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    • NCT Antenatal course
      Prepare for birth and early parenthood and connect with local expectant parents at our in-person sessions.
    • Online NCT Antenatal course
      Prepare for birth and early parenthood in a flexible, supportive way from home.
    • NCT Antenatal refresher course
      Expecting again? Revisit the essentials, ask what’s changed, and prepare with confidence.
    • NCT New Baby course
      Build confidence in the early days with your baby, from feeding to sleep.
    • NCT Introducing Solid Foods workshop
      Clear, practical guidance to help you start solids with confidence.
    • NCT Baby & Child First Aid
      Learn practical skills to handle emergencies with confidence.
    • View all courses
    • Pregnancy
      Evidence-based answers to questions, from the early weeks to the final stretch.
    • Labour & birth
      Balanced information to help you understand your options and feel prepared.
    • Baby & toddler
      Trusted guidance on feeding, sleep and early development.
    • Life as a parent
      Real-life support for the challenges and changes of parenthood.
    • View all pregnancy & parent information
    • NCT Walk and Talks
      Get some fresh air, take a stroll and connect with local parents.
    • NCT Nearly New Sales
      Shop or sell preloved baby items and find great value essentials.
    • NCT Baby Cafes
      Free, friendly drop-ins for feeding support from trained counsellors.
    • NCT Baby & Child First Aid
      Learn practical skills to handle emergencies with confidence.
    • NCT Bumps & Babies
      Relaxed meet-ups to connect with parents near you.
    • Peer support groups
      Support your mental health with people who understand.
    • View all events and support services
    • Make a donation
      Help fund vital services that support parents when they need it most.
    • Become a member
      Join a movement working to improve support, care and outcomes for every parent.
    • Volunteer at NCT
      Give your time to support parents locally and make a real difference.
    • Fundraise for NCT
      Raise funds your way to support families across the UK.
    • Partner with us
      Work with us to support parents and create lasting impact.
    • Share your stories
      Share your experience to help shape services and support other parents.
    • View all support us
    • For Every Parent strategy
      How we’re working to support every parent, every step of the way.
    • Our impact
      The difference we make for parents, families, and communities across the UK.
    • NCT Board of Trustees
      The people who guide our direction and ensure we stay true to our mission.
    • NCT Leadership Team
      The team leading NCT’s work and helping shape our future.
    • Our history
      How NCT began, and the journey that’s brought us to where we are today.
    • Community support programmes
      Commissioned, co-produced services that deliver trusted local support for parents and families.
    • Contact us
      Ways to get in touch with our teams for help, questions, or support.
    • View all about us

NCT3.Mobile

    • NCT Antenatal course
      Prepare for birth and early parenthood and connect with local expectant parents at our in-person sessions.
    • Online NCT Antenatal course
      Prepare for birth and early parenthood in a flexible, supportive way from home.
    • NCT Antenatal refresher course
      Expecting again? Revisit the essentials, ask what’s changed, and prepare with confidence.
    • NCT New Baby course
      Build confidence in the early days with your baby, from feeding to sleep.
    • NCT Introducing Solid Foods workshop
      Clear, practical guidance to help you start solids with confidence.
    • NCT Baby & Child First Aid
      Learn practical skills to handle emergencies with confidence.
    • View all courses
    • Pregnancy
      Evidence-based answers to questions, from the early weeks to the final stretch.
    • Labour & birth
      Balanced information to help you understand your options and feel prepared.
    • Baby & toddler
      Trusted guidance on feeding, sleep and early development.
    • Life as a parent
      Real-life support for the challenges and changes of parenthood.
    • View all pregnancy & parent information
    • NCT Walk and Talks
      Get some fresh air, take a stroll and connect with local parents.
    • NCT Nearly New Sales
      Shop or sell preloved baby items and find great value essentials.
    • NCT Baby Cafes
      Free, friendly drop-ins for feeding support from trained counsellors.
    • NCT Baby & Child First Aid
      Learn practical skills to handle emergencies with confidence.
    • NCT Bumps & Babies
      Relaxed meet-ups to connect with parents near you.
    • Peer support groups
      Support your mental health with people who understand.
    • View all events and support services
    • Make a donation
      Help fund vital services that support parents when they need it most.
    • Become a member
      Join a movement working to improve support, care and outcomes for every parent.
    • Volunteer at NCT
      Give your time to support parents locally and make a real difference.
    • Fundraise for NCT
      Raise funds your way to support families across the UK.
    • Partner with us
      Work with us to support parents and create lasting impact.
    • Share your stories
      Share your experience to help shape services and support other parents.
    • View all support us
    • For Every Parent strategy
      How we’re working to support every parent, every step of the way.
    • Our impact
      The difference we make for parents, families, and communities across the UK.
    • NCT Board of Trustees
      The people who guide our direction and ensure we stay true to our mission.
    • NCT Leadership Team
      The team leading NCT’s work and helping shape our future.
    • Our history
      How NCT began, and the journey that’s brought us to where we are today.
    • Community support programmes
      Commissioned, co-produced services that deliver trusted local support for parents and families.
    • Contact us
      Ways to get in touch with our teams for help, questions, or support.
    • View all about us
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  3. Pregnancy & parent information
  5. Baby & toddler

Baby & toddler

Useful information about caring for your baby or toddler, including common concerns about their health, development and feeding. We're here with information and support as your baby grows.
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Illustration of parents holding a baby

Baby & toddler articles

  • All
  • Caring for your baby or toddler
  • Feeding your baby or toddler
  • Baby and toddler health
  • Baby and toddler development
Showing 24 articles
Newborn baby
10 ways to care for your newborn baby
Baby massage
Baby massage: tips and benefits
Baby in a sling
Baby slings and carriers: a guide
Bathing a baby
Bathing a baby
Couple with a baby
Bonding with a baby
Toddler with toothebrush
Brushing baby teeth: handy hints and how-tos
Baby with dummy
Dummies, pros and cons: your dummy questions answered
toddler outside
Five signs your child is ready for potty training
Toddler keeps waking up
How to survive nights when your toddler keeps waking up
Crying
I can’t work out why my baby is crying
Baby crying in cot at night
Is it OK to let a baby cry?
Baby asleep
Newborn and baby sleep
Woman with newborn baby
Newborn baby poo in nappies
toddler lying down
Potty training at night
Young child playing on an iPad wearing headphones
Screen time for babies and toddlers: how much?
mum patting baby in cot
Should I sleep train my baby?
Baby asleep in a cot
Sleep safety and co-sleeping
Swaddled baby
Swaddling a baby: the benefits, risks and safety tips
Baby Swimming
Taking your baby swimming for the first time: top tips
Young baby chewing on a teething ring
Teething in babies and young children
Top tips for tummy time
Top tips for tummy time
What to do when your child wakes up too early
What to do when your child wakes up too early
When and how to select toddler shoes
When and how to select toddler shoes
Parent holding a crying baby
Why do babies cry?

Information you can trust 

Our aim is to give every parent access to free, evidence-informed information about pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and early parenthood. We want to help you feel confident, informed and supported. We work hard to make sure the information is useful for you.

About our pregnancy and parent information

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Support with feeding
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Supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood

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