Hello!

While I am sure we all agree pregnancy is an amazing time. Let’s keep it real … there can also be some less-amazing symptoms. Understanding why you may be feeling a certain way or why your body is undergoing these strange changes is really reassuring and can help us to understand that our pregnancy is progressing well as our bodies are devoted to growing a little one. Midwife Pip talks us through how we can manage common pregnancy symptoms.

With millions of names to choose from, selecting the perfect name for your baby can be a daunting task for parents and it can be hard to know where to begin. The research shows that some parents-to-be are turning to pop culture to gain baby name inspiration, with the likes of Willow, Luna and Harper proving popular.

Soothers can be an integral part of a child's comforts but when the time comes to get rid of the soother it can often be very overwhelming for both parent and child. Every parent has their own “why”. Every home moves to a different beat as does every child. Behaviour Specialist, Deirdre Holland Hannon, has some tips on knowing when is right and what to do next.

They’ve mastered day time toilet training but why is your child still wetting the bed and how can you stop it? Wet bedding can be expected at night while initially toilet training, and all children have occasional accidents, even years after being completely dry. Read more from Emma Grant.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a NUNA CUDL carrier to giveaway and more!

Enjoy the read! 

Roberta 

Love it or hate it, it’s back to school time! Whether it’s your little one’s first day of play school or primary school, autumn is full of firsts. To help you manage the start of this milestone, Amanda Jenner has some top tips on how to prepare your child for their big day. Make sure to check out our trendy tots edit, page xx, for some very cool back to school buys and the chance to win one of three €100 Penneys vouchers.

The pandemic has left its scars in more ways than one. We are acutely aware of the world's changing behavioural patterns caused by too many lockdowns, severe restrictions, and the epidemic of isolation and loneliness. As parents, we have raised our children in a bubble. Under-socialisation has been a concern for many of us as we question if the lack of contact with others affected how our babies, toddlers, and preschoolers grew with or without relevant social skills. When the world shut down, were those babies born into a pandemic at a disadvantage, especially as the pandemic lasted longer than expected? Ger Walsh chats to Linda Breathnach, member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, with some reassurances for parents..

It can be very frustrating when your child does not sleep well. It is a place that you may feel only you inhabit. You may sense that your child is just a "bad sleeper”. Healthy sleep habits do not always come naturally for some children. In fact depending on what study you read 30-50% of families report sleep issues. Sleep Consultant and Author of The Baby Sleep Solution, Lucy Wolfe discusses how sleep is behavioural in nature.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have an Infantino Projector, a hamper of Eskimo3 goodies and a Co-Glide Crib from Baby Elegance.

The Little One was founded in 2019 by Janette McInerney, who created the business after struggling to find zippy babygros for her super wriggly son Conor. Fast forward 3 years and The Little One is launching swimwear, tracksuits, dresses and more! Make sure to read all about Janette’s entrepreneurial journey.

As you increase the number of your family, one area of concern can be, how one parent prepares and comforts two or more children as part of the transition to sleep at bedtime and how do you manage naps with an older child roaming about unsupervised. There is no definitive answer to this question, but each individual family will begin to make inroads to this parenting dilemma in their own unique way. However, it can feel like a big transition and may be worthy of some forward planning and then some solution exploration as required. Sleep Consultant at Sleep Matters and Author of The Baby Sleep Solution, Lucy Wolfe has some tips.

Less is definitely more when it comes to toys in your little one’s playroom. It is a well-known fact that children play ‘better’ when they have less to choose from. We now know that play is the work of children too. So, it makes sense that when they are given the opportunity to focus their attention on the exploration of a few carefully chosen toys, they are much more likely to discover the learning potential of each toy. Laura Erskine  talks to Child Development Expert, Ollwyn Moran, on why toy rotation is so beneficial.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a TRVL buggy from NUNA, a pamper package for mum-to-be at The Radisson Blu and 4 x bottle sets from MAM.

Enjoy the read! 

Roberta x

A moment please for our cover story - Mummy Sinéad Hingston-Green and her beautiful, long awaited, little Alby (FKA Sparky). After experiencing her miscarriages, Sinead decided that something needed to be done to raise awareness, and to give hope to those who experience a pregnancy loss. She started the ‘Spark a Life’ campaign on social media. 

It goes without saying that sleep can be frustrating especially within the first year of life. No sooner do you think that you have established a healthy sleeping pattern than something seems to knock you off course. From nap transitions to weaning onto solid food, dropping night-time feeds and of course sleep regressions and growth spurts. Lucy Wolfe has some tips on telling which is which.

