Infant Feeding
We are here to help and support you with your feeding journey, from antenatal to postnatal, we will support you and you baby through your feeding journey every step of the way.
Hartlepool Borough Council is a Baby Friendly Authority.
Building a strong relationship between you and your baby will give them the best possible start in life and help your child grow up confident and happy. Building a strong relationship with your baby starts in pregnancy and continues throughout your baby’s life.
Have a look at the excellent resources from UNICEF for more information.
Meet our infant feeding team
Did you know breastfeeding provides all of the nutrition your baby needs and boosts their ability to fight illness and infection? It helps build a strong bond between mother and baby, reduces a mothers risk of breast and ovarian cancers and more?
Our infant feeding team are here to help you through the entire process, with any issue no matter how mild or complex they can also facilitate 24/7 access to online breastfeeding peer support groups. They run weekly group sessions to keep you supported and guide you throughout your breastfeeding experience in whichever way you need.
Contact your Infant Feeding Team for advice on 01429 292444.
Pictured from left to right
Michelle Readhead
Specialist Nurse Infant Feeding and Healthy Weight
Melanie Calvert
Healthy Years Coordinator
Caroline Ord
Community Nursery Nurse
24/7 Support
The National Breast Feeding Helpline is open 24/7 every single day of the year if you need support out of our Family Hub hours or on weekends you can ring the helpline on 0300 100 0212.
The helpline offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent, evidence based breastfeeding support.
Our Family Hubs Infant Feeding Team also offer 24/7 access to breastfeeding peer support groups via WhatsApp. Get in touch with our Family Hubs or your health visitor to find out more.
Infant Feeding Team Support
Our infant Feeding Team are here to support you and your baby throughout their feeding journey, from antenatal to postnatal.
- We run antenatal information classes (pregnancy birth and beyond)
- We offer drop in breastfeeding support groups
- We offer infant feeding and introducing solid groups
- We can help with complex feeding issues
- We have partnered with NCT to offer virtual support sessions, click here to find out more.
- Offer one to one support
- Fun activities to catch up with peers and get professional support
Colostrum Harvesting
Colostrum is the first breast milk your body makes. It is the perfect source of nutrition for your baby because it:
- Contains antibodies which protect your baby from infection and helps their immune system to develop.
- Helps your baby’s digestive system to develop, which protects your baby from allergies.
- Encourages your baby to open their bowels and pass ‘meconium’ (your baby’s first black sticky poo) which reduces the risk of jaundice.
Colostrum is very concentrated. At birth, a baby’s stomach is about the size of a marble, so they will only need a small amount of colostrum to receive all the nutrients they need.
Weekly Sessions
The current breastfeeding group support sessions we run are all things baby and feeding, latch-on and introducing solids, find out when and where the next session will take place below.
- Every Monday
All Things Baby and Feeding
- Drop-in group. Support and advice around all methods of feeding - ran by infant feeding team.
- 1pm - 2.30pm
- Middleton Grange Family Hub
- Tuesday Monthly
Introducing Solids
- FREE Monthly Session. Introduce your baby to a range of solid foods and get tips, advice and guidance.
- Contact Family Hubs Admin for dates/times
- Miers Avenue Family Hub
- Tuesday Monthly
Introducing Solids
- Introduce your baby to a range of solid foods and get tips, advice and guidance. Choking and resus information given.
- Contact Family Hub Admin for dates/times
- Rossmere Family Hub
- Every Wednesday
Breast Feeding Workshop for Pregnant Mothers
- Bookable through Family Hubs.
- 5pm - 7pm
- Rossmere Family Hub
- Every Wednesday
Latch-On
- Drop-in group for breastfeeding support. Ran by the Infant Feeding Team.
- 1pm - 2.30pm
- Hindpool Family Hub
- Every Thursday
Latch-On
- Drop-in group for breastfeeding support. Ran by the infant feeding team.
- 9.30am - 11am
- Rossmere Family Hub
Weaning
Introducing your baby to solid food should start when your baby is around 6 months.
For the first six months babies only need breast milk (or infant formula milk). Before this your baby’s digestive system is still developing, introducing solid food too early increases the risk of allergies and infections.
Hartlepool Family Hubs Infant Feeding Team and health visiting service is here to help answer all your questions about weaning, our Infant Feeding Team run in Introducing Solids group session monthly, get in touch with our Family Hubs to find out when the next one will take place.
From six months you can introduce a cup, using an open cup or a free-flow lidded beaker without a valve helps your baby to learn to sip rather than suck making it better for their teeth.
Useful links
Drinks and cups for babies – NHS
First (solid) food weaning – NHS
Introducing Solid Foods – Introducing your baby to solid food booklet
Inspiration on healthy and tasty foods – NHS
Breastfeeding
The Health Visiting Service and Infant Feeding Team are there to support you and your family from the antenatal period, through to school age. As part of our service, we can support with all aspects of feeding, join one of our group support sessions, there’s something for everyone.
- Every Monday
All Things Baby and Feeding
- Drop-in group. Support and advice around all methods of feeding - ran by infant feeding team.
- 1pm - 2.30pm
- Middleton Grange Family Hub
- Tuesday Monthly
Introducing Solids
- FREE Monthly Session. Introduce your baby to a range of solid foods and get tips, advice and guidance.
- Contact Family Hubs Admin for dates/times
- Miers Avenue Family Hub
Register with us
Fill out the form below for updates on our in person and virtual classes and other types of support relevant to you! Please download and read the Consent Form before applying.
Register with us
Fill out the form below for updates on our in person and virtual classes and other types of support relevant to you! Please download and read the Consent Form before applying.
