Lullagram Blog

Notes for Irish parents.

Plain answers to the questions parents Google at 2am. Written by Christopher, founder of Lullagram, in Cork.

Baby items

What does a newborn need? Baby clothes and essentials

Baby clothes, cot, monitor, car seat, carrier, bouncer and high chair: what you need before the birth, what waits, and what to skip.

7 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Baby names

Most popular baby names in Ireland: the 2024 CSO list

Jack and Sophie hold the top spots, the Irish-language names keep climbing, and Mary has left the top 100.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Baby items

Newborn gifts in Ireland: what new parents actually use

The presents that earn their keep by week two, the ones that gather dust, and where to shop.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Pregnancy

Pregnancy care in Ireland: appointments and what's free

The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, the appointment schedule, and public versus private, explained plainly.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Money

Maternity leave and Maternity Benefit in Ireland, in plain English

The rates, the rules, what your employer does and doesn't have to pay, and the questions parents actually ask.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Money

Free baby stuff in Ireland: baby boxes, events and clubs

The freebie circuit Irish parents swap in WhatsApp groups: supermarket baby events, baby clubs and the signups worth it.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Sleep

Shift sleeping with a newborn: how couples split the nights

How parents split the night so each gets a real block of sleep, how it works with breastfeeding, and the 3am handover problem.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Apps

The best pregnancy apps for Irish parents (and what comes after)

Flo, Pregnancy+, BabyCenter and friends compared honestly, plus the one gap every pregnancy app shares.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Pregnancy

The Irish hospital bag checklist: what to actually pack

What you need for labour, for baby and for afterwards, without packing the entire nursery.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Sleep

The 4-month sleep regression: what's happening and how to cope

It's not a setback and you didn't cause it. What's actually changing in your baby's sleep, and how to get through the bumpy weeks.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Feeding

Starting solids: an Irish parent's guide to weaning

When to start, the readiness signs that matter more than the date, iron-rich first foods and the short list of foods to avoid.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Feeding

How much formula does a baby need? A guide by weight and age

The HSE rule of thumb, a worked table in ml by weight, and why the tin is a guide rather than a target.

4 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Health

Your baby's first cold: what helps and when to see the GP

What's normal, what actually helps at home, and the exact signs that mean it's time to ring the GP.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Health

Baby teething: the real signs, what helps and what's a myth

How to tell a tooth from an illness, what genuinely soothes sore gums, and the teething myths worth dropping.

4 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Apps

Huckleberry alternatives for Irish parents: 5 baby trackers compared

What each app does best, who it suits, and the one thing to check before you commit your 4am data anywhere.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Apps

Lullagram vs Huckleberry: which baby tracker suits Irish parents?

The question we get asked most, answered fact by fact, and why the Irish app wins for Irish families.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Health

Keeping your baby cool and safe in hot weather

Irish houses are not built for heat, and neither are small babies. The HSE advice on safe sleep, dressing, prams, cars and hydration.

7 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Health

Sun safety for babies: the Irish guide

Why babies under six months stay out of the sun entirely, when sunscreen comes in, and the SunSmart routine the HSE recommends.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Feeding

Does a breastfed baby need water in hot weather?

The short answer is no. Why breast milk already has it covered, and what to do for formula-fed and older babies.

4 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Travel

Your baby's first holiday abroad: an Irish checklist

Passports, the EHIC, flying, sun, car seats and what to actually pack. The Irish admin and the practical bits, in one place.

8 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Development

Baby developmental milestones 0 to 6 months: what to look for

A month-by-month guide to what babies typically do, and the HSE-flagged signs worth a call to your PHN.

6 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Development

How your baby learns to communicate: the first year

From cries to first words. What HSE recommends parents do to help.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Sleep

How much sleep does a newborn need? An Irish parent's guide

The HSE answer on how much, where, and in what position. Plus the tired cues to watch for.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Feeding

How often should a newborn feed? An Irish parent's guide

There's a short answer and a longer one. The short answer first.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Health

Vitamin D for babies: the HSE recommendation, plain English

The rule, the reasons and the practicalities.

4 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Healthcare

What to expect at your PHN visits with a new baby

The schedule, what they actually do, and what most parents wish they had known.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Healthcare

What your public health nurse will ask at every visit

The questions your PHN asks about feeding, sleep, nappies and development — and how to have the answers ready.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Sleep

Baby wake windows by age: what they mean, what to look for

What a wake window actually is, and what the rough numbers mean in real life.

4 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Health

The Irish vaccine schedule for babies, in plain English

A timeline, what each jab covers, and what to expect afterwards.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan
Feeding

How to tell if your baby is feeding enough

The signs that matter, the signs that don't, and when to call someone.

5 min read By Christopher O'Callaghan