Routines, potty training & screens

Potty training, mornings, screen time and the everyday family rhythm.

My toddler refuses the potty (or holds in their wee or poo): what now?
Refusing the potty or holding on to wee or poo is common during potty training. Read more...
Pocket money: how much, from what age, and what it teaches
Pocket money isn't a reward but a learning tool. When to start, how to decide an amount, why not to tie it to behaviour, and how to make saving appealing. Read more...
Dummy or thumb: what parents need to know
You can take a dummy away, a thumb you can't. Bloom sets out the pros and cons, explains when to introduce a dummy, and how to get rid of it... Read more...
Flying with a baby: ears, seats and what to pack
The biggest fear is that your baby cries the whole flight. Bloom gives practical preparation, the trick for painful ears, and what to arrange with the airline. Read more...
Outdoor play and risk-taking: why climbing is good for children
"Be careful!" we call a hundred times a day. Bloom explains why children need risk, how to keep the line between risk and danger, and what to say instead. Read more...
The morning routine: from daily battle to something that works
The same fight every morning over socks, coat and getting out of the door. Bloom gives an approach that makes mornings calmer without you having to get tougher. Read more...
Birthday parties for young children: why smaller works better
A party that ends in tears from the birthday child themselves. Bloom gives a simple formula for age, length and number of guests — and why opening presents afterwards can... Read more...
Choosing a sport and sticking with it: can your child quit?
After three months she wants to stop. Bloom gives something to hold on to when choosing a sport, and an honest answer to whether persevering is always the right lesson. Read more...
Social media and your child: what to know before you say yes
The screen isn't the problem, what's on it is. Bloom looks at comparison pressure, algorithms and online contact with strangers — and what to agree concretely. Read more...
A phone of their own: when is your child ready?
"Everyone in my class has one." Bloom gives not an age but a checklist, plus a phone agreement you make in advance rather than after the fact. Read more...
Staying dry at night: why it often comes later than daytime
Dry in the daytime for months, wet every morning. Bloom explains why that is entirely normal, why punishing never works and when to talk to your GP. Read more...
How much screen time is OK for children — and why do they melt down when it ends?
Screen time: no topic makes mothers feel guiltier. What the guidelines actually say, and how to handle screens as a family without judgement. Read more...
When should you start potty training? Signs, timing and a calm step-by-step plan
When do you start potty training, how do you go about it, and what if it isn't working? A calm step-by-step plan without pressure or deadlines. Read more...