Picture this: it’s 2 a.m., and you’re wide awake, standing in your living room with a baby monitor in one hand and a half-eaten cookie in the other.…
When you notice your baby sleeping more and eating less, it’s natural to feel concerned. This article explores the possible reasons behind these changes in your baby’s habits…
I remember the day my daughter stared at my rice biscuits with intense focus. Suddenly, that little hand shot out, fingers grasping with surprising accuracy. Before I knew…
You know those babies who seem to sprout teeth without even a whimper? Unfortunately, not every little one is so lucky! Teething can be a rough time –…
Looking for the top 100 baby names for boys in 2024 or the top 100 baby girl names in 2024? We have them all here. We also include some…
If you’re here, you probably have a baby on the way and you’re searching for a lovely new name. We’ve collated more than a hundred of the most…
The au pair experience offers a fantastic opportunity for young adults to immerse themselves in a new culture while providing childcare support to a host family. In exchange,…
If you’re here, you probably have a baby on the way and you’re searching for the meaning of names for girls. We’ve collated the 100 most popular baby…
We’ve compiled a basic checklist of baby products and essential items to help new parents with newborn bubs to think about just the most essential items you may…
Buying toys for your baby can be expensive, and sometimes they don’t last that long! We all want to encourage creative play in our little ones. But did…
Your child’s 1st birthday party is not just a celebration of their first year, but one of yours as well. It’s a birthday party to recall milestones and…
The first, and most important, learning in a child’s life happens within the family. Children learn from the way people treat them and from what they see, hear…
Starting a family is a great way to make a good night’s sleep a distant dream! Although expecting parents are fairly warned of their future sleepless nights, they…
Have you ever wondered what your baby’s birthstone or your baby’s birth flower is? We’ve compiled a complete overview of every birthstone, both traditional and modern, as well…
If you’re of Māori heritage, or even if you’re not, you should definitely check out the most popular Māori baby names below. These names are becoming more and…
Biblical baby names are the mainstay of the most popular names. Find out what the top biblical names are for boys and biblical baby names for girls in…
The evidence is in: children who have a close bond with their parents, or primary caregivers, are more likely to have improved brain development. Find out the importance…
Introducing solid foods to your baby is an exciting time! Every parent loves to see the expressions that come from baby tasting a new food. Some of them…
Did you know that breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby? It is all that your baby needs to eat and drink for about the first 6…
Breastfeeding is a beautiful but challenging journey that you embark on with your baby. It’s not always easy to achieve and it can be hard to find someone…
One of the toughest parts of parenting young children is dealing with sickness and illness. From the age of around 6 months to 6 years children present with…
It seems that most new parents relish every waking moment they get with their newborn baby. But the honeymoon period can quickly wear off. And parents find themselves…
Every year a number of parents try to register names for their baby that are declined by the New Zealand Government. Find out what the banned names from…
These have to be one of the easiest recipes to whip up for the family. Mini bacon and egg toast cups can be eaten cold or hot and…
Once it comes time to introduce solids to your baby’s diet, things can get a little confusing with all the well-meaning advice. We’ve asked nutritionist, mother of two…
The experience of giving birth is different for every woman, but all new Mums have one thing in common –they need to take care of themselves after having…
Growth charts are essential tools for tracking your child’s development, measuring height, weight, and head circumference over time. For Kiwi parents, these charts are crucial for monitoring their…
When my children each turned 18 months old, I decided that a couple of days a week for them at the local childcare centre would be a fabulous.…
What are Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux and Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), and how can you know if one of these could be what is unsettling your baby? What are some things…
Mothers from many cultures have been practicing the art of baby massage for centuries, and it is very clear there are many physical, emotional and developmental benefits for…
People have used slings to carry babies since time began, not only for safety, but also to be able to meet their infant’s primary needs. The meeting of…
As a parent, sometimes it’s hard to know how to choose safe children’s products and you’ll want to make sure the children’s products you buy and use are…
There are several reasons why New Zealanders have a higher risk for developing skin cancers – including a high proportion of the population with fair skin, our low ozone…
Red lentils cook to a mushy consistency so they make an ideal baby food, while also being a great source of protein.
A delicious and easy recipe for your little person to enjoy, featuring nutritious spinach, banana and yoghurt.
Occasionally figures are published regarding how much it costs to raise children. The costs are often eye-watering! One of the major costs for kids is clothes. But clothing…
Cheese adds some protein to this yummy vegetable mash. You could add some very finely shredded meat, or blend the mash with meat or tofu for further protein…
Storebought flavoured yoghurts can be laden with sugar or sweeteners, and many other additives. You can avoid these things by simply making your own yoghurt off a starter…
A tiny, grainlike pasta, orzo (or risoni) is the perfect sized pasta for small children and babies. Combined with vegetables, it makes a healthy and balanced meal.
Strips of egg are an easy finger food for a toddler, and make a nutritious and fast lunch. You can make an omelette as simple or as elaborate…
A quick and easy lunch for a toddler – these can be easily cut and put into the lunchbox or taken with you for a snack as well,…
Kumara is easily freezable in ice cube trays and can be heated gently for a quick meal for your baby. Bake a few at once and you’ll have…
With just a little preparation, your baby will be having a meal of steamed pears in no time at all. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays for quick…
Rich in minerals such as phosphorus and potassium, and containing vitamins A, C and folate, bananas are a delicious, easy and portable first food for your baby.
With folate, niacin and vitamins A and C, avocados are a nutrient-rich first food for your baby.
Add fresh parsley or other herbs to jazz up these yummy meatballs, or keep them super simple with their two ingredients. Of course if your little one would…
A yummy source of protein for your little one, these chicken and apple fingers will go down a treat.
