There are times when parents will need to depend on someone else to feed their baby (e.g. when both parents are working), and this can be challenging. It can also be daunting for parents to take their baby out for the day, the weekend or on holiday, when feeding will take place outside the home. How can parents be sure that everything is in place to feed the baby in all circumstances?

Working in a pharmacy, you are likely to meet parents who have such issues. A significant number of mums work outside of the home and need to entrust the care, including the feeding, of their baby to other people.

In addition, the majority of parents travel for holidays and days out, taking their babies with them. To help improve your service, take some time to think about what is involved in either leaving a baby in someone else's care or taking a baby outside of the home. Looking forward to and taking pleasure in another stage in a family's life spring to mind, but anxiety will no doubt be a part of doing anything different with a new baby, particularly a first baby, when parents' experience may be limited.

Consider the following:

• What concerns do you think parents may have about feeding their baby themselves?
• What concerns do you think parents will have about feeding their baby when they are away from home?

Draw up a list of possible concerns. This could include:

• Making up feeds and how long to keep them for
• How many bottles will be needed for a day-long outing?
• How can feeding equipment be sterilised on a camping trip?
• How to express breast milk €“ what is the best breast pump and how should milk be stored?
• How to give sensible instructions to a carer without appearing over-anxious
• How to avoid transmitting anxiety to the baby when an unfamiliar routine is planned.

Consider how you would address these issues with a customer in the pharmacy. Consider developing a checklist of feeding equipment that parents would need to take on holiday. Keep this in the pharmacy for the whole team to refer to.