How do I work out my due date?
Most due dates are estimated as 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of your last period. Your dating scan may adjust it.
Parenting questions, answered simply
Quick answers to the questions parents ask most, each with a link to the full guide or tool.
Pregnancy
When should I go to hospital with contractions?
Many maternity teams use the 5-1-1 guide: contractions about 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour. Always follow your own midwife's instructions.
When is my most fertile time?
Ovulation usually happens about 14 days before your next period, and the fertile window is the few days before and including ovulation.
Baby feeding & sleep
How much milk does a newborn need?
A common guide is about 150 ml per kg of body weight per day for babies under six months, split across feeds. Follow your baby's cues and your health visitor's advice.
How can I tell if my baby is growing well?
Steady growth along their own curve on a growth chart matters more than any single number. Your doctor or health visitor checks this at routine visits.
How much sleep does my child need?
Needs change with age: newborns sleep most of the day, while toddlers usually need 11–14 hours including naps. A calm, regular bedtime routine helps at every age.
Baby names
How do I choose a baby name from both parents' names?
Look for names that share letters, sounds or initials with both parents, then check the meaning and how it sounds with your surname.
How do I pick a name that suits an older sibling's name?
Siblings' names often sit well together when they share a similar style, origin or rhythm without rhyming or starting with the same letter.
Where can I find Indian baby names with meanings?
Our Indian and Sanskrit name lists include meanings, pronunciation and naming traditions such as choosing a first syllable linked to the birth star.
First aid & safety
What should I do if my child has a minor burn?
Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes and cover it loosely. Seek medical help for large, deep or facial burns.
How do I stop a toddler's nosebleed?
Sit your child up, lean them slightly forward and pinch the soft part of the nose for 10–15 minutes. Get help if bleeding doesn't stop or follows a hard knock.
When should I worry about my child's fever?
Get urgent help for a baby under 3 months with a fever, or any child who is floppy, hard to wake, has a rash that doesn't fade or struggles to breathe.
When is a bumped head serious in a toddler?
Watch closely for 24 hours. Seek help for vomiting, unusual sleepiness, confusion, a seizure or any loss of consciousness.
What should I do if my child is choking?
If they can cough, encourage coughing. If they can't breathe, cough or cry, give back blows and call emergency services straight away.
How do I treat a bee sting on a child?
Scrape the sting out sideways, wash the area and use a cold compress. Call emergency services for swelling of the face or mouth or any trouble breathing.
General information only, not medical advice. If you're worried about your child, contact your doctor, or your local emergency number in an emergency.