#Parenting

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

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Aoife Hearne: How do I talk to my teen about her weight gain and snacking habits?
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Colman Noctor: Learning improves when children have opportunities to move more
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Julie Jay: I won’t sugarcoat it — my children eat far too many sweet treats
Fintan McCarthy 27/7/2023
My Childhood with Fintan McCarthy: 'When we moved from London to Skibbereen, I stood out'
The world champion lightweight rower talks about dealing with moving with his family to Skibbereen from London when he was six and how having a solid base of family support helped him as an athlete

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Richard Hogan: All these pathetic manosphere influencers want is views, clicks and shares
Richard Hogan: All these pathetic manosphere influencers want is views, clicks and shares
The Louis Theroux documentary on the manosphere exposes a harsh truth — that these men are ruled solely by algorithms and clicks, says Richard Hogan

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Colman Noctor: Teen boys in a bind, caught between old and new views of masculinity
Colman Noctor: Teen boys in a bind, caught between old and new views of masculinity
Young men today are navigating expectations very different from those of previous generations. They are encouraged to be empathetic and emotionally open, yet can be criticised for offering a seat to a woman, which was once considered polite or respectful

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Cute little baby sleeping in crib at home. Bedtime
Lucy Wolfe: These are the most common childhood sleep-related questions parents ask me
The primary task in their first few months is to make sure your baby feels loved, safe, and supported, says sleep consultant Lucy Wolfe

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Sad woman holding her nose because sinus pain
Dr Phil Kieran: What can my teen do about her repeat sinus infections? 
They leave her feeling miserable and she's stressed about her upcoming Junior Cert, which probably isn't helping

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Multiple lice combs with multiple fine teeth for effective lice removal and scalp care
Julie Jay: Head lice or an extra-marital affair? I know which one I would pick
On the day my husband phoned me to tell me he had spotted something moving on one of our children's scalps, I would have been much less upset if he told me he had met someone else

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Parent and teenage son conversing at home
Joanna Fortune: My teenage son and husband seem to be drifting apart  
My husband is a big sports fan but my son couldn't care less so they miss out on the bonding opportunity of watching a game or going to matches

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Toy Story 3 ; Year : 2010 USA ; Director : Lee Unkrich ; Animation. Image shot 2010. Exact date unknown.
Richard Hogan: Children get such a buzz when they replace tech with play
Playing with toys and losing yourself in your imagination is not just nice for a child, but actually therapeutic and a significant part of their cognitive development, says Richard Hogan

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Red paper Valentines Day heart
Julie Jay: Sometimes you really should talk to strangers
On the hard days, it is often strangers who offer you the most unexpected but necessary support. A passing word from a passerby can make or break you on a morning where everything has gone awry

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Portrait Of Twin Brothers In Front Of A Blue Background
Joanna Fortune: My teenage sons argue all the time
The older one seems to take particular pleasure in annoying the younger one

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Taking Notes in Class
When tech does the thinking, our children miss the real lesson 
Children are ‘borrowing’ comprehension rather than developing it — it’s like sending a robot to the gym on your behalf: the weight gets lifted, but no muscle growth occurs

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

‘My son has Down syndrome and he's the light of our whole world’
‘My son has Down syndrome and he's the light of our whole world’
Two mums whose sons have Down syndrome say their children have changed their outlook on life and want to celebrate and advocate for children like them

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Tots to Teens: Nourishing little bowls with big hugs
Tots to Teens: Nourishing little bowls with big hugs
Wicklow-based company creates fresh, preservative-free, ready-made meals for babies and toddlers

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Cropped shot of young woman with white stretch marks from a weight loss or weight gain on her thigh
Dr Phil Kieran: Is there a treatment for my teen's stretch marks?
Stretch marks occur in up to 70% of adolescent girls - there is nothing to feel embarrassed about them

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Caring for children and elderly parents... what life is like for the 'squeezed middle'
Caring for children and elderly parents... what life is like for the 'squeezed middle'
They are the generation juggling work, raising their kids, and minding their ageing parents. Yvonne Reddin speaks to people in the midst of 'mid-life care'

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

'Nobody was more surprised than my mother when I wrote a book'
'Nobody was more surprised than my mother when I wrote a book'
Ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday, Liz Nugent, Caoimhe Kenny, Georgie Durcan, Dr Doireann O'Leary and Sarah Maria Griffin share their memories

Sun, 15 Mar, 2026

My complex fertility journey to have a baby after PCOS and endometriosis
My complex fertility journey to have a baby after PCOS and endometriosis
Caitríona O’Donnell has endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome and knew she would need help to get pregnant. A new treatment targeting an overactive immune system ultimately led to the birth of her baby

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

The adult and the child holding red heart.
Richard Hogan: We salute all the mothers who help make the world go round
From his own mother, to the mother of his children, to mums everywhere... Richard Hogan says it's time to honour all the women who gave so much so that their children could have a healthy and happy future

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Teenage girl is applying make-up in her room
Joanna Fortune: My teen daughter wears high heels and makeup. Why does she try so hard? 
Because this is not a shared interest for you, be careful you are not projecting your opinions about women who dress up or wear makeup onto her. She sounds like a happy, healthy, typically developing teenager

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Tots to Teens: Lap and Chat campaign is back on track
Tots to Teens: Lap and Chat campaign is back on track
Workshops aim to help young people to look after their mental health

