Parent guide

Newborns commonly nurse 8–12 times per 24 hours. By day 5–7, at least 5–6 wet nappies, pale urine, audible swallowing and steady weight gain are more useful than a fixed feeding duration. Pain, poor weight gain, marked sleepiness or fewer wet nappies need prompt review.

Follow hunger and fullness cues rather than forcing a fixed volume. Bottle-feed responsively, pause often and stop when the baby shows fullness. Weight gain and wet nappies are better indicators than comparison with another baby.

Newborns may sleep around 16–17 hours in short periods; regular cycles usually develop after about 4 months. Always place baby on the back on a firm, flat separate sleep surface, without pillows, loose bedding, bumpers or toys.

Frequency varies widely. Breastfed babies may stool after most feeds in the first month and later go several days while remaining normal if stools are soft and growth is good. White stools, blood, black stools after the first days, or distension with vomiting need review.

Clean bottles and parts after every use. Daily sanitising is especially important under 2 months, after premature birth or with immune problems. For an older healthy baby, careful washing, full air-drying and clean storage are usually sufficient.

Breastfed infants commonly need 400 IU vitamin D daily unless advised otherwise. Introduce solids at about 6 months when developmentally ready while continuing milk feeds. No honey before 12 months and no whole nuts because of choking risk.

Most first teeth appear between 6 and 12 months. Teething does not cause a true fever over 38°C. Use a cool teether or gentle gum massage; avoid amber necklaces, homeopathic tablets and numbing gels. Brush from the first tooth with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste.

Start when the child shows readiness, not at a compulsory age. Avoid pressure and punishment; accidents for months can be normal.

Night dryness matures later and wetting is common up to about age 5. Do not blame the child. New wetting after six dry months, pain, excessive thirst, constipation or loud snoring should be assessed.

If breastfeeding, wait until feeding is established. Never attach a pacifier to the neck or cot. Gradually limit it after the first year; persistent strong use after age 3 deserves discussion.

Keep a predictable routine and turn screens off at least one hour before bed. Babies learn from talking, play and face-to-face interaction, not passive screen exposure.

Children vary, but loss of a skill is never something to watch indefinitely. Concerns about movement, speech, hearing, interaction or behaviour should be raised early.

Assess appearance, breathing and hydration, not the number alone. A baby under 3 months with 38°C or more needs urgent medical assessment.

Fluids, saline and honey only after age 1 may help. Breathing difficulty, chest indrawing, fast breathing, wheeze, blue colour or cough beyond 3 weeks need assessment.

Offer small frequent amounts of oral rehydration solution and continue breastfeeding. Very little urine, dry mouth, no tears, drowsiness, blood, green vomit or inability to keep fluids down need urgent advice.

A rapidly spreading rash, purple spots that do not fade under pressure, breathing difficulty or swelling of the face/tongue is an emergency.

Repeated vomiting, increasing drowsiness, confusion, unsteady walking, worsening headache, seizure or unusual behaviour need urgent assessment.

Use a family media plan, clear limits and keep phones out of the bedroom overnight. Ask for help when media displaces sleep, school, exercise or relationships, causes major conflict, secrecy or cyberbullying, or the teenager cannot cut down.

Assess BMI-for-age and the growth trend, not appearance alone. Rapid gain, loud snoring, exercise breathlessness, excessive thirst, dark thickened neck skin or significant distress deserve review. Treatment should involve the family and never shame the child.

Review breast development before 8 in girls or testicular enlargement before 9 in boys, especially if rapidly progressive. Also assess no pubertal signs by 13 in girls or 14 in boys, or stalled progression.

Early cycles may be irregular. Seek advice for very heavy bleeding, more than 7 days, dizziness/pallor, disabling pain, gaps over 90 days or no first period by age 15.

Falling performance, school refusal, persistent fear, withdrawal, sleep/appetite change or recurrent unexplained physical symptoms deserve discussion. Self-harm, hopelessness or thoughts of death need immediate help.

Keep a short diary. Morning headache with vomiting, waking from sleep, neurological symptoms, confusion, stiff neck, progressive worsening or headache after significant injury needs urgent assessment.

Call immediately for severe breathing difficulty, blue colour, unresponsiveness, prolonged seizure, severe allergic reaction, uncontrolled bleeding or sudden major deterioration.

Seek prompt advice if the child looks very ill, cannot drink, urinates very little, has persistent pain, blood in vomit/stool or fever with a stiff neck—or whenever your concern is significant.