IPC, which has not sold a magazine since teen title Mizz in March 2006, said Practical Parenting was no longer a "strategic fit".
Jackie Newcombe, managing director of IPC division Southbank, said: "Southbank's strategy is to appeal to women through the fashion, beauty and home interest markets."
The purchaser, Magicalia, owns 14 consumer magazines including three parenting titles -- Junior, Junior Pregnancy & Baby and Pregnancy, Baby and You -- which it bought from Future in August last year. It also has parenting websites and .
Magicalia has been owned since 2006 by private equity group Exponent, which bid for Emap's specialist titles late last year, and is expected to generate turnover of over £10m in 2008.
Practical Parenting is the fourth-biggest paid-for title in its sector, with a circulation of 38,945. The leading title is Emap's Mother and Baby, with 75,040, followed by Emap's Pregancy and Birth, with 50,917, and the The National Magazine Company's Prima Baby, with 50,472.
The purchase also gives Magicalia the Practical Parenting awards and , in addition to the monthly magazine.
Owen Davies, joint managing director of Magicalia, said: "We look forward to working with Susie Boone [editor of the magazine] and her talented and well respected team. The acquisition fits neatly with our parenting magazines and leading website ThinkBaby.co.uk."
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