Giving your baby a healthy diet from the start is one of the most important things you can do for them.
Breastfeeding isn't just good for your baby - it can be really rewarding for you as well and it is a chance to bond with your child and feel close to them. Most mothers breastfeed their babies, some bottle feed with formula milk and some mothers do a mixture of both. Breastfeeding is good for babies because breast milk contains antibodies that help protect against illnesses.
North Somerset Children Centres run support sessions and provide information to help you breastfeed.
Healthcare
Your doctor's surgery should be central in supporting you to keep your children fit and healthy. It is not only the doctor, but the nurse and health visitor who should have an active involvement in your children's early life.
Health Visitors - every child under five has a named health visitor who can advise on everyday problems, such as teething, on immunisation programmes and on any special difficulties. In addition, they are there to help support the rest of the family providing advice on employment and benefits rights, childcare, talking to new fathers about their role.
The NHS have a website for parents of children from birth to five years with guidance on Baby Essentials, Health and Development and You and Your Life.
Immunisations
Also known as vaccinations, are usually given by injection. Children in the UK are offered vaccinations against a variety of diseases as part of the Childhood Immunisation Schedule. Advice on the vaccinations should be sought from your family doctor or health visitor. A record is kept in the Red Book, which is a book you keep containing information on your child's health.
Speech and Language
If you are worried about your child's speech the Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service provides assessment, advice and therapy for children with significant difficulties with speech, language, voice, fluency and eating and drinking problems
There are many organisations who can support you, details of these can be found on North Somerset Family Information Directory by clicking onto the relevant category.