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 ...

Tired Schoolboy Sitting Alone on a Bench After a Long, Stressful School Day
Joanna Fortune: My young son hates going to school — what if it escalates to refusal?
I’ve tried every trick in the book to encourage him, but nothing seems to be working.

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Little baby boy at the supermarket.
Julie Jay: I have taken my kids to the supermarket and lived to tell the tale
Every time I head to the supermarket with my children I arm myself with a list and bags for life and convince myself this time it will be different. Spoiler alert: it never is

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Anxiety, thinking and window with child in home for mental health, adoption crisis or stress. Mistake, foster care trauma and ab
Joanna Fortune: My daughter feels jealous of her friend's friendship with another girl 
I would urge you not to dismiss or minimise your daughter’s emotional response, writes child psychotherapist Dr Joanna Fortune 

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

front and side and back view of same teenage boy standing on white background,
Dr Phil Kieran: Should we worry about my teenage son's short stature?
Height is a complex and sensitive topic that can be normal or indicate a medical issue that may need treatment

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Teenage Boy Studying Using Digital Tablet At Home
Colman Noctor: When mock exams feel all too real for your child 
As a parent of a Junior Certificate pupil this year, I have realised the stress of the upcoming mock exams can be substantial

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

‘KPop’ girls show it’s OK to live with your demons
‘KPop’ girls show it’s OK to live with your demons
Girl-group trio Rumi, Mira, and Zoey double as the ‘Demon Hunters’ in the hit movie and teach children life lessons

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

You're going to be the best brother ever
Joanna Fortune: I'm not sure how I'm going to manage it all when my baby arrives
Keep in mind the old saying: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Elbow pain.
Dr Phil Kieran: Could my hockey-playing teenager have tennis elbow? 
The first thing to rule out is an injury to the bone. This would most likely occur following a fall or impact. If the pain started after an impact, I would recommend going to see a doctor as soon as you can, as an X-ray may be needed to rule out a small chip or crack in the bone

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Little doctor using stethoscope on teddy bear at home
Julie Jay: Making a doctor’s appointment is up there with getting a bikini wax in January
Despite both being on antibiotics, I am still chasing my children around shops, because even when fuelled by penicillin, they have yet to meet an automatic door they haven't wanted to run through

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

Presents near Christmas tree
Joanna Fortune: My teenage daughters barely said thanks for all their Christmas presents 
I was shocked by their lack of gratitude, and said as much to them, but they just shrugged their shoulders and sloped off. Have I spoiled my children for life?

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Insecure teenager at school with girls gossiping
Is your child experiencing social isolation at school? Here's what you can do
Social exclusion can make young people feel as if something is wrong with them, and presents a difficult challenge for parents to overcome

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Boy Coughing
Dr Phil Kieran: Does my child need a second antibiotic?
Frequently, I talk to people who feel the course of antibiotics should be longer than the one they received, but I point out that antibiotics are meant to help the immune system clear the infection. The full recovery often happens only with time.

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Tots to Teens: Take a step in the right direction
Tots to Teens: Take a step in the right direction
From January 19 to February 15, the 2026 Forvis Mazars Steps Team challenge calls on people of all ages and fitness levels to take on one of two physical challenges and raise funds for Jigsaw and Bumbleance

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Happy senior couple celebrating Christmas Eve together.
Joanna Fortune: It feels as if my in-laws hijacked Christmas
My husband was of little help and kept fussing about his mum, who expected to be treated like a queen

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Little girl enjoying a lollipop on a winter city street with warm lights
Should I put my children on a sugar detox? 
Rather than focusing on exclusion, shift to thinking about the frequency and portions of each that are being consumed

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Teenage boy sitting on sofa using smart phone at night
Colman Noctor: Porn is now the first sex educator for children
Porn reduces sex to acts and mechanics, omitting connection, consent, and affection

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Loving Caucasian Mother Smiling at Newborn Baby Indoors in Bright and Warm Setting
The first 1,000 days are crucial in shaping a child’s life
Development begins at conception, and the early years are critical. A safe, nurturing and stimulating environment helps children thrive 

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Tots to Teens: Brush up your art skills for RTÉ contest
Tots to Teens: Brush up your art skills for RTÉ contest
Under 18s have until midnight on January 31 to submit works with theme of 'This is Nature'

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Box of Xmas decorations
Julie Jay: Why I'm thrilled to finally say goodbye to Christmas
I used to feel melancholic putting away the decorations, now I am craving beige interior, floor space, and a life that is tinsel-free

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Girl interacting with phone and digital icons emerging. AI Chatbot conversation, Ai Artificial Intelligence. OpenAI generate.
Colman Noctor: Growing role of AI chips away at trust and fuels anxiety in children
For parents, the question should no longer be whether our children will engage with AI, but who they will become because of it

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Loving Little Sisters
Joanna Fortune: Our eldest child won't let her younger sisters out of her sight
Risk-taking activity enables children to experience mastery over a task and encourages them to stretch beyond what they think they can do so that they develop confidence

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

family celebrating Christmas
Back-to-school mode activated: How to help your child adjust after a relaxed Christmas break
Switching from the relaxed-holiday mode can be jarring for children. But a positive attitude can make a huge difference

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Early events to welcome the new year
Tots to Teens: Early events to welcome the new year
Also, check out some hat-and-mitten sets, personalised book crates and snuggle bibs for your little ones as well as events for exhausted mums

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Multitasking mother cooks food, holds baby on hands and talks on the phone. Mom with kid cooking meal on gas stove, does housewo
Julie Jay: Like oil and water, rest and motherhood simply don’t mix
I used to be great at napping during the day, but now I am as much a stranger to an afternoon siesta as I am to brushing my hair

