The is the second of four articles about ‘ The Best Irish Companies, People or Programmes for Parents’ You can see the first article here.
Each year in Ireland there are approximately 54,000 to 55,000 babies are born. Whether it’s new borns, toddlers or school aged children, parents in Ireland are lucky that there are so many companies and programmes stepping up to help make things a bit easier for mums, dads, and carers. There are also services for bereaved people, single parents or parents in difficult circumstances.
If you would prefer to see a video of all the people, companies and parents you can see it here
Wayne is an accomplished online safety trainer, speaker, and digital wellbeing expert, with over 26 years of experience. He specialises in online safety, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and communications.. His expertise encompasses safeguarding both adults and children online, managing technology-related risks, and promoting digital wellbeing through training workshops and public speaking. Wayne is known for delivering tailored workshops and training sessions to schools, colleges, businesses, parents and communities, aiming to equip individuals with essential skills to navigate online environments safely and responsibly.
He also has a strong background in youth and community engagement, cybersecurity awareness, and digital reputation management. His work includes media commentary on technology trends and best practices.
Wayne customised online safety workshops focus on practical strategies to protect children and adults from online harm. He provides expert guidance on cybersecurity, risk management, and safeguarding in the digital age. Organisations such as Local Enterprise Offices or Virgin Media have hosted events featuring Wayne as a guest speaker, underlining his reputation as a leading authority on online safety.
Early Childhood Ireland is the leading national membership and advocacy organisation dedicated to the Early Years and School Age Care sector in Ireland. It has been in business for more than 50 years. It supports more than 3,800 member settings that care for over 120,000 children nationwide, from preschool through to afterschool and full-day care. The organisation is focused on championing quality, ensuring child-centred care and learning environments, and advocating for policies that invest in early childhood development. Its comprehensive support includes quality enhancement initiatives, training, publications, business guidance, and engagement in public policy to improve the sector.
Early Childhood Ireland’s strategic plan for 2021–2026 emphasises leadership in excellence for child-centred settings, advocacy for children in early learning, and promotion of professional development within the sector. The organisation works in partnership with government bodies and other stakeholders to drive policy, research, and quality standards that benefit children, families, and childcare providers. By combining practical support with national and international research, Early Childhood Ireland seeks to create inclusive environments where every child can thrive through play, health, wellbeing, and family support.
Created by Karen O’Reilly Employflex (formally employmum) Employflex is an innovative employment agency offering flexible staffing solutions. It connects employers with skilled professionals seeking part-time, remote, or project-based roles, meeting the evolving needs of both parties. Employflex stands out for its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, fostering a dynamic workforce.
By providing tailored solutions, it enables businesses to thrive in a changing economy while offering individuals greater work-life balance. Through its forward-thinking approach, Employflex is reshaping the future of work, one flexible placement at a time.
Karen has just completed a Masters in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Empowered Movement is a fitness and wellness platform designed to support women at all stages of their fitness journeys, emphasising the importance of carving out time for overall well-being. Founded by Emma Dowling, a pre- and post-natal exercise specialist and mother, the platform offers a broad range of expert-led classes and programmes. These include monthly strength and fitness subscriptions, in-person and online strength and fitness classes tailored specifically for pre- and postnatal women, as well as specialised courses for menopause. The ethos revolves around empowering women to feel strong, confident, and well through research-backed, enjoyable workouts that fit into busy lifestyles.
The programmes feature a variety of workouts, including strength training, barre, Pilates, yoga, and sweat classes, all designed to be effective and inclusive. Empowered Movement offers rolling subscription plans with access to hundreds of follow-along videos and educational content such as nutrition advice and recipes. Minimal equipment is required, making it accessible for home or gym workouts.
Enable Ireland is a leading national organisation in Ireland providing tailored, person-centred services to over 13,000 children and adults with a wide range of physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities, along with extensive support for their families. The organisation operates in over 40 locations across 14 counties, ensuring a broad reach and localised support. Their approach focuses on the individual, not just the disability, working closely with children, adults, and their families to develop personalised plans across different life stages that promote independence, choice, and social inclusion.
