Feeding Burton’s Littlest Minds - Free Support for New Parents

From the moment they’re born, babies need food for their tummies to help their bodies grow. But they also need food for their minds to help their brains grow too.

That’s the thinking behind Hungry Little Minds Staffordshire, a free service from Staffordshire County Council for families with children aged 0 to 2. And here in Burton on Trent, it’s already helping parents feel more confident, informed and – crucially – less alone.

The idea is simple: you don’t need special skills, expensive toys or hours of spare time to support your baby’s development. You are all they need.

What is Hungry Little Minds?

Launched in 2020, the scheme sends parents two personalised emails each month, tailored to their baby’s age and stage. So far, 8,000 families across Staffordshire have signed up.

Each email includes:

• Easy activities to try at home

• Information about baby groups and sessions near you

• Reminders when health checks are due

• Details of other support around funding, health, childcare and education

For Burton parents, that could mean discovering rhyme times at Burton Library, local stay-and-play sessions, or simply getting a nudge that it’s time for a key health check.

“A life saver” for first-time parents

Steph and her husband Matt, first-time parents to nine-month-old Isla, are the 8,000th family to sign up.

Steph said:

“We’re really pleased that we signed up for the campaign and it’s nice to know we’re doing the things we should be doing and at the right time.

 

“As a parent, you always want to be doing the best for your child and making sure they develop in the best way, and the Hungry Little Minds emails are such a life saver for that. They provide great advice and reassurance and remove so much anxiety, giving you a lot of confidence.

 

“Matt and I are really looking forward to receiving more advice for when Isla gets older and more great suggestions for different things to do with her. We now know about Baby Bounce and Rhyme at our local library and definitely will be taking Isla when she’s the right age.”

 

For many parents in Burton – especially those navigating sleepless nights and a steady stream of new advice from well-meaning relatives – that reassurance can make all the difference.

Giving children the best start

Nicholas Lakin, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Staffordshire County Council, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of our Hungry Little Minds Staffordshire scheme, which is proving to be such a valuable tool for parents in guiding them on the best ways to help their child grow up and develop.

 

“Making sure children get the best possible start in life is our priority and reaching 8,000 sign-ups is a fantastic milestone for us. If you’re a new parent and you’ve not joined yet, you can sign up on the website and start taking advantage of the advice, tips and ideas.”

 

For Burton families, it’s a reminder that support doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as chatting while you change a nappy, singing in the kitchen, or sharing a story before bed.

If you’re a parent (or know someone who is) with a little one under two, you can sign up for free and start feeding that hungry little mind today.

👉 Sign up and find out more here

Chris Towland