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.
New parents meet and connect
These free drop-in sessions are perfect for parents and carers with newborn babies. You’ll meet other parents of babies (up to crawling age) and support each other as your children grow.
There will also be a range of sensory equipment to explore with your baby.
Find a session in a library
Our baby 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.
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.
If you'd like support nurturing your baby's communication, use this online form to request a place on our First Words Together courses or contact ChatHealth to request a place on our First Words Together courses.
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.
Rhyme of the month
Walkies Round the Garden
Story of the month
Peace At Last
Other help and support
These organisations can help support you and your family alongside your local library and health professionals.
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Hampshire Healthy Families
Hampshire Healthy Families service works with Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to offer helpful, free advice and guidance on childcare ages 0-19.
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ChatHealth
ChatHealth is a confidential text support service for parents, carers, families and young people in Hampshire operated by Southern Health health visitors and school nurses.
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DadPad
DadPad is resource offering knowledge and practical skills to support parents, particularly new dads.
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Family Information and Services
Find information about what’s available for families in your area, including services, organisations and activities, advice and support.
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Hampshire Safeguarding Children
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) is a service which aims to keep children safe and ensure their wellbeing. This is a guide to organisations that provide practical advice and help on supporting your child.
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Health for Under 5s
Health for Under 5s offers support, information and advice about important milestones in a child’s development.
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ICON
ICON has guidance for coping with crying babies.
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Smokefree Hampshire
Smokefree Hampshire exists to help people quit smoking.
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Solihull Approach
The Solihull Approach supports mental health and wellbeing in parents and children through training, online courses and resources.
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Perinatal Community Mental Health
The Perinatal Mental Health Service provides specialist help and support to birthing people with antenatal or postnatal mental health problems.
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Stop domestic abuse
Stop Domestic Abuse provides domestic abuse services for adults and children living in Hampshire.
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Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People has ideas and activities based on expert advice to help you develop your child’s language and communication skills.