![Carlee combines her love of yoga with her love of her daughter.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/g/n/x/6/image.related.landscape.380x253.grglai.png/1473899044769.jpg)
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5 things you do differently with your second baby
There are some significant differences in the parenting experience when you've already done it once.
![child with pierced ears](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/3/6/r/2/m/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.36r2g.gmxjx2.png/1457004682374.jpg)
Ear piercing: what age is best?
What is it that shapes our opinions on what’s an 'appropriate' age for our children to get their ears pierced? Parents share their views on how young is too young when it comes to piercing.
![cake smash](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/2/a/l/z/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.2alvg.gmxjx2.png/1457004682374.jpg)
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![Water safe ... Children can start a structured swimming program, accompanied by a parent, as young as four months.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/2/a/l/4/c/image.related.landscape.120x80.2al1i.gmxjx2.png/1457004682374.jpg)
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Latest
![Doctor Megan Meier at work.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/e/a/5/r/image.related.landscape.300x200.grea00.png/1473652643581.jpg)
The working mum who makes multi-tasking look easy
Work and kids: it's the ultimate parenting juggle that we've all faced in one way or another. Dr Megan Meier is no different.
![Taking time off work for paternity leave had its highs and lows writes Mathew Dunkley.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/r/h/w/3/image.related.landscape.300x200.grd23q.png/1473639342297.jpg)
Paternity leave: a pile of poo and princesses
Taking time off work for paternity leave had its highs and lows writes Mathew Dunckley.
![Is it acceptable to request people only give your baby handmade gifts?](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/b/i/3/h/image.related.landscape.300x200.grbgrx.png/1473299360848.jpg)
Parents who requested handmade christening gifts branded 'ungrateful'
They probably had the best of intentions. Handmade gifts are personal and bound to be cheaper than more traditional gifts, but is this request acceptable?
![Jonathon Smith takes his three-year-old daughter, Silver, to a weekly playgroup in Clovelly.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/7/a/5/1/image.related.landscape.300x200.gr6zwn.png/1473367581234.jpg)
Playgroup a source of 'advice and support' for fathers
Attending playgroup with his daughter Silver began as a necessity for Jonathon Smith when he couldn't get her into day care, but it has quickly become a favourite activity for both dad and daughter.
![Justin Morrice learnt a lesson about feeding daughter Annabelle.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/6/4/j/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.gr64ig.png/1472691797574.jpg)
'Read the labels!': dad warns parents about choking risk after close call
A Canadian dad has learnt the hard way that it pays to read food labels carefully.
![His first taste of cake. Oh my god, he’ll be addicted to sugar and his teeth will fall out. He’s going to be obese.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/3/o/0/0/image.related.landscape.300x200.gr3nyb.png/1472446462162.jpg)
Hey, keyboard warriors - yes, I am aware that my child will grow up
I don't know quite how to explain this or even if there is a name for this type of person so I'll do my best.
![<i></i>](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/z/1/x/f/image.related.landscape.300x200.gqz1r5.png/1471928051483.jpg)
The necessity of 'do not disturb' signs for napping babies
Needless to say, the last thing any mum wants is for someone to loudly knock on the door and wake their sleeping cherub.
![There's no stopping Evelyn Moore now.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/s/i/q/o/image.related.landscape.300x200.gqsisw.png/1471226491577.jpg)
How a homemade wheelchair is giving baby Evelyn freedom
Like all one-year-olds, Evelyn Moore is keen to get moving and explore the world around her. But a battle with aggressive cancer left the little girl paralysed from the waist down.
![Some of the options in the EmojiMom app.](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/n/c/7/e/image.related.landscape.300x200.gqlzb6.png/1470618232457.jpg)
The new way for mums to explain exactly how they feel
New parenthood: sometimes there are just no words to describe it. Luckily there are now 250 emojis to do that job perfectly.
![<i></i>](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/l/v/n/k/image.related.landscape.300x200.gqkqwq.png/1470367389400.jpg)
Once you're a parent, everything changes. And that's something worth showing on TV
Every time we feel like we are about to collapse, we realise we are still standing, because of our son.
![<i></i>](/web/20160919234847im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/j/z/k/1/image.related.landscape.300x200.gqjz3h.png/1470195651132.jpg)
5 things you quickly realise when your baby starts crawling
You can't help but learn a few things once your little one is on the move.
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