Celebrating Your Baby’s First Birthday

Aside from their birth, your child’s first birthday will probably be the most monumental occasion in their life so far. It’s a time for plenty of celebrations mixed with nostalgia for how much your little one has grown over these past 12 months. The celebration of this first year of life is about more than …

Is My Toddler A Healthy Weight?

My toddler’s height and weight are normal for their age according to my GP and the growth charts in my baby record book. Yes: It sounds like your little one is consuming enough food to adequately support their growth indicated by the height and weight chart. Just make sure they are having lots of variety …

Eating Family Meals with Toddlers

Family meals are an important part of setting children up to make healthy food choices. When toddlers eat with their families they tend to be more interested in trying new foods, eat more healthily and build strong relationships with their family members. Eating family meals with toddlers also provides the ideal setting for practising the …

Fast Food – Choosing Wisely

Food courts provide so many different options that entice little ones – how do you make the best choice for your healthy growing toddler? Below are some suggestions to help you choose a healthier option. 1. Burger, sub or wrap ask for a small serve ask for wholegrain bread use avocado instead of salty sauces …

Moments and Milestones

Download the full brochure here Introduction Every baby has their own personality, but when it comes to their development and growth, most follow a predictable pattern. Even though the progression is generally consistent, there can be a lot of variation between individual children and their specific stage of development. This brochure has been prepared with …

Settling Your Baby

Download the full brochure here Introduction As a parent, you know your baby needs to sleep, but it can sometimes be challenging to make it happen! All babies have their own individual sleep needs and patterns, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. This brochure has been developed to provide support, guidance and tips on recognising …

Teething & Baby’s Oral Health

Download the full brochure here Introduction Teething is an exciting time in your baby’s development, but it can also be a challenging time for you and your baby. This brochure has been developed to help you understand what to expect, as well as provide some helpful advice on how to care for your baby’s new …

A Guide to Introducing Solids to Your Baby

Whether you’ve been breastfeeding, expressing breast milk or formula feeding, starting to introduce solid foods is an exciting stage in your baby’s development. Your baby’s usual milk should be continued during this period as it is still the major source of nutrition.  Introducing solid foods to your baby is an opportunity to help support healthy …

Baby Toys

As soon as your baby is born, your baby will be surrounded with a room full of toys. However, there are a number of things to consider when choosing a toy for your baby. Safety Sturdiness and build. Look for toys which won’t break or fall apart easily and avoid toys with sharp edges or …

Growth Charts

Plotting your baby’s growth on a growth chart lets you ‘see’ how well they are growing over time – and shows you how they are developing. What are growth charts? Growth charts are a quick and easy way for both you and your doctor or nurse to track your child’s growth – providing a guide …

Car Seats

All babies need to be safely fastened in a car seat or capsule that is appropriate for their age and size – it’s the law no matter how short the journey or which state you are in – so it’s a good idea to get your car seat organised and installed well before your baby …

Travelling

The idea of travelling with your baby may feel a bit daunting, particularly if it is going to be a long journey – here are a few things that may help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. Long or short – it’s all about planning Travelling with a baby or young child …

Baby Sleep Information & Guide

Sleep is an essential part of your baby’s life. It helps them grow and stay healthy, as well as cope with all the new experiences they face each day. Young babies sleep a lot, but they also wake up a lot – at all hours of the day and night! This is because newborns don’t …

Routine

Most parents want to know how long it will be before their baby will be in a set routine of sleeps and feeds. Some find it hard to handle the sleepless nights, but it’s important to remember they won’t last forever. Below is some information to help you understand your baby’s routine and sleeping patterns. …

Dressing your Baby

Dressing your newborn baby can be a difficult experience, as it can be hard to know where to begin. Read our tips below to give you some guidance. Dress your baby on a change table or surface that is flat, stable, firm and the right height for you Select clothes for them that are easy …

