Hi, I’m Ellen

I created The Extra Pair because I believe every new mum deserves someone in her corner - someone who arrives ready to help, rather than another visitor to look after.

I’m based in South County Dublin and, while I’m not a mum myself yet, I’m a very hands-on aunt to five nephews and one niece. I’ve been there through the newborn days and beyond - bottles and bath times, nappies and bedtimes, weekends and overnights. But just as importantly, I’ve seen first-hand how much is being asked of Mum during those early months.

While everyone understandably wants to cuddle the new baby, I’ve always been more interested in what would make Mum’s day easier too. Sometimes that meant holding the baby while my sister washed and dried her hair. Sometimes it was folding the seemingly endless tiny onesies, making lunch, tidying the kitchen, walking the dog or simply sitting down for a proper chat after a day of baby talk. I saw how much difference those small things could make - and that’s where the idea for The Extra Pair began.

My Background

I have a background in psychology and have spent my career in roles centred around caring for and supporting women. I’ve also run my own business and home, I’m a confident cook, experienced with babies and, perhaps most importantly for this job, I’m very good at noticing what needs doing and getting on with it. I’m Garda vetted, insured and trained in child and baby first aid.

The Extra Pair is here to make life feel lighter. There’s no one-size-fits-all version of support. You might want me to take the baby while you shower, do your hair and fit in a workout. You might want the laundry mountain tackled, the kitchen reset and something warm made for lunch. Or perhaps you’d simply like to sit down with a hot cup of tea knowing that, for once, you don’t need to be the person who gets back up.

Whatever your day looks like, I want you to feel completely comfortable having me in your home - like a calm, capable extra pair of hands who is firmly on your team. No judgement, no overstepping and no feeling guilty because someone else is emptying your dishwasher.

When I arrive, I want you to breathe a little easier. And when I leave, I want life to feel lighter than it did before I came.