Magazine

the village blog

Leave of presence: are dads and co-parents taking birth leave?

the village blog
Belgium's system of paid birth leave (for dads and co-parents) has evolved over the past 20 years. But are people actually taking the leave they're entitled to and what future developments might be in store?
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Announcing your baby’s birth to the world

the village blog
Time to think about how you'll announce your baby's birth to the world? We're sharing some great local options, whether you want to go fully bespoke, personalise a design from a designer's existing collection, or go full DIY.
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Brussels birth culture is changing…

All articles
New midwife-led units, or birth centres, in Brussels hospitals as from September 2024 will offer expectant mothers greater choice about where and how they birth. But at just a few months from the start date, is the healthcare system ready?
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Pyjama days rule! Taking care of yourself after birth

All articles
Cocooning in the weeks after birth brings a wide range of benefits for both mum and baby. In this article, hypnobirthing teacher Kate Ellwood looks at practices in other cultures and gives tips for prioritising well-being, rest, and recovery during this crucial period.
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Can I have some more please?  – Extending your maternity leave

the village blog
At 15 weeks – just one week above the EU minimum – Belgium's maternity leave is among the shortest in Europe. But what if you want to spend longer with your newborn? Here, we look at some of the options you have.
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Pssst, kids in Brussels, this one’s for you!

Guest articles
Every child in Belgium is entitled to a monthly child allowance payment. But did you know that you can choose the child allowance fund that best aligns with your family's values? – Guest post in collaboration with Infino
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Do you have a first aid kit at home? Life First blog

Guest articles
First aid instructor Kate Ellwood gives some advice on the 'must-haves', 'nice-to-haves', and 'why nots' to keep in your family first aid kit.
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Self-employed in Belgium with a baby on the way? Here’s what you need to know

the village blog
As a freelancer in Belgium, it pays to be fully aware of your rights, options and obligations. And that's even more the case when you're expecting a baby. Start piecing the puzzle together with the help of our guide.
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Self-care and rituals for pregnancy and the postnatal period

All articles
Discover our tips for looking after yourself during pregnancy and the postnatal period, and learn about rituals to celebrate your transition to motherhood.
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Birth or adoption allowance and child benefit: just one click away!

Guest articles
Belgium is often known for its bureaucracy, but actually, some things are really simple: like ensuring that you receive the family allowance payments you are entitled to – Written in collaboration with Infino
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A woman of many hats: meet yoga therapist and doula Emily Gold

All articles
New York native Emily Gold has been a familiar face on the Brussels birth scene since the mid-2000s. In part I of our interview, we shine a light on Emily's work supporting parents(-to-be) in the pre- and postnatal period.
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Blessing Way, a rite of passage towards motherhood

All articles
A Blessing Way is a celebration of the approaching birth of a child. Nadège De Bonte, doula and organiser of Blessing Ways, explains how it can be a wonderful ritual for mothers-to-be who are looking for meaning and connection.
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Food, glorious food! The Belgian mum helping us raise healthy eaters

Meet the parents
After a successful career as a journalist, Sofie De Niet retrained as a dietician while she was pregnant with her son. Now, her mission is to help (future) parents and children build a solid basis for lifelong nutritional well-being that contributes to their physical and emotional health.
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New to Belgium? Start receiving child benefits fast

Guest articles
Whatever the reason you've chosen Belgium as your new home, family allowance agency Infino is there to help you get your monthly child benefit payments started as soon as possible if you're entitled to them.
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Giving back: How your donations can help families in need in Brussels

the village blog
Our babies don’t stay tiny for long, which means that once our families are complete, there’s no point holding on to all that ‘stuff’ … especially when there are so many others in need. Find out where your donations can make a real difference.
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Birth Trauma Recovery – Finding relief from perinatal trauma

the village blog
A familiar face on the Brussels perinatal scene, Sophie Girard-Sequeira also helps parents heal from traumatic perinatal experiences through a highly effective 3-step Birth Trauma Recovery process.
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Child benefits in Brussels – your questions answered!

Guest articles
New to Belgium, and your family will be living in Brussels? Or maybe you're moving from elsewhere in Belgium? Then here are the basics of what you need to know about child benefits in Brussels. – Guest post in collaboration with Infino
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Keeping fit during pregnancy – tips from the ultimate SuperMum

Guest articles
The superwoman behind SuperMums Belgium, Beatriz Romo, shares some 'DOs and DON'Ts' about fitness during pregnancy, and introduces the SuperBellies programme – perfect for staying in shape and feeling good in your changing body.
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Want to receive over €1,100 before your child arrives? Yes please!

Guest articles
When you're preparing for your baby's arrival, receiving a no-strings-attached €1,100 is a very welcome bonus! Find out how to apply for your birth allowance. Guest post in collaboration with Infino.
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To buy or not to buy? Deciding what ‘baby essentials’ you really need

the village blog
Shopping for baby items is probably high on your to-do list when preparing for your baby's arrival. But it's easy to get overwhelmed! How can you figure out what you actually need, and how to source it in a wallet-friendly way? Read on!
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Meet Kate from Simply Hypnobirth

Meet the parents
Through Simply Hypnobirth, 'Brit-now-Belgian' Kate Ellwood empowers women to birth their baby with calm confidence. She shares her story of moving to Belgium with a 3-month old baby in 2006, and of finding her passion supporting expectant parents.
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Big changes in your life? Or chances?

