Nurturing Bright Futures – Working Together to Give Southend's Children the Best Start in Life

I am healthy

The importance of health

“To grow and develop optimally, children need to receive nurturing care. This means that they enjoy adequate nutrition and good health, feel safe and secure and have opportunities for learning starting from birth.”

(World Health Organisation)

Good health supports every part of a child’s development-body, mind and emotions. Building healthy habits early, helps prevent problems later on. Whether it’s eating well, moving their bodies, getting enough sleep, or identifying any concerns early, every healthy choice matters. A healthy start supports better learning, stronger relationships and greater wellbeing. It also helps children feel good about themselves inside and out.

Celebrating your unique child

Health and development aren’t the same for every child Some may reach milestones early, others a little later. Things like sleep, diet, activity levels and any medical needs can all affect how your child grows. Try not to compare your child to others. Instead, focus on helping them feel well, happy and supported. If you ever have concerns, you’re not alone. There are professionals and resources further in this section who can help you.

Health: Growing and learning together – a developmental guide

age range, what your baby might be doing, how you can support them
Age range	What your baby might be doing	How you can support them
During pregnancy	Body and organs begin developing Growth can be affected by your health and wellbeing	Eat well, rest, attend antenatal appointments and free NHS dental check-ups (free for mum until baby is twelve months) Avoid smoking, alcohol and stress Take vitamins and engage in physical activity consistent with pre-pregnancy activity
Birth to 3 Months	Gaining weight and growing quickly Sleeps and feeds often Builds strength by moving arms and legs	Follow a calming sleep and feed routine (breast or bottle) Respond to your baby to build a strong early attachment Give supervised tummy time
3 to 6 Month	Learns to roll, reach and grasp Starts sleeping for longer stretches May begin teething	Encourage movement and play Stick to regular feeding and sleep routines Offer clean, safe teething toys
6 to 12 Months	Eats a wider range of foods Crawls or starts moving independently Begins to sleep more at night	Introduce healthy, textured foods Let them explore safely indoors and outdoors Keep regular nap times Take your child for their first dental check when their first tooth arrives and then every six months Begin toothbrushing when th
12 to 18 Months	Walks, climbs and plays actively Sleeps in longer blocks May have fussy eating phases	Encourage active play daily Be patient with food preferences Stick to bedtime routines and calm evenings Have a potty at home that your child begins to see so that they become aware of it even though they are not using it yet Begin to introduce drinking from a cup- lidded, straw, or sippy to begin to move away from bottles
18 to 24 Months	Runs, jumps and becomes more confident May begin toilet awareness Uses hands to feed and drink independently	Offer chances for free movement and outdoor play Support handwashing and healthy habits Model good food and sleep routines Try changing nappies as soon as they are soiled so they begin to understand what being dry feels like. When you see your child’s face show they are doing a wee or poo comment on it, so they make the connection
2 to 3 years	Eats a wider variety of foods Begins potty training and becomes more active	Offer healthy snacks and meals which are low in sugar and salt Encourage physical play and toilet practice
3 to 4 years	Becomes more confident climbing, jumping, running Shows awareness of healthy habits like brushing teeth	Let them explore parks and soft play area safely Brush teeth together and make hygiene routines fun
4 to 5 years	Can manage basic hygiene with reminders Has regular sleeping and eating patterns	Help your child to feel more independent by setting up your bathroom so they can access items themselves, with your gentle prompting Build calm bedtime and mealtime routines

“When I had my son, I decided to pop along to the local NHS postnatal group. The other mums I met there have become my lifelong friends. Our bond is unbreakable. Even though our children are almost 20 now, we are always there for each other, we’ve supported each other as our children have grown and have always been there for each other through the very best and very worst of times. I never could have dreamt a group of women I met as we sang Jelly on a plate with our babies would grow to mean so much.”

Mum of Max, age 19