Reading to your baby lets you SIT DOWN for a minute. Oh yes, and it’s also very good for them. Functional MRI studies show reading does wonders for a child’s learning ability; language development and understanding. Read early and often – here’s your HerFamily guide to getting started: Snuggle up together when you read. Babies […]

9 years ago

Some mums and dads are now so exhausted by modern parenting that the term ‘burnout’ is being used by psychologists. Parental Burnout – depression linked to being a parent – is a taboo phenomenon that is now being spoken and written about more and more. According to the journal Frontiers of Psychology, almost 13 percent of mums […]

9 years ago

Teens will rarely use the word ‘depressed’ to describe negative emotions, but other expressions of teen angst can be a signal of more serious, pre-depressive symptoms. New research, funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health in the US, has revealed that teenagers are more likely to use terms such as ‘stressed’ or ‘down’. The findings, presented […]

9 years ago

Good news for all you bookclubbers (well, maybe for the ones who aren’t just there for the wine), as it turns out being a bookworm makes you more attractive. Research by the online matchmakers eHarmony has revealed that being an avid reader ups your appeal with the opposite sex. However, it’s better news for the men […]

9 years ago

Thirty per cent of teenagers regularly ‘sext’ and send nude photographs through email and text, an American study has revealed. Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch found that half of teenagers have been asked to send a nude photograph to another while over a third have requested a naked picture to be sent to […]

9 years ago

People who were smacked during their childhood are more likely to develop mental health issues during adulthood according to a study carried out by Canadian researchers. The study, which was released on Monday, is the first of its kind to analyse the long-term psychological impact that physical discipline can have on a person. Children who […]

9 years ago

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer, yet ’twas not her beauty alone that won me. Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning, that made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee… You see it wasn’t just her beauty at all, at all. It was the truth in […]

9 years ago

In these dark times and fear-filled days we live in, it can be hard to reconcile the decision to bring children into the world. As parents, we are often overwhelmed with advice on how to help our children to be their very best, how to help them succeed academically, and how not to mess up […]

9 years ago

“Be quiet and effective, actions speak louder than words and results speak for themselves. Be a runner, don’t talk about being one.” This is a quote from one of the most motivating (yet realistic) books I’ve ever handed over money for: Run Fat Bitch Run by Ruth Field. I bought it a few years back, because at […]

9 years ago

And the most dedicated award goes to… Orangutang mamas. Researchers have found that orangutans breastfeed their young for even longer than was previously believed. It turns out that these supermums use their milk cyclically to keep breastfeeding for eight years, or even longer in some instances. These animals are naturally reclusive in the wild and their […]

9 years ago

Now there’s another reason to tell your man to get off the couch. At this stage, we all know exercise is good for you and that physical activity helps to keep your heart heathy, your mind sharp, and your bones strong. Exercise has also been shown to be as effective as anti-depressants for some mood […]

9 years ago

Jordan Catalano. Peak 90s… Peak. Let’s face it ladies, life was all downhill from here. My-So-Called Life pretty much was my life. Not in the sense that it was similar to my life in any way, shape, or form (although I wished it was), but as in my life revolved around it. I over-identified with Angela […]

9 years ago

Mobile phones are an intrinsic part of modern life, to the point that the fear of being out of cellular contact now even has its own name ‘nomophobia’. Most of us are in no rush to put down our smartphones for even a day, so imagine how much of a challenge a nine month detox […]

9 years ago

A new style of family creation that sees couples ‘adopt’ embryos and, after the child is born, remain in contact with the donors is being hailed as the way forward for donor conception. Embryo Adoption Experts from the UK’s University of Liverpool and University of Huddersfield have been examining the policies of the ‘Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Programme’, […]

9 years ago

Researchers in Finland have found a link between the consumption of omega-3 through breast milk and a reduced risk of babies developing type 1 diabetes. A new study has shown that breastfeeding mums who consume omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly found in fish, nuts, vegetable oils, and leafy vegetables, could offer their babies protection against type 1 diabetes. […]

9 years ago

Pasta is one of the most convenient, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare family meals and pleases even the pickiest of young eaters. But now there’s even more good news for pasta lovers as new research has shown that pasta consumption in children and adolescents is associated with a better diet. The study demonstrated that young pasta-eaters have […]