Bathing

How Often Does My Baby Need A Bath? Until your baby learns to crawl daily bathing isn’t necessary, a bath 2-3 times per week is all they need. However make sure you sponge their face, neck, hands and bottom everyday If your baby loves their bath and it helps settle them, give them a bath …

Changing baby’s nappy

Mastering the art of how to change a nappy is something every parent goes through during their child’s early days. But doing a nappy change for the first time can feel pretty overwhelming. The good news is that soon you’ll get the hang of things and be changing them like a ‘pro’ – several times …

Carrying

Handling such a tiny little bundle can be quite daunting at first. Here are some tips to help it become second nature. Picking Up Your Baby When picking up and carrying your newborn, it’s important to remember that they are yet to develop head control. During those first few months, ensure you support their head …

Baby Teeth Care

When Do Teeth Start To Appear? Primary teeth start developing in the womb at around 5 weeks gestation Between 6 to 10 months, your baby’s first teeth are likely to appear. These are usually the 2 front teeth on the bottom jaw By the time your little one is 3 years old, they generally have …

Premature Baby

What Is A Preterm Baby? A baby is considered full term if they are born between 37 – 42 weeks gestation. If your baby is born before this time they are classified as premature Approximately 8.5% of babies are premature Babies are classified as extremely premature if they are born before 28 weeks gestation, this …

Nutrition for Babies 0 – 6 Months

Babies go through an amazing amount of change during their first six months of life, and it’s important they get all the nutrients and energy they need during the newborn feeding stage. Did you know your baby’s weight will double and they’ll be babbling and listening to things around them by the time they’re 4 …

Baby Nutrition

Your Baby’s Nutritional Needs Babies go through a rapid period of growth after birth. In fact they usually double their length and triple in weight within the first twelve months of life so nutrition is very important. Remember to lead by example as babies tend to copy and learn from those around them. Age – …

Vitamin D Deficiency

The first few months of a baby’s life is a time of rapid growth and development – so it’s important they have enough vitamin D to help keep their bones and muscles healthy and strong. What’s so important about vitamin D? Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps us absorb calcium from our diet. …

Baby Stool Guide

The bowel motions of babies vary greatly. What is normal for one child isn’t necessarily normal for another. Below is some information to help you understand what normal bowel motions can look like for babies. First Motions The first bowel motion your newborn baby will pass is called meconium. This is a greenish black, sticky …

Mixed Feeding

What is mixed feeding for babies? This means feeding the baby with breastmilk for some of the time and giving the baby formula from a bottle or cup for the rest of the time. It’s also known as supplementing with formula. Why mixed feeding may be used Mixed feeding may be used for a number …

Overdue Babies

Pregnancy is calculated as 40 weeks in length from the first day of your last period. Most births fall between the 37th and 42nd week. If your baby is overdue, this means you’ve reached or passed the 42nd week. What Happens When Your Baby Is Overdue? Your midwife or obstetrician might offer you extra check-ups …

The signs of premature labour

It is important to know the signs of premature labour because sometimes things can start to happen a bit earlier than expected – including baby’s arrival. What is premature labour? Usually, a pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks and a baby born during this period is called ‘full term’. When a baby arrives before …

Meeting Other New Mums

Whether it’s practical advice you’re after or a chat with someone who knows what you’re going through – a regular catch-up with other new mums can be a tremendously supportive experience. Making new friends and keeping old ones Becoming a new parent, particularly for the first time, can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unexpectedly isolated. …

Recovering from Birth

The first few days after birth You’re likely to feel exhausted, sore and uncomfortable after giving birth. It’s also normal to feel unsure about how to look after your baby. Don’t be afraid to say yes if someone offers to help as you find your feet. If in hospital, make the most of the support …

Stretch Marks

What are stretch marks and how to prevent them? Roughly 50% of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy They usually appear as thin, red lines on your tummy in the 2nd or last trimester Some women also get stretch marks on their thighs, buttocks and breasts After your baby is born, these marks should gradually …

