October 13, 2026 Nur Adibah

Meet Dr. Michelle Ng Director of The Family Zone

From preparing for your little one’s arrival to navigating those precious (and sometimes overwhelming!) first months of parenthood, The Family Zone has been supporting families in Hong Kong since 2005. With everything from childbirth education and lactation support to baby massage and workshops just for dads, their mission is simple: to help parents feel confident, supported, and a little less alone on their journey.

We spoke to Dr. Michelle Ng, Director of The Family Zone (TFZ), to talk about empowering new parents, supporting dads, and why personalised care is the key to more joyful parenting.

Q: Can you share the journey of TFZ since its founding and how it has evolved over the years? What has been the most rewarding experience for you since leading TFZ?

TFZ was founded in 2005 by Yvonne Heavyside, who is so fondly remembered by so many families for her help, her warmth and reassurance in the early days and weeks of parenthood. She started TFZ with the same core services our clients see today: childbirth education, domestic helper training, First Aid and CPR classes as well as postnatal and lactation support. Nothing drastic has changed since I took the helm! We are still very focussed on giving personalised support, and deeply passionate about providing evidence- based care and education on childbirth and beyond. I’ve added a few new services, such as breastfeeding workshops, dad workshops (because dads need support too!), baby massage classes, and if people require it, they can reach out to us for sleep support, music therapy, pre and postnatal fitness and confinement cooking classes!

The most rewarding experience since leading TFZ? That’s a big question! I couldn’t tell you one specific experience! I love what I do, and empowering families wherever they are on their parenting journey is a daily part of my life; so whether it’s seeing a baby latch successfully for the first time, or hearing that a mum had the birth she wanted and I taught her something valuable that enabled that; that’s all wonderful to me. Another huge reward is working with the people I work with. I have an incredible team who are all equally passionate about babies, bumps and breasts!

Q: Could you explain the importance of lactation consulting and how it benefits both mother and baby?

Unfortunately we know that most families and women don’t meet their breastfeeding goals, and most families don’t get to feed their babies the way they want to. Hong Kong has a low breastfeeding rate compared to global averages and is pretty far below international targets! Breastfeeding affords numerous health benefits for both mother and baby, so having a professional provide tailored support and advice can help families thrive in the early weeks and months, and not just health-wise but emotionally too.

Q: Dad support services are a unique aspect of TFZ. How do you see the role of fathers evolving in Hong Kong’s parenting landscape?

Not just in Hong Kong, but generally we feel the role of fathers in parenting is evolving significantly. More fathers are actively participating in childcare duties, more are attuned to how difficult it can be for them and their partners to transition into parenthood, and want to learn about how to make things smoother, how to get more support.

Recent improvements in paternity leave policies (though the standard paternity leave in Hong Kong is still appallingly low at 5 days), encourages dads to bond with their newborns, which promotes shared responsibilities. There's also a growing recognition of the importance of fathers in child development. A lot of our dads are keen to be present for their children and often bring up how they want to do things differently to their own fathers. Overall, these changes reflect a shift towards more involved parenting.

Q: What advice would you give to new parents navigating the early stages of parenthood in Hong Kong?

For new parents navigating the early stages of parenthood, my advice is to trust your instincts and do what feels right for you and your baby, as each child is unique. It’s important to reach out for help when needed—don’t hesitate to ask family, friends, or support groups for advice and assistance. I’d try not to have too many expectations of what the baby should or should not be doing, and I’d definitely stay away from over-Googling and following textbooks to the T!

In the very early days and weeks, you might find your days are very unpredictable which can cause some anxiety. Try to prioritize self-care; rest when you can, eat well, and take breaks to recharge by leaning on your partner or wider circle of support. Communication with your partner is so important, so keep the lines open to discuss responsibilities and feelings. Trying to stay patient when everything is so new is hard initially, as parenting is a learning process for both you and your baby! Lastly, try to enjoy the baby and don’t be too fixated on feeds and nappy output! You ‘become a parent’ over months and years, not just in the moment when you first hold your baby, so take it one day at a time.

Q: Last but not least... Do you have a wishlist on Retykle? What are your favourite baby items and what are the absolute essentials for parents that they cannot live without?

My list of must-have items for parents are: zip swaddles, onesies that have zippers or buttons at the front or wrap over / kimono bodysuits, Stokke flexi bath, bedside cribs, a steam steriliser for bottles and pump parts, bath thermometer, baby thermometer, baby carrier and a car seat!

Wishlist:

At Family Zone we’re big on baby-wearing, so finding a baby wrap and/or carrier that works for both mum and dad (because there can be preferences!) is so important!
Although swaddling your baby is not an absolute must, a lot of babies do sleep better swaddled, so it can be so helpful to get a few swaddles and sleep sacks for your little one and we are fans of Ergopouch and Love to Dream swaddles, for their zippers as it’s much easier to get the baby in and out of them versus the traditional swaddling blankets.
Nursing clothes for breastfeeding mums can be tricky to find and Retykle has some great ones!
Babies grow so quickly, so I feel that it’s more economical and better to buy
second-hand bodysuits!