Updated resources on childhood immunisations during COVID-19

As part of World Immunization Week 2020, our resources on childhood immunisations have been updated with the latest information and advice during the current COVID-19 pandemic – two Parent Tips and one Good Practice Points for Health Visitors.

The two updated Parent Tips:

one providing some basic information on the childhood immunisation programme, explaining how vaccines work, how they are regulated and why it is important to ensure your baby receives all the recommended immunisations
the second, provides answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” and has been written by leading national experts. It covers getting your baby immunised and what to expect, including information on things such as soothing your baby
during and after vaccinations, and what to do if they are poorly on the day of their appointment.

Just to reassure you that despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is still recommended that your child receives their vaccines as this protects them against other serious diseases that can still cause them harm.

Parent Tips - Childhood Immunisations 1: An introduction to childhood immunisations

Parent Tips - Childhood Immunisations 2: Frequently Asked Questions

These updated Parent Tips, together with those published last week and yesterday, can be found in our **Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)** webpage

The Good Practice Points for Health Visitors:

The immunisation programme is a key component of the Healthy Child Programme. It is important for health visitors to be aware of current research and practice to promote immunisation uptake and know where to go for information. Uptake of childhood vaccines in the UK is is generally high, although uptake of the MMR is a concern and the UK lost its ‘measles-free’ status last year. There are also concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on immunisation uptake.

Go to GPP - Promoting the Uptake of Childhood Immunisations

COVID-19 webpages

For Health Visitors– This updated GPP is available in our GPP resource section of our website and can also be found on our COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidance for health visitors webpage – https://iHV.org.uk/COVID-19
For parents and families– These updated Parent Tips are available in the Families Parent Tips section of our website as well as our Parenting through Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage – https://iHV.org.uk/ParentingCOVID19

We have waivered our usual restrictions on resources for members and the COVID-19 sections of our website are “free access” to all to support the national response to this pandemic.

New resource for parents – Supporting breastfeeding during COVID-19

A new addition to the Parent Tips series to help parents during these times – “Supporting breastfeeding during COVID-19“.

Like other mammal babies, it is natural for a human baby to be breastfed, but many people in the UK have lost confidence and skills in breastfeeding. Breast milk contains anti-viral factors and antibodies which are likely to offer your baby some protection against COVID-19. There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted through breastfeeding. If you have any concerns, you can discuss them with your midwife or health visitor (online or over the phone).

The new Supporting breastfeeding during COVID-19 Parent Tips includes:

How breastfeeding makes a difference
Can I breastfeed my baby if I have suspected or confirmed coronavirus?
Starting Breastfeeding
How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk
Common Challenges
Looking after yourself

Supporting breastfeeding during COVID-19

These new Parent Tips, together with those published last week, can be found in our **Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)** webpage

New resource for parents – Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic

Further to the Parents Tips published yesterday on managing the most common childhood illnesses, “Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic” is our next publication to help parents during these times.

It is hard at the best of times coping with a crying baby. However, it is much more difficult when you are confined to the house and separated from your usual activities and support from family and friends. With this in mind, we have put together a few facts on infant crying which we hope you find helpful – and, most importantly, some tips on how to get through this time and feel more in control and safe.

The new Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic Parent Tips includes:

A few facts about crying
When should you worry about a baby’s crying?
Coping with a crying baby – what can you do?
Things you can do to soothe your crying baby
Where to get help

Download PT - Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic

This new Parent Tips, together with those published yesterday, can be found in our **Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)** webpage – under the section “What to do if your child is unwell”

New resources on managing the most common childhood illnesses

While the impact of COVID-19 on children is thought to be minimal, evidence is emerging that children and families are unsure about how to manage common childhood illnesses and when/ where to seek medical advice.

The Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH) has raised concerns that families are worried about the risks of infection from COVID-19 and are not accessing medical advice as soon as is needed. To support parents, the RCPCH and “Healthier Together” have produced a guide, “Advice for parents during coronavirus”.

Download Advice for parents during coronavirus

The iHV has also been working with “Healthier Together” and today we are launching five new “Parent Tips” on managing the most common childhood illnesses, with signposting to further advice for parents to help ensure children get the right care at the right time and right place.

PT - Wheeze and breathing difficulties

PT - Fever / high temperature

PT - Rashes: When should you worry?

PT - Diarrhoea and Vomiting (D&V)

PT - Head injury

We have also developed a new Good Practice Point to support health visitors make the best use of these Parent Tip resources and provide evidence-based advice when parents are unsure what to do when their child is unwell.

