Having a baby? Don’t be brave – take the drugs

There’s no point in false machismo when giving birth when pain relief is so close to hand

Half of adult women in Brazil put off pregnancy by Zika virus – survey

Fifty-six per cent of women of reproductive age taking part in research say they are avoiding pregnancy over health concerns

I couldn’t last as a social worker but the children will haunt me forever

Acute stress ended my career but I’m not sorry I tried – and am in awe of the work my colleagues still do

The game improving a community’s health without them noticing

Beat the Street, designed by a GP, turns a town into a game where participants walk, cycle or run between sensors

How much time should you spend with your children?

Parents are hardwired to feel guilty that they may not be involved enough with their kids. But what is it that makes the difference when it comes to time – quantity or quality?

Kids on the Edge review – an antidote to the hysteria around gender identity

The first of Peter Beard’s three-part series looking at children’s mental health visits an NHS identity development clinic and steadily dismantles inaccurate fears around what is clearly a complex process

Lack of sleep is making our children obese – but help is at hand

Increased calorie intake is just the start of it: insufficient sleep can also contribute to behavioural and learning problems. A few simple steps can make a difference

Why don’t babies sleep at night? You asked Google – here’s the answer

Every day millions of internet users ask Google life’s most difficult questions, big and small. Our writers answer some of the commonest queries

NHS figures show ‘shocking’ rise in self-harm among young

Upward trend is more pronounced among girls and is evidence of increased social pressures on children, say experts

Top UK tourist attractions come bottom for healthy children’s meals

Brighton Pier and Natural History Museum get lowest scores in parents’ survey of food offered on popular family outings

More babies face health risks due to obese parents, experts warn

Doctors say increasing number of babies worldwide face serious problems, such as brain damage, strokes and heart disease

Obesity set to soar for boys, but not girls, from poorer homes

Most boys from deprived backgrounds in England will be overweight by 2020 while better-off boys grow slimmer, says study

Girls as young as 7 feel pressure to be pretty – body confidence study

Girlguiding UK warns of society’s focus on appearance as survey shows 36% of girls aged 7-10 believe looks to be paramount

Should children be able to give consent for medical treatment?

Can adolescents be trusted to make decisions about their health? New guidance from the US says those as young as seven should know their options

Snap, crackle and filth – let kids eat dirt

Could it be that we have been making our children sick by being too clean?