Is marriage harder than parenthood? Raising kids is not easy. I already feel qualified to say that, despite only having one. It’s a wonderful chaotic thing that, for me anyway, brings more than enough happiness to make the stress worthwhile. But it’s still bloody stressful at times. As a single parent, however, I’m possibly not […]

2 years ago

Please don’t warn us, we’re well aware. There’s a TikTok trend doing the rounds of the cutest videos of these adorable newborns, doing nothing more than being exactly that. The captions always read “when they tell you the newborn phase is the hardest”. The music then changes from a sweet lullaby to some heavy metal […]

2 years ago

Exclusive: Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught chats to HerFamily Making a statement like ‘I don’t like playing with my child’ is often a controversial one. I’ve made the admission before and discovered it’s something many parents struggle with, whether they’re happy to admit it or not. Last week, one of my favourite online creators KC Davis caused […]

2 years ago

‘Should he be eating that?’ Several things surprised me about becoming a parent. The obvious shocks were how bloody hard it is and the fact that they pick up a new bug every fortnight as toddlers. But nobody warns you that you may experience bullying or online trolling, purely because you chose to procreate. Using […]

2 years ago

“If a child is taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, consider whether the bedtime is unrealistically early.” Getting your child to sleep can be a challenge at any time, but we all know how important the right amount of sleep is when it comes to their mood… and your sanity! According to sleep […]

2 years ago

“We made these tiny humans our priority without missing a beat” How many times have you comforted a fellow parent at their wits’ end? Probably as often as you’ve told someone that their gorgeous child was a credit to them. Weekly, if not daily, I heap praise on to my friends and feel pride and […]

2 years ago

Let’s talk about poo, shall we? So I recently toilet-trained my three-year-old. Actually, I’m not sure if I should be using the past tense here, as the process is ongoing. He’s playing a blinder, all things considered, but I wish someone had told me these titbits before we began. 1. No nappies is WAY more […]

2 years ago

We’re experiencing a second summer and the paddling pool has come out of retirement. Paddling pools, no matter how big or small, are an absolute delight on a sunny day. But whether it’s a petite place to paddle your feet to cool yourself off, or a massive tank you can do laps in, you’ve got […]

3 years ago

Some thoughts from a Center Parcs first-timer Heading to Longford Forest this year? I’m just back from four nights at Center Parcs and, as a first-timer, I had some questions before the trip. Are swimming hats required in the so-called Subtropical Paradise? (They’re not.) Should I get a trailer or a bike seat for my kid? […]

3 years ago

“My motto is, when it comes to periods, let it flow” We’ve gotten to that wonderful stage in my house where we’re naming body parts. Each morning in bed, my son clutches my ears and nose, working his way through the various parts of my head, naming them aloud and waiting for praise after each […]

3 years ago

All the magic of the Hundred Acre Wood Disney’s iconic Winnie the Pooh is coming to Dublin, and he’s bringing all his pals. A fresh stage adaption of AA Milne’s beloved book opens at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre this July and sees Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and Christopher Robin come to life in a beautifully […]

3 years ago

The assumption that the fertility path is a straight line is misleading women everywhere, according to HerFamily contributor Laura Drury “So you guys aren’t planning on kids then?” …I was very nonchalantly asked this question by one of my friend’s partners at a BBQ, just over a year into being married. Yes, I had been […]

3 years ago

I spent most of the day in tears I’ve never been a big birthday person. It seems a funny thing to celebrate… ‘Congratulations on staying alive for another year! Here’s your parade…’ That is until I had a baby. Now the words ‘birth day’ carry much more weight. So much so that I was, emotionally, […]

3 years ago

“Forgive me for wanting more for my son. And, oh my god, for me” Peppa Pig is the subject of more conversations in my adult life than I ever anticipated she would be. I don’t mean talking to my son about her; my grown-up friends and I have a lot to say on the matter. […]

3 years ago

“I can’t believe I showed up to meet your newborn without food, and I’ll never refer to my dog as my fur baby again.” We do all sorts to prepare ourselves for becoming parents. For me, there was no stone unturned, no book unread and no episode of One Born unwatched. But it’s often said […]

3 years ago

What’s the going rate, these days? I didn’t get pocket money, growing up and I was always so jealous of those who did. Not just because they had cash to buy things, but because I loved the idea of being in charge of my own money. Life is expensive and kids seem to have it […]

3 years ago

Forget 5 pm closing times and panto rows, this is the real Christmas scandal Many a heated discussion has broken out online in recent days over whether Santa wraps presents each Christmas. What he does in your house will more than likely come down to what happened in your parents’ houses when you were on […]

