The cost of living crisis is deepening by the day. Charities warn they are getting phone calls every day from parents worried they won’t be able to afford rent or their mortgages this winter, or worried that they won’t be able to manage heating or electricity bills, or even put food on the table for […]
3 years ago
I don’t know about you, but I am forever on the hunt for fun, family-friendly things to do with the kids over the weekend. Maybe it is my Scandi roots, but to me, weekends are for spending time outdoors, having time together as a family, discovering, exploring and just getting away from the house for […]
3 years ago
My little girl just started secondary school this week. Secondary school. I really can’t wrap my head around how that happened. It feels like only yesterday when she was lifted up, all warm and slippery and so brand new, onto my chest by the midwife who delivered her. Like mere seconds since she took her […]
3 years ago
“Almost every family in America has had to deal with cancer at one time or another – and far too many don’t have access to the quality health care I am receiving.” Hollywood icon Jane Fonda took to social media yesterday to reveal that she has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and that she is […]
3 years ago
Today is the day. As thousands of students will receive their Leaving Cert results today, Turn2Me, a national mental health charity, is urging students across the country to use its services if they need someone to talk to. Explaining that young people might be feeling happy, disappointed, or overwhelmed with their leaving cert results today, […]
3 years ago
Thoughts? Last week, a Newstalk radio presenter argued that it is about time Ireland gets rid of single-sex schools, even calling the system completely unnatural and outdated – a view I think most of us share. However, according to teacher and Aontú spokesperson on education, Eric Nelligan, we should keep single-sex schools – as they […]
3 years ago
Yes or no? An American woman took to social media recently to call on airlines to offer child-free flights – after sitting through a three-hour flight from hell. And as someone who has travelled extensively with my kids (my daughter had 100 flights under her belt by the time she turned two), I feel like […]
3 years ago
As a parent, it is our most important job to keep our children healthy and out of harm’s way. The thing is; this can seem a little overwhelming in a world where we through both regular and social media are bombarded with an endless list of dangers and illnesses that can threaten our children. I […]
3 years ago
Only a few days to go now, mamas
3 years ago
Can we all agree picking the perfect baby name is hard? So, so hard. I mean; there are just so many great names to choose from, no? And if this is currently you, desperately trying to decide which moniker to give your baby, well, then you might be interested to see this list from the […]
3 years ago
With back-to-school officially happening next week, parents up and down the country are scrambling to get everything ready, and all the supplies bought. Uniforms, bags, books, pencils, crayons, and art aprons, it all has to be ready, and the same goes for things like pencil cases, rulers and notebooks. However, when it comes to what […]
3 years ago
As women, we know that our fertility – the ability to have our own biological children – comes with a time limit. The ‘aul biological clock stops for no one, and even though we look younger on the outside for longer, the reality is that our cells and organ still age at a chronological rate. […]
3 years ago
Not enough play. As parents, it is only natural that we want to help our children prepare for the big transition starting school is. However, teachers are now warning we might be focusing on the wrong things. According to a new study, many children starting junior infants are “over-prepared” in academic skills such as numeracy […]
3 years ago
The last few days of the summer holiday of 2022 are here. Back to school is just around the corner, and many families across the country are trying to make the most of these next couple of days. And if you are planning a trip to Dublin over the weekend, you might be on the […]
3 years ago
Think about this for a moment: It is late, the kids are in bed, and you have finally curled up on the sofa with your hubby, a hot cup of tea and Netflix. What do you talk about? Do you harp on about how wonderful today was, how good the kids were, how much you […]
3 years ago
“It’s something I feel pretty strongly about” Ireland remains one of the very few countries that still has schools segregated between boys and girls. Many primary schools are now mixed, but as for secondary education, the majority of schools remain single-sex, despite more and more people feeling this needs to change. According to Newstalk Breakfast presenter […]
3 years ago
Where does it end? There is no such thing as free education in Ireland – but realising just how expensive it is to send our children back to school is enough to shock anyone. Speaking to the Sunday World earlier this week, mum-of-three Stephanie James-Broderick, 35, reveals just how crippling expensive it has become to […]
3 years ago
