Children of different ages have different care needs, from a newborn who needs breast milk and plenty of sleep to a toddler who is busy exploring the wider world. For new parents, understanding 5 key foundations — nutrition, sleep, vaccines, development and hygiene — will help you care for your child correctly and confidently, without too much worry.
Age-appropriate nutrition
Food is the foundation of growth, for both your child's body and brain. Providing age-appropriate food is therefore very important in the first years of life.
- In the first 6 months, breast milk is the best food. Give breast milk exclusively, without adding water or other foods, because it provides complete nutrients and immunity.
- Begin age-appropriate complementary foods when your child reaches 6 months, starting with finely mashed foods, one type at a time, alongside continued breastfeeding.
- Avoid very sweet or very salty foods, crispy snacks and soft drinks, which have no benefit and risk tooth decay and being overweight.
- Give your child clean water once they have started complementary foods, and as they grow, train them to eat a varied diet covering all 5 food groups.
Enough sleep
Sleep matters to growth and brain development just as much as food. While your child sleeps, the body releases growth hormones and organises memories.
- Babies need about 14–17 hours of sleep a day, while toddlers need about 10–13 hours a day, including daytime naps.
- Always place a baby to sleep on their back, to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Make the sleep environment safe and calm — a mattress that is not too soft, no pillows or too many toys in the cot, and a room that is not too hot or too bright.
Vaccines on schedule
Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective and safest ways to prevent serious disease. Giving the full course of vaccines on schedule builds your child's immunity from an early age.
- Give the basic vaccines on schedule as set out in the vaccine record (the Expanded Programme on Immunization, or EPI) — for example BCG (tuberculosis), hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, and measles-mumps-rubella.
- Consider additional vaccines on your doctor's advice, such as the annual influenza vaccine, the RSV vaccine in suitable infants, and the HPV vaccine when your child is older.
- Keep the vaccine record complete and bring it to every doctor's visit, so the record of injections stays continuous and no appointments are missed.
Vaccines and age-appropriate check-ups at the clinic
Doctor Chat Clinic offers basic and additional vaccinations, along with health checks and age-appropriate developmental assessments for your little one. Bring your child for regular scheduled care, for long-term good health.
Development by age
Development is your child gradually becoming able to do more things with age — in movement, language and emotional-social skills. Generally a child will hold the head up, roll over, sit, crawl, walk and begin to talk, in sequence by age. Parents can encourage development through play, talking, reading stories and letting their child explore safely.
- Holds the head up steadily at around 3–4 months of age.
- Sits unsupported and rolls over easily at around 6–8 months of age.
- Crawls and pulls to stand at around 9–10 months of age.
- Walks unaided and begins saying words at around 12–18 months of age.
Hygiene and prevention
Good health habits should be instilled from an early age, because they reduce illness and stay with your child as they grow.
- Train them to wash their hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, to reduce infection.
- Brush their teeth twice a day from the time the first tooth appears, to prevent tooth decay.
- Let your child exercise and play outdoors regularly, to develop strong muscles and a healthy body.
- Make sure they get enough rest, and limit screen time appropriately for their age.
Signs that should prompt a doctor's visit
- Refusing to drink milk or eat, with a clear drop in intake.
- Unusually drowsy, hard to wake, or unusually fussy.
- High fever, or a fever that does not subside for several days.
- Not gaining weight or failing to grow as expected.
- Clearly delayed development for their age — for example, not holding the head up, not sitting, or not walking by the age at which they should be able to.
