Life Family

Saturday 4 November 2017

Emily and David Diebold with Sammy (16) and Jessica (13) pictured in 2015

Parenting

David Diebold: 'My youngest is travelling abroad on her own - and I'm terrified'

THE youngest is travelling abroad on her own for the first time, which is, quite frankly, terrifying. At the laissez-faire age of 15, she prepares for this adventure by staying out with her friends until 11pm on the night before she’s supposed to fly.

Parenting

Ten foods that are actually choking hazards for babies and young children

Babies and young children have a natural habit of putting things into their mouths - even the foods which could easily cause them to choke.

Q&A: How do I baby-proof my home?

Women who give birth in winter or spring are less likely to suffer the ‘baby blues’. Stock Image

Mothers & Babies

'Baby blues' risk lower for spring and winter births

Women who give birth in winter or spring are less likely to suffer the 'baby blues' than at other times of year, a study has shown.

Amanda Brunker with her sons L to R: Setanta (8) and Edward (9) McLaughlin

Mothers & Babies

Amanda Brunker on giving birth: 'My tirade of abuse soon wiped my husband's smile'

How long can a baby survive out of the womb before being fed? Five minutes, half an hour, two hours?

Going Out

20 mid-term family days out

It seems like they only just started back at school but as the Halloween holiday looms, there are plenty of options for keeping your little horrors occupied. From forest schools to art workshops, spooktacular free events to terrifying train journeys, we round up 20 ways to have fun this mid-term break.

The good life: Katie Byrne is used to parents thinking she doesn’t understand the chaos that comes with having children. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Parenting

'Parents believe childless people are oblivious to life's pressures'

It can be difficult to converse with one of my friends - a father of four - when I call him.

StoryPlus

Sixth-generation Walsh farm scoops top dairy award 2017 for Tipperary

“Everything revolves around the best grass – it’s our fundamental”

The new rules for pregnancy

Mums-to-be get conflicting advice on everything from hair dye to alcohol to filllers. Meadhbh McGrath asks the experts what's safe and what's not?

In Ireland, both fathers and mothers are entitled to take 18 weeks of parental leave, per child, before the child turns eight. Stock Image

Parenting

New fathers not taking their parental leave

More than half of employees working in specialist and technical roles believe new fathers do not take their full entitlement to parental leave.

Caomhan Keane with his grandmother Delia Hernon in Áras Rónáin, Inis Mór Pic: Brian Farrell

Family Features

Age matters: How to manage the move from home

When Ireland's nursing home support scheme, known as the 'Fair Deal', was being designed it was anticipated that those taking advantage of it would only need it for up to two years, according to Martin Rogan, CEO of Mental Health Ireland. But, as the expected community support failed to emerge thanks to the recession, more people started taking advantage of the...

Parenting

Parenting: Our son seems to prefer being with his friends to spending time with our family and it leads to rows

Q: MY husband and I are at our wits’ end with our middle son, who is 10. We live in a young estate and he always wants to be out playing. He...

One of my granddaughters is mean to a younger one

Psychologist David Coleman

Editors Choice

'If Margareta Magnusson can help us get our affairs in order while we still can, whether by sorting the family heirlooms from the junk, or downsizing to a smaller place so as to make our lives more comfortable and stress-free, then sign me up'

David Diebold: 'My youngest is travelling abroad on her own - and I'm terrified'

Ten foods that are actually choking hazards for babies and young children

'Baby blues' risk lower for spring and winter births

Amanda Brunker on giving birth: 'My tirade of abuse soon wiped my husband's smile'

20 mid-term family days out

'Parents believe childless people are oblivious to life's pressures'

Sixth-generation Walsh farm scoops top dairy award 2017 for Tipperary

The new rules for pregnancy

New fathers not taking their parental leave

Age matters: How to manage the move from home

Parenting: Our son seems to prefer being with his friends to spending time with our family and it leads to rows

Psychologist David Coleman

Dear David Coleman: I am worried about my daughter who seems upset since she started in secondary school

Dear David Coleman: My teenage son doesn't go out to meet his friends

Dear David Coleman: Our three-year-old is refusing to use the toilet since she changed crèche recently. What should...

