Anyone else's health visitor absolutely useless?

Health visitor?

they all are 🤣they make it seem like an optional service but keep pestering me lol

We have them in Canada too. They were old women with very outdated beliefs and information.

I think people have quite high expectations of them but tbh their role and remit is super limited.

In most cases you'll see one a handful of times between when your child is born and when they turn 2/3 years old.

They aren't a paediatrician or a social worker.
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/height-weight-and-reviews/baby-reviews/

What is a health visitor?
Saying England is not what it is

It depends what you want or need the service for.

I had all age relevant reviews with a health visitor and also asked for some help with some behavioural issues we had. Thought they were great, but my sister is also one so she's been a great source of info.
I think people expect them to be judgemental or be looking for a reason to insult or remove your child. They're there to assist and offer advice, take it or don't 🤷🏼‍♀️

For those asking what a Health Visitor is lol: A health visitor in the UK is basically a mix between a nurse, a child development coach, and a support person for new parents. For Americans the closest comparison is something like a public health nurse that does home visits, especially for families with babies and young kids.

Kind of had a really good one but this past month she’s just not bothering atall. She keeps saying she’ll ring the nursery where my oldest goes to see how he’s getting on as need speech therapy for him but she wanted to wait until he started nursery now she’s not bothering 😫. Otherwise she was really good up until recently

Never used mine outside the usual reviews. Any issues I just google / ask friends / the GP

Mine was fab, but other mums I've spoken to in the area have said theirs wasn't helpful at all, so I suppose it's just your luck who gets asigned to you! I think you can request a different one though

Absolutely love our HV. I live in Flintshire and we get a visit a week for the first 8 weeks, if they’re putting on weight then they will say nearer to the end I can come in 2 weeks time if you like etc. Had a visit at 4 months in preparation for weaning, then 6 months once began weaning, then 14 months then 27 months, with a specific speech and language visit in between. She’s always been available on the phone if needed. There’s a full team of family workers and HVs that work in the same site, they offer stay&plays, various different courses both stay&play groups or with a crèche - the play room is really lovely. The HVs are just in the next building so I’ve always been able to ask for a quick chat if needed. Seems to be so different from area to area but flying start program in some areas of wales is fab, I wish all areas had it like that!

It depends on what you need.

If you barely see your HV consider yourself lucky. Very likely you have a healthy baby. They are more involved when families need extra support for different medical conditions.

You could also request a different one if you think she is falling short. But they shouldn't be coming that often and medical advice is given by GPs.

Do you have a baby/children clinic near you ? You can usually drop in to discuss these things as far as I'm aware.

For example, I have this local to me

https://bexley0to19.co.uk/0-4-years/well-baby-clinics

My first one asked me what my rent was like as my flat was lovely and her son was looking in the area