Parenting and Family Relationships
Click here for lots of Antenatal Information from your Health Visiting Team
Free Online Parenting Courses (Solihull Online): Understanding Your Pregnancy, Birth, Labour and Baby (antenatal course)
If you are a Luton resident, we would encourage you to sign up to this eLearning course with your Luton postcode on www.inourplace.co.uk (see further instructions below and on https://solihullapproachparenting.com/online-courses-luton
- Module 1- Welcome
- Module 2- Helping You/baby through pregnancy
- Module 3- Getting to know your baby in the womb
- Module 4- You, your baby and the stages of labour
- Module 5- Helping you/baby through labour and birth
- Module 6- Feeding your baby
- Module 7- Who’s the Daddy now
- Module 8- After your baby is born
There are courses are for ALL Luton parents-to-be, parents, grandparents and carers of any child from the antenatal period right up to 18 years of age.
- Go to inourplace.co.uk
- Type in the access code: HATTERS
- Create your account using your email and Luton postcode and choose a password.
- Select the course you want to do from the dashboard (you can do them all over time)
- Once you have registered, you have non-expiry access to these courses that can be completed at a time and place that suits you. They work on most PCs, tablets and mobile phones and work best with Google Chrome.
- If you do have any technical issues email approach@heartofengland.nhs.uk or ring 0121 296 4448 9am – 5 pm Mondays to Fridays for support.
- Responses to any questions will be anonymised and you will not receive any marketing emails but just congratulatory emails when you complete a module.
This pregnancy programme is for first time parents to be in the third trimester of pregnancy. The programme is delivered in person and will support you with key information around labour and birth and caring for your new-born baby, as well as providing a great opportunity to meet other parents to be. Delivered in partnership by midwives, health visitors and family workers the programme will cover labour and birth information, responsive feeding, baby’s brain development, looking after yourself and your baby. The programme runs as a 3 week course or a one day course, see options below.
Suitable for: first time parents in the third trimester of pregnancy (from 28 weeks) *exceptions will be made for some second-time parents*
Course details (3 Week Tuesday Evening OR 1 Day Saturday):
Saturday 18 January – 9.30am to 3.30pm at Chaul End Community Centre (515 Dunstable Road, LU4 8QN)Fully Booked-
Tuesday 7 and 14 January 5pm to 7pm and 21st January 3pm to 5pm at Flying Start Centre in Park Town Family Hub (Bailey Street LU1 3DU)Fully Booked -
Tuesday 4 and 11 February 5pm to 7pm and 18 February at Flying Start in Hockwell Ring Community Centre (Mayne Ave, LU4 9LB)Fully Booked Saturday 15 February 9.30am to 3.30pm at Chaul End Community Centre (515 Dunstable Road, LU4 8QN)Fully Booked
- Tuesday 4 and 11 March 5pm to 7pm and 18 March 3pm to 5pm at Flying Start Park Town Family Hub (Bailey Street, LU1 3DU)
Saturday 29 March 9.30am to 3.30pm at Chaul End Community Centre (515 Dunstable Road, LU4 8QN)Fully Booked- Tuesday 1 and 8 April 5pm to 7pm and 15 April at 3pm to 5pm Flying Start in Hockwell Ring Community Centre (Mayne Ave, LU4 9LB)
- Tuesday 6 and 13 May 5pm to 7pm and 20 May 3pm to 5pm at Flying Start Park Town Family Hub (Bailey Street, LU1 3DU)
- Saturday 17 May 9.30am to 3.30pm at Chaul End Community Centre (515 Dunstable Road, LU4 8QN)
Please note the full day course doesn’t include lunch so please bring a packed lunch with you
MORE INFORMATION HERE! Please email flyingstart@eyalliance.org.uk/ call 01582 368245 or register with Flying Start here: Family Joining Form
Bump, Birth and Baby Stuff 3-Week Antenatal Course Parent Feedback:
“All 3 sessions I felt like I had learnt something. I also had the chance to exchange numbers with some other parents, which was important to me. Staff were very friendly and I felt I could ask questions.”
