Baby, Child and Family Support
Free, plain-English information for families across the UK, from pregnancy and a new baby through to a young person turning eighteen. Every card below opens a full information page.
Alison — Baby, Child and Family Support
AI presenter · not a real person, nurse or midwife
Alison presents clear, general information from trusted UK sources. Her videos do not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
If a child needs urgent help
- Ring 999 if a child is seriously ill or injured, cannot breathe properly, is unresponsive, has a rash that does not fade when pressed, is missing, or may be in immediate danger.
- Ring NHS 111 when you need urgent health advice but it is not an emergency, day or night.
- Contact your GP for illness that is not improving, development concerns and ongoing conditions.
- Contact the council or the NSPCC if you are worried about a child’s safety but there is no immediate danger.
Pregnancy and preparing for a baby
Pregnancy care and appointments, preparing for birth, the equipment a baby genuinely needs, money and time off work, and help if pregnancy is difficult.
This page covers
- Pregnancy support and appointments
- Preparing for birth
- Essential baby equipment
- Financial and practical help
- Support for expectant parents experiencing difficulties
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
New babies and infants
Newborn care, feeding, safer sleep, crying and settling, health visitor checks, vaccinations, premature babies and support for parents in the first year.
This page covers
- Newborn care
- Feeding and nutrition
- Sleep and safer sleeping
- Crying and settling
- Health visitors and baby checks
- Vaccinations
- Premature and unwell babies
- Postnatal mental health and support for parents
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Child health and development
Everyday illness, milestones, speech and language, hearing, eyesight and teeth, food and activity, sleep, toileting, and when to contact a GP, NHS 111 or 999.
This page covers
- Childhood illnesses
- Development and milestones
- Speech, language and communication
- Hearing, eyesight and dental care
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Sleep problems
- Toileting
- When to contact a GP, NHS 111 or emergency services
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Disability and additional needs
Raising a concern, SEND support, autism and ADHD, long-term conditions, Education, Health and Care Plans, equipment and adaptations, benefits and carer support.
This page covers
- SEND and developmental concerns
- Autism and ADHD
- Physical disabilities and long-term conditions
- Education, Health and Care Plans
- Equipment, adaptations and mobility
- Benefits and financial support
- Support for parents and carers
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Childcare, nursery and education
Finding childcare, help with the cost, starting nursery and school, attendance difficulties, bullying, special educational support and home education.
This page covers
- Finding childcare
- Help with childcare costs
- Nursery and starting school
- Attendance and difficulties at school
- Bullying
- Special educational support
- Home education and alternative provision
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Parenting and family life
Parenting support, behaviour and emotions, separation, bereavement, young carers, kinship care, fostering and adoption, and help during illness or a crisis.
This page covers
- Parenting support
- Behaviour and emotional difficulties
- Family breakdown and separation
- Bereavement
- Young carers
- Kinship care
- Fostering and adoption information
- Help during illness, hospital treatment or a family crisis
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Safety and safeguarding
Home and outdoor safety, first aid from trusted UK sources, online safety, abuse and neglect, grooming and exploitation, domestic abuse and missing children.
This page covers
- Home and outdoor safety
- First-aid information from trusted UK sources
- Online safety
- Abuse and neglect
- Grooming and child sexual exploitation
- Domestic abuse affecting children
- Missing children
- Who to contact when a child may be in immediate danger
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Money and essential support
Child Benefit and Universal Credit, Healthy Start, free school meals, uniform help, food, clothing and heating, grants, emergency help and child maintenance.
This page covers
- Child Benefit and Universal Credit
- Healthy Start
- Free school meals
- School-uniform help
- Food, clothing, heating and household essentials
- Grants and emergency assistance
- Child maintenance
Related Sixpence Support UK pages
Important information
Sixpence Support UK provides general information and signposting only. Nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice, we do not diagnose conditions or give medicine doses, and we cannot decide entitlement to benefits or services. Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and change over time, so always check current official guidance. In an emergency, ring 999.