Jen Walshaw | Mum In The Madhouse

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Author name: Jen Walshaw

Mum-in-charge Jen Walshaw runs the UK’s top parenting blog Mum in the Madhouse, and she describes herself as a “fat, feisty and over 50” Northerner. Based in North Yorkshire, she’s mum to young adults and a big believer that family life is messy, creative and fun. In 2009 a double mastectomy gave her the nudge to start blogging; with two boys under three she needed an outlet and a digital scrapbook to capture their chaos.Jen’s posts are a mix of crafts, kid‑friendly recipes and honest parenting, peppered with northern humour. She’s happiest when up to her elbows in tea, fabric and pizza dough – sewing and making homemade gifts – before sneaking off to write about it. As a proud Northerner she warns PRs that a “quick pop down to London” isn’t quick at all. Her blog has earned her a stack of accolades, including the Cision #1 Mummy Blogger title in 2024  and consistently topping Vuelio and Tots100 parenting‑blog charts. Whether she’s advocating for diversity and body neutrality or sharing tales of parenting teens, Jen keeps things chatty, real and refreshingly down‑to‑earth.

Talking to Children About Climate Change: Age-Appropriate Strategies and Conversations

Talking to Children About Climate Change is a paid collaborative post with Worcester Bosch to celebrate the launch of their children’s storybook A Robot called B4. Climate change and the climate crisis is in the news a lot at the moment and is hard to avoid (not that we should as parents), however, it can […]

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Encouraging your Hypersensitive Child to Brush their Teeth

The Importance of Dentist and Orthodontist Checkups for Your Children: Ensuring Healthy Smiles

Ensuring your children are healthy and safe is a prime concern for parents, and it can often feel overwhelming. Making sure they’re eating right and getting the right nutrients in their diets, getting good quality exercise, and having access to great health care are all major considerations when parenting. It can often be quite confusing

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Top Ten Tips to Get Your Kids to Love Reading: Fun Strategies for Fostering a Lifelong Love of Books

Inspiring children to enjoy reading and develop their literacy skills can sometimes seem a daunting task. In an age in which parents are competing with multiple screens and devices, which have been relied upon to keep children entertained while so many of us have been working from home, the challenge has become even greater. Literacy

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How to Cook Jacket Potatoes: Perfect Methods and Ultimate Toppings List

There’s nothing better than a perfect jacket potato—crispy skin on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, topped with your favourite fillings. This easy recipe shows you how to cook jacket potatoes in the oven (and air fryer) plus a list of the best toppings for kids and adults alike. The Best Potatoes for Jackets Oven-Baked

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3 Simple Upgrades to Your Family’s Health and Wellbeing: Easy Changes for a Happier, Healthier Life

There are a lot of often overlooked aspects of health flying under the radar. Maybe you’ve thought about them, but not as much as diet and exercise. A good diet and regular exercise can go a long way to aiding some of these problems, but some of them require a little more forethought and regular

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Tips for Choosing a Senior School: Key Factors to Consider for Your Child’s Education

Choosing the right Senior School for your child can feel very daunting and is a big decision.  I know, I have been there…… twice for two very different children. There are lots of different guides for choosing a senior school from different perspectives, but I want to give you some tips from a parent of

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Tips for Dealing with the Worst Cold Ever: Effective Remedies and Relief Strategies

I have a cold, but it is the worst cold ever and it floored me. Yes, a common cold has wiped me out! After 18 months of not mixing my immune system, has forgotten how to deal with a cold. The antibodies I might once have had against it have all gone and I need

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How to Make the Perfect Den: Creative Tips for a Cozy and Fun Hideaway

Today I am delighted to be sharing with you how to make the perfect Den. This post is in celebration of A Year of Nature Craft and Play (Harper Collins). A brand new book by gardening expert Catherine Hughes and well-being author Becky Goddard-Hill (who I am delighted to call a friend).  In it, they

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