Getting them to sleep or nap is one of the most testing aspects of parenthood. On reflection, considering we love them so damn much we do seem to spend an awful lot of time trying to put them to bed.  Nap time brings out a lot of irrational anger in me towards other people. In […]

8 years ago

You want something nutritious, but you also want something quick and handy. With the weather not being able to make up it’s mind this season, it’s safe to say that a lot of kids are coming home with coughs and runny noses. However, this healthy Italian soup and scones recipe will keep them fed and […]

8 years ago

Brought to you by ToddleBox.ie. You’ve battled through that first year and emerged on the other side happy, full of love… and completely exhausted.  Toddlers: utterly adorable, not to mention bucketloads of fun. Parenting one also involves an abnormally high tolerance for tantrums, bodily fluids, and cartoon pigs. So here at HerFamily, we’ve identified the most […]

8 years ago

Look, trying to save money is a little like watching water drain through a sieve.  Oh look! There it goes…more money being spent on stuff that needs spending on. And as your own mammy will to this day attest, the whole offloading loads of cash thing really comes into play once you have kids. Because […]

8 years ago

We all know it’s the most important meal of the day, so why do we so often end up scoffing breakfast on the run?  Trying to get everyone out the door in the morning leaves little time to sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal, but, with a few clever hacks, you can ensure you […]

8 years ago

Very crafty.

8 years ago

Job done.

8 years ago

If you’re anything like us, you frequently leave the house with under-eye luggage heavier than your handbag.  That was until we discovered an easy way to get rid of them (without seeing a plastic surgeon). Turns out, under-eye bags are basically just an accumulation of fluid that builds up around the eye cavity. Over time, […]

8 years ago

When it comes to flat ironing your hair, hotter may be better if you want to get the job done quickly. However, it turns out that the highest setting on many hair straighteners are only designed for in-salon use, ideally for sealing in a keratin treatment. Using the maximum temperature setting at home on a […]

8 years ago

As if we needed an excuse for another cup of coffee…

8 years ago

For me, Sundays are pretty much dominated by the thought that Monday morning is looming, with The Fear fully kicking in around 4pm. It’s a combination of sadness about the weekend being over (even though it’s officially not) and the realisation that another working week lies ahead. It’s also a real drag and a total waste […]

8 years ago

Designing your own kitchen is everything. A lifetime of living in somebody else’s house (my mum) or renting (with my friend) or with my in-laws does that to a girl. I have had a mental scrapbook of some serious home design since before I could remember. Geometric tiles, marble effect, rose gold handles…..this is house […]

8 years ago

Brought to you by Celtic Pure Irish Spring Water. Well, mums and dads, our little tots are FINALLY back to school. And with term-time comes more hectic schedules (think school runs, extracurricular activities, and homework) meaning we’re currently considering anything that makes our day run that bit more smoothly. Making better choices is a great start […]

8 years ago

Before giving birth to two boys in quick succession my life and home – or more specifically, my bathroom – was pretty normal. But I quickly discovered that raising children of the opposite sex is a serious challenge, and one that you have to adapt to pretty damn quickly. If you are expecting a baby boy, […]

8 years ago

“To avoid ‘hungry’ turning to ‘hangry’ we don’t waste much time…”

8 years ago

Creepy new research has shown that supermarkets can control our walking speed while we shop, just by changing the pattern on the floor. An interesting (and super-creepy) new study carried out by the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, has demonstrated that retail managers can persuade their customers to walk at the ideal pace (either […]

8 years ago

Brought to you by Aveeno® Baby. Mums, if you’re anything like us, we know you’d adore a relaxing, stress-relieving massage. And like all busy mums, we feel you’re entirely worthy of a superb treat that can easily fit into that manic schedule of yours. It’s perfect as it provides just enough time to let all […]

8 years ago

As Irish women, we’re no shrinking violets when it comes to speaking out about the health of our families, friends and children. When it comes to ourselves, however, it seems we still have a tendency to brush things under the carpet… especially when it comes to one wee issue: bladder control. According to new research, […]

8 years ago

Splinters. From the little ones to the big ones, they’re a nasty business, particularly if you’re a child (or squeamish adult).  Everybody remembers the sheer terror of a grown-up approaching your already throbbing finger with a big pair of tweezers. It’s no wonder the mere thought of it is highly likely to send a kid […]

8 years ago

A study has found that mothers who bed-share with their babies tend to breastfeed for longer than the first six months. Researchers at Durham University spoke to over 600 pregnant women about their views on breastfeeding, bed-sharing and the fear of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The women they submitted reports documenting their bed-sharing and […]

8 years ago

It’s not great news if you’re a parent and are running about at all hours after the little ones, but a link between a lack of sleep and eating fatty foods has been established. (We write this as we’re tucking into a couple of chocolate digestive biscuits and a cup of tea!) According to Mail […]

8 years ago

A study has pinpointed one of the most hazardous place in your home for your little one to sleep. And it may surprise you. Research in the American journal, Paediatrics, found that the sofa is a no-go zone for your newborn. Of over nine thousand sleep-related infant deaths – 13 per cent happened on the […]

8 years ago

They do say that “opposites attract” but it seems that a new study has undermined that belief. In fact, experts found that people associate with and are attracted to those who are similar to them in terms of values and opinions. And it’s not just romantic couples, they found that friends and casual acquaintances also […]

8 years ago

“Children need inner strength from an early age,” says Eileen Keane Haly, Life and Parent Coach. “If children learn to believe in themselves, it really stands to them in later life.” As the pioneer of Jumpstart Your Confidence, Eileen works with thousands of young people and teens every year through school-based workshops and one-to-one consultations. […]

8 years ago

You’re welcome.