GPP - Managing childhood illnesses

Acknowledgement and thanks:

The content of these Parent Tip advice sheets was developed by “Healthier Together” and adapted by the Institute of Health Visiting with permission from Dr Sanjay Patel. More information on the full range of Healthier Together resources and what to do if you are worried that your child is unwell are available here:

Go to Healthier Together

Updated Healthy Weight Health Nutrition resources

We are delighted to share updated Good Practice Points and Parent Tips, published in support of our updated Healthy Weight, Healthy Nutrition training programme.

Updated Parent Tips

(advice to share with parents and families)

Updated GPPs

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members only. Electronic versions of these updated Good Practice Points (providing up-to-date evidence and references for our members) are available to our members on the links below – do remember to sign in to access them:

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members only.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

The iHV is a self-funding charity – we can only be successful in our mission to strengthen health visiting practice if the health visiting profession and its supporters join us on our journey. We rely on our membership to develop new resources for our members.

So do join us now!

Summary of updated iHV resources for #ChildSafetyWeek

It’s been a busy week for Child Accident Prevention Trust’s Child Safety Week 2019 (3-9 June). The focus for the week is Family life today: where’s the risk? to highlight the new dangers facing families today from our modern lifestyles.

Throughout the week, we have been sharing updated resources for Health visitors and updated Parent Tips for families. But today, it is good to share the full list of the week’s updates with you:

Updated Parent Tips:

Go to PT - How to reduce unintentional injuries in children under 5 years (accident prevention)

Go to PT - Safety in the Home/Burns and Scalds

Go to PT - Safety in the Home/Falls

Go to PT - Staying safe in the sun

Go to PT - Safety in the home/ Water safety

Go to PT - Safety in the home/ Suffocation and strangulation

Go to PT - Preventing Choking

Updated Good Practice Points

Go to GPP - How to reduce unintentional injuries in children under five years

Please note that GPPs are available to iHV members only.

If you’re not a member, please join us to get access to all of our resources.

So do join us now!

2 more updated resources for parents in #ChildSafetyWeek

In our continued support of #ChildSafetyWeek, we are delighted to share 2 more updated resources for families and parents.

Continuing the week’s theme of Family life today: where’s the risk? today’s updated resources are:

Updated Parent Tips – Safety in the Home/ Suffocation and Strangulation

These Parent Tips give parents and families tips on how to reduce suffocation and strangulation as there are a number of hazards in the home which can cause suffocation or strangulation in babies and children.

Go to PT - Safety in the home/ Suffocation and strangulation

Updated Parent Tips – Preventing choking

These Parent Tips give parents and families tips on how to prevent choking. Keeping your little one safe is vitally important to all parents. Babies and small children are at high risk of choking on small items because they examine unfamiliar objects by putting them in their mouths.

Go to PT - Preventing Choking

More updated resources for parents in #ChildSafetyWeek

During #ChildSafetyWeek, we are delighted to share 2 more updated resources for families and parents.

Continuing the week’s theme of Family life today: where’s the risk? today’s updated resources are:

Updated Parent Tips – Staying Safe in the Sun

These Parent Tips give parents and families tips on how to stay safe in the sun. Sun safety is vitally important, particularly for babies and children who have delicate skin that burns easily.

Go to PT - Staying safe in the sun

Updated Parent Tips – Safety in the Home/Water Safety

These Parent Tips give parents and families tips on how to keep babies and young children safe around water. Babies can drown in just 3cm of water. For this reason it’s vitally important to never leave your baby alone in the bath, not even for a moment.

Go to PT - Safety in the home/ Water safety

Updated Parent Tips for #ChildSafetyWeek

Further to the updated iHV resources shared yesterday, as part of Child Accident Prevention Trust’s Child Safety Week 2019 (3-9 June), we are delighted to share 2 more updated resources for families and parents.

Continuing the week’s theme of Family life today: where’s the risk? today’s updated resources are:

Updated Parent Tips – Safety in the Home/Burns and Scalds

These Parent Tips give parents and families tips on how to reduce burns and scalds. Babies and young children are especially at risk from burns — they’re naturally curious and have sensitive skin that needs extra protection.

Go to PT - Safety in the Home/Burns and Scalds

Updated Parent Tips – Safety in the Home/Falls

These Parent Tips give parents and families tips on how to reduce falls. Falls are by far the most common cause of accidents in the home so it’s important to be aware of dangers posed by stairs, high chairs and changing tables.