Aside from being protected, breastfeeding on the go can have many benefits for both you and your baby. It is very convenient as you have all the equipment you need for feeding right there on you. Once you get the hang of it, it can become practically effortless. You also have a fantastic way of calming your baby if they become overstimulated in a busy shop or restaurant. Try these tips from Postnatal Doulas, Ceara McManus and Eleanor Farrell of Doula to You, to help get you ready for those first few feeds.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a couples stay at Castleknock Hotel, a Nuna Aace Ix car seat and x 5 bottles of new Bio Oil lotion.

Enjoy the read! 

Roberta x

We are thrilled that Mums & Tots magazine is an official partner of Irish start-up, Kinderfli, Our cover girl, Farrah Rose Ruane is a fantastic brand ambassador, pictured with her ‘buddies’. One of Kinderfli's first literacy and support initiatives is its #IBelongToo Diversity and Inclusion in Childhood Awareness Campaign, which ran in autumn 2021. "Although amazingly diverse, children worldwide are united in their need to belong and feel secure and loved, and most have an item that brings them comfort. Whether a worn-out plush toy or thread bear blankie, these comforters, though unified in purpose, all have different stories as diverse and unique as the children they belong to," explains Alda Smith. 

This year, we held our 9th annual Mums & Tots awards, with NUK. We had over 90,000 votes from our amazing readers! It was wonderful to have an actual event this year at the Castleknock Hotel, with our people winners and category sponsors. It is an honour and a privilege to share your stories. To all our people and product finalist and winners, well done from us all. 

As an owner of a family business, I always have a special place in my heart for other entrepreneur mums. We bring you the fourth part of our Mom Boss series, featuring Clare Tully of Jackanory and Bronagh Conlon of Listoke Distillery. We dare you not to be inspired!

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have: An Ergo Dream carrier, Micro Scooter, Nuna Pipa Seat and base and much more.

We are honoured to have Denise Phillips, Owner of Pelo Dolls and Voduz Hair, with her beautiful children, Beth and Jude, on our autumn cover (and 40th issue of Mums & Tots magazine!!!). Captured by the incredibly gifted Amanda of Amanda Hatton Photography.

“When I was told I was infertile I became somewhat cold. I was no longer Denise, I was the infertile woman struggling to have a baby. I was used to the fact that my body didn't work in the correct manner. The acceptance part of being infertile changes you because you go into a dark place.” For so many women this rings true and strikes a deep and painful chord. Denise Phillips, has been an ambassador for women struggling with fertility in Ireland, becoming a beacon of hope for so many. In sharing her experience on social media, she has opened up a space for others to feel empowered to share their own journey and remove the stigma of speaking about infertility. 

Prior to the pandemic school was a stable and predictable environment for a child. However, the impact of lockdowns, restrictions and closures has had an effect. Back to school can present new mental health challenges. Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Claudia Malocca, has some tips on reducing anxiety for the transition back to school.

We are delighted to showcase the latest in our Mum Boss series, featuring Anita Murray, Owner of Edvard & Pink and Kingdom Kind and Irene Breen, Founder of BellaMoon. We dare you not to be inspired by these amazing women!

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a SnüzPodd4  and SnüzSurface Mattress, Omni Breeze Ergo Carrier,  Usborne Book Hamper and more to giveaway.

Farewell lockdown 3.0, summer is here, with brighter days to come, hopefully in every sense of the word!

A moment please for our cover photo, shot by the incredibly talented Amanda Hatton of Your Story Photography. Sigh - those newborn cuddles!

Returning to work and easing your baby into a crèche can be a daunting prospect for many families. For some, it can be difficult enough, with just the thought of leaving your baby for long periods of time, without the added challenge of preparing your child to sleep well there too. Sleep Consultant and Author of ‘The Baby Sleep Solution’, Lucy Wolfe, has put together some helpful strategies and points of consideration, to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The fourth trimester, or the first three months of your baby's life, is a time of great learning and adjustment for the whole family. At times it may feel as though the focus is all on the newborn and mother dyad, but partners we see you. We acknowledge that you too are transitioning into a new role without much guidance. A role, which has become all-encompassing in recent decades. Postnatal Doulas, Ceara McManus & Eleanor Farrell of Doula to You, take a look at the first few postpartum month’s, from a partner’s point of view.

