
Future Men - Inspiring boys and men to become dynamic future men, by giving them the confidence to discover what it means to be a man.
Young Dad’s Collective - Coram family and childcare: working to improve the lives of young dads.