Probiotics and the First Year of Life

No one is an instant expert at nappy changing - don’t worry there is plenty of opportunity to practice. Your baby may lie still, wiggle, kick and scream or do all three. The most important thing is to take note of the amount of wet and dirty nappies.

Colic is an unexplainable unsettled period where your baby is crying for a long time, sometimes for hours, and is inconsolable. The true definition is crying ≥3 hours per day, on ≥3 days per week for ≥1 week. If your baby is feeding and growing normally, and your doctor says that everything is fine, then try not to worry. Our tips may help.

With social media providing a window into our lives for all to see, parent shaming online—or more commonly mum shaming—is something we need to all be aware of. Find out how online shaming and cancel culture can affect parents today.

The skin is your baby’s largest organ and plays a really important role in protecting your little one from external bacteria and infections. Your baby’s natural skin barrier is still developing, making it more sensitive to outside irritants and more likely to lose moisture from the inside.

It is important to know what to expect in a nappy so you can then know when your baby’s poo is abnormal and may need healthcare professional advice. Diarrhoea is characterised by very frequent, liquid stools and may be the result of an illness or infection.

Many illnesses in infancy are caused by either viral or bacterial infections. Your doctor can help establish which type of infection your baby has and how to possibly treat them.

Statistics show that Australia has one of the highest rates of allergies in the world, although it’s not entirely understood why. The causes of allergies in children are complex and linked to several factors. If you suspect your child is allergic to a food or substance, always get it checked out by your doctor.

Crying is your baby’s first form of communication and is designed to provoke adults into action. Your baby’s cry tugs at your heart strings leaving you feeling anxious, tense and guilty for not knowing why your baby is crying and what you can do to comfort them.

Feeling tired all the time. The 24/7 care that is involved in looking after a newborn. The huge sense of responsibility that comes with being a parent. Sound familiar? The shock of becoming a parent is real and adjusting to parenthood may not happen overnight. Here’s why.

Cradle cap is a yellow crusty substance found on your baby’s scalp or eye brows that may be oily or dry to touch. Cradle cap may take several weeks to clear, can become infected and can reappear.

Thrush is a fungal infection and can be found in your baby’s mouth, nappy area or under the chin. The fungus lives on the skin and usually causes no harm, but when conditions are favourable, it thrives and causes havoc.

Lactose intolerance is a clinical condition (not an allergy), with symptoms being associated with the digestive system, which is still maturing in young infants.

Many women experience mixed emotions after the birth of their baby. Getting the right support is key if you’re feeling low. Read our tips on managing baby blues.

Reflux is when the contents from your baby’s stomach flow back up into their oesophagus or mouth (which may or may not include vomiting). It is actually very common and, in most cases, harmless and not a cause for concern. However, if your baby is vomiting frequently, please consult your doctor.

Sharing time with the kids. Sharing all housework. The mental load divided. Shared parenting may sound like the dream but is it really achievable? Find out who’s practicing shared parenting responsibilities around the world and what might be holding others back—it might give you ideas for your own collaborative parenting set-up.

Taking care of a newborn baby is a full-time job which requires dedication from you and your family. So, if you’re a working mum and you’re planning on returning from maternity leave to go back to work, you can only imagine how much that’s going to test your organisational skills!

When your baby has a fever it is always a concern but rarely a cause for panic. Fever is a symptom that occurs when our bodies are fighting an unwanted intruder such as a bacteria or virus, and may or may not need to be assessed by your doctor.

Your newborn’s skull is thin and flexible making it easy to mould. It can be common for newborns to have an unusual shaped head and this usually goes back to a normal shape about six weeks after birth.

Arriving home with a newborn and no midwife standing by to help or encourage you can be daunting. You may find you can’t take your eyes off your newborn and burst into tears for no good reason. Your breasts leak and you can’t sleep despite being exhausted. Don’t worry it’s all normal.