We are delighted to showcase the latest in our Mum Boss series, featuring Pat Kane, Founder of reuzi.ie and Jane and Sandra Palles, Owners of Emily and Eve. We dare you not to be inspired by these amazing women!

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a 1 year supply of Waterful baby wipes, the brand new NUNA Cudl baby carrier and a hamper of books from MacMillan.

Pregnancy can be demanding upon the body - from the morning sickness and stretch marks to lesser known symptoms, such as itchy boobs and thrush. From day one until the arrival of your baby, new questions and doubts about the physical effects of pregnancy are likely to arise. Co-Founder and Clinical Director of My Expert Midwife, Lesley Gilchrist, has the answers.

Have you ever heard of informed consent through your pregnancy and birth experience? It is the process of obtaining and understanding the risks, benefits and alternatives of any given procedure or intervention. Importantly it requires that you are capable of understanding what a procedure might mean, the implications of any procedure and explicitly agree to this procedure or intervention being performed or carried out, or not. Doula, Sandy Connolly, talks about what informed consent is and why it is important in your birthspace.

We are delighted to showcase the latest in our Mum Boss series, featuring Child Therapist and Cognikids Founder, Ollwyn Moran and Blogger, Make Up Artist, Rhona Cullinan. We dare you not to be inspired by these amazing women!

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a Nuna Leaf rocker, the brand new Ergo Aerloom baby carrier, a sleep bag and blanket set from Bear’s Little Fish and four copies of anewmum.ie’s Pop The Kettle On journals, all to give away.

Happy 10th Birthday to us!!!!! Can you believe a whole decade of Mums & Tots magazine?! We can’t thank you enough for being part of our community. Some of our readers (including us) now have preteens. 

As a family business, we always have a special place in my heart for other entrepreneur mums. We bring you the second part of our ‘Meet the…’ series, featuring Babyboo.ie and The Pod Collection. We dare you not to be inspired!

This year, we held our 8th annual Mums & Tots awards, with NUK. Despite not having a physical event, we were blown away by the amount of people who took part. It is an honour and a privilege to share your stories. To all our people and product finalist and winners, well done from us all. Make sure to read the full coverage.

Pandemic parenting is not easy! It can bring more chaos in the house than usual. Step by Step Consulting give us their tips on handling sibling squabbles and Play Therapist, Claudia Malocca has advice on tackling challenging behaviours .

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; a family break at Castleknock Hotel, a Maxi-Cosi Cassia swing and much more.

Amanda Hatton of Your Story Photography photographed our beautiful cover from a series for National Breastfeeding Week last August. We love how poignant this shoot is - socially distant and masked up but beside each other, like pillars of strength and support. Saying of her own experience breastfeeding her three boys Amanda says, ‘I was blessed with a huge community throughout all my feeding journeys… I didn’t find any of them easy, they all came with struggles but is a stage I will truly miss.’. Breastfeeding, more often than not, comes with challenges, particularly in the early days. It is so important to have people to turn to if we have questions, or doubts, on this journey. Jennifer Phillips’ offers us some tips on connecting with other breastfeeding mums and experts in Ireland.

Resolving the stand-off at bedtime with your older child can push you to your very limit. As your child grows, their ability to dispute, refute, bargain, negotiate and stall at bedtime is unequalled. It can result in bedtime taking hours and  may include parents spending a long time lying beside their child, or returning their child to bed on multiple occasions. If this sounds familiar, join Author and Sleep Expert at Sleep Matter’s, Lucy Wolfe as she explores some suggestions to reduce the struggle and reclaim bedtime as a calm time that results in sleep for your child and some down time for you.

One of the main issues that women face during pregnancy is how people react to their body as their pregnancy advances. There does seem to be a culture where unsolicited comments from family, friends, co-workers and even strangers - as to the size of a pregnant woman’s bump - are deemed to be acceptable. It’s not. A woman’s body and her pregnancy bump is hers, it’s not something that should be open for discussion or for people to touch without permission. Read more on bump shaming from registered midwife, and co-founder of My Expert Midwife, Lesley Gilchrist.

Have you ever written a birth plan and have things go not quite as you had expected? Sometimes, we have to let go of the birth we had once visualised and focus on what is best for us and baby when the moment comes. Jessica O’Neil, or @mymooandroo, as she is often known in the Instagram world, welcomed the arrival of her rainbow baby, Alfie James Bolton last February. Read how Jess came to terms with a massive change in her birth plan, welcoming Alfie in the back of an ambulance.

