As every new parent knows, there are a lot of people willing to give you their opinion on everything from breastfeeding to sleeping, crying, pooping and even the state of your postpartum body. You’ll be relieved to know that our courses are delivered by experts, with expert knowledge, not opinion.
Adelaide midwife Donna Mansell founded The Baby Manual after noticing a gap in the market for up-to-date professional advice for new parents. Advice they could follow from the comfort of their own home, as they discover the joys and challenges of life with a newborn.
With 16-years’ experience as a midwife and lactation consultant, Donna is passionate about helping people step into parenthood with calm and confidence. She understands the importance of expert support through pregnancy, childbirth and infanthood.
Using her network and her experience, Donna has gathered credible, informed and approachable experts across a range of fields. The result is professional, clinical advice at the click of a button.
Adelaide midwife Donna Mansell founded The Baby Manual after noticing a gap in the market for up-to-date professional advice for new parents. Advice they could follow from the comfort of their own home, as they discover the joys and challenges of life with a newborn.
With 16-years’ experience as a midwife and lactation consultant, Donna is passionate about helping people step into parenthood with calm and confidence. She understands the importance of expert support through pregnancy, childbirth and infanthood.
Using her network and her experience, Donna has gathered credible, informed and approachable experts across a range of fields. The result is professional, clinical advice at the click of a button.

Expert advice
By now you’ve probably heard all sort of well-meaning advice from all sorts of well-meaning people. And you’re wondering whose opinion to listen to. The Baby Manual gives you advice from experts in each field. You won’t find magical cures, but you will find solid, practical guidance you can apply straight away.
Family support
Our advice goes beyond help for you as a new mum. We know that your partner plays a vital role in caring for your infant while supporting your needs. We give them specific information to help them help you.
Self-paced videos
Find out what to expect as your baby develops and learn why and how things change. Tune into to our expert video advice each week or even each day at a time that suits you. Because we know life with a newborn can be unpredictable.
Get expert advice from expert contributors
Connect with the specialists you need, when you need them.

Kate Phillips
Clinical Director
Kate works privately at O&G in North Adelaide and publicly at WCH where she holds a senior position in the Women’s Physiotherapy Unit. Kate has a special interest in women’s health and pelvic floor rehabilitation.


Dr Anneliese Perkins
Obstetrician & Sonologist
Dr Anneliese Perkins strives to provide compassionate and professional obstetric care for women during pregnancy and childbirth, working with women and their partners to facilitate a successful and enjoyable birth process.


Kelly Ainsley
Teacher
Baby Sensory provides ideas for creative play, massage, tummy time, movement, and music in simple practical ways that can be easily repeated at home.


Claire Foord
Founder
In Australia, Stillbirth is the leading cause of infant death. Many of these deaths are preventable. Still Aware’s mission is to end preventable stillbirth through awareness and education.


Dr Briony Andrew
GP Obstetricians & Lactation Consultant
Her current professional passions are obstetrics and mother-baby care during the first year of life with expertise in the areas of breastfeeding medicine, infant sleep, unsettled infant behaviour and maternal anxiety and depression.


St John
Volunteers
St John is a volunteer based organisation run entirely for the wellbeing of the South Australian community. They have kindly helped produce these videos to support new parents with great first aid and CPR information.


Sarah Rist
Sleep Consultant / Registered Midwife
As a qualified child sleep consultants and mother to our her precious little people, Sara brings a wealth of professional skills, knowledge and personal understanding of the many highs and lows that are often associated with being a new parent.


Dr Nathan Judd
Anaesthetist
As a Specialist Anaesthetist, Nathan Judd is an integral part of the Adelaide Anaesthetic Services team, providing services to around 60,000 people in South Australia’s private hospitals every year.


Brooke Michell
Psychologist
Brooke Michell is passionate about assisting people to bring about positive change in the sleeping patterns of their children, and feels that these changes can be gradual and respectful to both the child and their parents.


Dr Hayley Dohnt
Clinical Psychologist
Hayley is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked for many years assessing, treating and researching sleeping problems.


Jodie Benveniste
Psychologist
Jodie combines positive psychology, spirituality and practical experience to guide and mentor parents to get to the true heart of parenting.


Rebecca Sabine
Physiotherapist
Beck is a Women’s Health and Pelvic floor physiotherapist. Her passion is in helping women with dysfunctions such as incontinence, weakness, prolpase or pain, to regain confidence in their bodies and remain physically active through life.


Dr Chris Hughes
Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Dr Chris Hughes is an Obstetrician and a Gynaecologist based in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide. He is committed to providing education and support for all his expectant mums.


Dr Paul Lang
Paediatrician
Paul has over 15 years’ experience as a consultant paediatrician, largely in private practice in Adelaide. He enjoys immensely the diverse spectrum of general paediatric medicine, ranging from new-born to adolescent care.


Rebecca Brook
Massage Therapist
With many years of experience, Rebecca teaches baby massage, pre and postnatal massage, Aromatherapy and many other specialist services. Recently she has become an acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine specialist.


Dr Anthony Chitti
Paediatrician
Anthony has particular interests in childhood learning, developmental and behavioural problems as well as neonatal medicine. He provides neonatal care at Calvary Hospital North Adelaide and Ashford Hospital.


Donna Mansell
Midwife & Lactation Consultant
Donna is the founding Director of MotherNurture and The Baby Manual, offering 16 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse/ Midwife and Lactation Consultant.

Find the help you need
Feel more confident and calm with expert advice at the click of a button.
Feel more confident and calm with expert advice at the click of a button.
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