If You Need Help With Baby
Your Child and Family Health Nurse is usually your first port of call for parenting issues (feeding, settling and sleeping), but make sure you also establish contact with a family doctor to visit when your baby is unwell. Either of these can refer you to other parenting services, such as a day stay or residential family care facility. Your doctor can also refer you to a specialist if necessary. You can also refer to the list of support services in your Child’s Personal Health Record.
Keep a list of emergency numbers in your phone. After hours, call a parenting or 24 hour telephone support line.
When to seek help
- If your baby doesn’t sleep well during the day and is always difficult to settle.
- If your baby is feeding all the time, or for long periods, and never seems satisfied.
- If you feel continually stressed, anxious, depressed, or have thoughts about harming your baby or yourself.
Keep a list of emergency numbers in your phone. After hours, call a parenting or 24 hour telephone support line. If you ever have thoughts about harming your baby or yourself, call the mental health crisis line in your state, a 24 hour crisis line or the emergency line 000 (see ‘Where to go for help,’ at the end of this book).