A few months ago Joanna from Marta Faye Photography got in touch with us about a feature idea to put the spotlight on women who became mothers at 40 and challenge the negative misconceptions that it is, ‘too hard to have children as an older mum’. We put out a call out on our Facebook page and were humbled by such a massive response of women wanting to get involved in the project! Some women have been focused on their careers, while some have waited a long time to get pregnant, undergoing fertility treatments to have their much wanted family. Thank you to all the mums for telling their stories!

This year, parenting community BabyDoc Club became a global partner, spearheading a campaign of Maternal Mental Health Awareness for Ireland. With no Government maternal mental health policy or national healthcare support service for women seeking help, BabyDoc Club joined forces with Parentline to highlight the charity's support services in this area and help raise vital funds. We are delighted that 2020 brought Ireland's first Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day, on the first Wednesday in May. 

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; a family break at Galway Coastal Cottages, anewmum Alpha Stem Aid and 5 starter packs from Dr. Brown’s. 

Enjoy the read!

This year marks a whole decade of Mums & Tots magazine! To all our wonderful readers - thank you for your input and being part of our community, without you it wouldn’t be possible. 

As March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day, we have a very special story from Molly’s mum Rhona Cullinan on page 16, ’Nothin Down, Only Up!’. She tells us, ‘a child with down syndrome has the same feelings and wants as every other child. They have the same emotions but are generally very good natured but don’t think they can't throw a wobbler when they want.’. For more information about Down Syndrome, turn to page 19, with Down Syndrome Ireland.

When my first was born, I wished I had been more informed on what to expect -  not from my newborn, but informed about how my body would feel physically and mentally in the days and weeks after child birth. Postnatal Doulas, Ceara McManus & Eleanor Farrell of Doula to You, page 34-35, talk to us about what to expect from your body after giving birth; from hormonal changes, after pains, bruising and that terrifying first poo! 

As adults, we have mastered the art of speech and communication, but it has taken years of practice to learn and understand. Similarly, for children this is a life skill that they begin to learn from the day that they are born. Director at Giraffe Childcare, Dearbhala Cox-Giffin, gives us her tips on encouraging your child in every step of their speech and language acquisition, page 58. When it comes to reading and writing, if you suspect there me be a learning difficulty, check out our checklist from Dyslexia Ireland, page 57. 

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; a family break at The Kingsley Hotel, a Maxi-Cosi Coral car seat, a hamper from Bio-Oil and €150 voucher for Cheeky Rascals.

Enjoy the read x

We are totally thrilled to be featuring an exclusive photography campaign ‘#Storylines’, from anewmum, with award winning Photographer, Neely Ker-Fox. As a society, we as women in Ireland, are sometimes underinformed about the changes and challenges they we will experience during the first year after giving birth. Add to that the pressures of perfection as endorsed by media and society and it is no surprise that so many new mums experience a sense of loss, disconnect and depression. Neely Ker-Fox’s photographed eight mums across Ireland to showcase the beauty of women’s changed bodies after birth in all their glorious perfect imperfections. Please join the conversation with the ‘Storylines’ hashtag and read our cover girl, Ali’s story along with the other mums from the campaign.

Adjusting to our new body is one side of the challenges waiting for us as new mums, but we also have to contend with the life altering reality that we are wholely responsible for this new little baby. Join Doulas, Ceara and Eleanor, on what to expect the first week of being at home with your newborn.

We had a wonderful afternoon at the Castleknock hotel on the 18th of October, celebrating the people winners of our 7th annual Mums & Tots Awards, with NUK. Be inspired by some of Ireland’s living legends in your community. Well done to all our brand winners too! And most of all, thanks to our wonderful readers for taking the time to vote - we had thousands of entires.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; Mini Micro Scooter, a brand new Rizmo toy and 10% off Peachy Lean and Baby Sensory Classes.

Happy 9 year anniversary to us!!! We cannot believe we are almost a decade in business. We want to thank our ever expanding Mums & Tots community of readers. Thank you for your support and input over the years. You are the reason we do what we do!

There is only one thing more challenging than being pregnant and giving birth - actually naming the baby!!!! It is such a huge responsibility and often a source of disagreement for expectant parents. We have some great tips for when you are writing out those lists, followed by our Baby Naming Quiz so you can find out your Baby Naming Personality.

