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Infant feeding in Ealing

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Our breastfeeding support service provides mothers with information on breastfeeding, delivered by our Early Start Health Visiting team who are all breastfeeding trained under the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.

We also support parents who are formula feeding or mixed feeding their babies by providing information on choosing milks, making up feeds; and helping them to feed safely and responsively.

You can access the Early Start Health Visiting team via the Well Baby and Child Health Clinics at local Children’s Centres.

We provide advice and support to all Ealing families in the antenatal period, following birth of a baby and for as long as they require infant feeding support including solid food introduction.

You can access the Early Start Health Visiting Team by contacting the Early Start Main Hub.

Phone: 020 8102 5888

Email: clcht.ealingadminhub@nhs.net

Opening hours: Monday – Friday | 09:00 – 17:00

Your health visitor will be able to signpost you to baby clinics and breastfeeding support groups in your area.

Health Visiting support  

The Early Start Health Visiting Team offer a Duty Advice Line: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm you can also get support at your local Child Health or Well Baby Clinic

Breastfeeding Support Groups

The Infant feeding team offer welcoming weekly sessions for local mothers to get information, advice and support with feeding their babies. All welcome (breastfeeding, formula feeding or mixed feeding); groups are drop in (no need to book) and are available at the following centres: 

Mon:  9:45 – 11:30am  Havelock Children’s Centre, Trubshaw Rd, UB2

Mon:  1:00 – 2:15pm   John Perryn Children’s Centre, Long Drive, W3

Tue:   1:00 – 3:00pm    Islip Manor Children’s Centre, Eastcote Lane, UB5

Wed:  2:00 – 4:00pm   Grange Children’s Centre Church Place, Ealing, W5 (Mums only)

Specialist Feeding Clinic

Our Health Visiting Team can refer you for specialist feeding support where necessary. 

Tue:      1:00 – 3:00pm               Islip Manor Children’s Centre, Eastcote Lane, UB5 (appointment only)

Please contact Early Start Main Hub (see contacting our team) or email clcht.ealingbreastfeedingsupport@nhs.net

Online Group Support:

Last Friday of every month: 10:00 - 11:30am. Email clcht.ealingbreastfeedingsupport@nhs.net to request a link to join.

Your Health Visitor can refer you to a dedicated breastfeeding supporter who will visit you at home to help you get breastfeeding off to a good start or to help you to continue breastfeeding. If your baby is under 10 days of age please call or email Early Start Main Hub (see contacting our team) to arrange a breastfeeding support home visit.

Otherwise, a health visitor will visit you at home between 10-14 days following the birth of your baby; and can let you know about the child health clinics, breastfeeding support groups and children's centres activities and other baby groups and sessions in your area. They will also complete a breastfeeding assessment form with you and refer you for more breastfeeding support if required.

Clinics are an opportunity for parents and carers to weigh their baby and speak with a member of the Health Visiting Team about any concerns. For more information on dates, times and locations of clinics in your area or to book an appointment please call or email Early Start Main Hub (see contacting our team).

The aim of Ealing Children’s Centres is to provide a network of welcoming and safe places in the community for families with young children to access essential early childhood and family services.

Ealing Children’s Centres 0-5 years offers the following services:

  • Early education / nursery and childcare services (including funding for 2, 3 & 4 year olds)
  • Support for children with Special Educational Needs and / or Disability (SEND)
  • Stay and play sessions for children 0-5 years
  • Groups for parents expecting a baby
  • Baby groups and infant massage sessions
  • Children’s activities to promote health and wellbeing
  • Children’s activities to promote nursery and school readiness
  • Perinatal Mental Health support and Midwifery services
  • Parenting support groups and advice
  • Volunteering and training opportunities for parents; which includes ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

For more information on what children’s centres offer and to find your nearest children centre visit (insert link www.ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk.) If you have any difficulties contacting a children's centre directly, you can call the Family Information Service on 020 8825 5588 (Mon-Fri, 9am to 1pm), or email children@ealing.gov.uk

Introducing solid foods to your baby can be an exciting but also a daunting time. Your health visiting team is available to help you with advice and discuss any concerns you may have. 

For health reasons, we recommend that babies are fed solely on breast milk or infant formula for the first six months.

Here are some helpful resources to support you and your baby with introduction to solid foods.

Is your baby aged 16-26 weeks?  

Your health visiting team runs face to face and virtual introduction to solids workshops, call to book your place Early Start Main hub on: 020 8102 5888 or email at clcht.ealingadminhub@nhs.net

Parents, carers, grandparents all welcome to attend.

Safer sleep for babies resources:

You can download the Basis app where you can find further information on safe sleeping practices for you and your baby.

You can also download The Baby Check app by The Lullaby Trust which features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness and further information regarding safer sleeping practices.

CLCH have produced a video about normal sleep and how to promote sleep in the antenatal period as well as the postnatal period, up to the first six months. Watch video.

Please check the NHS Healthy Start website to see if you are eligible to receive free vitamins & money to buy healthy foods & milk. You could be eligible to receive £4.25 per week during pregnancy & continued payments until your child is 4. Find out more on NHS healthy start website.