Welcome to our new parenting hub. From teething and tantrums to rashes and resistance, our team of writers and experts are on hand to answer your questions. We'd love to hear from you here

Parenting Podcasts Advice Fertility Pregnancy Baby Toddler Preschool School Children Tweens Teens Back to Parenting home page

Advice

Fertility

Pregnancy

Baby

Toddler

Pre-school

School Children

Tweens

Teens

More Parenting ...

'My baby started chemo at two weeks old — breastfeeding was a lifesaver'
'My baby started chemo at two weeks old — breastfeeding was a lifesaver'
Two mums describe how breastfeeding played a critical role in nourishing and soothing their babies during hospital treatment

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Close up photo of plantar wart on man's foot. Verruca plantaris on the heel.
Dr Phil Kieran: What is the best way to treat my son’s verruca?
A verruca is a wart on the foot. These can differ slightly from warts elsewhere in that they tend to be flat or even grow inwards, due to the pressure on the foot preventing it from growing outwards.

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Families encouraged to help clean their local coastline as part of Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean
Families encouraged to help clean their local coastline as part of Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean
This weekend, volunteers and their families will remove the litter from our shorelines as part of the annual Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Birthday cake
Julie Jay: When birthday celebrations become a week-long jubilee
We all want to mark these milestones, but even by my Kardashian standards this birthday has gone completely out of control

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Mother Doing Head Lice Inspection On Daughter
Dr Phil Kieran: How can I treat my long-haired child's head lice?
Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire way to prevent lice, but understanding how they spread can help reduce the risk somewhat

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Colman Noctor: What 'The Traitors' can teach us about honesty in the real world 
Colman Noctor: What 'The Traitors' can teach us about honesty in the real world 
"As entertainment, it’s gripping. As parenting material, it’s complicated. What does it mean when the same adults who insist that honesty is the best policy also cheer when their favourite contestant lies skilfully? How do we reconcile the values we want to instil in our children with the cultural messages we enjoy for leisure?"

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Coming Home from School
Julie Jay: Forget their first day of school, the second day is the real test of fortitude
Whilst I was all tough talk on the first day of school, the second day was for me, the moment when I seriously considered scooping up my newly initiated junior infant and making a break for it

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Football concept
Joanna Fortune: My son has stopped playing football since he was called 'crap' by a friend 
Since then, he has become very withdrawn and finds it hard to go outside even to play with friends, as he doesn’t feel good enough now

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Baby eating mother's milk. Mother breastfeeding baby.
Aoife Hearne: I'm worried about giving formula milk to my baby
Research suggests that breast milk has a favourable influence on the infant's gut and microbiome, which protects against the development of allergies. The majority of research focuses on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Sad little boy in red soccer jersey seated on bench
Joanna Fortune: My son is being left on the bench during matches
You could talk to the coach about your concerns in a calm way, without venting. The coach could clarify the club’s structure, focus, and goals for the team, enabling you to make an informed decision about whether your son should stay.

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Hearing a father's advice
Colman Noctor: Supporting your child during the limbo days between results and CAO offers 
For parents, too, these days can be a test of patience and perspective.

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Little girl playing xylophone
Music therapy has huge benefits for children but it's still not officially recognised in Ireland
Despite the practice showing many benefits, Ireland has yet to recognise the treatment. It is time for that to change

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Heinz x Barnardo’s Campaign
Tots to Teens: Teach young kids to cook 'grate' meals
Plus: Heinz has reunited with Barnardos for the fourth year in a row to launch limited edition Heinz Meanz Mealz Beanz three-packs to raise funds for vulnerable families across Ireland

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

adorable child playing with tennis racket and ball
Julie Jay: A tennis match is no place for a crying baby who is making a racket
The controversy surrounding a crying baby at the Cinncinati Tennis Open has once again ignited a debate around how far we should go to include parents and children at major sporting events

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Closeup beautiful young asian woman applying cream and lotion onto foot dry on bed, beauty asia girl moisturizer and treatment c
Dr Phil Kieran: Could stabbing pain in her heels be plantar fasciitis?  
"Foot pain is a problem we often see in general practice and can be due to a wide array of causes. Plantar fasciitis is a fairly common condition, which is why people often hear about it."

