SidebySide

19/01/2026

👋Hey mama, baba, mkhulu nogogo, you can now listen to Side-by-Side radio shows anytime and anywhere you are, even if you missed the radio show on your favourite station

📻Omny has got you covered!

👂🏾Listen to this episode on identifying physical development delays: https://omny.fm/shows/side-by-side-season-4/munghana-lonene-fm-episode-47-identifying-physical-development-delays?t=28m44s

For today's episode, Sis Thuli, who is an audiologist and Mpho Blessing, an occupational therapist, discuss physical development delays and what you need to look out for.

Children at higher risk of developmental difficulties should have their development monitored.

If your precious little one was:

- Born premature or with low birth weight
- Birth defect
- Contracted HIV & AIDS
- Has severe or moderate acute malnutrition
- Has an iron deficiency or anaemia
- Is often sick and is hospitalised regularly

This episode covers all these issues. Listen in and find out what you need to look out for.
# RadioDrama

19/01/2026

Pureed fruit recipe for babies 6 months and above.

Ingredients:
🍎Fresh apple
🍐Pear
🍑Peach
🍑Apricot

Method
Wash, peel, core and dice fruit, making sure all stones are removed.

Place fresh fruit or any remaining water in a saucepan/ pot.

Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the saucepan and cook quickly until the fruit is soft.

Press pulp through a strainer or puree in a blender.

Remember:

✔️Always stay next to your child when they are eating.

❎Do not add salt or sugar to the food. It’s important not to start giving your child food with added sugar or honey and salt since the child will only eat them and will refuse any other food that is tasteless.

Added sugar and salt are harmful to infants and young children because they increase the risk of harmful bacteria in the mouth, leading to tooth problems, poor nutrition, kidney strain, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure later in life.

Honey is also not recommended for infants and young children under 1 year as it can contain harmful bacteria that cause serious illnesses. Always remember to give your child a variety of foods. Refer to your child's road to health booklet for types of foods to give according to your child's age.

😃Babies have very sensitive taste buds, and to them even bland foods have a lot of flavour!

16/01/2026

Parents and caregivers, if you are feeling alone, remember we are here to help you on your journey💛💛🚸

📲Join our Side by Side WhatsApp channel. We share tips on how to make your parenting journey a lot easier. You can also DM us a message on our page, and we will respond promptly to your questions.

Join our WhatsApp channel here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9TylMHbFV9h4odbe17

15/01/2026

Do you think your child has ADHD? 🤔

Schools are reopening, and sometimes teachers do not have all the resources to identify when a child has ADHD.🏢

ADHD is defined as ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition that affects how a person pays attention, manages energy levels, and controls impulses. It can make everyday things harder, at school, at home and in friendships.

Often, in children, ADHD is seen through these symptoms:

🔵 Trouble sitting still or always moving.
🔵 Struggling to focus or listen.
🔵 Acting without thinking.
🔵 Forgetting things often.
🔵 Getting frustrated or getting emotional quickly.

While every child is different, it is important to remember that these are more than just “naughty” behaviours. Children with ADHD are trying their best; they just need the right support.

If you suspect your child has ADHD, 🗣 talk to your clinic, nurse or health worker if you’re concerned.

If you want more help, call the ADHD toll-free number at ☎️ 0800 55 44 33 (SADAG).

14/01/2026

Schools, creches, and ECD centres are reopening. Make sure your child has gotten their immunisation up to date.

Remember, it is important to know the dates when you need to take your little one back to the clinic for their immunisation. Even if you missed that date because maybe you were working or had other responsibilities, make sure you return to the clinic as soon as possible.

💉Immunisations help protect your child from contracting any preventable illnesses or diseases.

Please remember to bring your Road to Health Booklet📘.

13/01/2026

⏰Just 10 to 15 minutes a day with a book is enough to spark your curious little one’s interest.

Remember, if you cannot afford to buy new books each time, Book Dash has a big library of books that are freely available that you can download from their website or print out.

