Fatherhood: the benefits of leaving it late

William Sutcliffe: A study shows older fathers are more likely to pass on genetic mutations. But we make up for it in our ability to nurture

Dr Dillner’s health dilemmas: should I give herbal remedies to my children?

Parents have been advised not to give echinacea to their children, but what about other alternative medicines?

Work after eight months of pregnancy is as harmful as smoking, study finds

Women who worked after they were eight months pregnant had babies who weighed 230g less on average

‘We both had the gene for albinism’

Lorna Stacey and her husband Mark Sanderson were born with albinism. Genetic counsellors advised that their children would have the condition too. They thought long and hard … and now have a lovely three-year-old boy. Emma Burstall meets them

Why are black women less likely to breastfeed?

Black women are less likely to breastfeed – but no one knows why. Kimberly Seals Allers talks parenting and race with Bim Adewunmi

What does being a dad mean?

No one prepares men for the reality of fatherhood, says new dad Sarfraz Manzoor, while veteran John Crace, whose children have grown up and (nearly) left home, reflects on the lessons learned from 19 years on the job

Twins and triplets five times more likely to die within first year

Figures show infant mortality rate at 20.4 per 1,000 for multiple births as increase in IVF treatment affects pregnancy patterns

‘Baby boxes’ polarise Hungary

Proponents say hatches for unwanted newborns result in fewer deaths, but critics say counselling for mothers is preferable

The backlash against breastfeeding

Zoe Williams reports on the feeding frenzy caused by the women daring to challenge the 'breast is best' orthodoxy

IVF treatment extended to women up to age 42 on NHS

Regulator proposes change to current age limit of 39 for women deemed to have no chance of conceiving by other means