From today, all parents of a new baby will be given a free book called ‘Welcome to Your New Baby’ to help them through the first year of their child’s life.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said parents would receive the magazine-style book at their first visit with a community child health nurse.
“The arrival of a new baby is an exciting time and we hope the ‘Welcome to Your New Baby’ book is an easy-to-read publication that will help parents answer all those tough questions that arise in the early months of a child’s life,” Mr McGinty said.
“It has been designed as a resource that parents can return to time and time again for useful information.
“The new publication is a wonderful gift to families who welcome a new baby into their home and for the first time, parents throughout the State will have access to the same comprehensive information.”
The Minister said a record 30,000 babies were expected to be born in Western Australia this year and the new book would be a welcome source of information for parents during the ‘baby boom’. It featured important information for parents of a new baby including sleep patterns, baby’s development, feeding, being a dad, colic and useful services to contact for further information and support.
The Department for Health publication would cost approximately $45,000 each year.
Child and Adolescent Community Health executive director Mark Morrissey said all new parents were offered support from a community child health nurse.
“Our child health nurses offer an initial home visit to all parents of newborns and provide regular health and development checks for children,” Mr Morrissey said.
“Community child health nurses are an important part of the community support process and a great place to start for information about many aspects of parenting, maternal and family health issues.”
Community child health nurses are located in 310 centres throughout WA.
Minister's office - 9422 3000 
