It's time to pay our foster carers properly

JEN VUK Why do the ordinary people who go to extraordinary lengths to help give children a better life often end up out of pocket?

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Review: The eZee Expedir, an electric family bike

Marion Turner Marion Turner, a mum of two, was given the chance to try the eZee Expedir, the new pedal-assist electric longtail bike. She found lots to like about it - even going up hills was a breeze!

My mother, my self

PINKY MCKAY It isn't only brand new mums who can feel discouraged by their own mums’ seemingly unsupportive behaviour, writes Pinky Mckay.

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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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Gas safety campaign honours young brothers

DEBORAH GOUGH After a faulty heater led to the deaths of her two young sons, Vanessa Robinson vowed to do something to save other families from similar tragedies.

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Review: Dyson Hot+Cool AM05

Sole Ayoub Sole Ayoub is a Sydney mum of three kids aged 9, 7 and 2. She reviewed the Dyson Hot+Cool AM05.

The retro housewife

Alexandra Carlton Why are smart women swapping boardrooms for bunting and bake-offs? Alexandra Carlton looks at the hunger for all things domestic.

Drowning warnings on eve of new pool laws

Emma Partridge The introduction of new swimming pool laws in NSW won't be enough to save all children from drowning, safety experts remind parents.

Australia: 23 million and counting

Vince Chadwick Australia's population will tick past the 23 million mark on Tuesday night as the country continues to grow at the fastest rate in the developed world.

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How clean is your kitchen?

Livia Gamble A study has revealed the top spots germs are likely to be lurking in your kitchen. Learn where they are and how to clean them out.

The FIFO families that flourish

Melanie Hearse Fly-in, fly-out work rosters can wreak havoc on the families involved, but others wouldn't have life any other way. Melanie Hearse gets tips and tricks from thriving FIFO families.

The curious pleasure of cleaning

Damon Young There's a certain joy to be had when the last books, Lego pieces and dolls are put in their places after a long day - in spite of the knowledge it will happen all over again the next day.

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What's on at The Baby & Toddler Show

Not sure what to expect from The Baby & Toddler Show? Find out what goes on and get your discounted ticket here.

The Baby & Toddler Show (Vic): discount ticket offer

Get 40 per cent off the price of your ticket for The Baby & Toddler Show, the ultimate event for parents-to-be and parents of babies and toddlers.

Child's fall results in window law changes

SARAH WHYTE Every apartment above ground level in NSW will be required to fit safety devices to prevent children falling out of windows.

Transforming a nursery into a toddler's room

While many babies start out sleeping in their parents' room (and may sneak back in for years to come!), it's important to create a space for toddlers and older children to call their own.

Adelaide the country's most liveable city

LARISSA NICHOLSON Australia's largest cities are some of its least liveable, according to their own residents.

The psychology of colour

Each colour can influence aspects such as mood, behaviour and sleep habits.

Tips for painting and renovating with kids

Thinking about renovating or painting? Here are some tips from Essential Baby members who've been through the process.

Meghan's story: the warning every parent needs to hear

Kimberly Packard One day Meghan was there: three years old, full of life, beautiful. The next day she was gone, the victim of a simple accident in the home. This is her mum's story - and the message she wants all parents to hear.

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Chrissie Swan moves to the city

CHRISSIE SWAN Forget overseas holidays – if it's culture shock you're after, just change neighbourhoods.

Australia's most family-friendly cities revealed

Miki Perkins and Melanie Mahoney A study has found which Australian cities are the most family friendly - as well as the spots families might want to avoid.

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Store medicines safely this summer

As citizens across the nation suffer through a heatwave during catastrophic fire conditions, NPS MedicineWise is reminding Australians to store medicines correctly, with extreme temperatures impacting the effectiveness of many treatments.

Last chance to chat to Minister Macklin

Time is running out for families to have their question answered by Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin.

