by Síobhán O’Neill White

It’s September and we’ve got some tips to make the back to school transition smooth.

One of the most important things to do is LABEL EVERYTHING!! Uniforms, bags, coats, shoes – we label with iron and stick on personalised labels from MyNametags.ie Pick the colour and style your child likes and add your contact number. Then, if an item gets lost, you’re more likely to get it back! For young children, Smiggle is fun for back to school essentials, as well as colouring goodies and games. We love the vibrant colours, ideal for all kinds of little personalities. Their Ilac SC store is fab for kids to explore. My children love the scented markers, crafty packs, fun pencil cases and quirky water bottles. For school tech, ipad and phone covers are very important to keep devices intact! HOCO have a wide range of styles in store at Ilac and online at hoco.ie reasonably priced and the staff are super helpful too. Headphones and earbuds are great for teens and tweens on grumpy mornings when they don’t want to chat in the car or bus on way to school! Gadget Geek has a colourful, well priced range. Regatta wind and rainproof coats have reflectors for additional safety on dark wintery mornings and evenings to make sure kids are always visible. We love the Dare2B collabs with Laura Whitmore, Fleur East and Jermaine Jenas. I especially love their warm fleeces to throw on for chilly school morning runs. And check out the Peppa Pig clothing for little ones, very cute.

If you’re thinking ahead to a mini break during the October mid-term? Pillo Hotel Ashbourne has a
pool, spa and offer excellent family packages, with trips to Emerald Park, Dublin Zoo and more. See pillohotelashbourne.com Ashbourne is such a quaint village, with cute shops and cafes. We especially love Chez Emily for hot chocolates and their delicious handmade chocolates are really irresistible! For couples’ romantic breaks, Bellinter House, nestled in the truly gorgeous Meath countryside is ideal for some child free time! My husband and I had a lovely time there with spa treatments, delicious dinner and a comfy stay in their converted stables. Romantic and Cosy!As we get into Autumn, we’ll have lots going on at mams.ie - logon for competitions, chat and more! It’s a fantastic support network for parents in Ireland, is free and full of great product reviews, blogs, offers and giveaways.

Shortlisted for Golden Spider Award & Infant & Maternity Award
As seen on RTE and Virgin Media Ireland & Weekend AM and as heard on Today FM’s Ian Dempsey & Dermot & Dave; RTE’s Ray D’Arcy Show, 98FM, LMFM Late Lunch, WLRFM & Shannonside FM