Being a Parent
When you become a parent, your whole life changes. You have someone else to love and look after. Being a parent can be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it can also be exhausting, stressful and a bit of a mystery - babies don't come with instructions!
If you are under 20 and pregnant, or are a teenage parent, you can get support from a youth support worker. They can offer support, advice and information either on a one-to-one basis or through group work, on the following:
- Education, training and employment
- Accessing childcare and help with childcare costs
- Housing and benefits
- Confidence, self-esteem and anger management issues
- Accessing young parents groups
If you'd like this extra support, please ask your midwife or health visitor to refer you, or contact them directly at a youth support drop-in or on 023 8083 3004.
There is also a Young People's Maternity Practice in Southampton who are midwives who work specifically with under-18s. They can be contacted on 023 8079 6187 or 07771 772140.
There is an abundance of general information available in our Parents and Carers section.
Family Lives has information and advice for parents on all aspects of parenting.
Southampton Children and Young People's Information Service (CYPIS) provides free, impartial information and advice about childcare, things to do and family services in the Southampton area. You can also search online using the options on the left of this site, or call free on 0800 169 8833.
For information on studying whilst being a parent please visit the Childcare Costs page in the Money Advice section of this website, or Care to Learn on the Directgov website.
JustParents gives parenting and pregnancy advice for mums and dads, with baby names, gender predictor, forums and parents blogs.
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