Parents 'spend thousands annually on baby products'

Irish couples spend thousands of euro on baby products every year, according to research carried out by the nursery company Babylo.

The company said today that average baby costs in the first two years of a child's life amounted to almost €5,000.

It said Irish couples were having smaller families later in life, meaning they were better-off financially and could afford to spend more.

Babylo also said its study had found that Irish parents were spending big money on fashionable buggies and clothes for their children.