When you’re deep in the baby days, it can feel like time is crawling – but somehow, those tiny toes and gummy smiles slip by in a blink. One minute they’re curled up on your chest, the next they’re racing down the hallway in gumboots. It’s not always easy to stop and take it all in, but future you (and your child) will be so grateful you did. Here are seven lovely ways to capture those fleeting, precious moments.
Here are 8 ways to hold onto those little moments ❤️
1. Keep a journal from bump to baby Pregnancy is a season you’ll never forget – and yet, somehow, the details get fuzzy. A journal makes it easy to jot down milestones, memories, and feelings throughout pregnancy and those early newborn weeks. Whether it’s the first kick, a dream you had, or your late-night list of baby names, these snippets will one day become priceless.
2. Save those tiny prints Little hands and feet don’t stay little for long. A casting kit or impression set is a beautiful way to preserve the size of your baby’s hand or footprint in time. If you’d prefer something bigger, the Petit Artichaut Baby’s First Year Memory Frame is a beautiful alternative – designed to showcase a photo from each month of your baby’s first year alongside a cast or print. It’s a keepsake you’ll treasure forever.
3. Write them a letter It doesn’t need to be fancy – a few lines on your phone, a scribbled note in a baby book, or an email you save for later. Writing your child letters throughout their early years is a heartfelt way to share what life was like, what you noticed, and how deeply they were loved.
4. Create a home for keepsakes From hospital bracelets to first curls, it’s easy to gather a box of “special things” with no real place to put them. The Petit Artichaut Imprint Box offers a charming way to store and display those first small treasures – whether it’s their first lock of hair, their first lost tooth, or something uniquely your own.
5. Capture quotes and milestones The things toddlers say are often hilarious, surprisingly insightful, and unforgettable – until they are. A memory jar in the kitchen or a simple notes app on your phone makes it easy to jot them down in the moment. These snippets of daily life will bring the biggest smiles down the track.
6. Frame the moments that matter Photos on your phone are great, but there’s something special about seeing them every day. The Petit Artichaut Duo Frame is a lovely way to frame meaningful images – maybe their first bath and first birthday, or a newborn photo alongside your ultrasound and a space for a foot or handprint and a clay model of those little hands or feet too. It’s a gentle reminder of just how far you’ve both come.
7. Record it all in a baby record book For a classic, timeless way to record milestones, the Your First Years Book or the Peter Rabbit Baby Book are both beautiful choices. These charming books offer space for photos, memories, and all the little details you’ll want to remember, from their first smile to their first steps. With prompts to help you capture key moments, it’s a keepsake that will take you down memory lane for years to come.
8. Record a second a day Apps like 1 Second Every Day make it incredibly easy to film one moment each day and turn it into a time-lapse of your baby’s growth. It’s simple, low-effort, and incredibly powerful – especially when the year wraps up and you get to watch your tiny newborn become a confident little human.
There’s no right or wrong way to capture the early years – only what feels right for you and your family. Whether it’s snapping a quick photo, scribbling a sweet moment in a notebook, or tucking away a tiny hospital bracelet, each memory adds to the beautiful story you’re creating. These baby days pass in a blur, but the little things you save along the way will become treasured reminders of just how much love and magic filled those early moments ❤️
This beautifully illustrated baby book by Cheryl Smith helps you record all those precious moments and 'Firsts' in your baby's life. The Kiwi Baby Record Book is the ultimate gift for you and your baby start building family memories. Days, weeks and years can fly by, so make sure you capture all of the special, funny and beautiful moments while you can, so you can treasure them forever!
Introducing the Petit Artichaut Clay Keepsake with Photo - Double Frames, a charming and heartfelt way to cherish your baby's most precious moments. The Double Frame - Pretty Hearts design features a 2-panel standing frame, allowing you to beautifully display a treasured photo on one side and your baby's hand or footprint imprint on the other.
