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Your Baby’s First Year


A baby changes your life. However much you wanted to be a mum, the reality usually brings some surprises.

Being a mum
Being a mum isn’t always plain sailing. There will be good and bad days, times when you are feeling energetic and full of love for your baby, and other days when you find it difficult.
Being a mum is hard work, too. You may not have realised:
  • how tired you would feel
  • how demanding a baby can be
  • how lonely it can sometimes feel
  • how long it might take to recover after the birth
  • how frustrating it can be not to be able to predict your days.
Changing lives
The fact that life is different for you now may be quite an understatement! Having a baby puts a lot of demands on the parents:
  • there’s a new member of the family to get to know
  • there are new skills to learn If this is your first baby:
  • you are now ‘a mother’
  • your body has changed
  • giving birth means you were a couple, now you are a family.
This all happens overnight, and some mothers feel overwhelmed by it all. If you have days of doubt, don’t worry.

It’s perfectly natural. But remember that you are not alone, help and support is always at hand. Talk to either your GP or health visitor about how you feel. They will have seen many other mums who feel ‘down’ and will know how to help.

Every baby is different
Babies all have their own timetables. During these months babies will vary a great deal in when, and how, they learn to do things. Try not to compare your baby to friends’ babies. If you do have worries about your baby’s development, check with your health visitor or child health clinic.

All change
During this first year, your baby may well learn how to:
  • roll over, sit up, crawl, stand; even how to walk
  • move on to solid foods
  • become more social
  • recognise his name
  • call for you.

For the next You and your growing baby guide Chapter, Family Life, Click here arrow

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With the festive season almost upon us, we'd like to know what best describes your attitude towards spending this Christmas? (Please select one option only)
Christmas is a special time of year, and we'll spend the same as always 
We'll probably spend as we usually do and worry about it in the new year 
We're not worried about spending, as we have saved in advance / have been spreading the cost 
We've got to be more careful this year, but the kid(s) won’t lose out 
We'll be cutting back this year