Parenthood - 3-6 months

The exploration age.

This is where the real fun starts! At about 6 months of age, your baby may be ready to start solid foods.

This is a big stage in your baby's life. A bold new world of tastes, textures and potential tantrums. You and mum may decide you want to make all of your baby's food yourselves, which is great, but there are also a whole array of nutritious baby foods on the market – for when you run out of inspiration or you simply haven't got time.

All in it together

When you've had a long day at the office and very little sleep the night before, housework isn't going to be high on your priority list. But helping with some of the chores can relieve some of the burden on your partner. You may already have a routine for sharing the nightly wake up calls. If so, that's probably the best way you can help at the moment.

It can take a long time for a woman to lose the extra weight she gained during pregnancy. If your partner hasn't reverted to her pre-pregnancy figure just yet, she may be feeling unattractive and fed up with her body. Lift her spirits by giving her encouragement, complimenting her and buying her the occasional bunch of flowers. Anything to make her feel appreciated and loved.

The sex issue

If you haven't already started having regular sex again, you're probably wondering when it's going to happen. This isn't something you can rush – it has to be the right time for both of you. Some people find they're able to spark up the flames of passion after just a few weeks but for many couples it can take a lot longer. There are plenty of reasons - she may not feel physically ready, she may not feel sexy or she may just be just plain exhausted.

Once you do get started again, be gentle and let her take the lead. She'll probably want to take things slowly and only in certain positions at first. You may find that a little extra lubrication (K-Y Jelly) helps to ease any discomfort. And don't forget the contraception even if she's still breastfeeding or hasn't yet had a period. Ovulation can happen at any time so take the necessary precautions.

If sex is still painful or your partner isn't as keen as you are, it's good to talk about it so that you both know how each other feels. There are many other ways to be intimate and satisfy your desires.