In keeping with the season we have a back to school special in our Tots section. Make sure to check out ‘Ready, Steady School’, with Director of Giraffe Childcare, Dearbhala Cox-Giffin, giving parents her top tips on starting big school. We have some practical and funky accessories in our Back To School Cool Essentials.

With every issue of the magazine, we are trying to become more environmentally aware. Have a look at articles from our favourite Climate Ambassadors, Madeleine Murray on creating a Plastic Free School and Reuzi’s Pat Kane, on Sustainably Starting School, with her tips on cutting down on waste starting back.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; a family break at Castleknock Hotel, a €100 voucher from Penneys and a hamper of books from Usborne up for grabs.

Ah pregnancy! Sometimes it is a smooth ride and sometimes it is a rollercoaster with no safety bar! We hear from Mama Moment’s Sarah Ryan on having Hyperemesis in her pregnancies and knowing the signs and symptoms of this condition.

It takes a village to raise a child, is one of our favourite sayings and it so true in our own family - friends, grandparents, godparents, they all have such an important role to play. Vita Murrow tells us how crucial it was for her family to have a post partum doula stay with them after the birth of their children. Find out more about how a doula can help you in your postpartum journey with the Community Doulas, or if hiring a nanny is more your style, then check out our checklist from Mind Me.ie.

You may remember earlier this year, hearing about legislation coming in to give all same sex parents equal rights to their children in Ireland. Sadly, this does not include everybody. Married couple, Ranae and Audrey (pictured with their little family on our front cover), travelled abroad to have their children via reciprocal IVF and as such will not be covered. You can follow their story on instagram @ranaevonmeding to stay up to date with petitions and other ways to get involved.

Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have; a family break at Fota Island resort, a Maxi-Cosi Lila and a hamper of goodies from SuuBalm up for grabs.

Enjoy the read and have a great summer!

Motherhood - there is no one size fits all. From pregnancy to parenting we all have different experiences. Having never suffered with Post Natal Depression myself, I had not realised what a spectrum of severity there can be. Some new mums could isolate themselves at home, very obviously depressed and then some who appear to just have a case of ‘the baby blues’. Sarah Ryan bravely tells us her experience, with her diagnosis only emerging when her son was over 2.

Going back to work is hard enough without worrying about baby’s transition to creche. Sleep Expert, Lucy Wolfe, gives us a guide to ensuring baby is ready and can transfer those important sleep skills from home, in to their new day-care. Make sure to also read Lucy’s tips on going from cot to big bed at home.

Following on from our last issue, we are delighted to welcome Pat Kane from Reuzi as a regular contributor to Mums & Tots. Join her in looking at some ways of reducing your home’s carbon footprint and getting the whole family involved in the sustainability conversation. 

Are your littles into science? Mine are obsessed and my kitchen table resembles a lab most afternoons. Imagine the excitement in our house when Explorium, Ireland’s national sport and science centre, opened late last year! Juliet was lucky enough to celebrate her 9th birthday (yes 9th!) there and had one of the best days of her life with Explorium’s very own Mark, The Science Guy. If you haven’t been yet, make sure to plan a family trip out - it is well worth it, with over 300 interactive exhibits! In the meantime, check out some Explorium experiments with Mark, to try at home with your smalls.

We have more competitions than ever before in this issue! Make sure to enter them all, to be in with a chance! We have; a break at the The Rose Hotel, a Maxi-Cosi Jade CarryCot, the brand new Quinny Hubb, a NUK Breast Pump, a book hamper from Walker Books and more.

Enjoy the read!

Over the last few years I have become increasingly conscious of my own carbon footprint and now, with young kids I have even more of an awareness of the amount of waste we create in our home. But where do we start to reduce our waste and move towards a more sustainable lifestyle? The answer is baby steps!  Every little thing we do is better than doing nothing - whether that is getting rid of clingfilm from lunchboxes or buying a keep cup for your coffee. We have been particularly inspired by Pat Kane’s mission to help families in Ireland create new habits by sourcing a range of top quality reusable products, via her sustainable store, Reuzi. 

We had a wonderful afternoon at the Castleknock hotel on the 26th of October, celebrating the people winners of our 6th annual Mums & Tots Awards, with NUK. Be inspired by some of Ireland’s living legends in your community. Well done to all our brand winners too! And most of all, thanks to our wonderful readers for taking the time to vote - we had thousands of entires.