This frame comes with a reversible beige background, giving you the option to switch between a simple solid color or a sweet heart pattern to suit your style. The kit includes everything you need—hypoallergenic clay, a roller, and easy-to-follow instructions—to create a lasting imprint that is completely safe for your baby's sensitive skin.
Perfect as a birth gift, this keepsake frame is not only quick and easy to use but also adds a delightful, personal touch to any nursery or home décor. Celebrate and preserve your baby's special moments with this beautiful and meaningful keepsake.
Introducing The Print Box - Rainbow, a charming keepsake that captures the sweet memory of your baby’s little hands or feet. This elegant square frame, featuring a cheerful rainbow pattern, can be displayed on a shelf or hung on the wall, making it a delightful addition to any room in your home.
The kit includes a high-quality wooden frame with a protective cover, hypoallergenic clay, a roller, and simple instructions to help you easily create a lasting imprint. Safe for your baby’s delicate skin, The Print Box - Rainbow is the perfect way to preserve a special moment while adding a touch of personal decoration to your space.
Ideal as a birth gift, this keepsake is quick and easy to use, offering a beautiful, heartfelt way to celebrate your baby’s early milestones.
Introducing the Petit Artichaut Clay Keepsake with Photo - Duo Frame, a beautiful and sentimental way to capture your baby's special moments. The Duo Frame - Daisy Ochre design elegantly combines a cherished baby imprint and a photo in a single standing frame, making it the perfect addition to your home décor. The reversible ochre background allows you to choose between a plain color or a delicate daisy floral pattern to match your style.
This keepsake kit includes hypoallergenic clay, a roller, and easy-to-follow instructions, making it safe for your baby’s sensitive skin and simple to create a lasting impression.
Ideal as a birth gift, this keepsake frame is quick and easy to assemble, and it adds a personalized, decorative touch to any space. Celebrate your baby's growth and create a timeless memory with this charming Duo Frame.
Preserve precious memories with the Classic Clay Keepsake with 1 Photo Print Wooden Frame — a perfect gift for new parents. This elegant keepsake combines the beauty of a photograph with the timeless imprint of your baby's tiny hand or footprint, creating a personalized memento to cherish forever.
The Classic Frame - Daisy Ochre is designed to complement any nursery or home decor, featuring a reversible ochre background that can be customized with or without a delicate floral pattern. This traditional wall-hanging frame offers a stylish and enduring way to display both your baby’s imprint and a cherished photo, making it an ideal birth or Christmas gift.
The kit includes hypoallergenic clay, a roller for easy application, and clear instructions, ensuring a quick, safe, and simple process for creating your baby’s print. Safe for baby skin, this keepsake is both a meaningful keepsake and a lovely addition to your home. Celebrate those fleeting early moments with this elegant and thoughtful keepsake frame, designed to hold memories that will last a lifetime.
Capture and celebrate the special moments of your baby's early years with the Clay Keepsake with Photo Frame - Dual Prints. This beautifully designed frame is perfect for showcasing two baby imprints alongside a cherished photograph, making it ideal for twins or to highlight your child’s growth over time.
The 2 Prints Frame - Rainbow Terracotta features a long, elegant design with generous space for both imprints and a photo. The frame includes a reversible terracotta background that can be customised with or without a whimsical rainbow pattern, adding a personal touch to any room’s decor. This timeless piece easily hangs on the wall, creating a stunning focal point in nurseries, living rooms, or family galleries.
The kit comes complete with hypoallergenic clay, a roller for easy application, and simple instructions to ensure a quick, safe, and enjoyable experience for parents. The soft, non-toxic clay is gentle on your baby’s skin, making the entire process worry-free. Whether you're looking for a thoughtful birth gift, a Christmas present, or a special keepsake to cherish forever, the Dual Prints Frame offers a meaningful and elegant way to preserve your baby’s memories.