Services include therapies, education support, social and family support, personal assistance, and advocacy, delivered through a combination of centre-based and community outreach approaches.
For parents and families specifically, Enable Ireland offers family support services that assist families in their role as caregivers in various settings including at home, schools, and in the community. These family support services provide practical help to manage daily care needs, allowing families to have breaks or spend time with other children, improving overall family wellbeing. Enable Ireland works in partnership with families and statutory agencies to keep the child and family at the centre of care, adapting support as children transition to adolescence and adulthood. Their children’s services team provides therapy, education, social, and family support tailored to the needs of each child, supporting both the child’s development and the family’s resilience and coping capacity.
Everymum.ie is Ireland’s largest parenting community, offering support, advice, and connection for mothers through a popular podcast and online platform. Hosted by Sinead O’Moore and backed by a community of over half a million followers, everymum provides honest, reassuring conversations about the realities of motherhood, including pregnancy, birth, baby care, and mental health. The podcast features personal stories, expert interviews, and discussions on topics like parenting challenges, wellness, and work-life balance, creating a welcoming space where mums can feel supported and less alone in their experiences.
The platform also offers parents the chance to register and receive a free gift bag filled with products and information to help them on their parenting journey.
Everymum.ie engages actively with parents via social media and hosts community-driven initiatives such as the National Parenting Product Awards survey, gathering parents’ opinions to influence smarter baby product choices.
Family Carers Ireland is the national charity dedicated to supporting over 500,000 family and young carers across Ireland who provide essential care to loved ones with various needs including disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health challenges, and frailty. The organisation’s vision is an Ireland where family carers are recognised, supported, and empowered. Its mission focuses on improving carers’ quality of life by ensuring they do not have to care alone. Family Carers Ireland provides a broad range of free services such as emergency care planning, counselling, specialised training, wellbeing support, crisis management, emergency respite, advocacy, peer support groups, and information on carers’ rights and entitlements.
Established in 2016 through the merger of the Carers Association and Caring for Carers, Family Carers Ireland aims to strengthen carers’ resilience by helping them build confidence in their roles, access skills and guidance, connect with peers, and take necessary breaks. Its community-based carer support groups offer peer engagement and bring carers’ voices to policymakers. Additionally, it is an approved provider of home support services under the HSE scheme. Family Carers Ireland also actively advocates on behalf of carers, influencing policy and lobbying for a comprehensive National Carers’ Strategy. Carers can join as members to receive benefits including a membership card, access to discounts, newsletters, and opportunities for involvement in the organisation’s governance and decision-making processes.
Family Resource Centres (FRCs) are Ireland’s largest family and community-based support network, consisting of 121 centres nationwide. Funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, FRCs deliver universal and targeted services primarily aimed at disadvantaged communities, promoting social inclusion, empowerment, and improved family functioning. Operating autonomously, each centre offers information, advice, counselling, training, and practical assistance tailored to the local community’s needs. They also facilitate community groups and events, support personal development, and foster partnerships between statutory and voluntary organisations.
FRC programme is participative involving local people, including marginalised groups, in decision-making and management. This community-led model ensures effective responses to social challenges, from childcare and after-school activities to mental health support and capacity-building. FRCs act as first points of contact for families requiring both practical help and referrals.
Féileacáin is the Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Support Association of Ireland, established by a group of bereaved parents to provide compassionate support to anyone affected by the death of a baby around the time of birth. It is a national charity that offers a range of services including counselling, peer support, support groups, bereavement workshops, and remembrance services. Féileacáin works closely with hospitals across Ireland to provide families with Memory Boxes, which contain items to help parents create lasting memories with their baby, such as hand-knitted blankets, cameras for photographs, and kits for hand and footprints.
