Breast Feeding

Breast feeding Mums will want to purchase a good supply of breast pads, so it is wise to offer both the re-usable and disposable types to meet this need.

In addition, a range of breast pumps that offer comfortable milking and can be easily sterilised, will enable Mum to share feeding as and when necessary.

It makes complete commercial sense to offer a good selection of maternity bras, cloths and bibs alongside. As a retailer, you have an opportunity to boost profits and maximise sales by cleverly linking sales to ensure that customers leave armed with a complete feeding solution.

Bottle Feeding

With so much feeding equipment available, it can be difficult for you to know what will sell best. As long as your customer profile is correct, chances are you can pre-empt their buying decision, stocking styles appropriate to taste and budget.

A new or expectant Mum will need at least six bottles and teats, sterilising equipment and a bottle brush to get started. Make your customers aware that bottles come in two sizes and are available in wide neck, regular or narrow neck widths, advising on comfort and safety. For example, some Mums may not know that newborns and young babies should have a small 120ml/4oz bottle and that the larger, at 225ml/8oz are for older babies. Colic is a common cause for concern among parents, so it is advisable to have a range of specially designed bottles and teats that help cope with the problem.

Using the wrong teat can cause tummy upsets and a whole host of other feeding problems, disrupting baby's sleep patterns and overall sense of contentment. Unfortunately without the right level of help and guidance, parents often only discover this once they have gone through the trauma of baby being unhappy and unwilling to feed.

Do advise slow flowing teats for newborns and suggest increasing the flow speed gradually according to the needs and requirements of baby. Teats deteriorate in time, so be sure to encourage your customer to check and replace them often.

When it comes to sterilising, you will no doubt offer a range of bottle sterilisers from a selection of manufacturers. Customers will be keen to know and understand the differences, so it is useful for you to keep up to speed with the functionality of each.

Weaning Equipment

At about 4+ months parents will be thinking about weaning baby onto solids. This is when your range of plastic bowls, spoons, beakers cups, bendy ice trays and high chairs will be in demand.

Whether you wish to stock funky eating equipment that is not readily available elsewhere, licensed ranges with all the latest characters or a mix of both, products like these will always sell as establishing a good feeding regime is at the heart of a healthy and happy childhood.

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