Growing up in Norway, one of the things that really scream summer to me, is seeing children running around in the grass barefoot. In fact, in Scandinavia, grubby, grassy feet covered in mud and soil are celebrated as a sign of a happy, healthy child – and a glorious childhood summer. It was how we […]
3 years ago
An industry in crisis? Creches and childcare facilities across Ireland have been struggling for a long time to recruit and retain staff, and according to a new report, almost 40 percent of people working in childcare are actively seeking to leave the sector. The Early Years Staffing and Pay Survey, conducted by Siptu, which is […]
3 years ago
Being pregnant and giving birth is a major job for your body. You have grown and birthed a human, and now your body is trying to heal itself and return to its pre-pregnancy state – both physically, hormonally and emotionally. If you are also breastfeeding right now, on top of healing, your body is also […]
3 years ago
They love our names. Traditional (and unique) Irish monikers have become more and more popular here at home over the past couple of decades. But were you aware that we are not the only ones loving Irish names? New muns and dads across the globe are also opting for Gaelic names for their little ones […]
3 years ago
Will you be affected by these changes? Last year, almost 650 women in Ireland chose to give birth at home, an increase of 53 percent on 2019. However, following the tragic death of Laura Liston after a homebirth earlier this year in Limerick, the HSE has decided to limit homebirths to women who live within […]
3 years ago
Can you relate? Trampolines have become the must-have outdoor toy for many, many families with young children. And while I applaud any play that doesn’t happen on a screen, there is no denying that things can get both loud and wild when a gang of children get on a trampoline together. Especially loud. A UK […]
3 years ago
Do you have a child currently on the waiting list? According to the latest figures, there are currently more than 11,000 children waiting for psychological treatment in Ireland. And if this is not shocking enough, almost 4,000 of these children have been waiting for more than a year to receive an appointment. Speaking about the […]
3 years ago
Having a child in hospital is an extremely stressful time for any parent. Affording to stay with your child when they are sick should not be something anyone should have to worry about. However, according to a new report, parents with children in hospital can face a loss of income of €300 a week on […]
3 years ago
Back-to-school season always feels like a jolt back to reality and our busy, activity-packed days. Gone are the lazy, carefree days of summer, and once more we are back to days and afternoons that are all go-go-go, from school to homework, sports, playdates, you name it, life with young children has it. I don’t know […]
3 years ago
“I’m so happy I decided to go it alone.” At 24, Bailey Ennis from London had been ‘desperate’ to become a mum for a long time. Speaking to My London, she explains: “I’ve wanted to be a mum since I was a teenager and as a lesbian, I always knew it would need to be […]
3 years ago
It’s almost time. For little – and bigger – LEGO fans in Ireland, the opening of the brand new LEGO store in Dublin is no doubt one of the highlights of the summer. The opening of the stand-alone store on Dublin’s Grafton Street was announced back in February, and needless to say, many have been […]
3 years ago
This is shocking. An Australian mum is fuming over an incident that happened to her daughter in school – and we totally understand why. The woman – who used the name Greta for her interview with family website Kidspot – says her 9-year-old was shamed by her teachers for her swimwear – a two-piece tankini. […]
3 years ago
Irish parents have been urgently warned to not use the sets as they can cause cuts or suffocation. Dunnes Stores has pulled some of its popular children’s pyjama sets from sale due to safety fears. According to the Irish Sun, the products in question are the Digger, Dino, Mermaid and Unicorn short-sleeved pyjama sets for […]
3 years ago
Did you ever use it on your babies? Johnson & Johnson baby powder has been on the market since 1894 and used by millions of families across the world ever since. And despite facing several lawsuits over the past few years over safety concerns relating to their talcum-based baby powder, the company has continued to […]
3 years ago
None of my babies had colic, so I have no first-hand experience with just how traumatising this can be – to both babies and their parents. However, one of my closest friend’s babies all struggled with it, and so I saw them scream, cry and wriggle in pain – and my desperate, exhausted friend and […]
3 years ago
It’s a monumental decision. Some of us have baby names picked long before we even have two lines appear on the pregnancy test. Others take days – some even weeks – after the baby has arrived to decide on their moniker. And some even pick one name first, only to change their mind later (we’re […]
3 years ago
Thoughts? I don’t know about you, but ever since my babies first started weaning, I was extremely conscious of what food they were eating. Having breastfed them both, I wanted to make sure the food they ate was as nutritious, whole and as good for them as possible. So what this meant, was when they […]