They also offer befriending services, a helpline, online support, low-cost counselling, and social work advice tailored to grieving families.
The organisation is deeply committed to providing emotional, practical, and personal support to bereaved parents whenever needed. Their services include training and resources for healthcare professionals to promote best practices in bereavement care. Féileacáin also supports parents facing difficult decisions related to life-limiting diagnoses during pregnancy, offering compassionate guidance and counseling.
Contact details and more information about support can be found on their website feileacain.ie or by calling their helpline at 085 2496464.
Partners with organisations to deliver one-to-one coaching for expectant and new parents, group coaching circles and manager education programmes that build confidence and empathy during key life and career transitions such as maternity, paternity and parental leave. Moving beyond policy compliance, Fox Co embeds day-to-day practices that retain and develop talent.
Founded by qualified coach Fiona Fox and rooted in over 15 years of senior HR experience, Fox Co blends evidence-based practice with lived experience of working parenthood. Fox Co equips managers to lead with empathy, supports parents to navigate change confidently and helps organisations translate their values into everyday action.
First Swim is Ireland’s first purpose-built swim school dedicated exclusively to babies and toddlers, located in Sandyford, Dublin. Founded by Vicky and Colin Mac Andrias parents inspired by their own positive experiences abroad, First Swim fills a gap in the Irish market by offering a warm, welcoming facility designed specifically to meet the needs of young children and their families.
The centre features its own onsite heated pool maintained at a comfortable 33°C with eco-friendly UV sterilisation, spacious changing rooms with safety and comfort in mind, and a customer-only café, creating a unique and relaxing experience for parents.
The swim school offers structured classes for children aged 0-4 years, divided into categories based on age and skill level, with a curriculum aimed at teaching essential water skills while fostering bonding between parent and child. The experience is designed to be soothing and child-friendly with attention to sensory comfort, safety, and parental convenience. Open seven days a week, First Swim emphasises not only water safety and skill development but also community and wellness, providing a social hub where parents can connect and relax. This innovative approach aims to make swimming a joyful, life-enhancing activity for families in Ireland.
Foster Care Ireland (FCI) is a national organisation dedicated to providing compassionate foster care for children across Ireland who need a safe, nurturing, and supportive home environment. Their approach is deeply rooted in attachment theory and trauma awareness, ensuring that foster carers understand and respond empathetically to the unique emotional and developmental needs of each child in their care. FCI works not only to place children with suitable foster families but also supports carers with professional guidance, training, and resources to offer stable, loving care.
The organisation emphasises the importance of building strong, supportive futures where every child feels valued, safe, and empowered.
FCI provides a comprehensive range of support to foster carers, including training before and during fostering, access to dedicated social workers, 24/7 on-call assistance for urgent concerns, and regular local support groups and social events. They also offer respite care options, allowing foster carers to take breaks with peace of mind. Through collaboration with multiple partners and a child-centred philosophy, Foster Care Ireland actively encourages people from diverse backgrounds to become foster carers, striving to expand the number of quality homes available for vulnerable children. Their services and communications focus on ensuring that foster carers and children receive continuous, tailored support to meet their needs, reflecting FCI’s commitment to improving the lives of children in foster care across Ireland.
Feed Me Mother is an Irish clothing brand specialising in nursing and breastfeeding attire. Their collection prioritises comfort, functionality, and style, offering a diverse range of tops, tailored for discreet nursing access. Their unique design looks like regular clothing but has a hidden layer for discreet breastfeeding. This hidden layer enables mothers to breastfeed conveniently whether at home or on the go. Recognising the importance of quality, their garments are made from soft, breathable and sustainable fabrics to ensure comfort for both mother and baby during feeding.
Additionally, the designs accommodate changes in body shape common during pregnancy and postpartum, ensuring a flattering fit at every stage.
