There are various ways to save on childcare costs, one new one and one which is closing soon.
First: have you taken up Childcare Vouchers with your employer? If these are on offer and you are employed they can save you 32%. Act now, though, and this scheme closes 5th April.
Second: there is a new Tax Free Childcare scheme where for every 80p you pay in the Government tops it up with 20p.
There are pros and cons to each scheme so read this infographic from Money Saving Expert to see which …

Getting kids back into a term time sleep routine doesn’t have to be a nightmare according to The Sleep Council.
Late nights, long lie ins and days without structure are just some of the reasons the summer holidays play havoc with children’s sleeping patterns. But as the start of a new school year looms, parents are advised to start trying to re-establish their regular sleep routines a good week before they go back.
Said Lisa Artis of The Sleep Council: “It’s not uncommon to find that the long break disrupts bed and …

This October Australian retreat group Motherground are so excited to be sharing the Motherground experience with our mumma friends in the UK. Partnering up with the amazing Suzanne Cork Yoga to offer you a retreat experience like no other.
Becoming a new mum is a time when there is so much giving of yourself, a Motherground retreat will give you back what you need, so you can take a breath for you. Take some time out for you and your baby and make it your time to unwind, relax and reground. This is a dedicated time …

Finding the right childcare for your little one while you work or study can be a challenge. If your child has additional needs of any sort – whether a physical disability, chronic medical condition, learning difficulties, behavioural issues, communication problems or severe allergies – it might feel particularly daunting. The good news is that there is plenty of support available.

Every local authority in England has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (Senco), and you’ll find a Senco in every nursery and Sure Start centre too. Their role is to work with …

One of the biggest tugs at our heartstrings as working parents is the fact that often we have to rely on others to drop our children at school or pick them up, write Julia Hague, co-author of Being Me (and Loving It). It doesn’t matter whether you consider their childminder to be the “Mary Poppins” you always dreamed you’d find, you still feel somehow disconnected from that mysterious place where they spend a huge chunk of their lives and which you feel, wrongly, guilty of not being a part.
Stop! We’re …

“Stepfamilies are one of the fastest growing types of families in the world, but relationships are often difficult because of a lack of clear ‘rules,’ very little advice and few good role models, especially in fairy tales,” explains Regent’s University London psychology expert, Dr Lisa Doodson. Nearly 1.1 million dependent children live in more than 544,000 stepfamilies across England and Wales, highlighting the urgent need for greater guidance for parents and support from family specialists. Lisa’s new book – ‘Understanding Stepfamilies – a practical guide forprofessionals working with blended families,’ …

 Whether you are employed, or self-employed, run your own business or work for someone else – being punctual is important.
However for many parents, trying to get out of the door on time when you have children can be stressful. And unfortunately turning up late to an important meeting and complaining that the children were playing up, isn’t going to win you the business!
So how can you and the kids get out the door on time?
According to Professor Matt Sanders, founder of the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, the key is …

Whilst every family is different, there are several common issues faced by working parents. Here are some of the top problems that crop up time and time again for working parents, and we look at why they are such big issues for us all and how to tackle them.
Flexibility
There are limited roles that fit around school hours, and those that do don’t tend to pay particularly well.  The popularity recently for zero-hour contracts and shift working with days and hours changing weekly can make it hard to find a …

Emma gave birth after a long and exhausting labour. But the worst was yet to come: only part of the placenta was delivered, and Emma became aware of the room filling up with people and the mood changing. Although she was told that all was fine, she knew something was wrong.
A consultant walked in and, without acknowledging Emma, attempted a manual removal of the placenta, which Emma describes as “the most painful thing I’ve experienced to this day. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the shock of it”.
Blood started …

If your child is starting school for the first time, an eye test can help pick up any problems before they miss out in the class room. And for every other school child who has grown over the summer, remember that eyes change and grow too! Every child is entitled to a free NHS eye test. Have a look at this infographic to find out more.

This information is provided by ABDO, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. Find out more about eyes at eyecareFAQ on Twitter, Facebook and G+. There are all sorts of …