SidebySide

🚭Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body!

🚭Tobacco in all its forms, including s***f, hubbly bubbly and electronic ci******es, is harmful to your health, especially for pregnant mothers and children.

🚭Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers; that is why, when you find out you are pregnant, you have to quit smoking immediately.

🚭In our spaces, we also have to be mindful and not expose small babies and children to secondary smoke, as this can harm their developing bodies and brains.

Remember, if you struggle with quitting smoking, you can get help.

Get in touch with The Department of Social Developments Sustance Abuse 24-hour helpline, reach out to them on this number: 📞0800 12 13 14 or send them an SMS on 32312.
National Department of Health (South Africa) Department of Social Development

🎶 Sing, Bond, and Build Your Baby’s Brain (0–6 months)

Did you know that simple moments like nappy changes or breastfeeding are perfect times to bond with your baby and build their early communication and listening skills?

💛 Try singing a rhyme like “The Wheels on the Bus”

🎵 The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All day long…
✨ You can keep it fun by adding verses:
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
The babies on the bus go waa, waa, waa

💬 Sing, smile, and enjoy the moment; your baby is listening and learning from you.

A tip: If your little one has hearing problems, make sure they can see your face as you sing, especially if they are deaf.

What's your favourite indigenous rhyme you like to sing with your little one? Please let us know; you could be helping another caregiver.

Department of Basic Education

🎧 Catch up on Side by Side Season 4 while we wait for Season 5!

Parents and caregivers, if you missed Season 4, now is the perfect time to listen. The Side-by-Side radio programmes offer trusted guidance and practical tips on pregnancy, parenting, child health, nutrition, breastfeeding, play, and early childhood development — supporting you every step of the way.

Each episode is filled with useful, easy-to-understand information to help you give your child the best start in life.

🎙️ Listen here: https://omny.fm/shows/side-by-side-season-4

📱 You can also scan the QR code in the image to access the programmes and share them with others.

SABC Education

👶🏻Colostrum is the first drop of milk that a newborn baby gets when breastfeeding for the first time ever.

Remember, only about a teaspoon (5ml) is enough to keep them full for about 1 to 3 hours in the first few days, as they feed frequently to stimulate milk production.

⚡Tip: A newborn’s stomach is about the size of a marble or hazelnut on day one, holding only 1–2 teaspoons, making small, frequent feeds ideal.

🤱🏾Breastmilk contains all the nutrients a baby needs. It is:

-Easy to digest.
-It has antibodies.
-It quenches their thirst, so water or tea is not needed for babies aged 0- 6 months.
-It makes the baby full, so there’s no need to feed porridge or other solid food before they turn 6 months.

💡Remember, it is important to burp your little one after breastfeeding. If babies are not burped, they can easily be uncomfortable and end up crying nonstop.

📘If you need help with breastfeeding tips, how to help your baby latch or suckle, please read page 6 of your Road to Health Booklet. You can also ask a nurse at your next checkup if you're worried about your baby not getting enough breast milk.

National Department of Health (South Africa)

Read more:https://sidebyside.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/076-2020-Breastfeeding-QA-Booklet-FA.pdf
https://www.health.gov.za/momconnect/

📱 Parents & Caregivers, we want to hear from you! 💙

What kind of content would you like to see more of on our TikTok page? 👶🏽✨

Would you enjoy:

• Parenting tips
• Pregnancy advice
• Baby care hacks
• Child nutrition content
• Development milestones
• Q&A sessions with experts
• Fun family activities
• Mental health and wellbeing support

Comment below and let us know what topics would help and support you most! 👇🏾

If you havent already you can follow our Tiktok page here: https://www.tiktok.com/

💙 Understanding Birth Defects and Disability

👶🏻Some birth defects may be visible at birth, while others may only become noticeable later as a child grows and develops.

🩼Birth defects can sometimes lead to physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, blindness, deafness, epilepsy, or developmental delays. While some children may be mildly affected, others may require ongoing medical care and support.

🚨Parents and caregivers, you play an important role in early detection and support. If your child is not growing, moving, hearing, seeing, speaking, or developing as expected, it is important to seek medical advice as early as possible.

It is also important to remember that not all children grow at the same rate. If your child has missed some developmental milestones, such as those on pages 22-24 of your Road to Health Booklet, you must note those delays and discuss them with the nurse at your next clinic visit. This will allow your little one to receive the help they need early on.

🔍Early screening, diagnosis, treatment, and therapy can help improve a child’s quality of life and reduce the risk of severe disability.

National Department of Health (South Africa)

🩺 Ask Dr Mommy is back! Do you have any parenting, pregnancy, baby, or family health questions you’d like answered? 💙

No question is too small — send us your concerns, dilemmas, or topics you would like more information on by commenting below or sending us a message in our inbox. 📩

🤱🏾 You can ask about:
• Pregnancy and antenatal care
• Breastfeeding and baby feeding
• Child nutrition and healthy eating
• Child development and milestones
• Vaccinations and child health
• Parenting challenges and caregiver support
• Vitamins and supplements
• General maternal and family wellbeing

👩🏾‍⚕️ Dr Mommy is here to support you on your parenting journey.

For additional parenting support, Side-by-Side and are always here to help. For more information, visit: https://www.health.gov.za/momconnect/ https://sidebyside.co.za/

National Department of Health (South Africa)

🙂It is not enough to take our little ones for immunisations once they are sick.

From birth until they reach school-going age, children need to receive their life-course immunisations.

This helps their little bodies fight off illnesses so they can grow strong and healthy.

Side by Side invites you to join us in fighting the spread of misinformation about vaccines.

⚠️Parents, there is enough evidence to prove that vaccines do not cause autism, seizures or other chronic illnesses. Please refrain from following websites, influencers, and sources that are not credible, and always fact-check your health information.

✅Even better, make sure you follow reputable health advisors such as the Side by Side and the National Department of Health’s social media platforms for accurate health information.

⛔Without immunisations, children are at a greater risk of contracting diseases. This year, let’s ensure that “Vaccinated communities, stay as healthy communities.”

https://www.health.gov.za/
https://sidebyside.co.za/

National Department of Health (South Africa) Department of Social Development SidebySide

💛 Here’s a list of simple ways to bond and build your baby’s communication as they grow, which are good for all babies, whether they have a disability or are typically developing.

Every moment you spend talking, singing, and engaging with your newborn helps strengthen your bond while building their early communication and listening skills.

👶 Talk during nappy changes
Face-to-face chats during nappy changes help your baby feel safe and connected, while learning to recognise your voice and expressions.

🎶 Sing while feeding
Singing softly during feeds creates a calming bonding moment and introduces your baby to the rhythm and sounds of language.

👨‍👩‍👧 Introduce baby to different voices
Hearing voices from loved ones helps your baby feel secure and supports early listening and social development.

🗣️ Chat throughout the day
Talking to your baby in a gentle, sing-song voice helps them tune into sounds, laying the foundation for future speech.

👀 Make eye contact and respond
When you respond to your baby’s coos and facial expressions, you are “having a conversation” — building trust, connection, and communication.

📖 Describe what you’re doing
Talking through everyday routines helps your baby begin to understand words and strengthens your emotional connection.

✨ These small, loving interactions help your baby feel secure, deepen your bond, and lay the foundation for language, listening, and learning.

National Department of Health (South Africa)