Healthy Babies Family Hubs: Free Support for UK Parents

Healthy Babies is a package of free infant feeding support, parent mental health support and help bonding with your baby, delivered through Best Start Family Hubs in England. On 30 September 2026 the government announced it is being rolled out to every local authority, with more than 1,000 hubs expected by 2028. If you are pregnant or have a baby, here is what that means in practice and how to use what is already available near you.

What the government announced

According to the GOV.UK announcement, the Healthy Babies programme will be extended to all local authorities in England, taking an integrated approach to family support based on Sure Start principles. Parents will get enhanced infant feeding support, mental health support and help to form strong relationships with their babies, alongside health visiting and midwifery support.

The same announcement notes that over half of local authorities currently have Best Start Family Hubs without Healthy Babies services. So what you can access today depends on where you live, and the full rollout runs to 2028. Detailed delivery expectations for councils are set out in the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies guidance for local authorities.

What is a Best Start Family Hub?

The government describes Best Start Family Hubs as a single place to get support for children, young people and families, covering the span from pregnancy right through to starting school. You can search for your nearest hub through the Best Start in Life website, or ask your local council.

The announcement does not set out how each council will publicise its hub, so the finder tool and your council's website are the best places to check for opening times, drop-in sessions and which Healthy Babies services are running locally.

The three things Healthy Babies focuses on

1. Infant feeding support

Feeding is where many new parents want help in the first weeks, whether breastfeeding, formula feeding or combining the two. The NHS says midwives, health visitors and trained peer supporters can give one-to-one guidance, and local drop-in baby clinics and groups offer face-to-face help. The NHS also lists the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212, which it describes as open around the clock (NHS breastfeeding help and support).

For the basics, see our guides on breastfeeding vs formula feeding and how often a newborn should feed. If you are planning to breastfeed, our breastfeeding accessories guide separates the useful from the optional.

2. Parent mental health support

The NHS describes postnatal depression as a common mental health condition that can start during pregnancy, soon after birth, or up to a year after your baby is born. It advises speaking to your GP, midwife or health visitor, and says you can self-refer to NHS talking therapies services (NHS postnatal depression overview). Symptoms include low mood, anxiety, sleep difficulties and difficulty bonding with your baby. If you are struggling, you do not need to wait for a hub to open near you: your GP or health visitor is the starting point today.

3. Building a bond with your baby

Healthy Babies explicitly includes help forming strong relationships with your baby. The announcement does not list specific sessions, so ask your local hub what they offer, such as baby groups or parent-infant sessions.

What to do now

If you are...	Do this
Pregnant	Ask your midwife which family hub and health visiting service covers your area, and what is running there.
A new parent finding feeding hard	Contact your midwife or health visitor, a local drop-in, or the National Breastfeeding Helpline (0300 100 0212).
Feeling low or anxious	Speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor, or self-refer to NHS talking therapies.
Wanting company and advice	Search for your nearest Best Start Family Hub and check its timetable.

Our postpartum recovery guide covers what to expect physically and emotionally in the early weeks, which is a good companion to finding local support.

Questions to ask your local hub or health visitor

Because provision varies by area during the rollout, a few direct questions will save you time. None of these depend on the national announcement; they are simply sensible things to ask whoever you speak to:

• Is there a Best Start Family Hub near me, and is it already running Healthy Babies services?
• Are there drop-in feeding sessions, and do I need to book?
• Who is my named health visitor or contact, and how do I reach them between appointments?
• What baby or parent-and-baby groups run each week, and are any in the evening or at weekends?
• Is there help for partners, grandparents or other carers who want to get involved?

Other places to find support while you wait

The NHS says drop-in cafes and centres are "great places to make new friends and share the ups and downs of looking after a baby" without needing an appointment, and that your local council and Sure Start Children's Centres keep lists of nearby breastfeeding groups (NHS). The NHS also lists other helplines for feeding support, including La Leche League (0345 120 2918) and the NCT (0300 330 0700).

For mental health, the NHS lists Mind, PANDAS (Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support) and the Samaritans (116 123) alongside your GP, midwife and health visitor. It notes that recovery from postnatal depression typically takes three to six months, though it can sometimes last longer, which is a good reason to ask for help early rather than waiting to see if things pass.

Why a joined-up service matters

New parents are often passed between midwives, health visitors, GPs and charities, and may not know which door to knock on. The idea behind a family hub is to put health visiting, midwifery, feeding help and mental health support under one roof, so a question about latching can turn into a conversation about how you are coping, without a new referral. The government's stated aim is exactly this kind of integrated, Sure Start-style approach. How well it works will depend on local staffing and funding, which the announcement does not detail, so treat the 2028 target as a direction of travel rather than a guarantee for your postcode.

What a family hub does not replace

A hub is a source of advice and support, not an emergency service. If you are worried about your baby's health, use NHS 111 or your GP, and call 999 in an emergency. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, contact your GP urgently or call the Samaritans on 116 123.

Bottom line

Healthy Babies is a welcome extension of free, local support, but it will not arrive everywhere at once. Check what your own area offers now, and use your midwife, health visitor and GP in the meantime. Support is not a sign you are doing anything wrong; it is what the service is there for.