wondering at what age Health Visitors stop giving advice?

[youhavegottobekidding]

can anyone help? When do health visitors stop giving advice about behaviour etc? Is it at school age - any HVs out there that can help?

Whenever you stop going to see them. They won't chase you around shouting 'he really shouldn't be using that dummy y'know' and 'my god isn't he weaned yet?'

My HV was OK really but I took her assistance and advice as optional extras.

About 65 when they retire?

No, sorry, at school age they come under the school nurse.

How many give useful advice before that however...

High five Ormirian

I think it's around 5 normally but I'm pretty sure HV's offer advice and help beyond that age - they liaise with other health professionals

Mine were so overwhelmingly useless I never saw them unless at one of those milestone check up thingys. They won't chase you otherwise unless you need them.

i was wondering at what age they start giving good advice

having unequivocally failed so far

Up to school age.

(agree scottishmummy)

(actually mine is ok)

Yes it is when they start school. I had a lovely HV for all of my six DC( aged 28 to 12). By the time I was seeing her with DS5 the oldest were nearly adults. She was still interested in them and wanted to know how they were getting on. She retired 2/3 years ago and I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch. She really was a lovely lady.

starlight as a mother and a consumer i can speak from experience not mere anecdotal rhetoric about the conflicting and contradictory advice i received from MW and HV. in fact peruse many MN threads and read comments from others

to be practising and giving conflicting or out moded clinical advice isn't good practice.i recall challenging outmoded specific practice or advice that wasn't NICE compliant.frankly more mothers should speak out.

having an open dialogue in no way hastens the demise of any service,or its workers

the staffing and other PCT priorities indeed are putting pressure on a system already groaning under sheer work load - that however isn't attributable to mum's feedback

HVs don't usually intervene unless there's child protection issues, then they are round like a shot. they don't really give two hoots about the normal development of kids, or just to generally check how you are coping with toddlerhood or any other stages as your child grows.
as one of my friends said to me a year ago (she has 5 DC) she hadn't seen HV for her youngest who was 3yo since she was 16weeks. It's shocking. My friend said she could have been hitting her daughter black and blue and no one would be any the wiser.

so you can phone for advice about behaviour, and general advice once they start school?

hi scottishmummy i agree with you completely i am a first time mum and thought hv were compulsory so i did as they said. they behaved like social workers. i couldnt enjoy my newborn for the first few months because i was so focused on doing the right thing. all hvs did was make me feel like a bad mother. i chose to take the advice of other mothers who i find more useful. hvs are as useful as chocolate teapots

I think generally they advise up to the age of 5, but if your children are at school and you'd like some advice from the HV then I am sure they will try and help you.
I have a lovely and very helpful HV who has been wonderful with both my children.
I had a question for her about my eldest recently and rang her and she offered to come round to see me and him and have a chat about it