OSHC Educators

Breastfeeding

World Breastfeeding Week 2021 art competition postponed until 2022

Due to COVID restrictions being in place on the Central Coast since June and for the duration of the art competition’s planned promotion period, the competition has unfortunately had to be postponed until next year. New entry forms and dates will be promoted in early 2022. We look forward to seeing all the creative breastfeeding-related artworks in the new year.

Below you can view the virtual gallery presentation of the selected entries from 2020 competition, complete with comments from the artists and judges.

Why breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is important for mother and baby health. Any amount of breast milk offered to your baby is good.

In Australia, it is recommended that infants are exclusively* breastfed until around six months of age when solid foods are introduced, and that breastfeeding is continued until 12 months of age and beyond, for as long as the mother and child desire.¹

*Infant receives only breast milk. No other liquids or solids are given, not even water, with the exception of oral rehydration solution, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines.

Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses. Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that infants need for around the first six months of life. From six to 12 months breastmilk continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs and up to one third of a child’s nutritional needs between 12 months and two years.

Breastfed children are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Need help with breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is a learned skill, which needs practice. The more you feed your baby, the easier it will get. More information and support is available from the following:

Breastfeeding Education Live – online sessions

Interactive breastfeeding education webinar sessions for expectant parents. Learn and practice how breastfeeding works. Click here for more information

CCLHD breastfeeding support clinics

These breastfeeding support sessions for Central Coast residents are run by child and family health nurses to support, protect and promote breastfeeding. Click here for community health centre locations and times.

Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)

Call the Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268. This helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and staffed by trained, volunteer counsellors.

The ABA website provides a range of resources to support, educate and advocate for a breastfeeding inclusive society. You can hire a breast pump through ABA.

The mum2mum app provides breastfeeding information and support based on your baby or child’s age.

Raising Children Network

An Australian parenting website that provides articles, videos and interactive resources tailored to different ages and stages. Breastfeeding information can be found in the ‘newborn’ and ‘babies’ tabs.

MotherSafe

For women and healthcare providers concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. more information, click here or call 1800 647 848.

Other support for breastfeeding

Five ways family and friends can support a mother to breastfeed

Offer encouragement.
Help with the baby between feeds, and older children in the family, to allow the mother to rest or nap.
Make nutritious meals and snacks to help increase her energy.
Help with cleaning and other jobs around the house to decrease these responsibilities.
Find breastfeeding friendly meeting places.

Dads can sign up to SMS4dads and receive free text messages sent straight to their phone containing tips, information and links to other services to help fathers understand and connect with their baby and support their partner.

Grandparents play an important part in the encouragement and support of breastfeeding. More information for grandparents can be found here.

There are no benefits to starting solid foods before around six months. Starting too early can contribute to a decrease in breast milk production. Starting Family Foods provides current advice on introducing your baby to solid foods.

Support for breastfeeding in public

Look for the ‘We Are Breastfeeding Friendly’ sticker in Central Coast businesses and facilities that are supportive of mothers’ breastfeeding on their premises. There are more than 300 on the Central Coast helping to promote a positive attitude towards breastfeeding in the community.

If you have a business or know of a business that is breastfeeding friendly and would like to participate, contact Nutrition Services, Central Coast Local Health District for free breastfeeding friendly stickers and kit. Call 4320 2251.

References

¹National health and Medical Research Council 2012, Infant Feeding Guidelines, Canberra. National Health and Medical Research Council.

Central Coast Munch & Move newsletters

By Health Promotion

Our Central Coast Munch & Move newsletters are loaded with valuable healthy development information and resources for educators in early childhood education and care services.

To find out more about the Munch & Move program, which promotes a fun and play-based approach to supporting healthy eating and physical activity habits in young children, click here.

Current Central Coast Munch & Move newsletter

Check out the latest edition of the Central Coast Munch & Move newsletter, which includes upcoming professional development, new resources and programs.

Term 3 2021

Previous editions

Read our previous Central Coast Munch & Move newsletters for loads more useful material for your early childhood service.

