Derbyshire Family Health Service

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Derbyshire Family Health Service Supporting Derbyshire children, young people and families with health, wellbeing and NHS advice. To speak to our team tel. Closed bank holidays. Thank you

no. 01246 515100 (Mon-Fri, 9am - 4.30pm). If you need urgent medical advice please contact your own GP, out of hours service - NHS 111, or in an emergency, call an ambulance or attend your local Emergency Department. House rules:

We ask everyone to remember this is a family page and to abide by social media rules. We welcome all comments and opinions, but ask everyone to be polite and respectful to one another. Comments that include content deemed to be abusive, offensive, sexist, racist, trolling or contain bad language will be removed. Anyone who persistently posts such content will be blocked from the page. We sincerely hope this will never happen so we can be an open, honest and respectful online community.

Can you never remember which way the clocks change? 🕐 Remember: spring forward, fall back.Spring = clocks go forward 🌱Au...
23/10/2026

Can you never remember which way the clocks change? 🕐

Remember: spring forward, fall back.

Spring = clocks go forward 🌱
Autumn (Fall) = clocks go back 🍂

A simple saying to help you remember!

[Image description: A notice from Derbyshire Family Health Service reminding people to change their clocks this Sunday, featuring the text “Spring forward, fall back... (to sleep hopefully!)”.]

Sometimes our health visitors will come to your home and other times they will ask to see you in a clinic. This is becau...
22/10/2026

Sometimes our health visitors will come to your home and other times they will ask to see you in a clinic. This is because sometimes being at home can make you feel more comfortable, such as when you have just had a baby.

Other times, your appointment may be at a clinic because the health visitor has special equipment available at the clinic, or there is a group on that might provide an opportunity for you to meet other parents.

[Image description: graphic of a baby on weighing scales. Words say "Why are some visits at home and some are at a clinic?"]

21/10/2026

Teaching your child to spit out their toothpaste after brushing, rather than rinsing their mouth with water, will help protect their teeth.

Fluoride in toothpaste strengthens tooth enamel and protects against tooth decay. If you rinse after brushing it washes away the fluoride before it has time to work.

Try to help your child get into the habit of:
• Spit out the toothpaste foam, don’t rinse with water.
• Make sure you use the right amount of toothpaste - for children under 3, use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm fluoride. For children aged 3 and over, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing 1,350ppm to 1,500ppm fluoride. You can check the box or label on the toothpaste for the amount.

If your child finds it difficult to spit, keep practising and encouraging them to spit out rather than rinsing.

You can read more about your child’s oral health on our website. [Link in bio].

[Video description: A child brushing their teeth over the sink. They brush and then spit out the toothpaste foam, and brush again before spitting out again.]

Hide and seek is great fun, but young children don’t always recognise when a hiding place could be unsafe. 🙈 Before the ...
20/10/2026

Hide and seek is great fun, but young children don’t always recognise when a hiding place could be unsafe. 🙈

Before the game starts, take a quick look around your home or garden from your child’s point of view.

Think about:
• Could they hide somewhere they could become trapped or unable to get out?
• Are there cupboards, chests, appliances or other enclosed spaces they could climb into?
• Could they reach something dangerous while looking for a hiding place?
• Are there gaps, stairs or areas where they could fall or get stuck?

Make potentially risky hiding places inaccessible and remove hazards where you can.

Young children are curious and may not understand why somewhere is unsafe. A few simple checks can help make hide and seek safer, while keeping the fun of the game.

[Image description: A child hiding behind a blue curtain whilst an adult counts with their hands over their eyes, with the text “Playing hide and seek? ..think safety” and the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo.]

Starting solid foods? 🥦🥕🥔🍐🥑From around 6 months, your baby can begin exploring new tastes and textures alongside their u...
19/10/2026

Starting solid foods? 🥦🥕🥔🍐🥑

From around 6 months, your baby can begin exploring new tastes and textures alongside their usual breastfeeds or milk feeds.

At first breast milk or first infant formula will still provide most of their energy and nutrients. Starting solids is about gradually introducing food and helping your baby learn to eat.

How do you introduce solids around milk feeds?
When your baby is showing the three signs of readiness to start solids, try offering food before their usual milk feed, when they are interested in food but not very hungry.

You don't need to replace milk with food. Keep offering their usual milk feeds and let your baby guide you. As they gradually eat more, they may naturally want less milk at some feeds.

If you're breastfeeding, you can continue for as long as you and your baby want. Your baby will adapt their breastfeeds as their food intake changes. If you are bottle feeding baby can remain on stage 1 formula until age 1. Continue to offer bottlefeeds responsively and pace the feed to help baby regulate their own intake.