Introducing Family Colors, a modern and artistic way to celebrate family unity through a one-of-a-kind layered display. This unique kit allows up to five family members to create their own personalized handprints on individual plexiglass panels, which are then combined to form a beautiful, colorful masterpiece that showcases your family's bond.
Each Family Colors kit comes with five transparent panels, a stylish wooden base for easy support, five vibrant paint tubes, a roller for smooth application, and simple instructions to guide you through the process. The result is a stunning, multi-layered artwork that blends each family member's prints into a cohesive and heartfelt display.
Ideal as a birth gift or family keepsake, Family Colors is quick and easy to use, completely safe for baby’s skin, and makes a striking decoration that will add a personal touch to your home. Celebrate your family's love with this unique and modern keepsake that turns memories into art.
Introducing the Petit Artichaut Puzzle Frame - Ivy Grey, a beautifully crafted multi-frame display designed to showcase your baby's precious memories in a unique and personalized way. This charming grouping of individual frames allows you to display both your baby’s photo and hand or footprint imprints, created using hypoallergenic clay and ink. It also includes a birth poster where you can record all the important details, such as your baby's name, weight, height, and the exact time and date of their arrival.
The customizable backgrounds offer the choice of a delicate foliage pattern or a simple beige, allowing you to match the frame perfectly to your décor. The kit includes everything needed to create perfect prints, including hypoallergenic clay, a roller, an inkless stamp pad, and easy-to-follow instructions. The innovative "Smart Inkless Touch" technology ensures that your baby’s prints are detailed and precise, without ever having to touch any ink.
Ideal as a birth gift, this Puzzle Frame is quick and easy to assemble, completely safe for baby’s sensitive skin, and makes a timeless decorative piece for any nursery or home. Celebrate and preserve your baby’s early moments with this beautiful keepsake frame.
Our commitment to the environment
How we look after your little one without harming the planet
While caring for your precious bundle is often the first thing on your mind, it doesn’t need to have a negative impact on our environment. At Dimples, we partner with like-minded manufacturers and brands to offer ethical, sustainable products. We know that it’s possible to look after your babies without causing harm to the very planet they’ll inherit. Here’s what we do differently...
Earth-friendlier fabrics
Fabric choice is the starting point for us in doing our bit for the environment. Going for natural over synthetic is better for both your babe and the environment – synthetics are made from fossil fuels and cause lots of pollution. Nature does a pretty good job of providing us with amazing fabrics –
merino wool
from New Zealand sheep (which is both sustainable and renewable) and pure
organic cotton
that is free of chemicals. Our fabrics meet these standards:
Fairtrade certified organic cotton and Australian Certified Organic
– Our cotton is Fairtrade certified which shows farmworkers have decent working conditions and are paid fair prices for their produce. The organic certification means the farming process causes less stress on the environment. Without organic practices, toxic chemical residue ends up in local rivers, waterways and lakes, and harms the wildlife and people who live there.
Oeko-Tex Standard 100
– this certification takes ‘certified organic’ one step further. To meet Oeko-Tex Standard 100, our fabric is tested and certified to be free from harmful levels of more than 100 substances known to be damaging to our health. We think this is pretty important for your babe’s delicate skin.
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
– this standard not only protects our adored merino producers but also the land they graze on. This is a globally recognised certification that covers sustainable grazing methods to protect our land.
Responsible packaging
While ruling out packaging completely is a difficult feat with stock coming in and out of stores and warehouses, we’re focussed on minimising what we use through recycling and reusing. Here are some of the things we do:
Buy recycled boxes
– this saves trees and the huge amounts of water taken to grow them (and make the boxes).
Reuse boxes for stock
– our boxes see multiple trips back and forth to shops before they end up in the recycling.
Use tissue paper for packaging
– we only wrap your precious purchases in recyclable tissue paper.
Reuse plastic bags from suppliers
– sometimes we can’t avoid plastic. If that’s the case, we make sure it gets reused rather than binned.
