Parenting
Welcome to our Parenting Files. You'll find lots of helpful information in the links on the left-hand menu to help you with all sorts of parenting issues.
Stories are updated regularly to keep you up-to-date with the latest news and advice relating to parenting.
You can also search through our archived content using the search facility below.
The content of these pages is collected from a variety of sources including news providers, books, leaflets and other publications.
Please note, any opinion expressed does not necessarily reflect our own views, and is provided for your information only.
Pre-school 'gives maths boost'
Going to a good pre-school nursery boosts a child's chances of achieving in maths at the age of 10, experts say.
01/09/2008
Spice Girl Mel C expecting baby
Spice Girl Mel C is expecting her first baby, she has revealed.
01/09/2008
'Wide variations' in Ritalin use
Prescribing rates for the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Ritalin vary widely across England, figures show.
17/07/2008
Hope of life for premature babies
The lives of premature babies could be saved by a new kind of heart monitor
17/07/2008
30th birthday for first IVF baby
It is 30 years since scientists held their breath as they waited for news of the world's first test tube baby. When Louise Brown was born - so was IVF treatment.
17/07/2008
Jolie doctor was nervous at birth
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's doctor has admitted he felt added pressure delivering the couple's twin babies because of their fame.
17/07/2008
Mother in labour on waxing table
A pregnant woman said she had the shock of her life after she went into labour while having her eyebrows waxed.
17/07/2008
Mother in labour on waxing table
A pregnant woman said she had the shock of her life after she went into labour while having her eyebrows waxed.
17/07/2008
Mother in labour on waxing table
A pregnant woman said she had the shock of her life after she went into labour while having her eyebrows waxed.
17/07/2008
Paltrow reveals baby break fears
Gwyneth Paltrow was worried she would never make another film after taking time out to have children, she said.
22/05/2008
Baby boy for X Factor's Thornton
TV presenter Kate Thornton has given birth to a baby boy, her spokesperson has confirmed.
22/05/2008
UK couple 'miracle' triplets joy
The triplets were born early but are now at home and doing well
06/05/2008
Wombles warning over TV imports
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common have moved to New York and adopted American accents in a protest against imported children's TV shows.
15/04/2008
Reality star Katona gives birth
Kerry Katona has given birth to a baby boy five weeks early
15/04/2008
Children in Need cash tops record
Children in Need raised over £1.5m in Scotland last November
15/04/2008
Baby boy for radio DJ Theakston
Radio DJ and TV presenter Jamie Theakston has become a father for the first time.
15/04/2008
Triplets born to teenager - again
A 16-year-old Argentine girl has given birth to female triplets - for the second time.
15/04/2008
Parents 'must tackle' child crime
Startling figures reveal children as young as four have been involved in house-breaking and petty assault.
23/01/2008
Mother and baby in flood rescue
Firefighters rescued a mother and baby from a stranded car as floods hit Greater Manchester.
23/01/2008
Lemar becomes father to baby girl
Singer Lemar is "overwhelmed" after his partner gave birth to a baby girl, his spokeswoman has said.
23/01/2008
Child trust fund savings boost
Parents and relatives are saving more money than before into tax free child trust fund
23/01/2008
Baby scalding council sued
The family of baby who died when a water tank burst above her head are to take legal action.
23/01/2008
Aguilera gives birth to baby boy
Pop star Christina Aguilera has given birth to her first child, a son named Max Liron.
23/01/2008
Baby escapes home firework blast
A baby narrowly escaped injury after a powerful firework smashed through the bedroom window of a house on Tyneside.
07/11/2007
Father's bid to cut baby's cord
A Tyneside father has criticised hospital bosses who have banned him from cutting the umbilical cord of his soon-to-be-born daughter.
07/11/2007
Les Dennis to be a father again
TV star Les Dennis and his life coach girlfriend Claire Nicholson are to have a baby in April.
07/11/2007
Mothers-to-be 'can drink alcohol'
Pregnant women can safely drink a small glass of wine a day, official advice is set to say.
11/10/2007
Czech parents to exchange babies
Two Czech couples whose babies were mixed up after hospital births 10 months ago have met to prepare for an exchange of their children.
11/10/2007
Actor Nolte becomes father at 66
Actor Nick Nolte has become father to a baby daughter at the age of 66.
