Mums and Tots - Issue 57 - Winter 2025

In dit nummer

Hello!
Our 2025 Mums & Tots awards winners have been announced so who better to grace our front cover, than Top Baby, Jack O’Reilly. Jack was nominated by his mum, Emer. ‘In 2007 I lost my baby daughter Layla to stillbirth. That pain never left me. I knew I wanted to become a mother more than anything. After years of miscarriages and living with endometriosis, I thought my chance was gone. But in 2023, I learned about IVF options for single women. My first attempt in early 2024 failed, but I tried again that October. This time, it worked. In June 2025, my son Jack Paul arrived safely, filling my heart after 18 years of loss. I finally became a mother.'
“She’s shy, just a bit shy.” “They’re a little shy.” These comments, often delivered with an eye roll, are made by adults over children’s heads every day. They are rarely spoken with confidence or respect and often carry a negative tone, as if the child’s quiet nature is a flaw, or even a reflection on the parenting. Read more on how to rethink shyness in quiet kids, with Behaviour Specialist, Deirdre Holland Hannon.
For many pregnant women, December is often described as the most wonderful time of the year. But within the maternity system, it can quickly become one of the most stressful. Every festive season, hospitals see a rise in booked inductions and membrane sweeps. These rates increase noticeably in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and many women report feeling pressure to schedule their labour around the holidays. Read more from Perinatal Mental Health Nurse and Hypnobirthing Practitioner, Nicola Glynn.
Make sure to enter all our great giveaways. We have a family stay Druids Glen, a MicroScooter Flexi Trike, a Wonderlights family pass, a Connetix castle set and more.
Enjoy the read!
Roberta x
Cover: Jack O’Reilly Photographer: Dylan Troy www.longlost.ie