Our Baby Friendly accreditation
Our health visiting service has been accredited as “Baby Friendly” with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.
Find out more about what that means for your care:
- Learn more about the Baby Friendly initiative (UNICEF)
- Baby Friendly Standards (UNICEF)
General information about feeding your baby
However you choose to feed your baby, new babies have a strong need to be close to their parents, as this helps them to feel secure and loved.
When babies feel secure, they release a hormone called oxytocin. This acts like a fertiliser for their growing brain, helping them to be happy babies and more confident children and adults.
Holding, smiling and talking to your baby also releases oxytocin in you, which helps you to feel calm and happy. Find out more about building a happy baby and helping you to feel more calm and happy:
- Building a Happy Baby (UNICEF)
There is growing evidence that skin to skin contact between you and your baby helps both of you in so many way. Find out more here:
Getting support
A-Z countywide infant feeding support
Feeding your baby
- Feeding your baby (NHS)
- Helping your breastfed baby get all the milk they need (Oxford Health)
Breastfeeding
General breastfeeding information & support
Breastfeeding information in languages other than English:
- Breast Feeding videos (Global Health Media)
- Foreign language resources – Baby Friendly Initiative (UNICEF)
- The benefits of breastfeeding – Baby Friendly Initiative (UNICEF)
- Infant Feeding Team video playlist (OUH)
Positioning and attachment
How to support your baby to position and attach to the breast:
Expressing your breast milk
- Expressing breast milk with a pump video (Health Innovation Wessex)
How to know that your baby is getting enough milk
Feeding challenges
Common breastfeeding problems
- 5 common breastfeeding problems (UNICEF)
Slow growing babies
Sometimes babies grow more slowly. This can feel worrying.
If this happens, we will help you make a plan to give your baby more milk. You may also be asked to see a GP and offered extra feeding support.
This leaflet tells you more: Information for Parents Understanding Slow Growth in Breastfed Babies
Non-urgent advice: Safety alert
Self-feeding pillows/prop feeders present a risk of serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.
Urgent Safety Alert issued for baby self-feeding pillows (GOV.UK)
Mixed feeding
- Mixed feeding (NHS)
Formula and bottle feeding
- Infant formula and responsive bottle feeding (UNICEF)
- Types of infant milks on the UK market (Infant Milk Info)
- Bottle Feeding (NHS)
Sleep and night-time care
Sleep and caring for your baby at night:
- Safer Sleep overview (Lullaby Trust)
- Co-Sleeping (Lullaby Trust)
Introducing solid foods
For guidance on introducing solid foods at 6 months:
Financial help
Healthy Start food vouchers and vitamins:
- Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
- Getting vitamins – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Returning to work
Please talk to staff at an Infant Feeding Support Hub, Well Baby Clinic or contact ChatHealth for advice.
Weighing your baby
Your baby will be weighed in the first 2 weeks to check they are back to their birth weight.
After that, babies are weighed at check-ups at about 2, 3, 4, and 13 months.
Babies are only weighed more if there are worries about their health or growth.
Weighing too often can cause unnecessary concern. It is better to notice feeding, behaviour, and how your baby is growing.
Older babies are weighed less often because they grow more slowly.
Dummies and your child
- Dummies and breastfeeding (LaLeche)
- Baby product information and dummies (Lullaby Trust)