Support for families

Antenatal support

Home-Start Edinburgh Antenatal Support

Home-Start Edinburgh provides antenatal support, including the Antenatal Peep program.
The sessions help parents-to-be to focus on:

• thinking about their baby, tuning in to their baby's feelings and responding sensitively (also known as a reflective function),
• understanding the importance of sensitive parenting to developing a loving, consistent and secure attachment,
• becoming more aware of the social and emotional aspects of the transition to parenthood,
• managing their own (sometimes difficult) feelings that are aroused by a new baby,
• reducing the risk to the early parent-infant relationship (by helping to prevent, for example, isolation, anxiety and low-level depression).

Self-referrals are welcome although priority will be given to referrals from partner agencies. 

For more information visit the Home-Start Edinburgh website and Home-Start Facebook page or contact

admin@homestartedinburgh.org.uk

0131 553 7819

Edinburgh Lothians Twins and Multiples - Antenatal and practical parenting classes

This class currently runs bi-monthly online and costs £5 or is free for low-income families. 

For more information visit Edinburgh Lothians Twins and Multiples' Facebook page or email

antenatal@edinburghtwins.org

Members can also join a Facebook selling page for baby items.

Dads Rock Antenatal workshops

Dads Rock provides free face-to-face and online workshops for dads. 

For more information visit the Dad's Rock website or contact  

hello@dadsrock.org.uk   

07807 498 709

Dads to Be Course – Pregnancy and Parents Centre

The Pregnancy and Parent Centre runs this free two-day course created by midwives for expectant dads with lots of discussion, practical advice and workshop activities. This is an invaluable practical course for men who would like to build their confidence around early parenting skills. Sessions will cover the below topics and give plenty of time for questions. 

• Supporting your partner during labour and birth
• Baby care –  handling, clothing, dressing, nappy changing, bathing.
• Life with a baby including coping with crying, sleeping, playing
• Emotional issues including postnatal depression

To find more information visit the Pregnancy and Parents Centre website  

To book a space, email  

info@pregnancyandparents.org.uk  

Stepping Stones Pregnancy Café

Stepping Stones Pregnancy Café is free for any pregnant or new parents in North Edinburgh. It's a space to relax and chat with other parents and to get creative. This runs on Tuesdays from 11 am to 1 pm at 

For more information email

info@steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk

Bump Start

Bump Start is for pregnant women and their partners in North Edinburgh who need emotional or social support. You can attend from conception through to the early postnatal months. It provides one-to-one support and group work to support the holistic well-being of the family during pregnancy. It enables women to have better experiences in pregnancy and early parenthood. 

Download a referral form.

Edinburgh home birth support group - Pregnancy and Parents Centre

This free group is open to everyone who wishes to find out more about homebirth, support those interested in having a homebirth or who wish to tell their homebirth story to support others with the option. There is no need to book to attend. Though the group is free, a donation of £2.00 is suggested to help cover the cost of tea and biscuits. The group meets on the first Sunday of each month from 11 am to1 pm at   

The Parent and Pregnancy Centre
118 Pleasance
EH8 9RT

To find more information visit the Pregnancy and Parents Centre website. 

Bumps and Bairns

This perinatal group runs at Dr Bells. The group is for expectant parents and those with newborn babies (up to 9 months). This is an informal group where families can meet over a cuppa and a chat, giving parents a chance to meet other families in a safe space for support and advice. This group meets on Tuesdays at 10 am and is suitable for those in the Leith area.

Please book a place via Dr Bell's Bumps and Bairns Eventbrite.

For more information contact

info@dbfc.org.uk

0131 553 0100

Bump Pregnancy Support Group - With Kids 

The Bump Pregnancy Support Group is a drop-in designed for anyone going through their pregnancy journey. Whether you are 9 days or 9 months, this group will help to support conversations and bring along other local service providers to help educate expectant mothers. refreshments are provided for everyone. 

The group runs every Tuesday from 12:30 pm at 

For more information, please contact 

k.forrester@withkids.org.uk 

07896 557 223 or 0131 453 9400 

Kin PositiviTEA

These bi-monthly sessions are hosted by Kin Collective in partnership with Positive Birth Edinburgh and provide an informal gathering to meet others and discuss all things pregnancy birth and baby. With of course a warm cup of tea! Everyone is welcome. Sessions are free to attend or participants can make a donation to pay it forward. Session run at

Sessions can be booked via Eventbrite. For more information email

kincollectivecic@gmail.com

Kin SolidariTEA

These bi-monthly sessions are hosted by Kin Collective and provide a postnatal circle to chat, enjoy moments of mindfulness and relax. With of course a warm cup of tea! These sessions are about nurturing and prioritizing you. Sessions are free to attend, or participants can make a donation to pay it forward. Session run at

Sessions can be booked via Kin Collective Eventbrite.

