to wonder why HVs are so interested in everyone else?

[togarama]

I've only met a health visitor twice, both times at a clinic, firstly for DD's newborn hearing check and secondly for 1 year development check. They both seemed likereasonable people and didn't hassle me or offer any unhelpful advice.

However, I keep reading posts on MN about people being hassled, criticised and worried by HVs re feeding, sleep, weight-gain, general parenting etc... IRL, a friend on FB posted that her HV came round to the house and made her cry and another one had to shout down a HV who was aggressively giving her v. bad feeding advice.

I obv. don't really want any of these visits but am beginning to wonder why no one has tried to barge into my (not terribly baby proof and rather messy) home and criticise my parenting if they do it to everyone else.

Have we just dropped off the radar because we've lived in 3 different places since DD was born 2 years ago? Or do some areas not bother with HV visits?

(We are registered with a GP and DD has had all her vaccinations so should be in the system somewhere.)

are you in London? we are and hardly seen any hv at all i think some hv in less populated areas may be looking for things to do so make themselves more of a busy body? but i would say the moving house few times possibly has an effect too. but really seems to vary on where you live

I only saw a HV if I took DD to be weighed out of my own choice.
Where I am they're so short staffed, I think they only see families who they might have flagged up as being a concern.

When both my DS where born it is customry for HV to come out to your house when the mid wife does not (only for the first week after birth). Never had a problem with them but always got conflicting advice.

Best advice was from a midwife who said, sod everyone else do what you feel is right and the baby will let you know what they need.

I live in South Manchester / Cheshire if it makes a difference

They should be in contact again soon for another development review.

Most families actually don't get very much input at all because they simply don't need it and there are no apparant issues.

The stories you hear are only ever told from one persons perspective. You can never know exactly went on.

Think Firawla is probably right re fewer visits in highly populated areas. We've only moved within Greater London / the South East so they're probably all run off their feet.