According to experts, breastmilk is all your baby needs for the first six months of life. From age 6 months to age 12 months, solids should be an experiment in taste and texture, while breastmilk remains the main source of baby’s calories.

Is my baby ready for solids?

You baby may be ready for solids if:

• He can sit on his own
• He has lost the tongue thrust reflex (he doesn’t immediately push food out of his mouth with his tongue)
• He has developed the “pincer grasp” (the ability to pick up small object with his thumb and forefinger)
• He is no longer satisfied even with more frequent breastfeeding

You may notice that your baby watches food move from your plate to your mouth, and he may reach for food anytime you have a meal or snack. You might even see him making chewing motions in imitation of you eating!

Many healthcare providers recommend starting with baby cereal and moving on to fruits and vegetables, then finally adding meat. But, there’s no reason to go in this order, especially if your baby is 6 months or older when starting solids.

When you start solids, offer them one or two times a day, while continuing to breastfeed on demand. Nurse your baby before feeding solids so that you can keep up your milk supply. You can slowly increase the amount of solids your baby gets over the next few months, but breastfeeding should still remain the main source of nourishment.

Feed only one type of food for several days, watching for any type of allergic reaction. If baby does fine with that food, add another. If your baby refuses the foods you’re trying to feed him, consider finger foods instead. If he’s still not interested, wait a week or so and try again.

Does my baby need water?

Exclusively breastfed babies don’t need extra water, even when it’s hot outside. Once your baby is no longer exclusively breastfeeding, though, you may want to give him a few sips of expressed breastmilk or water with solids to keep his digestive system working well. Most babies who continue to breastfeed on demand while solids are being introduced do not need extra fluids.

When can I start a sippy cup?

Around age 6 months, you can start teaching baby to use a cup. Give only few sips of water a couple of times a day (no more than 2 ounces in 24 hours). Don’t expect him to gulp down full glasses of fluids, or to be very neat about it. It’s mainly an experience in learning how to manipulate a cup. Sometimes older babies and toddlers prefer a straw to a cup. Many babies aren’t interested in a cup until closer to 12 months old.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Breastmilk is all your baby needs for the first six months. Many healthcare providers recommend starting with packaged baby cereal – mixed with expressed breastmilk, water or juice – as your baby’s first solid food. They then suggest trying vegetables, fruits, and finally meats. Researchers, however, say that if your baby is older than 6 months when you start solids, the order you introduce them is of little consequence.

Once your baby is ready to start solids, though, consider introducing these first foods:

Bananas: Banana’s sweetness and smooth consistency make it a great first food. Plus, it doesn’t need to be cooked for baby. Simply mash a very ripe banana with a fork and offer small spoonfuls (or fingertip-fulls).

Avocados: Ripe avovados can be mashed and fed to baby uncooked, too. Packed with vitamins an minerals, as well as healthy fats, avocados make a great nutrient-dense addition to baby’s diet.

Sweet Potatoes: Bake and mash a sweet potato, adding a little expressed breastmilk or water to achieve the right consistency. Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin B6. If you cook the potato in the microwave, be sure to check for hot spots before feeding to baby.

Pears: Shred or mash a ripe pear, or puree it like applesauce. Pears have a mild flavor along with lots of vitamins A and C.

Carrots: steam carrots or cut well-cooked carrots into bite sized pieces. High in vitamin A and beta carotene, carrots contribute to healthy vision. Avoid raw carrots, though, as they are a choking hazard.

You don’t necessarily need to puree baby’s first foods. As long as they are soft, your baby is able to sit on his own, and has lost the tongue thrust reflex, he should do fine with small pieces of well-cooked, soft, mashed foods.

If your baby is interested in feeding himself, you can provide teething biscuits and O-shaped cereals occasionally and with supervision.

You may still hear advice that you need to introduce vegetables before fruits or your baby will always expect sweet tastes. Because human milk is sweet and baby’s tongue has a high proportion of sweet taste buds, it’s not surprising that baby might favor fruits. Try sweet vegetables – like sweet potatoes or carrots. Be persistent if your baby refuses vegetables. Your baby will learn to like many foods when you keep offering them.