Reducing environmental impacts with our manufacturing partner
Wastewater is a huge problem internationally, with tonnes of toxic, dye-filled wastewater dumped into streams and waterways without being treated. There’s little regulation or policing of this, which has led to a lot of waterways in China and India becoming contaminated.
Our textile partner
ABMT
is an innovative and environmentally-friendly manufacturer that prides itself in reducing the huge environmental impacts usually associated with making textiles. Its Melbourne facility has an on-site water treatment plant, so up to 85% of water in the factory is reused within the manufacturing process or through a third-party recycled water programme.
ABMT also holds an
ISO1401 Environmental Management System
certification, which shows environmental impacts and sustainability are front and centre of its operations.
Slow fashion for generations of babies
Fast fashion sees a lot of textiles ending up in landfill. With little ones growing as quickly as they do, baby clothes too often join the growing piles of waste. That’s why we focus on timeless designs and fabrics that last, so your Dimple’s products will last through generations of babies.
Brands we stock care too
We partner with brands who share our environmental ethos.
Stokke
– throughout the company’s history, Stokke has made every effort to use environmentally-friendly and biodegradable materials. They don’t rest on their laurels but continue to innovate and explore new ways of helping preserve the planet. Read more about the Stokke commitment to ethics and the environment
here
.
Nuna
– Nuna is focused on ‘creating consciously’ with mindful manufacturing and materials. They believe in designing better gear for your little one and at the same time improving the world in which your child will grow up. Read more about how Nuna goes above and beyond
here
.
Forget any trade-offs – you can have both
Looking after our environment doesn’t mean you need to compromise on quality or choice. We’ve hand-picked the best fabrics, manufacturers, and suppliers to make shopping with a conscience easy.
Keep, pass-on or donate.
Here’s something that will be news to no-one: babies grow, and fast! That adorable onesie they came home wearing, the outfit they met their grandparents in, their first birthday party dress… they’re now sitting in storage – boxes of tiny clothes taking up room.
That clutter helps no one, but there’s another downside to storing clothes – it actually damages them. Even if you wash and dry clothes thoroughly and store them in a dry, dark place, it’s likely they will suffer. Protein stains from drool, milk spills and spit-up get embedded in the clothing. If they’re in regular use, the marks are kept at bay, but in storage, they develop into yellow and brown stains. Most of these become permanent and are resistant to cleaning. Elastic and stretchy clothes will lose their elasticity, especially if they’re stored in a warm environment.
So, baby clothes need to come out of storage, but how do you tell if they’re keepsakes, hand-me-downs or ready to be donated?
We’ve made things simple with a checklist of things to consider before adding an item to the ‘keep’ pile.
Donate or pass on, if the clothes are:
Super girly or masculine
If you have non-neutral clothes, it might not be smart to keep them for future children, unless you’re really comfy blurring gender lines. The chance of having that same-gender again is only 50/50.
Very tiny
There’s no way of knowing how big your next baby will be. If you had a premie the first time around, that 10lb second baby (ouch) won’t ever fit those tiny clothes.
Strictly seasonal
While high-quality merinos will suit most seasons, it’s best to get rid of anything that’s very heavy, or very light – light blousy dresses, or heavy jackets. If your next child is born at a different time of year, he’ll have outgrown the items before the weather gets cool or warm enough to wear them.
Damaged or stained
If you wouldn’t put your baby in the clothes now, don’t expect your mind to change later.
Really useful to someone else
Whether they’re a permanent donation to the Salvation Army or a loaner to close family or friends, they’re doing more good being used.
Keep if the clothes are:
Emotionally significant
Perhaps your next baby won’t ever wear that tiny beanie, but you can’t bear to part with it. Some precious items are worth holding onto, for the memories.
Versatile
If something will work across seasons, genders, and is stretchy to accommodate growth, it might be worth keeping – you’ll have a better shot of getting your next baby into it at some point.
