Best Parenting Blogs to Follow Now
The daddy bloggers and mummy bloggers behind London's most prominent parenting blogs offer tips, tricks, and advice
Whether you're expecting or exasperated, these parenting blogs are here to answer your most embarrassing questions and serve as a friendly reminder that you are not alone.
Aesthetic goals: Little Paper Swans
Who is she: Cathyrn Wood lives on the Suffolk coast and she will light up your Instagram feed and subsequently your life with her stunning imagery.
Follow her for: Everyday inspiration. She writes heartwarming, personal posts to go alongside her award-winning imagery. Her blog unfolds like an incredibly artistic private journal. We've been following her pregnancy updates via weekly, intimate posts.
Top tip for parents: 'When photographing children, keep things as natural as possible. Chances are they won't pose, and candid shots look a lot nicer! If that doesn't work, a bit of bribery always goes down a treat.'
Who the Daddy: You the Daddy
Who is he: A London-based Dad whose blog is here to guide parents through everything from pregnancy to paternity leave.
Follow him for: The days when you have to just laugh to keep from crying. You the Daddy blogs about fatherhood experiences with his signature, rapier-like wit. His poetry about parenting is especially poignant; check out 'Your Willy is Not a Toy' if you need a quick giggle.
Top tip for expectant parents: 'Don’t buy everything new. So much of the expensive baby kit you’ll need can be found second-hand online (most of the time, in tip top condition and at a fraction of the price), as well as at specialist charity shops like FARA kids (there are loads of them all across London), where you can find some amazing bargains.'
Spice and everything nice: Sugar Free Londoner
Who is she: Katrin is here to help trick your kids (and your tastebuds) into eating healthier.
Follow her for: Food you'll never believe is sugar-free. No dessert, snack, or baked good is safe from her wily, healthy ways. Whip up a batch of paleo pancakes or low-carb peanut butter cookies for healthy alternatives they'll never see coming.
Pro advice for parents: 'Life is all about the balance. There’s time for candy floss and there’s time for veggies. If your kids are old enough, explain why eating healthy most of the time is a great idea. Even better, get them cooking! If they’re too young to reason with, save your breath and just be sneaky. I’ve successfully hidden veggies in anything from Bolgnese to muffins!'
For people who happen to be parents: Mother Pukka
Who is she: London's predominant parent blogger Anna Whitehouse, aka. Mother Pukka, brings the news and reviews.
Follow her for: Honest, engaging posts about motherhood. As well as being a go-to blogger for many parents, Anna has made political waves with her #FlexAppeal movement, campaigning for flexible working rights for UK parents. Anna and her husband, Matt Farquharson (Papa Pukka), co-wrote Parenting The Sh*t Out of Life, a Sunday Times bestseller.
Jet-set parent: Bikinis and Bibs
Who is she: Abbie Ting is an ex luxury travel PR turned international mummy of mystery.
Follow her for: Bikinis and Bibs has covered all four corners of the earth, and all your bases. Get ready for gorgeous globetrotting, family-friendly city guides, and fresh fashion.
Pro advice for parents in London: 'When it comes to family activities in London I like to keep it simple, with culture and fun at the core so everyone enjoys themselves and it's not just a day out for the kids. Forget the long listings and just focus on the free offerings I believe London does best – Museums and Parks. There are always new and seasonal things going on at both. I like to choose one thing to go to then research a good family friendly restaurant or cafe nearby to eat at before or after. South Kensington is probably one of the best areas for this, with the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A within walking distance.'
Very un-Dad-like: The Unlikely Dad
Who is he: Tom is a London-based Dad who shares real stories about the real dad life with honesty and humour.
Follow him for: Thoughtful musings on what it means to be a father and insight into different stages of the adoption process. Tom and his husband embarked on the adoption journey in 2014, and Tom offers a much-needed platform for families to reflect on parenthood.
Pro advice about being a parent: 'I may have less time for myself, but I think I have evolved into the dad version of me pretty well now. I’m still into music, food, taking a million pictures every day (unfortunately no more TV, I’m resigned to catch up TV if I am lucky!) and, of course, writing my tales of parenthood. But first and foremost come my two boys. My weekends no longer mean lie ins and coffee in bed … they now mean being woken up throughout the night at 5am with my son running into my bedroom and wanting to watch Bing on repeat until the coffee has kicked in.'
Model parenting: The Uphill
Who is she: Ruth Crilly isn't a regular mum – she's one of the coolest mums on Instagram. The veteran model rose to notoriety with her blog, A Model Recommends. Her spinoff website, The Uphill, chronicles her parenting triumphs and tribulations.
Follow her for: Friendly reminders that everyone struggles with parenting. The Uphill is a painfully honest parent blog on the cutting-edge of kids trends, from chic ice lollies to natural baby products.
Dear Diary of the Dad
Who is he: Tom Briggs is an award-winning UK blogger and father of three.
Follow him for: Tom offers a fresh perspective on everything from homework to negotiating bedtimes. His conversational-yet-personal tone will have you tuning in for updates on his kids. Diary of the Dad features regular posts with inside information about starting your own blog.
Take it day by day: A Day In The Life Dad
Who is he: Jamie Day is a work-from-home dad who documents his daily adventures with style and panache.
Follow him for: Advice about how to be a parent in London, from dealing with picky eaters to giving into the peer pressures of Dry January. A regular contributor to GQ and editor of the FMLY Man, Jamie is a master of capturing the emotional ups and downs of parenting.
Top tip for parents: 'Favourite thing to do with kids… as cliché as it sounds, getting outside with them to climb trees, hunt for bugs and run off some of that endless energy they have. But that said, sometimes you can’t beat snuggling up on the sofa with a classic movie (when I say ‘classic’, I mean classic in their eyes, such as Trolls or Boss Baby).'
The hottest thing since sliced bread: More Than Toast
Who is she: Alice Judge-Talbot writes about a lot more than toast. Previously Digital Manager of VICE, Alice now blogs about her experiences as a single mum in London.
Follow her for: Alice writes about motherhood, dating, beauty, interiors, and travel. With relatable subject matter ranging from improving her family's diet to her struggles with postnatal depression.
Not just any old blog: Dad Blog UK
Who is he: John Adams gave up his job in PR and communications to run the household. He lives on the fringes of South London with his wife and two daughters.
Follow him for: Not only is John hilarious, but his blog covers lifestyle, men's fashion, cars, photography, finances, and gender equality.
Pro advice for stay at home dads: 'My experience as a stay at home dad has been mixed. I love the fact I get to spend so much time with my kids. This is a blessing very few men get to experience, especially in the early years of their kids’ life. It is also a licence to behave like a crazy fool at times. I’m always climbing frames or building dens with the kids.
The downside is that it’s very socially isolating. This is a problem for mums as well, but it can be more acute for us guys. All the informal and formal support networks that exist to support parents in the early years are aimed at mums. When mums socialise, their kids socialise with each other. When you’re a stay at home dad, you don’t get invited to coffee mornings, and so your kids miss out on social opportunities. That, for me, has been the hardest part: knowing my kids have missed out because they have a stay at home dad.
While there have been ups and downs, I have no desire to re-enter the workforce. I love being my kids main carer. It works for my family and that’s the most important thing.'