What are your baby’s favorite first foods?

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

First of all, you should never actually try to juggle with a toddler and a newborn. The toddler is way too heavy for you to catch easily in one hand and the newborn doesn’t have the neck strength for life as a juggling ball just yet. Joking aside, looking after a toddler and a newborn at the same time isn’t always easy, in fact, some days it may feel pretty impossible. You will have times where the newborn naps allowing you to spend quality time with your toddler, and other times where the toddler plays happily by himself allowing you to breastfeed in peace. But you’ll also face the struggle of keeping both your young children happy despite their varying needs. Here are some top tips to help you through:

1. Invest in a doll

Toddlers are just learning how to play, and a doll is a great way for them to learn the ins and outs of imaginative play. Your toddler will be able to mimic the way you care for the baby. You can even buy some accessories such as diapers and a pram to accompany the doll, so your child can really enjoy the responsibilities of being a parent.

2. Get a sling

A sling could be a complete lifesaver for you as you try to balance the needs of two children. A sling will allow your newborn to nap happily against your chest and leave your arms free to engage in some play with your toddler. Some toddlers feel jealous of the new baby, but a sling will allow you to ensure the toddler is still getting plenty of one-on-one attention throughout the day.

3. Create a breastfeeding box

Just as you might create a breastfeeding station for yourself with magazines, the TV remote and a bottle of water, you should now create one for your toddler. Have a selection of toys, books and snacks nearby so you can keep your toddler happy during breastfeeds. Storybooks make for a great distraction and are a simple way to keep your toddler happy during long feeds.

4. Get your toddler involved

Your toddler may feel happier if she feels involved in the baby’s life. Let her help you out whenever possible. She can get diapers, wipes or other things from across the room. She can also help to play with the baby with you and will learn a lot from seeing you interact with the newborn.

5. Be positive

What we say has a big impact on how children feel. Think about the way you talk about being a big sister, does it sound like an important and fun job or something that comes with a lot of expectations? Try to speak positively about the sibling relationship and make sure your toddler knows how valued she is as a big sister. Do you have any tips for keeping a toddler happy when there is a newborn in the house?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

One of the great things about breastfeeding is that you typically don’t need lots of stuff in order to do it. Your baby and your own body – that’s all you really need. No bottles, formula, looking for water, mixing, warming, cleaning. Breastmilk is sterile, always ready and at just the right temperature. This makes breastfed babies very portable, and makes traveling with one pretty simple (at least the feeding part).

No matter how you’re traveling, be sure to wear comfortable clothes. Two-piece outfits – so you can easily lift your top to nurse – are essential. You might even want to invest in a couple of nursing tops to help you feel comfortable. A cardigan or other layering, like a scarf, can give you some added privacy if you’re shy about nursing in public.

If you’re flying:

• Pack extra clothes and diapers in your carryon just in case your luggage is delayed (this is true whether your baby is breastfed or not!)
• Pack extra water for yourself – airplanes can be pretty dry and you don’t want to get dehydrated.
• Nursing your baby as your plane is taking off and as it’s landing can help relieve some of the discomfort your baby may feel with the pressure change.
• Carrying baby in a sling or wrap is helpful in crowded airports (though you’ll need a car seat for on the plane).
• Window seats may give a little more privacy and bulkhead seats offer more legroom – so you may want to consider that when booking your flight.
• You may want to talk to the flight attendants as you’re boarding – just to let them know you plan of feeding your baby in flight – and check the airline’s policies ahead of your trip.

If you’re traveling by car:

• Plan for plenty of stops to feed and change baby.
• Find a place to safely stop before removing him from his car seat. As much as you may want to try maneuvering yourself to nurse him while your partner continues driving, it’s essential to take the extra time to stop.
• You might consider planning long stretches of driving during the night or during baby’s regular nap times.
• The motion of the car may lull baby to sleep – if your baby is very young, you may need to stop to wake baby to nurse.

