Parents’ most asked questions to be answered on government website parenting.com.au

PARENTS who want help when their kid puts a pea up their nose, won’t eat veggies or bites their sibling now have a place to seek support and advice.

Many parents don’t know what to do when their baby is crying.

THE state government has just launched parenting.vic.gov.au, an evidence-based website full of information about parenting, child health and development information for kids aged five and under.

“While the internet is full of advice it can be hard to know what to believe and this website

gives parents information and advice they can trust,” Early Childhood Education Minister Jenny Mikakos said.

“Raising a child undoubtedly means navigating some choppy waters — it’s just part of the

job. But sometimes everyone needs support,” she said.

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“The new website gives mums, dads and carers access to reliable advice at a time that suits them at just a touch of a button. It also serves as a crucial launch pad, setting parents and carers up with links to services and supports that are available to children at each stage of development,” Ms Mikakos said.

Studies show parents frequently turn to the internet for parenting advice, only to find

material that is contradictory and confusing.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos.

In addition, parents with serious issues and more quirky questions can turn to the

new Maternal Child Health app and helpline (132 229). The free helpline, which is staffed by

maternal and child health nurses, takes around 300 calls a day.

Analysis of calls shows parents of babies most often seek advice on endless crying, troubles

with breastfeeding, high temperatures and eczema. Other popular topics are the battle to

get two-year-olds to eat vegetables, six-week immunisations, post-birth exercise, clumsy

toddlers, depression and help with special developmental needs.

Some quirkier topics are raised on the free MCH app, including what to do when a child puts

something up their nose, the colour of a child’s poo and a one-year-old who weed into their

own mouth when being changed.

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Some parents struggle to get their kids to eat veges. Picture: AAP/Claudia Baxter

Top five questions asked of the MCH Helpline

My newborn baby is crying, what should I do?

My child has a high temperature, what do I need to do for them?

I’m having trouble breastfeeding, what can I do?

My child has eczema and is scratching, what do you recommend I do?

My two-year-old is not eating very well, how can I get them to eat their vegetables?

Quirky questions

My child has poked a pea up his nose, what should I do?

My four-year-old has bitten his two-year-old sister. How do I stop this?

Should my kid’s poo be this colour?

My baby doesn’t like being on her tummy for playtime and her head is getting flat. Any

ideas for changing this?

My one-year-old peed into his own mouth while I was changing him. Is that normal?

(Source: State government)