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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.
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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.
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![Water safe ... Children can start a structured swimming program, accompanied by a parent, as young as four months.](/web/20170619123517im_/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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Baby, it's cold outside: 6 challenges of having a winter bub
And while there's nothing quite like warm newborn snuggles, having a bub in winter has its own set of specific challenges.
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Mum shares photo of the messy side of parenthood, other parents follow suit
Parents are sharing the messiest parts of life with babies - and it's all too real.
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30 universal truths of 'Mother's Law'
There are some universal truths in parenting and, much like Murphy's Law, the rule of thumb is: anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
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The device for parents determined to capture every moment of their child's life
What if you could ensure you never miss a single thing your little one does?
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'I chose not to breastfeed. That doesn't make me a bad mum'
Mothers make hundreds of choices every day on behalf of their babies.
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Hey mama, you're doing just fine
We're in this together mamas! I salute you! Sometimes we just need to take a deep breath and realise this parenting gig is a tough one.
![It's hard to believe this sweet little girl created such a huge mess.](/web/20170619123517im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/8/g/x/8/image.related.landscape.300x200.gw8gpr.png/1495163834670.jpg)
Every parent will relate to this dad's hilariously messy 'pooplosion' tale
Make sure you aren't eating while reading this post.
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An apology to my mum friends
"I've had a few revelations about how I must have behaved a decade ago," writes Melissa Phillips, who recently became a new mum.
![The author, Andrew P Street, with his wife Dee and son James.](/web/20170619123517im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/7/r/x/4/image.related.landscape.300x200.gw7miu.png/1495097980119.jpg)
The biggest surprise about becoming a father
Yes, obviously children change your life. But there was one thing that came as a real eye-opener for Andrew P Street.
![For the briefest of times, my mother held my son close to her.](/web/20170619123517im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/7/5/f/z/image.related.landscape.300x200.gw74hg.png/1495761274582.jpg)
Clementine Ford
The pain that tells us our love matters
This time of the year is a triple-decker melange of sadness and regrets for me, writes Clementine Ford.
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Why should kids have all the sticker fun?
Stickers are a great little reward when kids have done something useful to encourage them to do it again.
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