Guides

What a new baby actually needs in the first month
The standard newborn checklist is written by people selling things. Here is the shorter version — what gets used every day in month one, and what can safely wait. Read more...
Muslin or cellular blanket? What each one is actually for
They look interchangeable on a shelf and they are not. One is a lightweight all-purpose cloth, the other is a specific answer to the problem of keeping a baby warm without overheating them. Read more...
What to put in a pram organiser (and what to leave at home)
A pram organiser is not a small changing bag. It works when it holds the five things you reach for one-handed, and stops working the moment you treat it as extra luggage. Read more...
How much toy storage does a child's room actually need?
Not as much as the shops suggest, and not the kind they sell. The useful measure is not litres of storage but how many places a child can put something away without help. Read more...
What to keep in a nappy caddy (and what to leave out)
A nappy caddy earns its place by removing one specific problem: the walk across the house at 3am. Here is what belongs in it. Read more...
How many muslin squares do you actually need?
The honest answer is more than the lists tell you, and fewer than the shops would like. Here is what a week actually looks like. Read more...