Support for parents and babies in libraries

Your local library is a hub of support for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond. Find out how we can help your new family feel at home in the library.

Our baby events

Baby rhymetime

Come along for toe tapping, hand clapping, knee jogging rhymes that are sure to get your little one moving.

Baby stay and play

Share toys and make friends at this free session for babies up to 12 months.

Little girl standing getting a hug from Mum

Storytime

Join us for stories and rhymes as our friendly team read their favourite family-friendly tales to you and your baby.

Our library activities are ideal for supporting you and your child with activities such as Rhymetime, Storytime and Baby Play that encourage speech and language development, build emotional wellbeing, and help develop motor skills.

Best Start in Life provides advice and support for your child’s development from pregnancy to childcare, right through to starting school.

View all children's events

Support from us and health professionals

Join the library

Anyone who lives, works, or studies in Hampshire can join our library and it’s free! We have lots of books and resources to support you as a parent as well as some fantastic books for children. It’s never too early to start sharing books.

When a book might help

Sharing stories about situations can help put a child’s mind at ease, and make transitions and new experiences more understandable and easier to cope with. These story books can help explain new situations to small children.

We also offer a selection of books providing support for anyone affected by miscarriage and baby loss.

Childcare and early years

Hampshire County Council provide information for parents and carers who are looking for childcare or early years education in Hampshire.

Find out more about your childcare options, including guidance on costs and funding for childcare places.

First Words Together

Babies communicate long before they start to talk, through gestures and vocalising. Sharing books supports this communication and language development.

Find out more about getting support to help your baby's communication.

Bookstart

Bookstart is a scheme that gifts a free book pack to every baby born in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Sharing books, stories and rhymes with your child from an early age can help create a lifelong reader. Every child in England and Wales is offered a free Bookstart pack before they are 12 months old.

Rhyme and story of the month

Repeating the same rhymes, stories, and actions creates a connection between you and your baby while developing their listening and communication skills.

Every month, we choose a rhyme and story to share across our libraries in our rhymetime and storytime sessions. So, whichever Hampshire library you visit, you and your baby can enjoy sharing familiar rhymes and stories together.