Ah the terrible twos, weI remember them well! The good news is that, it does come to an end but it is hard to see that while mid-Tesco-aisle tantrum. Behaviour Specialist, Deirdre Holland Hannon, has some great tips on nurturing good behaviour from an early start and how to respond to your toddler’s frustrations.

Don’t forget to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include;  a €100 for River Island’s new baby collection and a Micro Scooter.

As children start, or return, back to play school, or big school, after the summer holidays, parents often wonder how they can best support their child throughout the new school year. When parents are actively looking after their own wellbeing they will be much better equipped to support their child. Children are very sensitive to parents stress levels and emotions so relax and try a bit of mindfulness now and over the coming weeks and months. Child Therapist, Louise Shanagher, has some great tips.

A new wave of amazing mummy podcasts has come to the fore in Ireland and we are loving it! The mother of all podcasts being the weekly, Mother of Pod - a comedic parenting show focusing on the highs and lows of motherhood. It does not get more real than these hilarious lady bosses - Jen and Sophie! We dare you not to laugh! Get a taste of what we are talking about, in our interview with half of the MOP duo, Sophie White.

Are your littles into slime and science?  Ours are obsessed and my kitchen table resembles a lab most afternoons. I am always being asked what the best recipe for slime is and my favourite is from Dr. Michelle Dickinson’s book, The Kitchen Science Cookbook. She was kind enough to share it with us so make sure to check out her how-to’s on slime making and more.

Don’t forget to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include; a break at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo, a fab hamper from Usborne Books, Annabel Karmel’s new recipe book, Real Food Kids Will Love and a duo set of the new Sleep Through range from Lucy Wolfe.

We have a great read in store for you in our summer issue of Mums & Tots magazine!

Single parenting can be hard. For a lot of our readers, being a single mum is an every day reality. We are thrilled to have TEDx Speaker and Parenting Coach, Nina Farr, share what she has learned about navigating her family’s changing shape and also an excerpt from her book, ‘I am the Parent Who Stayed’ We love the personification of a strong mum on our cover. 

You may be familiar with the beautiful ‘Adam’s Cloud’ children book series. Mums & Tots Editor, Roberta, chats to Author, Benji Bennett, about his family’s story of grief and love and the release of the new ‘Adam Saves the Seasons’ story on Adam’s ten year anniversary.

We love the concept from the recent WaterWipes campaign ‘When a Baby is born, a parent is born’. As a new mum, everything is new and there are so many firsts. So, we are going back to basics - make sure to read our new born guides to; breastfeeding, fevers, treating a blocked nose, car seat safety and how to bathe your newborn.

Don’t forget to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include; €25 off spa treatments at Edvard & Pink, Dundrum, a hotel break for 2 at Farnham House Estate, a family pass to Tayto Park and a wooden kitchen from KidKraft.

We are delighted to have baby Lara on our front cover for spring. She is 1 of 9 kids to the lovely Rosemary and Stephen Murphy. Families with seven or more children were a normal part of daily life only 30 or 40 years ago. With the average family now at just 1.4 children, big broods are an increasingly unusual sight in Ireland. That being said, there are some mums who (unapologetically!) thrive on the energy and excitement of having a big family - despite sometimes encountering unwanted comment from others. Make sure to read our interview with Rosemary and find out a little about the daily running of a big household.

Have you ever heard of ‘baby led weaning’? All parents face the same questions when they take their first steps into the world of weaning; is my baby ready, what first foods should I start with and how much food should I be giving? There is also the consideration of whether to go down the baby-led or spoon-led route. We have Author and baby food guru, Annabel Karmel on hand to walk is through this exciting stage in baby’s development.

Favouritism is very common but can leave the discarded parent feeling neglected, lost and naturally upset. It's a phase, is often the resounding answer and yes, it normally is but that does not make the situation any less hurtful or difficult to deal with for the parent who is not wanted. Read more from Geraldine Walsh on dealing with this common parenting situation.

Don’t forget to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include; a spa break at Knockranny spa and hotel, a Dreamgenii pillow and a really cool elephant activity centre.

Cover picture: From Instagram Duo: @miniboss_and_missfashion

We are thrilled to have Yara and Vince, AKA: @miniboss_and_missfashion on our winter cover of Mums & Tots magazine. More and more mums are using Instagram to showcase a little bit of their smallies lives. We cannot get enough of these trendy women and their mini-me’s. We love following our favourite mini bloggers and seeing homegrown talent flourish. Insta Mommy Micro-Blogger, Charlotte Pabiona, mom-ager of this stylish duo, tells us all about her journey.

