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

Brought to you by POM-BEAR the bare bear snack.  The perfect prize for the whole family. Summer is fast approaching and we can’t wait to wave goodbye to school uniforms and copy books (at least for a few months). Instead, we’re looking forward to water fights, family days out at the beach, and road trips […]

9 years ago

While cotton buds can be used for first aid, household cleaning, crafts and makeup application, they are unfortunately also causing injuries to children. A study conducted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital researchers found that over a 21-year period from 1990 through 2010, an estimated 263,000 children younger than 18 years of age were treated in US […]

9 years ago

A Donegal singer-songwriter has provided the backing track to an emotional new advert that celebrates premature babies coming home. Irish singer-songwriter Chanele McGuinness sings a beautiful version of ‘Coming Home’ in a new ad featuring the much-anticipated homecoming of babies who spent their first weeks in hospital wards. Pampers have launched their smallest nappy ever, specially […]

9 years ago

Children with bloodstream infections caused by the superbug MRSA, a common antibiotic-resistant bacteria, are less likely to die than adults with this condition but can suffer serious complications. MRSA stands for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria or germ that many people carry in their nose or on their skin. ‘Meticillin-resistant’ means the bacteria cannot […]

9 years ago

A major fashion brand has launched the world’s first campaign styled exclusively by children in a bid to empower women who have lost their fashion confidence. Fashion brand Long Tall Sally created the ‘Style Has No Rules’ campaign after a new study revealed that 76 percent of women no longer feel confident when it comes to […]

9 years ago

As parents can’t help but be a little bit competitive when it comes to milestone–measuring. However, how much do they REALLY matter?   Well, health professionals use developmental milestones to chart your baby’s physical and neurological growth. These are general guidelines, and it’s all about the overall journey (aka not a race to each marker!).  In short, it‘s not so much about exactly when these milestones happen, only […]

9 years ago

Taking folic acid supplements throughout pregnancy may improve children’s emotional intelligence and psychological development. That is the finding of research by Professor Tony Cassidy and colleagues from Ulster University who will present their study today to the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society. Professor Cassidy explained: “There is evidence that folic acid supplements taken […]

9 years ago

A mum has hit back at a shocking accusation that she isn’t a “real mum” because she adopted her son. A mum, posting under the name Vietnamazinggg, has taken to the online discussion forum Reddit to share her parenting experience after a woman on Facebook told her she wasn’t a real mum because she didn’t give birth […]

9 years ago

Argh! You’ve just managed to get your baby into a sleep routine when Mother Nature intervenes – it’s teething time. Symptoms range from drooling (causing a rash around the mouth) to swollen gums; a sore bum (extra saliva passing through the tummy leads to loose bowels) and general crankiness. It’s usually the 24-72 period just […]

9 years ago

Welcome to week 23 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a grapefruit. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your Baby At 23 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a grapefruit, weighing in at around 500 grams. Their senses continue to develop, and their little face is […]

9 years ago

Girls start believing they aren’t good at maths, science and even computers at a young age, but providing fun STEM activities at school and home may spark interest and inspire confidence. Researchers from the University of Washington have found that 6-year-old girls who are exposed to computer-programming activities, express greater interest in technology and more […]

9 years ago

Natural light is the most important thing to consider for a family home, according to a recent survey. The poll of 25 to 44 year olds, conducted via Google Surveys on behalf of aluminium bi-fold door manufacturer Origin, asked what people see as fundamental features for comfortable family living. The research showed that more than […]

9 years ago

Have you given in to pester power and bought your under-10 a mobile phone? If you have, it seems you are not alone… A new survey carried out by phone-case manufacturer Peli has revealed that 18 percent of young children, aged between six and eight, now own their own mobile phone. Ownership rises to nearly […]

9 years ago

The content of a children’s book, and not its form as a print or digital book, predicts how well children understand a story. Worried about your children reading primarily from screens? Well, fear not. New findings, presented this week at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting, suggest that both digital stories and reading storybooks […]

9 years ago

Dr Ruairi Hanley, a member of The Medical Council and a columnist for the Irish Medical Times, has called for anti-vaxxers to have their child benefit cut by 50 percent. In an opinion piece for the Irish Medical times titled ‘Fighting the anti-vaxxers‘, Dr Hanley has slammed thousands of parents  who are refusing to let their daughters […]

9 years ago