9 years ago

A seven-year-old boy with Down Syndrome has taken a photograph of what his mum is calling ‘his guardian angel’ outside a plane window. Young Aasher Liles was flying home to Houston, Texas when he borrowed his mum Kerri’s mobile phone to take some pictures. Later on, as Kerri flicked back through the images that Aasher had […]

9 years ago

A major new mental health report, examining the positive and negative effects of social media, has revealed that the social media platform Instagram has the most negative impact on young people’s mental health. The Royal Society for Public Health’s #StatusOfMind report, placed video channel YouTube at the top of the table as the most positive, with Instagram […]

9 years ago

A pharmacy in Northern Ireland have taken to social media to warn parents against using particular drugs when treating their children for chickenpox. Meigh Pharmacy, who are based on the Dromintee Road in Newry, posted to Facebook urging parents of children with the highly contagious childhood disease not to use anti-inflammatory drugs to treat chickenpox. Their health warning […]

9 years ago

Unboxing videos are some of the most-watched clips on YouTube, receiving millions of views every month. Now, experts are comparing the phenomenon to ‘toddler crack’… An extreme comparison you ask? Not in my house. Every time I allow my children to watch children’s videos on YouTube (normally under their initial pretence that they will watch something innocuous […]

9 years ago

Yoga brings many benefits for adults but did you know that it can be equally beneficial for smallies? My daughter and I love to take some girlie time out from our boy-heavy house to practice our yoga moves together. As well as being super-relaxing, we often end up in fits of giggles when our poses […]

9 years ago

Flying with a toddler doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are a few handy tips for getting through the airport and on that flight with ease. Make your holiday feel like a break from the get-go with our simple tips: 1. Allow plenty of time before your flight departs We know this may sound straightforward, but […]

9 years ago

It’s time to ground helicopter parents. Permanently. Psychologists define helicopter parenting as mothers and fathers who are ‘over-involved’ in the lives of their children. This may sound dichotomous – after all, shouldn’t being involved be at the very heart of good parenting? Well, yes and no. There is a big difference between parents who are […]

9 years ago

Findings from new research, published today, may finally provide answers as to why older women have higher incidences of miscarriage and have babies with chromosomal abnormalities. Female fertility declines rapidly after the age of 37, with women over 42 having only a five percent chance of having a baby without fertility treatment. As a woman […]

9 years ago

Oh, you have SO MUCH catching up to do.   It’s your first night out on the town after becoming a mum. Time to reclaim your sense of self; get your identity back and finally change into something other than tracksuit pants.  You may discover some of the following applies…  1. A pair of Spanx is a new mum’s BFF.  2. Your little […]

9 years ago

Ursula Walsh has shed over 56lbs since starting her Instagram account Mom Fitness Diary to document her weight loss. The Mexican mum-of-two, who lives in Co. Offaly, has amassed thousands of followers, all eager to keep up with her daily tips and recipes.  “How many of us have reached for the biscuits when we’re sad, mad, angry, anxious […]

9 years ago

Michelle and Barack Obama are a great example of a couple who kept their marriage (and love for each other) alive despite the stresses and strains of being the President and First Lady, having kids, and living in the public eye. All very well for those two with their staff, nannies, and a private jet […]

9 years ago

#GetBlownAway

9 years ago

And what do you do? Oh, I’m a journalist. That must be so great since you’re a mum – you must be able to work from home! And so goes every conversation ever about my job. My answer to working from home? Hell to the no. Anyone who thinks working from home when you have children […]

9 years ago

Siblings are great: our own siblings help us out with our own kids and watching our children interact with their brothers and sisters is a delight. Yes, they may be annoying and frustrating and make your life a living hell as you’re growing up, but at the end of the day they’re your friends that […]

9 years ago

Welcome to week 27 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a lettuce. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your baby Your baby is about the size of a head of lettuce now, weighing around 875 grams. Their lungs continue to develop as they practice breathing by inhaling and […]

9 years ago

Brought to you by Lidl. This would be fantastic! Mamas, we have got an amazing competition for you this week. We have teamed up with Lidl to give you the chance to win €1,000 in cold hard cash plus a year’s free shopping at one of their many stores. Wouldn’t that be great? All you have […]

9 years ago

Serve on its own or with rice, pasta, lentils or quinoa.

