Feeding your baby

Healthy start

The Healthy Start scheme offers help to buy healthy food and milk for eligible families. You may be eligible if:

  • you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old
  • your family's monthly 'take-home pay' (also called 'earned income') is £408 or less from employment
  • you're under 18 and pregnant, even if you are not claiming any benefits

Please visit https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/ to find out more or to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme

Healthy Start Vitamins

Healthy Start vitamins are recommended for pregnant women and new mums and children from birth to 5 years. Babies having 500mls (about a pint) or more of formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements as formula is already fortified with vitamins. This does not mean that breastmilk is not the healthiest way to feed baby as it contains other ingredients that formula milk cannot replicate.

Healthy Start vitamins can help prevent vitamin deficiencies and maintain healthy growth and development for your child. Vitamin D is difficult to get from the diet alone and the best source is from sunlight, therefore during the winter months it is difficult to get adequate amount of vitamins D. Certain groups are at a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, babies born with darker skin types and anyone who has little or no exposure to sunlight (for example wear concealing clothing, sun creams or stay indoors etc.)

Healthy Start vitamins are suitable for vegetarians and halal diets, and free from milk, egg, gluten, soya and peanut residues. There are a range of other vitamins available, however many of these contain a range of nutrients that are not suitable, therefore Healthy Start Vitamins are the only vitamin supplements we recommend for your child.

Women's vitamin tablets contain:

  • Folic acid: reduces the chance of your baby having spina bifida, a birth defect where the spine doesn't form properly
  • Vitamin C: helps maintain healthy tissue in the body
  • Vitamin D: helps your body to absorb calcium and so supports your baby's bones to develop properly. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and tenderness.

Healthy Start children's vitamin drops contain:

  • Vitamin A: for growth, vision in dim light and healthy skin
  • Vitamin C: helps maintain healthy tissue in the body
  • Vitamin D: for strong bones and teeth. In children a lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets

Children's Vitamin Drops are £2 and Mother's Vitamin Tablets are £1. However, you may also be eligible for free vitamins through the Healthy Start scheme

Where are Healthy Start vitamins available?

You can purchase/claim Healthy Start vitamins from our Flying Start centres at certain times during Term Time:

  • Park Town Centre (LU1 3DU) Mondays to Fridays: 9am to 3pm
  • Centre in Foxcubs Nursery (LU1 1TZ) when sessions are running (see timetable)
  • Centre in Pastures Way Nursery (LU4 0PE) when sessions are running (see timetable)
  • Farley Community Centre, Delphine Close (LU1 5RE) when sessions are running (see timetable)
  • Hockwell Ring Community Centre, Mayne Ave (LU4 9LB) when sessions are running (see timetable)
  • St Francis Church, Carteret Rd (LU2 9JZ) when sessions are running (see timetable)

You can also purchase Healthy Start Vitamins from 3 Active Luton centres at certain times:

  • Hightown Community Sports & Arts Centre (LU2 0JD) (01582 419548)
    • Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm (card payment only)
  • Lea Manor Recreation Centre (LU3 3TL) (01582 599888)
    • Monday to Friday: 11am to 4pm
    • Saturdays 10am to 1pm
  • Lewsey Sport Park (LU4 0PF) (01582 604244)
    • Monday to Friday: 11am to 4pm
    • Saturdays 10am to 1pm

We recommend calling to check vitamin availability first.