Hannah Croft IBCLC, Infant Feeding Support

25/09/2025

It’s really, really normal for newborn babies not to settle anywhere but in your arms.

Even though we know that they’re safe in their lovingly prepared crib or cot, when you put your baby down, their fight or flight instincts are triggered and they wake.

You represent safety and protection, so any separation from you, to your baby, threatens their survival.

This is normal, instinctual behaviour that occurs as your baby transitions to life outside the womb. Imagine what a change that must be. It defiantly can help us understand why physical contact is reassuring and helpful.

This often comes as a total surprise to new families and really challenge their expectations around parenting.

For more information on this look up the fourth trimester.

In the meantime cuddle your baby, and keep them close. Looking up safe sleep guidelines can also be a game changer to maximise test and sleep as you too adjust to your new world.

How did you hear about the 4th trimester?

24/09/2025

It can take time to get to know your new baby.

There’s so much to learn about them:

-Their cues

-Their different cries

-How they like to be held

-The times of the day they find more tricky

-How they like to fall asleep, and more…

And this is true whether it’s your first baby or your fifth! Your baby has a whole new personality to get to know, as you build your relationship together.

It takes time and it’s a process and it probably won’t happen instantly so be kind and gentle with yourself as you adjust to parenthood.

And as always, give me a shout if I can help!

24/09/2025

The chin guides the latch.

Having an anchor point with their chin to your breast will help your baby navigate their way to an effective latch.

This video is a helpful visual that shows the moment the baby gets that chin connection, and in the next beat they’re latched on and drinking.

Need a hand? Please get in touch.

24/09/2025

Your baby uses their hands to seek out the breast for feeding, and they need their hands to feel your body and get their stability in order to latch and feed.

Their hands are like their GPS system!

Covering their hands (with mits, a sleep suit or a swaddle etc) may make them feel disoriented and mean feeds can be more difficult.

Instead, try holding your baby close to your body, minimising any gaps between you, so that they feel safe, stable, and able to latch. Their feeding reflexes are stimulated and calm feeds are more likely.

23/09/2025

The second night with your new baby can be an unsettling for new parents.

It’s not uncommon for babies to very sleepy and sedate in the first 24 hours after birth with you having to remind them to eat frequently.

As the hours pass your baby becomes aware that they’re not in the womb any more. They start to wake up a little. The world seems big and loud and bright and unfamiliar. They just want to be in your arms. It can lead to a restless, sleepless night.

This can often coincide with getting home if you’ve given birth somewhere else, and it can be very disconcerting after a calm first night.

It’s all very normal. ❤️

Keep your baby close, offer your breast frequently. Being on your skin and close to your heart will be comfortingly familiar to your baby. Your body is their home and they know they’re safe there.

How was your experience of the second night?

23/09/2025

They’re marketed as conforming to NHS guidelines but are they actually safe?

Words taken from First Steps Nutrition:

“Rapid cooling devices are designed to cool freshly prepared infant formula to a temperature suitable for feeding in minutes. They rapidly cool infant formula made with water at a temperature >70⁰C  to a temperature suitable for infant feeding.

The volume of hot water used to reconstitute the powdered infant formula at the standard rate of 30ml to 1 scoop of powder is sufficient to ensure that all of the powder comes into contact with the hot water, thus ensuring that any potential pathogens are eradicated. 

Using water at a temperature of around 100⁰C is acceptable from the perspective of killing bacteria in the powdered formula, although it will also kill probiotic bacteria in formula containing these as an added ingredient. It may also modify some proteins which may have an impact on how the infant formula tastes. Probiotics have no proven benefits for infants when added to infant formula and the priority when reconstituting powdered infant formula should always be optimising microbiological safety rather than maintaining any live bacteria.

Caution is always required when using boiling water, particularly where bottles or flasks are narrow at the top to avoid any risk of scalding.

One concern with rapid cooling devices is that they add an extra step/steps in the form of containers to the preparation process which represents an additional risk of microbial contamination.

It is also unclear how practical these products actually are when feeding a baby on demand as the FAQs on the manufacturer’s websites state that the products require 3 hours to cool down between feeds and many young infants will demand a feed more frequently than this, making it necessary to buy multiple products should a parent/carer want to use the product for every feed.  

Given the lack of publicly available evidence that this product is safe, we continue to recommend that powdered infant milk is made up according to NHS guidance.’

What’s your experience?

22/09/2025

How effective are online consults at helping with breastfeeding issues?

Pretty, blooming effective!!

Online consults can be an efficient and economical way to get the support you need to help with feeding your baby; from positioning and attachment help, to making a plan for helping with weight gain, and everything in between too, an online consult can be a fabulous option.

And you can see from my face in this screenshot of a recent call, just how invested and committed I am in wanting to help!

Please get in touch if you’d like to book in an online consult. It costs £60 for an hour’s call and includes 2 weeks WhatsApp follow up too.

21/09/2025

This coming week…

🌟 Tuesday 10-12, Whitstable Play Cafe

🌟 Wednesday 10-12, The Old Gate Inn, Canterbury

🌟Thursday 10-12, The Alex, Faversham

£15 for first visit, £10 for returning families or existing clients. Includes a hot drink.

All welcome, with babies of any ages. Please feel free to bring partners/friends/supporters/older children too. Scales available for baby weighing.

Please book in to any of the sessions on 07732090102.

The sessions are drop ins, and very informal, but where possible please arrive earlier into the session if possible so we can ensure you get the support you need.

Payment via bank transfer please.

21/09/2025

📣 Some kind words 📣

Can I help your baby and you with feeding?

Please get in touch!

Support from just £15.

21/09/2025

20/09/2025

What was your experience? Do you think your baby liked the taste of garlic?

https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1973.full?fbclid=IwVERDUAM7z6RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuC6SQk3CKu_aA0vDnZ25K2D6Ri4YcZNCwXd-YKYPAOEwaQqq1LmGe1_dr2l_aem_8n99wF5KsCoC7UUrxB25eQ