Mother and Child

Reduce the risk of food-related choking in babies and young children. Young children can choke on food quite easily. This is because they have small air and food passages, are still learning to move food around in their mouths and their biting, chew...

Reduce the risk of food-related choking in babies ...

Breastfeeding your baby beyond the first year of their life is good for their health and nutrition. (It should be combined with increasing amounts of complementary foods.) Benefits for the toddler Breastfeeding helps protect your toddler from acute ...

Breastfeeding your baby beyond the first year of t...

There is no age when toddlers should stop breastfeeding – it’s up to you and your child to decide. There are benefits to feeding older babies and toddlers, and it may help to talk to your family about these. The World Health Organization recommends t...

There is no age when toddlers should stop breastfe...

It may help if you can figure out why they are telling you this, with the understanding that you decide what you want or are able to do. Is it because you’re about to return to paid employment? Is it that your wh?nau/family want to help look after b...

It may help if you can figure out why they are tel...

Babies should be exclusively breastfed until they’re around six months old. You should continue breastfeeding until they’re at least one year of age – or beyond. Breastfeeding helps protect your baby against viruses, bacterial infections and disease...

Babies should be exclusively breastfed until they’...

Are there risks with formula feeding? If so, what are they? The compositions of breast milk and formula have important differences. Babies are at greater risk of infection with formula, as people may: use ineffective sterilisation techniques use uns...

Are there risks with formula feeding? If so, what ...

Breast milk is the only food your baby needs for the first six months – but after that it’s time for them to start learning about solids. Keep breastfeeding while you introduce other foods that complement or add to the nutritients provided by breast...

Breast milk is the only food your baby needs for t...

Some people say breastfeeding is a baby’s first immunisation. The early breast milk (colostrum) is thick and full of specialised living cells to give a baby the first big immunological boost which is then continued on an ongoing basis with an establi...

Some people say breastfeeding is a baby’s first im...

Some mothers do have too much milk. This can cause their breasts to feel engorged and uncomfortable, and to leak. Babies sometimes have a problem coping with a very fast and forceful let-down reflex. They may have fussy behaviours or spill milk. Bab...

Some mothers do have too much milk. This can cause...

If your baby is exclusively breastfed, then they don’t need extra fluids. Giving water or other drinks reduces the intake of breast milk, and Your baby will be less likely to meet their energy requirements. Exclusive breastfeeding also protects the...

If your baby is exclusively breastfed, then they d...

If your baby’s feeding behaviours aren’t what you expected, you may feel like you don’t have enough milk. This is hardly ever the case. How to tell when baby is getting enough You can tell that baby is satisfied and feeling full when baby: Releases ...

If your baby’s feeding behaviours aren’t what you ...

Many women take herbal teas and herbal medications to increase their breast milk amounts and these preparations are available in health food shops and herbal dispensaries in New Zealand. These herbal remedies are collectively known as galactagogues....

Many women take herbal teas and herbal medications...

The best thing to do to increase your milk supply is to make sure that baby is latched on correctly and sucking well at the breast. It helps to: Allow your baby to take longer feeds at the breast (sometimes babies are removed before they have compl...

The best thing to do to increase your milk supply ...

Learn to recognise when baby is latched on well and how long to feed them from each breast. If baby is attached correctly Their chin will be touching the breast but their nose should be reasonably clear. Their bottom lip will be flanged outwards and...

Learn to recognise when baby is latched on well an...

Suggestions on how to hold your baby during breastfeeding. Hold the baby close This may mean having to remove some blankets, or bulky clothing. (Don’t worry about them getting cold – this won’t happen if they’re held close to your body.) Tummy to tum...

Suggestions on how to hold your baby during breast...

Approaching the breast Bring baby gently towards the nipple and touch their top lip with the nipple, then move them slightly away again gently. Repeat these movements quietly and gently until baby opens their mouth wide, or run the nipple very gentl...

Approaching the breast Bring baby gently towards ...

Babies display feeding cues when they are ready for a breastfeed. These may occur with eyes closed or open. It can be confusing when your baby has their eyes closed, but you don’t need to wait for them to ‘wake up’ before you feed them. The cues wit...

Babies display feeding cues when they are ready fo...

Continuing: eight weeks to six months, then six months and longer This is when you are likely to have established breastfeeding. You and baby may have established a pattern for the day and night, and baby will be thriving. Most babies should only b...

Continuing: eight weeks to six months, then six mo...

Many mothers do wonder how much milk their baby is actually getting and worry about amounts. Because we have become used to bottle-feeding babies in our culture the idea of knowing or seeing how much milk a baby is drinking has become something that...

Many mothers do wonder how much milk their baby is...

Establishing: four days to eight weeks This stage is when you are likely to be back home and continuing to establish breastfeeding. Establishment of breastfeeding includes: learning how to breastfeed successfully with the support and advice from yo...

Establishing: four days to eight weeks This stage ...

This is just after you’ve given birth and are starting to breastfeed. It’s often called the initiation stage. Breastfeeding now gives vital fluid, immunological factors and nutrients to the newborn (in the first milk called colostrum) and their ‘lat...

This is just after you’ve given birth and are star...