Online Bump, Birth and Baby Stuff- Video Antenatal Classes
If you’re preparing for your new arrival, the videos linked below have been created in partnership with midwives and the NHS Baby Friendly Team in Central Bedfordshire. They are designed to help you find out more about birth, caring for you and your baby, and feeding your baby. Please be aware that the contact number will be different for Luton families. Please call 0300 555 0606 for the Health Visiting Duty Desk in Luton or email ccs.bedsandlutonchildrenshealthhub@nhs.net
- Click on one of the following links to watch a video about:
Luton’s PREGNANCY CLUB (HYBRID: In Person & Zoom) *Women only*
Women at any stage of pregnancy are able to join others for this monthly hour-long group which has a Midwife and Guest Speaker available for questions/answers. It aims to support a healthy pregnancy with advice on nutrition, physical activity and emotional wellbeing. You can join from home on zoom or come in person.
RUNS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH (EXCEPT DECEMBER) 5pm to 6.30pm at Park Town Family Hub
Upcoming dates:
- Tuesday 26 November – 12.30pm to 1.30pm on ZOOM or at Farley Community Centre (Delphine Close, LU1 5RE)
- Tuesday 28 January- 5pm to 6.30pm on ZOOM or at Park Town Community Centre (Bailey Street, LU1 3DU)
- Tuesday 25 February- 5pm to 6.30pm on ZOOM or at Park Town Community Centre (Bailey Street, LU1 3DU)
- Tuesday 25 March- 5pm to 6.30pm on ZOOM or at Park Town Community Centre (Bailey Street, LU1 3DU)
Register and mention this group: Family Joining Form
KEEPING BABY SAFE WORKSHOP (on ZOOM)
Safe at Home offer free advice and support to expecting and new parents in Luton in a small group session- currently run on zoom. Those who attend and provide feedback receive a FREE child safety gift bag.
100% of previous attendees recommend this session
Our safety advisor offers top tips on how to make informed and safer choices when buying nursery equipment for your baby and you can learn important techniques on protecting your new-born in the early months of life.
Upcoming dates:
- Wednesday 4 Dec from 5pm to 7.30pm
Parent Feedback:
“The session was very informative and helpful for me, especially for choosing baby products. I have realised the things I thought would be safe are not safe and even bring danger to my baby. Also learned about co sleeping and bed sharing tips. Thanks for a wonderful session”
Register and mention this group: Family Joining Form
MANAGING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WORKSHOP (on ZOOM)
This workshop aims to help parents to:
- identify how disagreements start
- identify how disagreements impact themselves and their children
- identify helpful and harmful behaviours during arguments
Upcoming dates:
- Wednesday 19th February 5.00pm to 6.30pm
Register and mention this group: Family Joining Form
ACTIVE LUTON AQUANATAL
Aquanatal classes are back – a fun and safe way to enjoy exercise with your bump. Keeping fit during pregnancy helps you adapt to your body’s changes and can help you cope better with labour. Join Jessica every Wednesday, 12:10 – 12:40pm OR 12:45 – 1:15pm at Inspire – Competition Pool.
Find out more: https://activeluton.co.uk/me-time/aquanatal
*Please note that addresses close to Luton but are technically under Central Bedfordshire council or Hertfordshire council, will not be included in our free group provision
Useful Websites:
- www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/
- www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information
- www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/
- www.unicef.org/parenting/
- www.totalwellbeingluton.org/managing-your-weight/healthy-lifestyles-during-pregnancy
- mktalkingtherapies.nhs.uk/blmk-events
Premature baby app: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/premature-birth/my-prem-baby-app
Useful Documents:
- Communicating Dads
- Contraceptive Options
- Effects of artificial milk on bf babies
- Fit for birth
- Fit for the Future
- Is your baby getting enough milk
- LD Bathing+handling ur baby A5 2011
- otbs_leaflet
- Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Start4Life Healthy Habits
- Talking with your baby
- Temperature and your baby
- Universal BCG Fact Sheet
- Your baby is amazing
- Caring for your baby at night- Unicef Guide for Parents
Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an important time to think about your lifestyle and what you can do to help have a healthy pregnancy
Child Safety
Safe at Home Luton is a child accident prevention programme aimed at families from pregnancy through to the child’s 5th birthday.
SEND families
If you think that your child may have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) you should speak to someone about your concerns- find out more on Luton’s Local Offer