All articles
The only constant in life? Change, right! And big changes tend to bring some admin with them. But in which situations should you give your child benefits fund a heads up, in order to spare yourself some annoying red tape? Read on to find out! - IN COLLABORATION WITH INFINO
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At Infino, one birth allowance paid = one tree planted

Guest articles
Family allowance fund Infino partners with the Wallonian forestry co-management project Nassonia to plant a tree for every 'Infino' baby born – that's a total of 17,000 trees since the initiative started in 2021.
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Why we should think of family photos as heirlooms – with Ana Ionita

Guest articles
In this beautiful and heartfelt article photographer Ana Ionita – formerly based in Brussels –explains the value printed photos, and why we should consider baby and family photos as heirlooms.
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What happens to child benefits if you and your partner separate or divorce?

Guest articles
Despite wanting to keep everything as steady as possible for your children, sometimes big changes occur, whether you like it or not. And separation is one of the common changes that many family go through. In this blog we explain how new family setups after separation can affect your child benefits.
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A Different Start

the village blog
Abbi Vyncke, volunteer organiser of the BCT's NICU Parents support group, shares the story of her own daughter's miraculous journey from NICU baby to fun-loving toddler in the BCT's quarterly Small Talk magazine.
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Planning your first family trip

Guest articles
Travel advisor and owner of Life's Travel Moments, Marina Kiriazis shares top tips for planning a successful family trip in the summer edition of the BCT's Small Talk magazine.
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The doula difference – A mum’s story

Guest articles
Ever wondered what difference a doula could really make to your pregnancy and birth experience? US mum of 5 (!!) Meredith tells us how doulas have been her "welcomed anchor" in times of immense change.
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Little Humane Books subscription – our review

the village blog
To give our family reading efforts a boost, we tried out Little Humane Books, a monthly book subscription run by Belgium-based Canadian mum Christina Laloire-Reinards that aims to foster a love of reading and sow seeds of compassion. Here's what we thought.
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London calling

Life after Belgium
Antwerp-born mum-of-two, Freya Van Onckelen tells us about raising her French-Belgian girls in London.
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Mind full? How mindfulness can make parenting easier

All articles
Mindfulness teacher Jessica Evsen of Two Wings explains how mindfulness can have a positive impact on our family’s health, happiness, and well-being.
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Facing the lion: Understanding and managing stress response while parenting

Guest articles
Yoga therapist Emily Gold gives some practical advice on dealing with 'fight or flight' stress responses when dealing with everyday stresses.
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Grandma’s got mail! – Review of family journal Neveo

the village blog
Despite living in an age when we can easily and cheaply video call with loved ones on the other side of the world, most...
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What does the research say about doula care?

All articles
Discover some of the impacts that doula support has on birth outcomes and satisfaction with the overall birth experience, as well as what it is that makes it so effective.
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Doula guide: Part 3 – When and how can a doula help me on my journey?

All articles
We hope you're enjoying our series of articles about having a doula in Belgium. So far, we have published:- Part 1: What is a...
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Doula guide: Part 2 – What kind of qualifications do doulas typically have?

All articles
Take a look at other articles in this series:- Part 1: What is a doula?- Part 2: What kind of qualifications do doulas typically...
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Doula guide: Part 1 – What is a doula?

All articles
Take a look at other articles in this series:- Part 1: What is a doula?- Part 2: What kind of qualifications do doulas typically...
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Interdependence not isolation! – Life First blog

Guest articles
With COVID-19 now impacting our everyday lives in a very real way, first aid instructor Kate Ellwood from Life First shares some tips for minimising panic, promoting interdependence and beating the isolation.
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Who you gonna call? – Emergency numbers in Belgium

Guest articles
Are you confident you'd know what to do in the event of an emergency? And would your kids? Here, first aid instructor Kate Ellwood from Life First walks us through all we need to know!
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Crowd Cooks? Yes please! – Review

the village blog
At village HQ we sometimes joke that the first thing we'd do if we won the lottery, would be to hire a chef. It's...
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Boys in the kitchen: The only brownie recipe you’ll ever need

Family food
Based on a mix of all the best brownie recipes we've ever tried, this version comes out great every time: a hint of crispness...
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Wings to discover the world – Culture Kids in Overijse

Guest articles
Pascale Croonenberghs, educator, entrepreneur and mother of two wonderful girls gives us an insight into the heart of Culture Kids, which opened its doors in 2018.
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Accidents happen – strangulation: Life First blog

All articles
In this cross-post from the Life First blog, first aid instructor Kate Ellwood highlights some of the possible risks, and gives advice on how to keep your babies and young children out of danger.
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Fertility support course: connecting mind & body – with Emily Gold

Guest articles
New York-native, Brussels-based yoga therapist Emily Gold tells us more about the fertility support course she runs.
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Product review – Polisport Bilby Junior infant bike seat and helmet

Product review
SPONSORED POST - Brussels-based mum of two Kerrana McAvoy won a Polisport Bilby Junior infant bike seat and Polisport XXS Baby bike helmet back...
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Inked at 40

the village blog
Village elder, Siobhán McGonigle shares her story of getting inked for the first time at 40.
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Back across the pond

All articles
American mum Becca, whose two children were born here in Brussels, shares some reflections about life in and after Belgium.
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From Brussels to Dubai

Life after Belgium
Violaine Carnoy tells us about her family's move from grey Belgium to the sunny Middle-East.
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