The health visiting service is provided and available to all children aged 0 to 5 years. The service aims to promote the health and wellbeing of your family and can offer practical advice and support on a range of topics

Find out more about the Best Start health visiting service.

Other health services

You can find other health support services in our directory, including:

• chat health – a confidential texting service for parents and carers, giving advice and support on children’s physical and emotional health
• breastfeeding cafe – provide breastfeeding support for new mothers
• King's college oral health – information and advice sessions for children and parents
• child speech and language – Best Start Chatterbox Groups are drop-in groups for Croydon families with children under the age of 5 years old who have concerns about their child’s talking or interaction
• Family nurse partnership service – for aged 19 years or under going through their first pregnancy and provides dedicated support to parents to ensure that new families get the best start.

The integrated review for 2 year olds

The integrated review is the sharing of information between you, your health visitor or community child development advisor and your child’s early years setting. This sharing of information is an opportunity to look at your child’s progress and strengths and also discuss what is needed to support your child’s health, wellbeing, learning and behaviour.

See further information.

Healthy Start vouchers

Healthy Start helps you give your family the very best start in life. If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old and you receive benefits or tax credits, you could qualify for Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic foods. Check to see if you qualify.

You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don't get any benefits or tax credits. 

With Healthy Start, you get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins. The vitamins are available in exchange for vouchers from Best Start children’s centres and health centres.

For help with claiming Healthy Start vouchers you can also contact Healthy Start project as part of Croydon Councils Gateway Service by emailing healthystartsupport@croydon.gov.uk

You can also contact Healthy Start project as part of Croydon Councils Gateway Service by emailing healthystartsupport@croydon.gov.uk

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Time for me

Time for me is a group to help people cope with distressing thoughts and feelings. A crèche is provided. 

Download the information leaflet

Keeping your home safe

If you are living in Croydon council housing with a child under 5 you may be eligible for a free home safety check where you may be able to get stair gates or fire guards to improve the safety of your home.

More information is available on our home safety page.

Request a home safety check

Healthy homes

Are you a family struggling to heat your home and pay your fuel bills? If you own your home or rent it from a private sector landlord then Croydon Healthy Homes may be able to help. This scheme is aimed at families at risk of being in fuel poverty or with a member living with a medical condition which could be exacerbated by living in a cold home. 

Visit our health homes page for more information and details of how to apply.

Just Live Well

Struggling to make changes in your life? Take the Health MOT now to find out if you are eligible for personalised support from trained professionals through the Just Live Well programme. This is a free 12-month lifestyle programme aimed at residents who want improve their health and wellbeing.

Further information can be found on the Just Live Well page.