How to use the Netmums’ Drop-In Clinic and Parent Supporter Service
The Netmums Drop-In Clinic and Parent Supporter Service provides FREE 24/7 support and advice from a health visitor, midwife, psychologists, counsellors and more. Here's how to use it
The Netmums Drop-In Clinic is the name for specific boards in our Forum where your questions are answered by our team of expert Parent Supporters, which include a health visitor, midwife, psychologists, counsellors and more (see more about the Netmums Parent Supporters team below).
You can post your question at any time and it will be answered – usually within 24 hours – by our team.
We also have other experts on several of our boards who answer questions and provide support. StepChange and Money Helper answer questions about money on the Budgeting, Aldi Savvy Savers and other money boards.
Topics covered
These boards are part of Netmums Drop-In Clinic. Post your question here and you'll get a response from one of our dedicated experts:
- Baby and child health
- Bottle-feeding
- Breastfeeding
- Child mental health
- Domestic abuse - Women's Aid also answer questions on this board
- Maternal mental health
- Sleep
- Weaning
- Support for dads
- Unhealthy relationships
- Young parents
We also work in partnership with GoodLaw Solicitors, who review the following boards at least once a week and reply to relevant threads:
How the Drop-In Clinic works
- Visit the board listed above for the advice you need. They are all designated Netmums Drop-In Clinic boards and will have a Parent Supporter visiting and answering questions daily. You can also just browse the posts to previous answers and questions.
- Make sure you are signed in to Netmums so you can ask your question. Only Netmums members can post on the Forum but signing up is free and only takes a few minutes. Not signed up yet? Join here.
- On the topic board you need, add your question just as a regular Forum post. That's it! Our Parent Supporters regularly visit the boards and answer questions. We aim to respond to most queries within 24 hours on weekdays (except for queries regarding court cases and social services). Didn't get a response and still need help? Get in touch with us via help@netmums.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
About Netmums’ Parent Supporter team
The Netmums Parent Supporter team is core to the Netmums mission and helps people just like you with a wide range of support. The Netmums Parent Supporter service was created in 2008 with funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of the Parent Know How Project.
As part of this contract, a Netmums Parent Supporter Service evaluation showed that of parents who’d used the service:
- Three in five parents felt they’d benefitted from it
- 78% felt reassured by it
- 78% felt better informed
- 76% felt less isolated
- 70% felt stress levels were lessened by it
Since 2015, the Netmums Parent Supporter team has been funded entirely by Netmums and responds to the questions from thousands of parents each month.
Meet Netmums’ Parent Supporters
Tracey Stone, posting as Tracey B
Tracey graduated as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, specialising in Health Visiting, from Plymouth University in 2001.
Tracey has been employed by Netmums as a Health Visitor since July 2009, and also works as a Registered Health Visitor in Devon leading on the delivery of the early year's elements of the Healthy Child Programme in partnership with other services. Within this role, Tracey is a Nurse Prescriber and a Chat Health Practitioner.
Tracey qualified as a registered nurse for children in 1995 and worked for five years on an acute paediatric ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Tracey has also led a respite service for children with additional needs and their families for Devon County Council giving children and their families much needed breaks. Tracey is an expert in teething, offering expert guidance online here.
Of her many roles which Tracey really enjoys, her favourite is being a loving Mum to her two AMAZING boys.
Loraine Thrower, posting as Loraine N
Loraine has worked in the public sector for over 30 years, with both the Department of Work and Pensions and the Home Office and been employed by Netmums as a Parent Supporter since August 2017.
She has extensive experience of managing large numbers of people and supporting disadvantaged groups including: single parents, the long-term unemployed, customers with addiction/debt problems, asylum seekers and families with children who are being forcibly removed from the UK.
In the last 10 years, her work has been focused on safeguarding children, taking a senior role in ensuring that staff within the Immigration Service were trained to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Her specialism in this area, has taken her overseas to Ghana in an effort to raise awareness of child trafficking from West Africa to the UK.
As well as working as a Netmums Parent Supporter, Loraine is also a trained volunteer for the charity Home-Start helping families with young children who need additional support.
Loraine gained her Home-Start Accreditation Award (Level 2) in May 2018.
Kayleigh Waters, posting as Kayleigh W(312)
Kayleigh is a qualified Psychotherapist who previously supported adults with mental health difficulties in the NHS and local charities.
Her previous role as a mental health support worker for informal carers led to a keen interest in supporting those who care for other people, reminding them of the importance of their own self-care. She was also involved in improving access and support for women with perinatal mental health difficulties within adult therapy services in the NHS.
Kayleigh has completed a postgraduate diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, alongside her Bachelor's degree in Counselling and Psychology.
Currently Kayleigh spends most of her time trying to keep up with her little girl who is 20 months old.
