A Healthy Babies programme is being rolled out to every local authority in England, bringing more early support to parents and their babies.
The service is designed to help with infant feeding, parents’ mental health and building strong bonds with a new baby. It will sit alongside health visits, midwifery care and other family services.
Support through up to 1,000 family hubs
The programme follows the principles of Sure Start, which provided joined-up services for under-fives and their families. More than half of English local authorities already have family hubs, but many do not yet offer Healthy Babies services.
The government says the programme will reach up to 1,000 family hubs over the next two years. It forms part of a wider £500m commitment to open 1,000 centres from April 2027.
The expansion was announced at the Labour conference in Liverpool. Alongside family support, plans include paying qualified early-years teachers to work in the most deprived areas.
Why it matters for Britain
Families across England will have better access to practical help during the crucial early months of a child’s life. Bringing feeding, mental health and bonding support into local family hubs could also make services easier for parents to find and use.
