Brad Pitt praises 'heroic' Jolie over double mastectomy

Brad Pitt has praised his partner Angelina Jolie, describing her decision to have a double mastectomy to prevent the chances of developing breast cancer as "absolutely heroic".

Angelina Jolie undergoes double mastectomy

Sarah Berry Angelina Jolie has revealed that she recently underwent a preventative double mastectomy.

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Monster-in-law, or time to get over yourself?

Melanie Hearse Mother-in-law more of a cause for teeth gnashing than celebration? Maybe the solution is a little closer to home than you think ...

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Iron and your toddler

Children are at a high risk of iron deficiency. Learn about iron deficiency, recommended daily amounts, and the best sources of iron for your family.

Air travel

Baby on board: how to survive a flight with an infant

Leah McLennan offers advice for mothers flying with babies after learning her lessons the hard way.

The 2013 budget for families

Justine Davies More money for education and disability care, but the scrapping of the baby bonus. Find out all about Wayne Swan's latest budget.

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Baby love is worth the expense

JULIA BAIRD One of the most explosive studies in genetics occurred when a Canadian behavioural scientist called Michael Meaney gathered two groups of rats together. The first were affectionate mother rats - those who were attentive to their newborns, licking and grooming them often. The second were undemonstrative mothers who displayed little interest in their offspring. He found those raised by the nurturers were less likely to get stressed when they were older. They were calmer, more curious and relaxed. The ignored pups were more likely to grow up anxious, frightened and neurotic.

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Outcry over Abbott's 'women of calibre' comment

Heath Aston, Jonathan Swan Labor has reignited the misogyny war, with senior government ministers leaping on comments by Tony Abbott that women of the ''calibre'' of a university education should be encouraged to have a family and a career.

Top tips on toddler photography

Jay Shin You can take some great shots of the toddler doing their favourite activity. If you make the photo-shoot a fun and exciting experience, it is likely the toddler won’t mind (and even enjoy) having his/her photo taken.

Top tips on pregnancy photography

Jay Shin There is no better time to take that special photo than when you are pregnant and glowing with happiness. A photo can forever capture the bond that exists between mother and child from conception to childbirth. Here are some tips to help create that special maternity photo.

Top tips on baby photography

Jay Shin You can take photos of newborns at any time from 5 days old and onwards. Some of my most striking photos are taken with newborns only days old. Here are some great tips and tricks to capture that perfect shot.

In defence of mummy cards

KASEY EDWARDS The concept of ‘mummy business cards’ hit the media last week, they - and the mothers who use them - were universally mocked.

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The power of mums

Victoria Kyriakopoulos They say charity begins at home. This Melbourne charity started out on a front porch.

Remembering Mums

When Mother's Day makes you sad

Amy Gray Mother's Day can be a painful reminder if your mother is no longer around.

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Cuisine

Rainbow choc-pops

With a little inspiration, imagination and forward planning, a day involving screaming hordes of children in summer can be fun.

Mini salad Nicoise

Healthy and bite sized, these Mini Salad Nicoise are perfect for kids or impress at the next party.

Tasty chicken balls

Children love finger food. Team these with some dipping sauce such as tzatziki, hummus or even tomato sauce and you're on to a winner.

Your child's first words

Your baby’s first word is a big milestone – it’s a sign that she’s becoming independent and entering the next phase of her life. And of course, no matter what her first word is, it’s a very exciting time for celebration!

Starting pre-school: what you'll need for the first day

Marion Turner So your child is making the transition to Preschool. You finally rang around all the child care centres you registered with when your baby was still in the womb and got the offer of the three days you require – albeit not the 3 days you had hoped for!

Your child's first steps

Learning to walk is a huge step (no pun intended!) in your baby’s development. From those first experiences of standing while holding onto something for balance, through to the initial hesitant, skaky steps, your child is making giant leaps towards life as an independent little person.

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