The 10 things that got parents talking in 2016

2016 brought us more than Guptagate and local elections, it was also the year in which we discovered pregnant women dressing up and having their photos taken - at the bottom of the swimming pool. We also saw the rise of video recordings of school bullying that goes viral, and our debates (alcohol at school functions? which is more expensive: cloth nappies or disposables? co-sleeping or baby in his own cot? should the maths pass rate be dropped to 20%) attracted hundreds of opinions.

We made some calculations and brought you a comparison of the maternity benefits of 27 medical aid plans, the costs of first year at university, how much extracurricular activities and stationery cost. Yes we did the hard work, so you can just plug in and make an informed decision.

So without further ado: our top stories of 2016.

Underwater pregnancy shoots... yes, it's a thing!

• The new trend? In which we discover the awesome phenomenon but also talk to an expert about the safety of it all.
• More beautiful photographs. We found some more photographers, including a few local ones, who also dare to go under.

So who are Zuma's 22 children?

• A round-up of the First Family who made the news. This story from December 2015 went viral on social media, and others found it via Google. I guess everyone is curious. 

South Africa's top baby names for 2016

• The top baby names in SA for 2015/2016. Stats SA revealed the top names of all babies registered during 2015 in September this year.
• 30 kick-ass baby names for strong girls. If you have big plans for your little Moana, choose a strong baby girl name from our list.
• All our stories and lists of weird and wonderful baby names. From the top Harry Potter-inspired names to beautiful nature names to celeb baby names, you'll find it here.

Identical twin sisters gave birth on the same day at the same time!

• Absolutely marvellous story of twins. Yeah we didn't believe it at first either, but t'is true!

Bully stories

• Teen bullied at top Cape School. The video of a boy being bullied was shared by his mom on social media, and started up a big discussion about bullying at school. 
• #bullyingmustfly: 33 more parents weigh in. We had tonnes of letters from parents with suggestions of how to solve the school bully problem: from cleaning the school toilets to laying criminal charges. 
• Bullying videos and social media: what the law says. Two tech attorneys warn us to be careful about sharing bullying videos.

Debates

• Should schools be allowed to sell alcohol to adults at functions? A proposed amendment to the law in the Western Cape sought to permit schools to apply to sell booze at school events. The response was animated.
• More views: your response. 

SA's top schools

• The best rugby schools in South Africa in 2016. We look at the official school rugby rankings and also which schools produced the 2016 Springbok Squad.
• SA's most expensive schools. These schools' school fees will make your eyes water. (We also checked their matric 2015 results. Spoiler: they're excellent.)

How much does it cost to...

• Are cloth nappies really more expensive than disposable nappies? Our writer had used 3 years' worth of both and used her detailed spreadsheets to give us a good indication.
• Choosing the right medical aid: comparing the maternity benefits of 27 plans. If you're planning on starting a family, ensure you find a suitable medical aid first. 
• How much does a first year at a SA university cost? We compare several degrees at several SA tertiary institutions, including private universities.
• How much does it cost for a South African to study abroad? We checked the fees for foreigners, accommodation and student visa fees at the world's top universities.
• How much does nursery school really cost? We compare the fees of different schools across the country, and factor in aftercare, lunch, holiday care, fundraisers and more.

South Africa's spiders and snakes

• Spiders and spider bites. The creepy crawlies parents have to look out for around the house. (The rest are okay.)
• Snakes and snake bites. Which snakes are deadly, the symptoms to look out for and what to do.

10 food mistakes you're probably making

• If you have a picky toddler, these tips may help.

What was your favourite Parent24 story of the year? What would you like to see more of? Send your suggestions to chatback@parent24.com.