Breast milk is best for your baby

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. After six months of age, infants should receive age appropriate foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

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Childhood Development

Milestones ahead

From the first moments after the birth of your child, you know your life will never be the same. Your child will change from week to week-even from day to day-as he begins to notice the world around him, and to interact with it. Get a head start, and know what to expect as your baby matures.

The Pre-School Years

Children between the ages of 4 and 6 are just beginning their school experience

During the transition from toddlers to childhood, there's lots of growth to look forward to, and lots of key milestones along the way. Make sure you have your camera ready, because they grow up fast.

By age 6, your child will most likely be able to:

  • Brush teeth by himself (supervision is still recommended)
  • Ride a tricycle
  • Button coat, zip pants, tie shoes and display other signs of increased motor skills
  • Show awareness of gender identity
  • Help to dress and undress himself
  • Recall part of a story and sing a song
  • Play with and want to please friends
  • Agree to rules
  • Show more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by himself
  • Increase vocabulary from 900 to about 2,500-3,000 words
  • Distinguish fantasy from reality
  • Count 10 or more objects
  • Correctly name at least four colors
  • Better understand the concept of time
  • Know about things used every day in the home (money, food, appliances)
  • Speak sentences of more than five words (using future tense)
  • Remember and say name and address
  • Hop, somersault, swing, climb, stand on one foot for 10 seconds or longer, possibly skip
  • Print some letters (encourage proper holding of pencil and downward strokes)
  • Use fork, spoon, and (sometimes) a table knife
  • May be losing baby teeth
  • Care for own toilet needs