Baby Redbook goes digital

Parents may be familiar with the Redbook, which is used to record the growth and development of new borns and provides information on what to expect as a new parent.

Now South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Warwick Hospital, plans to offer people an eRedbook, which they will be able to use via smartphones, tablets and laptops from anywhere in the world.

Jane Williams, head of the trust’s children, young people and families service, said: “More and more of us rely on technology in our daily lives to learn and to store data and the eRedbook can help new parents to do this.

“It is secure, easy to use and share and has enormous potential to grow into the future.

“It promises to be a ground-breaking tool that will benefit parents and health professionals alike and could grow with a child through school, university and beyond.”

GPs, health visitors and community midwives in Leamington are encouraging new mums and dads to test the system, alongside the existing hard copy version and their feedback will be used to help design future versions of the product.

Helen McGowan, assistant project manager for the eRedbook pilot, said “Parents who are already using the eRedbook like the fact that is a ‘one stop shop’ of information and guidance.

“They also find the reminders very useful and they love being able to upload pictures to create a scrapbook of their baby’s milestones.”

Parents can create their own eRedbook by visiting: www.eredbook.org.uk/warwickshire