A big thank you to our fabulous readers for all your votes! On the 20th of October we had a wonderful afternoon at Castleknock Hotel celebrating the people winners of our 5th annual Mums & Tots Awards 2017 with NUK. Make sure to read all about it in our 10 page supplement.

We all know that if you give a baby or a young child a present, it is more than likely, that they will want to spend time scrunching the wrapping paper or playing with the box instead of playing with the toy itself. Dearbhala Cox Giffin, Director of Childcare Giraffe Childcare, discusses the heuristic play approach of using treasure boxes filled with every day objects to provide rush mental stimulation for babies.

Don’t forget to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include; a foldable SmarTrike, an engraved high chair from Tripp Trapp, a Brabantia Bo Touch bin and a book hamper from Simon & Schuster.

We love autumn! Back to school buzz, warm clothes back out, and blackberrying in the woods with friends. This issue, we have plenty of great articles, tips, trends and competitions for you.

The second part in our alternative birth series is; water births. The Coombe is the only maternity hospital in Dublin which has a specially designed birthing pool. Since the commencement of the service in 2004, over 300 women have used the pool for labour and, of these, 107 women have gone on to have a water birth. Read all about the requirements for having a water birth, along with 3 stories from our readers on their own experience.

Sleep, the holy grail for all parents. A common question our panel of experts get for our M&T Clinic pages is, ‘why won’t my baby nap?’ Sleep Expert, Lucy Wolfe, explains the reasons behind this dilemma and gives some useful sleep solutions to get baby napping better during the day and sleeping better at night too.

There are many different diets out there. For most of us, steering clear of any sort of ‘fad diet’ is a good idea. However for some, these particular diets can be useful in the short and/or long term on helping your health and getting in to a better lifestyle. We uncover the pros and cons to each.

Don’t forget to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include; a family hotel break at The Rose Hotel, Co. Kerry, Penneys gift cards, a book hamper from Usborne Books and a Zip baby carrier from Infantino Bkids.

We are thrilled to have Neasa and her beautiful daughter Sadhbh on our summer cover. Neasa believes that Sadhbh has the ‘gift of Down syndrome’. 

The Down syndrome Centre of Ireland opened its doors in 2014 and since then it welcomes over 200 children and their families every week. They provide vital services in speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, massage and more. Read more about this wonderful organisation and find out how you can help.

Home birth can be a safe option for low risk healthy women. Research shows that a planned home birth is an acceptable and safe alternative to a planned hospital birth for some pregnant women. If this is an option you are considering, we have all the info for you, plus one mum’s home birthing experience.

Babywearing is the ancient tradition of carrying infants and young children in a piece of cloth known as a sling, which allows the wearer to carry on with daily tasks while keeping young children conveniently and safely close. Babywearing has seen a massive increase in popularity in Ireland during recent years. Make sure to stop by our top carriers and slings trend pages.

Make sure to enter this issue’s amazing competitions, which include; a family hotel break at The Radisson Blu Limerick, a mermaid tail set from Planet Mermaid and 15% off the Sleep Time collection at MORI (www.babymori.com).

We are thrilled to have the 'Kelly Quads' and family as our spring cover story. Anita tells us how they went from being a family of 3 to a family of 7!! We also have a multiples checklist and birth plan for all our readers who are expecting twins or more.

One of the trickiest milestones in the early years is toilet training. It can be hard to navigate because every child is different and does things at their own pace. Some may train quickly, others may not be ready, needing more time. We have some top tips if your little one is currently approaching this stage, along with some very funny words of wisdom from our readers on what worked and what didn't work.

Lots of alternative therapies in this issue; from acupuncture in pregnancy to cranio sacral therapy for baby and play therapy for kids. Sometimes it's good to think outside the box.

As usual we have some great giveaways and offers for our spring issue. Make sure to enter our amazing competitions, which include; the new kiddy back pack from MomyMoo and a family stay at the Castleknock Hotel Dublin.

We are delighted to have Ranae and her wife Audrey, along with their sweet little girl Ava, on the front cover of our winter issue. Ranae was kind enough to share their path to parenthood with us. It is such an important topic to highlight because ‘Reciprocal IVF’ or ‘Shared Motherhood’ is currently unavailable here in Ireland. 