- Start with small amounts of solids and gradually increase the variety and amount of food you offer.
- Let your baby eat at their own pace and don't worry if they don't eat much at first.
- Keep offering different foods and textures, even if they've been refused before. It can take several attempts for a baby to accept a new food.
- From around 6 months, you can also introduce a cup and sips of water with food.

Remember, there is no rush. Starting solids is a gradual process of exploring food, while milk feeds remain an important part of your baby's diet.

Find more advice about feeding your baby on our website [Link in Bio].

[Image description: A happy baby sitting in a high chair with a plate of vegetable pieces, with text reading “Introducing solid foods” and a Derbyshire Family Health Service logo.]

Walking to school gives young people more independence, but phones can be a distraction when they’re near roads.Research...
16/10/2026

Walking to school gives young people more independence, but phones can be a distraction when they’re near roads.

Research into secondary school pupils found that:
• 84% use their mobile phone near roads
• 68% message while walking
• 29% scroll or upload on social media while walking
• 10% watch films while walking near roads
• 1 in 5 pupils has been hit or narrowly missed by a vehicle while using their phone.

A strong reminder of the importance of talking to your child or teen about staying safe around traffic.

You could ask:
• What could distract you when you're walking near a road? 👀
• When is a safe place to check your phone? 📱
• What would you do if you needed to reply to a message while walking? 🚦
• What about music, headphones or other distractions? 🎧

Agree some simple rules together, such as putting their phone away when crossing roads and stopping somewhere safe if they need to use it.

A few minutes talking about road safety could help your child make safer choices when they're out on their own - screens down, eyes up!

[Image description: Two photos, top photo shows a child in school uniform walking across a zebra crossing, they have headphones on and are looking at their mobile phone, not aware of their surroundings. The bottom image shows a group of older teens in uniform at a zebra crossing and they are all looking where they are going and crossing safely. Text banner in the centre reads “Screens down, eyes up!” and the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo.]

We’re thinking of all the families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, baby or child. Whether your loss was re...
15/10/2026

We’re thinking of all the families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, baby or child. Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, your baby or child is remembered.

We take part in the Wave of Light to remember babies and children who have died.

Thinking of you and your family today. 🕯️

[Image description: A lit candle against a dark background with soft focus candlelight in the background, featuring the text “Wave of light” and “Remembering with love,” with the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo in the corner.]

Family hubs are in development across Derbyshire. The first 2 are opening this week and more will be opening over the ne...
14/10/2026

Family hubs are in development across Derbyshire. The first 2 are opening this week and more will be opening over the next few months.

If you are local to Birdholme or Cotmanhay, why not drop in to the Family Open days between 1-3pm on 16 October at Birdholme and 19 October at Cotmanhay.

Visit www.tinyurl.com/BSILOpenDays or scan the QR code to register your place.

[Image description: Flyer for Best Start in Life Family Hub open days on 16 October in Birdholme and 19 October in Cotmanhay, including illustrations of a pregnant woman and a toddler with speech bubbles and a QR code for registration.]

We ask because we’re trying to make sure we give you the right support.[Image description: A series of images highlighti...
14/10/2026

We ask because we’re trying to make sure we give you the right support.

[Image description: A series of images highlighting some of the questions health visitors might ask parents and carers, including:
Why do you ask me about contraception so soon after birth?
Answer: We ask because you can get pregnant 3 weeks after the birth of a baby, including if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started again.
We can also advise on what contraception might be best for you. And, why do you ask about my mental health?
Answer: We ask because having a baby can be challenging on your wellbeing. If you’re struggling, we can help.]

What’s suitable for your child? 📱🎮📺📖It can be difficult to know whether a TV programme, film, book, video game or social...
13/10/2026

What’s suitable for your child? 📱🎮📺📖

It can be difficult to know whether a TV programme, film, book, video game or social media platform is right for your child/young person.

Common Sense Media is a useful resource for parents and carers. It provides age ratings and reviews for a wide range of media, along with information about things such as:

• Violence and frightening content
• Language
• Sexual content
• Consumerism
• Positive messages and role models
• How suitable the content may be for different ages

You can use it to help you decide whether something is appropriate for your child and start conversations about what they might see or experience.

Remember that age ratings are a guide, not a substitute for knowing your child. Consider their age, maturity and individual needs, as well as the content itself.

Search for the Common Sense Media website to explore their guides.

[Image description: A woman covers a child’s eyes while he sits in front of a television. Text above reads, “Don’t want your child to see something they shouldn’t?” The Derbyshire Family Health Service logo appears in the top right corner.]

Address

Headquarters, Newholme Hospital, Baslow Road
Bakewell
DE451AD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

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