Catherine McConnell, posting as Catherine M(1132)
Catherine is a registered, practising social worker for over 10 years in Northern Ireland. She currently works within a therapeutic service in a Health and Social Care Trust for young people with a diagnosis of severe learning disability where she supports both young people and families with their emotional well being, behaviours that challenge and facilitates the parenting programmes.
Catherine has also previously worked within the same HSC Trust in an Early intervention service for Children’s mental health as well as Barnardos’ projects supporting young people at risk of family breakdown and at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation.
Catherine has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Systematic Practice and Family Therapy alongside her BSW(Hons) in Social Work at Queen’s University in Belfast.
Emma Page, posting as Emma P(906)92272
Emma is a Counsellor who is passionate about enabling individuals to thrive and providing support to their mental health and wellbeing.
After working for over ten years supporting students and families in Schools as a Personalised Learning Mentor to improve education and wellbeing goals, Emma decided to move towards Counselling due to the high level of mental health issues young people and Parents increasingly face.
Emma supported Neurodiverse and Neurotypical students within Schools to remove barriers to Education and reach their goals. This involved working with Parents, Carers, Education teams and outside agencies to provide a cohesive strategy of support which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Emma has a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, seeing clients privately and through the local mental Health Charity MIND. When not working, Emma can be found dancing with her free spirited one year old daughter or with chalky hands climbing a cliff edge somewhere in the wonderful English countryside.
Cathy Parsley, posting as Katie P
Cathy has previously worked for Sure Start and Barnardos as an Outreach Worker and has been employed as a Netmums Parent Supporter since August 2013.
She joined Sure Start Children's Centres in 2009 as a Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator, working with families to promote physical and mental health/wellbeing, and supported vulnerable families.
Cathy has facilitated community groups in the past – such as breastfeeding and parent and toddler groups – and is also trained in domestic abuse and supporting people after leaving abusive relationships.
Cathy has worked more recently as an IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) for a Domestic Abuse Charity and continues to volunteer as a counsellor for victims of DA.
With a Degree in Psychology, she is currently in her final year of her Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
Alongside her role as a Netmums Parent Supporter, Cathy is also a Youth Wellbeing Coach for 11 - 18 year olds who are struggling with their general wellbeing or experiencing stress and anxiety.
Lauren Buchanan, posting as Lauren L
Lauren is a registered practicing social worker, accredited play therapist, and certified counsellor, who has worked therapeutically with children, young people and their families, both here in the UK and internationally.
She is currently completing a PhD in Social Work at Edinburgh University focusing on online support to help children and families with mental health issues in tandem with her role as a social worker in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
Previously Lauren completed a Masters in Social Research Methods at Queens University Belfast along with a BSW (Hons) in Social Work.
She completed her PG Diploma and PG Certificate in Play Therapy at Leeds Beckett University, a Certificate in Counselling at Queens University and has published articles and presented at international conferences in relation to her research.
Lauren also works on the Netmums boards replying to parents in need of support.
Emma Moriarty, posting as Emma M
Emma is a registered children’s nurse, currently working as an NHS Health Visitor in the South West and on the Netmums Drop-In Clinic forum since Jan 2017.
She graduated in paediatric nursing from Birmingham City University in 2010 and in 2013 as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor) and a Community Practitioner Nurse Prescriber from the same university.
Emma Taylor, posting as GoodLaw
Working as a trusted partner of Netmums' Parent Support Service, Emma is a Partner at GoodLaw Solicitors having previously qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive. Emma has worked in Family Law in Brighton & Hove for over 15 years and is also a family law mediator.
Emma specialises in cases involving children, including contact and residence disputes, relocation cases and matters involving social services. In care proceedings, Emma represents grandparents and parents and has particular experience in cases involving sexual abuse and non-accidental injury.
Emma has specific expertise in cases involving international/jurisdictional aspects, child welfare or safeguarding issues and also those where clients have specific learning needs or there are Court of Protection issues.
Emma is also a Resolution Accredited Specialist in private law children and TOLATA cases (Trust of Land) where there are property disputes between unmarried couples and frequently deal with complicated disputes on separation involving multiple properties and assets.
In her personal life, Emma is an avid lover of the outdoors, camping holidays with her son and dogs, and netball team captain.
MoneyHelper, financial experts
Another trusted partner of Netmums' Parent Support Service, MoneyHelper is here to make your money and pension choices clearer, explaining what you can do and guidance on how you could do it. MoneyHelper is backed by the government and able to recommend further, trusted support if you need it
We're fortunate to have 2 MoneyHelper experts on hand in our Forum:
Charlotte Burns is an award winning financial editor, money blogger, columnist and author (and a non-award winning mum of a cheeky toddler).
She started out in the money sector over 10 years ago working for Martin Lewis at MoneySavingExpert, finding deals and freebies - and has been obsessed with being better with money ever since, landing her current role as Senior Digital Editor at MoneyHelper.