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Child is climbing up the tall bed, there's a risk of him falling down. Kid aged two years (two-year-old boy)
Julie Jay: A hotel break can feel more like a breakdown when you have a toddler
Anyone with small children knows a weekend away with small children is basically a hostage situation, only with nicer tea and coffee facilities

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Girl Drinking Water
Dr Phil Kieran: My daughter gets constipated when she's stressed  
Treating constipation is a marathon, not a sprint, but helping your daughter to manage it by herself will be a life-long skill that will help her in the future

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

A mum at 18, a mum at 38: How motherhood was different for us
A mum at 18, a mum at 38: How motherhood was different for us
Comedian Emma Doran and actress Rachel Sarah Murphy became mums at different ends of the age spectrum. As Mother's Day nears, they tell Jenny McEntegart about how their experiences shaped their maternal roles

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Young happy family with one parent woman mother with two children girls eating cookies on bed room at home
Joanna Fortune: What is the best way to introduce a new partner to my children?
Don’t just focus on what you will say to your children, focus on listening to them and allowing them to share and express their thoughts, worries, or excitement

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Happy elementary school girl with healthy food in cafeteria
Aoife Hearne: My children have lost interest in the free school meals. What do you suggest? 
A good place to start with your daughters is to understand why they have lost interest in the school meals — are they fed up with the menu options or has the quality deteriorated?

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Cute child, running on a Norway white sand beach in the summer
Julie Jay: Dunnes wellies are cheaper than a work visa for Australia
When it comes to a rain-soaked childhood, the only thing differentiating my kids from the McCourts is our ability to get new Dunnes wellies delivered to the house at the click of a button

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Teen girl enjoying evening solitude in her cozy, modern apartment living space
Schools seeing ‘alarming rates of absences’ in post-pandemic years
Schoolchildren often struggle to verbalise the anxiety behind their school-avoidant behaviour, leaving parents torn between getting them to school and being there for them

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Loneliness concept. Sad teenage boy on windowsill indoors
Joanna Fortune: My teenage son is missing his big brother 
Child psychotherapist Dr Joanna Fortune gives advice about an evolving relationship between two brothers

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Tots to Teens: Raise a cup for children’s ambulance
Tots to Teens: Raise a cup for children’s ambulance
Brew for BUMBLEance is asking people in communities, workplaces, coffee shops, and schools all over Ireland to put the kettle on to help pay for the cost of operating Ireland’s only children’s ambulance service

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Little baby sleeping on bed embracing soft toy, free space
Colman Noctor: This is the early years sleep advice every parent should know 
Child psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor outlines common sleep challenges facing parents of little ones

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Toy gun in hand on a white background, isolate.
Julie Jay: Son of a gun — why everyone in our house is suddenly ducking for cover
My husband took our son for a haircut and came home with an army regulated crew cut and the gun to match

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Little Girl Struggling With School Work
Joanna Fortune: My child says she is stupid because she finds school difficult  
I’ve told her she’s smart almost since the day she was born, but nothing I say seems to make a difference

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Technology addict.
Colman Noctor: Growing up in a flatscreen world can flatline social skills
Time is finite and not renewable. Every hour spent online is an hour not spent doing something else, so when children spend large parts of their day online, something else gets sacrificed

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Tots to Teens: A Wilde reading adventure for children
Tots to Teens: A Wilde reading adventure for children
Plus activities and clothing for rainy days

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Pensive sad boy teenager
Dr Phil Kieran: My son's mood has dipped since getting an injury
For people with an injury, it can be easy to focus on what they can’t do rather than what they can

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Close up of mother and a child hands at the sunset.
Julie Jay: Lessons in resilience from my personal parenting guru 
My 'paediatrician' — aka a friend with four children — told me that as much as my children will have to become resilient in the face of rejection by their peers, I need to be resilient for them too

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'My baby had his first heart surgery at just three days old'
'My baby had his first heart surgery at just three days old'
Between 500 and 600 children are born with  congenital heart disease each year in Ireland 

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

How to safely wean your baby by introducing suitable foods
How to safely wean your baby by introducing suitable foods
After around 26 weeks, breastmilk or formula alone isn’t enough, so introduce suitable weaning foods when your child shows they’re ready

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Portrait of a little boy in blue at home standing in the middle of the room
Joanna Fortune: My toddler gets upset when I breastfeed the baby
There is no ideal way to navigate this transition — remember that good enough really is good enough

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Annoyed father back to back with son ignoring each other after argue
Colman Noctor: F**k Around and Find Out — What is fafo parenting?
If Fafo parenting helps some parents loosen their grip and trust their children a little more, it may have value. If it becomes an excuse to disengage or harden our approach, it risks missing the very thing children need most

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Tots to Teens: Guide to your child’s health from A to Z
Tots to Teens: Guide to your child’s health from A to Z
Plus the Junior Eurovision song contest, teenage skincare and more

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Busy mother working from home
Julie Jay: I used to be sound, but now I am officially a bad mammy
After a few weeks of being a cranky old wench, I am convinced I am giving even Medea a run for her money in the bad mammy stakes

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Tired student trying to study in the night
Dr Phil Kieran: My teenage daughter is listless after antibiotic
Post-infection fatigue syndromes are a complex and variable group of conditions which are still poorly understood

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

woman smoking electronic cigarette
What's in a vape and how to tell if your teen has started vaping
Many young people still believe that vaping is a harmless alternative to cigarettes, writes Helen O’Callaghan

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

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