CathyMum's Blog

A study has found that the majority of parents regularly check their children’s online activity, despite how guilty it makes them feel. Alex Balan of internet safety firm, BullGuard, conducted a survey of 2,000 parents and found that six out of ten mums and dads confess to reading their youngsters' emails, texts and Facebook messages. As reported by the survey, one third of parents with...

Jobless families with at least two children face having their child benefit cut under new Tory plans. There is a significant chance that this proposal will be included in next year’s general election announcement, as they aim to cut the welfare bill and encourage people to go back to work. Tory MP David Davis suggests the idea is being put forward to test the public’s opinion. Mr Davis said...

According to a new UK poll, it seems it is not just students and young adults who binge drink as figures show that the problem extends to British mothers. The poll, which was commissioned by ITV’s This Morning, surveyed 1,000 mums with children under the age of 18. The results show that, of those surveyed, 28% admit to being drunk in front of their child with a quarter being so intoxicated they...

According to a recent study, teenagers whose parents threaten or shout at them are more likely to develop depression and disruptive behaviour. When the mother is both verbally and physically abusive and the father displays either of the forms of aggression, there is an increased risk of depression and poor behaviour in adolescents. Dr. Annette Mahoney, professor of psychology at Bowling Green...

New research has found that a father’s diet plays a critical role in the health of his children. According to the Canadian study, the sperm carries a “memory” of the dad’s lifestyle which is transferred to his offspring. The research looked at the importance of folic acid in preventing brain and spine defects and while women are already advised to take supplements it looks like men may...

According to new research, first time mothers over 30 are at a higher risk of having a stillborn child, small baby or premature birth. The study, conducted by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, analysed almost 1 million first time mothers in Sweden and Norway between 1990 and 2010. It found that those who conceive for the first time between the ages of 30 and 34 are as likely to have complications...

A new study has found that children are more likely to be obese if their parents are stressed. The study, published in the Pediatric Obesity journal, found that children whose parents have high levels of stress are more likely to have a BMI higher than those whose parents have low levels of stress and gain weight 7% faster. It is not clear why there is a link between a parent’s stress levels and...

Hope for children who suffer from severe juvenile arthritis as new drug is approved. Juvenile arthritis is an incurable inflammatory joint condition that affects about 2,300 kids in Britain; coming on suddenly, the disease affects five or more joints, and cause stiffness, swelling, pain and limited movement. After 40 weeks of treatment with the drug RoActemra (tocilizumab), “two-thirds of those...

According to new research, tucking into your Brussels sprouts over the festive season can help you conceive. New studies show that 9% of all conceptions take place in the month of December, making it the most fertile time of year. While many may suggest this is due to the festive parties and increased amount of alcohol consumption, the traditional Christmas vegetable should not be overlooked...

According to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, babies under three months old who share a bed with their parents are at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). New recommendations insist that infants always sleep in their own bed to reduce the risk of cot death. Experts had previously only warned parents who smoke or those who had consumed alcohol not to share their bed with...