Snack foods for babies and toddlers are big business. And for time-strapped parents, often an easy way to feed our little ones when away from home and on the go. However, an expert has now warned that many of these snacks are crammed with ‘alarming’ and ‘shocking’ amounts of sugar – and that this can […]

5 years ago

Why did the man walk on the red light, mummy? What does that mean? How come Andrew is getting a brother? Why did Peter’s (his cousin) goldfish die? Where did he go? How many sleeps until granny gets here? Why is Santa so happy all the time? These are just a selection of questions my […]

5 years ago

Look away now if you are into rather boring, normal names.

5 years ago

Entertaining this festive season? Gone are the days when it feels right to put out platters of cheese or cold cuts, and let people fondle their way across olives, crackers and grapes – or, God forbid, do a double-dip into the chutney. Nope, now we have to think out of the box a little – […]

5 years ago

The gifts that keep on giving. We love both gifting and getting books for Christmas. And when it comes to buying for children, we can’t think of anything better than a book to be read and enjoyed over and over again. This year, there are so many wonderful new children’s books out, from cute Christmas-themed […]

5 years ago

A Welsh school hit the news earlier this week for refusing to feed children whose meal accounts are more than a penny in debt. Headteacher Neil Foden warned parents that the school cook had been instructed not to serve lunch to any child ‘if their debt has not been cleared’. Foden also controversially added that […]

5 years ago

A fan of fast fashion from China? Online retailers like Shein and AliExpress have become extremely popular with bargain hunters looking for on-trend clothing for next to nothing. The problem? Fast fashion is not only bad news for the environment, but can also, in fact, be rather damaging to our health. A recent investigation by […]

5 years ago

It can be bittersweet to watch our children outgrow things we bought for them when they were babies, and have items that were once considered an essential now being rendered useless. The thing is, though, there are plenty of these baby bits that can get a new lease of life if you give them a […]

5 years ago

A dream for retailers, a nightmare for the planet, our wallets and also our homes. This year, according to new research, the average Irish adult will spend €470 on Christmas presents for their family and friends. It’s a lot of money. And while these sums might be acceptable if the gifts we were buying and […]

5 years ago

Ah, the perils of modern-day parenting. If you, like many of us, rely heavily on Amazon in order to get the Christmas presents bought this year (I mean; with the lockdowns and restrictions on movement, it has been rather tricky to get to the shops!) you might want to read this. Especially if you have […]

5 years ago

“You need to come and get your daughter, there has been an incident, she needs to go home.” Unless you are a parent, you will have no idea how scared these very words will make you. Which is exactly what happened to Australian mum Adrienne, who received this very phone call from her eight-year-old daughter’s […]

5 years ago

Does it send the wrong message? A Dáil committee has recommended that a moratorium on the selling of online adverts for baby formula be put in place. This recommends a ban on advertising to children online – including for junk food, alcohol, high fat/salt/sugar foods and gambling. Rules are already in place on TV and […]

5 years ago

The power of friendship. Miscarriages are common. So common. In fact, as many as one in five pregnancies end in miscarriage, which in Ireland means that around 15,000 women every year suffer a pregnancy loss. But just because they are common, it doesn’t make them any less heartbreaking – as so many of us know. […]

5 years ago

“We are averaging over 150 children a day through our emergency department.” The number of people being hospitalised with Covid-19 might have stabilised a little in recent days, but that doesn’t mean the hospitals across the country are any less busy. An increase in sick children has left emergency departments in crisis. Speaking to the […]

5 years ago

Breastfeeding my two children from birth until they approached their first birthday will forever be one of the most amazing things I have ever done. However – while breastfeeding might be the most natural thing in the world, it is also hard work. And it can be anything but easy at times – and even […]

5 years ago

When it comes to picking baby names, there are two types of people. Those who have had their future baby’s name picked out since they were in secondary school. And then there are the other kinds, who wait until they are in the delivery room to finally decide what name your newborn is going to […]

5 years ago

Dreaming of giving your kitchen a bit of a makeover next year? Then you might be interested to know about the one colour interior design experts first fell in love with this year, and that is about to really go mainstream for kitchens in 2022. Say hello to sage – the most deliciously pretty, soothing […]

