Being a young mum/dad

Being a young parent can be rewarding but it is also hard work. You will need to consider how having a baby will affect your life, before, during and after the birth.

It’s important that you think about how you’ll support yourself and the baby. Sometimes people can find it helpful to speak to another young mum or dad to find out about their experience of parenthood or you can speak to your midwife for support.

You may find it helpful to think about the following things:

  • Is there anyone you know who will help out or babysit on a regular basis? How do they feel about doing this?
  • Do you know exactly how much help your parents would be able or willing to offer? What sort of things would/could they do to help?
  • Is your partner feeling 100% ready to become a mum/dad? Are they willing to support you and the child and to take on all the responsibilities of being a mum/dad brings?
  • It can also be helpful to think about things like finance and housing

Support for young parents in Bristol

There is lots of support for young mums and dads in Bristol. Here are some below:

The Hartcliffe and Withywood Teenage Parents Project works with young parents aged from 16-25, and their children from 0-4 providing practical, emotional and mentoring support in the BS13 area raising awareness and aspirations through education: www.teenageparents.org.uk

Hillfield’s Young Mothers’ Group offers lots of activities including knitting, massage and some DIY skills.
Hillfields Youth Centre
Thicket Ave
Fishponds
Bristol
BS16 4EH
Tel 0117 9586729

Bristol Fathers website lists information, advice and fathers’ groups across Bristol: www.bristolfathers.net

Children’s Centres are early years and childcare settings providing a wide range of high quality family support, early learning and childcare services to local families. Here is a list of the ones in Bristol: www.bristol.gov.uk/page/childrens-centres

The Meriton in central Bristol provides education, support, mentoring, information and advice to young mothers both pre and post 16: www.the-meriton.co.uk

Connexions West can provide advice for teenage parents on education, careers, housing, money, health and relationships: www.connexionswest.org.uk

National support

Young Fathers website: www.young-fathers.org.uk

Dad’s Space has a section for teenage dads: www.dads-space.com/BecomingATeenageDad

Gingerbread is a charity for single parents offering advice on benefits, money, housing and childcare: www.gingerbread.org.uk

Extracts taken from Brook.org.uk

Safe Teenagers