Sleep Time
Things to do:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- Keep your baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth
- Place your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket to sleep in the same room as you for the first 6 months
- Breastfeed your baby, if possible
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
Things to avoid:
- Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
- Don’t sleep in the same bed as your baby Avoid letting your baby get too hot. The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you
- Don’t cover your baby’s face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding
The lullaby website has more information about how to keep your child safe at sleep time.
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Feed Time
A hugely important part of baby’s life to help them get the best start.
The government recommend that breast is best for babies, however for many different reasons mums may have to or choose to feed their child using bottles. The government has set out guidelines for preparing and feeding a child. The attachment below includes lots of advice for mums who plan to feed their child using bottles including how to clean and sterilise, how to prepare feeds and how to give baby their feeds.
Temperatures
Children often have fevers which can be very worrying for parents. The NHS website has an excellent guide (see link below) which explains how to tell if your child has a temperature and how to treat a feverish child.
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Weaning
At around 6 months your child will be ready to be weaned. Most babies start off with fruit and vegetable purees and then move on to more solid foods including meats. The Annabel Karmel website has some really good weaning ideas and recipes for first foods.
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I need to sleep
Having a newborn can be exhausting, night feeds and babies wanting to party during the night and then sleeping all day! It will feel like it’s never going to end and that you will be forever exhausted but you will get through it. The website below has lots of tips and expert advice on how to get baby to sleep. It even has a phone number for those days when you feel like you are struggling to cope. Always remember if you can it is best to sleep when your baby sleeps and remember it will not last forever.
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Getting out and about with baby
After you have had your baby and all the visitors have gone and your partner has gone back to work you can feel very lonely. The best thing to do is to try and get out and about. There are lots of parent and toddler groups in the local area and you will find many other parents feeling just the same as you.
The website below contains a list of local parent and toddler groups.
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