11/10/2007
Woman wins for saving baby's life
A flight attendant has won anaward for saving the life of a premature baby she delivered at 30,000ft.
11/10/2007
Maternity shortages 'risk lives'
Many more midwives, obstetricians and anaesthetists are needed if childbirth is to be made safer.
11/10/2007
Russian mother has 'giant' baby
A Russian woman has given birth to a baby weighing 7.75kg (17.5lbs), more than twice the average newborn weight.
28/09/2007
Woman has baby in eight minutes
A woman who was preparing to serve up a lamb curry at a dinner party had a baby in eight minutes, while her main course was simmering on the hob.
28/09/2007
Church gives birth to baby girl
Singer and TV presenter Charlotte Church has given birth to a girl at her home in South Wales.
28/09/2007
Gallagher becomes a father again
Oasis star Noel Gallagher has become a father for a second time, it has been announced.
28/09/2007
Children 'missing out on funds'
More than 30% of eligible children on the Western Isles may miss out on the return from the first year of their Child Trust Fund (CTF) investment.
28/09/2007
US firm recalls China-made cots
US baby furniture supplier Simplicity is recalling about one million Chinese-made cots that have been linked to at least two infant deaths.
28/09/2007
Parents warned of additives link
Parents have been warned of the effects of food additives on their children's behaviour following new research
10/09/2007
Hollywood's Berry expecting child
Hollywood actress Halle Berry, who won an Oscar for Monster's Ball, has revealed she is expecting her first child with partner Gabriel Aubry.
10/09/2007
Baby's parents help neonatal unit
The parents of a baby who was cared for in the neonatal unit of a hospital in Surrey have expressed their gratitude with a cash donation of £550.
10/09/2007
Hairy baby girl is talk of town
A two-month-old girl is attracting more attention than most babies - as she has sprouted a full head of hair.
10/09/2007
Unpaid child support totals £34m
A campaign to reclaim £34m in unpaid child maintenance in Nottingham has been started by the Child Support Agency (CSA).
10/09/2007
Army parents stay in touch
A new initiative aimed at parents serving in the army is thriving, giving them the chance to be part of their children's bedtime routine.
29/08/2007
Foundling rejects 'baby hatch' call
A man who was abandoned by his mother as a baby in Grangemouth 39 years ago has rejected the idea of "baby hatches" for unwanted children.
29/08/2007
Malawi official to visit Madonna
A Malawian social worker has been given the go-ahead to travel to London and assess Madonna's suitability to adopt a child from the African country.
29/08/2007
Hamleys pulls toys over lead fear
Hamleys has removed from its shelves two child jewellery products found to contain dangerous levels of lead, which can cause brain damage and even kill.
29/08/2007
Craving for junk food 'inherited'
Mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy may be condemning their children to crave the same diet, according to animal tests.
16/08/2007
Mattel recalls millions more toys
US toymaker Mattel has recalled more than 18 million toys worldwide, the second such recall in two weeks.
16/08/2007
NZ couple to name child Superman
A couple in New Zealand is planning to call their newborn son Superman after officials rejected their original choice of 4Real.
16/08/2007
Bonham Carter announces pregnancy
Actress Helena Bonham Carter is expecting her second child with film director Tim Burton.
16/08/2007
Concern over child seat failure
More than half the cars spot-checked in a Berkshire town were found to have faulty child seats.
16/08/2007
Toys recalled over safety fears
Toymaker Fisher Price is to recall more almost one and a half million Chinese-made toys over fears that their paint contains too much lead.
03/08/2007
Mel B in bid to confirm paternity
Spice Girl Melanie Brown has filed court papers in the US in a bid to confirm that actor Eddie Murphy is legally the father of her daughter.
03/08/2007
'Health juices' harm baby teeth
Children's teeth are being damaged by "healthy" fruit juices, a dentists' group has warned.
03/08/2007
Call for children donor awareness
Children born with the help of donated sperm or eggs should have the fact recorded on their birth certificates, a group of MPs and peers has suggested.
03/08/2007
Actress Watts gives birth to boy
Hollywood actress Naomi Watts has given birth to her first child, a boy named Alexander Pete Schreiber...
03/08/2007
Tantrum child shut in family car
A mother who reprimanded her daughter by locking her in the family car for several minutes received a visit from the police.
03/08/2007
Jordan decides on daughter's name
Glamour model Jordan and pop star Peter Andre have named their baby daughter Princess Tiaamii.
