Reference Information
Sources of online information and useful contacts
Please note contact details may change and are only valid at the time of printing.
For further information refer to your local neonatal unit, paediatric centre or Health Centre/Primary Care Centre.
Visit https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/babies-and-children/checks-milestones/developmental-milestones/premature-babies/ for further information.
Bliss
A UK based charity dedicated to improving both the survival and long-term quality of life for babies born too soon, too small or too sick to cope on their own. Provides a range of resources and publications for parents.
Early Babies
A UK based resource that provides practical information, including a parent’s handbook, to help parents of babies in neonatal units.
European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI)
A pan-European organisation and network to represent the interests of preterm and newborn infants and their families.
Irish Neonatal Health Alliance (INHA)
A collaborative Irish network representing and supporting the interests of preterm and ill babies and their families in the neonatal unit.
Tinylife
Northern Ireland based premature and vulnerable baby charity.
Health and nutrition
Health Promotion
Irish Health Service resource that provides a range of publications on various topics including hygiene, safety and accident prevention, immunisations, and breastfeeding in Ireland.
Health Service Executive
Public health service in Ireland. Provides a range of information relating to health.
My Child
HSE guide to pregnancy, baby and toddler health. Includes guidance on breastfeeding and expressing milk.
Safefood
All-Ireland body that promotes awareness and knowledge of food safety and nutrition. Provides information on nutrition and food safety including the safe preparation of bottle-feeds.
First Steps Nutrition Trust
UK based independent public health nutrition charity. Provides information for health workers on eating well from pre-conception to five years.
Social welfare, benefits, family, relationships and legal issues
Citizens Information
Provides free impartial advice, information and advocacy on a range of topics including health, social welfare, death and bereavement, family and relationships.
My Child
HSE guide to pregnancy, baby and toddler health. Includes guidance on parenting, health services, supports, entitlements and wellbeing.
One Family
Offers support to parents who are parenting alone, or co-parenting following separation.
Treoir
National specialist information service for unmarried parents and their children providing information to parents who are not married to each other and to those involved with them.
Mental Health
Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/specialist-perinatal-mental-health
HSE information about Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services in Ireland.
Your Mental Health
Provides information on mental health issues, what you can do to support your mental wellbeing and advice on how to cope with difficult situations that can impact your mental health. Also provides advice on helping others experiencing mental health issues.
Bereavement [LINK]
A Little Lifetime Foundation
Provides a range of support options for bereaved parents.
Anam Cara
Provides information, resources and bereavement support after the death of a child of any age to all bereaved parents.
Bereavement Ireland
Provides details of bereavement and grief support and counselling.
Feileacáin (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland – SANDAI)
National charity supporting families affected by the death of a baby around the time of birth.
First Light (formerly the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association)
Ireland based service that provides support for families affected by the death of a child.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
Provides a directory of support services and knowledge for both bereaved parents and healthcare professionals.
Feeding and language
Feeding matters
Aims to unite families, healthcare professionals, and the broader community to improve the system of care for children with paediatric feeding disorder through advocacy, education, support, and research (based in North Amer
Feeding FUNdamentals
Provides education, consultation and research services to professionals and systems working with infants in hospital and early intervention settings; and offers information to families in support of their efforts to improve feeding experiences with their infants (based in North America).
I CAN children’s communication
Provides early communication speech and language resources and support to help children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world. I CAN’s Talking Point provides information for parents/carers and practitioners to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills (based in UK).
The Hanen Centre®
Promotes language, social and literacy skills in children (based in Canada).
Professional organisations
Association of Occupational Therapists Ireland (AOTI)
Professional association of occupational therapists in Ireland.
Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT)
Professional association of speech and language therapists in Ireland.
Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI)
Professional body for dietitians in Ireland. Provides a range of nutrition fact sheets and details of dietitians in private practice.
Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP)
Professional body for chartered physiotherapists in Ireland. Provides a list of paediatric physiotherapists.
Psychological Society of Ireland Perinatal and Infant Mental Health SIG