Beyond practicality, Feed Me Mother pays attention to style, offering fashionable designs to suit various tastes. By providing functional yet stylish options, Feed Me Mother aims to empower breastfeeding mothers, supporting them on their breastfeeding journey while allowing them to maintain their personal sense of style and confidence.
FamilyFun.ie is a comprehensive online platform dedicated to providing families in Ireland with information and resources for enjoyable and memorable family experiences. The site offers a wide range of listings including self-catering accommodations, family-friendly restaurants and hotels, party venues, and entertainers, catering to diverse family needs across the country. It also highlights popular attractions such as museums, pet farms, adventure parks, and interactive educational centers that are ideal for children and families seeking day trips or vacations.
Additionally, FamilyFun.ie includes practical resources like travel games, party planning tips, and free printable coloring pages to keep children entertained and engaged.
The platform serves as a valuable guide for parents looking to plan outings, holidays, and celebrations that accommodate the whole family. It offers detailed information on venues, safety considerations, and amenities to help families choose suitable locations and activities. With features like party supplies, entertainment options, and expert advice on hosting stress-free birthday parties
Fussy Food Plates is a cleverly designed product created by Samantha Forrest, a busy Dublin-based mother of three with a strong background in bioanalytical science, pharmaceutical science, and nutrition coaching. The plates are specially designed to make mealtimes fun and engaging for children, particularly fussy eaters, by featuring a plain face at the centre that encourages kids to create stories and characters with their food. This playful approach aims to transform the struggle of picky eating into a joyful, creative experience that helps expand children’s diets and encourages imaginative play at the dinner table.
The plates are BPA-free, durable, dishwasher safe, and come with 100% recyclable packaging, reflecting a commitment to safety, convenience, and environmental responsibility. Since launching in January 2023, Fussy Food Plates have gained popularity through social media endorsements and have expanded their product range to include complementary items like Press & Pops and Crinkle Cutters, designed to make food preparation and mealtime even more interactive and fun for kids.
Beyond the product, Samantha Forrest offers a range of services including an online course called Fussy Food Fix, designed to support parents and caregivers with strategies and activities to help children enjoy a broader and healthier diet. She also delivers talks and workshops at libraries and community centres across Ireland and provides corporate workshops aimed at promoting healthy eating among families.
Goosey Goo is an Irish start-up specialising in affordable, hypoallergenic, and organic baby clothing, with a focus on children suffering from eczema and sensory processing issues. Founded by Sean Fox and Clodagh Kelly, the brand emerged from their personal experience with their daughter’s severe eczema and the challenge of finding suitable, reasonably priced clothing.
Goosey Goo’s products are made from high-quality bamboo fabrics, which are antibacterial, breathable, and moisture-wicking, specifically designed to be gentle on sensitive skin. The business aims to make premium sensory-friendly clothing more accessible to families struggling with the rising cost of living in Ireland.
Sean Fox’s journey to launching Goosey Goo was marked by overcoming significant adversity, including addiction, homelessness, and employment instability. After losing his job and accommodation soon after the birth of their daughter, Sean and his family faced severe hardship. Inspired by their daughter’s needs and motivated to help others, Sean and Clodagh launched Goosey Goo from emergency accommodation, personally handling sourcing, design, and sales. Despite resources being limited, the company quickly made sales, built a small team, and began expanding its market presence in Dublin and Cork.
Helpme2parent.ie was founded in 2007 and offers practical, dynamic, and easy-to-use parenting programmes and courses designed to support parents, children, and soon-to-be parents. With a team that has over a hundred years of combined experience, they provide a wide portfolio of evidence-based programmes aimed at helping parents develop key parenting skills, manage co-parenting and separation, and create effective parenting plans. The organisation focuses on delivering up-to-date, research-based content that parents can apply immediately in their daily lives, addressing a variety of family needs and situations.
They provide their services through workshops, courses, and tailored programmes to support families practically and effectively.
