Early Signs of Autism in Toddlers

As an autistic mum of a child with autism, I am often asked by other parents, “Do you think my child is on the spectrum?” Typically, parents asking this question may already have some concerns or inklings about their child. First up, let’s define autism spectrum disorder. According to the World Health Organisation, “Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a diverse group of conditions. They are characterized by some degree of difficulty with social interaction and...

Stuffy noses are no match for the Euky Bear Warm Steam Vaporiser

Winter can be a magical time – full of cosy family movie nights, warming up by the fire and rugging up in our favourite winter woollies. Unfortunately, winter is also a time when colds and the flu feel it’s an appropriate time to come and visit. When you have little ones who get sick, it’s not only awful to see them feeling unwell,  but it can cause major disruptions to your routine. So, it’s no...

Signs & Symptoms

Croup cough in children: all you need to know

Any parent who has been woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of their child coughing so bad it sounds like a barking seal will know just how terrifying an ordeal it is. It’s heartbreaking to see our tiny babes so sick and as the chilly winter months press on, croup is, unfortunately, a very common illness.  Hearing a barking cough in kids can often cause us to panic, but the...

Health & Safety

When to keep your child home from daycare

It’s the dreaded scenario every parent can relate to. It’s Sunday night, you’ve had a glorious weekend of downtime with your family but now your little one is sneezing and sniffling out of nowhere. You and your partner both have back-to-back days at work tomorrow and it’s too last-minute to organise a babysitter.  What do you do? Flip a coin? Take a carer’s day? Attempt to work from home with a sick toddler crawling all...

When should I take my toddler to the doctor for a rash?

The words ‘toddler’ and ‘rash’ should never be in the same sentence. Unfortunately, they are, and quite often too. And if you thought your toddler was a handful before, then a toddler with a rash is much, much worse! The constant complaining and the endless scratching are just the tip of the iceberg. But then again, it’s understandable because rashes can be quite annoying and even painful, at times.  Apart from the tedious guesswork that’s...

From causes to cures: A friendly guide to decoding conjunctivitis

Let’s face it, when it comes to parenthood, there’s always something lurking around the corner ready to pounce. Just when you think you’ve got this whole “raising tiny humans” thing down, boom – pink eye aka conjunctivitis strikes. And suddenly, you’re on a first-name basis with your child’s eye doctor, making trips to the pharmacy at all hours of the night, and trying to convince your little one that wearing an eye patch is actually...