Australia's most family-friendly workplaces

Mother and son

Brooke Wells Who are the country's top family friendly employers, and what benefits do they offer to their workers? Essential Baby investigates.

Downside seen in parental leave

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Adele Horin Women workers are likely to suffer discrimination as a result of new workplace rights that enable them to take two years of unpaid parental leave instead of 12 months, according to a prominent feminist academic.

Do you really need to work?

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Gill South Every day mothers are making important decisions about whether or not to return to paid work. For many, working outside the home - either part time or full time - is a financial necessity. For others, their work is part of their identity and their self-worth.

Leave for new dads a step still too far

New dad

Katharine Murphy The Productivity Commission wanted to give fathers two weeks' paid leave with their new babies - but that idea is on the backburner as the Government looks to contain the cost of its 2009-10 budget spending.

Rudd Government delays paid parental scheme to 2011

Pregnant at work

Melina Cruickshank The Federal government has delayed their 2007 election promise of a paid parental leave scheme for another 18 months, and restricted it to primary carers earning less that $150,000. On Essential Baby, working mothers are questioning the delay as well as the means testing.

Slipping into a life more comfortable

Michelle Walsh

Model turned fashion designer Michelle Walsh discovered she was pregnant with her first child while working on the television series Escape With ET.

Study shows benefits of early maternity leave

Bridie Smith Women who start maternity leave at least a month before their baby is born are less likely to have a caesarean delivery according to US researchers, who also found mothers who delay their return to work breastfeed for longer.

Mum's in Business

Mums in Business

Meet our EB 'Mumtrepreneurs' and be inspired by their stories.

Feature Members

Read more Essential Baby Feature Member articles here.

Fast & Easy Recipes

My Food

EB presents easy family recipes for busy mums and nutritional information to grow healthy kids. Find a recipe for tonight's dinner, tomorrow's breakfast, ...

Forum

Working Mum?

Are you doing the working Mum juggle? Chat with other working Mums in the EB forums.

FORUM

My Business EB forum

For business owners to share advice and offer support with each other.

Have you ever visited the land of empty threats?

Empty threats are often blurted out by parents in the heat of the moment, when frustration with our children trumps all else. Kylie Orr revisits some of the pearlers she's come out with, and a few classics from years gone by.

Meet the new Wiggles

A 20-year-old back-up dancer for the Wiggles will become the group's first female member, as part of a major line-up change.

Win one of five $200 Endota Spa vouchers

We have five $200 Endota Spa vouchers to give away ... go on, you know you deserve a treat!

Can you ever be ready for a baby?

Before you get pregnant, you might have all the boxes ticked - with your career, home and travel plans all sorted - or you could be the ' let's just see what happens' type. No matter what your style, it can help to think about the emotional aspects of parenthood.

'I'm mum enough to know this cover sucks'

Essential Baby editor Amber Robinson comments on the controversial Time cover, saying that enough is enough; mums should be able to parent without judgement.

Fun with vegies

As any parent knows, getting kids to eat their vegies can be a real battle of wills. But by injecting some fun into the vegetable experience, you might just get your little ones munching on their greens after all.

FREE APP

Your weekly guide to pregnancy

Keep track of your pregnancy with the Essential Baby Weekly Guide to Pregnancy app! The app shows your baby's weekly growth, gives handy tips, has a contraction timer and lots more - and it's FREE from iTunes.

New dad Hemsworth sleepless but happy

Chris Hemsworth has said fatherhood is fantastic, despite being starved of sleep - and that he's learning Spanish so in the future he can take part in conversations with his wife and daughter.

Morning sickness: the basics

Research indicates that up to 80 per cent of pregnant women get morning sickness in pregnancy. You might feel sick and vomit - and get a few other not-so-fun side effects of pregnancy, too. The good news is there are ways to help ease the nausea.

Grand prize valued at $5000 to be won!

Tell us what it means to be a mum for your chance to win a grand prize valued at $5000, courtesy of Virgin Money.

Dad-to-be: Bonding with baby

So you've been told you're going to be a dad. You might think there's nothing you can do just yet, but it's never too early to start bonding with your baby.

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