Real advice. Every stage.

The Crib

Practical baby care guides for UK parents. Explore teething, sleep, weaning and developmental milestones, with clear explanations and links to trusted sources to help you through the early years.

A heartwarming image of a mother and baby sharing a joyful, affectionate moment indoors.
  • by Infatot

Sleeping at Grandma's over Christmas: setting up a travel cot safely

Where to put the travel cot, what goes in it, how warm the room should be and how to keep bedtime familiar when you stay with family this Christmas.

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Baby in a grey patterned hat holding a blue and yellow rattle, sitting in a green pushchair beside white flowers.
  • by Infatot

Teether on the floor again: what to do when you're out with the pram

Swap a dropped teether for a clean spare and wash it at home. Never use cords round the neck, and pack the changing bag to cut down on drops.

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Baby in white long sleeve shirt sitting on white high chair
  • by Infatot

Gagging or choking when your baby starts solids

Gagging is loud and normal while your baby learns to eat. Choking is quiet. How to tell them apart, what to do, and how to cut food from around 6 months.

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Tender close-up of a newborn baby lying on a caregiver's lap, showcasing serene innocence.
  • by Infatot

How to play with a 3-month-old when they're awake and alert

Short play ideas for an alert 3-month-old: face time, songs, sound, texture, reaching and supervised floor play, and how to tell they've had enough.

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A baby is playing with toys on the floor
  • by Infatot

Fine motor play for a baby who has just learned to sit

Simple ways to help a newly sitting baby reach, grab, bang and stack, what to expect from 6 to 12 months, and how to set up safe play.

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A baby with a toothbrush in its mouth
  • by Infatot

How many teethers does a baby actually need?

Two or three teethers in different textures is usually enough: one in use, one clean in the fridge and one in the changing bag.

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Father and baby enjoying a playful mealtime together at home.
  • by Infatot

How much should a baby eat at 6 months? Portion sizes for the first weeks of solids

A first portion of solids at 6 months is a few teaspoons or pieces, once a day. How to build it up and tell when your baby has had enough.

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Grayscale photo of baby with white bib
  • by Infatot

Why different teether textures matter for your baby's mouth and first foods

Teether textures give sore gums a choice of surfaces to bite. Food texture skills come from offering lumpier foods from around 6 months.

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A mother lovingly feeds her baby in a warm and cozy home kitchen setting.
  • by Infatot

How to keep a baby entertained in the highchair before they can eat

Strap them in, face them towards the family, clear the tray and give one baby-safe toy at a time so you can eat while your baby watches and plays.

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Cute baby reaching for a red toy car on a wooden shelf filled with books and decor.
  • by Infatot

Why babies grab everything, including the TV remote, and what to give them instead

From around three months, babies grab and mouth objects to explore them; the remote is a magnet, and safe alternatives satisfy the same urge.

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Mother holding baby while toasting with a champagne glass in cozy festive setting.
  • by Infatot

Christmas food in pregnancy: what's fine on the festive table and what to skip

Cheeseboard, pâté, smoked salmon, eggnog and mulled wine: what is safe on the Christmas table in pregnancy and what to swap, following NHS guidance.

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Woman in gray and white striped long sleeve shirt carrying baby in gray and white stripe
  • by Infatot

Molars at 12 to 18 months: helping a toddler with back-teeth teething

First molars usually arrive at around 12 months and second molars at 24. Signs, safe teethers, NHS painkiller doses by age and when to see a GP or dentist.

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A mother feeding her baby boy a bottle while sitting indoors, capturing a tender moment.
  • by Infatot

Sickness bug in babies and toddlers: spotting dehydration early

Watch wet nappies, tears and the soft spot. Call 111 if a child under 5 shows signs of dehydration, or 999 if they're hard to wake, pale or breathing fast.

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A cute baby in a stroller holding a knitted teddy bear inside a cozy indoor setting.
  • by Infatot

Pram, pushchair or travel system: which to buy in the Black Friday sales

What a newborn needs from a pram, pushchair or travel system, car seat sleep safety, fold size and how to price the full bundle before Black Friday.

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A baby in red pyjamas and a 'My very First Christmas' Santa hat lies on a white blanket by a lit Christmas tree.
  • by Infatot

Christmas visitors and a newborn: cold sores, kisses and coughs

Who can kiss a newborn, how to handle cold sores and coughs at Christmas, polite ways to set limits, and the signs that mean call 999 or 111.

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