Clean, tidy and high quality
Everything you keep should look almost new. This means you’re more likely to still have some wearable things when the next baby comes along, even after being stored for a few years.
When should you let those baby clothes go?
Letting go can sometimes be difficult – it can be farewelling some happy moments in your life. That includes maternity clothes too – even if you ended up really hating those stretchy jeans, saying goodbye feels like letting go of that precious time. Many of us keep clothes well beyond any useful point if they hold beautiful memories.
If this is you, then it’s time to make some choices. Keep a few outfits that are really important to you and have some lovely memories attached. You can even have some items made into a special memory quilt or cushion, so you can have them forever in a useful way. Then give away the rest.
You’ll have your storage space again, you can feel good helping out another mother, and know that clothing will be used again to create happy memories for someone else.
Dimples Christmas Gift Guide 🎁
With the festive season fast approaching, it’s never too early to start planning for the magic of Christmas morning. Whether you’re after meaningful keepsakes, playful surprises, or thoughtful stocking stuffers, Dimples has everything you need to make this season memorable — all in one place.
From first Christmas outfits to toys that grow with your little one, we’ve handpicked gift ideas that spark imagination, support development, and bring a little extra joy to your family’s celebrations.
What Makes a Great Gift?
Buying for babies and toddlers can feel a little tricky — they grow so quickly, and their needs change just as fast. That’s why it helps to look for gifts that are not just adorable (though we love adorable too!), but also practical and long-lasting. Think natural materials, quality craftsmanship, and something that supports development through play.
Toys made from wood or other sustainable materials are always a great option — they’re gentle on the planet and sturdy enough to be passed down to siblings or kept as keepsakes. Soft, breathable clothing made from natural fibres like merino is also a thoughtful choice, especially for new babies. It keeps them comfortable, cosy, and can be worn day after day.
In short, a great gift is one that brings joy now and continues to be useful or meaningful as little ones grow.
Classic World Toys 🎄
Classic World crafts timeless wooden toys that encourage imagination and last through years of play. Made with sustainable materials and a focus on open-ended learning, these gifts are as thoughtful as they are fun. Here are a few of our favourites:
Vintage Doll’s HouseA show-stopper under the tree! This dreamy three-level wooden doll’s house comes with working windows, doors, and 36 tiny furniture pieces. Endless make-believe fun for curious little minds (ages 3+).
Happy Hen Activity BoxPacked with fun on every side — this clever wooden cube features a xylophone, shape sorter, gears, and bead maze. A total win for busy little hands and growing brains.
Forest BlocksBuild a whole forest world! With 100 beautifully crafted blocks featuring trees, bears, foxes and more, these are perfect for stacking, storytelling, and hours of open-ended play.
Vintage Afternoon Tea SetServe up some Christmas magic with this sweet-as-pie wooden tea set. With a teapot, cups, and sugar pot, it’s perfect for pretend picnics and festive tea parties.
Fruit PuzzleBright, chunky, and fun to grab — this wooden fruit puzzle is great for matching colours, learning names, and mastering those all-important fine motor skills.
Each of these Classic World toys offers a blend of charm, durability, and learning that makes them perfect for popping under the Christmas tree.
Dimples Merino Must-Haves 🧶
If you’re looking for something practical and precious, the Dimples Merino collection is a go-to. Naturally temperature-regulating, breathable, and soft against sensitive skin, it's made to keep little ones comfy through all their holiday adventures (and those all-important Christmas naps).
Our top gifting picks:
Merino All-in-Ones – An easy everyday essential in festive colours and timeless styles. Add a bow and it’s gift-ready.
Knitted Merino Hats & Booties – Cosy accessories for chilly outings or snuggly days at home.
Merino Wraps & Blankets – Perfect for under the tree or as a thoughtful gift for new parents — beautiful, practical, and full of love.
Whether it’s baby’s first Christmas or a gift for growing toddlers, Dimples Merino is a timeless choice they’ll wear all season long.
