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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 years ago

One man vs pink

10 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 […]

10 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. […]

10 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? […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 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 […]

10 years ago

A number of heroic motorists saved a toddler and baby from a vehicle overturned in floodwaters after tornadoes hit the US State of Texas on Saturday. Extreme weather conditions in Texas over the weekend, that left four people dead and more than fifty people injured, caused a family SUV to overturn in floodwaters – with a father, […]

10 years ago

A father and son have recreated a sweet baby photograph and the results are… Well, the results are unbearable to be honest. A lot of us have cute baby pictures knocking around of ourselves and our siblings butt naked in the bath. Not a lot of us would want to recreate those pictures as adults. […]

10 years ago

A New Zealand midwife has been censured on the grounds of professional misconduct after confessing to having a sexual relationship and five-month affair with her pregnant patient’s husband. The New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found the midwife, whose name has not been released, guilty of misconduct and malpractice. The disciplinary tribunal heard that the […]

10 years ago

Many types of commonly-prescribed antibiotics have been linked with an increased risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy, according to new research. A new study published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) has found that popular classes of antibiotics, such as macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines, sulfonamides and metronidazole, increase the risk of miscarriage – in some cases by as much […]

10 years ago

Choosing your little munchkin’s name that has to be one of the best parts of having a baby… or so we thought once upon a time. Sure, you always thought it would be a way of putting your unique stamp on something you created, like a stamp of approval that reflects your taste, your vision, your hopes for […]

10 years ago

Welcome to week 22 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a coconut. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your baby At 22 weeks, your baby is about the size of a coconut, weighing approximately 430 grams. If you haven’t felt it yet, those little kicks and movements are […]

10 years ago

Welcome to week 20 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a bell pepper. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your baby Your baby is now the size of a bell pepper. Until now your baby has been measured from the crown of the head to the buttocks, but […]

10 years ago

Welcome to week 19 of your pregnancy! This week, your baby is as big as a mango. Here’s what else you can expect this week. Your baby Your baby is about 14 cm – that’s around the size of a mango – but he or she is still only about half its weight. A greasy […]

10 years ago

And it only takes two minutes to enter. Easter is officially over and sadly that means there are no more eggs left to devour and no more chocolate rabbits to nibble on. But it’s not all doom and gloom. If you’ve been having slight withdrawal symptoms, don’t worry, because we have got the perfect giveaway to […]

10 years ago

Today sees the tenth day of extraordinary chaos, political fallout, and public outcry surrounding the ownership and governance of the new €300 million National Maternity Hospital building. Following the latest resignation of Professor Chris Fitzpatrick, in support of Dr Peter Boylan, we look back at how the crisis has unfolded… Tuesday, April 18th: News breaks that the Sisters of Charity, a religious […]

10 years ago

Time, not cash, is the most important thing you can spend with your kids. Ireland is rich with spectacular scenery; mysterious woods and captivating castles for fun-filled family days out. AIG have endless inspiration on their site so if you’re looking for something to do with your family today, take the Family Time Quiz and […]

10 years ago

Getting active – either again or for the first time – with a mini-human in tow can be challenging, especially if your child isn’t walking yet.  The easiest way for a fuss-free workout is to integrate your baby into a gentle workout schedule.   And while it’s oh-so tempting for tired new mums to veg out on front of the TV, getting active with your baby improves your […]

10 years ago

April is autism awareness month and tomorrow marks Irish Autism Action’s 4th Annual Blue Nose Day. Blue Nose Day provides everyone with an opportunity to help raise awareness and understanding of autism, while also helping to raise funds for the charity. This year, Irish Autism Action are encouraging schools, businesses and communities to have a ‘blue day’ by wearing […]

10 years ago

Claire McHugh, the CEO of Axonista has risen to the top of the tech startup game, leading a company that makes television and video more interactive and list media giants MTV, ESPN, and QVC among their clients. Claire didn’t follow a traditional path into Silicon Valley, having attended Ballyfermot Art College’s Rock School and studied […]

10 years ago

Thousands of children in France suffered severe birth defects after their mothers took valproate-based drugs. To date, it appears that up to 400 Irish children have also been affected. Valproate-based drugs, primarily used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine headaches, were taken by up to 100,000 pregnant women in France between 1967 and […]

10 years ago

Many parents are at a loss as to how to connect with their teen, but it turns out there is an answer… The answer is telly. Course it is. A survey carried out on behalf of Netflix has revealed that 80 percent of parents watch shows like Arrow, Pretty Little Liars and Stranger Things just to feel closer to their teenager. And […]

10 years ago

Are you planning a playlist to push to? Sound is one of the earliest forms of communication between mother and baby. According to research by the Marques Institute in Barcelona, a foetus of 16 weeks is already capable of hearing and responding to music. The catch? It has to be emitted from a device placed in their mum’s […]

10 years ago

We knew they were cute – but that was about the extent of it. When you give birth you suddenly become the Minder-in-chief of a brand new human who you have never met before And while it is no walk in the park, luckily, you would do anything for them. It is really amazing how […]

10 years ago

Emotional eaters (people who eat when they feel sad or upset or as a result of being in a bad mood) are a common breed of grownup, but why children and adolescents eat emotionally has been less clear. Now, a new study from Norway has found that school-age children whose parents feed them in order to […]

10 years ago

It was a very special weekend for eight LauraLynn families as they attended the screening of their short films at the second annual LauraLynn Oscars Night. Hosted by top Irish tanrepreneur, Marissa Carter, the event at the Odeon cinema featured the screening of eight short films starring the children of LauraLynn and their families. Each […]

10 years ago

Regular bedtimes, mealtimes and limited screen time seem to be linked to better emotional health in three-year-olds, and these structures may also lower the chances of obesity later in life, a new study suggests. Dr Sarah Anderson, whose research focuses on understanding psychological and social influences on children’s growth and childhood obesity prevention, has looked at […]

10 years ago

More and more parents are concerned about their carbon footprint and keeping the world green and clean for their future grownups. Kellie Kearney is a super-busy award winning Irish parenting, lifestyle, and travel blogger at mylittlebabog.com and mama to Kayla (7), Frankie (3), Kadie (1) and Kenzie (9 months). An advocate for green parenting and a cloth nappy enthusiast, HerFamily Caught up with […]

10 years ago

The Citizens’ Assembly has voted in favour of abortion being legal without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. In a vote that took place this afternoon, members of the assembly were asked if women in Ireland should be allowed legal access to abortion without restriction. The members were given a variety of different voting […]

10 years ago

A survey of secondary school students has revealed that the overuse of mobile phones by parents is damaging family life. The research, carried out by Digital Awareness UK and the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, revealed that 36% of 11 to 18-year-olds had asked their parents to put down their phones. Of those who had asked their parents […]

10 years ago

Dr Ann Hogan, the new president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) says that “fake news” is causing a drop in vaccination rates.  Addressing the medical organisation’s AGM in Galway, Dr Hogan told conference attendees that the fall in HPV immunisation rates among young girls is partly due to social media campaigns that make false claims about […]

10 years ago

Actress Erin Moran, best known for her role as Joanie Cunningham in the 1970s sitcom Happy Days and the subsequent 1980s spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi, has died at the age of 56. Reports state that emergency services responded to a call at approximately 4PM on Saturday afternoon and found Ms Moran to be unresponsive. […]

10 years ago