Contact Form

Captcha Code

Infant feeding in Merton

Read more about this page below

Our breastfeeding support service provides mothers with information on breastfeeding, delivered by our Health Visiting team who are all breastfeeding trained under the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative. This is available at a local children's centre and is appointment only. To book an appointment please contact the team on: 0330 053 9264

We also support parents who are formula feeding their babies by providing information on choosing milks and making up feeds, and helping them to feed safely and responsively.

Our breastfeeding support service is available for all mothers that live in Merton.

Our team can be contacted on: 03300 539 264.

Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram  

Merton Health Visiting Breastfeeding Support: 

Church Road Children’s Centre, 243 Church Rd, CR4 3LS 

Wednesdays 

1pm to 4pm 

Self booking via the Health Visiting duty line: 0330 0539264 or can be booked via your Health Visitor. 

 

Merton Health Visiting
Specialist Breastfeeding Clinic 

Newminster Children’s Centre, Newminster Rd, Morden SM4 6HJ 

Mondays 

 

 

Referrals by Health Visitor/GP/Midwife after first line support received or by calling Health Visiting duty line: 0330 053 9264. ​

Merton Breastfeeding Peer
Support Group 

Lower Morden Children’s Centre,
Aragon Primary School,
Aragon Road,
Morden SM4 4QU 

 

Thursdays 12.30pm – 2pm 

Drop in – just show up!

When you arrive at the school gates buzz the childrens centre then enter and walk to the left past the buggy park to the centre entrance up the ramp and buzz again.  

Keep up to date: Follow us on Instagram.

Find more information at Merton Breastfeeding Support - in person and remote.

Top Tips for feeding in public:  

  1. Practice: try feeding at home in front of a mirror so that you can see what others will see when you’re feeding – you’ll likely notice you’re not showing as much of your breast as you thought since babys head is covering it! You can also try practicing in front of someone else such as a partner, friend or close family member 
     
  2. Clothing: there are many different options when it comes to what to wear to make breastfeeding in public (an in general!) easier. You could try wearing a vest top underneath a looser tshirt/jumper so the top layer goes up and the bottom layer goes down creating a space for baby to attach to the breast. 
    • Wear a loose scarf of cardigan to wrap around baby & breast 
    • Try wrap around style tops and dresses, clothes with zips or buttons (check out this Facebook page for tried and tested breastfeeding friendly clothes from other mamas in the UK!) 
  3. Like-Minded peers: find a local group where there will be other breastfeeding women. This peer support and having the support of a qualified practitioner might increase your confidence in many areas of breastfeeding, not just feeding in public. Check out our local services under the “Breastfeeding Support” tab. 
     
  4. Company: it can be handy to have someone with you that first time you head out with your baby for support. It can help to go with a friend who has an older baby and can take you to places that she already knows 
     
  5. Plan ahead. Before you go out, it can help to think about where you will feel comfortable breastfeeding when your baby gets hungry. Ask breastfeeding friends for recommendations. Did you know: you can pop into any Children's Centre in Merton and they are more than happy to provide you a space where you can breastfeed. Have a look on the "Merton Children's Centres and Offerings" tab above to locate the nearest children's centre for where you will be on your outing.  
     
  6. Responsive breastfeeding also means responding to your needs so you can offer baby a breastfeed to fit into your lifestyle - if you are planning to go out, have an appointment etc you can feed your baby before you go even if they are not showing hunger cues. 
     
  7. Avoid the loos! Do not feel that you should sit in a public toilet to breastfeed. You would not eat in there, so do not feel that your baby should be fed there.
     

How to Law protects you:  

It is illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport.  

You are protected in public places such as parks, shops, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, hotels, sports and leisure facilities, public buildings and when using public transport such as buses, trains and planes.  

The Equality Act 2010 says that it is discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding. It applies to anyone providing services, benefits, facilities and premises to the public, public bodies, further and higher education bodies and association. Service providers must not discriminate, harass or victimise a woman because she is breastfeeding.  

Discrimination includes refusing to provide a service, providing a lower standard of service or providing a service on different terms. Therefore, a cafe owner cannot ask you to stop breastfeeding, ask you to move or cover up or refuse to serve you.  

For more information please visit the NHS guidance on breastfeeding in public and breastfeeding while out and about on the Maternity action website.

Our children's centres offer services for parents and carers from pregnancy through to the end of their child's reception year at school. A range of programmes and services to support your child's learning and development are available at the centres. These include baby massage for first-time parents, speech and language and parenting programmes and support for families with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

You can talk to a specialist advisor about any concerns you have about housing, finances, relationships, your child’s development or behaviour, access to training or employment and more at a personal Family Information and Support Hubs (FISH) session. Click on the following links to learn more and book FISH sessions:

Your health visitor will visit you at home between Day 10 and 14.

There are Well Baby Clinics and Breastfeeding Support clinics local to you and running throughout the week.

Please call to book an appointment on 0330 053 9264. 

Introducing solid foods to your baby can be an exciting but also daunting time. Your health visiting team is available to help you with advice and discuss any concerns you may have. 

For health reasons, we recommend that babies are fed solely on breast milk or infant formula for the first six months.

Here are some helpful resources to support you and your baby with introduction to solid foods.

Is your baby aged 16-26 weeks?  

Your health visiting team runs virtual introduction to solids workshops on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, call to book your place: 03300 539 264. 

Parents, carers, grandparents all welcome to attend!

Safer sleep for babies resources:

You can download the Basis app where you can find further information on safe sleeping practices for you and your baby.

You can also download The Baby Check app by The Lullaby Trust which features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness and further information regarding safer sleeping practices.

CLCH have produced a video about normal sleep and how to promote sleep in the antenatal period as well as the postnatal period, up to the first six months.

Accessibility tools