SidebySide

📱 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)

🙂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)