As well as the babies first foods sessions available at the family hubs there is lots of support in Bolton around weaning. The Healthy Families team can offer support to parents about weaning and can be contacted on Tel: 01204 463175

● Creativity and imagination

● Concentration skills

● Emotional growth

● Language skills

● Physical development

● Social skills

As parents its important to allow space for these feelings and help children understand and make sense of what's happening for them, this can be done through play, talking to them, carving out special time together, worry monsters, drawings, stories and much much more.

"Sleep when the baby sleeps, are they sleeping through, how's their sleep?" etc.

Sleep is often individual to each baby some babies can sleep through the night from a young age whereas other struggle to do this until they are around 2. There are things you can do to encourage good sleep hygiene, however please be aware these may not work for all babies.

As long as your baby feels safe and secure with you they will sleep through the night when they are ready.

It is important to note that if these thoughts feel too overwhelming or scary to reach out to a health professional such as your GP or health visitor to seek the right level of support.

Simply put your baby needs:

• Your attention - giving your baby your attention shows they are your priority and makes them feel seen and heard

• You to respond to them - sometimes we may not know what they are trying to tell us, but trying your best and even sometimes explaining "mummy/daddy is trying their best to figure out what you need" can help

• To feel safe - trying to respond to their needs as consistently as possible is important for babies to feel safe

• You - simply put they just need you. Just do the best you can and if you need help reach out.

It is important to remember that not all babies develop at the same time. They all have different personalities, interests, strengths and weaknesses just as adults do.

So what can you do?

Their cry is designed to evoke these feelings to try to make you care for them as quickly as possible and this is important to remember when those feelings feel difficult to manage.

ICON is a great resource for parents who may be struggling to manage their own feelings when trying to soothe their baby and here are some links and resources to support with that.

There are places parents can turn to to get health support for their children.

Stay, Play and Learn,

Parents, Tots Stay and Play,

Shake Rattle Roll,

Little Explorers and

Nature Club for Tots.

They are;

Deep sleep

Light sleep

Drowsy or dosing

Quiet, alert

Fussing

Crying

Reading to babies can help with

● Language development

● Understanding of language

● Concentration skills

● Brain development

Not only will it help your baby's development but the act of spending quality one on one time with your baby will make them feels, safe, secure and seen which will help their emotional development and attachment too!

There are lots of services out there to support with this feeling whether it might be a little niggle or completely paralysing.

Speak to a health professional such as your midwife or health visitor about the various services out there to support you! :)

You can be referred by your midwife, health visitor, GP, social worker or other health professionals to the specialist perinatal service.

Here is a link to some activity ideas you could try with your little one.

If you are still struggling it is ok to reach out for support. You can do this via the family hubs (attending a group and speaking to a Family Practitioner there) or contacting your Health Visitor.

Often the best way to encourage development is to follow their lead. You can say things like "that's a red car" "blue ball" or "mama is here". By you using your language to name what they are doing your baby will notice this and chose to say/do things in their own time which is much much better for their development.

If you are giving your baby all of your attention with no distractions, they will feel safe and secure enough to explore new movements and develop new ways of thinking.

It is also a place for parents to discuss their child's development and you will often find that other parents have similar worries to you too!

The NHS website has some tips about what to do if things are feeling a little tricky and where to seek further support

As humans, most of us like physical touch, it is in our biology. For a small baby who has been inside your tummy for months coming into a cold, loud, bright, smelly outside world is scary and they are no longer safe and attached to you at all times, its is ESSENTIAL .

You cuddling them is necessary communication to help ease that frightened feeling and help them understand that they are safe in this big scary outside world.

The research suggests that adults who were held and cuddled as babies and children are MORE likely to be healthy and well adjusted.

So go ahead! Cuddle your baby as long as you like :)

Its important to remember that babies are resilient and this struggle will pass for both of you.

This is often a really normal stage of development for infants but can be tricky to manage. See the NHS website for more information on how to manage this in a helpful way.

For information about the next group dates, please get in touch with us (see email below)

The sessions are as follows:

•        Session 1 – Your baby is already a little person and interacting with your baby

•        Session 3 – Thoughts and worries and what to do

•        Session 4 – When to worry and how/where to get support

Please complete the attached registration form and send to yourbabyandyou.PAIRS@gmmh.nhs.uk to register interest or enquire

BIM stands for Baby in Mind and is a universal service which offers information, advice, guidance and training to professionals, parents and carers across Bolton.

Our staff are highly skilled practitioners from a wide variety of professional backgrounds including nursing, health visiting, psychology and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

THE CRY-SIS HELPLINE  0800 448 0737

Lines open 7 days a week 9am-10pm

THE CRY-SIS HELPLINE  0800 448 0737

Lines open 7 days a week 9am-10pm

To prebook please contact Babyinmind.PAIRS@gmmh.nhs.uk

Alexandra family hub - Blackledge Street, Bolton. BL3 4BL

Oxford Grove family hub - Shepherd Cross Street, Bolton. BL1 3BH

Tonge family hub - 260 Starkie Road, Bolton. BL2 2ED

Great Lever family hub - Leonard Street, Bolton. BL3 3AP

Farnworth family hub

Family can self refer to the community infant feeding for babies from birth to 6 weeks of age.

Family can contact the team with any query, questions or support needed with any method of feeding within the first six weeks.

The community infant feeding team can refer you on for further support after 6 weeks of liaise with your health visitor around on going feeding support.

Alexandra, Great Lever (alternate Mondays),

Oxford Grove (Tuesday)

Tonge (Alternative Tuesdays)

Harvey (Thursdays)

Farnworth (Wednesdays Afternoon's and Friday mornings ).

Please see the Bolton family guide’s for information of when we are in specific hubs.

This flexible and accessible programme that is accessible as a group or individually and can be accessed by parents and carers of 0 - 6 months old.

Baby bonding runs over 6 weeks but can be extended individually if the parent or carer would like to.

Our next course starts on the 9th of September and is at Bright meadows Family hub at 12.30pm.

The group is for a maximum of 5 parents or carers and the session last for One hour and 30 minutes.

Please get in touch to book a place Babyinmind.PAIRS@gmmh.nhs.uk

Or call 01204483222 and ask to speak to a member of the baby in mind team.

We are currently planning session dates and time but if you would like to prebook a space or be contacted directly with information please contact the team.

Please get in touch to book a place Babyinmind.PAIRS@gmmh.nhs.uk

Or call 01204483222 and ask to speak to a member of the baby in mind team.