For more information email

kincollectivecic@gmail.com

Kin Weigh and Stay 

Monthly weigh session, meet other new parents, stay for a chat, refreshments provided. Sessions are free to attend or participants can make a donation to pay it forward. Sessions run at

Ps and Gs Baby Bank

Ps and Gs Baby Bank supports new and expectant parents, particularly those in financial difficulty. It provides a starter pack of essentials for the mum and baby and gives information and support. You can collect your starter pack on a Thursday between 10 am and 11.30 am or 2 pm and 3.30 pm.

For more information email Rachel Cooney at

children@psandgs.org.uk.

Ready Steady Baby

The Ready Steady Baby website is an NHS guide for pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood up to 8 weeks. 

Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) 

PAIRS works directly with infants and their parents/carers, as well as professionals who support families, to help understand and support the parent and infant relationship. They are a small team from a range of professional backgrounds, all with a shared interest and expertise in infant development and the importance of early relationships. They provide support to parents/carers and their babies during pregnancy and following birth, up to the age of three. Evidence-based tools are used to support parents and carers to better understand the baby’s/infants’ communications and strengthen the relationship. This includes one-to-one and group interventions. Initially, the team will be working with families living in South Edinburgh. All referrals can be made via the health visitor, midwife or FNP nurse who are then offered an initial consultation. 

Useful resources for families and professionals on supporting the parent and infant relationship can be found on the NHS Lothian PAIRS website. 

Post-natal depression support

Crossreach- Perinatal Services 

CrossReach Perinatal Services offers support to parents and families living in Edinburgh the Lothians who are expecting a child or living with a child under two three years of age. If you are experiencing emotional difficulties during pregnancy or in early parenthood and finding it hard to cope sometimes these challenges can lead to difficult feelings, they may able to support you. The Specialist Perinatal Team offer one-to-one counselling or art therapy with a creche service including stay and play and infant massage.  Support is delivered from a city centre premise as well as remotely by phone and video calls. 

For more information contact  

pnd@crossreach.org.uk 

0131 538 7288

Dads Rock - Free perinatal support for dads

Dads Rock provides one-to-one support for new dads and dads-to-be experiencing anxiety or depression, having difficulty bonding with their baby, struggling with relationships or feeling isolated. A dad's WhatsApp group is also available.

For more information visit the Dads Rock website or contact 

hello@dadsrock.org.uk 

07807 498 709. 

Breastfeeding support

Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies

Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies is a free and friendly breastfeeding peer support service. It runs weekly in-person drop-in groups, provides peer support in the Postnatal wards, in the Birth Centre and the Neonatal Unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, as well as support in the postnatal wards at St John’s Hospital in West Lothian. 

Weekly Drop-in groups run on:  

• Wednesdays from 11 am to 12 pm at Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, EH14 3JF and 
• Thursdays from 10.30 am to 11.30 am at Cameron House Community Education Centre, EH16 5EU. 
• Thursdays from 1 pm to 2 pm at Pilton Community Health Project, EH5 2PW 

For more information email  

lothian.peers@nct.org.uk 

Pilton Community Health Project Breastfeeding Buddies

A drop-in group focusing on encouraging and supporting local breastfeeding mums (or mums-to-be who are thinking about breastfeeding) living in Muirhouse, Wester Drylaw, West Pilton, Granton, Royston and Wardieburn. Supported and delivered in partnership with Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies on Thursdays from 1 pm to 2.15 pm at

hello@pchp.org.uk   

0131 551 1671 

Breastfeeding support group - Pregnancy and Parents Centre

This group meets each Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm at 

For more information visit The Pregnancy and Parents Centre website. 

La Leche League Edinburgh online antenatal classes

These two free sessions help parents prepare to breastfeed, and link to support and a community of breastfeeding families.

For more information visit the La Leche League Edinburgh's website. 

La Leche League Edinburgh's free breastfeeding support

This is run by volunteers and each meeting is facilitated by a skilled breastfeeding counsellor. The group meets online every Friday at 10.30 am and on the first Saturday of the month at 11 am. Face-to-face meetings run monthly at the Cornerstone Centre, LifeCare Centre, Bulleuch Free Church and Gilmerton Community Centre. Some outdoor meetings also run and one-to-one breastfeeding support is also available.

For more information and to join a session visit the La Leche League Edinburgh's website. 

NCT Edinburgh Branch

This group is run by parent volunteers who arrange free and low-cost events for parents to access support and information. We host informal coffee mornings and walks to give parents a chance to meet each other. 

Visit the NCT website, NCT Facebook and NCT Instagram for more information.