3 years ago
State subsidies to private schools increased to €121m last year. This is according to the latest Department of Education figures, which also show that this figure has increased steadily over the past few years – up from €97 million in 2020. According to the Department of Education, the vast majority of the funding goes towards […]
3 years ago
Love it. If you have ever tried to get your kids to leave somewhere they don’t want to leave (park, playground, party), you are no doubt familiar with the absolute self-control you have to exercise not to totally lose it and start yelling. Hint – sometimes it’s impossible not to. However, US mum Vanessa Falone […]
3 years ago
Having kids is expensive. I think we can all agree on that much. And much as we think having babies are a strain on our wallets (nappies, wipes, all the gear), the reality is that as kids get older and get to a stage where they constantly want to do things and go places and […]
3 years ago
I remember vividly one time when my little boy was three and threw a tantrum so epic in the aisles of our local M&S supermarket that I am certain the staff still to this day remember it. It was loud. And intense. He was on the floor, arms and legs flailing, and he was screaming […]
3 years ago
We all have different views on social media – and especially when it comes to our young children and how much of their lives and pictures we are comfortable sharing with ‘the world.’ For instance, I have friends who have never once shared an image of their child online, even if their social media has […]
3 years ago
My children are, I assume like most siblings, both the best of friends, and yet also, at times, the absolute worst of enemies. This juxtaposition is often highlighted during times like summer holidays or travels, when we spend almost every second of every day together. Don’t get me wrong, I am very grateful that they […]
3 years ago
Looking for ways to keep the kids busy this month? Back from holidays already and still have August to get through before school is back? Or staycationing around Ireland this summer? Either way, yesterday, Bank Holiday Monday, marked the start of the month-long August Craft Month celebration in Ireland, the largest ever programme with over […]
3 years ago
Warning: Readers may find this article distressing. Archie Battersbee’s life support will be switched off tomorrow, according to reports. According to the Daily Mail, the Battersbee family has been told that Archie’s life support will be switched off tomorrow. During a last-minute virtual hearing at the Court of Appeal, the family has been granted a […]
3 years ago
For breastfeeding mums who are still nursing as their maternity leave comes to an end, the return to work can put a lot of stress on their families. And so today, at the start of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st – 7th), Irish experts are calling for increased support for working parents. According to Katie […]
3 years ago
Like to stay ahead of the trends? Well, then you might want to know what names experts believe will be trending with 2030 babies – a full eight years from now. Having scanned the popularity charts of some of the current most popular baby names, baby name website, Nameberry noticed something fascinating. Many of these […]
3 years ago
The pandemic lockdowns were a major trigger, experts agree. According to Freedom of Information figures obtained by Newstalk, the number of children under the age of 16 who were hospitalised with anorexia almost doubled last year. The figures showed that 237 children and teenagers had inpatient admissions in public hospitals in 2021 – compared to […]
3 years ago
How is the summer holiday going so far, parents? Yes, I know we all long for summer and school holidays all year, but after several years as a parent, I also know that eight weeks of spending so much time together as a family, with no school hours, no sports training, no work, it can […]
3 years ago
This is pretty shocking. We all know how people can be quick to judge – and heck, we might even have to check ourselves sometimes too. But when it happens to our children, it somehow just hits differently, I think. Taking to LinkedIn in a post that has since gone viral, TV presenter and entrepreneur […]
3 years ago
Trying for a baby? Or planning to start doing so soon? In that case, it makes sense to really get to know your period cycle, as this can make it easier to get pregnant faster – and also spot any potential problems sooner. Your period health is of vast importance when it comes to your […]
3 years ago
For the vast majority of us, pregnancy is the most exciting, wonderful and special time of our lives. I know when I was pregnant, I literally could not wait to tell people I was having a baby – and I was so bad at keeping the ‘secret’ that by the time we were booked in […]
3 years ago
Plastic is a problem. We are all aware now that plastic (and the chemicals in it) pose a major problem to not only the health of our planet, but also to our individual health. This becomes even more worrisome when you realise there is growing evidence that humans consume huge numbers of tiny plastic particles, […]
3 years ago