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Young family having fun outdoors
Joanna Fortune: How do we explain to our young children that daddy is out of work?
"The best thing you can do for your children in the meantime is to take care of yourselves and each other. Focus on maintaining open communication and connection, and ensure you have a support system you can activate for yourselves: Friends, family, professional therapy, etc."

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

AI robots use a hand touch system for learning education, Online Education icon on a virtual screen. internet lessons online web
Colman Noctor: Is AI in the classroom a welcome revolution or a shortcut to nowhere?
"Many parents are fascinated by, and uneasy about, AI’s impact on their children’s education. While AI offers efficiency and personalisation, it also raises concerns about fairness and human interaction."

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Tots to Teens: All the fun of circus at a Cork fort
Tots to Teens: All the fun of circus at a Cork fort
"All sorts of circus performers will provide the entertainment, including aerial acrobats, dancing Disco Dragons, and stilt walkers. Cork’s 96FM will be on hand to provide the music."

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Teen boy wipes his nose with a napkin
Dr Phil Kieran: Should we worry about my teen's nosebleeds? 
Anything that irritates the inside of the nose can cause bleeding. The most common of these is direct trauma from itching or picking (which is much more common than most people think, with a study showing that 91% of us do so).

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Starting secondary school: How to cope with a steep learning curve
Starting secondary school: How to cope with a steep learning curve
On the cusp of adolescence, we leave behind the familiarity of one teacher to join ‘big school’. We ask prominent people how they coped

Sun, 17 Aug, 2025

plastic model of a human jaw with white teeth and a brown teddy bear with a wooden toothbrush
Julie Jay: Trips to the dentist can often be a kick in the teeth 
"Our new dentist’s reception area is so instantly soothing, I was almost envious of the patients waiting for a root canal. The sparkling floors scream, ‘We don’t reuse toothpicks here,’ while the funny ornaments, depicting old-school dentists, complete with monocles, tell us this dentist also knew how to have fun."

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Tots to Teens: Cork on a Fork Festival is a recipe for a good time
Tots to Teens: Cork on a Fork Festival is a recipe for a good time
"...hands-on cooking classes will teach children how to make pizza, pasta, and sweet treats, like carrot cake balls, apple doughnuts, and smoothies..."

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Hearing a father's advice
Colman Noctor: Strategies for supporting teens anxious about returning to school 
A 2020 study in the Journal of Adolescence found that school-year transitions significantly affect adolescents’ mood and behaviour, especially after long breaks.

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

woman shaving her armpit with red shaver
Dr Phil Kieran: How can we stop our daughter’s painful skin infections?
Hidradenitis suppurativa is also known as acne inversa and is a recurring condition 

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Playing on a Video Game
Joanna Fortune: My son lost contact with his pals when he quit the local football team
I've suggested taking up a new sport, but he says he's not interested. What would you suggest?

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Colman Noctor: Where are we falling short when it comes to children's sports?
Colman Noctor: Where are we falling short when it comes to children's sports?
Children don’t need to be the best, and we shouldn't make them feel like they have to be. They need to feel capable, included, and supported so they can enjoy movement and sport in spaces where they feel that they belong

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Tots to Teens: Back-to-school and off-to-college — info and supplies
Tots to Teens: Back-to-school and off-to-college — info and supplies
And an end-of-summer picnic coming up at Fota House and Gardens

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Father and son recycling together in the backyard
Julie Jay: It’s hard to think of anything more harmful to the planet than being a parent
Before having kids, I was all about saving the planet, but now as a parent my eco-warrior approach has become a little more compromised

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

little girl eating
Aoife Hearne: How do I get my children back on track after they lost their appetite in the hot weather?
We're back home a week and they are still off their food — I've to coax them to eat at mealtimes

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

'I thought there’s no way I could be menopausal — I’ve just had a baby'
'I thought there’s no way I could be menopausal — I’ve just had a baby'
Women who give birth in their late 30s and their 40s may unwittingly find themselves in two stressful life phases at once

Sun, 03 Aug, 2025

Depressed teenager on his phone in the dark.
Colman Noctor: New, strict online age verification will keep Ireland’s children safer
Ireland is among the first EU countries to implement legally-binding age verification

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Visit the Cork farm with five acres filled with 100,000 sunflowers
Visit the Cork farm with five acres filled with 100,000 sunflowers
Chill out by pre-making healthy and tasty freezer meals — loads of recipes and tips in this new Make & Freeze book