Breastfeeding helplines

• NCT Infant Feeding is available between 8 am and midnight by phoning 0300 330 0700 and pressing option one
• National Breastfeeding Network is available between 9.30 am and 9.30 pm by phoning 0300 100 0212 and then using the same number NBH @ Night helpline service is available between 9:30 pm and 9:30 am
• La Leche League is available between 8 am and 11 pm by phoning 0345 120 2918

Baby massage

Home-Start Edinburgh Baby massage support

Home Start delivers baby massage sessions to new parents to improve confidence and promote positive mental health and attachment. Sessions focus on the benefits of touch and communication to support bonding and attachment. Sessions are delivered by trained staff members and volunteers in groups or on a one-to-one basis. The sessions are most appropriate for parents and carers with babies aged 6 weeks to 6 months. The groups are held in community venues for families in South East, South West, North West and North East Edinburgh. Self-referrals are welcome, although priority will be given to referrals from partner agencies.

For more information visit the Home-Start Edinburgh website, Home-Start Edinburgh Facebook page or contact

admin@homestartedinburgh.org.uk

0131 553 7819

Circle Haven - Baby massage

This six-week course is for parents with babies 6 weeks plus.  Baby Massage has many health benefits for babies such as relief for colic and constipation as well as promoting bonding and communication with babies. Sessions run on Mondays at 10:30 am at 

For more information on booking a place, contact

julie.calder@circle.scot

 07703 714766.

Weaning

Edinburgh Community Food- Weaning Workshops

These workshops are aimed at parents and carers who are introducing foods to their babies for the first time, the workshop looks at:

For information on the next workshop contact 

Circle Haven Baby Weaning

This baby brunch group provides parents and babies with healthy food, advice and information on weaning each week. Sessions run for parents and babies 6 months plus in North West Edinburgh on Tuesdays from 12.30 pm to 2 pm at 

For more information or to book a place contact

julie.calder@circle.scot

 07703 714766

Buggy walks

Edinburgh Buggy Walks

Edinburgh Buggy Walks offer free, friendly and attractive walks for new parents to enjoy with their baby. The walks help prevent social isolation, offer a structured way to get out in the fresh air, exercise and an opportunity to gain confidence by meeting up with other new parents. Each walk lasts around an hour, with a baby-friendly cafe or community centre at the end. There are walks in different locations around Edinburgh and a dedicated Dad's Walks at the Meadows. 

Find the full details of each walk on the Edinburgh Buggy Walks Meetup website. 

See ‘edit hyperlink’ for new web address added. 

Up-to-date information is listed on the Edinburgh Buggy Walks Facebook and Edinburgh Buggy Walks Instagram pages. 

Motherwalk - Pregnancy and Parents Centre

Motherwalk is a free walking group for mums with babies under six months old. The group meets on Thursdays between 11 am and 12.30 pm - booking is required. Local Meadows walks are led by a skilled facilitator. 

For more information and booking visit the Pregnancy and Parents Centre website.  

Mother Walk will resume in April 2024. 

Baby groups

Circle Haven's Baby Sensory project

Baby sensory groups are for parents in North West Edinburgh and their babies from six weeks to six months. This group introduces babies to sensory materials which help to stimulate the senses, as well as arts and crafts with parents and singing.  The group runs on Mondays from 11.30 am to 1 pm at

julie.calder@circle.scot

07703 714 766.   

Stepping Stones Baby Steps Group 

A group for parents who have a child aged 6 months to 1 year. Sessions are delivered over 8 weeks and cover a variety of topics such as weaning, sensory play, infant first, sleep and child development topics. Sessions run on Thursdays from 1 pm to 2.30 pm at

For more information or to attend visit the Stepping Stones Facebook group or contact

0131 551 1632

Info@steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk

KinCuppa – Stay and Play 

A time for parents and carers to chat and for little ones to play. Sessions run at  

Sessions can be booked via Kin Cuppa - Stay & Play Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite 

Peep Learning Together 

Peep provides you the chance to explore activities with your little one to promote the bond between you both. It is an opportunity to discuss topics surrounding development and the benefits these provide to your little one, whilst having the chance to socialise with other parents and carers.

Home Start Edinburgh Peep Learning Together

This Peep Learning Together Programme focuses on singing storytelling and activities you can do in the home to support your baby’s learning and development and enhance your relationships.

Peep Learning Together Programme is delivered in 5 themes:

• personal, social and emotional development
• communication and language
• early literacy
• early numeracy
• health and physical development

Sessions are delivered by trained and supported staff members and volunteers in groups or on a 1-1 basis. Groups are run for parents/carers with babies from 4 months and parents/ carers with toddlers. Groups are held in community venues for families in South East, South West, North West and North East Edinburgh. Self-referrals are welcome although priority will be given to referrals from partner agencies.

Visit the Home Start Edinburgh website, and Home Start Facebook page for more information or contact 

admin@homestartedinburgh.org.uk

0131 553 7819

Peep Learning Together Sessions - Babies

Motherspace - Pregnancy and Parents Centre

Motherspace is a drop-in group for mums to meet up with other mums and with their babies until they are crawling. They meet on Mondays anytime between 2 pm to 4 pm at  

188-192 Pleasance
EH8 9RT.

Booking is required and the sessions are facilitated by a qualified post-natal worker.

For more information visit the Pregnancy and Parents Centre website.