Parenting programs

First Time Parent Group

Our group is offered over 5 weeks and aims to support you in your new role as a parent. Invitations to join are sent to new parents via SMS.

Benefits include:

• increasing parental confidence and independence in child-rearing
• gaining information on child health and development
• meeting other first-time parents, sharing experiences and learning from each other
• establishing friendships and social networks

The Infant Program

The Infant Program aims to support parents with children aged between 3 and 12 months and has been developed by Deakin University's Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

All parents and carers are invited to attend age-specific group information sessions when their children are 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months.

The program will help you:

• improve your knowledge and increase your confidence to establish a healthy lifestyle for your child
• become a role model for your child by promoting healthy eating

To book, please speak with your Maternal and Child Nurse or contact us on 9404 8888 or mchprograms@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Sleep and Settling

This program provides support to parents to better understand their child’s sleep patterns and cues and create a safe sleeping environment.

Please speak to the Maternal and Child Health nurse at your regular Centre or contact 9404 8888 to organise attendance at a sleep information session.

Commonly discussed topics may include

• Learning about how your baby sleeps and how it changes over time
• Ways to establish good sleeping habits through the use of different strategies and techniques for you and your family
• Recognising your child’s cues and patterns around sleep
• What other supports are available for you and your family.