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

cute child taking a bath.Little child boy character take a shower. Daily routine. Bathroom interior background. Vector cartoon i
Julie Jay: Four bathrooms, two small boys, and an inflatable bath — what could possibly go wrong?
We have had to endure the absolute carnage of inflatable baths up to this point — and carnage it is. You would be forgiven for thinking we have been subjected to a flash flood, such is the level of saturation

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Depressed young woman looks at her skin and touches it. She has disease there. Woman is worried. She almost cries.
Dr Phil Kieran: It can be hard to figure out exact cause of eczema flare-ups
One thing we commonly see at this time of year is a photo-irritation response. This can look like eczema and can be identified by appearing on an area where sunscreen, perfume or other skin products are applied and then exposed to the sun. I have seen this happen even with perfumes a patient has used extensively in the past without issue

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Photo of baby boy sleeping together with teddy bear.
Sleep experts' top tips on getting pre-schoolers to bed each night
Get to know your young child’s delaying tactics, and put in place habits and routines that foster a good night’s rest

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Portrait of sad offended teen boy having offended facial expression, isolated on gray background, wearing in casual clothes
Joanna Fortune: My son was spoiled while on holidays with a friend's well-off family 
"You probably know that feeling when you come home from a brilliant holiday and everything at home feels anti-climactic and dull in comparison to the experiences you’ve had on holiday. It’s often referred to as “post-holiday blues”."

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

three little children, two school kids boys and toddler girl having fun with with rainbow picture drawing with colorful chalks o
Colman Noctor: Less screen time a ‘game’ changer for bored children during summer
Excessive gaming can impact vital developmental experiences like boredom, physical activity, creativity, and real-life social connection.

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Preschooler boy is exploring nature with magnifying glass. Little child is looking on leaf of fern with magnifier. Vacation for
Tots to Teens: Bugs and beasties for nature lovers
Plus: My Irish Adventure is a great book to pack in the suitcase if you’re planning on taking a trip anywhere in Ireland this summer.

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Left foot with bruised big toe
Dr Phil Kieran: Is there anything we can do to save my son's injured toenail?
"If your son’s bruise is large enough, it can cause the nail to separate from the underlying nail bed. This is what causes the nail to fall off."

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

AOIFE KEARNEY
What is myopia and can it be caused by children spending too much time on screens?
Childhood myopia appears to be on the increase, and could be due to looking at small screens and less time spent outdoors

Sun, 20 Jul, 2025

Having so much fun under the sun
Joanna Fortune: I'm worried about my parents-in-law going on holiday with us — what should I do?
Arrange a big family day out and perhaps an evening or two when you and your partner can spend quality time together, connecting, sightseeing, or relaxing

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Tots to Teens: The children's clothing company that uses only organic fabrics
Tots to Teens: The children's clothing company that uses only organic fabrics
Plus affordable baby and toddler items in Aldi and free football lessons with Decathlon and Little Kickers

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Children's dependence on electronic products
Julie Jay: Want to finish your dinner when eating out with kids? Screens are often the answer
After attempting everything - colouring, cars, and conversation, I have accepted that the only thing that will get my kids to stay at the table long enough for Mammy to eat her dinner is an iPad

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

'Saoírse is my guiding light — I feel she’s minding us up there'
'Saoírse is my guiding light — I feel she’s minding us up there'
Roseanna Ruane has joined forces with BPerfect Cosmetics to create a new collection in memory of her daughter Saoírse. All proceeds from the make-up capsule go to two children’s cancer charities

Sun, 13 Jul, 2025

Two miniature houses in red and green
Joanna Fortune: How can I prepare my children to meet their dad's new partner? 
"Co-parenting in a connected and collaborative way isn’t easy, but it is the greatest gift you will give your children."

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

kids play materials on the beach
Julie Jay: I’d choose Bundoran over Benidorm, even on days when rain is biblical
After a lovely week spent on the North West coast, I am not sure we will ever be in need of our passports again

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Watching movies is a family activity
Colman Noctor: Watching TV with your child can be educational for you both
"Research from the American Academy of Paediatrics (2020) supports joint media engagement with television shows. The researchers found that when parents watch and discuss content with their children, it improves comprehension, critical thinking, and emotional understanding"

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Latest

Lifestyle

Newsletter

The best food, health, entertainment and lifestyle content from the Irish Examiner, direct to your inbox.

Logo ieFood
IE logo

Your digital cookbook

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited