Articles & Expert Guides on Toddler & Child

Medically-reviewed expert guides, tips, real-life stories, and articles on Toddler & Child

Potty Training Safety: The Thing No One Talks About (But Every Parent Should Know)

How moms are thinking about sharing their kids online

Jessica Payne

Blended Family Life: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why

Tassia O'Callaghan

109 Grandma Names That’ll Stick for Life

Tassia O'Callaghan

16 Books for Mums That Will Make You Laugh, Cry, and Feel Seen

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Capricorn Baby: What It’s Like Parenting a Tiny Grown-Up

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Pisces Baby: What to Expect From the Dreamiest Sign

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Virgo Baby: What to Expect from Your Little Earth Sign

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Libra Baby: How to Support Your Little Peacemaker

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Taurus Baby: How to Parent the Most Chill (and Most Stubborn) Sign

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Gemini Baby: Get Ready for a Whole Lot of Talking

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Cancer Baby: Big Feelings in a Tiny Package

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Leo Baby: What to Expect From Your Fiery Lion

Tassia O'Callaghan

May Half Term 2025: Where Kids Eat Free (or for Just £1) Across the UK ✨

Phoebe Corcoran

Raising an Aquarius Baby: Parenting the Future-Minded Free Spirit

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Scorpio Baby: The Good, The Intense, and The Nap Refusals

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising an Aries Baby: The Boldest Sign in the Nursery

Tassia O'Callaghan

Raising a Sagittarius Baby: Traits, Tips, and What No One Tells You

Tassia O'Callaghan

Baby Grinding Teeth and Sleep Bruxism: Tips to Quiet the Night

Tassia O'Callaghan

Solitary Play: The Secret to Raising Independent Kids?

Tassia O'Callaghan

From the community

Have you ever had someone threaten/report you to CPS?

This one is triggering and embarassing which is why I made it anonymous. I have had multiple people threaten to call CPS on me because of my childs volume. (He is a toddler.) One of them was someone who was exremely hypocritical assumed the worst and tried to accuse me of "medical neglect". There was none. The others were people claiming that "I have no control over my child" because he was too loud. One of them even tried to accuse me of beating my child when I dont. I do not beat, spank or hit my child in any way. They were roommates who were just trying to get me kicked out because they thought my child was loud all the time. I have even caught them video taping me and my child whenever he got loud or whenever he had tantrums. I was not paranoid. The person who I paid rent to even admitted to me that the other roommates were recording us. She admitted it in text. I also caught her lying about it because a few months before that she lied saying "Nobody is recording you or taking pictures of you. They even showed me their camera roll." (They probably deleted the pics/videos before they showed her) but then a few months later she said "They have plenty of pictures of you and your child. You can't control your child!" Ironically, those same people who reported me or threatened to report me were people who were hypocrites and who did not have custody of their own kids or they beat their own kids (i heard it) or both. One of them even told me they think I should spank my child. (I don't) its almost as if that person was trying to set me up.

Btw: CPS never took my child. I have full custody of my son and I always have. When CPS spoke to me they took my side with each call. I knew I was innocent. They even agreed with me that a lot of his behaviours were common for his age. One of them even said "He looks fine" when she looked at him. It is scary that some people would threaten CPS to people just to intimidate them. Also, i moved. I don't live with those roommates anymore.

Living with parents help

I live with my parents and my 3 kids and I’m dying. I’m constantly criticized on my parenting and how I handle situations. I’m in school as well and starting to work part time. I don’t have a car and my boys are little, 6-1 year olds.

I can’t stand being here much longer. It’s almost been a year and I’m over it. I want to save up and get my own car and get my own place but I can’t work much due to my kids ages and my oldest is autistic.

Any advice or suggestions for how to make this situation bearable. We don’t have our own room we sleep in the family room downstairs so our stuff is constantly all over the place. On top of that my parents home had a lien put on it due to my attorney fees for my divorce. I try to contribute as much as I can. My parents were almost empty nesters and haven’t had littles in their home for 12+ years.

We also have very different standards on cleanliness. I admit my standards are much lower due to my adhd, my autistic son and my kids ages.

I just want to figure something out other than either being who they want me to be or continuously going against them and feeling like I’m the hated child.

Unpopular opinion when you get married your in laws and your parents aren’t adding you to their families. You’re leaving those families and creating your own NEW family.

I don’t like the idea that the in-laws are adding you as a new daughter and their son is still their baby and they all treat you like your still kids that are an extension of them.
If you’re getting married a man should be grown enough he doesn’t need to run to his mommy for everything and is starting his own new family. His wife and children and his # 1 priority and his now extended family (his parents and siblings) are his 3rd priority. And same vice versa for the wife and her family.

Holiday musts

Hi 👋🏼
We’re going on our first family holiday to a caravan in the UK in a couple of weeks. Please can anyone give us tips of what to take and what not to take. My brain fills very overwhelmed right now ahah

How to break up with someone who won't let you?

We've been fighting non stop and then today was the last straw. He didn't call me back earlier and I call him and he's saying he's going to take a nap because he's really drunk and can't drive home. This was after having the dumbest argument earlier in the day. Every time we get into it, he says he's done and doesn't want to do this anymore. I say ok and then he comes back to egg it on more. Then if I don't call him or I'm not as responsive, it's an even bigger issue. I feel depleted. If I block him, it'll just make things blow up even more and he'll know how to hurt me because of it. Ugh please help. We don't have kids together or live together but our lives are so intertwined and we do share a business

When do I start searching for a school & what's the process please? (UK)

My daughter will be turning 3 in October. When should I start looking at schools & what's the process?

I find the thought of it all very overwhelming 😬 plus I don't want to come to terms yet that my baby will be going to school 🥹😭😂

Work over child?

I work from home. I’m a manager in marketing. I’m on meeting 50-90% of the time. My husband has a job where he is home 2/3 days.
Before we had a child my husband expected me to take care of our child while I work when he’s not home. I told him that just isn’t possible. While I do work from home I can’t just not work during work hours. Some days if I have time I’ll do laundry or dishes or whatever I can but I can’t take care of a child. He then told me that I was picking work over our child and that is not okay.
Fast forward our child is now 7 months and we have a sitter for the days I work. I take my lunch everyday and feed our child. At 5 I stop and feed, bath, rock our child to sleep etc.
Tonight I am behind/stressed on work, so since him and I weren’t hanging out and baby is asleep I jumped on my computer. He just walked by and made a comment about how I am choosing work.
Am I wrong?

Partner keeps wasting money

My partner who has admitted he has a drugs addiction keeps spending £100s each week. Hes saying its not always on drugs but he has nothing to show for it.
Im sick of it.
Its his money and i totally get that and if he was buying a pair trainers or somthing I could actually see i wouldn't be as angry!!!!
We live together and he pays the bills (some weeks like this month ive had to use all my wage on bills - i only do 1 day a week so its basically my pocket money)
Just feel he's stealing from his family..me and our baby because we should be spending it as a family or saving!

Annoyed with taking my 4 week old out

I’m slowly going crazy being told to not take my 4 week old out. I need to go grocery shopping like asap and I haven’t been out the house in like 13 days now. But my boyfriend keeps saying no and that wait till he’s not working. Mind you he works all week and be back late at night. I have a baby carrier, I have baby covers. We have a stroller if needed. I am careful, I know better. If It gets overwhelming I don’t mind buying what I’m able to grab, at least there’s something. Even going to the park with nobody around to be in his face, the stroller I have got a baby cover but a window to still see him. And it’s perfect weather

New Job Opportunity, but w very long hours!?! 😵‍💫

I have a job opportunity with great pay but it would be a 9 1/2 hours away from my daughter, (who is also level 3 autistic)… we could do after school daycare and have ABA at the daycare. My MIL and her dad can pick her up at 4:30, twice a week, so she would only have two long days in daycare. I know she would adjust, she has been in daycare before and i have had long work days before, but never this long every day. Opinions? Advice? It would be a great opportunity but I would feel so guilty for how long I would be away from her