Welcome to Quick Tips. This regular bulletin is designed to support you and your child while many early years schools and settings are closed and is in addition to your fortnightly Bright Start Bright Ideas newsletter.

We will be sharing quick tips, ideas, activities and practical advice to support you while children are at home.

For further advice, tips and ideas, there are a number of links at the bottom of this email.

Breastfeeding helps protect babies from getting sick throughout their infancy and childhood, and helps mums and babies develop a close and loving relationship that grows baby’s brain. Breastfeeding strengthens the immune system by directly transferring antibodies from the mother. Even mums who have COVID-19 can continue to breastfeed and have skin-to-skin contact, with a few hygiene precautions.

There’s still lots of breastfeeding support in Islington for mums and mums-to-be at every stage – several breastfeeding groups have moved online, and we can see you face to face by appointment at Hungerford Children’s Centre and Bingfield Primary Care Centre, as well as in hospital and at home. We can also support you by email, phone and video call, or through social media messaging on Facebook (@breastfeedingislington) and Instagram (@bfnislington).

Contact us on 020 3316 8439 or by email. 

Find out more about Coronavirus and breastfeeding 

Kicking Obstacle Course

Using tins, books, or other small items, lay them in a line with space in between. Using a small ball or rolled up sock, encourage your child to steer the ball in and out of the objects.

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• Childhood immunisations are still very important and continue as normal: You can see the schedule here and arrange these through your GP surgery
• Health Visitor information: If you have any queries or concerns about your own or your child’s health and development during this time, or would like to see a health visitor as a face to face contact please don’t hesitate to call the duty line where a health visitor will be available to talk with you. We have increased our capacity to offer clinic appointments now and the staff available to do home visits. There are 3 duty telephone numbers available to call Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.00p.m.
  • Bingfield HC: 020 7527 1610
  • River Place: 020 3316 8461
  • Highbury Grange HC: 020 3316 8012
• If you are concerned about your child’s health, you should still call your GP as usual, NHS 111 or 999 in an emergency: follow the advice published here by the The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Feeling anxious or worried? Take a look here for lots of useful parenting information and support.