8 years ago

From the minute we become mothers, we are showered with an overwhelming amount of advice from the other mammies in our lives. The road to parenting is paved with The Irish Mammy’s good intentions. Here are the top five pieces of old-school parenting advice that you’ll hear from your mother and granny that should stay […]

8 years ago

It’s not good for the follicles.

8 years ago

It could seriously impact on your wellbeing.

8 years ago

Ok, get the tissues ready. I know we poke fun at parenting a lot. We write lists and lists about the things we miss now that we have kids; our high heels, privacy, sleep, expendable income, romantic getaways, boozy nights out.. But it’s all tongue in cheek, to be fair, isn’t it? Because nothing compares […]

8 years ago

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, best-selling author of The Gentle Sleep Book writing in The Huffington Post, has made an argument against telling younger children to say ‘sorry’. Ockwell-Smith acknowledges that by school-age most children have developed a degree of empathy, but as we all know, toddlers’ lack of empathy is legendary. My own toddler thinks nothing of […]

8 years ago

Ireland’s only milk bank provides lifesaving breastmilk to over 900 babies a year, in the face of an exceptional donor shortage. The Milk Bank, the only one of its kind in the country, is based in the small town of Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh and is managed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust. The Milk […]

8 years ago

Cutting the crap: 5 things I could have done without

8 years ago

Pinpointing what changes when you start a family is about as futile as trying to quantify what changes when you discover Nutella for the first time. The pre-family days and the post-family daze are radically different. However in a bid to scratch the surface of this question here’s 9 things that change when you start a […]

8 years ago

Late nights and erratic sleeping habits don’t just make kids grumpy in the morning, they also make them more likely to be tempted by junk food. According to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, kids who get less than 11 hours of sleep per night were more eager to eat a favourite […]

8 years ago

Turns out, having a weird name could actually work in your favour.  Experts believe that an unusual moniker helps children to think differently than peers with more run-of-the-mill names. “It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that begins with an unusual name and ultimately leads to unconventional or creative thinking,” New York University professor of psychology Adam Alter told […]

8 years ago

Children’s television in the 70s and 80s was an odd experience.

8 years ago

Last week, I made the embarrassing mistake of asking for a diet coke in a hipster eatery. Let’s just say I received a very specific look. Some might call it a death stare. The waitress told me in no uncertain times that they don’t serve “that stuff” but asked if I’d like some Kombucha instead. […]

8 years ago

Bought or thinking about buying a fixer-upper?

8 years ago

We’ll try anything at this stage.

8 years ago

Infertility affects 15% of couples of reproductive age worldwide. Male factors, including poor semen quality, account for approximately 25% of these cases. Many fertility clinics recommend simple lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity, stress reduction, and reduced alcohol and caffeine consumption, in order to improve sperm quality. Now, researchers from the Human Nutrition Unit […]

8 years ago

Babies in prams accompanying older siblings on the school run are twice as likely to be exposed to harmful air pollution in the morning than in the afternoon, a new study has found. The new research, published this week in the journal Environmental Pollution, highlights the high levels exposure of babies in prams to air pollution […]

8 years ago

Because it IS like stuffing an octopus into a mesh bag.

8 years ago

You are getting very sleeeeeeepy…

8 years ago

Those of us with sleep debt have probably forgotten what it feels like to be truly rested. However, research shows it’s not just parents who are sleep deprived: The National Sleep Foundation has revealed that children should be getting more sleep than experts originally thought. Tasked with updating the official recommendations, 18 scientists and researchers came together to […]

8 years ago

Life after kids is wildly different from life pre-kids, that is stating the obvious in the extreme. The big differences become apparent immediately: There’s a baby in my house, it wants things, I have to give them to it. The little differences, however, only become evident little by little. For example, one day you’ll hear […]

8 years ago

There’s a new wave of artistic expression unfolding in the form of baby names inspired by the masters.  Here’s our top ten names for your little Monet or Matisse (those two don’t feature, we swear!). 1. Bohan The influential French fashion designer of the house of Dior. 2. Soutine A Lithuanian-born expressionist painter known for bold, […]

8 years ago

Getting the chicken pox is something of a rite of passage for Irish children. While a vaccination against the viral infection is available privately, most off us will opt to allow our kids to get it, and have it over with, while they are young. The couple of week’s downtime from creche or school can […]

8 years ago

Is there a Boogie Man lurking in your little one’s bedroom?

8 years ago

You have your hands full there…

8 years ago

Brought to you by Wella Professionals.  When it comes to how we look, plenty of us are pretty much OBSESSED with our hair. Whether we’re talking cut or colour – hair has the power to shape our face and create an entirely different look, and confidence. Below is a peek at a few options we’re taking […]

8 years ago