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It is a great joy when parents finally hold their newborn in their arms. But a baby turns your normal life upside down every day. The newborn's needs are now the focus of attention around the clock. This often costs time and energy. There are many crises and conflicts in the first year after giving birth. Lack of sleep, uncertainty and the new living conditions can lead to tensions within the relationship. It is therefore particularly important to talk openly about feelings and concerns in the first year with your baby in order to avoid misunderstandings. If the differences nevertheless become too great and a separation is unavoidable, the focus should be on the well-being of your child. Regardless of age, a separation is always a drastic life change that is associated with strong feelings. Be there for your child with patience and empathy and don't be afraid to seek help and support. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are also counseling centers near you that can give you advice and reassurance. Find out here where you can get help quickly.

How often should my child be breastfed? How do I soothe it when it cries? And what helps them fall asleep and stay asleep? In the first weeks and months after the birth, parents have many questions. You will certainly also need a lot of information. You can find lots of recommended reading for initial information on the Familienportal.NRW. For help and support in the first year with a baby, you can also contact an advice center in your area at any time. The Familienportal.NRW provides information on where you can find suitable contacts. In the first few months, babies demand the full attention of mothers and fathers. This can sometimes be quite nerve-wracking. Parental advice centers can help you with any questions you may have after the birth. In person, by phone or online.The Network for Early Help also has contact points near you. The services are diverse, free of charge and voluntary: from parent-child meetings to crying clinics and parenting courses. There is special help for parents of children with disabilities, including counseling services, care services and early intervention. Don't be afraid to accept support to make life easier for you and your child.

There are a number of financial and legal issues associated with being a parent. But there is good news, because as a family you benefit from numerous advantages. Did you know that you can insure children and your spouse in the statutory health insurance scheme free of charge under certain conditions? We have summarized all the important information on family insurance for you. As a family, you also benefit from numerous tax advantages. For example, in the form of various tax-free allowances. Child benefit, maintenance payments, relief amounts - we'll help you keep track of all the financial relief available to you. Did you know that child-raising periods count towards your pension? Find out what you need to do. An issue for many couples: around one in three children born have unmarried parents. In these cases, a number of legal and financial issues need to be clarified, e.g. paternity acknowledgement and joint custody. You can find helpful information on all these topics at Familienportal.NRW.

The development and health of your child is important to all parents. The foundations for this are laid in the first three years of life. This includes regular appointments with the doctor. But what if your child suddenly dreads the visit? If your daughter or son is scared of the pediatrician, there are various ways to help. First of all, it is important to find out why your child has developed a fear of going to the doctor. Find out here how you can deal with children's fears and ease your daughter's or son's anxiety. A childproof home also remains important. Your child is now a little whirlwind who wants to discover the world and is curious about the world around them. However, there are some danger spots that you should defuse in good time so that nothing happens to your child. It's best to check your home right away using our comprehensive list. Every parent is probably familiar with this situation: your child wakes up with a stomach ache or fever. In this case, can I stay at home for a short time and look after my sick child? Of course you can! You don't have to worry about losing your job because of this. Leave of absence is regulated by law. However, new rules have applied to child sickness benefit since 2024. You can find an overview and further information on help and advice here.

Parents of young children face many challenges. The increased responsibility for their offspring, frequent lack of sleep, less individual freedom and the changed distribution of roles all affect the partnership. Living together as a family has to be constantly reorganized and negotiated. "You go and watch soccer with friends while I have to clean the kitchen.", "I have to work overtime at the office in the evenings and you have a great time with our child." Perhaps similar accusations sound familiar to you? If dissatisfaction and frustration creep in, it's important to take a closer look at the changed roles and take stock. Even if one parent works full-time and the other mainly takes care of the child at home, this does not mean that parenting and household chores are left to one person. Especially for parents of small children, the day does not end after 8 hours. Intensive care begins early in the morning and can continue into the night. Therefore, make your tasks visible and record them in writing - regardless of whether they relate to family, household or work. This inventory forms a good basis for negotiation processes and fair solutions for all parties. Tips for implementation and helpful advice on how couples can master the transition to successful parenthood and a happy family life can be found here.

Balancing work and family life is the goal of most couples. Many mothers and fathers return to work within the first three years of their child's life. You can initially plan your return to work gradually or start full-time again. A mutual agreement on how both parents will share the childcare and household tasks is an important prerequisite for this. But how can family and career be reconciled? This is a question that most parents are probably concerned with once they start a family. The good news is: In the world of work, companies are now offering more and more models for reconciling work and family life. The Familienportal.NRW provides information on this topic as well as helpful tips on returning to work. Organizing everyday family life well also needs to be learned. It is not always easy to reconcile family life with work, as raising and caring for a child of this age is a 24-hour job. In our online offers you will find some advice and tips that can help you with this. Don't be afraid to accept help - from family and friends or advice centers in your area.

Between the ages of 1 and 3, your child reaches a whole host of new developmental milestones. Their skills increase many times over: they improve their motor skills, train their speech and expand their vocabulary. Emotional and social development also make great progress. Like many parents, you are probably wondering how you can encourage your child's development and spirit of discovery. This can be achieved with targeted stimulation and opportunities for experience. It's not about accelerating physical, mental and emotional development, your child sets the pace. We have put together some tips for you that can help to provide your child with targeted support in the first few years of life. Is your child crying and screaming because they don't want to brush their teeth? Is it throwing itself on the floor in the supermarket because it can't get the chocolate bar? Hello defiant phase! A little consolation: All parents have to go through it at around the age of two. It's normal and fortunately it passes. Nevertheless, it can be very challenging for parents. Here are some practical everyday tips to help you get through this time of unpredictable tantrums.

Early detection examinations for your child.

The foundations for later learning processes are laid in the first years of life. Playful encouragement in everyday life is of particular importance. Loving attention, a stimulating environment and plenty of movement of all kinds help to promote your child's education and development. Early childhood education takes place both at home and at various childcare facilities such as daycare centers. However, childcare places at daycare centers are in high demand in many places. It is therefore advisable to find out about local offers at an early stage. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there is a free daycare finder to help you find free places and the right educational concept for you. The link and further information on childcare can be found on the Familienportal.NRW. Once you have found the right daycare center, the next event will soon be upon you: settling in. When your child attends a childcare facility, a new phase of life begins for you and your offspring. But how does a settling-in period work? We know that this topic can be emotional and would like to ease your worries. Find out how to get off to a good start in daycare. A great way for parents to strengthen the bond with their child and at the same time encourage them in many ways is quite simple: reading aloud. Find out how your read-aloud time becomes a moment of calm and closeness.

Leisure activities with children: good ideas for things to do together are always in demand. It's a good thing that North Rhine-Westphalia has a lot to offer. Excursion destinations worth seeing and wonderful experiences can also be found on the doorstep or in the surrounding area. However, good planning is essential before every trip. Which travel document do I actually need to travel abroad with my toddler? You can find out what these are on the Familienportal.NRW. Whether you are traveling by car, train or plane - a trip with your little one can sometimes be quite exciting. Helpful information on how to make the arrival and departure stress-free for your whole family will ensure that you can look forward to your trip without any worries. As the saying goes: Good things are so close! Numerous family-friendly excursion destinations, short trip options and leisure tips in North Rhine-Westphalia will make children's eyes light up. Animal and wildlife parks leave nothing to be desired and no room for boredom. You can create great experiences even on a small budget. Read online how you can bring a lot of variety into everyday family life with little money.