I have had three miscarriages on my journey to motherhood. I also have two beautiful ‘rainbow’ babies too (not exactly still babies, but always in my eyes!). Both pregnancies after I miscarried were full of relief and joy while being fraught with nerves and tainted with wandering negative thoughts – all at once.  It’s a conundrum. You know […]

10 years ago

Life-changing is one of those phrases that’s bandied about every day, but never is it as apt as when you have your first baby. Life changes in a way you could never have imagined, and all of a sudden, the world looks very different, it’s like looking through life on one of our phone filters: everything’s same-same, but […]

10 years ago

Ah, Irish men and their Mammies. Nikki Walsh caught up with three honest men as they spill on what their mums did best. Ray, 47, Irishtown It sounds funny, but some of the best lessons my mum taught me came from her breaking her right elbow. She was in intense pain and unable to do the simplest of […]

10 years ago

If you’ve got a little mini break with the fam in your sights, we think we might just have stumbled upon the coolest cottage EVER, and it ticks every box for parents and kids alike. WHAT: Cliff cottage in the grounds of Cliff House Hotel. WHERE: Ardmore, Waterford, overlooking the stunning beach and bay, with eye-watering views […]

10 years ago

This week, we held a brilliant event at Dundrum Town Centre, the last of our brilliantly attended talks, part of the ‘How to Survive Parenthood’ series.  The event was hosted by Cathy Monaghan, Senior Paediatric Dietitian from weaning.ie who has worked at Temple Street Hospital with parents and children for years. Over one hundred attendees listened […]

10 years ago

Whether you won in the sleep lottery or not, as parents we’ve all had days when we’re so tired we can barely put one foot in front of the other without nodding off. And, as parents, we’ve all been on the receiving end of comments that we’d rather not hear when surviving on just a […]

10 years ago

Anne Marie Harte Walsh, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, is mum to Lewis, age 5, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterised by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It is one of nine types of muscular dystrophy. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells […]

10 years ago

Emma Lamb is one-half of Lamb Design, a unique new online interiors store and consultancy service focusing on hand-crafted pieces with Irish, Nordic, Belgian and French sensibilities for your home and your children’s rooms.  There are certain undeniable truths about being a mum that people will tell you before you become one, but you won’t listen […]

10 years ago

Jade McNamara is a mum and blogger at bigbrowsmessyhair.com. In her own words, she talked to us about life about autism awareness and the challenges she faces with her autistic son.  ” To all that judge me and my five-year-old for using a stroller. Being a mum to a child with special needs […]

10 years ago

Got a dribbly, grumpy, teething baby on your hands right about now, then you’re going to need these nifty recipes that are all natural and food of goodness for your tot. 1. Teething biscuits These healthy homemade teething biscuits are so easy to make, and freeze really well too, meaning you can make a batch and […]

10 years ago

About one in every 100 people is believed to have an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), with boys outnumbering girls. With these high prevalence rates and a concern that rates may be rising, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant for signs in your child.  We chatted to Katie Cremin – Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, […]

10 years ago

If you missed our talk on parenting your tween this week, fear not, we have some key, and super-insightful pointers from David Carey for your to ponder over.  In conversation with David in front of an audience of parents at Dundrum Town Centre on Tuesday: “We know there is a lot going on in these years […]

10 years ago

Sam Avery is our favourite dad on the Internet with his real, raw, and side-splittingly funny posts about his 22-month-old twins. The stand-up comedian and blogger has written his latest post in the voice of one of his toddlers, and we are all nodding our heads. It goes a little something like this: MONDAY Listen, […]

10 years ago

First Holy Communion season is upon us, but if you’re on a tight budget, it can be tricky to plan an activity-packed day with all the bells and whistles without spending a packet. We’ve got some super-smart money-saving ideas and enjoy all of the fun at half the expense…. 1. If you have a girl making […]

10 years ago

According to sources, the music producer and X Factor presenter spent a whopping £10,000 on his son Eric’s 3rd birthday party last weekend, which was held at The Mandarin Oriental in London (natch).  I don’t know about you, but it seems like quite a lot for a toddler’s birthday bash, no? Although, having had nine parties in […]

10 years ago

Lucy Kennedy is the lovable television presenter and mum everybody can’t help watching (and giggling with). She has recently welcomed her third baby, Jessica, who joins big siblings, Holly and Jack. We caught up with her on maternity leave from her usual spot on TV3’s Six O’Clock show. With her cheeky sense of humour and […]

10 years ago

Oh, the challenges that come with having a pre-teen, and a daughter at any age in this crazy new world where bullying, frenemies, and ‘mean girl’ issues are more prevalent by the day.  If you have a daughter between the ages of eight and twelve, the reality is, they could be dealing with meanness at […]

