'Baby blues' risk lower for spring and winter births 

John von RadowitzWomen 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.

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?

The Dos and Don'ts of writing a birth plan, according to a consultant obstetrician 

Making a plan

The physical and mental hell of acute morning sickness 

'Any other symptoms," the nurse casually asked as the joyous reality that I was in fact pregnant with my first child sank in.

Good things come in threes: 'There's no easy way to parent triplets. This is what works best... 

After just an hour in the company of Sue and Cliona Kelly I'm ready to officially declare them superheroes.

Development of kids at risk if mums-to-be lack vitamin D 

Women who do not get enough vitamin D in pregnancy may have children with poorer social and motor skills, according to new research.

'I've been bungee jumping but this scared me more' - Mum opens up on experience of... 

A mum of two has opened up about her struggle to have pain-free sex after the birth of her first baby in an effort to raise awareness of the difficulties some mothers can face in silence.

Overweight mums-to-be urged to slim down before sex to avoid birth defects 

Experts have urged overweight women trying to have a baby to slim down before sex.

Kelly Clarkson accused of 'child abuse' for feeding two-year-old daughter Nutella 

Kelly Clarkson was accused of "child abuse" after she posting a video of her feeding her two-year-old daughter some Nutella.

How your iPad could be hurting your baby's brain 

Babies' sleep and subsequent brain development may be being harmed by the use of iPads and other touch-screen devices, research suggests.

Children can learn how to sleep 

Every mother will at some point encounter another parent whose baby is a paragon of good sleep practices. These are the people who have never had to contend with bedtime-as-battleground nor have they known the debilitating fatigue caused by being woken on the hour by crying, 10 nights in a row where you feel you might start hallucinating. While we can envy them their night-time bliss,...

Sharing & caring 

Your toddler's playroom is bursting with toys, yet whenever another child visits, your little darling wants whichever neglected toy their new amigo reaches for. A struggle ensues, and soon the fun and laughter are replaced by tears and tantrums.

Let's get physical 

I'm not a personal trainer, nor do I have a degree in sports science or a diploma in nutrition. But I am someone who loves to train most days and who does it with more enthusiasm than any great skill. There are 14 months between my two children, Charlotte and Will, and all going well, there will be 17 months between Will and Number 3: I am now eight months pregnant and still training five...

Our breastfeeding stories: the realities - good and bad 

Boy or girl? C-section or vaginal? Bottle or breast? Once baby is born, the many questions follow. The method by which a baby is fed can sometimes be a divisive and emotive subject. Mums who bottle-feed and mums who breastfeed can feel pitted against...

Baby on the brain 

A stop at the local convenience store for milk, bread and petrol doesn't usually end with a visit from An Garda Síochána. Except when you're three months pregnant and you only think to pay for your groceries. The officer was kind enough to let this mum off with a warning, and some advice: "You'd make a rubbish criminal."

That's what friends are for 

We all know the value of friendship. Friends contribute greatly to shaping who we are as individuals, and their importance in life is unmeasurable. The significance of children's relationships and friendships with each other cannot be underestimated - early friendships occur while key developmental changes are taking place and they help to teach children many important life skills, often...

Spring break 

While you may not be guaranteed blue skies and sunshine while holidaying in Ireland, one thing's for sure - you'll never get bored. A hop in the car and a road trip will quckly take you to many of the country's best getaways. The choices are myriad and whether you're an adventure junkie or a food aficionado, a spa lover or a book buff, an Irish staycation won't disappoint. With activity clubs,...

'We have decided to give up our dream of having a baby' 

Noelle Robb sailed through her first pregnancy. She was 18-years-old and it never occurred to her that pregnancy was something you ever worried about. Her son Michael was born in the summer of 2000 and while Noelle says early motherhood wasn't a walk in the park for...

New maternity leave laws are needed to protect mums of premature babies 

Every year, about 4,500 babies are born prematurely (fewer than 37 weeks' gestation). One in 16 Irish women delivers a pre-term baby.

I couldn't live without trying for a baby, to never hear 'Mammy, I love you' 

Genna McAuliffe's beautiful little boy, Harry, is the image of her: all fair hair and rosy cheeks. The pair beam at each other with mirrored wide smiles. But if you look closely at the shape of Harry's mouth, you can see the pout of his little lips isn't quite the same...

Sleeping beauty: How to get your baby sleeping better 

It might have been the holiday when Sarah was three-and-a-half months where it felt as if I merely emerged sporadically from a blacked-out room to enjoy the odd hour of sunshine before retreating back into the darkness to bounce, rock or feed herself to sleep.

'I sat on the bed with tears streaming down my face' 

I was 32 when I became pregnant for the first time. I was with my partner, now husband, for four years, living together for two. It was a happy, steady relationship and the pregnancy was very much planned and desired.

New life in the fast lane for baby Saphia 

A relieved mother has spoken about how her husband used his shoelaces to tie their new baby's umbilical cord after she gave birth in the back of the family car.

Expectant mothers' poor diets a risk to their unborn child 

Few Irish expectant mothers are eating the right diet during pregnancy, according to a new study.

Bigger families mean less shut-eye for mums... but dads sleep like babies 

Every additional child increases a mother's chances of having her sleep disturbed by 50pc, research has shown.

Teched up toddlers: Getting the balance right with screen time 

When it first happens, you goo and gah and think it's cute: your little one takes hold of your mobile phone, puts it up to his ear and attempts a "Hel-woh", followed by an imaginary conversation with someone on the other end. You tell your other half or your best...

