It can feel pretty daunting becoming a parent when you’re young, whether you’ve planned it or not! We’ve put together some useful information for you.

Support

You can get lots of support from the health service. When you are pregnant you will be assigned a midwife, and once the baby is born you will have a health visitor. They come round to do checks on your baby to make sure s/he is developing well, and also to see how you are doing. If you have any problems or worries, your health visitor is a good person to contact. They know of lots of other groups and organisations who help and support parents. There may even be groups specifically for young parents in your area. Not only are they a good source of support, they are also a great way to make friends with other parents.

Money matters

Children may be small but they can cost a lot of money. You can save money by getting baby clothes and equipment second hand and you may find that friends and family pass on these things. If you’re working you’ll need to think about when you want to go on maternity leave, if you want to go back to work and what to do about childcare. If you’re studying make sure you go and talk to someone from student welfare to find out what your options are regarding taking time out or finishing earlier. 

The Citizens Advice Bureau Advice Guide has loads of information on all the different grants and benefits you can get (some you can get even if you are working), and explains more about maternity pay.

Adding up to a lifetime has lots of easy to understand and interactive information about all the financial things you'll have to deal with in life. If you visit their section on New Life you'll find some information and activities to help you think about the financial aspect of having a baby.

Being a dad

It’s often the mum that gets all the attention when it comes to babies and children, but dads shouldn’t be forgotten. There are loads of ways you can get involved, especially with helping out with changing, feeding and bathing to give mum a rest. Although breastfeeding is something only a mum can do, she can express milk into a bottle so you can take part in feeding too. 

If you don’t live with your child’s mum you can still help out by looking after the baby. 

Young Fathers Initiative has lots of information and advice about being a dad.

One parent families

Bringing up a family on your own can be tough, but many people do it and there’s a lot of support out there. There may be a group for lone parents in your area so you can get to know other people in the same situation. One Parent Families Scotland has lots of information on their website about support for you.

More…

Ready Steady Baby- The NHS Health Scotland website is packed with information about pregancy, planning for the birth of your baby, going into labour and the early days of your baby's life.

Advice Guide- Read all about what financial help is available for families in Scotland here.

Babycentre- This website has a section specifically for young parents, as well as information is has real life stories from young parents.

Young Fathers Initiative- Here you can find info and advice about becoming a father, being in a dispute over your child and housing and work.

One Parent Families Scotland- This organisation provide information and support to loan parent families across the UK. You can call their Scottish helpline on 0808 801 0323 Monday to Friday 9.30 am til 4.30pm. It's free from landlines and on the following mobile networks: 3, Orange, Vodafone, T Mobile and Virgin.