The Conservatives pledged to refocus Sure Start to cater for the neediest families before the election, but the Liberal Democrats back an open-to-all approach.
The parties also differ in their views on Sure Start outreach workers, with the Lib Dems' commitment to extending the service at odds with the Tories' plans to partly substitute workers with 4,200 health visitors.
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said additional health services in children's centres would be welcome, but not at the expense of wider support.
"We are convinced that children's centres need to remain universal as the most effective way of supporting families who need them," she said.
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