Financial checklist for new parents

Expecting or just welcomed a tiny human and wondering how your bank balance is going to cope?

Becoming a new parent is brilliant, overwhelming and utterly life changing. You get endless cuddles, a dramatic new sleep schedule and a list of expenses that seems to grow overnight.

But breathe easy. With a few sensible financial tweaks and a bit of planning you can keep your family on solid ground without crying into the takeaway tonight.

In this post we will run through the key money matters new parents should sort, from saving for future schooling to making sure you are covered if life throws a curveball. Think of it as a friendly financial checklist for new parents that won't judge your chosen brand of baby wipes.

Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Healing Journey | Emergency Removal

At the end of last year I went for my first 'powder brow' session at a Yorkshire based beauty salon. Unfortunately I was unable to have the treatment as planned as I was informed once there that I needed to have stopped breastfeeding for AT LEAST 2 weeks before I had the semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo. I ended up going back in April this year for my first session, which I was happy with, and this blog post and video shows the healing process. A few weeks ago I went back for my top up session and I'm afraid to say that this wasn't a positive result and I ended up having emergency tattoo pigment removal using 'Botched Ink' 24 hours later...

I had saved up for semi-permanent Ombre / Powder Brows for a while, but had always put off booking a session because I was so worried that I would come away with brows that I hated, were uneven, the wrong shape or the wrong colour. Read on to find out what happened and why I ended up needing emergency removal....

Checklist | Baby Hospital Bag

 

I initially wrote this post after just having just given birth to a new baby a few days prior,  with fresh (but tired) eyes and the most up-to-date advice possible, because, you know, my hospital bag was still slumped on my bedroom floor full of all of the stuff I took with me and most definitely needed!

This post will give you a handy hospital bag checklist for everyone involved in your birthing journey...

Breastfeeding Essentials for New Mums

Hello gorgeous new mum, mum to be, glowing Goddess and grower of tiny humans… it’s finally happened, hasn’t it?? The day has indeed arrived where you are forced to think of doing something else with your boobies other than ‘tit taping’ them to your dress, hoisting them a few inches higher or using them to convince your husband that you absolutely, definitely do need that new pair of heels ( which you won't be wearing by the way, but more on that later!)
 

Yes, their true purpose has been realised: You are going to sustain life! (And kill germs, and heal sticky eyes, and sort out stretch marks, and increase IQ scores and a whole manner of other debatable possibilities that I promise you will come across in your Google search results at some point during your breastfeeding journey!)

You are about to become Milk Maker Extraordinaire. Congrats! It’s a tough old role, but highly rewarding. Here are a few things that will make it easier for you...

Breastfeeding : My Embarrassing Moments

The thing with breastfeeding is that it is a learning curve (you assume for yourself) but actually, the real student in this life lesson of keeping a human alive via milk alone is actually your baby!

 

That’s right - this teeny tiny human who can’t walk, talk, recognise their own name or see clearly past 30cm is about to attend their first class, and you: Mamma, are the Teacher. You’ve got this...or at least you will do, but if it goes a bit tits up in the process, hey, no matter. It happens to the best of us...

57 EYFS Tuff Tray Ideas

I love our tuff tray, (probably even more than the children do), and thinking up tuff tray ideas - and although it can be a challenge to set them up sometimes - I love the wow factor a new tray play activity brings to young children and how excited and enthusiastic they are to go and explore straight away! I know that my carefully laid resources will be scattered around within minutes, but honestly, that's the beauty of it. A well played with EYFS tuff tray, where learning opportunities arise, does not come from children feeling like they can't touch, move, reorder or explore. A day without some 'mess' has usually been an unproductive one...

 I've picked out 57 tuff tray ideas (originally 19 but I keep updating!) of our current favourite EYFS tuff tray ideas here for you to enjoy and feel inspired! I also have a post showcasing our best sensory tray play ideas here.  If you want to learn more about tuff trays first - have a read of our complete guide to tuff trays here. 

You can find many of the resources mentioned over in my Amazon affiliate ideas list here (click here for USA version).

What Every Parent Should Know About BMW X3 Tyres Wear

 

When driving a family SUV such as the BMW X3, safety and reliability are always your main concerns. However, you may not realise tyre wear is one of the aspects that can significantly affect all your safety, comfort, and, indeed, the running costs of the vehicle. By knowing what causes the tyres to wear, you can make a more informed decision on when and what to replace them at the right time without wasting money. 

Gray Hair Transition: A Guide to Going Grey Gracefully

So, you're thinking about ditching the dye and letting your grey hair shine through? Welcome to the club! It's a bold move, a statement, a declaration of independence from the tyranny of hair colour. This guide is your roadmap to navigating the transition to grey hair with grace, humour, and maybe a few strategic hair styles. 

My journey of transitioning grey hair

What Should Parents Know About Teen Self-Harm, and How Can It Be Addressed?

Finding out that a teen is self-harming can feel overwhelming for any parent. Self-harm is a behavior where teens intentionally hurt themselves to cope with difficult emotions or stress. It does not mean a teen is trying to end their life, but it does signal that they are struggling and need help.

Parents can support their teen by staying calm, learning about why self-harm happens, and working together to find healthier ways to manage emotions. The key is to approach the situation with patience and understanding rather than panic or judgment. When parents respond with care and take action to get proper support, teens can learn better coping skills and move toward healing.

