A handy guide

What to do with unwanted Christmas presents

A handy guide to help you deal with well-meaning but unwanted household items come December 25th and beyond.

One family's very special Christmas arrival

When Christy Xinghua welcomed her infant son into the world in the early hours of Christmas morning, there was only one name that seemed to fit the bill.

5 tips for an easy, swift bedtime routine

Sleep training and strict bedtime routines are the domain of parents with newborn babies, right? Yes ... and no.

'The choirboy sang and Mum's eyes opened'

Music and art can have a miraculous effect on elderly people whose dementia has shut them off from the world.

Parenting info: who can you trust?

You're going through a challenging time with your child, and you're not sure what to do. Where do you look for advice and information?

Two weeks after her husband died, Jenny Corlett found out she was pregnant

Normally hearing you're pregnant is joyous news. But Jenny Corlett's "world came crashing down again" when the test came back positive.

Toddler shows positive signs as family prays for Christmas miracle

The mother of a toddler who is fighting for life after being pulled from a backyard pool has asked people to pray for her son.

Coles and Woolworths slammed for Christmas supply shortage

Coles and Woolworths have been slammed for a Christmas supply shortage of ham, turkey, seafood and other essentials.

Toddler recovering from surgery after being mauled by family dog

A Perth toddler has undergone plastic surgery and needed nearly 50 stitches after being mauled by a pet Siberian husky in Westminster.

Get your FREE Baby & Toddler Ticket!

Get your free ticket to the Essential Baby & Toddler Show (Brisbane 4-6 March, Melbourne 1-3 April). Register online now to save $20!

Vaccine objector numbers fall to three-year lows as payment cuts loom

The rate of recorded conscientious objectors has fallen to three-year lows as vaccine law changes come into play next week.

Michael Clarke shares photos of baby Kelsey Lee

Michael Clarke set sail in the Sydney to Hobart race yesterday, but not before sharing the first photos of baby daughter Kelsey Lee.

How to easily remove price stickers from gifts

It's the bane of the perfectionist gift giver. While getting your presents ready to wrap, you start to remove the price tags* … and are left with half of them stuck on.

Brazil declares emergency after 2400 babies born with brain damage

The situation is so overwhelming that an expert has warned that women may want to hold off on getting pregnant.

The medical epidemic few women have been willing to talk about - until now

Pelvic organ prolapse - when a woman's bladder, uterus, or rectum falls down through the vaginal canal - affects millions of women.

Trampoline safety reminder after coroner reports on toddler's death

In the wake of the death of a toddler, a coroner is warning that trampoline-related injuries among children are increasing.

Birth certificate mix up sparks identity fraud fears

Parents of newborn children have been mailed birth certificates for other peoples' babies in a mix-up described as a major privacy breach.

Mum's breastmilk battle with airline goes viral

When Vanessa Kasten Urango learnt she would be travelling for work for almost three weeks without her four-month-old baby she accepted she would have to pump breastmilk at least four times a day while she was away in order to keep up her supply.

What to do when motherhood burnout hits

Life coach Heather Lindsay sees it all the time. Mums who are "overwhelmed, frustrated and at a loss as to what to do improve their situation".

11-year-old delivers baby sister - then goes to school

Schoolgirl Caitlin Burke was the only person on hand to help deliver the newest member of the family when her mum went into labour at home.

Christmas

Join Essential Baby in celebrating Christmas, with gift guides, budgeting tips, the truth about Santa and how to manage Christmas while pregnant + lots more.

Real mum's review: Fisher-Price Smart Touch Play Space

Maria, mum of a 9-month-old, reviewed the Fisher-Price Smart Touch Play Space for babies/toddlers.

Police rescue one-year-old locked in childcare centre

 The NSW Department of Education has launched an investigation into how a one-year-old boy was left at a Blue Mountains childcare centre after it was closed, forcing police to break in to rescue him.

The new Instagram baby name trend

Of course, some of those were already names, but we would probably say that Kelvin wouldn't have risen in popularity on its own.

Tocophobia - the fear of giving birth

For many women, giving birth is a right of passage. But for others, the thought of childbirth and labour is nothing short of petrifying.

Little girl's adorable reaction to meeting baby brother

Watch little girl's adorable reaction to meeting her little brother for the first time.

When your sixth sense says you're pregnant

Is it possible for some women to intuitively know when they are pregnant before a test shows positive? Experts believe so.

Real mum's review: Fisher-Price Little People Big Animal Zoo

The Little People Big Animal Zoo was a big hit with Angela's 3-year-old and 16-month-old.