Plans for sexual consent lessons in schools ‘do not go far enough’
Ministers back introduction of lessons teaching children importance of consent but expert body says they must be made compulsory in order to achieve results
Call for ban on selling ‘addictive’ energy drinks to children
Action on Sugar research finds that some drinks contain up to 20 teaspoons of sugar – more than three times the maximum an adult should consume in a day
China: nutrition guiding light or ticking time bomb?
Lawrence Haddad: The world’s second largest economy is leading the world in reducing malnutrition, but its overweight children threaten to impact economic growth
Lesser spotted: Melanie’s Marvelous Measles wiped out online
An anti-vaccination book for children has received more than 800 one-star reviews on Amazon
How robots are helping children with autism
Eleanor Tucker: Researchers believe robots hold the key to early diagnosis, as well as teaching social skills. What can they do that humans can’t?
The day I got my first period
From confusing advice – ‘Don’t talk to lads now’ – to bumbling attempts to help, our readers share warm, moving, and funny stories about menstruation
Inflatable incubator aims to help save premature babies
Rebecca Smithers: A design graduate won this year’s James Dyson award for his low-cost inflatable incubator which aims to reduce infant mortality
The perils of having an older parent
When Charles Lambert was born, his father was 64. After a childhood overshadowed by ill-health and old age, he cautions against late-life parenthood
Symphysiotomy – Ireland’s brutal alternative to caesareans
Homa Khaleeli: Symphysiotomy has left many Irish mothers with serious long-term health problems. So did religious dogma trump the women’s best interests?
Judge rules mother not guilty of crime for drinking while pregnant
Child born with lifelong damage after excessive drinking by mother is not entitled to criminal injuries compensation, court rules