Helpme2parent.ie is located at Drogheda, and offers contact and support via phone and email. Their approach is built on extensive experience and a commitment to meeting diverse parenting needs with ongoing development of their programmes to remain relevant and impactful.
HomeBot Ireland is a West Cork-based, family-run start-up specialising in innovative home robotics tailored for Irish households. Co-founded by Clara Mulligan and Alan O’Neill in 2024, the business was inspired during the COVID-19 lockdown by the desire to make life easier for busy families and elderly relatives. Their product range includes wireless, AI-powered robotic lawnmowers, advanced vacuum and mop robots, and soon-to-be-launched window and solar panel cleaners. The company prides itself on providing intuitive, user-friendly machines designed specifically for Irish homes, weather conditions, and lifestyles.
HomeBot Ireland has quickly gained widespread recognition, winning awards such as the 2024 Home Improvement Innovation Company of the Year and implementing Ireland’s first trade-in scheme for refurbished home robots.
What is unique to HomeBot is its customer-centric approach, combining local, empathetic support through WhatsApp, phone, and video with a commitment to sustainability. The founders’ backgrounds in AI, business, and engineering have allowed them to create practical, affordable robots for both indoor and outdoor maintenance, making smart living accessible to a broader audience. HomeBot supports local communities by sponsoring sports teams and actively contributing to West Cork’s economy.
Hygiene Hub is a grassroots, community-led charity focused on tackling hygiene poverty by providing access to essential hygiene and household cleaning products. Their mission is to ensure everyone in Ireland has equal access to items like deodorant, shampoo, nappies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and surface cleaners, which many people living in poverty cannot afford. Hygiene poverty is described by them as the inability of families to maintain basic cleanliness, such as changing nappies frequently, replacing toothbrushes, or washing clothes properly.
The organisation collects new, unused, and in-date personal care products through a network of public drop-off points and hygiene drives. These donations are sorted by dedicated volunteers and distributed via community partners such as charities, family resource centres, and schools nationwide, who then provide the products free to those in need.
Hygiene Hub operates entirely through volunteer efforts led by founder volunteers, with a vision to inspire social change regarding hygiene inequality. The charity does not distribute products directly to individuals but works through partner organisations to respect recipients’ dignity. They do not accept used or partially used products due to health and safety reasons but warmly welcome open packs of unopened nappies and new hygiene items. The charity is active in encouraging people to donate, volunteer, host hygiene drives, or set up local Hygiene Hub projects to expand their reach across Ireland.
The Irish Heart Foundation’s “CPR for Family & Friends” course is designed for anyone in the community—such as parents, grandparents, and caregivers—who wants to learn lifesaving CPR skills in a supportive, non-pressurised setting. The course follows a “practice-while-watching” video format, allowing participants to receive hands-on training with manikins while instructors offer real-time feedback and guidance. It covers essential skills such as recognising cardiac arrest, performing chest compressions and rescue breaths, responding to choking, and understanding the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
The course is suitable for all adult learners and older children interested in basic emergency response, but there is no formal skills assessment, so no course completion card or official certification is awarded.
Sessions are run regularly across Ireland by the Irish Heart Foundation and partner organisations, with locations spanning multiple counties, including Dublin, Laois, Waterford, Wicklow, and others. The relaxed, friendly atmosphere makes it ideal for individuals, families, and community groups looking to gain confidence in responding to cardiac emergencies.
Journalist to follow
Jess Kelly (Newstalk)- Jess Kelly is the host of “Tech Talk with Jess Kelly” on Newstalk, where she delivers the latest news and reviews from the world of technology, explaining how tech impacts everyday life and answering listener questions.
Unlocking Accessibility: Tech Tips for Parents
Adrian Weckler (Irish Independent)– A technology and lifestyle journalist who also covers topics related to family and parenting, including digital safety and family tech use.
