Introducing solid food When to wean Early weaning Which foods? Preparing and cooking food for your baby First stage weaning Weaning guidelines Early weaning at 4-5 months Introducing protein at 6 months Introducing solids at 6 months The 10pm feed Introducing solids at 11am Introducing solids in the evening Weaning plan at 4-5 months (Download PDF) Weaning plan at 5-6 months (Download PDF) Weaning plan at 6-7 months (Download PDF)   Quick links to important information Breastfeeding – getting off to a good start Milk production Why breastfeeding goes wrong My methods for breastfeeding Your questions answered Important sleeping recommendations Guide to sleep required during the first year  

THE LATEST DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) guidelines were published in 2003 and were prompted by recommendations from the World Health Organisation. They advise exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, i.e. no solids or infant formula. The previous DoH advice was to wean between four and six months and not to give solids to any baby before four months (17 weeks). This is because it takes up to four months for the lining of a baby’s gut to develop and for the kidneys to develop. Introducing solids too early can put a strain on the immature gut and kidneys, and many experts now believe that introducing…

Q I have very small breasts and am worried that I may not be able to produce enough milk to satisfy my baby’s needs. Breast size is totally irrelevant when it comes to producing breast milk. Each breast, regardless of shape or size, has 15–20 ducts, each duct with its own cluster of milk-making cells. Milk is made within these cells and pushed down the ducts when the baby sucks. During the early days, make sure your baby is put to the breast frequently. Most babies need a minimum of eight feeds a day to help stimulate the breasts and establish a good milk supply. Always make sure that your…

Q I am six months pregnant and, like many new mothers-to-be, I am concerned about how I am going to cope with the sleepless nights. My antenatal class stresses the importance of demand-feeding, that new babies should be fed when they need it and that I should not attempt a routine in the early days. I am concerned that if I try to follow your routines, I may be denying my baby food when he is really hungry. A The CLB routines are not about denying babies a feed when they are really hungry. Quite the opposite. My main concern about demand-feeding with very young babies is that a great…

During the years that I worked as a maternity nurse I read hundreds of books on child care, but I have also had the most unique privilege of working personally with more than 300 families around the world. It is because of these parents and their beautiful babies that I feel I am able to share with you so much of what I have learned, which I hope will help you overcome many of the everyday practicalities of parenting. As a maternity nurse I would arrive at a home a few days after the birth, and live with the family 24/7 for periods of between 3–5 days, or sometimes several…

The first thing that became obvious to me very early on when working with new mothers is that, while breast-feeding may be the most natural way to feed a newborn baby, for all mothers it does not come easily. Immediately after the birth, midwives encourage mothers to put their baby straight to the breast, and guide them through the techniques of positioning and latching the baby on. For some mothers their baby will latch on to the breast easily, feed well and then drop off to sleep easily until the next feed. For others the baby will fuss and fret, fight the breast or take several sucks before falling asleep.…

Milk let-down reflex The hormones produced during your pregnancy help prepare your breasts for the production of milk. Once your baby is born and put to the breast to suck, a hormone called oxytocin is released from the pituitary gland at the base of your brain, which sends a ‘let-down’ signal to the breast. The muscles supporting the milk glands contract and the milk is pushed down the 15 or 20 milk ducts as the baby sucks. Many women feel a slight tingling in their breasts, and their womb contracting when their milk lets down. These feelings normally disappear within a week or two. You may also experience a let-down…

The key to successful breast-feeding is getting off to the right start, and, as you will have already read, ‘little and often’ after the birth is essential to helping establish a good milk supply. But putting the baby to the breast little and often will not guarantee you a good milk supply if your baby is not positioned on the breast properly. While in the hospital you will be guided by your midwife and the nurses on how to latch your baby on to the breast. But as you will more than likely leave the hospital quite soon after giving birth, I would strongly advise that you get help from…