A very successful event was held in Balivanich recently, where parents and carers of babies and children under 5 were offered healthy lifestyle advice.
Over 28 families attended and received information and advice on weaning, healthy eating, childhood first aid, healthy eating on a budget, and coping with children who are fussy eaters. Information on the Healthy Start/Best Start voucher and vitamin scheme also featured.
Organised by the NHS Western Isles Maternal and Infant Nutrition (MIN) group, the event hosted a range of services including Health Promotion, Health Visiting, Speech and Language Therapy, Healthy Weighs, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Early Years Worker, Cothroms’ Grow Me Project, Action for Children’s Early Intervention Substance Misuse service, Uist & Barra Communnity Sports Hub Officer, Taigh Chearsabhagh’s Art Therapist and Solas’ Complimentary Therapist delivering a Baby Yoga session.
Parents and children were encouraged to play together through the medium of art, with one parent commenting, “It was good to see the children having so much fun and the first aid information was really great”.
Other comments were:“There was so much for the children to do. I see how easy it is to make musical instruments at home with my child”, “I will try some suggestions for my child who is a fussy eater”, and that it was “good to have everyone in the one place and be able to ask questions”.
Healthy Start helps you give your family the very best start in life. The Scottish Government is replacing the UK Government’s Healthy Start Vouchers with Best Start Food card. The card will replace the paper vouchers used in existing Healthy Vouchers Scheme, giving people more flexibility in how they use it and where they shop. The payments will be made to eligible families for any child aged up to three, including during pregnancy. You will receive £17.00 every four weeks for every child under three this payment increases to £34.00 for any child under one. These vouchers can be used to help buy some basic healthy foods.
Women and children receiving Best Start food vouchers are also entitled to free Healthy Start vitamins. Healthy Start vitamins are specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women and growing children. Your midwife or health visitor will be able to tell you where you can get your Healthy Start vitamins.
For further information on the Best Start Scheme offering vouchers and vitamins, families are asked to contact their Health Visitor or visit: www.healthystart.nhs.uk
Marion Matheson, NHSWI Health Improvement Practitioner, commented “This was a very enjoyable event highlighting services that are available to parents and carers providing them with the tools to enable the best start for their children.