5 years ago

Christmas is wonderful. And it is supposed to be. However, Christmas can also be a bit of a consumption frenzy – excessively so. There is just so much of everything – food, treats, presents, paper, prep, shopping, outfits, you name it, Christmas has it – in abundance. However, I am a firm believer in that […]

5 years ago

This is shocking. We are all relying more and more on online shopping – especially coming up to Christmas. Better selection, lower prices, it is easy to see why. However, now one mum issues warning after a toy she ordered online almost killed her toddler. Sam McCarthy recently took to social media to reveal how […]

5 years ago

Looking after your mental health during fertility treatment is important. Trying to get on with your everyday life, work, family and relationship while also going through fertility treatment can feel overwhelming, lonely and to many, almost too much to handle. Luckily, healthcare professionals are becoming more aware of just how important it is to also […]

5 years ago

The thing about first’s is that you only get one shot. Your baby’s first Christmas will never happen again, so why not make sure it will be something you will always remember (that’s you as in you, by the way, as your baby won’t remember a thing, despite all your effort!) and look back at […]

5 years ago

The perfect treat on a chilly winter day, we think. November is here, and the afternoons are getting darker, colder and gloomier by the day. However, we might have just come across a warming and decadent treat so delicious we dare you not to go head and make one right now. Say hello to hot […]

5 years ago

The season of festive gatherings is almost here. And this year, unlike last Christmas, we can finally gather our friends and family around the table again. And I don’t know about you, but I all about setting the perfect Christmas table this year. Gathering around the Christmas table, inviting friends around for a festive supper […]

5 years ago

Collectively, we are all a little obsessed with Nutella – and who can blame us, really? Which can explain why our ears peak up at the mere mention of the chance to make these 2-ingredient Nutella brownies. So when we came across this brownie one, that literally only requires Nutella and eggs, we had to […]

5 years ago

I truly believe that when it comes to raising our children, we all have the best intentions at heart. However, then there are days when we are rushing. When we burnt the dinner. When we have work deadlines looming. And so then, when the kids pick a fight with each other for the seventh million […]

5 years ago

Get the whole family in the Christmas spirit with Penneys new matching family Christmas pyjamas. Whether you wear yours on Christmas morning, throughout your festive feast or slip into them for a cosy movie marathon, I think we can all agree that Christmas pyjamas are pretty much obligatory for the festive season these days. And […]

5 years ago

Inspired by Normal People still? Our fellow parents across the channel are feeling a little inspired by Irish monikers lately. And, in fairness, why shouldn’t they? According to a new study by BabyCentre, Connell has entered the top 100 baby names in the UK for the first time. How much are you willing to bet […]

5 years ago

It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas these days. Today, M&S revealed their 2021 Christmas ad, and the star is a pretty famous face, I think you’ll find. Percy Pig is one of M&S most iconic and famous characters, and for good reason. The upmarket British supermarket sells 400 million individual Percy […]

5 years ago

It is easy to forget that C-sections are actually pretty major abdominal surgery. Not only is the surgery itself considered major and actually rather invasive, but the new research has also pointed out that the recovery from C-section surgery actually takes far longer than we think – something which should in every way be taken […]

5 years ago

And multiple doses of antibiotics are associated with a variety of illnesses in later childhood according to a new study. According to new research published recently in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, babies and toddlers who received one dose of antibiotics were more likely to have asthma, eczema, hay fever, food allergies, celiac disease, problems with weight […]

5 years ago

The perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Most of us are familiar with the famous tale of the Nutcracker – a classic ballet that is often shown in theatres around the world around Christmas time. And this year, whether you’re looking for a cosy date night to schedule in coming into the colder […]

5 years ago

In Ireland, as of yet, only children aged 12 and up are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine. In the US, on the other hand, the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine in the 5-11 age group last week, with vaccinations expected to begin as soon as this week. However, coming […]

5 years ago

T minus 28 days. That’s right, guys – just 28 more days until ‘Oh my God I forgot to move the Elf’ season commences. Hard to believe, as it feels like just days since I sent the little guy off to the North Pole last time. Sigh. However, as we start to plan this year’s […]

5 years ago

“Be safe everyone.” Khloé Kardashian has revealed that she – and her 3-year-old daughter, True – have both tested positive for COVID-19. The reality star took to Twitter on Friday and shared the news with her millions of followers. Hi guys I wanted to let you know True and I tested positive for Covid. I’ve […]

