Infant feeding in Richmond

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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 Accreditation Programme.

Our breastfeeding support service is available for all mothers that live in Richmond. We can provide support and information to mothers following the birth of your baby. We also support parents who are formula feeding their babies by providing support and up to date researched based information on choosing milks and making up feeds and helping them to feed safely and responsively.

Our Infant Feeding team can be contacted through the Health Visiting Service:

Health Visiting Community Breastfeeding support  

Attend a Well Baby Drop-in clinic for further support (see the tab on details) or

Your Health Visiting Team are offering a Duty Advice Line: Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm.

Breastfeeding support groups are available at the following centres:

  • Richmond Library Annexe, Quadrant Rd, Richmond TW9 1DH Wednesday 2-4pm

Specialist Breastfeeding Clinic

The Health Visiting Team can refer you to the Health Visiting Infant Feeding Lead to attend the Specialist Feeding clinic where appropriate. Email: clcht.bfsupportwr@nhs.net.

  • Barns Children Centre Thursday 9am - 12pm. Appointment only. Referral through your Health Visitor/GP/midwife. 

Maternity Services

(The clinic dates and times may change, so please always check before attending)

  • West Middlesex University Hospital 

         o If your baby was born at West Middlesex University Hospital, you can access their breastfeeding clinic.
         o Day: Saturdays
         o Email: chelwest.infantfeedingteam.wmuh@nhs.net
         o Telephone: 020 8321 5006 (Mon–Fri, 9am–3pm)

  • Kingston Hospital

         o If your baby was born at Kingston Hospital and you live in the Richmond area, you can access their breastfeeding support.
         o Friday: 1pm - 3pm 
         o Location: Cornerstone Church, 234a Canbury Park Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 6LF
         o Email: khft.infantfeedingteam@nhs.net
         o Contact your Health Visitor for further support and to discuss your concerns.

Clinics are an opportunity for parents and carers to weight their baby and speak with a member of the Health Visiting Team about any concerns. 

Available Clinics:

Children’s centres are places where all families with children under 5 years, expectant mothers and fathers, can go to help their children to get the best start in life. Please click here to see what sessions are available near you.

A member of the Health Visitor Team will visit you at home between 10-14 days following the birth of your baby. Sometimes additional visits may be offered if required. A further contact will be arranged when your baby is 6 weeks old.

The health visitor will let you know about the child health clinics, breastfeeding support groups and children's centres activities and other baby groups and sessions in your area. They will also complete a breastfeeding assessment form with you, a copy of which can be found here.

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:

Introduction to solids workshops are available through your Children Centre.

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.

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