Perfect for a baby snack, but also a delicious accompaniment for many family meals! Try this finger food recipe featuring just kumara and cinnamon.
Small children love to pick up and eat pasta. It’s such an easy finger food for toddlers once their pincer grip has been fine tuned. They will…
It can be hard for parents to know where to draw the line between being too permissive, or being too strict. Try to think about discipline as guiding…
Painting can be a messy business but it’s also LOADS of fun and your baby will love getting their hands (and the rest of their body) mucky while…
Being diagnosed with postnatal depression (PND) can come as both a shock and a relief. You may feel shocked that you have depression but relieved to know why…
Using paracetamol (Pamol and Panadol) with kids can be a difficult business. On one hand, you’ve got a poor, sick child and on the other hand, you might…
Throughout our lives, we’re exposed to many different germs which are potentially harmful to us. Some of these, like colds, are minor and our bodies can easily fight…
Many children (and parents) find immunisation visits are an easy and relatively pain-free experience. For some children (and parents) however, needles can be scary, especially on the first…
All babies in New Zealand are now routinely screened in their first few weeks of life to ensure that they hear well. What is newborn hearing screening? Newborn…
All vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure they are safe and work before they are licensed and used in the community. After being licensed vaccine safety continues to…
Every year children are seen at emergency departments with injuries caused by toys they’ve just received as Christmas presents.
Make use of this handy checklist of baby clothes / layette to ensure all the essentials for baby clothes / layette are ready for baby’s arrival. In time…
The books you and your child pick to read are very important. There is no point in choosing books that are too hard to read or not interesting…
You may or may not be aware that promoting a love of reading and good reading habits begins right from birth. Children love to hear language and being…
Find out what a nanny is and what they do, how much a nanny costs, where to find a nanny in New Zealand, and how to hire a…
Home based care is care and education provided by adults in either their own home or the child’s. Find out more about home based care in our article.
Understanding what a Day Care centre is and what exactly they do is important. Our Day Care article will give you this information and answer a lot of…
La Leche League offers information and encouragement – primarily through personal help – to women who want to breastfeed their babies. Find out how it can help you.
Gastric Reflux Support Network NZ for Parents of Infants and Children Charitable Trust (GRSNNZ) are committed to providing support and information to families caring for infants and children…
One year old normal developmental stages? Milestones of a typical two yr old boy? Growth schedule for a three year old girl? Checklist for a four year old?
Looking for guidelines or checklist of the developmental stages and milestones for your toddler boy or teenage girl? We provide excellent articles for Parents on the key stages and milestones in…
When buying equipment for creative play it’s important to consider safety, and make sure the equipment is appropriate for the age and stage of your child. Staff at…
Creative Play is what children do when they’re just being children, and there are plenty of things you can do to encourage creative play in your home. Whether…
Building blocks and toys give children a chance to build their world, and in doing so, blocks and building toys help your child develop a range of skills…
This article covers the signs and symptoms of pneumonia, the treatment and the complications that can occur in children with pneumonia.
This article on influenza – or flu as it is commonly known – explains the common symptoms of flu and how to care for your afflicted child.
This article covers the signs and symptoms of croup, the treatment and the complications that can occur in children with croup.
This article on colds is full of great advice on how to ease the symptoms of the common cold, including traditional and natural remedies.
This article covers the signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis, the treatment and the complications that can occur in babies with bronchiolitis.
We provide information and advice about Slap Cheek or Parvovirus in humans – the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications.
We provide information and advice about the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications of rubella or German measles – most importantly the potential complication for pregnant women.
Measles is a highly infectious childhood disease characterised by a rash and fever. We provide helpful articles and advice about the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications…
Chicken pox is a highly infectious disease characterised by a fever and rash. We provide information and advice about the signs and symptoms, treatments, risks and complications of chicken…
This article explains why some children get urinary tract infections (UTI), how to treat UTI and some great advice on preventing urinary tract infections.
This article explains fever, the signs and symptoms in children and some great tips on how to manage fever at home.
This emergencies checklist provides invaluable advice on when it is a medical emergency and when you can routinely visit your doctor.
In this article we examine informed choice on immunisation for parents in New Zealand.
The National Immunisation Schedule is a series of free immunisation visits designed to provide your family with the best protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. It is important to get…
This articles provides parents with a basic outline on where to get immunised and includes information on what to expect when your child is immunised.
This article explains what whooping cough is and how it could affect your child. There’s some great advice on the signs and symptoms, treatments, and how to help…
This Mumps article give parents concise information on the signs and symptoms of mumps and how to care for a child with mumps at home.
This article explains the types of ear infections in toddlers and young children, the signs and symptoms to look out for and the treatment for ear infections.
Want to know more about what is eczema? Looking for tips on how to help your child if they may be prone to eczema? This article gives you…
In this article you will find a description of the common allergies and allergy symptoms, as well as some great practical tips for parents to prevent and manage common allergies…
This asthma article discusses the main signs and symptoms of asthma and guidelines with which parents can help asthmatic children.
This Kiwi Families article provides an allergies overview and also provides a practical overview on coping with allergies in children.
The simplest risotto you’ve ever heard of! Make your own nutritious chicken stock from chicken bones and vegetable off-cuts, then use it as a no or low-sodium alternative…
A delicious recipe for babies as they begin to experience eating finger food.
Here’s a tasty dessert option for your baby…
Here great recipe for babies as they start to get used to new flavours and textures.
It is hard finding the right toy for your baby, especially when there are so many on toys offer, online and in NZ shops galore. This guide will…
With so many toys on offer, online and in NZ shops galore, knowing what the right toy is for your baby can be hard. This guide will make…
Getting out and about in NZ with a new baby can certainly hold some challenges. Here is some equipment to help you get out and about with a…