Matt Haig: ‘I wanted to end it all, but surviving and thriving is the lesson I pass on’

At 24, he wanted to kill himself. Now a novelist, he teaches the readers of his books – and his children – how to get through when the future looks bleak

Melatonin: the body’s natural sleep-promoting hormone

Prescriptions for short periods are considered safe, but there is little research into the long-term effects

Rise in melatonin use to help children sleep leads to safety warning

Concerns hormone is being overprescribed in England with little evidence of effectiveness

Breastfeeding rate declines in England as advice goes unheeded

Only four in 10 mothers still breastfeed babies of up to eight weeks despite health guidance

Children’s lack of sleep is ‘hidden health crisis’, experts say

NHS statistics for England show sleep disorder admissions for under-16s was almost 10,000 last year

Like me, Jacinda Ardern took her baby to work – and was met with ignorance

The New Zealand prime minister is doing her best to juggle work and motherhood, writes MP Jo Swinson

‘There are pressures to keep working to the end of pregnancy – to keep up’

Young pregnant women are significantly more anxious and overwhelmed than a generation ago. What’s behind this rise, and what are the solutions?

What the US can learn from Canada about how to treat moms

I can’t imagine motherhood without Canada’s generous paid maternity leave. It’s time for America to get with the program

Calls for action over UK’s ‘intolerable’ child mental health crisis

Teachers and campaigners say young people under pressure but support is underfunded

Energy drinks: why it is high time their wings should be clipped

The caffeinated, sugary drinks point to health issues such as obesity and type 2 diabetes

I’m a paranoid parent – and proud of it

Many of us are having fewer kids, later in life, so overwhelming parental anxiety is not just normal – it makes sense, says Guardian columnist Catherine Shoard

The spying accusations are a new low for the Student Loan Company

If you’re a student who is estranged from your parents, the last thing you need is the SLC making a fragile situation even worse, says Guardian columnist Dawn Foster

Cot death charity criticises call for baby boxes across UK

Midwives urge roll-out of boxes given to new parents but Lullaby Trust warns on safety

What does childbirth feel like? You asked Google – here’s the answer

Every day millions of people ask Google life’s most difficult questions. Our writers answer some of the commonest queries

Don’t want children? Or not sure? Share your experiences

We want to hear from you if you have either definitely decided or are considering not having children