Becoming a parent is one of life’s most stressful – albeit cherished – moments. With Brits spending an average of £1,619 to prepare for a baby, some mums are buying on their smartphones at all hours. But how do new mothers really like to shop? And which brands are meeting their needs?

No drugs, and there’s a nine-year-old behind the decks – clubbing in NYC isn’t what it used to be. Once a month, Manhattan club Cielo transforms into a family-friendly rave, complete with a light show and EDM soundtrack. What can CirKiz tell us about pleasing everyone in the family?

Mums in advertising aren't often noted for their diversity. The archetypal ‘mother’ figure tends to obliterate any sense of the millions of individuals that make up such a massive demographic. To tackle this, Mumsnet attempted to segment them, coming up with 66 different mum 'types'.

Fine dining with the kids don’t seem like the perfect pairing. A new dining club is now aiming to introduce toddlers to the world of gastronomy through some of the trendiest eateries in London and New York. But do parents really want to tuck in to oysters and champagne with their toddler in tow?

More mums are choosing to become their own boss and look after their children at the same time. But does ‘motherism’ – the prejudice that paints ‘non-working’ mums as unsexy slobs – really motivate women to go back to work just to remove the ‘stay-at-home’ label?

New mums are older than they’ve ever been. They’re also better off. With the 2.4 kids standard fading, are today’s babies being born into a lap of luxury where only the best will do? If so, how can brands align with this quality-not-quantity approach to family life?

While over 70% of American women with kids are now part of the labour force, rising childcare costs mean that paying for nursery isn’t always an option. In the first of a two-part report, we look at why there’s a childcare crisis, and how governments and alternative carers are helping out.

Australia has a childcare problem; rising costs and long waiting lists make it tricky for parents to return to work. Kindy is hoping to disrupt the babysitter market by locating trustworthy carers at the touch of a button. But do parents want to rely on ‘the Uber of childcare’ to look after the kids?