Babies

Sleep

Feeding and nutrition

How often you should feed a baby
Feeding frequency, responding to your baby's hunger.
Breastfeeding
General information about breastfeeding, producing milk, what to do when you have sore breasts.
Breastfeeding attachment and positioning
Breastfeeding attachment and positioning - how to position your body so your baby attaches properly.
Breastfeeding issues
Common issues when breastfeeding, alcohol and smoking issues.
Bottle feeding babies
If and when to bottle feed, sterilising bottles
Solids for babies
When babies are ready to eat solids, introducing feeding and lumpier foods.
Portions and healthy eating habits for babies
Standard serving sizes, foods to avoid and moving away from bottles.
Food safety tips for babies
How to prepare food safely for babies and what to do if they have allergies.

Child care

Types of child care
There are a number of different types of child care for different situations.
How to choose the best child care
Every family is different, so it’s important to think about your own family needs and the quality of the childcare when choosing child care for your child
Enrol in child care
How to enrol your child in childcare
How much child care costs
How much does child care cost?
Regulation of child care and kindergarten
Early childhood services regulated under the National Quality Framework and under state law.
How to choose a quality early childhood service
Quality childcare is important to your child's development, and you can use quality ratings to choose the best child care centre for your child.

Behaviour

Child development

You are your child's first educator
You can make a big difference to your child's life just by finding easy and fun things you can do with your child when they're very young.
Baby development stages
What your baby might be doing at different stages in their first 12 months.
Speech and language development for babies
Babies communicate from birth through crying, eye contact and listening.
Bonding and attachment
You can do things with your newborn from birth to strengthen bonding and attachment.
If you have concerns about your baby's development
What to do if you're worried about your baby's development
Growth charts
Growth charts for baby and child development

Children with additional needs

Health

Bathing for babies
How to safely run a bath and clean your baby.
Nappy rash
What causes nappy rash, signs and symptoms and how to treat it.
Oral health for babies
How to care for your baby's teeth and gums.
When to seek help about your baby's health
Work out when you need to speak to a health professional if you have concerns about your baby's health.
Common health problems in the first few weeks
A baby in their first few weeks could lose some weight, have a rash or other minor health problems
Newborn screening
Newborn babies are screened for common health and wellbeing issues to ensure they get the best care.
Immunisation
Immunisation requirements, Vax on time app, vaccination records for child care, kindergarten and school.
Managing screen time
It's important to keep and eye on and manage the amount of screen time (television, internet and games) that your preschooler has.

Learning and play

Play and learning for babies
Tips for playing with your baby so they start learning early on.
Speak to your child in the language you know best
Why it's important to speak in the language you know best. Tips for speaking, reading and writing in your language.
Tummy time
Helping your baby to exercise with tummy time.
How to build your child's literacy skills from birth to year 2
How to give your child a good start with reading and language.
How to build your child's numeracy skills from birth to year 2
Tips on how to build your child's skills in maths, measurement and patterns.

Family health

Look after yourself after you have a baby
Parents' health and wellbeing is often impacted by the arrival of a new baby or any major change to your life.
Perinatal depression including dad mental health
Becoming a parent has a big impact on families and parent need to look after their own wellbeing and health.
Parents' anxiety
Becoming and being a parent can be stressful. How to tell if you have anxiety and how to get help.
Postnatal care
After giving birth your body will be going through major adjustments. It’s important to look after yourself during this time.
Making healthy decisions
Where to go for health advice, online resources and working out if it's an emergency.
Family violence
How to get help, behaviours, how family violence can happen.

Safety

Leaving babies and children unattended
You should never leave a baby or child unattended. Information on fatal distraction and short term memory.
Car safety
Restraints and seats, never leave babies and children unattended in cars.
CPR for babies
What to do if your baby is unconscious - call 000.
Never shake a baby
Never shake a baby; shaking a baby can cause death or permanent disability.
Baby safety in the home and outdoors
It's common for babies and children to be injured at home, so it's important for your home to be a safe space for your baby to roam around.
Sun safety
It’s important to protect babies and children protected from the strong Australian sun.
Water safety for babies and young children
How to keep babies safe around water
Insect bites
What to do if your child gets an insect bite.
Preventing dog bites
How to have your child and your dog interacting safely.
Preventing poisoning
How to keep baby safe from being poisoned - call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
Preventing falls
Check your home and baby equipment for hazards that could cause your baby or young child to fall.
Preventing choking
Tip for preventing your baby or child from choking.
Preventing burns and scalds
Tips to prevent your child accidentally getting a burn.
Child protection
What to do if you think a child is being abused, mandatory reporting.

Services for parents

Maternal and Child Health Service
All about the Maternal and Child Health Service in Victoria
My Health, Learning and Development Record (the green book)
All about your My Health, Learning and Development Record (the green book)
Your first MCH home visit
What to expect at your first visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Your 2 week MCH visit
What to expect at your 2 week visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse
Your 4 week MCH visit
What to expect at your 4 weeks visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Your 8 week MCH visit
What to expect at your 8 week visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Your 4 month MCH visit
What to expect at your 4 months visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Your 8 month MCH visit
What to expect at your 8 months visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Your 12 month MCH visit
What to expect at your 12 months visit to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
First time parent groups
New mums and dads can learn how to look after your new baby and to get to know other families in your local community, in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Community playgroups
Information about community playgroups in Victoria
Supported playgroups
Supported Playgroups is to improve the learning, development, and wellbeing outcomes of children from birth until they start primary school.
Services for parents in regional areas
Services for parents of babies and young children in regional areas of Victoria
Early parenting centres
Early parenting centres offer a range of specialised support, counselling and advice services aimed at supporting parents.
Family intervention services
Family intervention Services offer consultation, counselling, skill development and education services including individual and group interventions.
Support for parents of children with disability
Program for parents and families of children with disabilities and developmental delays to support each other through the sharing of common experiences, concerns and aspirations.
Child FIRST and family services
Child FIRST (Child and family information, referral and support teams) are the entry point into family services located across Victoria.
Telephone services for parents
Telephone services for parents of young children and babies in Victoria
Parentline
Phone counselling for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old
Financial help for parents
Outline of types of financial assistance available to parents who want to enrol their child in childcare or kindergarten programs