This guide explains what drives teens to self-harm, how to recognise the warning signs, and what steps parents can take to help. It also covers when professional treatment may be needed and how families can work through this challenge together.

Ages 2 to 4: How to choose the perfect bike for your child's first big adventures

The first bike a child owns is rarely forgotten. It is usually the moment when outdoor play shifts into something more deliberate. There is steering involved. Decisions. A growing sense of independence.

Buying a first bike for a toddler often feels bigger than expected. It is more than choosing a toy. It marks the beginning of outdoor independence and growing physical confidence.

Give the gift of luxury with brushed cotton PJs | Mother’s Day

Last year I showed you the bamboo pyjamas from British Boxers which are still, without hesitation, my favourite PJs to date - the comfort is on another level and I genuinely think you’d be hard pressed to find sleepwear that is so soft, stretchy and breathable with eco-conscious materials from anywhere else.

 

This Spring, I’ve been trying one of their new bestsellers - the  Women’s Brushed Cotton Pyjama Set in Westwood Pink Stripe. You won’t be able to stop touching these, the fabric is SO soft. British Boxers actually have their own special process to make them so touchably smooth: the clothes are dyed to their own colour specification, then brushed repeatedly before being woven in-house. Heaven.

These pyjamas would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift if you’re looking for ideas this Spring...

Creating an Enriching and Balanced Nursery School Education

Why Prioritise Early Years Education?

Early childhood is a period of remarkable growth. During these formative years, children develop the cognitive, social and emotional foundations that shape future academic achievement and personal confidence. Language acquisition accelerates, problem-solving abilities begin to strengthen, and children start forming independence and self-awareness. The experiences children have in an early years nursery can significantly influence how they approach learning throughout primary education and beyond.

A high-quality nursery school education provides far more than early literacy and numeracy instruction. It creates an environment where curiosity is encouraged, questions are welcomed and exploration is supported within safe boundaries. At this stage, children are not simply preparing for academic milestones; they are learning how to communicate effectively, cooperate with others and regulate their emotions.

Valentine's Day Tuff Tray | Sensory Play | Playdough Recipe

Whether you celebrate Valentine's Day or not, this sensory tuff tray is sure to provoke some language and discussions around love and kindness whilst offering lots of learning opportunities in a very child-led and open ended exploration...

This sensory play opportunity actually starts before the tuff tray activity, in making the Valentine's Day playdough together with your child/children! This post explains and demonstrates how to make this together, and then moves on to the resources and the learning opportunities this provides....

Internet safety | teaching kids to be safe online

 As a former ICT and class blog co-ordinator within my former teaching role, online safety was a key part of my job - but it is an ever changing landscape and something that we as parents (and Teachers) need to keep on top of. 

 

This blog post looks at the use of blogs, phones, games and devices whilst at school and at home and explains how to discuss online safety with your child and give them the tools needed to keep themselves and others safe. We also have a list of dos and don'ts for device use with children.

Technology Ideas for the Early Years

When we think about what ICT and technology looks like for young children, it can be easy to assume that the focus is placed firmly on screen technology such as computers, ipads, tablets and other screens, but this isn't the case at all...

 

Technology for children, particularly in the Early Years, involves objects which work in different ways, for different purposes...Equipment which involves 'technology' to achieve an outcome or an effect. Mechanical toys with simple mechanisms, which allow children to investigate those "what will happen if..?" ideas...and of course, child-safe resources for children to act out scenarios within their play which may mimic real life technology used by adults.

Within this post I am going to suggest some ideas for technology for young children which can help to enhance learning through play by offering exciting resources. I will also be adding a list of technology ideas to my Amazon Associate storefront (affiliate) for you to browse through.

School readiness – preparing your child for Reception Class

School readiness…its something you’ll probably hear quite a lot if you have a child who is preparing to start Reception Class in September, but what does it actually mean??

How can we, as parents, make sure that we are helping and not hindering when preparing our 4 year olds for big school?

Most of my Teaching career was spent teaching Reception, and so this is something I thought long and hard about when passing on information to Parents. What would I hope, as their Teacher, they could do already? What sort of things would I discuss in the Parents meetings for new starters? Where would my expectations be bearing in mind I don’t yet know the children or what level they are at?

Unlike parenting high school children, where you may find yourself embarking on a Tutor Hunt - Its not what you might expect….

How Children Interpret Change Before They Fully Understand It

Change is part of childhood, even when children cannot yet put words to what feels different. A new routine, a shift in family life, or a change in expectations can land emotionally long before it makes sense logically. Children often show this through their mood, their behaviour, or questions that seem to come out of nowhere.

Adults can forget how much context children are missing. What feels straightforward with experience can feel confusing or unsettling to a child meeting it for the first time. When we understand how children interpret change, it becomes easier to respond with patience, warmth, and reassurance while their understanding slowly catches up.

Expert tips for getting laser hair removal done in summer

In an ideal world, most of us will have taken care of our laser hair removal treatment during the autumn or winter before summer comes around. In practice, many of us are far too forgetful to put these ideals into practice, meaning that thousands of people end up having to do those laser hair removal sessions during the summer itself.

Doing your sessions in summer does mean that there are slightly more details to keep in mind, especially when it comes to caring for your skin. Here, we provide some expert tips for getting your laser hair removal sessions done in summer, from factoring in sun avoidance to the importance of taking your skincare seriously.