10 years ago

We love an auld Irish name around here. I have one myself, although I hated it for most of my childhood, now that I can appreciate the unique link to our amazing culture, I totally love it.  But it hasn’t come without issues, especially when I went abroad growing up, but nevertheless, Irish names are big, […]

10 years ago

It has been said that we are fond of a little tipple around these parts. Because… kids. So we felt the need to share our utter delight at hearing that Tesco has only gone and put our FAVE sparkly drink (with alcohol) on special, and at a very need €5 per bottle. It would just […]

10 years ago

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s Valentine’s tomorrow. Nothing organised yet? No sweat. We’ve got the lowdown on the cutest last-minute treats for busy parents who haven’t found the time to even think about Valentine’s (remember how important this date used to mean before little ones?). These thoughtful gifts are worth so much more than a card, […]

10 years ago

Let me start by getting a few home truths out of the way: everyone’s labour is different, nothing can predict the type of birth experience you will have, no matter how prepared you are, and some things are just out of your control. Once you have that clear in your head, and you are planning on having a natural […]

10 years ago

In HerFamily reader, Claire Murphy’s own words: “Today I made it to silver boobies, yup there’s awards for these things now, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. I remember before I had my baby seeing posts of how women were breastfeeding and how proud they were and I kind of just didn’t get […]

10 years ago

Just when you think A-lister celebrities don’t experience the daily struggles of parenthood, someone surprises you with a quote that makes you think that maybe they’re not so untouchable. In a recent and candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the pop and film star revealed his vulnerability at the time his son was born. Timberland and his wife, […]

10 years ago

The annual competition by IAPBP celebrates the absolute beauty of birth and the skill of birth photographers around the globe. The winners of the competition are in and they are phenomenal. We dare you not to relate to some of these, they really pull at the heart strings. Just wow, kedocumentary.com Raw emotion from thebirthphotographer.ca  A rarely-seen birdseye […]

10 years ago

Motivation doesn’t come easy if you’re sleep deprived. When the thought of doing the dishes, or even just leaving the sofa, is all too much, try this simple five-minute trick for a quick boost that will get you back on your feet. Writer Benjamin Spall explains on 99U, “I’m a big believer in the semi-famous ‘only five […]

10 years ago

Let’s face it, it’s supposed to be the first few weeks of Spring, the days are (a bit) longer, but it’s still quite nippy out there. But February brings nature’s new beginnings, rebirth and awakening, so for Springtime babies due soon, you might be tempted to give them one of these fresh monikers: 1. Aurora – […]

10 years ago

Ahead of her appearance at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival next weekend, we spoke to the incredibly successful and influential children’s book writer, Jacqueline Wilson who has touched millions with her comforting books. In her own words, she has given us some brilliant advice about what it takes to get published. 1. “If you […]

10 years ago

A baby following a miscarriage or loss is referred to as a ‘rainbow baby’ – such a beautiful term, after the storm… comes a pretty rainbow to give hope.  The rainbow has become the symbol for parents who have been through a turbulent time on their journey to parenthood. The topic of miscarriage is not […]

10 years ago

A juniper berry crisis has just occurred, and we were none the wiser. Thankfully.  Juniper crops were blighted with a fungul disease, which horticulturalists thought could signal the end to our beloved G&T drinks. Forever…. Gasp. According to The Telegraph an urgent seed collection project of the berries means that they can be cultivated, providing an […]

10 years ago

Kerri Stedman from Oylegate in Wexford is vowed to raise awareness about the symptoms and reality of suffering an ectopic pregnancy. We spoke to the Wexford mum today, and she had this to say: “Ectopic Pregnancies, which occur when the embryo grows outside the womb, affects 1 in 80 pregnancies and can be life threatening. […]

10 years ago

It’s official; we’re obsessed with stand-up comedian and blogger Sam Avery, and his hilarious posts about life with toddler twins.  And his most recent one struck a cord because we have ALL been there and know how annoying it is to see people with no kids parking in the space that’s clearly marked for families. We’ve […]

10 years ago

This week’s article in Shannonside News stopped us in our tracks: 46,000 people are still receiving contaminated water in their homes every single day despite these findings being reported for the first time a year ago. Water supplies in the region have elevated levels of trihalomethanes (THM) – aka pollutants linked to cancer. According to HSE report […]

10 years ago

Dads who think that their partners NEVER want to have sex with them probably just need to pay attention to the Mum Code. That’s according to a video made by Emily Wright, a 31-year-old mum from Australia who speaks a lot of sense, and has some sage advice for the dads out there. She says, “You have plenty of opportunity […]

10 years ago

Mother-of-two used an Instagram post this week to spread the word about donating breastmilk. Ashley Clifford took this gorgeous snap of her five-month-old baby surrounded by a love heart shape made with 295 ounces of donor breast milk bags. She explains: “When I found out I was pregnant with this baby, my DREAM was to not […]

