Food and nutrition
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk through the Healthy Start website.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old
First Steps Nutrition Information and resources to support eating well from preconception to five years. firststepsnutrition.org
Introducing your baby to solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complementary feeding, starts when your baby is around 6 months old. Your baby should be introduced to a varied diet, alongside their usual breast milk or first infant formula. You can find guidance on weaning on the Best Start in Life website.
Better Health, Healthier Families provides information about children's weight, sugar facts, tips to get your family moving and healthy recipe ideas.
BANES Food Finder lists food clubs and pantries available in Bath and North East Somerset provided by organisations offering affordable food or emergency food parcels for those who meet the qualifying criteria.
The Community Wellbeing Hub has partners that are able to provide short term support including access to local foodbanks, retail vouchers, or advice on longer-term solutions.
Being active
Best Start in Life - Baby moves offers information and simple play activities you can do with your baby, which support their development.
Oral health
Find information and tips to help you take care of your baby or toddler's teeth on the Best Start in Life website.
The Big Brush Club, part of At Home Dental, provides some great resources and information to help parents carers and children with their toothbrushing journey. There are also fun videos which are wonderful for motivating children to brush for a full 2 minutes each time. You can also find out about free oral health webinars available regularly.
Dr Ranj and Supertooth video guides offer top tips on looking after your children's teeth including babies.
The Singing Dentist, Dr Milad Shadrooh answers questions about caring for children's teeth.
Last updated: 8 September 2026