5 years ago

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection that causes lesions to form on a sufferer’s hands, feet and mouth. It is most common in children under 10, with outbreaks often occurring in creches and schools. Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually not serious and does normally not require any medical treatment, […]

5 years ago

Today is World Vegan Day. Eating more plant-based is better for us and better for the planet, and whether or not you have been thinking of going vegan or just want to add more plant-based meals to your diet, today is a good day to try something new. Worried about what the heck you’d cook […]

5 years ago

Full steam ahead. Fans of Harry Potter movies and Disney’s Christmas classic ‘The Polar Express’ are in for a real treat this year as the West Cork Model Railway Village, Clonakilty is going full steam ahead with a magical festive transformation, with the help of Santa and his hard-working elves. The West Cork Model Railway […]

5 years ago

In need of a major sugar detox after yesterday’s ‘no tricks, just treats’ bonanza? Aren’t we all. And look – there is no Halloween without treats, we say, but equally; when the sweets frenzy has subsided, there is nothing like the full-blown sugar hangover to make you really want to get back on the nutritional […]

5 years ago

Apparently, November is pretty much the best month to have a baby What sets November apart from all the other 11 months of the calendar year? Well, when it comes to giving birth, a whole lot, in fact. According to some of these studies, being born in November is a pretty great thing. Just take […]

5 years ago

Fur-tastic! If you are a pet parent, you have no doubt already put your pet’s name down on your Christmas shopping list. I mean; come on – of course they get a gift too! And right now, Penneys has an amazing selection of pet gifts in stock – from fancy food bowls to toys, pet […]

5 years ago

Buckle up, parents. If you’re expecting a baby between Oct. 23 and Nov. 21, you are about to get a powerful, mysterious, ever-evolving Scorpio into your home. Scorpios are ruled by the planet of renewal and transformation, Pluto, and the warrior planet Mars. They are a Water sign, so they’re said to express emotions in […]

5 years ago

Instagram and TikTok simply never disappoint – especially when it comes to alerting us to delicious new trends we need to know about. Last year Dalgona coffee – AKA whipped coffee – more or less broke the internet, and now – here is its prettier little sister, it seems. Whipped strawberry milk is the latest […]

5 years ago

Neutral, Scandi – and very ‘hygge.’ We are just days away from November, meaning – I think we can all agree – that we can absolutely start mentioning the ‘C’ word, no? Christmas is coming, and unlike last year, we can now finally gather friends and family in our homes once more – for drinks, […]

5 years ago

Halloween night might just be up there with the unhealthiest days of the year, and most of us nutrition-minded parents are stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to find a way to protect our kids from the sugar rush that is about to go down. First of all, try to relax (a […]

5 years ago

For many of us, motherhood inevitably changes our sartorial vibe. And not because we completely stop caring about fashion cold turkey just because we have given birth – because that is absolutely not the case. It is, however, more to do with the fact that motherhood requires a whole new level of practicality and utility […]

5 years ago

It is currently one of the most-watched shows on Netflix in most countries. Ultra-violent and highly addictive, the Squid Game is what binge-watching was made for and millions of people across the globe have deemed the dystopian Korean series one of the best shows ever made. If you have yet to watch it, the name […]

5 years ago

Tonight is the night. We are just hours away from Halloween night, and up and down the country, thousands and thousands of children are getting excited to put on their costumes and head out tricking or treating for the first time in two years – seeing as last year’s Halloween celebrations were cancelled as the […]

5 years ago

Why should the kids get all the treats? Having some grown-up friends around over the weekend, and don’t fancy breaking into the stash for the trick-or-treaters? Well, how about this utterly spooktacular – and no doubt delicious – baked mummy brie I just came across on Pinterest? Because let’s be clear – cheese is always […]

5 years ago

Forever tidying, but feel like nothing ever stays tidy? Same. And while mess certainly is annoying, did you know a cluttered, messy home could also be playing havoc with your wellbeing? Feeling stressed out and anxious are feelings many of us are familiar with, interfering with our sleep and energy, but also our overall wellness […]

5 years ago

Typical. You have just settled the children into a nice little routine now that school’s back and BANG, the clocks change again. Thanks a lot, autumn. This one can be particularly tough for kids, and parents of kids who are already early risers, or those who struggle to sleep at all. This year, the clocks are going […]

5 years ago