Infant feeding in Wandsworth

Our infant feeding service is available for all families who live in Wandsworth.

• Telephone: 0330 058 1679
• Email: clcht.0-19wandsworthandrichmondadmin@nhs.net
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Please note that these clinics/groups do not run on bank holidays. For support or to find out what clinics are running during this time please call the Health Visitor Duty Line on 0330 058 1679.

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. Clinics run on a drop in basis, no appointment is needed.

Available Clinics:

• Yvonne Carr Children's Centre Monday 9:30-11:30
• Putneymead Group Monday 9:30-11:30
• Eastwood Children's Centre Tuesday 9:30-11:30 - This clinic will not be running from 15th July - 2nd September. 2024  Please contact the SPA on 0330 058 1679 for more information or visit your next nearest clinic.
• Westhill in the Park Children's Centre Tuesday 14:00-16:00
• Smallwood Children's Centre Tuesday 9:30-11:00
• Putneymead Group Wednesday 13:30-15:00
• Grayswood GP Practice Wednesday 9:30-11:30
• York Gardens Children's Centre Thursday 9:30-11:30
• Faylands Children's Centre Thursday 13:30-15:30

Breastfeeding Drop-in Clinics:

• York Gardens Children's Centre Monday 13:30-15:00
• Eastwood Children's Centre Tuesday 09:30-11:00 - This group will not be running from 15th July - 2nd September 2024 . Please contact the SPA on 0330 058 1679 for more information or visit your next nearest group.
• Small wood Children's Centre Friday 13:30-15:00

Children's Centres provide a welcoming space where you and your child aged 0 - 5 years old can have fun and learn. Please click here to see what sessions are available near you.

A health visitor 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.

Out of hours support and helplines:

• National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212, 24 hours, every day
• NCT Helpline: 0300 330 0771, 8:00am to Midnight, every day
• La Leche League: 0345 120 2918, 8am – 11pm, every day
• Twinline: 0800 138 0509, Mon-Fri 10am–1pm and 7–10pm for parents of twins, triplets and more (www.twinstrust.org)

Breastfeeding: 

• Breastfeeding Assessment and Responsive Breastfeeding 
• Videos on breastfeeding – available in multiple languages
• Overcoming breastfeeding problems 

Expressing breastmilk: 

• UNICEF - Hand expressing video 
• Expressing and storing breastmilk 
• UNICEF – Expression Assessment Form

Medications and breastfeeding: 

• Breastfeeding Network: drugs factsheets  
• Facebook Drugs in breastmilk information service  

UNICEF - Infant formula and Responsive bottle feeding: 

• Responsive bottle feeding and Infant Formula   
• Better Health Start for Life Guide to bottle feeding 
• Information about formula prep machines, hot taps and baby kettles 
• UNICEF – Bottle Feeding Assessment Tool

Baby’s Brain Development:

• Love me, grow my brain
• Building a happy baby
• The importance of skin to skin

Returning to work or study

You don’t need to stop breastfeeding just because you’re returning to study or work. Many women find ways to continue breastfeeding their baby – and employers have certain obligations towards breastfeeding women.

• Breastfeeding and return to work or study
• Returning to work or study - The Breastfeeding Network
• Breastfeeding and going back to work - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

General information, support and advice 

• New baby and parent resources 
• Returning to full breastfeeding 
• Caring for your baby at night 
• Healthier Together
• UNICEF Foreign language resources

How the law protects you:  

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.

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. Call the duty line on 0330 058 1679 or visit a Well Baby and Child Health Clinic.

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.

• CLCH Introduction to solids leaflet
• Eating well in the first year - First Steps Nutrition 
• First Steps Nutrition Eating Well Resources
• Watch Introduction to solid foods video

Breastfeeding 6 months+

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies are exclusively breastfed (give them breast milk only) for the first 6 months of their life, and from 6 months babies should start eating solid foods alongside breastfeeds up to 2 years or longer.

It's important that solid food should not simply replace breast milk. Breastfeeding still has lots of benefits for you and your baby after 6 months. It protects them from infections and there's some evidence that it helps with the digestion of your baby's first solid foods. It also continues to provide the balance of nutrients your baby needs.

Once they're eating solids, your baby will still need to have breast milk or formula as their main drink up to at least their 1st birthday.

Cows' milk is not suitable as a main drink for babies under 1 year old, although it can be added to foods, such as mashed potatoes.

If you're wanting to stop breastfeeding or having problems, you can get help and ideas from a health visitor or by coming along to one of our breastfeeding drop-ins (details at top of this page).

Safer sleep for babies resources:

• Safer sleep for babies: The Lullaby Trust guide for parents
• Baby sleep information source (Basis)

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.

Infant crying is normal and it will stop.

A baby’s cry can be upsetting and frustrating. It is designed to get your attention and you may be worried that something is wrong with your baby. Your baby may start to cry more frequently at about 2 weeks of age. The crying may get more frequent and last longer during the next few weeks, hitting a peak at about 6 to 8 weeks. Every baby is different, but after about 8 weeks, babies start to cry less and less each week.

If you are doing any breastfeeding, we encourage you to do responsive breastfeeding. This means offering your baby the breast when they are distressed, fractious, or appears lonely and when they show signs of hunger. Breastfeeding can also help settle your crying baby after an immunisation, if your baby is unwell or to reassure them in an unfamiliar environment.

• Responsiveness will not spoil babies.

Some additional calming techniques you can try:

• Talk calmly, hum or sing to your baby  
• Let them hear a repeating or soothing sound
• Hold them close – skin to skin
• Go for a walk outside with your baby
• Give them a warm bath

These techniques may not always work. It may take a combination or more than one attempt to soothe your baby.

For more information, advice and support see:

• Infant crying and how to cope
• ICON website “Infant crying is normal, Comforting methods can help, its OK to walk away, Never ever shake a baby.
• CRY-SIS - National Help Line: 08451 228669. Lines open 7 days a week, 9am-10pm.

Remember – if you are concerned that your baby may be unwell, contact your GP or NHS 111 (go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111- the service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). In an emergency, ring 999.

Please check the NHS Healthy Start website to see if you are eligible to receive free vitamins and money to buy healthy foods and milk. You could be eligible to receive £4.25 per week during pregnancy and continued payments until your child is 4. Visit the NHS Healthy Start website to find out more.

If you are eligible for Healthy Start you can collect your free Healthy Start Vitamins at Wandsworth Children Centres (bring your Healthy Start Card)

• Healthy Start Application
• NHS Vitamins for Children