On average, couples in Ireland are having between 2-3 kids per family. Use of contraception is at an all time high, with more women opting for newer contraceptive forms such as; coils or implants. How do you and your partner choose what is right for you? We outline all the options available.

The first year of baby’s life is a wonderful whirlwind of sleepless nights, nappies and those wonderful newborn cuddles. Mum of seven, Jen Hogan, tells us what to expect. Plus, sleep expert, Lucy Wolfe, prepares us for the lack of sleep that comes with the 4th Trimester, and some top tips on how to manage.

As usual we have gone overboard on the giveaways and offers for our winter issue. Make sure to enter our amazing competitions, which include; a €40 voucher from Edvard & Pink, an Orb high chair, a brand new smarTrike, a family break at Fota Island Resort and more!  

Happy 5th birthday to us!! Presenting our 20th issue!! 

After a jam packed summer of activities and camps it is back to the grind of school. If your little is starting pre-school or big school this term, fear not, we have some great tips Giraffe Childcare’s Dearbhala Cox Giffin on transitioning into the school system.

Reflux can be a living nightmare for many parents, with cases ranging from mild to the extreme. Sleep Specialist, Lucy Wolfe, has some great advice on laying a foundation for healthy sleep so that you can survive the rollercoaster that is reflux.

A process often considered only for Hollywood’s celeb culture has migrated to the Emerald Isle. Placenta encapsulation is a process where by the new mum’s placenta is dried and put into capsules to be indigested. Sabine Le Boulicaut is a maternity acupuncturist and placenta encapsulation specialist based in Dublin and Drogheda. She tells us why this practice is becoming increasingly popular with Irish mums.

Make sure to enter our amazing autumn competitions, which include; a spa day at Edvard & Pink, a Pacapod changing bag and the new electric shower from Triton. 

Welcome to the summer issue of Mums & Tots magazine.

Our main features include; all things twin: breastfeeding multiples, twin products and travelling with twins. We also have an exclusive interview with mum, model and best selling author Alison Canavan on her new book Minding Mum. 
Make sure to enter our fab competitions, which include; a hotel break at Inchydoney Island, a €100 Penneys voucher, a maternity dress from Ripe, and much more.

Welcome to the spring issue of Mums & Tots magazine. 

Our main features include; extended breastfeeding, toilet training, gentle birthing and a piece on EQUATE, which is a new Irish organisation, lobbying for equality for every child who is about to start school.
Make sure to enter our fab competitions, which include; a hotel break at The Heritage Killenard, a Stella buggy from Maxi Cosi, two Fairy Doors and more.

Enjoy the read!!

The busiest issue of the year - jam packed with awards coverage, winter toy guide, real mum stories, trends and competitions. All in the new issue of Mums & Tots magazine.

We had a wonderful afternoon on the 17th of September at The Croke Park Hotel, Dublin, celebrating the winners of the Mums & Tots Awards 2015, in association with Tesco, as voted by our readers. We bring you 10 pages full coverage with all our winner's stories.

Having an anxious child can be worrying for parents and at times frustrating, especially if the child is very clingy and will not go to anyone else. Gwen Loughman knows about this first hand and has some excellent advice and tips for parents struggling with an anxious child.

Starting your baby in creche can be challenging for multiple reasons, particularly if they are still napping during the day. Sleep expert, Lucy Wolfe, gives us some useful pointers on making the transition as smooth as possible for everyone. And on the same topic of sleep, Ken Phelan, helps us differentiate between night terrors and nightmares.

Make sure to enter our winter competitions. We have some great prizes for you including; a KidKraft wooden kitchen, a Juno baby carrier and a Pacapod changing bag.

Issue 46 - Spring 2023

Issue 45 - Autumn 2022

Issue 44 - Autumn 2022

Issue 43 - Summer 2022

Issue 42 - Spring 2022

Issue 41 - Winter 2021

Issue 40 - Autumn 2021

Issue 39 - Spring 2021

Issue 38 - Spring 2021

Issue 37 - Winter 2020

Issue 36 - Autumn 2020

Issue 35 - Summer 2020

Issue 34 - Spring 2020

Issue 33 - Winter 2019

Issue 32 - Autumn 2019

Issue 31 - Summer 2019

Mums & Tots encompasses it all in a stylish and accessible 100 page glossy, total package, whether its; pregnancy, baby’s health, parenting, local events, latest products or reader competitions. We aim to reach mums on a very real level in every aspect of their pre and post natal journey.

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Mums and Tots - Issue 46 - Spring 2023

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