Jellycat Snuggles 🧸
Soft, sweet, and always up for a cuddle — Jellycat toys are the kind of gift that brings instant joy (and becomes a favourite fast). From floppy bunnies to quirky fruits, each one has its own charm and is made to last through years of snuggles and adventures.
Our favourites are Bartholomew Bear Bee and Bashful Bunny!
Pop one in a stocking or tuck it under the tree — you can’t go wrong with a little softness at Christmas.
A Few More Gift Ideas 🎅
Need something fun and practical? Crywolf rain boots or Overalls are a great pick for adventurous little ones. Durable, comfy, and ready for puddle-jumping — they’re a gift that encourages outdoor play all year round.
And for smaller surprises, things like a buzzy bee, bath toys or fidget popper toys make the perfect stocking stuffers. Bright, cheerful, and made for entertainment!
Celebrate the Season with Dimples 🌟
However you're spending the holidays this year, we’re here to help make gifting a little simpler and a lot more special. Whether you're shopping online or visiting us in-store, you’ll find something meaningful for every little one on your list.
Let the festive fun begin 🎄
Breastfeeding Made Easier: Tips for Common Challenges
Before your baby arrives, it's easy to imagine that breastfeeding will happen instinctively. While that can be true for some families, it's perfectly normal if it takes a little longer to find your rhythm.
Many new mums experience challenges like sore nipples, engorgement, latch difficulties or concerns about milk supply in those first few weeks. If that sounds familiar, you're certainly not alone.
At Dimples, one of the things we hear most often is, "I thought breastfeeding would just come naturally." The reality is that for many mums, it takes a little time, plenty of patience, and the right support.
Thankfully, many breastfeeding challenges are only temporary, and with the right guidance they often become much easier to manage.
If you decide to supplement or switch to formula, that's okay too. A fed baby and a supported mum are what matter most. But if breastfeeding is something you'd like to continue, know that many mums find things improve with time, patience and the right support.
You've got this.
Here’s a gentle guide to some of the common hurdles and how to help overcome them:
1. Engorged Breasts
A few days after giving birth, you may notice your breasts suddenly feel hard, heavy, warm, and tender as your milk comes in. Although it can feel quite uncomfortable, this is a completely normal part of your body adjusting to your baby's feeding needs.
The good news is that engorgement is usually temporary. As your milk supply begins to regulate and your baby establishes a regular feeding pattern, the fullness will often settle.
What can help
Feed your baby regularly, even if it's only for a short time.
If your breasts are too full for your baby to latch comfortably, try hand expressing a small amount of milk first to soften the breast.
A cold compress after feeds and gentle massage can also help relieve discomfort.
💛 A favourite with our team: Many mums find the Bare Mum Hot + Cold Breast Therapy Packs incredibly soothing. Warm them before feeding to help encourage milk flow, or chill them afterwards to reduce swelling and ease discomfort.
And here's a little old-school wisdom that's been passed between mums for generations: chilled cabbage leaves tucked inside your bra between feeds have long been used to help soothe engorgement. It might sound unusual, but plenty of mums still swear by it!
2. Latch Issues
A little tenderness during the first few days of breastfeeding is common, but ongoing or severe pain isn't something you should simply put up with. A painful feed is often a sign that your baby isn't latching deeply enough, making feeding uncomfortable for you and less effective for them.
What can help
Try encouraging your baby to open their mouth wide by gently brushing your nipple against their upper lip. Position them with their nose level with your nipple and bring your baby to your breast, rather than leaning towards them. A good latch usually means your baby's mouth is wide open, their chin is pressed into your breast, and your nipple sits comfortably towards the back of their mouth.
If breastfeeding is still painful after the first week or two, or your baby continues to struggle with latching, it's worth reaching out to your midwife or a lactation consultant. Sometimes a simple adjustment, or identifying something like a tongue tie, can make all the difference.