Iron Deficiency for Mums

During pregnancy, your requirements of iron increase significantly due to your increased blood volume and to help your baby’s blood system develop. Your baby will draw on your iron stores so they have enough to last them through their first 5 to 6 months of life. Iron deficiency and anaemia The routine blood tests you …

Rest and Sleep

Get the rest you need during pregnancy It can be hard to get a good night sleep and be comfortable when you have a baby bump. You might also experience heartburn, late night visits to the bathroom and leg cramps. Insomnia may become an issue towards the end of your pregnancy. Things to try: Be …

The Myth about Eating for Two

Now that you are pregnant, you will not only be eating for yourself but for your baby as well. Simply increasing your food intake is not the answer. Instead it’s more important that you choose a varied, well-balanced diet to ensure that both your own and your baby’s nutritional needs are met. You might be …

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

A healthy diet is especially important if you’re pregnant – this means choosing the right food and drinks, avoiding or limiting others and knowing how to prepare and store them safely. Foods to Avoid: While it’s important to store and prepare all your food carefully, some types of food have a higher risk for food poisoning than …

What to eat during Pregnancy

Think you’ve got the ‘healthy diet’ covered? Think again… about two thirds of pregnant women believe their diet is healthy, but when it comes down to it most are not eating enough of the five core food groups. A well balanced, nutritious diet is important at every stage of life, but when you are pregnant …

Feeling Your Baby Move

One of the more intimate experiences you may experience during pregnancy is feeling your baby move. Below are some milestones to look out for; however movement can occur at different stages for different mothers. During The Second Trimester Weeks 16-20 You’re likely to feel your baby moving at around 19 weeks If you’ve already had …

Protecting Your Baby from Infections

If you’ve been exposed to certain infections during pregnancy, you may need to have tests and treatment to help protect your unborn baby. Chickenpox Chickenpox can cause serious problems for you and your baby during pregnancy. If you’ve already had chickenpox, your body would normally have become immune to it so that if you are …

Having Twins or More

Just found out you’re having twins? Whether you’re feeling excited or a bit overwhelmed, knowing more about what’s ahead can help you plan your pregnancy and get ready for life with your new family. It’s twins! About 4500 sets of twins are born every year in Australia – which sounds a lot but is only …

Changes during pregnancy

A typical pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks – that’s 280 days from the first day of your last period to the date of baby’s arrival. Lots of changes are going to occur during this time – so it’s helpful to know what to expect. Your pregnancy is divided into three stages or trimesters.  Each trimester …

Sex during Pregnancy

Here are some things to consider: It’s possible that your interest in sex will fluctuate throughout your pregnancy As long as you are comfortable and don’t have any complications, then sexual intercourse is safe during normal pregnancy As your pregnancy progresses, the size of your abdomen may create difficulties during sex, whilst the aches and …

Travelling when Pregnant

Before travelling by plane, car or train when pregnant you should consult your healthcare provider, to ensure that your overall condition and especially your  medical conditions have been considered. Before Booking A Holiday, Ask Yourself: How many months pregnant will you be by then? Is your trip going to be relaxing or active and will …

Smoking and Drinking during Pregnancy

Taking care of yourself and your developing baby during pregnancy is incredibly important and one of the best ways is by choosing a healthy lifestyle.  This may mean you need to make a few changes to your daily habits so that you are eating well, keeping physically active, and not smoking or drinking alcohol. Reasons …

Morning Sickness

What is ‘Morning Sickness’ The symptoms of morning sickness include nausea and vomiting.  Starting as early as week 4 of your pregnancy that queasy feeling of morning sickness may be one of the first pregnancy signs you notice. The good news for most women is nausea and vomiting of morning sickness will normally disappear after the …

Symptoms of Pregnancy

During pregnancy it’s normal to have some cramps and aches, however there are usually some things you can try to relieve your symptoms. Minor Problems Backache Hormones released during pregnancy soften your ligaments which, along with your baby’s increasing weight, can lead to backache. Things to try: Practice good posture or try antenatal exercises. A …