Frequently Asked Questions

NewMums.com is a UK-based support site offering free tools and gentle guidance from pregnancy through to the toddler years. We provide calculators, checklists, trackers, and advice — all written specifically for UK mums with NHS guidelines in mind.

Yes, all our tools and resources are completely free. We don't require registration or payment to use any of our calculators, checklists, or guides.

The NewMums Baby Gift List is a free, account-free way to keep everything you need in one place. You can add products from any shop, hospital-bag essentials and practical requests such as a meal, laundry, a lift or an hour of company.

Your private working list is saved in your browser. You can organise it, mark things as already owned, download a backup and preview what guests would see before deciding whether to share it.

New to it? There is a four-step walkthrough on the tool page itself.

We take your privacy seriously. Calculators, trackers, planners and unpublished Baby Gift Lists save their working information locally on your device using browser storage.

Nothing from those private drafts is sent to us. If you deliberately publish a Baby Gift List, the selected list information is stored on our server so your guest link and reservations can work. You can unpublish it at any time.

For full details, please see our Privacy Policy.

We have created a special Share page with a QR code that links directly to NewMums.com. You can download or print the QR code and share it with:

• Friends and family who are expecting or have a new baby
• Your antenatal class or NCT group
• Mum WhatsApp groups or Facebook communities

No account, email address or password is required. Your draft is saved in your browser while you build it.

If you choose to publish, you get a guest link to share and a separate private manage link for editing the published list. Keep the manage link to yourself and save a backup in case you change device.

More on accounts and the two links

Build your list, then choose Share list and Publish my list. Send the guest link to friends and family, and choose Update published list whenever you have made changes you want them to see.

Publishing is optional. Nothing is placed on our server until you choose to publish, and published lists are hidden from search engines.

Step-by-step publishing guide

Anyone with the guest link sees the list name, welcome message, items still needed, notes, product links and approximate prices, plus whether an item is already reserved. Items marked as already owned or sorted are never shown to guests.

A guest selects I can help and may add a first name, which marks the item as taken care of. They can also leave a short message — that is shown only to you on your own list, never to other visitors, and it cannot be edited once sent. One functional cookie lets that same browser undo its own reservation. It is not used for advertising or analytics.

How the guest view works

Your list lives in the browser you built it in, so it will not follow you to a new phone and will not survive clearing your browsing data.

Select Backup to download a copy, then Restore on the other device and choose that file. The backup also contains your private manage link, so it can get you back into a published list even if you have lost that link.

Backup and restore in detail

Yes. Open the sharing controls and choose Unpublish. The server copy and its reservations are removed and the guest link stops working. Your private browser copy stays unless you clear it separately.

Published lists with no activity are automatically deleted after 12 months. Guest first names, messages and reservation details are removed when a reservation is released, when the list is unpublished, or when an inactive list is deleted.

Unpublishing and data retention

Newborn sleepsuits and vests in a couple of sizes, nappies and wipes, muslin squares, and maternity pads and comfortable nightwear for your own recovery. Add larger shared items such as a pushchair, car seat or cot with an approximate price, so a group can club together.

You can also ask for practical help rather than presents — a home-cooked meal, a load of washing, a lift to an appointment or an hour of company. Many families find those far more useful in the first few weeks.

Our Hospital Bag Checklist and Baby Budget Calculator are a good way to work out what you actually need first.

We do not sell your personal information or use Baby Gift List data for advertising.

Most tools keep their working data in your browser. When you deliberately publish a Baby Gift List, the selected list information is stored on our server and is visible to anyone who receives its guest link. Our hosting provider processes that information only as needed to operate the service.

Usually, no. Information entered into calculators, trackers, planners and an unpublished Baby Gift List is stored locally in your browser on your own device.

This means:

• Private working information stays on your device
• You have complete control over your data
• You can clear it at any time through your browser settings

The exception is when you deliberately publish a Baby Gift List. We then store the selected public list information so the guest link and reservations can work. You can unpublish it at any time, and lists with no activity are automatically deleted after 12 months.

For full details, please read our Privacy Policy.

It's easy to feel like you need to buy everything, but newborns actually need very little. We've created a Preparing for a Newborn Guide which covers the absolute essentials for your hospital bag, sleeping, and clothing, plus tips on what to borrow or buy second-hand.

• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: Within 42 days of birth.
• Scotland: Within 21 days of birth.

You typically need to make an appointment at the local register office in the area where your baby was born. Take photo ID and any paperwork your hospital provided (if applicable).

If you cannot attend the register office where the baby was born, another register office can take the details and forward them.

You should claim Child Benefit as soon as you have registered the birth. It can be claimed online (using the HMRC app or website) or by post using form CH2.

The first round of NHS vaccinations is offered when your baby is 8 weeks old. This includes:

• 6-in-1 vaccine (diphtheria, hepatitis B, Hib, polio, tetanus, whooping cough)
• Rotavirus vaccine (oral drops)
• MenB vaccine

You will usually receive an invitation from your GP surgery to book this appointment.

Your GP surgery will invite you, and schedules can vary slightly — always follow your NHS appointment plan.

You need a Maternity Exemption Certificate. Ask your midwife or GP to complete form FW8 for you. The certificate entitles you to free NHS prescriptions and dental care. It usually lasts until 12 months after your baby's due date (or from the date of birth in some cases). If your baby is born later than expected, you can ask for it to be extended.

In England, the free childcare hours depend on your child's age and whether you're working:

• All 3 and 4 year olds: 15 free hours per week (universal entitlement)
• Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds: 30 free hours per week
• Working parents of 2 year olds: 15 free hours (from September 2024)
• Working parents of 9 month olds: 15 free hours (from September 2025)

Some 2 year olds also qualify for 15 free hours if the family receives certain benefits.

Use our Childcare Funding Checker to see what you're entitled to.

Most children are ready to start potty training between 18 months and 3 years old. Every child is different, so look for signs of readiness rather than focusing on age alone.

Signs your toddler may be ready:

• Staying dry for longer periods (1–2 hours)
• Showing interest in the toilet or potty
• Telling you when they have a wet or dirty nappy
• Being able to follow simple instructions
• Wanting more independence

Try our Toilet Readiness Checker to see if your toddler might be ready.

Tantrums are a normal part of toddler development — they're learning to manage big emotions with a brain that isn't fully developed yet.

Tips that can help:

• Stay calm (easier said than done, we know!)
• Acknowledge their feelings: "I can see you're really upset"
• Keep them safe but don't try to reason mid-tantrum
• Offer comfort when they're ready
• Look for patterns — tiredness, hunger, and overstimulation are common triggers

Our Tantrum Tracker can help you spot patterns, and the Positive Discipline Toolkit offers gentle strategies.

Speech development varies hugely between children, but here are some general milestones:

• 12 months: 1–3 words, babbling with expression
• 18 months: Around 10–20 words
• 2 years: 50+ words, starting to combine two words
• 3 years: Simple sentences, strangers can understand most speech

If you're concerned about your child's speech, speak to your health visitor or GP. Early support can make a big difference.

Our Speech & Language Log can help you track progress.

Yes! Fussy eating is extremely common in toddlers and usually peaks between 18 months and 3 years. It's often linked to their growing independence and natural caution about new foods.

Things that can help:

• Keep offering a variety of foods without pressure
• Eat together as a family when possible
• Let them explore food with their hands
• Offer small portions so it's less overwhelming
• Stay calm — battles over food can make things worse

Our Fussy Eating Tracker can help you see the bigger picture over time.