9 years ago

Today marks the UN’s International Day of Families – a day dedicated to raising awareness of the role of families in promoting early childhood education and lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth. A new survey of 10,000 parents, launched to coincide with the day, has shown that many parents are concerned about unhealthy material that their children […]

9 years ago

Every parent wants to encourage their child from the sidelines, but how do you avoid crossing the line and becoming ‘that’ shouting parent who believes every match is a televised final? We have all encountered a mum or dad who takes their children’s sport wayyyyyy too seriously. Shouting at the ref, adding their ‘coaching skills’ […]

9 years ago

We recently dug out Neven Maguire’s Complete Baby & Toddler Cookbook and we have to say it’s completely fab. The book offers more than 200 recipes and daily menu planners to take you from first tastes through each stage of weaning. Neven also weighs in on the organic debate and offers great tips and advice […]

9 years ago

Welcome to week 26 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a zucchini. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your baby By 26 weeks, your baby is about the size of a zucchini, weighing approximately 760 grams. Their little eyes are starting to open, and although vision is limited, […]

9 years ago

Welcome to week 25 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a head of cauliflower. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your Baby At 25 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a head of cauliflower, weighing around 660 grams. Their little body is developing even more baby […]

9 years ago

For the first six months of life, your growing baby’s nutritional needs are met with breastmilk or formula. After that, it’s time to introduce your little prince or princess to solid foods. And while it can be a bit daunting to get started, there are tips and tricks to make that transition that bit easier. […]

9 years ago

Everyone knows a pushy parent, forcing their child to make up for their own mistakes and failed dreams. Abraham Lincoln once said what every mum who’s ever forced tennis, piano, or violin lessons on their child secretly wants to hear, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” There comes […]

9 years ago

One of our favourite funny mothas, Emma Doran, has shared another on-point video with a few diet tips as we come into shorts season.  Emma, who lives in Dublin with her partner Shane, their three children, Ella (13) Joe (3) and Tommy (1), and two dogs Twiggy and Stan, is a Republic of Telly regular. Her latest video […]

9 years ago

We’ve all claimed ‘baby brain’ after putting our handbag in the fridge instead of the milk. But now scientists know more about how the brain’s structure changes because of pregnancy. As if the nausea, heartburn, swollen ankles, and exhaustion weren’t enough, new research published this month has shed some light on the weird changes that occur in women’s […]

9 years ago

Yesterday, Australian Senator Larissa Waters became the first politician to breastfeed in her country’s federal parliament. The politician has been lauded for her actions (and rightly so) but I wonder how long it will be before we see similar openness in our own country? I won’t hold my breath. Despite the fact that breastfeeding rates in […]

9 years ago

A relationship expert says that new parents are much more likely to see themselves as a team if they can move away from labels like ‘stay at home’ mum or dad. Despite positive shifts in society towards co-parenting, new research has shown that parents still use terms more suited to the parenting styles of the […]

9 years ago

Horse lovers understand that equine therapy is the real deal when it comes to mental health. Last Saturday, 18 teenagers with a range of challenging life issues from secondary and special needs schools in the UK, successfully completed a demanding trek leading Dartmoor ponies across nearly 14 miles of tough terrain. The teens say that it […]

9 years ago

Welcome to week 24 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a cantaloupe. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your baby At 24 weeks, your baby is around the size of a cantaloupe, weighing approximately 600 grams. Their features continue to develop, and their eyes, once fused shut, are […]

9 years ago

One man vs pink

9 years ago

Life is a cabaret ol’ chum, so come to the Cabaret. So go the immortal words of Liza Minnelli’s cabaret host Sally Bowles. If you’re a fan of the movie, musical theatre, or just fancy a break from the norm on date night we have some good news for you… Cabaret is alive and well […]

9 years ago

I have boys. I spend A LOT of time talking about snots, wiping snots (sometimes off walls), and asking them not to pick their noses. Sometimes, I also have to ask them not to eat what they’ve picked… Well, it turns out that maybe I should just let them go ahead and do their thing. […]

9 years ago

Good on you Dee. We need more women like you in the age of Instagram motherhood. When you look at this photo what do you see? A healthy, bouncing baby boy? An ecstatic and beaming new mama who has just been through one of the most difficult things that Mother Nature throws at women’s bodies? […]

9 years ago