Breastfeeding is the best for babies and a healthy diet / maternal nutrition is important when breastfeeding. A decision not to breastfeed can be difficult to reverse. Infant formula is suitable from birth when babies are not breastfed. It is recommended that all formula milks be used on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, or other professional responsible for maternal and child care and the financial implications should be considered. All preparation and feeding instructions should be followed carefully as inappropriate preparation could lead to health hazards.

Parenting Takes Practice: Parenting Tips

Few women find the path to motherhood easy so you really shouldn’t expect to be able to do everything quickly and easily to start off with – being a mom takes practice, patience and lots of cuddles! All babies are unique too so what works best for one baby might not work with another.

It’s important to remember that as well as feeding, changing and bedtime routines, being a good mom is also about giving your baby a happy, safe home to grow up in, and giving them lots of love and attention. Be prepared to play lots of games, sing silly songs and read in funny voices – being a mom will really bring out the child in you!

Learn the baby basics

If you’re feeling unsure about things, a good place to start is asking any friends or family with babies if you can spend some time with them and perhaps have a go at helping them out with their baby. Or why not look to see if your antenatal class offers baby-care advice? There might also be a postnatal class you can sign up for which will give you some guidance.

There are lots of books available about motherhood and ways to look after your baby, which can help give you some ideas. However, if you read a few of these you’ll soon see that the experts have different ideas about parenting too!

Ask for help

Being a mum is a big responsibility, so you’re bound to be nervous, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are loads of people you can ask for advice – your partner, doctor, family, friends, not to mention, us!

Other mums can also be a great source of support, and sharing your experiences will help you see how normal it is to have worries about being a good mum. It’s a sign that you care about your baby and want to do things well, so take heart! It takes everyone time to get into the swing of things at first but you’ll gradually find the methods that suit you and your baby best.

Disclaimer: All content on this Website is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical and/or other professional advice for your specific condition. Please do not disregard medical and/or other professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this Website. Always seek medical advice before starting any new treatments.