24/07/2007
Madeleine's father visits the US
The father of missing Madeleine McCann will arrive in the US on Monday to learn about specialist agencies which work to prevent child abductions.
24/07/2007
Baby on the way for singer Usher
R&B star Usher and his fiancee Tameka Foster are expecting their first child together, they have announced.
28/06/2007
Drowning child rescued by novice
A young girl's life was saved when a novice swimmer spotted her lifeless body at the bottom of a swimming pool and pulled her to safety.
28/06/2007
Baby baptised at music festival
A baby born to a couple who met at the Glastonbury Festival five years ago, has been baptised at the event.
28/06/2007
Roberts gives birth to third baby
Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts has given birth to her third child, a boy, in Los Angeles, her publicist has said.
28/06/2007
Muhammad second most popular name
Muhammad is the second most popular name for baby boys in Britain, new research has found.
11/06/2007
Tiger prepares to take baby break
Tiger Woods says his schedule for the rest of 2007 is up in the air as he awaits the arrival of his first child.
11/06/2007
Water tank crashes onto baby pen
A family has said their 10-month-old daughter is lucky to be alive after a hot water tank crashed through the ceiling onto her playpen.
11/06/2007
Grandmother delivers baby in car
A grandmother was forced to take on the role of midwife to deliver her first granddaughter in the back of her four-wheel-drive.
11/06/2007
Parents' plea over stolen laptop
A couple have pleaded for the return of a laptop stolen from their home because it contains footage of their baby's birth...
06/03/2007
Charlotte Church expecting baby
Singer and TV presenter Charlotte Church has confirmed she is expecting a baby with her Welsh rugby star boyfriend Gavin Henson...
06/03/2007
Forces shun child car seat fines
Three police forces in England are choosing not to issue fines to drivers who break new laws on child car seats...
06/03/2007
Wife Swap star guilty of cruelty
Wife Swap star Lizzy Bardsley has been found guilty of four child cruelty charges...
06/03/2007
Radcliffe races back after baby
Paula Radcliffe has revealed she started running again less than two weeks after giving birth to her daughter Isla in January...
06/03/2007
UK is accused of failing children
The UK has been accused of failing its children, as it comes bottom of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrialised countries...
06/03/2007
Bobby Brown is freed from prison
Singer Bobby Brown has been freed from jail after paying $19,000 (£9,701) in late child support and court costs.
06/03/2007
Jolie and Pitt 'to adopt again'
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has filed papers to adopt a Vietnamese child with her partner Brad Pitt, according to an adoption official in Vietnam...
06/03/2007
Child finances 'concern mothers'
The biggest money worries of mothers in Britain concern their children's financial futures, a survey suggests.
06/03/2007
Website to 'shame' absent parents
Ministers are planning to publish on the internet the names of absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance for their children...
15/02/2007
Baby son joy for test-tube mother
The world's first "test-tube baby", Louise Brown, has spoken of her joy at giving birth to her first child...
15/02/2007
Childline's Esther collects her CBE
TV presenter and Childline founder Esther Rantzen has collected her CBE for services to young people...
06/02/2007
Heroic doctor saves toddler’s life
Rosie’s father thanks the doctor who saved his daughter’s life…
15/12/2006
Teachers prefer ethical gifts
Many teachers would prefer to receive an ethical gift from their pupils which will benefit the lives of children who live in less economically developed countries…
12/12/2006
Parents warned about their children’s computer use.
Parents admit their children probably know more about computers than they do…
14/11/2006
Shock after baby killed by dogs
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Neighbours and residents have been laying flowers outside a pub in Leicester after a five-month-old baby was killed by two Rottweiler dogs...
14/11/2006
Warning to parents after girl gets lost
An air and sea search for a girl who wandered away from her mother has led to coastguard giving an early safety warning to parents taking summer holidays…
25/09/2006
Woman becomes a mother at 62.
A 62 year-old woman becomes the oldest woman in Britain to have a baby…
25/07/2006
Tories urge childcare tax break
Leader of the Conservative party, David Cameron, is to call for tax relief in childcare…
21/07/2006
Rise in pupils with special needs
There has been a rise in the numbers of children who are said to have special needs…
20/07/2006
Hawking to write children’s book
Famous physicist, Steven Hawking and his daughter plan to write a children’s book on physics…
14/07/2006
Meat and fish taste inherited
Scientific studies suggest that children mostly inherit tastes for high protein foods such as fish and meat…
10/07/2006
Specialist advice on schooling
Parents will soon be able to consult specialist advisers on which schools to send their children…
26/06/2006
Nursery children set painting record!
