Breastfeeding

Advice that letting your baby fall asleep on the breast will create ‘bad habits’ or that he will never learn to ‘self-settle’ is unrealistic and impractical. There are some magical chemicals in breast milk that induce sleep, but if you want to make changes, try this gentle approach.

Women have been feeding their babies at the breast since time began and yet there is still a plethora of misinformation that can mess up a mother’s experience and feeding her baby can become a huge struggle. How many of these big fat lies have you heard – and what is the actual truth?

Around the middle of your baby’s first year, that is at about six months, your baby will start showing signs that he is ready for family foods: he will be able to sit up in a high chair or on your lap; he will have lost the tongue thrust reflex (that protects him against choking in the early months, but also means food gets thrust out of his mouth,…

Our guest today is Kasey Willson from Glowing Mumma, Thriving Bubba and we are discussing nutrition and nourishing mum and baby, from your baby’s microbiome and gut health introducing solids and supporting your toddler’s immune system.

As Professor Amy Brown and Pinky discuss, there are many confusing and contradictory health, commercial and social messages that tend to 'deluge' new Mums - especially when it comes to breast and bottle feeding.

If your toddler (over one year) nurses at night and you are OK with this, go with the adage, ‘if it’s not a problem for us, it’s not a problem’. However, if you are feeling that you would like to stop night feeds or if your toddler is nursing what seems like ‘non-stop’ all night, there are kind ways to night wean, gradually, with love.

How often have you been told, just give your breastfed baby a bottle of formula at bedtime to make him sleep? Although this advice is almost some kind of ‘folk-lore’ among the believers, there are some health professionals who may advise you to do this, even with a newborn. Some will tell you that giving a bottle is a great way for fathers to…

I asked, “have you fed her? Do you have a bottle with you?” She answered ‘no’ to both questions. I told her, “I don’t own any bottles but I can breastfeed her if you are ok with that – she’s hungry!” There started a discussion. My friend knew how breast milk would help her tiny baby thrive, but she hadn’t dared to raise the issue.

It’s perfectly normal to have feelings of grief and self doubt when weaning from breastfeeding happens earlier than you have planned. But there can be other, strong emotions, including vicious mood swings that can be related to weaning, whatever the age of your child or if this was a ‘natural’ weaning decided by your baby or a gradual ‘mother –led’…

Managing feeding times can be especially difficult when you have a newborn and toddler because it takes so much time in the early days, so here are Pinky's tips to make it easier: