The Kantara blog
Calm, practical parenting reads
Evidence-informed answers to the questions parents actually ask — then tailored to your child by Simone.
Am I holding her too much?
Someone has told you you'll spoil her, make a rod for your own back, teach her to need you. The evidence says the opposite — responding to your baby is how independence gets built, not delayed.
Aug 11, 2026ReadDevelopmentMy baby hates tummy time
Thirty seconds in and she's furious. Tummy time is genuinely hard work for a newborn — here's how much she actually needs, and how to get there without either of you dreading it.
Aug 10, 2026ReadSleepWhen should I start a routine?
Everyone has an opinion about when to 'get her into a routine'. The biology is clearer than the advice: rhythm comes before schedule, and one of them can start today.
Aug 9, 2026ReadParent WellbeingI can't stop crying — is this normal?
Weepy, raw, and not sure whether this is normal or something more. The honest answer is that the first two weeks are different from what comes after — and here's how to tell where you are.
Aug 8, 2026ReadHealthIs this rash something to worry about?
Most newborn rashes are harmless and clear on their own. A small number are not. Here's how to tell the everyday ones apart — and the exact signs that mean call for help now.
Aug 7, 2026ReadSleepWhy won't she sleep unless I hold her?
Your baby sleeps beautifully on you and wakes the second you put her down. That's not a bad habit you've created — it's newborn biology. Here's what's going on, and how to do it safely.
Aug 6, 2026ReadFeedingIs my newborn eating enough? How to actually tell
You can't see how many millilitres went in, and that's the problem. Here's what nappies, weight, and your baby's own behaviour tell you — and the signs that mean ask for help today.
Aug 5, 2026ReadSleepWhy does my newborn cry every evening? The witching hour, explained
Fed, changed, held — and still screaming every evening like clockwork? The 'witching hour' is a real, normal newborn phase. Here's what's behind it and how to ride it out.
Jan 16, 2026ReadFeedingIs my baby feeding constantly? Understanding cluster feeding
Feeding what feels like every twenty minutes for hours on end? Cluster feeding is exhausting, normal, and usually not a sign your milk isn't enough. Here's what's happening.
Jan 15, 2026ReadSleepWhy won't my newborn sleep at night? Making sense of those first weeks
Up all night, dozing all day? Newborns aren't broken — they just haven't found their rhythm yet. Here's what's really going on, and how to gently nudge day and night into place.
Jan 14, 2026ReadSchoolMy child dreads school: a calm guide to school anxiety
Tummy aches on school mornings, tears at drop-off, 'I don't want to go' — school anxiety is common and workable. Here's how to help your child feel safe again.
Jan 13, 2026ReadParent WellbeingHow do I let go of mom guilt? A gentler way to carry it
Mom guilt is almost universal — and almost always out of proportion to anything you've actually done. Here's how to loosen its grip and parent from a kinder place.
Jan 12, 2026ReadFeedingShe only eats beige food: a calm guide to picky eating
Pasta, bread, and not much else? 'Beige diet' phases are a normal part of toddler development. Here's how to lower the pressure and widen the plate.
Jan 11, 2026ReadSleepWhy does my toddler wake at 3am? A calm guide to night waking
Sudden night waking in toddlers is common and usually fixable. Here's what's behind those 3am wake-ups — and the small changes that settle them.
Jan 10, 2026ReadHealthIs this fever serious? A calm guide to when to worry
Fever itself is rarely the danger — it's how your child looks and behaves that matters most. Here's what to watch and when to call for help.
Jan 8, 2026ReadDevelopmentHow much screen time is okay? A no-guilt, age-by-age guide
The honest answer on screens isn't a magic number — it's about what, when, and with whom. Here's a framework you can actually live with.
Jan 5, 2026ReadBehaviorMy kids won't stop fighting: a calmer way through sibling rivalry
Sibling conflict isn't a sign you're failing — it's how children practise big skills. Here's how to referee less and connect more.
Jan 3, 2026Read