Parenting - Columns - Irish Examiner

Julie Jay: To Elf or Not to Elf, that is the question

As Christmas approaches, many parents are dreading the return of a tiny trespasser and his mischievous antics

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Dr Phil Kieran: How much Calpol or Nurofen can I give a child?

"I always tell parents to think of these two medicines separately. It is crucial not to overdose the child."

Wed, 20 Sep, 2023

Boy with backpack holding bag walking toward closed hate

Joanna Fortune: My child still gets upset at school drop-off time, what can I do?

It's heartbreaking hearing crying — is just walking away when school starts the best option or can we find another way to fix this?

Wed, 20 Sep, 2023

Julie Jay: My under-eye bags are so pronounced I would be charged for extra luggage on a flight

Such is my level of baby-brain that I should not be operating heavy machinery, which is my justification for not staying on top of the hoovering

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Two girls hang on the horizontal bar on the playground.

Colman Noctor: We need to compete with online world by creating offline alternatives

Children have migrated online, where they primarily interact, socialise and communicate 

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Crying toddler sitting on the floor covering his face

Julie Jay: I'm clueless when it comes to dealing with a tantrum

"Throwing himself to the ground, Ted cries out, leaving me feeling like I'm officially the worst mother in the world because I have meandered over to the playground minus snacks."

Tue, 04 Jul, 2023

S Richard Hogan: In the frenzy around Enoch Burke, has anyone considered the child?

I work with families who are supporting their child while they transition. How is the child at the centre of this processing the storm all around them?

Thu, 02 Feb, 2023

Julie Jay: I run away from decisions the way a footballer runs away from monogamy

Being a parent is to be on the receiving end of questions, questions, and more questions

Tue, 03 Jan, 2023

Teenager boy wearing yellow t-shirt over isolated background looking stressed and nervous with hands on mouth biting nails. Anxi

Aoife Hearne: My son eats lots of dairy but has brittle nails, what else should we do?

"Our nails are primarily made of the protein keratin - protein is essential for growth and repair, so it plays a vital role in all our cells."

Wed, 21 Dec, 2022

Julie Jay: Like Elon Musk, Ted believes cars don’t need people to drive them

Ted is officially a boy racer in the making

Tue, 11 Oct, 2022

Tots To Teens: Raise vital funds this Halloween

Plus a podcast that focuses on answering common questions parents ask about how to discuss a range of sensitive topics

Tue, 11 Oct, 2022

Dr Phil Kieran: My daughter complains of tummy pain — could she be a coeliac?

On the whole, abdominal pain in children can be a tricky one to solve

Wed, 05 Oct, 2022

S Colman Noctor: Depression often goes undiagnosed in children

Most children who experience depression try to continue functioning in their daily activities as best they can

Tue, 04 Oct, 2022

Joanna Fortune: Should I be worried about my 12-year-old who has a boyfriend?

Too often we look at our children and lament how much they have changed when the onus is also on us to change

Tue, 27 Sep, 2022

S Colman Noctor: What about the siblings of children with special needs?

Investing in the siblings of children with additional needs may seem like a big ask amid hectic schedules and medical appointments, but it pays off

Tue, 27 Sep, 2022

Richard Hogan: Why you need to get rules in place for kids' screen time

Boundaries are a gift, you can have them without being a dictator

Wed, 21 Sep, 2022

Julie Jay: Once Baby Shark starts playing on a loop anything can happen

Bringing a two-year-old to a gig was never our first choice, but it happened on a couple of days

Tue, 20 Sep, 2022

Preteen girl uses smart phone to communicate with peers

S Colman Noctor: We need to wise up to the risks our children are exposed to online

We would not send a child into a busy city unsupervised or without some direction, yet some parents see it as feasible in a virtual environment

Tue, 20 Sep, 2022

Tots To Teens: Presents and jokes to lift the spirits

Books, costumes and sustainable options — we have it all

Wed, 14 Sep, 2022

Little child sitting the table in cafe or restaurant and doesn't want to eat. Healthy food. Kids diet. Poor appetite.

Joanna Fortune: My son won't eat unless his food is separated

'Generally, my advice is to avoid making food a battleground when it comes to food and children'

Tue, 13 Sep, 2022

Tots To Teens: Síle Seoige in the lineup for Mum Talks meetup in Galway

"The Galway panel includes child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinan, primary school teacher Joanna Cluskey and TV presenter Síle Seoige, who has just moved home to the west with her family."

Wed, 07 Sep, 2022

Julie Jay: Ted’s recent phase of eating my phone means most calls end in a Moby Dick-like terror

"Ted draws on a wall and I go to clean it off but as I do, my mother shoos me away: "That will be worth money one day," she says."

Tue, 06 Sep, 2022

Dr Phil Kieran: My baby has colic even though I'm breastfeeding him

"Assuming all this is normal, the next step I would suggest is to try removing cow's milk from your diet"

Tue, 06 Sep, 2022

Mammy Dearest: We wonder if Ted's genius will hold him back

"I put him into the car and say how proud I am of him. Ted wraps his arms around my neck and squeezes me. He has been, as ever, the best company."

Tue, 30 Aug, 2022

Joanna Fortune: My young daughters have started to fight with each other

"As each child grows and develops, their needs change, significantly impacting how they feel about each other at different ages and stages."