gwod

By "parents who are not working" do you mean unemployed parents or stay at home mums? Stay at home mums have quite a lot to do at school pick up and drop off times......

Magic Bunny clock and bribery.

I have redheads too, and usually randomly forget to cream up at least one leg of one child each holiday so have experience! Caledonia is good, but I would also have one of the Gel creams to hand for some applications as it is the most soothing. Also, put all creams in the fridge so they are super cold for application...Don't forget ibuprofen is a anti-inflammatory and can really help too.

Yes, Dulwich Village Infants school fayre 12-2.30 Hope to see you there!!

Two of my kis are needing lots of speech therapy, and my advise would be to get a appointment for a check up as soon as possible because if it turns out that he does need a little extra help, you will find that the waiting list for S and L therapy is so long that months can pass during the period where help would have been most useful. Get on the waiting list as soon as possible!

Its an interseting point you raise Karter, I know that my husband, though fully supportive of my breastfeeding, found it a bit exculding and did not like the feeling that he could not really be in sole charge of our children for any length of time and I can quite understand why you want to have tools for feeding and soothing as you deem the necessary. But I also understand that some people feel strongly anti dummy - especially when establishing b/feeding (not me though!) Its great that you want to so inolved, and I know a lot of parents where they felt that b/feeding set a precedent for mummy-heavy baby care, which in the end both parents may have wanted to avoid. Time for a straight chat with her - find out what her reservations are. If its that your babe may get dependant you can offer to get up in the night to deal with waking up and spitting out issues late on, if its to do with nipple confusion, you could offer to wait a while till B/f is established, If its do do with a deep seated irrational hatred of dummies ou may be better to just back down This will be the first in many compromises you will have to make together!

Ruth, I wonder of you should write her a letter. Sometimes (particulary with parents) it is the only way to fully explain difficult things which fast escalate into an argument or some kind of snub if tackled in 'real time'. In a letter, you will have the opportunity to iterate the positive things of this situation...for example...how much help she has been to you during your pregnancy and how much you have valued her support and willingness to step in for overnight stays etc and its is something you feel sure that will be fantastic for Seb as he gets older.... and then explain some of your reservations....for example....but right now, sometimes its easier to have MIL help as she is geographically more able to know his daily routines etc. You can reassure her that (if it is true) you are keen to foster a good relationship between them going forward but that at the moment, to ensure a relaxing break with your man, you would prefer him to be somewhere that you know he is immediately comfortable. You would also get the chance to say how difficult you have found it to broach this subject as you do not want her to feel hurt or rejected. Finish with love and thanks (much easier to do this in writing) and hope that it is the foundation for an honest open discussion. Just writing the letter will help to christallise your thoughts and make you think about her point of view you can decide whether or not to send it once you read it back- Best of luck. PS just read this back, man, I sound so didactic!

In 2003 I was prescribed this for producing milk for my baby in NICU that was born at 27 weeks, at which time my body really didnt produce any milk at all. I got the feeling Drs were reluctant to prescribe, and I needed the backing of Clare Kedves (BF nurse)to endorse that I had tried all other means before it I was able to get it. It did work though.

Loved our tripp trapps, Continued to be useful through the early writing years so the kids could be at just the right height to work, and have also been good for music practice when a tall tripp trapp affords a good compromise between sitting down and standing up!!!

One of the most interesting things about the BBC segment, and indeed any research into infant feeding, is the polarising effect it has on discussion, when actually as I see it, we are all pretty much in agreement.

It makes me want to know what the participants reasons for, and for not breastfeeding were. If they had separated the bottle feeders into those that didnt b/f because they never thought about it or couldnt be bothered, and those who tried but their nipples fell off,( Ok I exagerate) I bet the behavioural traits would be explained by having better or less informed parents, rather than the method of feeding. Also I object to the notion that bottle fed babies miss out on closeness with their parents, I think researches must believe bottlfeeders do it at arms length, when infact we snuggled up with the best of them, and they got to enjoy that special feeding closeness with their Dads too! Incidentally, Of my four, (all fed differntly) the one purely bottlefed one is the most confident, and the one that got a year of b/feeding is a little monkey. Same parents, social circumstances etc etc though. They should use me for research!!!!

Love the seeds idea, you could make a little sheet about planting and watering (with colouring in) etc. Or how about Strawberries for everyone. Party Bags at school is bonkers, (I even think party bags at parties is bonkers!!) dont feel guilty about letting that idea go.

