Eastern Suburbs Child & Family Health

11/08/2026

We don’t know who needs to hear this today but its sons and daughters’ day! As if we need a better reason to celebrate them! Every child is important and deserves love and safety every day.

Today places a huge emphasis on love and support and recognizes the bond between caregivers and their children, as well as the qualities and contributions children make to their family unit and we know all families look a little bit different are unique and special in their own way!

Will you do something special today to celebrate?

Or maybe you can find the special moments worth celebrating in the simplest of days.

04/08/2026

How can you get involved in world breastfeeding week?

Share your brelfie! (Celebrate your achievements)

Share useful resources with mums to be or early postpartum mums.

Recommend infant feeding supports and services, like the Child and Family Health service and Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Take part in our clinic activity by adding a post-it to our “tree” in all our waiting rooms (all families welcome to participate).

04/08/2026

🖤💛❤️ National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day ❤️💛🖤
4th August 2026
This year's theme, "Living Our Truth," celebrates the voices, stories and strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. It reminds us that every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, strong, proud and connected to their culture, family and Country.
As parents and carers, we can help children learn about and celebrate the world's oldest continuing cultures by:
📚 Reading First Nations stories together
🎨 Exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and music
🗣️ Listening to and valuing children's voices
🌿 Learning about the Traditional Custodians of the land where you live
❤️ Attending a local Children's Day celebration
Together, we can celebrate the strength, pride and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children today and every day. 🖤💛❤️

03/08/2026

Why does world breastfeeding week matter?

Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of child survival, nutrition, and development. It provides essential nutrients, strengthens the immune system, and fosters a strong bond between mother and child.

For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain cancers and promotes postpartum recovery.

Despite these benefits, many mothers face challenges that hinder breastfeeding, such as lack of support, misinformation and societal pressures.

World Breastfeeding Week highlights these issues and promotes actions to overcome them, ensuring that every child has the best start in life.

If you need support with infant feeding, please call us on ☎️1300244288

02/08/2026

What is world breastfeeding week?

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an annual global campaign coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. Since its inception in 1991, WBW has aimed to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding worldwide.

01/08/2026

World BF Week is a week we celebrate every year.

This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: Strengthen what works?

WABA (World Alliance for BF action) recognises that protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding will ensure optimum nutrition, food security and poverty reduction. Breastfeeding saves both the infant and maternal lives. It also supports nutrition, development and lifelong health. Breastmilk is a low-cost, locally available nutrition for all, hence promoting equity with economic returns to families and nations. We are working with all countries to fully understand what is working in those countries that are reporting good breastfeeding progress. Currently the global exclusive breastfeeding rate has steadily increased to 48% in 2024, almost reaching the target of 50%.

We are also very aware and sensitive to the fact that not all families have breastfeeding as part of their infant feeding journey and that is in no way judged as we post about WBW. We value all parents and their parenting journeys.

What made BF sustainable to you? Or not?

30/07/2026

Whether you’re staying home or travelling to see friends and family overseas, getting vaccinated this winter is the best way to protect yourself from serious illnesses like COVID-19, influenza (flu) and RSV.

On our very first episode of Talk Health Across Cultures,
NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant and GP Dr Anju Aggarwal (who works very closely with multicultural communities) join our host, Deputy Director, NSW Multicultural Health Communications Service, Jesusa Helaratne to discuss vaccines.

Vaccines are one the most powerful tools in public health, protecting people from serious diseases, but some people are concerned about them and have questions.

How do they work? Should you be worried about side effects? Which vaccines do you need to have?

Find out by watching the full episode.

For more information visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunis...

To book in for your flu vaccine visit: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/austr...

To find out more about Talking Health Across Cultures visit: https://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/me...https://youtu.be/qXly_BQVCl8?si=9Bqe1vE0bdII6dog

Whether you’re staying home or travelling to see friends and family...

30/07/2026

What to know about hand, foot and mouth disease.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infection caused by a virus and usually lasts around a week.

It is a mild illness that rarely causes complications. In most cases, hand, foot and mouth disease will get better on its own. Antibiotics will not help, as they do not work on viruses.

The virus causes a rash with spots or blisters on the hands, feet and buttocks, along with mouth ulcers.

If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease, you need to care for them at home as the virus spreads easily from one person to another.

The most common symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are:
• a rash with spots or blisters on the hands, feet and buttocks
• blisters around the mouth and ulcers inside the mouth
• tiredness
• fever

How to care for hand, foot and mouth at home

• Encourage them to drink frequent sips of water or rehydration fluids like electrolytes to stop them getting dehydrated. You can try giving them a regular icy pole if they do not want to drink juice or oral rehydration solution.
• Leave blisters to dry naturally – do not pierce or squeeze them
• Give them pain relief medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Do not give your child aspirin.
• If your child is unwell with a fever above 38 and a rash that does not turn skin colour when you press on it (it goes blanch instead) – call an ambulance immediately.

28/07/2026

Are your child’s immunisations up to date?

This is your monthly reminder to book in with your service provider to remain up to date and get the blue book up to date.

25/07/2026

World Drowning Prevention Day, declared in April 2021 by General Assembly resolution is held annually on 25 July.

This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.

As a parent or a caregiver some strategies you can put in place at home or on holidays are:

– installing barriers controlling access to water (pool gate, parental access swipe card only if on holidays)
– starting water familiarisation and water safety conversations and lessons early
-enrolling kids in swimming lessons if available or possible
– parents also enrolling in swimming lessons
-always have an adult supervising children near water
-always use Australian standard swimming vests
-always ensure your child’s swimmers are bright colours and not likely to be camouflaged in the water

What strategies do you take when near water with your family?