It’s not unusual for baby’s schedule to change when traveling. All the excitement, overstimulation, and schedule disruption may take some adaptation on your part. Don’t forget babies get jet lagged, too. Allow extra time for adjustments.

Pay attention to your own hunger and thirst cues, as well as your need for rest. Allow plenty of time to get from one place to another – traveling with children always takes more time than you think it will.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

New parents are tired, always. As a breastfeeding mother, you may be finding the exhaustion even more of a struggle. After all, you’re likely to be the one awake with a hungry baby at 3am. Your baby probably goes through periods of frequent night wakings, and during these phases, you’re likely to feel like a zombie. It’s no wonder that so many parents are attracted to the idea of night weaning. When you start feeling bone-achingly sleep-deprived, you’ll probably be willing to do absolutely anything to get just a few more hours of sleep each night. Here are five tips to help you get to grips with night weaning:

1. Set realistic expectations

I know, you wanted a baby who would sleep through from day 1 and that is certainly not what you got. It’s important to remember, however, that young babies aren’t really designed to sleep through the night. In fact, there are plenty of benefits to night feeds, though it may not seem that way at 2am. As your baby grows older, however, he may be ready to sleep for longer stretches during the night. Don’t forget, though, night weaning doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your child will wake less frequently, it just means you won’t be able to boob her back to sleep if she does wake.

2. Be gentle

Night weaning doesn’t need to be a difficult transition for your baby, there are ways to stop night feeds without your child becoming upset. To achieve this, you’ll need to take your time and tread gently. Follow your child’s cues and look out for signs that things are moving too quickly for her.

3. Provide other sleep cues

To prepare your child for night weaning, you’ll need to create other cues to help your child fall asleep each night. This could be a piece of music played softly in the background or the presence of a particular toy or comforter. You’ll need to introduce it at bedtime for a month or so before you plan to start night weaning. This will help your child associate the new cue with sleep, so that when you stop breastfeeding, your child will still have a sleep aid at her disposal. After four weeks, you can try guiding your child back to sleep with the sleep aid instead of the breast.

4. Keep feeding in the day

Keep breastfeeding on demand during the day, this will help to ensure your child continues to get enough breast milk. You may find that your baby wants to feed more often during the day when you begin night weaning, this is normal and should settle down as your child adjusts to the change.

5. Expect setbacks

This is one thing parents always have to be prepared for. No matter what stage your child is at, there will always be moments of regression. Regression is a normal part of child development. If your child is feeling unwell or about to take a huge developmental leap, you may find that the night wakings increase. Unfortunately, this is something you can’t avoid. These regressions won’t last forever, though. In just a couple of days or weeks, your child will be back to her usual self and you’ll be able to get some sleep again.

Are you thinking of night weaning your baby?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

As a new parent, the list of things you worry about is endless. Is your baby happy? Is your baby bored? Does your baby love you? Even, is your baby overweight? Those adorable thigh rolls are probably the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, but could they be a sign that your baby is overeating?

Is my baby overweight?

If your baby is gaining weight quickly or seems to be jumping percentiles on the growth chart, you may be worried that your baby might be overweight. Firstly, there’s usually nothing to worry about. Immobile babies are often chubby, but the excess weight soon drops off as they start to move about. However, there is evidence to suggest that babies at the very top end of the BMI scale may have an increased risk of obesity in later life.

Babies need high-fat diets. Fat is important for brain development. It is not recommended to reduce the fat content of your baby’s diet. There are a few things you can do, however, to encourage your baby to enjoy a healthy diet:

• Breastfeed – breastfeeding has been linked with lower levels of obesity in later life. Breast milk is packed full of nutrients that your baby needs. Do not limit your baby’s feeds, instead continue to offer the breast as you usually would.

• Wean wisely – when it’s time to wean your child onto solid foods, think carefully about the types of foods you are offering. Ask yourself whether each food is nutritious and has something to offer your baby nutritionally. If not, it could simply be empty calories that will have little benefit to your baby. Start off by offering fruits and vegetables. Be wary of store bought baby foods which may contain high levels of salt and sugar, always check the nutritional information on the packaging.