Completely agree that its a great philosophy for parenting as they get older, as they become better communicators you realise that you absolutely cannot fix most of their problems (loss or pain for example), but your unquestioning empathy, love, and patience can make them stronger and fitter for the world as a whole. Hate the title though. 'Happiest Toddler on the Block' smacks of the sort of competitive and comparing parenting that can mess us all up if we dont watch out!

I would advise keeping S in a cot for as long as he will put up with it (or fit in it!)- especially if new baby is iminent - theres no need to deal with lots of issues concurrently unless entirely necessary. And if he's likely to get out its worth waiting until he's at an age (...he's only about 1.5 isnt he?) when he can be reasoned with a little bit more (or bribed) New baby wont need a proper cot for a while - and when she does, borrow one or get a second hand one to use until S is done with his. (sorry - loaned mine out already)

If you like a graph then you'll like this too... http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#ms=true&sw=m&exact=false

Usaually at Primary school, classroom time is split between peer to peer learing and "all eyes to the front" learning, Peer to peer is done on small tables often in groups of similar ability, with the teacher on the move, and "all eyes to the front" type learing is done all sitting on the carpet, usually with an individual little whiteboard each to practice writing/ write their answers on. Seems to work well IMO. Good luck finding the right place.

I always did that - and this info agrees... http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/pumpingexpressing/storingbreastmilkexpert/

nunheadmum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Factorising equations???? Total blank in my mind. > Which is worrying as I used to LOVE maths and did > it up to sixth year / first year at uni level. I > can see I'm going to have to re-teach myself loads > of stuff if I'm going to be able to help the kids > when they get there. > > At the moment I'm struggling with phonics with an > English accent and modern approaches to simple > arithmetic - are there any websites which explain > these things and other common school topics / > approaches? I will ask the teachers but feel it's > possibly a bit more than they can really cover in > the snatched 3 minute conversations by the > classroom door. I would highly recommend a Book called Maths for Mums and Dads which really helps me remember how to do things, and also teaches the new methodology for primary school maths (it has changed alot since my day!)- I hope the Authors write one soon for secondary schoolers! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maths-Mums-Dads-Rob-Eastaway/dp/0224086359/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301476770&sr=8-1

Never did much like Rock-a-bye Baby, though. I always try to avoid the falling, cradle and all bit and add something of my own where Daddy and I are there to catch them in s big stretched-out blanket! (Doesnt scan very well but, hey!)

No, but I have heard the Radio 4 programme for Cross Incontinents

I recommend a buggy and a sling, preferably a buggy that either child could ride in so that you can swap them around if the older one gets tired and needs a rest (tricky with Newborn but easy after 3 months or so)...I did this with the two year gap, but felt I needed the Phil and Teds for the 15 month gap. Also I advise against the side by side maclaren. A real pain with different weight children, and a doouble pain when one of them gets out to walk...!

Fuschia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Gwod, I think women who have given birth are > reluctant to share it with others who are pregnant > for the first time as it sounds so scary! But i > think talking about it afterwards is very > valuable, however it's gone. So true, the reason I only attended antenatal classes for my first pregnancy (despite wanting to go for a refresher) was becase I felt my previous experience did not fit with the NCT's expectation of me (or maybe just my own expectations of myself) and might give other mothers a bit of a wobble...but it would have been great at that point to speak to people who had had a variety of experiences - this of course is where the forum is so good. Regarding the high diving analogy. CS sometimes feels like you took a look over the edge, reversed back dowm the ladder and slid into the pool at the steps!

The Dummy Fairy is a close friend of the tooth fairy, she takes old dummies away, and leaves a gift to aid children (and parents!) with the transition to being a non dummy user. Very handy I imagine, but please..... no more elfen imaginings!!!

Yes, I agree, it's the Easter Bunny that has sent me over the edge. My older two say I have to uphold the Easter Bunny or all other mythical creatures are in doubt for the little ones.... but I dont like him. We have also had queries about dummy fairy (no dummies here so she's unlikely to visit) and news from school that everyone has their own personal angel to watch over them. Too many magical beings for me to manage!!!

Hot on the heels of Father Christmas (I grudgingly go along with him) and his Elves (cant quite bring myself to assist my children in believing in them!) comes the Tooth Fairy (feeling very dodgy about this night-visiting, money-giving piece of fiction) and now, to top it all, the B$%&*dy Easter Bunny. Aaaargh, Do all kids beleive in all of these magical, mythical beings?