Many parents have heard of bottle propping, also known as prop feeding. And most of us have seen babies sucking quietly away on their own.

Bottle propping is when, instead of the baby being held to drink their bottle, they are on their own. The bottle is supported by a pillow or blanket, even a soft toy so that it’s angled with the milk filling the neck of the bottle and the teat. The baby lies in their cot/pram/on the floor sucking away on their own.

Toilet training is an important stage of childhood development. Most children are ready to start toilet training from around the age of 2 years onwards. However, some aren’t ready for another 6-12 months.

One of the joys of caring for a baby is bathing them. But for many parents, bathing is one of those tasks which takes time to build confidence and not feel nerves taking over.  Be patient and kind with yourself as you learn what’s involved.