• Stick to milk and water – many parents fill their baby’s bottles and cups with fruit juice and cordial. These drinks are high in sugars. Not only are the sugars potentially bad for your baby’s teeth, but they’re full of empty calories that could be adding to your baby’s weight gain. Most babies are perfectly happy drinking milk or water with their meals. Remember, you shouldn’t offer any milk other than breast or formula until your baby’s first birthday.

If you’re worried that your baby may be overweight, you should speak with your healthcare provider for advice. You shouldn’t put your baby on a diet unless recommended to do so by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will have regularly monitored your baby’s weight since birth and so is best placed to advise you on this matter.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Latch, unlatch. Latch again, pull off, look around, latch again. Suck a couple times. Hear a sound and stop. Try to turn his head with the breast still in his mouth. Sound like your baby?

Between age two months and six months, and again between eight and ten months, babies tend to become more distractible – even when nursing. Babies are starting to notice more of their world, and are interested in every little sight and sound. While this is a developmental milestone and a sign that your baby’s brain is growing by leaps and bounds, it can be pretty annoying when breastfeeding.

If you find that your baby gets easily distracted when nursing, you may want to …

Find a quiet place: Going to a quiet, darkened room helps some babies concentrate on nursing, and block out any outside distraction. Whisper or talk in a soft voice, if you talk at all.

Wear a nursing necklace: If your baby likes to fidget while nursing, you might consider wearing a ‘nursing necklace’ that he can look at and manipulate with his hand while he’s feeding. Try a long necklace with big colorful beads.

Take advantage of white noise and motion: Try nursing while standing and swaying, or think about putting baby in a sling and walking around while your feeding him. White noise may block out any auditory distractions if your baby is especially prone to stopping at every little sound.

Don’t take it personally: Some moms think this start and stop feeding is a sign that baby no longer wants her. But it’s simply a sign that baby is starting to recognize he is separate from her, while still safe in her sphere of physical and emotional protection.

If your baby tends to pull away without letting go of your nipple, you may need to be vigilant so you can break the suction with your finger before baby gets too far. Some moms find that nursing in a sling or using the football (or clutch) hold keeps their baby from being able to pull away like this (and gives mom a little more control over baby’s movements).

Most moms say their baby was the most distracted between four and five months of age. Keep in mind that just because your baby is distracted while nursing, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s weaning (especially if she’s younger than a year). Babies younger than age one typically do not self-wean. They still need the calories of breastmilk. If your baby is starting to nurse less because she’s busy checking out her world, you may want to consciously offer the breast more often during the day and get in as many nighttime feedings as you can (when the stimulation from the outside world is very limited).

What tricks do you have for breastfeeding the distractible baby?

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Pretty soon, your baby is chomping down on strawberries, steamed carrots and sweet potato mash like there’s no tomorrow. Like many parents, you may be wondering how this will affect his milk intake. Should you offer fewer milk feeds throughout the day or do you continue to prioritize milk feeds? How can you make sure your baby is getting the right amount of both milk and solid food?

When your baby first starts enjoying solid food, he may not really be eating as much as you think. Ever wondered why there’s so much food smushed into the high chair and so much soup in his hair by the end of lunchtime? That’s because mealtimes at this age are more about playing than eating. Your baby is exploring food the only way he knows how – messy play!

Aside from the obvious problem of your food-covered dining room floor, this leaves many parents wondering whether their child has eaten enough. Remember, for the first year of your baby’s life, breast or formula milk is the most important part of your baby’s diet. Around the time of your child’s first birthday, he will start to rely on milk less and will be eating a greater variety of foods.

Breastfed babies

If your baby is breastfed, you should continue to offer feeds throughout the day. In fact, you should make sure your baby has been fed recently at each mealtime because this will mean he’s happy to play with his food for longer. It takes babies a while to understand that solid food can fill their tummies, so it’s best to introduce solid food to a baby who isn’t in the midst of a hangry rage.

As your baby consumes more solid food, you will probably notice that he asks for less frequent or shorter milk feeds throughout the day. Follow your baby’s lead on this one, remember your baby is the best judge of whether he has had too much or too little to eat.

