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Meet the Panks -- professional aunts with no kids who just want to have fun

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

There's a new breed of auntie in town. Forget fussy old single ladies who don't really understand children -- think Kylie tweeting her excitement over her sister Dannii's pregnancy, or Beyoncé strutting down the street arm in arm with her young nephew Julez.

What little girls are made of

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Research published in England recently showed that teenage girls were the unhealthiest eaters out of all sectors in the population. They are not eating enough and when they do eat, the food they consume is high in sugar, salt and fat.

From Blackberry to baby bottle

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

We've always known that Irish people love their mammies, and with Ireland having the highest fertility rate in Europe, it's clear that we love being mammies too.

Mean mothers: My joy was an affront to my mum

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Peg Streep says she was no more than three or four years old when she knew that her mother didn't love her. On that devastating note, American writer Streep opens her thought-provoking new book Mean Mothers. It is, she says, the story that no one wants to hear. Maternal love is one of society's sacred cows. And the bond between mother and child is supposed to be pure.

Baby boy born with no eyes will need €300,000 for vital treatment

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

THE parents of a little boy born without eyes have launched a desperate plea to help raise €300,000 for his treatment.

The sleep-over nightmare

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Letting your child go on a sleep-over for the first time is a landmark in the lives of parents. Waving the little ones off, as they clamber out the door clutching pyjama bags, pillows and teddy bears, requires copious amounts of trust and a valiant will to let them go and spread their wings.

Promotion: All about nappy rash

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:43:42 +0000

The experts at Caldasene explain what causes nappy rash and how you can prevent it and soothe your baby's skin.

Room with an 'OOH'

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

IT'S spring again, so it may be time to spruce the house up. In most rooms this means a good clean and tidy will suffice, but when it comes to children's bedrooms it can be a different matter. These areas of the house suffer a great deal of wear and tear, so it's not surprising they need redecorating more often.

A picture of togetherness

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

FROM erratic driving to snoring, failing to help around the house and watching too much sport, most wives can easily come up with a litany of things that drive them mad about their husbands.

The weaning of life

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

INTRODUCING solids into your baby's diet is a vital step in ensuring all their nutritional needs are met, therefore facilitating adequate growth and development. Many parents worry about when the best time is to start weaning as there is so much conflicting information out there. The weaning process should not commence before your baby is four months of age/17 weeks and not later than six months/26 weeks. Early weaning ( less than four months) is not recommended since research shows a link with the development of food allergies and intolerances as well as possible childhood obesity.

Dear Daughter

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

My greatest wish for Laura is that she will have a happy and healthy life and be fulfilled in her work as a professional make-up artist. Laura has recently started her own business with her colleague Michele at the Nail & Make-Up Bar, in Blackrock, Co Dublin. They are venturing out at a difficult time as young entrepreneurs. My advice to Laura is to be professional in your work and supportive of your business partner. Be courageous and open to change and new challenges, even if they carry risk. Work hard but make sure there is plenty of fun and laughter in your life. Stay grounded; the world of fashion and beauty can be superficial at times.

The danger lurking at home

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

They called each other "babe" -- Ashleigh Hall and the handsome 19-year-old she had met on Facebook called Peter Cartwright. There was an easy familiarity during their online conversations, as if they had known each other for months. Ashleigh, perhaps more naive than the average 17-year-old, a girl prey to low self-esteem, was smitten.

Eating breakfast and fatty diet during early pregnancy increases chances of having a boy

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:11:38 +0000

What women eat while they are in the early stages of pregnancy influences the sex and health of their unborn baby, new research suggests.

Innocent capers & creepy stories

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Glynn (10)

Creative Corners

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

Creative Corners is a new online business that supplies and fits contemporary Italian furniture.

Hickeys

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

If you're a dab hand with a sewing machine new curtains, cushions and duvet covers are a crafty and cost-effective way to transform a child's bedroom.

Otto Table

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

OTTo's organic silhouette and space-saving design makes playing, learning and exploring fun in a style that fits the contemporary home.

Groovy Duvets

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

Catching some zzz's need not be the most boring part of the day with these funky, retro-feel duvet covers.

De Van High- Sleeper Cabin Bed

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

What could be cooler for kids than having a classic camper van in their bedroom? Worlds Apart has a new De

Taking care

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

JANUARY saw the introduction of the new Early Childhood Care and Education ( ECCE) Scheme that was first announced in last April's Budget. This is the first time that a free pre-school year has been made available on a universal basis to all children in the year prior to starting primary school, and it is a development that has been widely applauded. Irene Gunning, CEO of Irish Preschool Play Association ( IPPA), says it's something her association welcomes.

Tips and recipes when weaning

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

Weaning tends to occur when a child is between four and six months old. Organic vegetables and fruits are a little more expensive, but if you choose locally produced in-season fruit and vegetables they will be both fresher and probably better value than you might think. Steam cooking is the best method to ensure that all the vitamins and minerals contained in foods are retained.

Four- months plus

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

Carrots are a good option to try as a first food. They contain betacarotene, which promotes healthy skin, as well as fibre, which aids digestion. Make sure to buy organic so they contain as few nitrates as possible. In this recipe, we have added potatoes for starch, minerals and vitamins:

Nappy rash and eczema: Under your skin

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

A BABY'S skin, particularly in the early months, is prone to sensitivity, with conditions such as nappy rash a common occurrence.

Early Childhood Care and Education ( ECCE) Scheme questions and answers

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

When does the scheme start?

More married couples breaking up after birth of their first child

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

MARRIED couples are up to 30pc more likely to split up after the birth of their first child than those with no children or more than one, a groundbreaking study on families in Ireland has found.

O brother, why art thou?

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

In families where there are at least two children, parents can expect to see sibling rivalry rear its competitive head from time to time. It's totally natural and to be expected, and if handled properly, it can have an entirely positive outcome for all concerned.

'The little things grate he can be annoying when he goes on endlessly about his playstation'

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Anne-marie and Pat Carton live in Mullingar with their children Megan (15), Leanne (14) and Luke (nine).

Mind & Meaning: Delayed gratification is good for children

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Lent is now upon us and throughout the country people are engaged in "penance, fasting and almsgiving", the traditional practices throughout Christendom for centuries. But the demands of Lent are very different from what they used to be: in Ireland in the 1950s, dance halls closed down and festive activities were forbidden.

Children with televisions in their bedrooms miss out on vital sleep

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:06:16 +0000

Children are missing out on vital sleep because of televisions, mobile phones and computers in their bedrooms, a survey has claimed.