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Monday 2 October 2023 Dublin: 13°C

# parents panel

All time
Yes to treasure hunts, no to colouring: Parents share their hits and misses while stuck at home
We asked mums and dads around Ireland for the activities keeping their kids entertained.
From baby pyjamas to Blu-Tack: Parents share the strange objects their kids are obsessed with
Sometimes we all look for comfort – and we find it in many, many different places…
9 new mums share their best maternity wear buys - from belly bands to H&M leggings
Here’s what got our Parents Panel through pregnancy, nursing and beyond.
'Mum adored our Sunday walks': 8 parents on the childhood traditions they're sharing with their own kids
‘I have no doubt my boys will grow to hate the walks as much as I did.’
11 new parents on the 'must-have' items that weren't worth the money - from nappy bins to parasols
‘Our co-sleeper now functions as a really useful snack holder.’
'It's my bible': 7 genuinely useful parenting books and apps, as recommended by mums and dads
‘My mum gave me her old copy of Your Baby And Child. We both found it invaluable.’
'I'll keep these cloth nappies forever': Parents share the baby keepsakes they just can't let go
From memory books to a harness for hip dysplasia – sometimes the mementoes that mean the most aren’t the ones we expect.
'It's the only way I can cut her nails': 9 parents share the occasions that call for toddler bribery
From toilet training to peace on a long drive, sometimes only a bribe will do.
'Be noisy around the baby': 10 new parents share the advice that actually helped them
Take it one day at a time, trust your instincts, and don’t forget to take care of yourself.
'Please don't pee in the shoe': 12 mums and dads share the weirdest things they've said as parents
‘Take your foot out of your porridge.’
9 really practical gifts to give someone who's pregnant, according to new mums
Not sure what to buy? Try an insulated water bottle or some properly fancy shower gel.
8 parents on their tricks for keeping winter illness away - from tummy bug tonics to fresh air
Mums and dads with young kids share how they keep germs and bacteria at bay.
‘I’m more patient than I thought': New parents share their biggest learnings from the first year
A lot can happen in 365 days. Here’s what our panel took from the first 12 months of parenting.
One for the mantelpiece? 6 priceless photos of kids meeting Santa
‘General distrust quickly turned into blind terror…’
'The ukulele is still in its box': 11 parents on the most impractical gifts they bought for new babies
‘I insisted that the 10-week old wrote a Santa letter.’
'Set up a Kris Kindle': How to avoid an avalanche of pressies this year, according to parents
The endless stream of gifts can make for a hectic Christmas when young kids are involved.
'We always decorate the tree watching Muppets Christmas Carol': 13 parents share their favourite festive traditions
From ham sandwiches to watching the lights being turned on.
'Sit in the back with the car seat if you can': 9 tips for winter travel with toddlers, according to parents
Winter generally involves at least one long car journey or flight. Here’s how to manage.
'We called my dad to bring us home': 18 parents on surviving their first outing with a newborn
‘I wanted to do something that made me feel like me again.’
What's one parenting issue you and your partner never agree on? 9 people share theirs
Screentime? Sweets? We asked our panel for the topics they’ve agreed to disagree on.
16 products that'll keep your baby cosy this winter, as recommended by parents
From the warmest car seat blanket to the handiest sleep sack, our Parents Panel share their must-buys.
'I finally took our newborn twins out by myself': 8 parents share their most victorious milestones
Sometimes milestones are victorious for the parents as well as the kids!
'How often should newborns blink?': 16 parents share their strangest late-night Google searches
How many breaths should my baby take in a minute? What is ‘the plug’?
21 indoor activities to keep your cranky toddler entertained this winter, according to parents
Play Doh, jigsaws and, er… creating a race track out of packing tape on the floor.
8 readers share the parenting hacks they've learned from their own mums and dads
‘When a baby is restless or crying, the sound of a running tap really soothes them.’
12 kids' TV shows and films that parents love too, from Hey Duggee to Fireman Sam
We asked Irish parents for the shows and movies they’ve secretly grown to enjoy.
12 parents share one baby item they had to splurge on - from a posh nappy bag to a designer bouncer
‘Well, I wanted it because it doesn’t look like a nappy bag.’
8 mums and dads share the parenting rules they thought they'd never break - until they had kids
‘I swore I wouldn’t be one of those parents who uses bribery to motivate their children…’
'Mam came to the door with dinner': 13 parents share one lovely gesture that helped with a new baby
From eyelash extensions for mum to taking over night feeds.
10 parents share products that make toddler life easier - from a leash backpack to a folding potty
Bath paints, nightlights and library cards: These made all the difference to the mums and dads we polled.
11 tips for getting better sleep during pregnancy, according to women who've been there
Parents share their advice for sleeping like a baby (while growing one).
'He walks like his grandad': 7 parents share the family habits their kids have already picked up
Kids are like sponges, right? We asked mums and dads to share the traits their kids have learned from them.
6 products that make teething easier, according to parents of under-twos
The most effective toys and remedies, as shared by mums and dads of under-twos.
Parents Panel: What was the last tantrum your toddler threw - and where did it happen?
Stories of epic toddler meltdowns, as told by the survivors.
9 essential baby buys to make the first few months easier, according to new parents
Here are the essential items for life with a new arrival.
4 things you're forced to stop being squeamish about post-kids - and 3 that just never get easier
Parents of toddlers share the bodily functions they’ve (mostly) come to terms with.
10 unexpectedly useful items to pack in your hospital bag, according to new parents
Aside from the ‘loose fitting nightdress’, here’s what else to bring.
‘I didn’t know hair could grow there!’ 7 unexpected pregnancy side effects, as told by mums-to-be
We asked expectant mums to share the symptoms they definitely didn’t predict.
9 smart tips to keep your toddler in their own bed at night, according to parents who've been there
Here’s how mums and dads of young kids deal with late-night escapes.
9 childbirth secrets nobody tells you about beforehand, according to new parents
Mums and dads share the things they wish they’d known *before* that first contraction.