3 years ago

A good babysitter is worth their weight in gold, but what is the going rate these days? If you’ve managed to find a reliable person with their head screwed on, who you trust to take good care of your child, can we please also have their number? That aside, how much should we be paying […]

3 years ago

“Why should she have to play with someone she doesn’t want to play with?” Tween drama can get seriously messy and, for parents, it can be hard to advise children through it. One mother explained this week, that her daughter has gained a bad reputation because she has no interest in being friends with one […]

4 years ago

‘Moisture is transported directly to the layers that need it’ At this stage in our skincare journeys, I probably don’t need to tell you about the benefits of Hyaluronic. But for those not in the know, it’s a substance that helps transport and maintain moisture in the skin, making it function like a well-oiled machine. […]

4 years ago

A welcome move for many The Government has today approved a pay agreement which will provide pay increases for childcare workers and early learning educators. A new minimum hourly rate of €13-an-hour for early years educators will now apply, and €17.25-an-hour for graduate managers. The move will see wages increase for an estimated 73% of […]

4 years ago

A icon of the film and music industries Sad news this evening as the iconic actress and singer Olivia Newton-John has sadly died, aged 73. The Grease star spoke openly about her struggles with breast cancer, having first been diagnosed 30 years ago. TMZ have reported that she passed away peacefully at home from metastatic […]

4 years ago

Is at-home testing the future of fertility care? Femtech startup, Hertility launches in Ireland on Thursday 21st July, marking another seismic shift into at-home healthcare. Testing our sexual health and having our teeth straightened via the post is nothing new, and the last two years made online GP appointments and even virtual physiotherapy the norm. […]

4 years ago

More senseless tragedy An 8-year-old boy has died after his 5-year-old brother shot him, in Jefferson County, Arkansas this week it’s been reported. The boys’ mother was asleep at the time of the incident and it’s believed that there were at least four other children in the house. The local sheriff issued a media statement […]

4 years ago

To say I would have died… Look, we’re all a little nosy. Who amongst us would be happy to reveal the contents of our search history? One woman got caught rotten during a little nosy internet search in work, and I’ve been dying of cringe since I read about it. I have properly lost it […]

4 years ago

Brought to you by Clayton Hotels  in association with Kia  Are you and your family ready for adventure? This summer, Clayton Hotels are searching for one lucky family to go on a sustainable Irish adventure, to show that we can have holidays filled with fun, while limiting our impact on the environment. They’re looking for a […]

4 years ago

Having a baby is pretty messed up… It’s not news that procreation and birth are incredible. Miraculous, even. But I think we say those words without really sitting with the reality of the thing. We literally create miniature versions of ourselves, from bits of ourselves. Like, what?! I don’t understand why we’re all walking around […]

4 years ago

“It’s like she died all over again” Everleigh Victoria McCarthy sadly died 12 days after being born three months early, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Her devastated parents are now suing the hospital, as it appears a staff member may have accidently disposed of Everleigh’s remains, after mistaking them for discarded bed linen. […]

4 years ago

They have refused to make details of the changes or the findings public Buckingham Palace came under pressure recently for refusing to release any details about the investigation into bullying allegations made against the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. A “private investigation” was confirmed to have taken place into complaints that Meghan bullied members of […]

4 years ago

“I genuinely thought I would never see my son’s face again” A father of one was allegedly attacked in broad daylight in Longford town, in front of his “terrified” 12-year-old son. Francis Gavin (34) says he was walking down Ballymahon Street at around 2pm on April 28th when the alleged suspects jumped out of a […]

4 years ago

The definition of ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person’ Nothing to see here, just a badass breastfeeding mother rescuing her pet goose from a bald eagle… How’s your day going? The brave mother-of-three (four if you count the goose?) has been hailed a hero after a TikTok video of her rescuing her […]

4 years ago

“I hope you know I’m gay” According to a recent report by Irish LGBTQI+ youth service BeLonGTo, the average age that someone realises they’re gay is 12. Coming out often happens later again of course, particularly for gay women or people who are trans, and usually happens in stages with the person opening up about […]

4 years ago

“The long, hard and sometimes frustrating journey” Last summer, we reported that parents were being advised to hire bouncy castles “at their own risk”, because Irish operators couldn’t secure public liability insurance. However, good news for businesses and parents alike was announced today, as Independent.ie reports that bouncy castle operators have secured insurance as part […]