10 years ago

One Australian mum (of eight!) sent her little pre-schooler off to kindergarten with a packed lunch and a treat but didn’t quite expect the little one to come home with a note from the food police for mommy. The mother’s friend posted this on Facebook, and the internet debate is getting super-heated – as it always […]

10 years ago

As part of our 6-week ‘How to Survive Parenthood’ series at Dundrum Town Centre, we held a stellar event on sleep this week.  Sleep expert Niamh O’Reilly was on-hand to break down sleep (or lack of!) into handy tips, jargon-free ideas, and suggestions for new mums, followed by a Q&A session. The event was packed; even the […]

10 years ago

In conversation with Lorraine Gleeson: “You never think or believe it will happen to you. Peeing on that stick and seeing the ‘+’ or even better – the word ‘Pregnant,’ the excitement begins from that very moment. You begin planning from the second you learn you are pregnant: names, boy, girl, due dates – going online to […]

10 years ago

To my darling little daughters, You are only five and seven, but every day you’re bombarded with unrealistic-looking dolls, gender-specific pink plastic toys, Princesses in movies that can’t be happy until they look pretty enough to meet their Prince (looking at you Cinderella), music videos of pop idols that are waaaay too suggestive for your innocent eyes, and […]

10 years ago

Let me start by getting a few home truths out of the way: everyone’s labour is different, nothing can predict the type of birth experience you will have, no matter how prepared you are, and some things are just out of your control. Once you have that clear in your head, and you are planning on having a natural […]

10 years ago

Who could forget the infamous image of Demi Moore showing off her incredible baby bump on the cover of Vanity Fair? It revolutionised the way we view pregnant bellies, and would you believe, it was 26 years ago… Now, if that doesn’t make you feel really bloody old, I don’t know what will. The photo, taken […]

10 years ago

So you’ve grown a human, baked that bun, birthed it, fed it, kept it alive, nurtured it – all from your flesh and blood. That’s pretty spectacular, no? Bloody right. But does your man really appreciate the affect all this has on your body, and what if you’ve done it numerous times? While we’re not advocating that […]

10 years ago

A Melbourne mum has welcomed a gorgeous, big bouncing boy and is reportedly still in shock at the size of the little cutie.  Parents Brian and Natasha were told her baby would be on the bigger side of the scales, weighing in at 9 pounds at 36 weeks pregnant, but when baby Brian Jnr arrived at […]

10 years ago

Sad news today, the veteran actor John Hurt has died after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.  The Oscar-nominated star is known for his stellar roles as the wand called Mr Ollivander in the Harry Potter films, his role in The Field alongside Richard Harris, Alien and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Midnight Express, and probably the most memorable […]

10 years ago

Helen Steele, the artist, fashion designer and mum-of-three chats to us about what motherhood means to her, and all the nuggets of wisdom she has learned along the way. In conversation with Helen: 1. “They are only small for so long, so enjoy those moments. The sleepless nights, the terrible twos all fly by, but […]

10 years ago

If you’re a parent with young kids, chances are you’re always late. And if you’re not actually late, you’re rushing. Always rushing. Because toddlers and babies just don’t care about timetables; they’ve never even heard about schedules. In fact, they’re just too busy to think about things like that; they’re busy running mini dictatorships instead. Even the […]

10 years ago

Last month, we brought you the Gin Hotel in London, and you almost broke the internet sharing it with your pals. So it just wouldn’t feel right not letting you in on this little secret *runs to book flights. Now, a prosecco festival exists! We kid you not, ladies. It takes place in Bethnal Green, […]

10 years ago

This week we held the first of six amazing events ‘How To Survive Parenthood’ for our readers, in conjunction with Dundrum Town Centre.  The Level 3 Food Hall was jam-packed with over sixty of our readers  – all new mums with their brand new babas. Today’s event was specifically for new mums who gathered eagerly to […]

10 years ago

Motherhood; it’s hard, but worth every second of struggle (it is, it is!). But wow, there are times when your frustration levels reach fever pitch – times when the simplest of things are really, really quite hard – when you wished you had three hands, the ability to answer four people at once, and well, basically, clone […]

10 years ago

As Obama leaves The White House today (sniff), and we wonder what the hell lays ahead for the American people, and people everywhere, we’re reminded of his little visit, and some of the epic words he had to say about our great little nation. Obama addressed up to 60,000 people at College Green in Dublin, and […]

10 years ago

Most couples never anticipate they’ll have any problems having a baby, so when they come up against fertility issues, it can be hugely challenging for many to come to terms with what’s happening. Mary McAuliffe, a fertility nurse specialist and head of clinical services at Cork Fertility Centre shares her tips on how to really help someone through this difficult time.  “We […]

10 years ago