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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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  5. Life as a parent

Life as a parent

Find information about your own health and wellbeing, how to thrive through changes you might be experiencing and some of the practicalities of being a parent. We're here with you.
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Illustration of a dad kissing his baby

Life as a parent articles

  • All
  • Wellbeing & mental health
  • Support with change
  • Practicalities of being a parent
Showing 15 articles
10 tips for dealing with in-laws
10 tips for dealing with in-laws when you have a baby: interfering, boundaries and taking over
Couple with baby
Adjusting to life with a new baby: 15 practical tips
mum breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and returning to work
couple with young baby
Changes in your relationships after having a baby
Couple in bed
Experiences of sex after having a baby
Mother holding newborn baby
Helping a newborn transition to life outside the womb
Feeling unwell with a baby
Looking after a baby when the parent is unwell
Pregnant woman lying down with toddler
Pregnancy and parenting with older children
two women chatting
Returning to work after maternity leave
Childcare
Settling your baby into childcare
dad playing with baby
The most popular parenting styles and how to identify yours
What is attachment parenting and is it right for me?
What is attachment parenting and is it right for me?
What is mindful parenting and is it right for me?
What is mindful parenting and is it right for me?
parent-led parenting
What is parent-led parenting (and is it right for me?)
positive parenting
What is positive parenting and how is it done?

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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Choose how you’d like to get support today
Book antenatal class
Support with feeding
Pregnancy & Baby Guide
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Supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood

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