🔗Use this link to access any book of your choice: https://bookdash.org/books/

Reading to our little one helps them with language development.

13/01/2026

We know the holidays are coming to an end🙃, and a lot of mammas are returning to work.

It can be hard to be separated from baby for long hours, but we have a tip to make things a lot easier.

Did you know? You can leave your scented clothing item with your baby when you are away. This helps keep your baby feeling safe and comforted.💛💛💛💛

12/01/2026

[Radio Drama Catch-Up]

📻Listen to Doctor Zuziwe Buthelezi from Queen Nandi Hospital in KZN as she talks about the Child Health Catch-Up Drive on Ukhozi FM.

Listen to this special episode here: https://omny.fm/shows/side-by-side-season-4/ukhozi-fm-special-episode-child-health-catch-up-drive?t=1m21s

It is important to know that children should not only be taken to the clinic when they are sick. You should also take your child for their full course of immunisations and routine treatments.

💉Immunisations are free and available; they protect your baby from common childhood illnesses and diseases.

Make sure your baby gets all their routine immunisations.

12/01/2026

We know the holidays are coming to an end, and a lot of mammas are returning to work, and babies will be left in the care of other members of our family or helpers.

It is important to know that even if you are going back to work momma you can still breastfeed your little one.

Many mothers continue to breastfeed by feeding directly when they’re with their baby and expressing milk for when they’re apart.

This is what you should know:

- Direct feed before and after work, during the night, and on weekends to keep your milk supply up and enjoy that special bond.
- At work, you can express milk by hand (a useful skill!) or with a manual or electric breast pump, making sure your baby has what they need while you’re away.
- If you are exclusively breastfeeding and have not given your baby solids, please let gogo, aunty or your helper who is looking after your little one DO NOT to give your baby porridge, water, tea (including rooibos tea), juice or any other food.
Give your baby ONLY breastmilk for the first 6 months.

11/01/2026

The Department of Health urges parents and caregivers to immediately discontinue the use of the affected Nestlé NAN products in accordance with the National Consumer Commission recall notice.

The affected product is NAN Special Pro HA Infant Formula (0–12 months) 800g with Batch Number 51660742F3 and a Best-Before Date of 15 December 2026.
The product recall from South Africa's shelves follows the identification of a potential presence of Cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, which constitutes a food safety concern.

Side by Side expert and Deputy Director in the Cluster Child, Youth and School Health, responsible for infant and young children's nutrition at the National Department of Health (South Africa) Zandi Kubeka shares more on this recall and emphasises that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months. From 6 months up to two years or beyond, breastmilk remains an important source of nutrition and protection against illnesses.

Watch the interview here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2DAvQlYjAk

SABC News

The Department of Health is urging parents and caregivers to immediately stop using affected Nestlé NAN products. This follows a recall notice issued by the ...

09/01/2026

The Department of Health urges parents and caregivers to immediately discontinue the use of the affected Nestlé NAN products in accordance with the National Consumer Commission recall notice.

The affected product is NAN Special Pro HA Infant Formula (0–12 months) 800g with Batch Number 51660742F3 and a Best-Before Date of 15 December 2026.

The product recall from South Africa's shelves follows the identification of a potential presence of Cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, which constitutes a food safety concern.

09/01/2026

Listen up, mommy! We know times are tough and jobs are scarce.

If you are not working or do not earn enough money every month to buy your baby clothes and other important items, you may qualify for the CHILD SUPPORT GRANT (CSG). If you do qualify, you can get the child support grant from when your baby is born.

You must get it as early as possible, as this will help support the baby’s development.

These are the things you need to bring when going to apply for a child support grant at your nearest SASSA centre:

🪪Your ID card
📃Your Child’s Birth Certificate. Remember, you must register your baby's birth before they turn one month old.
📄A police affidavit that states that you are unemployed or do not earn enough money.

Please remember that only the caregiver who stays with the child will be allowed to apply for the Child Support Grant.

Visit the SASSA website for more information https://www.sassa.gov.za/