OurSay: Workplace deaths in the spotlight

OurSay gives you the chance to let politicians know about the issues that affect you the most. Here, we share information on one of the issues that’s gathering a lot of attention on the OurSay forum: workplace fatalities, and how the government can ease the burden of families affected by such accidents.

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Chrissie Swan: Clearing out, moving on

CHRISSIE SWAN Kitchen cupboard clear-outs can be like taking a trip down memory lane, says Chrissie Swan.

Newborn baby killed by family pet

An eight-day-old baby has died after being bitten by his family’s dog in the UK.

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Motherhood mantra

Is adequate the new excellent for mums?

Michaela Fox The many reasons to embrace this mantra.

BRITA 3 way dispenser tap system review

Amber Robinson As a long-time user of BRITA filtered water jugs, I was thrilled to try the new BRITA 3-way dispenser tap, which delivers filtered water straight from the main kitchen tap.

Why do we do it?

AMITY DRY After working into the early hours to prepare for her son's birthday, Amity Dry had to ask herself a question: who, exactly, was she doing all this for?

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MamaBake: When mother's groups get cooking

Megan Johnston MamaBake helps time-poor mothers work together to beat the clock and look after their families.

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Chrissie Swan: Selling the dream

CHRISSIE SWAN Putting a house on the market creates a grand illusion of the perfect family life, says Chrissie Swan.

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Babyology presents: amazing cake decorations good enough to eat

SITE: BABYOLOGY From leaves to mushrooms, and buttons to gears, one Etsy cake decoration store offers everything you need to make your baby shower or child's birthday cake one to remember!

How to save on your power bill

Even fixed-price power bills aren't what they seem; consumers need to check, and double-check, everything. Here's what to consider when opening the first bills bearing the full impact of the latest electricity price rises.

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15 reasons to love a good spring clean

Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore of getbuttonedup.com If you're lacking a little motivation to spring clean, here are 15 good reasons why you should give it a go this weekend.

'I'm doing everything I can': homeless mum, 16

Tracey Prisk Life isn't easy when you're 16 years old, homeless and the mother of a young baby.

Feeding: the first 12 months

AMITY DRY Your baby goes through a massive change to his diet over the first year of his life. Here's a guide to what you can expect, from breastfeeding to bottles to weaning and solids.

The gift every mother doesn't need

Kylie Orr Kylie Orr shares her frustration with the common misconception that having a daughter is the gift every mother needs.

Going back to where you came from

Sarah Macdonald Once upon a time, Sarah Macdonald wanted drama and intrigue in exotic locales. Now she's raising two kids in the suburbs, only a few kilometres from where she grew up, and she's learning to like life in the slow lane.

Should you renovate or buy?

Jason Clout The choice of finding a new home is often forced on growing families, who can quickly realise that their existing address isn't quite as spacious when another family member comes along. But is it better to buy or renovate?

Leave work at 5:30

Andie Fox Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, recently admitted she leaves work at 5:30pm to be at home with her children for dinner - and Andie Fox encourages everyone else to do it too.

Woman breaks in, tries to breastfeed baby

Police have arrested a woman for breaking into a house and attempting to breastfeed a stranger’s child.

A glimpse of the future

Catherine Armitage One in three babies born today will live to 100, but all will be likely to lead longer, busier and more interesting lives. Here's a glimpse of the future your descendants might be a part of.

The good old days?

As you go about your daily chores using a plethora of appliances and technology, spare a thought for the families who came before you, who had to do everything the old fashioned way ... that is, by using more elbow grease, and taking a lot more time to do it all!

Cloth nappies: economic & stylish too

Staff writers Cloth or disposable? We compare average prices and look at the best ways to care for and clean cloth nappies.

Is your boss ruining your family life?

Andrea Black Proving what the families of stressed workers may already suspect, a recent study has found that stress and tension caused by an abusive boss can filter through to relationships at home.

The gloves are off

Heidi Davoren In today’s world of blended families, there's no longer one size fits all. And when it comes to custody battles, it seems the legal system no longer reflects what our society needs.