Editors Choice

What is Swedish Death Cleaning and why should we all do it?

'The doctor turned to me and said so quietly 'I’m sorry, there’s nothing' - Mother who...

Also in Life

How to save your baby or child in a choking incident - in five simple steps

David Diebold: 'My youngest is travelling abroad on her own - and I'm terrified'

Adrian Kennedy: 'Don't ask couples when they'll have children, they might be...

Do modern-day mums and dads have it tougher than their own parents?

'We won't be opening our front door tonight' - dad tells how Halloween frightens...

'Parents are already pinned to their collar without expensive ski trips,' says concerned...

#HaveYourSay: 54.6 per cent of Independent.ie readers feel they do not get value for...

Dear David Coleman: I am worried about my daughter who seems upset since she...

Dear David Coleman: My son doesn't go out to meet his friends, should I just let...

Eight family-friendly things to do this Halloween weekend

These pictures from New York's Westminster Dog Show will give you serious pet envy

Top Toys for Christmas 2015

Grandparents Day: Readers share the best advice their grandparents have given them

Gallery: Rachel Allen's visit to India with Goal

Prince George's playdate

Celebrity mums-to-be

Celebrities with big families

Celebrities who studied abroad

Funny Exam Answers

Funny exam answers

Sneak peek, FYI's new series Married at First Sight"

Family Features

#HaveYourSay: 54.6 per cent of Independent.ie readers feel they do not get value for money at their child's creche

'I'm worried for my daughter coming home later' - Independent.ie readers name heroes at work during...

Irish nurses celebrate reunion 50 years after they began their training

'Jesus O'Toole and his cousin Elvis Byrne' - The new Irish baby names parents are hearing

Dad blogger admits feeling 'jealous' of his two-year-old son in Facebook post

[TICON-A VIDEO] 'I was 33 when I was told I had two and a half years to live' - Mum on preparing her young children for her death

Talk is cheap for teens without tech

This little girl's response to someone calling her fat is the best

Viewers left emotional after interview with 13-year-old boy with condition that means he's the same size as a toddler

You're more likely to be a love rat if you're a cat lover

Parenting

How to save your baby or child in a choking incident - in five simple steps

David Diebold: 'My youngest is travelling abroad on her own - and I'm terrified'

'Parents are already pinned to their collar without expensive ski trips,' says concerned dad

Dear David Coleman: I am worried about my daughter who seems upset since she started in secondary school

Dear David Coleman: My granddaughter is having bad nightmares - have you any advice?

Dear David Coleman: My daughter has changed drastically since going back to school

Dear David Coleman: My daughter has stopped eating fruit and veg, no matter how I try to persuade her. Help!

Dear David Coleman: My three-year-old is so upset going to preschool

Dear David Coleman: My daughter has stopped eating fruit and veg, no matter how I try to persuade her.

Psychotherapist Stella O'Malley: 'Yesterday a girl (12) described how a boy in her class sent her an explicit pic'

Learning

Advice for the new kids: Senior infants explain school

Meet the class of 2017: 'We have a broad mindset and are more accepting of change'

'Anyone thinking of leaving school at 16 should know that it's a big mistake' - Dad (39) celebrates Leaving Cert...

Amanda Brunker: 'I didn't sit the Leaving Cert and I've done okay in life'

'He never touched me - I was a mouthy, independent kid, and abusers are wary of the type': Panti Bliss on his boarding schools experience

Are boarding schools really a home from home?

‘They were calling me names like dirty knacker and smelly tinker and I couldn’t understand why’- Irish traveller (19) on her experiences in education

We might just end up with more Trumps - and fewer Michael Ds

In code we trust: The benefits of giving your children a head start in coding

'I got a string of As in the Junior Cert but I ruined months of my life to achieve the grades I wanted'- Jane (17)