Maternal and child health

Information and support for parents and carers

Infant education sessions (INFANT Feeding, Active play and NuTrition)

Our infant education talks are held both in-person and online at our Maternal and Child Health Centres. In this session, we provide evidence-based information about starting solid foods, healthy eating and active play for babies. There is also the opportunity to ask questions.

Please book via the links below:

• zero to six months — in person
• 12+ months — online

Sleep and settling outreach program

The Glen Eira sleep and settling outreach program is a free, evidence-based service available to all families within the Glen Eira community who are experiencing challenges with their child’s sleep or settling routines.

Our Sleep and Settling staff visit families in their home to explore age-appropriate sleep cues, sleep cycles and strategies for creating safe, positive settling routines.

Referrals can be made through your Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurse or via self-referral. To make an appointment contact, SleepAndSettling@gleneira.vic.gov.au 

We also host Dad's sleep and settling information sessions online. In these sessions, we provide information, and the opportunity to ask questions, about normal child development, behaviour and good sleep habits and tips for babies and toddlers.

Please book via the links below:

• Dad's lunch time — online

Fact sheets on sleep for babies and young children are available on the Better Health Channel website. 

Dads playgroup

Our Dads Playgroup provides an opportunity for all dads to spend time with their children and meet other dads within the community offering:

• fun and engaging sessions for dads and their children
• support for quality interaction with their children
• opportunity to share experiences and the joy in raising children.

Book Dads Playgroup 

Available free of charge for all parents and caregivers. Details of dates, locations and bookings are on the links above.

What is the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service?

The MCH service is a free service for parents and carers with children aged from birth to school years.

MCH is a family-focused service offering guidance, support and practical information in parenting, maternal health and family wellbeing.

Programs within the MCH service:

• breastfeeding support 
• the health and physical development of your baby or child
• child safety and injury prevention
• keeping your family healthy
• oral health
• playgroups and kindergarten enrolment
• parent education talks
• our new parents' group.

Locations

Key Ages and Stages 

Health and development assessments are scheduled for the following ages:

• Newborn
• 2 weeks
• 4 weeks
• 8 weeks
• 4 months
• 8 months
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 3.5 years

Other useful contacts

• Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26
• Australian Breastfeeding Association Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800 686 268
• Child First Family Solutions: 1300 721 383
• Child Protection Crisis Line: 13 12 78
• Parent Line: 13 22 89
• Kidsafe: 03 9427 1008
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Panda: Post & Antenatal Depression Association: 1300 726 306
• Beyond Baby Blues: 1300 224 636
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188
• Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence: 03 9523 2100
• Women after Gestational Diabetes: 03 8532 1837
• Royal Children's Hospital - kids health info fact sheets
• Raising Children - the Australian parenting website
• health.vic - immunisation
• Australian Breastfeeding Association
• Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand
• Kidsafe
• VicRoads
• Healthy Kids NSW
• Playgroup Victoria

Give us feedback

We welcome your suggestions on how we can improve our services. To give us feedback, email MCHAdmin@gleneira.vic.gov.au