Dr Graham Jones

21/10/2025

Join the Healthy Lunchbox Challenge!

Please share pictures of your lunchboxes with us!

We are not looking for Pinterest and Instagram perfect pics – just real examples of what you put in your lunchbox! We want to share them as real-life inspiration for parents and caregivers!

Post your pic in the comments

Here are some tips on healthy lunchboxes:
- Kids love Choice and Fun Presentation!
- Super Sandwich: Stack a whole grain, fruit and veg and a lean protein together into a portable meal
- Super Snack: A gap-filler between meals, not a whole meal in itself – so keep snacks small. Add a protein to the snack to keep full between meals
- Water Bottle: Pack only water, no sugary drinks!

More ideas:
Packing a Healthy Lunchbox • The Nutrition Source
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/kids-healthy-lunchbox-guide/

15/10/2025

09/10/2025

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰?

𝐈𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝟏𝟎 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐢𝐭!

Children, especially toddlers, often go through a “picky eater” stage!

Here are some tips to help children with healthy eating and good food habits:

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬:
- Offer a variety from different food groups with each meal
- Let the child choose between 2 different fruits or vegetables for a meal

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
- Use eye-catching and creative colours and shapes – e.g. “eat a rainbow”
- Try dips, kebabs and finger foods for fun
- Use the “Kids Healthy Eating plate” as a visual reminder (See link below)

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠:
- Kids can help to wash fruit and veg. Older children can learn how to use utensils with softer foods
- Let them choose their favourite fruit or veg when shopping

𝗪𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫:
- Offer water regularly
- Try “flavouring” your own water with fruit or add some bubbles for fun!

𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:
- A Multivitamin and Omega-3 supplement can fill any nutritional gaps

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘴’ 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩, 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯.

KidsHealthyEatingPlate_Guide_Jan2016_low.pdf

https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/KidsHealthyEatingPlate_Guide_Jan2016_low.pdf

30/09/2025

We wish our dearest Dr Jones a very happy birthday today! Thank you for the dedication and care you give to your beloved patients and their families !

17/09/2025

Measles Outbreak Update
Did you know? South Africa is currently experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak? 🦠

* Measles is highly infectious!🤧
Infection can spread by droplets during coughing & sneezing and by particles suspended in the air in a closed space.
* Children

10/09/2025

Nature is a Therapeutic Space! 🌱
Research shows that a more natural environment can enhance the therapeutic process for hospitalised children and youth. 🪴
The Garden at SPOT is very much part of the therapeutic team! 🌳
Please feel free to spend time in the lovely outdoors when visiting us! 🌿

https://research.childrenandnature.org/research/natural-surroundings-and-biophilic-design-may-enhance-therapeutic-work-with-children-and-youth/?h=Y8xxrm2F

10/09/2025

01/09/2025

Happy Spring to you!! 🦄 ☀️

The sun is shining and the birds are singing- Spring has officially sprung! 🐥Unfortunately, the pretty flowers and blossoming gardens come hand in hand with allergies for some of our patients (and their parents!)
🌻🌷🌹🌼🪻🌺🌼

If you notice persistent coughing, congestion or sneezing in your little one, it may be due to an allergy. Proper treatment can make springtime much more manageable- so please visit your paediatrician if you are concerned.🌿

For those kiddies who are already on chronic treatment, please remain diligent so that they can enjoy their fun in the sun without any distractions☀️

Happy Spring Day!!!

Instagram link:

🦄

18/08/2025

Wishing Amanda, our lovely receptionist,
as very happy and special day! 🎈

06/08/2025

🤱 Breastfeeding takes a village. This is especially true in the NICU.

Finding ways to bond amid busy NICU schedules.

Coping with the emotional stress of watching your baby undergo medical procedures.

Expressing milk with a pump while your baby still needs tube feedings.

💜 Breastfeeding a preterm, small, or sick baby is a real journey, and no mother should have to walk it alone.

A strong support system can make all the difference for NICU moms.

So, let’s build a of support for her and her baby:

💞 Partners:
✓ Share the mental and emotional load.
✓ Wash the breast pump parts and help her track feedings.
✓ Make sure she gets some sleep.
✓ Snuggle your baby while she rests.
✓ Bring her nourishing food and drinks.
✓ Hold her hand, and be her loudest cheerleader when she’s feeling doubtful.
✓ Just be there. ❤️

👵 Family & friends
✓ Step in with practical help: cook, clean, and care for older siblings.
✓ Offer calm presence and gentle words.
✓ Respect the mother’s feeding choices.
✓ Encourage her with kindness and trust.

🏥 Hospitals & NICUs
You play a vital role in giving babies and their families the best possible start.
Providing baby-friendly, , including…
✓ Promoting early skin-to-skin contact
✓ Encouraging 24/7 parental presence in the NICU
✓ Supporting the early use of colostrum
… helps families feel supported and empowered.
Offering private pumping spaces, lactation support, and access to donor milk can also make a big difference.

👩‍⚕️Healthcare professionals & lactation consultants
Your respectful, evidence-based guidance is invaluable. You make breastfeeding more possible in the NICU by:
✓ Helping mothers initiate milk expression early.
✓ Assisting with pumping, latching, and different feeding methods.
✓ Providing compassionate emotional support.
Tailoring your guidance to each baby’s medical needs and developmental stage ensures that every family feels seen, respected, and cared for.

🤱 Peer support groups
✓ Share your story and coping strategies.
✓ Normalize feelings of guilt, grief, and exhaustion.
✓ Create a space of confidence and connection that extends beyond the hospital.

✨ YOU can make a difference! 🌈
Every act of kindness and support matters, as does every drop of breast milk. 🤍

💬 Who helped you through your NICU feeding journey? Tell us in the comments and tag them, if you like.

05/08/2025

World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August

Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy! As a team, we are committed to being part of a “Warm Chain” of support for breastfeeding parents.

We work as a multidisciplinary team to assist you in the journey.

Please join our partner, Wanzel Bruwer from Blooming!bumpsbabiesbodies, a registered dietician and certified lactation consultant for a FREE ONLINE (Instagram) Q&A on Thursday, 7th August 10:00-10:30.

Blooming (.bumps.babies.bodies) • Instagram photos and videos

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04/08/2025

What is Oropharyngeal Administration of Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk that is available straight after birth. This special milk is extremely beneficial for babies.

Oropharyngeal Administration of Colostrum is the application of small amounts of breastmilk to preterm babies, in the NICU, who are too young to suck from a breast. In our unit, we assist our mums to harvest their colostrum after delivery and teach them how to administer it to their babies in the NICU in this very special way.

It has been shown that oropharyngeal administration of colostrum can reduce the rate of common complications in preterm infants, such as gastro-intestinal complication (NEC), late onset sepsis, and ventilator associated pneumonia in preterm infants, shortening the time to reach full feeds, and duration of hospital stay, and increasing the rate of weight gain.

For more information about breastfeeding or any of the points made by my team, please feel free to reach out to us!

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https://www.instagram.com/blooming.bumps.babies.bodies/?igsh=MTRtbjE0c3JiM3JvcA%3D%3D



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