Good Bite fact sheets

You might also be interested in our Good Bite fact sheets from the Central Coast Public Health and Community Nutrition team. They contain recipes and advice for parents and carers of children ages 0–5 years old. There’s also a dedicated version for childcare staff as well. Download the latest editions below.

Good Bite at home

Good Bite for childcare staff

Infographics

By Health Promotion

We have a library of infographics available for download to use in newsletters or social media. Topics include healthy eating, being active, choosing water and screen time. A small selection of infographics are included below. To download just click on the image and then right click and choose ‘save as’.

Meal times - involve kids in the shopping — Infographics

Meal time - involve kids with cooking — Lunch box builder

If you would like to request other infographics please ring our team on 4320 9700 and ask for Jane, Justine, Chad or Jeff who will tailor a set for your needs or complete form below.

Read More

Munch & Move Workshops

By Health Promotion

Munch & Move offers training and resources to educators working in NSW early childhood education and care services. The training aims to assist educators to implement a fun, play-based approach to supporting healthy eating and physical activity habits in young children.

If you have a question or would like information on the next workshop contact Jeff on 4320 9765 or send in form below.

Jack’s FUNtastic Day

By Health Promotion

Jack’s FUNtastic Day is a storybook about a boy named Jack who leaves his screen behind for a day to embark on a fun-finding expedition. Along the way he meets Ruby and together they discover that fun and games can be found just about anywhere.

Central Coast author Angela Barrett and illustrator Kim Fleming have created an enjoyable storybook to motivate and involve children in the 3 to 6 year age group.

Read Jack’s FUNtastic Day

“Little Jack Quick has fun using his screen but when he trips and takes a tumble, he discovers there’s a lot more fun to be found… just about everywhere!”

Click on the image to the left to read the story.

Resources

Download the resource books below to promote active play and reduced screen time, along with activity cards to play some of the games and activities that Jack and Ruby play in the story.

Pre-school

Primary school

Activity cards

Watch Jack’s FUNtastic Day

You can now watch a reading of Jack’s FUNtastic Day that brings the book to life through fun, animated storytelling!

Make Their Meals Count

By Health Promotion

Make Their Meals Count is a pictorial resource for families of children aged 4–8 years.

Using photos of meals and snacks, it shows how to feed a child over the day using healthy foods. The photographs are a guide to the type of food you can serve and how much. The food and meals can be eaten by the whole family.

Meals and snacks were planned by Central Coast Local Health District dietitians to meet the nutrient needs of a 4–8-year-old child, based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Sample meals over four days have been provided.

Click on the picture to download an A3 poster or here for A4 print version.

Top tips to make their meals count

When you’re preparing these meals at home, remember, it’s good to involve children – whether it’s washing veggies, chopping where age appropriate, or setting the table.
Try to eat meals together as a family at the table, not in front of the TV or other screens.
If you don’t have or like some vegetables, no worries, you can swap them for ones you do.
Choose reduced salt or no added salt varieties of things like tomato paste, BBQ sauce and canned vegetables, where possible.
Choose reduced fat varieties of dairy products (milks, cheeses and yoghurts) for children over two years of age.
Choose wholegrain or wholemeal varieties of breads, rice and pasta, where possible.
Tap water and reduced fat milk are the recommended drinks for children to accompany the meals.

NEW Make Their Meals Count recipe videos

We’ve developed a series of recipe videos based on Make Their Meals Count to further support you in feeding your child.

The recipes are basic healthy everyday meals suitable for children aged 4–8 years, and are easy to make with ingredients that are inexpensive and readily available.

Watch the videos below and download the recipes and methods.

Introduction to feeding your child | Make Their Meals Count

Getting reading to cook | Make Their Meals Count

Honey soy chicken stir fry | Make Their Meals Count

Fish cakes with charred corn & zucchini salad | Make Their Meals Count

Homemade pizza with grape salad | Make Their Meals Count

Salmon pasta salad | Make Their Meals Count

Spaghetti bolognaise | Make Their Meals Count

Pumpkin, pea & mushroom frittata | Make Their Meals Count

Tell us what you think of these videos here!

Breastfeeding

World Breastfeeding Week 2021 art competition postponed until 2022

Why breastfeed?