Support for you and your baby (up to 1 year)

Having a baby can be very joyful, but it can also be challenging. All families need some help to give their babies the best start in life.

After your baby is born, your midwife will support you for about 10 days. Around 2 to 3 weeks later, your health visitor will come to see you. Learning to understand your baby can be tough, but your health visitor can help. They'll support you until your child starts school.

Our Start For Life and Family Hubs Offer Booklet (PDF) shows all the support available in Portsmouth for the first few months and beyond.

Family hubs offer support to help you understand your baby's development, access feeding support, connect with other parents and look after your wellbeing.

Understanding and bonding with your baby

Understanding your baby

Home-Start Portsmouth and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Healthcare run this session for families with children up to nine months old. It helps you connect with your child after birth using the Solihull Approach.

Booking required.

For details on upcoming sessions, visit the Home-Start Portsmouth booking page or email familyhubchampions@hsportsmouth.org.uk.

Baby massage

The Parenting Network runs this four-week course to help you bond with your baby and learn baby massage techniques.

Booking required.

Sessions:

Tuesday, 1.30pm to 2.30pm – Northern Parade Family Hub
Wednesday, 12.30pm to 2.30pm – Milton Park Family Hub
Alternate Saturdays, 9.30am to 11am – Somerstown Family Hub

To book, visit The Parenting Network.

Feeding your baby

Breastfeeding drop-in session

The Breastfeeding Network Support in Portsmouth offers free support throughout your feeding journey.

Support includes:

face-to-face drop-in groups
one-to-one Zoom support
group Zoom support
antenatal breastfeeding sessions

Everyone is welcome, including parents who are:

breastfeeding
chestfeeding
combination feeding
expressing
introducing solids
preparing to breastfeed

For antenatal sessions or one-to-one Zoom support, email bfnsouthcoast@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.

Weekly timetable

Monday

Milton Family Hub, 11.30am to 12.30pm (term time only)

Tuesday

Northern Parade Family Hub, 10am to 11.30am (term time only)
Antenatal online breastfeeding session, 10am to 11.30am on the second Tuesday of every month

Wednesday

Online one-to-one breastfeeding support (booking required)
Portsmouth Maternity Centre, 12pm to 2pm (term time only)
Paulsgrove Family Hub, 12.45pm to 2.15pm

Thursday

Somerstown Family Hub, 9.30am to 11am (term time only)
MAKE at Aldingbourne Enterprise, 9.30am to 10.30am on the second and fourth Thursday of the month

Friday

Buckland Family Hub, 10am to 11.30am

Saturday

Portsmouth Maternity Centre, 10am to 12pm

For updates:

National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212

Infant feeding advice

Drop in to see an infant feeding specialist to support your breastfeeding journey.

This service is provided by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Solent NHS Trust, with support from The Breastfeeding Network.

Sessions:

Tuesday, 9.30am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub
Wednesday, 9.30am to 11.30am – Northern Parade Family Hub
Thursday, 9.30am to 11.30am – Paulsgrove Family Hub
Friday, 11.30am to 1.30pm – Milton Park Family Hub

Starting solids session

Around six months, your baby is ready to start solid foods alongside breast or formula feeding.

The Parenting Network runs a relaxed workshop to help you make informed choices about introducing solid foods.

Booking required.

Sessions:

Alternate Mondays, 9.30am to 11.30am - Paulsgrove Family Hub
Alternate Thursdays, 9.30am to 11.30am - Milton Park Family Hub

To book, visit The Parenting Network website.

Play and social groups

0 to 5 stay and play group

Home-Start Portsmouth runs these sessions for parents, carers and children aged 0 to 5.

Booking required.

Sessions:

Monday, 10am to 11.30am – Milton Park Family Hub
Monday, 12.45pm to 2.15pm – Somerstown Family Hub (babies, crawlers and non-walkers)
Tuesday, 10am to 11.30am – Paulsgrove Family Hub
Tuesday, 12.45pm to 2.15pm – Buckland Family Hub
Wednesday, 10am to 11.30am – Northern Parade Family Hub
Thursday, 9.30am to 11am – Somerstown Family Hub
Thursday, 1pm to 2.30pm – Somerstown Family Hub
Friday, 10am to 11.30am – Somerstown Family Hub
Friday, 10am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub

Little Stars SEND group

Sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.

Booking required.

Monday, 9.30am to 11am – Northern Parade Family Hub

LGBTQ+ stay and play group

A play session for LGBTQ+ families.

Booking required.

Friday, 2pm to 3.30pm – Northern Parade Family Hub

Stay and play for Polish families

Booking required.

Wednesday, 10am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub

Stay and play families group

Run by The Parenting Network for the whole family.

Booking required.

Saturday, 9.30am to 11am – Somerstown Family Hub

Mobile toy library

Connor's Toy Library runs play and toy loan sessions for families.

£3 per family
no booking required
term time only

Sessions:

Monday, 1pm to 2.30pm – Buckland Family Hub
Thursday, 1pm to 2.30pm – Somerstown Family Hub
Friday, 9.15am to 11.15am – Northern Parade Family Hub

More information is available on the Connor's Toy Library website.

Support for parents and carers

Young Mums' Club

For mums aged up to 25.

Booking required.

Sessions:

Monday, 10am to 11.30am – Somerstown Family Hub
Thursday, 11am to 12.30pm – Buckland Family Hub
Tuesday, 10am to 11.30am – Beacon View Primary Academy, Paulsgrove

Dadzclub stay and play

For dads and father figures.

Booking required.

Saturday, 10am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub

Dadzclub coffee morning

For dads and father figures.

Booking required.

Monday, 9am to 10am – Beacon View Primary Academy, Paulsgrove

Dadzchat

Peer-led discussions for dads.

Booking required.

First Wednesday of every month, 6.30pm to 8.30pm – Buckland Family Hub

Emotional wellbeing and mental health support

Bright Beginnings

Support for parents' emotional wellbeing after having a baby.

Sessions:

Alternate Thursday, 9.30am to 11.30am – Northern Parade Family Hub
Alternate Friday, 9.30am to 11am – Milton Park Family Hub

To learn more, email the Specialist Health Visiting Team or call 0300 123 6629.

Triple P for Baby

Support for parents adjusting to parenthood.

Sessions:

Alternate Thursday, 9.30am to 11.30am – Northern Parade Family Hub
Alternate Friday, 9.30am to 11am – Milton Park Family Hub

To learn more, email the Specialist Health Visiting Team or call 0300 123 6629.

See Saw Group

An invite-only group for families receiving support from the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service.

Wednesday, 10am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub

NHS Talking Therapies

Support for people experiencing low mood, anxiety or fatigue.

Wednesday, 9am to 1pm – Buckland Family Hub

To book, call 023 9288 2588.

Further support

Family Assist

Your health visitor may arrange appointments at a family hub. You can also find information, advice and resources on Family Assist.

Find activities and events

Check our Family Hubs timetable (PDF) for the latest classes, support and events.

Support for you and your child at our hubs