Formula fed babies

Formula fed babies drink, on average, 900ml of formula milk a day at six months old. By the time your baby is eating a good mix of solid foods, his milk intake will probably decrease to around 600ml a day. These numbers are averages so don’t worry too much if your baby is consuming more or less than this.

Regardless of whether your baby is breast or formula fed, milk should still make up a decent chunk of his daily intake of calories. Breast and formula milk are specially formulated to meet your baby’s needs. Formula and breast milk are rich in nutrients and an essential part of your baby’s diet for at least the first year of his life.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Many parents wonder if and when they should be offering their babies water. This is especially true if your grandma keeps hinting that your baby is crying because he is thirsty (ignore her, she’s probably wrong). The rules are different for breastfed and formula fed babies, so you’ll need to make sure you’re following the correct advice for your baby.

Should my breastfed baby start drinking water?

Simply put, no. Breast milk consists of over 80% water and provides all of the thirst-quenching water your baby needs throughout the day. Exclusively breastfed babies don’t require additional water, as long as baby is allowed to nurse as needed. But what about on hot days? Fear not, you have very clever boobs. On warm days, your breast milk actually contains more water to prevent your baby from becoming dehydrated. Isn’t your body the most amazing and brilliant thing in existence?!

Should my formula fed baby start drinking water?

Formula fed babies don’t need to be offered water during the first six months. During this time, the formula milk will provide enough hydration. However, some people recommend offering sips of water on very hot days, though formula milk should offer all of the hydration your baby needs. In certain circumstances, your doctor may advise you to offer water to a baby who is unwell. If you are unsure whether your baby should be offered water during bouts of illness, speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

When should water become a regular part of my baby’s diet?

At six months, your baby will be starting to experiment with solid foods. Around this time, you may want to offer water in a sippy cup at meals. This will teach your baby how to drink from a cup. Consuming water with solid food may also help to prevent constipation. Your baby will still need to have either breast or formula milk throughout the day.

Should I offer juice?

You may be wondering whether you can swap the water for a fruit cordial or fruit juice, but it’s best not to. These sugary drinks are filled with empty calories and contain sugars that could be harmful to your baby’s teeth. There is no need for babies and small children to drink anything other than water and milk.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

The term ‘failure to thrive’ sounds pretty ominous, especially when a health professional is using it to describe your baby. In reality, however, it simply means your child weighs less than other children her age. It can even be used to describe unexpected weight loss in children.

You may have noticed that health professionals regularly weigh and measure your baby. This data is then compared to a growth chart. Plotting your child’s progress on the growth chart allows health professionals to see whether your child is growing as might be expected for her birth weight.

What causes failure to thrive?

If your child is diagnosed with failure to thrive, your health professional will work with you to determine the cause. Possible causes include:

• Difficulty establishing breastfeeding – some babies are diagnosed with failure to thrive after a rocky start to breastfeeding. Getting advice from a lactation consultant could help you to determine the problem and help you overcome it so you can continue breastfeeding.
• Illness – if your baby has been under the weather, she may have gone off her food for a short period, and not eaten as much as usual. This could cause an unexpected drop in weight.
• Reflux or vomiting – suffering from either of these could put your baby off her food.
• Sickness bug – if your baby has been suffering from a sickness bug, she might have lost a little weight.
• Weaning difficulties – some babies are diagnosed with failure to thrive after encountering difficulties when it’s time to wean onto solid foods.

Treatment for failure to thrive

Once the problem has been diagnosed and the cause has been determined, your health professional will be able to best advise you of what to do next. Some good advice may be all you need to help your baby get back on track.

If you are worried that your baby may be failing to thrive, speak to your healthcare provider for advice. Remember, just because your baby is smaller than her friends, this doesn’t mean she will be failing to thrive. If you feel worried, however, it’s always worth getting it checked out.