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Sick child girl coughing, sitting on bed at home, close up, side view
Dr Phil Kieran: Could my child's night coughing be due to asthma?
There are specific tests, such as pulmonary function tests, but most of the time, asthma is diagnosed clinically and confirmed by a successful response to treatment

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Happy woman with Santa's drinking wine during Christmas lunch at dining table.
Should you give your teenager alcohol at Christmas?
The short answer is no, according to experts who point out that starting earlier increases the odds of heavier drinking 

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Christmas morning joy
Colman Noctor: Children need our presence during festive season not a performance
When we manage expectations we can hopefully make room for what matters most: Presence, warmth, and connection

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Keep little hands and minds busy
Tots to Teens: Keep little hands and minds busy
Sit your little ones down over the next few days with pencils, markers, paints, or a tablet or laptop so they can then enter their designs in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Woman is sitting on sofa near christmas tree and is sad because of loneliness and lack of friends
Julie Jay: Having kids doesn’t make grief easier, but it helps keep you grounded
It is nearly impossible to believe my dad has been gone a year, but as much as the kids have kept me moving forward, they've kept me grounded in the present, too

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Little Acts of Kindness: 40 heartwarming deeds Irish children have done in 2025
Little Acts of Kindness: 40 heartwarming deeds Irish children have done in 2025
From donating toys to charity to helping a sibling with a disability, here are just some of the Little Acts of Kindness stories we received

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Last chance to visit festive wonderland
Tots to Teens: Last chance to visit festive wonderland
Last Christmas Magical Parade of 2025 is taking place in Killarney on Saturday, December 20, where the streets come to life with colourful floats, festive music, and beloved fairytale characters accompanied by Santa and his elves

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

‘Innocence of pregnancy forever taken after a loss’
‘Innocence of pregnancy forever taken after a loss’
A mum talks about her harrowing experience of stillbirth, how she and her partner coped with the trauma, and the subsequent joy of having a healthy baby

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Sad boy with gift box in christmas hat
Joanna Fortune: My nephew doesn't get on with my children — and he's staying for Christmas 
December 25 can be an intense day, and families often feel under pressure. Manage expectations

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Low angle view of young Caucasian woman volunteer in rubber gloves collect garbage squatting on coast. Concept of Earth Day and
Colman Noctor: Teaching children to choose kindness in a 'me first' world
If we want a society that bands together, we need to teach children to help others so that when they grow up they will know they are not alone, and that no one else should be either, writes Dr Colman Noctor

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Female Doctor Putting Walking Brace On Person's Leg
Dr Phil Kieran: I'm worried about my teenager's stress fracture  
It is essential that your son take his time to fully recover from this injury

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Santa Claus
Julie Jay: The Big Man always comes up trumps despite his workload 
Bringing the children to see Santa was a truly magical experience, and the fact we managed to get through a family afternoon without killing each other proves miracles can happen

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Orphanage concept. Sad little girl at table indoors, space for text
Joanna Fortune: My two-year-old is missing her granny, who had to undergo surgery 
"My daughter is asking lots of questions about when Granny will be coming back to play with her. She cries when I say Granny is not well right now. How can I explain to her what is going on?"

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Teenager Using Cell Phone in Bed
Colman Noctor: How parents can help screen out extremist content online
"These are not abstract political debates; they are propaganda attempts to radicalise young minds, which can leave them feeling worried, guilty, angry, or withdrawn. This noise is now part of their psychological landscape."

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

How reading and singing to NICU babies can help their health and development
How reading and singing to NICU babies can help their health and development
Not hearing enough parental language in neonatal intensive care can delay infant verbal development. The BabyTalk reading initiative is helping babies catch up

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Shining a light on childhood cancer appeal
Tots to Teens: Shining a light on childhood cancer appeal
Fair City actress Kiara Noonan is calling on the public to support the Irish Cancer Society’s children’s Christmas appeal.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Headshot of an annoyed teenage boy
Dr Phil Kieran: What can my teen do about his flaking scalp?
"The exact cause or mechanism for this condition isn’t fully understood, but I’ll go through what we do know about and what I can recommend for your son."

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Teacher Spelled in children’s blocks
Julie Jay: I survived my first parent teacher meeting... just about
Listening to the teacher talk made me realise how much of my parenting anxiety isn’t really about my child - it’s about me

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Five touching little acts of kindness performed by children around Ireland
Five touching little acts of kindness performed by children around Ireland
From generous donations to sweet acts to make strangers smile, here are some of the Little Acts of Kindness submissions we have received so far

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Angry Teens
Joanna Fortune: My teenage daughters have started to argue
The fact that your girls have recently started arguing may not be related to their differences in skill sets and abilities — it is more likely due to a developmental clash based on their ages and stages of development.

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Pink pastel candy background
Aoife Hearne: Clubs rewarding children with sweets are being irresponsible
We have to teach our children how to eat them in small quantities and take the power away from forbidden foods.

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Cute little girl standing in front of kids programming electric toys and robots at robotics classroom
Colman Noctor: Afterschool clubs need to open their doors to all children 
Afterschool clubs are not the only effective option — relatives and childminders can also offer warmth and stability. However, when access to enriching opportunities depends on income, we risk entrenching inequality in childhood.

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Cute little preschool girl in safety helmet riding bicycle. School kid boy, brother teaching happy healthy sister child cycling
The kindness we seek in strangers starts in our own homes
If we want our children to be kind to others, we must start by teaching them to be kind to themselves and their siblings

Tue, 02 Dec, 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