Knowledge base

Allergy or intolerance? The difference and what to do about it
Eczema, tummy ache or spots after eating — and advice from every direction to cut something out. Bloom explains the difference between allergy and intolerance, and why cutting things out... Read more...
Imaginary friends: why they're usually nothing to worry about
An extra plate has to go on the table for someone who isn't there. Why imaginary friends are common and healthy, how to respond, and the rare signs worth checking. 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...
Babies in hot weather: preventing overheating without panicking
A baby can't regulate their temperature well yet. Bloom gives practical rules for heat: sleeping, dressing, drinking, being outside — and why a cloth over the pram is dangerous. Read more...
Tummy bugs in children: preventing dehydration
Vomiting and diarrhoea, and nothing stays down. Bloom explains how to spot and prevent dehydration, why small sips are the key, and when to call. 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...
Eczema in babies: why moisturising matters most
Rough cheeks, scratching in the night, and advice about food from every direction. Bloom explains what eczema is, why greasy moisturising is the heart of it, and why fear of... Read more...
Nappy rash and sensitive baby skin: what works and what to avoid
A red nappy rash that just won't clear. Bloom explains how to treat nappy rash, when it's thrush, and why doing less often works better. Read more...
Constipation in children: breaking the holding-on cycle
Holding on, tummy ache and soiled pants. How the constipation cycle starts, why diet alone often isn't enough, and what treatment really involves. 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...
Fever in babies and children: when to get help straight away
Different rules apply to a baby under three months than to a toddler. The thresholds by age, the red flags to act on, what to do at home, and febrile... Read more...
What do you really need for a new baby (and what can you skip)?
Baby shops would like you to spend a fortune. What you genuinely need from day one, what can wait, what you'll probably never use, and what's best bought new. Read more...
Head lice: how to get rid of them (and what you don't need to do)
The letter comes home from school and your head starts itching. How to check for lice, the combing schedule that works, and what you really don't need to do. 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...
The first ten days after birth: what to expect
Day by day, what to expect in the first ten days: feeding, nappies, weight, jaundice, newborn checks, your own recovery — and the day almost everyone cries. Read more...
Engorgement, blocked ducts and mastitis: what to do
A hard, painful lump in your breast and suddenly a fever. Bloom explains the difference between engorgement, a blocked duct and mastitis — and why carrying on feeding is almost... Read more...
Ear infections in children: what helps and when to see a doctor
Pain at night, pulling at the ear and crying. Bloom explains why ear infections are so common in children, why waiting is usually the advice, and when it isn't. Read more...
Shopping with a toddler: how to avoid the supermarket meltdown
The supermarket is where it goes wrong most often. Bloom explains why it's that place in particular, and gives an approach that turns it from a fight into a chore. Read more...
Car seats: the rules and the mistakes almost everyone makes
Rear-facing for as long as your seat allows, no bulky coat under the harness, and never in front of an active airbag. The rules and the most common mistakes. Read more...
Recognising common childhood illnesses: chickenpox, slapped cheek, hand, foot and mouth and more
Spots, blisters or red cheeks — what is it, and can your child go to nursery? The most common childhood illnesses, how to care for them, and the red flags... Read more...
From nap to no nap: the trickiest transition of the toddler years
If she naps she won't go down in the evening. If she doesn't, she's unmanageable by four o'clock. Bloom explains when the nap can genuinely go and how to bridge... Read more...
Learning to share: why toddlers find it so hard (and what helps)
"Just share!" everyone says, and your toddler grips the car tighter. Bloom explains from what age sharing is possible, why forcing it backfires, and what does help. Read more...
Friendships that change: when your child feels left out
She played with the same friend for years and suddenly she doesn't belong any more. Bloom explains what changes in friendships and how to help without taking over. Read more...
Diastasis recti: the gap in your tummy after birth
Your tummy stays rounded and there's a channel down the middle. Bloom explains what diastasis recti is, how to test for it yourself, and which exercises actually make it worse. Read more...