Children turning to AI chatbots as friends due to loneliness
In middle-class Ireland you may be judged badly if your child is seen with a phone
From smartphones to Roblox: six easy ways for parents to protect their children online
Yvonne Reddin – A freelance journalist, PR expert, travel writer, and author based in Ireland, known for her human interest stories, interviews with diverse professionals, and contributions to major Irish publications such as the Irish Examiner and Irish Independent.
10 of the best solo-parent family hotel breaks in Ireland
Irish parents share their solo-parenting tips
Jen Hogan (Irish Times): A columnist and journalist specialising in parenting, family, health, and social issues. She is also the author of “The Real Mum’s Guide to Surviving Parenthood” and hosts the Conversations with Parents podcast.
Examples:
Back to school costs: Handy tips you can use to ease the financial burden
A summer of down time: how can three months with nothing to do be good for teenagers?
Jen Hogan: My day as a mother with seven children, a job, and a dog with half a tail
John Sharry (Irish Times): A contributor specialising in parenting topics and known for addressing family and relationship problems
How can you build your child’s self-esteem
Talk early and often to kids about dangers
Five steps to beating your child’s anxiety
La Leche League of Ireland is a voluntary, non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting mothers and parents who wish to breastfeed or provide their infants with human milk. It offers free information, encouragement, and practical advice through trained volunteer leaders, who are mothers with personal breastfeeding experience. Their Leaders help mothers, parents and families to meet their breastfeeding goals, whatever that looks like in their home. These volunteer leaders provide support via group meetings, telephone help, online forums, and a range of publications including books and pamphlets.
The organisation is inclusive, welcoming all individuals interested in breastfeeding regardless of background, and some groups operate in multiple languages. In addition to direct mother-to-mother support,
La Leche League of Ireland advocates for breastfeeding-friendly policies and practices by working with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to raise awareness of breastfeeding benefits and the importance of supporting families. The organisation has multiple support groups across Ireland offering regular meetings and peer support. They also have a number of meetings available online for those who cannot make it to an in-person meeting. Their services aim to empower mothers through shared experiences and expert guidance, helping overcome challenges such as latching difficulties, feeding frequency, expressing milk, and breastfeeding premature babies.Full details of their Groups, meetings and Leaders contact details for support, can be found on their website at http://www.lalecheleagueireland.com
Let’s Match Mums makes it easy to donate children’s goods by connecting refugee mothers in need with local families who have items to pass on. Built on the long-standing tradition of hand-me-downs, Let’s Match Mums strengthens community bonds while ensuring that essential goods find a second life.
Since its launch, the initiative has matched over 20,000 mothers across Ireland, facilitating the recirculation of an estimated €10 million+ worth of children’s items.
More than just a matching platform, Let’s Match Mums has fostered lifelong friendships, broken down barriers to integration, and built a support network cherished by parents.
Recognised for its impact, Let’s Match Mums has been nominated for the Family Edit Awards as a top support service for parents in Ireland. It has been featured in major media outlets, including Nationwide, Ireland AM, The Sunday Times, Women’s Way, and more. With thousands of glowing reviews from its user base, Let’s Match Mums is proving that small, meaningful connections can drive real change in communities.
Irish libraries across the country offer a variety of programmes and resources designed to support parents and families. One key initiative is the “Family Time at Your Library,” a reading-focused programme held in December where families engage in events that promote children’s reading and sharing stories, encouraging a lifelong love of books.
Libraries also provide “My Little Library” book bags for children starting school, containing books about starting school and social themes, along with a library card to encourage continued library use. These resources support early language, literacy, and the transition to school.
In addition to reading programmes, many public libraries host parent and toddler groups, baby sensory sessions, and storytelling activities that support early childhood development and provide social opportunities for both children and parents. For example, Dublin City Libraries run toddler groups and book clubs in multiple branches, offering welcoming spaces for parents and children to connect. Libraries Ireland also offers a range of online parenting courses covering topics like positive parenting techniques, child development stages, building children’s reading skills, child safety, and more. Furthermore, local libraries, such as those in Offaly and Laois, deliver free parenting talks and workshops on topics like transitioning from preschool to primary school, child wellbeing, and parenting practicalities.