She is particularly interested in money and mental health and family money.
Bronni Hughes is a writer with 10 years of experience working in online deals and money guidance.
She's written for MoneyHelper about the cost of living, financial abuse, student money and benefits.
StepChange debt experts
Another trusted partner of Netmums' Parent Support Service, StepChange is a debt counselling charity focusing on helping people with debt problems take back control of their finances and their lives.
With a combined 69 years of experience, the following experts from StepChange work with Netmums to respond to users' queries on money and debt:
- Seb Carroll
- Kev Marston
- Aidan Lawlor
- Callum Winfindale
- Emma Pierce
- Julie McElroy
- Ingrid Gowans
About our former Parent Supporters
We've also been very fortunate to work with lots of very experienced and talented Parent Supporters over the years, in addition to our current Parent Supporter team (mentioned above).
As you may still come across some of the advice they've given in the forum in the past, here's a bit more about each of them, too.
Adele (70)
Adele spent a year as a Netmums Parent Supporter from 2014 to 2015.
Anna F(8)
Anna was a registered social worker working on Netmums as a Parent Supporter from 2009 to 2013.
Annie B(28)
Annie joined the Netmums Parent Supporter Service as a health visitor. She worked with us between 2008 and 2013.
Ashley N(43)
Ashley is a qualified counsellor who worked as a Parent Supporter from 2015-2022
Brigid O
Brigid worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter and health visitor between 2008 and 2011.
Carol J(80)
Carol worked as a Parent Supporter Health Visitor for 5 years from 2010. She is a registered Health Visitor .
Christina Allen, posting as Christina A
Christina works as a Community Health Worker within an NHS health visiting team in Devon.
Christine B(10)
Christine worked for Netmums between 2006 and 2015 as a Parent Supporter health visitor. Her main focus was supporting new mums with sleep issues.
Christine D
Christine is a registered Counsellor who worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter focusing on Maternal Mental Health and Wellbeing between 2008 to 2012.
Claire Dalgleish, posting as Claire B
A qualified nursery nurse (NNEB), Claire has previously worked as a Senior Nursery Nurse in the NHS, Claire currently works as a Community Health Worker within an NHS health visiting team.
Daisy (3)
Daisy was a Netmums Parent Supporter from 2011 to 2013.
Danielle Easter, posting as Danielle E
Danielle started her nursing career over 20 years’ ago in the NHS working as a RMN, and qualified as a Health Visitor in 2015. In the past she has been responsible for patient care in an in-patient acute mental health ward.
More recently she has been working as Health Visitor in the South West, supporting families with children in the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, providing a duty service to families on the phone and holding her own caseload. She has specialist training in nurse prescribing.
As well as working for Netmums as a n online Health Visitor in our Drop-In Clinic, Danielle mentors trainee health visitors at the University of the West of England.
Dawn N(81)
Dawn worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter for three years between 2012 and 2015.
Debra A(2)
Debra is an early years practitioner (nursery nurse) with experience in supporting people with issues ranging from mental health to postnatal depression as well as alcohol and drug issues.
She joined Netmums as a Parent Supporter from 2008 to 2011.
Dr David
Dr David is a Consultant Paediatrician with a special interest in cystic fibrosis, respiratory paediatrics and allergies. Dr David held specialist webchats on Netmums on topics including allergies & intolerances and treating fevers.
Ellie W(33)
Ellie has extensive experience of working as a volunteer with Samaritans. She was the Senior Parent Supporter at Netmums, working across all our boards including the Drop-In Clinic.
Emma H(82)
Emma was the deputy head at a large London primary school. She also runs a local support group for families raising children with Down’s syndrome. She worked as a Parent Supporter at Netmums for two years from 2010.
Emma M(2726)
Emma was a trained social worker and worked as a Parent Supporter at Netmums between 2014 and 2019.
Elizabeth (13)
Karen (posting as Elizabeth) is a qualified Nursery Nurse (NVQ3) and has worked with vulnerable women and children through the charity sector and as an outreach worker for Sure Start focusing on domestic abuse and maternal mental health.
Karen completed her NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education with JHP Training (now known as Learn Direct) in 2002 and has also trained with NCT Professional in Postal Depression Awareness and with Barnardo’s in Advocacy Training.
Felicity James, posting as Felicity J(32) and Felicity J(27)
Felicity is a qualified Health Visitor working in South Wales and in Netmums’ Drop-in Clinic.
She qualified as a paediatric nurse with a master’s degree in 2007 from The University of Nottingham before working as a community children’s nurse within a health visiting team for Bath and North East Somerset PCT.
Felicity graduated in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing from the University of Gloucester in 2009, including becoming a nurse prescriber.
She has had articles published in the Community Practitioner and the Journal of Neonatal Nursing on topics including breastfeeding, SIDS and kangaroo care.
