The language of maternity is alive and well – so why not expand it to include trans parents?

The use of gender-inclusive language around childbirth is purely about respect, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

‘Enjoy it while you can’. Is there a more gloomy phrase to hear while pregnant?

Strangers are so keen to tell me my life as I know it will be over soon – thank goodness for those who have told me it will be OK, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Crib sheet: experts issue advice for new parents to cope with sleepless nights

Durham University’s Infancy and Sleep Centre launches kit to help manage expectations and reduce negative thinking

US boy with uncombable hair syndrome becomes Instagram hit

Locklan Samples of Georgia has a rare condition that means his hair stands out from the scalp and cannot be combed flat

Kindness is strength. But try telling that to children

The belief is rife in our culture that this great virtue is essentially a consolation prize indistinguishable from weakness, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes

‘My son cowers when a shopkeeper says hello’ – are the toddlers of Covid all right?

Babies born in the first lockdown are now turning two, and have only ever known a world of masks and isolation. What will be the long-term impact?

‘I thought: “Everyone knows you’re not a real mum”’ – the pain of parental impostor syndrome

Feeling like a fraud is bad enough at work but even more corrosive when it comes to raising a family. How can parents overcome damaging self-doubt?

Global heating linked to early birth and damage to babies’ health, scientists find

Exclusive: Impacts include premature births and birth defects and affect everybody, everywhere, say researchers

‘A lot fell into place’: the adults who discovered they were autistic – after their child was diagnosed

The recorded incidence of autism has increased 787% in 20 years. For many parents, getting help for an autistic child alerted them to their own traits

Distraction disaster! Notifications are ruining our concentration – here’s how to escape them

Whether socialising with friends or completing a difficult task, a ping on your phone can destroy the moment. It is time to address the constant stream of interruptions