Has your baby been diagnosed with failure to thrive?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

As a breastfeeding mother, you may think you have a free pass when it comes to birth control. Many couples mistakenly presume that they won’t be able to conceive while the mom is still breastfeeding. In reality, however, plenty of breastfeeding mamas have fallen pregnant. There is no way of knowing whether you’ll be one of them, so it’s better to play safe if you don’t want to get pregnant. It seems unfair, doesn’t it? After carrying a baby for nine months, giving birth to it, feeding it and living up to your elbows in dirty diapers, you’d think mother nature would, at least, give you a few months break from worrying about getting pregnant while breastfeeding.

Whilst it’s true that many mamas find their cycles don’t return until they’ve stopped breastfeeding, there is no guarantee. If you want to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, you’ll need to use birth control when you’re breastfeeding. Some mamas find that their periods don’t return until after their child’s first birthday, but for other women, it can be just a couple of months after the birth when their cycle returns.

It’s not wise to wait until your periods start again before turning to birth control, because ovulation can occur first. Some women have already ovulated by the time they get their first period. If this happened, you could already be pregnant even before getting your first period.

Every woman is different and there is no fixed schedule to determine when your periods will return. For some women, their cycle doesn’t return until their baby is feeding less frequently, but for others, their periods return when their baby is just a couple of months old and still attached to the boob for most of the day.

How to avoid getting pregnant while breastfeeding

If you know now is not the time to add a younger sibling to your family, you’ll need to decide on a method of contraception to use. This is something usually discussed by your healthcare provider at your postpartum checkup. If it wasn’t discussed at yours or if you’d like some more advice, get in touch with your healthcare provider today. There may be some forms of contraception that are not advised for use during pregnancy. For example, estrogen can interfere with breast milk production, so your doctor may advise you to avoid the combination pill.

Trying to get pregnant while breastfeeding

If you are hoping to conceive and would like advice on how to achieve this while breastfeeding, ask your healthcare provider for advice. You may have to wait until your baby is feeding less frequently or sleeping for longer stretches until you can become pregnant, but remember, this is not always the case.

Have you spoken to your healthcare provider about contraceptive options?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

It might be time for you to head back to work, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to stop your breastfeeding journey just yet. You may have a magic number in mind for when you’d like to stop breastfeeding or perhaps you want to let your child decide when she’s ready to wean. Either way, the following top tips might help you as you prepare to re-enter the workplace after maternity leave:

1. Plan ahead

If you’re planning to continue breastfeeding, you’ll need to plan ahead to figure out how best to make this happen. You’ll need to be upfront with your employer so they can find ways to accommodate you as you settle back into work. If you’re planning to express milk at work, you’ll need to find out if they can offer you a private area to do this in. You’ll also need to try and work out how frequently you’ll need to pump and where you’ll be able to store the milk. Your employer is best placed to advise you on these matters.

2. Store it safely

When you express milk at work, you’ll need somewhere safe to store your milk. A fridge would be ideal, allowing you to keep your breast milk chilled until you can transport it home. Breast milk can only be stored at room temperature for up to four hours, so you’ll need a better solution for where to store your milk.

3. Supportive childcare

Choose a childcare provider who is supportive of your desire to continue breastfeeding. Your childcare provider should be able to use your pumped milk to bottle feed your child during the day. This allows you to balance the demands of the workplace with your desire to continue breastfeeding your baby. If you’re lucky enough to have childcare near work you may even be able to visit your baby to breastfeed during the day.

4. Be prepared

You may find that your baby feeds more often during night for the first few weeks, which may come as a shock as you’re adjusting to the early mornings of employment. Plan ahead; go to bed early to maximize the amount of sleep you’re able to get. This might be a tiring few weeks as you juggle daytime work with nighttime motherhood, and it may take you a while to get used to this new lifestyle.

5. Reconnection

After a challenging day at the office for you, and a busy day at nursery for your baby, breastfeeding can be the perfect way to reconnect. It allows you each a few minutes of quiet after a hectic day, as well as the benefits of touch and being close to each other. Many mamas say breastfeeding helps them to reconnect with their child after a day’s work.

Do you have any tips to share with mamas who are preparing to return to work?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.