3. Cracked or Bleeding Nipples
Sore or cracked nipples are very common in the early weeks of breastfeeding. They can be caused by a shallow latch, frequent feeding while your skin adjusts to this new rhythm, or even overuse of your breast pump.
What can help
Applying a nourishing nipple balm after every feed can help soothe and protect the skin, while hydrogel pads can provide instant cooling relief for particularly sore nipples.
One combination our team often recommends is Pure Mama Nipple Butter together with Silverette Cups. The nipple butter helps moisturise and soothe damaged skin, while the Silverette Cups protect sensitive nipples between feeds, allowing them to heal naturally.
If your nipples aren't improving after several days, it's important to have your baby's latch assessed, as treating the cause is just as important as treating the symptoms.
4. Low Milk Supply
Worrying about milk supply is incredibly common, especially during the first few weeks when your baby may seem to want to feed constantly. The reassuring news is that frequent feeding, cluster feeding and night waking are all normal behaviours and don't usually mean you're not producing enough milk.
True low milk supply is less common, but if your baby isn't gaining weight well or has very few wet nappies, it's important to speak with your midwife, GP or lactation consultant.
What can help
If your healthcare provider is happy that everything is progressing normally but you'd like to naturally support your milk supply, try feeding frequently, pumping between feeds if appropriate, drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet.
Many mums also enjoy adding lactation cookies or a lactation blend to their daily routine. While they're not a guaranteed way to increase milk supply, many mums enjoy them as part of their breastfeeding routine alongside regular feeding, good hydration and a balanced diet.
Shop our lactation support range here
5. Inverted or Flat Nipples
You may never have paid much attention to the shape of your nipples before breastfeeding, but flat or inverted nipples can sometimes make it more difficult for your baby to latch.
The good news is that many mums with flat or inverted nipples go on to breastfeed successfully.
What can help
Speak with your midwife or a lactation consultant, who may recommend using a nipple shield or expressing a small amount of milk before feeding to gently draw the nipple out.
6. Blocked Ducts
A blocked milk duct often feels like a tender lump beneath the skin and usually occurs when milk isn't draining effectively. This can happen if you've missed a feed, your bra is too tight, or your breast hasn't emptied fully.
What can help
Continue feeding regularly, particularly on the affected side, to help keep milk moving. Applying warmth before feeding and gently massaging the area towards the nipple can also help encourage the blockage to clear. Most blocked ducts resolve within a day or two but if you are experiencing alot of pain and unable to breastfeed, please see your GP.
7. Mastitis
Sometimes a blocked duct can develop into mastitis, or bacteria can enter through cracked skin, leading to a breast infection. Mastitis often causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills and body aches, along with a painful, red area on the breast.
What can help
If you think you may have mastitis, it's important to see your GP promptly, as antibiotics are often needed.
Although feeding may feel uncomfortable or sore, continuing to breastfeed or express milk can actually help speed up recovery by keeping the breast well drained. Warm or cool compresses between feeds may also provide some relief.
💛 Don't try to push through - Many mums think they can "tough it out", but mastitis really needs medical treatment. The sooner you seek help, the quicker you'll usually recover.
You Are Not Alone - and You're Doing an Amazing Job
If there's one thing we'd love every new mum to know, it's this: asking for help is a strength, not a weakness!
For over 30 years, we've had the privilege of supporting hundreds of New Zealand families through pregnancy, newborn life and beyond, and we've learned that almost every breastfeeding journey is different, and has its own ups and downs.
And if, despite your best efforts, breastfeeding doesn't work out the way you'd hoped, that's okay too. Whether you breastfeed, formula feed or combine the two, what matters most is that your baby is fed, loved and thriving.
Be kind to yourself, trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to lean on your midwife, GP, lactation consultant or the people around you. Sometimes the right support is all it takes to help you find your confidence.
❤️
Shop our full range of breastfeeding support and essential items here