A thousand nursery children make the world’s largest hand print picture…
20/06/2006
Parents are advised to check children’s car seats
The Derbyshire County Council has made an appeal to parents to check their car seats…
16/06/2006
Disney to Sell Films on Internet
Disney will start releasing their films as downloads from the internet via CinemaNow this month...
12/06/2006
Baby girl for Pitt and Jolie
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie celebrate the birth of their first daughter in Namibia, Africa…
12/06/2006
Marital strife could cause face changes
Children’s faces could be affected by their parent’s relationship…
05/06/2006
I'm the daddy
Ian Mucklejohn is the first single man in Britain to have his own children without a female partner...
31/05/2006
Mothers demand breastfeeding law
Mothers are demanding a law be passed to permit them to breastfeed in public…
26/05/2006
Parents ignoring cot death advice
Concerns over “flat head syndrome” have lead to a fifth of babies being put at risk of cot death...
23/05/2006
'Designer baby' bid gets go-ahead
A couple from Leicester have been given permission by the fertility watchdog to have a "saviour sibling" in a bid to help their sick 20-month-old daughter.
19/05/2006
Watchdog to Rule on Embryo Checks
The UK fertility watchdog is due to make a decision on whether genetic screening will include a wider range of diseases...
18/05/2006
Doctor defends IVF for woman, 63
A controversial fertility doctor has defended his decision to give IVF to a 63-year-old woman who is set to become Britain's oldest mother.
17/05/2006
Folic acid boosts IVF twin births
Adding folic acid to flour could see more women giving birth to twins after IVF treatment, a study suggests...
16/05/2006
Baby girl for Cruise and Holmes
Katie Holmes, engaged to Tom Cruise has given birth to their first child...
16/05/2006
Are older children being “robbed of their childhood”?
A teachers Union demands children have the ‘right’ to a childhood...
10/05/2006
More women choosing home births
Statistics suggest that a growing number of women are choosing to deliver their babies at home...
10/05/2006
Missing child alert system starts
A new system, based on the Amber Alert in the United States, which makes it easier and quicker for police to find missing children is being launched...
12/04/2006
Lib Dem bid to cut parent benefit
Single parents would be "helped" back to work sooner under tough new plans unveiled by the Liberal Democrats...
31/03/2006
Baby girl for GMTV host Garraway
Breakfast TV presenter Kate Garraway has given birth to a baby girl...
31/03/2006
Warning over child obesity push
The bid to halt rising child obesity by 2010 will fail unless the government shows more leadership, a study says...
31/03/2006
New child car seat rules planned
Children under 4ft 5in (1.35m) tall could soon have to use a proper child restraint and booster seat in the car or risk a fine for the driver...
31/03/2006
Cameron baby to be given MMR jab
Tory leader David Cameron says his new baby will have the MMR jab but suggests single injections should be considered...
31/03/2006
Fall in teenage conception rate
The conception rate among under-18s in England and Wales fell 1.4% between 2003 and 2004, official figures show...
31/03/2006
Call to cut trust fund time limit
Parents should have less time to choose where to invest their child trust fund vouchers, a provider of the funds has said...
31/03/2006
Woman gives birth in supermarket
A woman gave birth in a Merseyside supermarket after going into labour while doing her weekly shop...
31/03/2006
Spears admits baby driving error
Pop star Britney Spears has admitted she made a mistake by driving with her baby son sitting on her lap...
31/03/2006
Mother saves children from fire
A mother led her two young children to safety after a smoke alarm alerted her to a fire in their house...
31/03/2006
NHS birth centres 'under threat'
Birth centres across Britain are under threat because of a shortage of cash and midwives, campaigners have warned...
31/03/2006
Stabbed Abigail's joy after birth
Stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls has told how carrying her baby gave her "great strength and comfort"...
31/03/2006
Boots recalls baby toy
Boots recalls its Learning Through Play Ball Maze. Other recent product recalls are listed on our Prodcut Recalls page...
