With the rising cost of living, buying essential items for babies and young children can be a worry for some parents, however there is lots of help and support available to help with this and relieve some of the stress.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Your benefit will be added onto this card every 4 weeks. 

You can use your card to buy: 

• plain liquid cow’s milk 
• fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables 

• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses 
• infant formula milk based on cow’s milk 

You can also use your card to collect: 

• Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding 
• vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old 

To check if you are eligible for Healthy Start vouchers, use this new free online tool (takes less than 5 minutes) 

An application form can be found on the Healthy Start website. 

Healthy Start vitamins 

To pick up your vitamins just take your Healthy Start card along to any local distribution centre to show you are on the Healthy Start scheme.  Distribution centres in South Gloucestershire include: 

 

You can also visit the NHS website to search for locations outside of the local area.  Please note that distribution centres in South Gloucestershire do not sell Healthy Start vitamins to women and children not on the scheme. 

Sure Start maternity grant 

The Sure Start maternity grant is a one-off payment of £500 which helps towards the costs of having a child.  You usually qualify for the grant if you need help with buying things for your baby and if you or your partner are getting certain benefits. 

You must claim the grant within 11 weeks of your baby’s due date or within three months after your baby’s birth.  Ask your doctor or midwife about the grant, you can also print off a claim form. 

Related advice 

• Financial support for families on low incomes 
• School clothing grants 
• Financial help with travel and getting around 
• Discounts available on activities, goods and services 
• Disability grants and schemes 
• Help with transport to and from school (concessionary travel scheme) 
• School travel assistance for children under 16 
• Healthy eating and food support 
• Carers emergency relief service 
• School meals 
• School milk