Early wakings are one of the most common concerns I hear from parents, especially expat families living in Barcelona who may already be navigating parenthood without their usual support network. If your baby or toddler is waking very early in the morning (5:00 or 5:30am) and you are feeling exhausted, you are not doing anything wrong. Early mornings are incredibly common in infancy and early childhood, and in many cases, they are developmentally normal. That said, normal does

Night-time breastfeeding beyond the first year is far more common than many parents realise. For some families, it feels natural and manageable. For others, it slowly becomes unsustainable, especially when sleep deprivation begins to take a real toll on maternal wellbeing, emotional balance, and family life. This is the story of an expat family from the UK living in Barcelona, and how gentle, responsive night weaning transformed not only their nights, but their confidence as

Sleep deprivation is often spoken about quietly, almost as if it were something we should simply endure. Yet its impact on new mothers is profound, far-reaching, and deeply underestimated. Historically, sleep deprivation has even been recognised as a form of psychological stress or torture, used to break down emotional resilience and mental clarity. When someone is deprived of sleep for prolonged periods, their ability to regulate emotions, think clearly, and cope with everyd

The arrival of a new year often brings with it a quiet yet powerful sense of renewal. There is a collective pause, a breath taken after the intensity of the months gone by, and a gentle turning towards what lies ahead. For many of us, the new year feels energising and hopeful a moment to reconnect with purpose, to reflect on what truly matters, and to realign ourselves with the life we wish to create. For families, and especially for those living far from their home country,

Preparing for a baby’s arrival is a deeply emotional and exciting time. It can also feel overwhelming. A quick online search for “ newborn essentials” often leads to endless lists, adverts, and products promising to make life easier many of which you may never use. If you are pregnant or have recently welcomed your baby, I want to gently reassure you: you do not need everything. In fact, having fewer, well-chosen items often brings more calm, clarity, and confidence during th

Pregnancy is one of the most transformative experiences in life. It’s not just your body that changes, your emotions, routines, relationships, and priorities shift dramatically. For many expectant parents, this time brings both excitement and uncertainty. With all the preparation, appointments, and life adjustments, one of the most important things you can do is build friendships with other expectant couples. Why Pregnancy Friendships Matter Meeting other couples who are goin

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most profound transformations, and doing so while living abroad adds an extra layer of emotions, decisions, and questions. As an expat family in Barcelona, you may feel excited yet a little uncertain about what giving birth here actually looks like. Barcelona is an extraordinary place to welcome a baby into the world. The city offers high-quality maternity care, passionate midwives and doctors, and a growing community of international famili

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most transformative journeys. It stirs excitement, love, hope and quite naturally, moments of uncertainty too. One of the most common challenges I see among expectant families, especially expat families here in Barcelona, is the struggle to prepare for something as unpredictable as labour. We live in a society where almost everything in our daily lives can be planned and anticipated. Technology, research, artificial intelligence, and endless

There’s a moment every parent knows well when the house is quiet, the lights are low, and you’ve just drifted off to sleep when your baby’s little cry pierces the night again. If you’re wondering why your baby wakes up so often at night, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common concerns I hear from families and it’s something that can bring a lot of exhaustion and worry. But before we try to “fix” anything, it’s important to understand what’s truly normal, what’s temp

If you’ve ever wondered why your newborn doesn’t “sleep through the night,” you’re not alone and the truth is, they’re not supposed to! Newborn sleep can be unpredictable, and with so much conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel unsure. The first months are about connection, not perfection. Let’s explore some of the most common newborn sleep myths and the gentle truths behind them. Myth 1: “Newborns Should Sleep Through the Night” Newborns are biologically wired to wake often.

There’s a quiet magic in those first weeks of life; a newborn curled in your arms, tiny fingers clutching your hand, eyes fluttering as they sleep. And yet, for many parents, that magic can feel tangled with exhaustion, worry, and questions: “Am I doing this right?” “Is my baby sleeping enough?” “Why won’t they settle?” If you are pregnant or your little one is only a few weeks old, know this: what you’re experiencing is perfectly normal. Newborn sleep is not a puzzle to be s

This weekend, we’ll be turning the clocks back one hour in Spain as we move from summer to winter time. That familiar “fall back”  that seems harmless but can ripple through our days and nights in surprisingly powerful ways. You might think, “It’s just one hour, how much harm can it do?” But for families with little ones, that one hour can feel monumental. A baby who wakes at 6:00 a.m. will now wake at 5:00 a.m., a toddler’s naps might suddenly shift off rhythm, and the delic

The Toddler Years: Beautiful, Busy, and Boundary-Testing The toddler years are a truly magical time. They are full of discoveries, laughter, curiosity, and incredible growth. But they also bring new challenges, especially when it comes to setting boundaries. As parents, we quickly notice how our once-cooperative baby suddenly begins to test limits. They start saying “no” with a sense of power and purpose, exploring what that word means and what it brings. It can sometimes fee

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most beautiful experiences, but it also comes with its fair share of questions, worries, and...

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most extraordinary journeys. But often, the focus is placed almost entirely on preparing for the baby:...

This week has been World Breastfeeding Week, seven days dedicated to celebrating, supporting, and raising awareness about breastfeeding...

Summer in Spain.. the long sunny days, late dinners on terraces, beach days that stretch into the evening. It’s magical, isn’t it? But if...

Pregnancy is such a transformational journey — beautiful, emotional, empowering. But let’s be honest — being pregnant in the sweltering...

Bringing a newborn into the world is one of the most transformative experiences life can offer. Those early days, rich with emotion,...

Pregnancy is one of life’s most profound and transformative journeys. It brings with it a swirl of emotions: excitement, love, hope—and...