Hi, I'm Sarah. Welcome to Qalena.
I'm a mom of three and a former pediatric nurse assistant, and this little corner of the internet is the resource I wish I'd had at 3 a.m. with my first.
Let me take you back about nine years. I was sitting on the nursery floor with my newborn son, a stack of contradictory baby books beside me, and tears running down my face because none of them agreed and none of them sounded like they had ever actually met a real baby. I had spent years working as a pediatric nurse assistant. I had held hundreds of infants, coached nervous parents, and helped families through long hospital nights. And still, with my own child, I felt completely at sea.
That gap, the one between clinical know-how and the messy, sleep-deprived reality of raising a baby, is exactly why Qalena exists.
What I actually bring to the table
Before kids, I spent several years as a pediatric nurse assistant. I worked alongside nurses and pediatricians, supported feeding and weighing, and watched countless parents learn the ropes. That experience taught me how babies are cared for in a clinical setting, what the research generally says, and when something is worth a call to the doctor.
Then I had my own three children, and they taught me everything the textbooks left out. They taught me that one baby will sleep through anything and the next will wake if you blink too loudly. They taught me that the fanciest stroller is useless if you can't fold it one-handed in a parking lot. Qalena is where those two halves of my life meet.
How I write every guide
I write the way I'd talk to a friend on a park bench, baby strapped to my chest, coffee going cold. That means honest, warm, and free of the judgement that makes early parenting so much lonelier than it needs to be. There is no single right way to raise a child here, only options, context, and a lot of reassurance.
I lean on reputable sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the NHS Start for Life program, then I translate them into plain language and pair them with what real life actually looks like. When I recommend baby gear, I picture handing it to a brand-new parent and ask myself whether I'd genuinely trust it.
An important promise
Everything I share is general information and personal experience, never medical advice. I am not your child's doctor, and nothing here replaces a conversation with your pediatrician. You know your baby better than anyone, and a trusted professional who can examine your child will always trump an article online, mine included.
Where to start
If you're deep in the newborn fog, my newborn sleep tips are a gentle first read. Wondering about first foods? Try how to introduce solids. Shopping for the big stuff? My guide to the best convertible car seats always leads with safety. And if your toddler is testing every limit you own, handling meltdowns calmly is the one I reread myself.
I'm so glad you're here. Whatever stage you're in, you're doing better than you think. Come say hello anytime, I read every message.