New Child and Family Health Clinic opens in Zetland.

Laura Ramos De Carvalho and Rodrigo Nemer are first time parents.

"Our baby Paulo is nine-months-old. He's very smiley. He's outgoing and he loves meeting new people. He loves trees. And, he loves Caroline," Laura said.

That's Caroline Parkee, a Child and Family Health Nurse who has been supporting the family as they tackle the challenges that can come with parenthood.

One of the challenges - having a baby in Sydney on their own. The couple's parents live in Brazil and were unable to fly to Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laura was worried not only about Paulo, but her own health.

"Normal worries, like new parents. 'Is he breathing at night? Am I feeding him correctly?'" she said.

"I was very anxious about being a new parent and not being with my family. My mum had post-partum depression when she had me, so I was very worried that I would get it too."

Caroline was able to offer advice about Paulo's growth and development and seek additional help for Laura when she needed it.

"I met Laura when her baby was about two weeks old. Laura needed some extra support. She's developed trust with me. I've seen a beautiful change with Laura. She has developed amazingly with her baby. She's so much more confident," she said.

Caroline is now based at a new Child and Family Health Clinic at Zetland that's opened this week to cater for the growing number of families who live in the area.

It'll be closer to home for many families, who until now attended a Clinic at Alexandria Park.

Child and Family Health nurses provide free health, growth and development checks for babies and children from birth to five years at Clinics in 17 different locations in Sydney Local Health District.

The Clinics also offer group sessions and provide information and support about adjusting to parenting, breastfeeding, immunisation, baby and child behaviour, baby feeding and child nutrition, parental wellbeing, play, safety, and sleep and crying patterns.

There are three family-friendly clinical consultation rooms and a group room (for use when face-face Parenting Groups return) at the new Clinic in Zetland.

"It's very accessible. Our new clinic is perfectly located for families in this area around Green Square, [and] parts of Rosebery and Waterloo. It's in the middle of a park, which is perfect for families," Jeanette King, Nurse Unit Manager for Camperdown Child and Family Health Nursing, said.

There are future plans to also provide allied health and community paediatric clinics as well as RPA Antenatal outreach appointments for women expecting a baby.

The new Clinic is in the Tote Building, 100 Joynton Ave, Zetland.

To book an appointment with a Child and Family Health Nurse, please call the Child Health Information Link (CHIL) on 02 9562 5400, Monday to Friday 8.30am–4pm.