Keeping you and your baby healthy

It's important to look after yourself as well as your new baby and don't be afraid to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Being a new parent can be daunting, its normal to feel a mix of emotions. Giving birth also affects your physical health and recovery will take time. In this section you can find more information on keeping you and your baby healthy during the first year.

Keeping fit and well

Getting through those early weeks and months can be tough with a new baby. Even as your child gets older you'll probably find you have less time to prioritise your own needs - a healthy diet, exercise and sleep can all get disrupted. If you can, talk to your partner about ways you can both have some time and space as well as enjoy quality time together. Keeping yourself fit and well is important for your family - you can't pour from an empty cup.

Take your baby out for a walk or head to the park, you'll both enjoy it. Catch up on sleep when you can. Accept help from your family and friends - taking a break occasionally or getting support with chores will give you more time and energy to dedicate to bonding with your baby. Having a baby means facing new challenges and you might feel like you could be doing a better job. Be kind to yourself - you'll get more confident each day. Keep talking to your partner and share that emotional load - you're both adjusting to being parents and supporting each other through that will help your relationship flex and stay strong.

Your pelvic health

Your pelvic floor muscles are put under more strain during pregnancy. Kent WEPP is a free, NHS-backed programme with safe exercise videos, pelvic health guidance, and wellbeing support — designed specifically for pregnancy and the postnatal period. Created for all fitness levels, including complete beginners.

Healthy lifestyle

Eating well is one of the best ways to reach a healthy weight and feel better about life. Check out One You Kent's exclusive 'Food Smart' film series for some great healthy eating ideas, top tips and advice on food labelling, cooking on a budget, snacking well and watching your sugar intake. We recommend all women who are breastfeeding take a vitamin D supplement to stay healthy as well. You can get vitamin D drops from your local pharmacy.

Small changes can make a big difference and One You Kent advisors can support you to make the changes that will work for you. So whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight or just generally feel better about life, One You Kent lifestyle advisers can help.

Keeping active

Being active is good for your mind and body. Every minute of activity counts and the more you do, the more you'll benefit, physically and mentally. Try to build activity into your daily life. Start gently and build up gradually with smaller goals to keep you motivated. Try a walk - it will boost your energy, lift your mood and make everyday activities easier. Get a friend to join you and you will improve your emotional wellbeing at the same time. Once you start achieving things you will want to do more. Reward yourself for reaching your goal. Think of exercise as time to focus on you and the chance to try something new. Change 4 Life also has lots of advice, recipes and tips to eat well, move more and live longer, including games, information and ideas to be a healthier family.

Smoking

If you smoke, now is a great time to try to quit. Smoke irritates your child’s airways and may cause breathing problems as well as chest and ear infections. Sadly it also increases the risk of sudden infant death (SIDs).

Quitting will also save you money and help you feel healthier and reduce stress levels. For free stop smoking support, including nicotine replacement treatment and weekly sessions where you can talk about your quit journey with someone who can help you get through any tough times contact One You Kent.

Drugs and alcohol

Sexual health

Keeping your baby healthy

Keeping baby healthy You can find some top tips below, but check out our feeding and caring for your baby sections for more information.

Supplements

The government recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day.

Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements. This is because formula is fortified with vitamins A, C and D and other nutrients.

Babies who are being breastfed should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.

Healthy Start

Dental health

Most babies start teething around six months. The NHS provides tips for helping your teething baby and looking after your baby's teeth. Your child is entitled to free dental NHS treatment up to the age of 19 and babies should be taken to the dentist before their first birthday. Ring 0300 123 4412 to find your nearest NHS dentist.

Regular tooth brushing is an important habit to continue - tooth decay is one of the biggest causes of hospital admission in the under-fives. Continue helping your child to brush their teeth until you are sure they can do it well enough themselves. They need to brush their teeth twice a day including once before bed and one other time in the day using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Immunisations

One of the best ways to protect your baby against diseases like measles, rubella, tetanus and meningitis is through immunisation. The routine vaccinations at two, four, six, 12 and 13 months of age protect your child against serious diseases that can cause them harm. Start4Life has a full list of the all the vaccinations you baby is entitled to and the diseases they will be protected against.

Children have their first MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunisation at age one. The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine that protects against three serious illnesses: measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) Getting vaccinated is important, as these conditions can lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.

Premature babies are immunised at the same times as babies born at term and not at their corrected age. First immunisations are offered in the Neonatal unit if a baby is there at eight weeks.

The BCG vaccine is recommended for those babies and children at an increased risk of coming into contact with Tuberculosis (TB). It is only given once in a lifetime and rarely given to adults. Talk to your health visitor of GP for more information.

Page last reviewed: 01/01/2025, next review due: 01/01/2028

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