There is no 'right way' to parent 

On paper, Giovanna Fletcher has a somewhat perfect life. Mother to two sons, Buzz (almost three), and Buddy, who has just turned one, she is married to Tom Fletcher of successful British pop-rock band McFly. She herself is a best-selling novelist with six books under her belt; she acts and she has an extensive social media following, with over 10 million views on YouTube (Giovannasworld) and...

Home alone: Coping with new mum isolation 

Motherhood is often portrayed as the holy grail of perfection and wonderment - a time filled with love and selflessness that is fulfilling and rewarding and which gives us a sense of completeness we might never have experienced before.

The essential supplements for mothers-to-be 

We all know about the importance of getting enough nourishment for your developing baby when pregnant. And, in an ideal world, our diets should provide us with the necessary nutritional requirements. But they often don't and this is where supplementation comes in.

Keeping it real: Slow and steady is key to postnatal fitness 

When you're pregnant or a new mother, the internet can be the most amazing tool ever. It's there when you're not sure if something is 'normal' or not, and it's a gateway to a global community of parents who are going through the same experiences. Where it...

10 things you should know about teething 

Everyone knows the agony of teething - both troubled infants and their parents are plagued with sleepless nights and fractious days as the process of cutting new teeth takes its toll. So to ease the pain of teething problems, here are some tips to help parents through this sometimes difficult developmental phase.

Play it again, Mam 

Toddlers and young children love repetition. They like to repeat songs, actions and rhymes; they will listen to the same story ad nauseam (and they will know every word off by heart) and they will play the same game over and over again.

Sleep survival strategies for you and your new baby 

Your new baby will come with their own individual sleep ability. Please bear in mind that in the first six months or so there are no real, so called 'bad habits' and you must not worry too much about how and where your child sleeps, provided you are observing...

Declaration of independence 

It's a school day. It's 8.45am on a Monday morning and my five-year-old is singing a little One Direction number into his hair brush while still in his pyjamas. I'm not happy with 'his direction', knowing that school begins in 15 minutes. I pull his PJs off like they're on fire, break the world record for putting on a child's school uniform, bundle him and his brother into the car and we make it, barely.

When you work on yourself, everything outside yourself becomes easier 

IF, in these final days of January, you're beating yourself up over failing to keep your new year's resolutions, and haven't yet transformed into a new and improved version of yourself, you might take solace from Alison Canavan's stance on this month's...

Keeping the bugs at bay 

We may be relishing the dawn of a new year, but springtime is still very far away and the cold winter months continue to see children, in particular, suffering from coughs and sneezes and all sorts of infectious diseases.

Things I wish I'd known 

Pregnancy may well be one of the most exciting times in a woman's life, but it's also a time that's awash with physical and emotional changes - some of which we weren't really prepared for.

There are no holidays from 'learning' - it's just something they do all the time 

With homeschooling on the rise, Andrea Mara talks to parents who choose to opt out of the crèche and school runs

Go figure 

Learning through play is the natural way for children to explore, create and make sense of their world and the world around them. It is how children make discoveries and wherever they look, there's an interesting and exciting learning environment waiting to be revealed with limitless possibilities of nurturing young mathematicians! Play is the process through which children investigate, learn to question...

In with the new 

As January draws to a close and Christmas entirely fades into the background, those resolutions may be fading too - but don't be complacent about improving your child's sleep. Decide that this year you are going to positively, and in a loving way, improve your child's sleep and, in turn, your own!

I love all brats children now, especially the 

being a mum makes you more compassionate

Special delivery: families dote on festive babies 

There was joy for dozens of families who received an extra special gift this Christmas at maternity hospitals across the country.

Designer pals' babies set to have an instant impact on Irish fashion 

Two Christmas babies are poised to have a major impact on the Irish fashion scene in 2017.

Pregnancy affects women's brains for years after birth 

Pregnancy changes a woman's brain for at least two years, new research shows.

A guide to your first pregnant Christmas 

From heartburn-inducing selection boxes, to frocks that make you feel like a glitter ball - Christmas can be a tricky time for the mama to be. Just as Bridget Jones found out as she got to grips with the Christmas tree in 'Bridget Jones's Baby', having a bump on board during the festive season can rule some of the Christmas faves out. But luckily we've pulled together a festive preggers guide to keep...

Keep calm & carol on 

"It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Easy peasy Christmas crafts 

Everything is so commercial nowadays, and it's easy to become jaded. Yet to our children, Christmas is all new and exciting and sincere. They love the lights, the smells, the songs and the sparkle of decorations, so why not begin your own family Christmas tradition this year, and start making your own decorations?

Mother earth 

UNICEF estimates that an average of 353,000 babies are born around the world each day. Here in Ireland, we account for approximately 200 of that daily rate. Women may have given birth since the dawn of time, but while biology is the same the world over, birth customs can vary hugely from country to country...

Christmas sleep solutions 

As the Christmas holidays and fun approaches, you may want to have a quick think about your child's sleep practices for the festive period. It can be such an exciting time for young children, but it is also a busy time with extra activities and holiday visitors, along with late nights and possible stays away from home.

Are we spoiling our children at Christmas time? 

Christmas is a magical time for families, especially for those with little ones whose unrelenting excitement could power Santa's sleigh. Most of that flurry of energy is powered by the expectation that Santa will come good with his side of the wish-list bargain.