4 years ago

The then 19-year-old gave birth to a baby before putting it a bin in April 2018. The woman was found guilty of manslaughter and neglect, following the death of the baby girl. The woman’s father was present in court but walked out as a letter, which sought to explain the personal circumstances of the woman, […]

4 years ago

Brought to you by DiscoverIreland West Cork is a feast for all the senses. West Cork is often heralded the culinary capital of Ireland, and it’s easy to see why. This summer, explore all the amazing food the rebel county has to offer with these immersive and appetising experiences. Feast at all the incredible food on […]

4 years ago

“It’s about getting into a conversation and communicating with our youngsters” My son is one, so I’m pretty sure he’ll be in bed, but the current chat in my Whatsapp groups has turned to whether or not tweens and teens should be allowed to watch Love Island. If you’re not familiar with the reality show […]

4 years ago

It’s a relationship that’s often wonderful, but often complicated Whether you’re in the newborn phase, or four kids deep, a grandparent overstepping the mark can be a very stressful thing. If you’re lucky enough to have help from parents on either side, you’re probably very grateful for it. But what if that help always comes […]

4 years ago

“I have never been happier, more proud, more joyful, more fulfilled” New research would have us believe that homebirth’s are every bit as safe as labouring at a hospital, but what if you didn’t even have a medical professional present? Freebirthing is when a pregnant person intentionally gives birth to a baby without a midwife […]

4 years ago

The 17-year-old has been released on probation A youth involved in the antisocial behaviour which led to a teenage girl being knocked under a train last year, has been spared a custodial sentence. CCTV footage of the incident shocked viewers who watched the girl fall into the gap between a Dart and the platform at […]

4 years ago

Welcome to Ireland, where teachers have to hide their religious beliefs to get a job The days of having to Christen your child to make sure they got a school place might be gone, but a cross-border study carried out by Dr Catherine Stapleton of Mary Immaculate College and Dr James Nelson of Queen’s University […]

4 years ago

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this Concern is growing over “the quality of Irish teaching in schools”, according to recent chief inspector’s report published by the Department of Education. The report says that the Irish language suffered disproportionately because of the impact of Covid on schooling, but that in general children are not […]

4 years ago

It’s really ok if you can’t, or don’t The formula shortage in the US has brought out the uncharitable side in some, as these things tend to. The narrative of “just breastfeed” is still being bandied about as is the question, “what do you think people did before formula was invented?” Historian Carla Cevasco, Ph.D. […]

4 years ago

“I don’t want to put my happiness and financial well-being on hold indefinitely” Kids rarely move out as young as 18, these days but in this particular family, things are changing and everyone is happy to go their own way. However, it’s not happening any time soon which is causing some issues, as this mother […]

4 years ago

Hold my drink. With troubling baby formula shortages affecting the supply of critical infant nutrition in America, some are using the crisis to shame mothers for not breastfeeding. I don’t know if this is a secret but mothers actually produce breast milk that is tailor-made for their infant. ? It’s also free ? — Beatrice […]

4 years ago

Until now, the cause of SIDS has remained largely unknown Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) accounts for about 37% of sudden unexpected infant deaths a year in the U.S. This week, researchers from The Children’s Hospital Westmead in Sydney have released a study that confirms for the first time exactly how these tragic deaths occur. […]

4 years ago

“I became afraid that I wasn’t fit to be a father” Jack Allen’s first experience of depression happened when he was 19, after his father left home following an affair. “I didn’t even know what I was experiencing was depression. I didn’t deal with any of those feelings for another 10 years,” he recalls. Over […]

4 years ago

Victory Day is a major public holiday in Russia This is hard to watch. Our hearts and minds have raced for the children of Ukraine in these last tumultuous months, but it’s not lost on us either how this war must be affecting the children of Russia. What messages are being sent to them? And […]

4 years ago

They’ll always be first at roll call A is a strong initial – it makes for a great monogram. And some of the prettiest and strongest names start with A – here’s a small selection of our forever faves: Ava Amelia Alexander Abigail Aria Adam Anna Alice Autumn August Alex Atlas Abel Adalyn Ace Arlo […]

4 years ago

German investigators say they have found new evidence against the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told German TV channel CMTV: “The investigation is still going on and I think we found some new facts, some new evidence — not forensic evidence, but evidence.” Christian Brueckner was declared a […]

4 years ago

“I pretend to miss my kids more than I do when I’m away.” Being a parent is a mad old job and it’s one that we’re meant to be brilliant at right way, with no training.  Let’s face it, there’s also a lot of judgement and curtain twitching in parenting land which might explain why, […]

4 years ago