Felicity has a keen interest in breastfeeding and has trained with UNICEF UK and supports her current health board with achieving and maintaining the UNICEF Baby Friendly initiative status.
Frances E(14)
Frances joined Netmums as a Parent Supporter in 2012 before leaving two years later, in 2014.
Hannah (57)
Hannah worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter for two years from 2013 until 2015.
Helen (14)
Helen worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter in 2011 and 2012.
Jeanette c(5)
Jeanette is a registered nurse, district nurse and health visitor who joined Netmums as a Parent Supporter between 2011 and 2014.
Before working at Netmums, Jeanette was an LEA governor and was vice chair for Home-Start – a charity that works with people who have parenting experience to support local parents.
Jeanette also worked as chair/coordinator for NCT (National Childbirth Trust) and was an experienced breastfeeding supporter.
Jillian P(29)
Jillian was a registered health visitor working in our Drop-In Clinic in 2014.
Joanne S(87)
Joanne is a nursery nurse supporting parents in the community. She worked on our Drop-In Clinic from 2008 to 2011.
Jo J(127)
Jo was a Netmums Parent Supporter and midwife for two years from 2009 until 2011.
Josephine H(23)
Josephine spent a year as a Netmums Parent Supporter from 2011 until 2012.
Kamran B
Kamran is a lawyer and an experienced Mediator working for National Family Mediation. He worked in the Netmums Separation Advice Clinic from 2011 to 2013.
Karen C(668)
Karen was a Parent Supporter and health visitor at Netmums from 2009 until 2016.
Linda H
Linda worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter between 2008 and 2014.
Liz
Liz is a registered nurse, midwife and health visitor who worked as a Parent Supporter Health Visitor and Lead Professional from 2006 to 2011. Liz has an MA in health and nursing studies from the University of Reading. She was a research health visitor before becoming a Fellow at the University of Reading, specialising in maternal health and infant social development.
Liz also has an Adv Dip in counselling (Dec 1999) and was an accredited BACP counsellor until her retirement. She also co-authored the Social baby book in 2000.
Liz R(254)
Liz is a registered health visitor and CONI (Care of Next Infant) specialist supporter. She worked as a Parent Supporter for Netmums from 2013 to 2015.
Louise G(700)
Louise G worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter in 2011 and 2012.
Maggie F(21)
Between 2009 and 2015 Maggie worked for the Netmums Parent Supporter service as a registered health visitor. Maggie's particular expertise saw her able to help and support parents whose children had difficulty sleeping.
Maria (394)
Maria spent a year as a Netmums Parent Supporter in 2014.
Marie L(2001)
Marie worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter in 2014 and 2015.
Mary D(58)
Mary worked on the Netmums Parent Supporter team between 2008 and 2013.
She’s a registered health visitor with a particular interest in supporting mothers with perinatal mental health issues as well as training health visitors to support mums with postnatal depression.
Michelle T(553)
Michelle was a Netmums Parent Supporter between 2011 and 2015.
Nasreen H(7)
Nasreen is an experienced teacher who had her own young family when she joined Netmums as a Parent Supporter between 2011 and 2015.
Nicolette W(2)
Nicolette is a trained relationship supporter who worked on Netmums’ relationship boards between 2009 and 2015.
Rachel B(843)
Rachel was a Netmums Parent Supporter and health visitor from 2009 until 2015.
Saffron
Saffron spent seven years as a Netmums Parent Supporter. She joined in 2007 and left in 2014.
Sally S(668)
Sally is a registered midwife with a specialist interest in maternal mental health. She helped support new mums via Netmums’ Parent Supporter service in 2014 and 2015.
Sarah D(477)
Sarah is an early years practitioner (nursery nurse) and former Children's Centre manager. She worked in our Drop-In Clinic and on our childcare boards between 2009 and 2015.
Suzi C(19)
Suzi is an experienced early years practitioner (nursery nurse) who owned a childcare setting with outstanding provision for special needs support.
Suzi worked in the Netmums Drop-In Clinic between 2010 and 2015.
Suzanne W(3)
Suzanne worked as a Parent Supporter between 2008 and 2011.
She’s a registered paediatric nurse who has also worked in a children’s hospice, caring for terminally ill children and their families.
Tessa H(88)
Tessa worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter and health visitor for five years between 2008 and 2013.
Tracey T(117)
Formerly an early years practitioner (nursery nurse), Tracey is now a registered health visitor. She worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter in our Drop-In Clinic between 2008 and 2013.
Trudy F(13)
Trudy was a support worker who worked as a Netmums Parent Supporter in the Drop-In Clinic during 2013 and 2014.
Viv F(18)
Vivienne is an experienced Mediator working for National Family Mediation. She worked in the Netmums Separation Advice Clinic from 2011 to 2013.