The Lifestat Growing Child programme is a free, evidence-based home visiting service designed to support and educate parents of children from birth up to three years of age (or up to five years for families needing extra support). Delivered monthly by trained family visitors in parents’ own homes, the programme provides parents with tailored information on their child’s developmental stage and guidance on how to encourage learning across physical, emotional, social, and intellectual domains. The visits offer an opportunity to discuss achievements, address concerns, and receive health, safety, and community resource information.
The approach focuses on empowering parents through building strong parent-child attachment, using everyday household items for play and learning, and creating a high-quality home learning environment.
Created by Sinead Ryan, Little Fitness,is a social enterprise that is committed to fostering health and wellness among children through engaging and interactive fitness experiences. Their mission revolves around instilling healthy habits from a young age, offering a diverse array of fun and educational programs tailored specifically for children.
Central to their offerings are interactive fitness classes that seamlessly blend physical activity with educational content, incorporating elements of dance, yoga, and traditional exercises.
By integrating educational components like nutrition tips and mindfulness exercises, Little Fitness aims not only to enhance children’s physical health but also to nurture their overall well-being.
In addition to their in-person classes, Little Fitness extends its reach through digital resources and online programs, catering to a broader audience. Their website and mobile app provide access to a wealth of resources, including workout videos, healthy recipes, and educational materials, empowering parents and educators to support children’s fitness journey beyond the classroom. Through this comprehensive approach, Little Fitness is significantly impacting the health and wellness of children in Ireland, equipping them with the tools and resources necessary to lead active and healthy lifestyles. Their innovative approach to fitness education inspires the next generation to prioritise their well-being from an early age, laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy choices.
Little Ones Baby Massage, located in Laytown and servicing areas including Bettystown, Mornington, East Meath, Drogheda, Louth, and North County Dublin, offers classes focused on baby massage and babywearing consultations. Led by Rachel Nugent, a certified instructor through Trageschule, Cuidiu, and the International Association of Infant Massage, the classes provide parents and caregivers with the skills to soothe and bond with their babies through gentle touch.
Baby massage helps with calming colic, reflux, wind, constipation, and teething discomforts, while also promoting sleep, weight gain, motor development, and emotional wellbeing.
The courses are baby-led and designed to create a nurturing environment where parents learn techniques accompanied by songs and nursery rhymes. They also include advice on using suitable oils and how to interpret a baby’s cues for massage readiness. Additional services, including antenatal classes, breastfeeding workshops, and refresher sessions, will be available soon.
Local developments across Ireland offer a broad range of evidence-based and community-focused programmes to support parents and families. One example is the Parents Plus programmes, which have been providing adaptable parenting support since 1995 with eight different interventions catering to universal, preventative, and targeted family needs.
These programmes focus on strengthening parenting skills, reducing child behavior and emotional problems, and building parental confidence through solution-focused approaches delivered by trained practitioners. Another targeted initiative is the Young Parents Support Programme, which specifically assists young mothers and fathers (aged 24 and under) during the critical first 1000 days of their child’s life, with services available in multiple counties and free of charge.
Community Families, an Irish-developed home visiting programme, offers flexible support to parents from pregnancy until their child reaches three years old. Complementing this, the ParentChild+ programme provides structured, play-based home visits to nurture literacy, language, and numeracy skills in preschool children while enhancing parent-child bonding. Local Family Resource Centres (FRCs), numbering over 120 across Ireland, serve as vital hubs offering family and community-based support including parenting courses, support groups, and social activities. Tusla’s Family Support services emphasise early intervention, delivering confidential in-home and community services to strengthen families and address vulnerabilities. Many local developments also run free or low-cost evidence-based parenting programmes like Circle of Security, Incredible Years, and Junior Strengthening Families, designed to enhance parenting confidence and child development outcomes.