Launch of free premium parenting tech to support parents and carers

As the saying goes: “it takes a village to raise a child,” but for many new parents in Brent with babies or infants, having local access to family and friends is just not possible; this is especially true when new parents are facing those “3am worries” when your infant is teething or unsettled.

With this in mind, all Brent parents, carers and anyone expecting a baby can now get infant feeding support on their phones and / devices through free Premium access to the Anya App. The premium version provides parents with unlimited access to 24/7 evidence-based information and support through its carefully designed features such as:

• Anya AI virtual companion,
• specialist chat,
• live infant feeding web drop-ins,
• interactive breastfeeding animations, and
• rich content library of on-demand resources to support parents in Brent on their early parenting journey.

Brent Council is offering the premium version free for two years so that children can get the best start in their first two years of life.

Councillor Neil Nerva, Brent Council Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing said: “You may have already heard of the support we give to parents via Healthy Start, the free vitamins and food for parents of young children, and even the extensive support for breastfeeding and young families available in our Family Wellbeing Centres across Brent. Anya app is another way we are supporting expecting and newer parents to give their young ones the best start in life.”

Anya App CEO, Dr. Chen Mao Davies, who is a fellow of the NHS innovation accelerator program, which helped develop Anya Health App, said: “I am proud to welcome Brent Council as a partner in our mission to provide round-the-clock support for parents in their early parenting journey. Anya's AI virtual companion is here to empower families with 24/7 support on pregnancy, parenting, and infant feeding for children aged 0-2 years. Together, we will enhance the parenting experience and ensure that every family has access to the resources they need for the best start to life.”

The launch of the free premium access to Anya is part of Brent’s rollout of enhanced digital support across the borough. The Baby Buddy App will also launch this Autumn, providing parents and carers with advice and information to support their emotional wellbeing.

Brent residents can download Anya, by searching ‘Anya Health’ in their preferred app store. Once you have downloaded the Anya App, simply enter your Brent postcode to get free premium access for 1,001 days (up until baby’s second birthday).

Full range of support which Brent offers parents and can be seen on the Brent Start for Life webpages.

Parents or carers of babies or infants can see a summary of all Brent Start for Life help at: brent.gov.uk/newborn and they can sign up for services at Brent Family Wellbeing Centres at: brent.gov.uk/familywellbeingcentres