31/03/2006
Concern over 'spare part' babies
Children created as so-called "saviour siblings" to aid a sick brother or sister must be monitored to ensure their wellbeing, experts suggest...
31/03/2006
Actress Ryan adopts Chinese baby
Ryan has a 13-year-old son from her marriage to Dennis Quaid Hollywood actress Meg Ryan has adopted a baby girl in China...
31/03/2006
Baby found in bag in Brazil lake
Brazilian TV has broadcast footage of a baby girl being rescued from a black plastic bag floating in a lake...
31/03/2006
Smacking's impact 'same globally'
Children who are smacked are more likely than those who are not to become aggressive and anxious, no matter what the cultural norm, a study says...
31/03/2006
'End public breastfeed prejudice'
Mothers who want to breastfeed their babies in public should be protected from the prejudice that sometimes stops them from doing so, an MP says...
31/03/2006
A child called Ikea: Myth or reality?
Newspapers gleefully claimed this week that Ikea was the latest example of barmy parents calling their newborn children after brand names. Er, not quite...
31/03/2006
Two-womb mum has double baby joy
A Devon woman with two wombs beat medical odds by giving birth to two babies at the same time.
31/03/2006
Boy tracks his sperm donor father
A 15-year-old boy has tracked down his anonymous sperm donor father using a swab test and the internet...
31/03/2006
Spain's future queen gives birth
Princess Letizia, the future Queen of Spain, has given birth to her first child, a girl...
31/03/2006
Homes built on 'toxic' land
An investigation into a housing estate where two children died of leukaemia has revealed the land is contaminated with benzene...
31/03/2006
Babies 'cost £1,560' before birth
Parents-to-be are spending an average of £1,560 on their baby before he or she is even born, research suggests...
31/03/2006
Actress Holden has baby daughter
Actress Amanda Holden has given birth to her first child, a daughter called Alexa Louise Florence Hughes...
31/03/2006
Private firms to chase CSA debts
Private debt collectors are to be used to collect money from absent parents who fail to pay child support money...
31/03/2006
Low take-up for child trust funds
About a third of child trust fund vouchers sent out by the government have still not been cashed and invested by parents...
31/03/2006
Gordon Brown to be father again
The baby is expected in July, Mr Brown's spokesman said. Mr Brown, 54, and Mrs Brown, 42, were said to be "absolutely delighted by the news"...
31/03/2006
Jolie and Pitt expecting a baby
Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are expecting a baby, Pitt's publicist has announced...
31/03/2006
Non-paying parents may be tagged
Parents who fail to pay child support money could be tagged, Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton said...
31/03/2006
Birth rate 'highest in six years'
The number of babies born in Scotland increased by almost 500 in the first nine months of this year...
31/03/2006
TV Heros
With 2006 approaching, we take a look back at those TV heros who have offered us help, encouragement and often a good giggle this year...
31/03/2006
Jack and Katie remain top names
Jack and Katie were the favourite baby names for parents in Northern Ireland...
31/03/2006
Pushchairs 'hinder baby talk'
Forward-facing pushchairs are failing to engage parents and their children in conversation, a literacy charity says...
31/03/2006
Thirties 'peak time for babies'
The rate of pregnancies for women in their 30s has overtaken that for younger women for the first time, official statistics show...
31/03/2006
Awards recognise child heroism
Children recognised for their heroism or courage have been presented with awards by the Duchess of Cornwall...
31/03/2006
Nursery 'boosts child's success'
Putting a child through nursery education helps set them up for success in later life, a study suggests...
31/03/2006
Baby girl for Affleck and Garner
Actor Ben Affleck has become a father after his Alias star wife Jennifer Garner gave birth to a girl...
31/03/2006
Snow storm baby born in ambulance
Paramedics delivered a baby girl in the back of an ambulance during last week's heavy snow storms in Cornwall...
31/03/2006
Men 'missing out on baby leave'
Many new fathers are refused their right to paid paternity leave because they have not given their employers enough notice...
31/03/2006
Raising a child 'costs £166,000'
It costs on average £166,000 to raise a child from birth until age 21, according to Liverpool Victoria friendly society...
31/03/2006
Women 'set to put family on ice'
Young career women will soon be routinely freezing their eggs, experts are predicting...
31/03/2006
Unmarried free to adopt as couple
Unmarried and same-sex couples can now adopt children together, as part of the biggest overhaul of adoption laws for 30 years...