marscapone

We have a 2 bedroom house and my youngest son is still in our room (he's 14 months). We always thought he would go in with his older brother (4 and a half) but he's never been a great sleeper. But recently he's started to sleep through the night so we're starting to think about putting them in together - finally! But there's a few issues. Number 2 wakes up at 6am whereas number 1 wakes up about 7ish. Also, they have a slightly different bedtime routine. They have a bath together but no2 gets out first and gets dressed first and then has some milk; then no1 gets out and they have a baby story together and then i take no2 to bed which usually invloves sitting in my bed in the dark and breastfeeding him - and he often falls asleep in the process (i know i shouldn't...). then no1 goes to bed and has another story. How do other people manage having 2 children in the same room? what age did you do it? do they disturb each other? Do they wake each other up? How do you manage the bedtime routine? Perhaps I should wait until no2 is older - i don't mind him being in our room but he'll have to move at some time

Go out and visit friends all over London so that by the time baby arrives you are ready to stay at home for a bit and have everyone come to you

First one was 2 and a half weeks early (and I was completely unprepared as most first babies late) Second was 4 days early - though it felt late as I had beeen expecting him to arrive earlier

We go to a very nice baby group at the Albrighton Centre, Dog Kennel Hill, for up to 18 months. 1.30 - 3pm. Might see you there this afternoon...

I would ask when I felt like I needed to. I found the best way was not to look at anyone in particular but ask quite loudly in the priority area generally - that got over the problem of not being able to tell if someone was actually disabled/injured etc.

During the holidays it's open 11-5 Monday - Friday I think

I would try not to worry too much about routine, or at least be far more flexible with routine for the first few months. I am writing from the perspective of having 2 kids so going out for dinner is not so easy these days, but I really wish that I'd put first baby in pram/sling and gone out a bit more in the evenings when he was young enough to sleep anywhere.

I also had very good experiences at Kings for both my boys. One thing that was brilliant was having a 3rd year student midwife in addition to the fully qualified midwife who was in charge of me. As the midwife had to divide her time between me and another woman (with me constantly thoughout pushing part, but came and went during earlier part), the student was with us the whole time - sitting quietly and unobtrusively, but there when I needed her, to answer questions, reassure us etc

We got this from lidl - very cheap http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_12833.htm

Poor you! I also found the last stages of pregnancy quite difficult as I developed SPD and could barely move. I know it seems long and tough at the moment but 3 months will pass very quickly and then it'll be over (think about the first 3 months of your first baby's life and what a blur that is now). Chocolate always helps too, and trashy books which you probably won't get a chance to read in 3 months time...

My son started nursery at 1, and has had a few periods over the next year or two where it was difficult to leave him. A couple of things that helped us were: having one of the staff welcome him in and make him feel special - big hello, cuddle etc having a favourite toy that he picked up the minute he arrived (the staff allowed him to keep it in his pigion hole permanently as he got such an attachment to it) reminding myself that he would stop crying not long after i had left and did enjoy the rest of the day It's hard now I know but your son (and you) will get there sooner than you think...

We also have an awkward shaped space at bottom of curly stairs and our solution is to drag the toybox in front of the stairs. We can still step over it but baby couldn't crawl over it - until very recently!

I rang NHS Direct to ask this question some time ago and they assured me it was fine to feed my baby and he didn't get ill at all Take care

It also seemed to vary daily with mine - he seemed to have one day where he would sleep almost all day, just waking to be fed. And the next day he'd be awake for hours. Now at almost 12 months he's still a bit random with daytime naps...

My son had one, he had an operation under general anaesthetic at 3 and a half months old. It was all completely fine. I will write more later when I get a chance (hopefully tonight), but just wanted to let you know that it is very straightforward and really nothing to worry about (easy to say I know, and it didn't stop me crying!) Feel free to PM me in the meantime

Agree with you all about the blanket thing, but since my baby (then 3 months) got sunburned through a thin muslin cloth, I have been using something slightly thicker - but still fairly light and cotton, definitely not a blanket. It's a hard line getting the temperature right for baby without increasing the risk of sunburn...

sounds good - I've always liked the sound of a toy library but we don't have a car so i like your idea of delivering larger items if cheap enough, it could also be good for things like jigsaw puzzles

While I am sure breastfeeding is cheaper, you will probably spend some of the money saved on eating absolutely loads more!

I didn't reply to original but would love to come along - see you tomorrow!

Thanks for all the replies. I have just had beconase prescribed by the doctor. I'm sure the NHS page is not meant to worry us - although I'm sure it's not ideal to take things, I personally feel that taking something is preferable having to stay inside or be a sniffing, vague, exhausted wreck due to hayfever and unable to do anything with baby.

Where is a good place to get rid of "crap" clothes then? For instance things that might have a small stain or moth hole but otherwise fine and might be welcomed by homeless or others who can be given these things for free

My hayfever has suddenly hit for the season. However the pharmacist won't give me anything as I'm breastfeeding. What do other breastfeeding mothers do? I don't really want to stay indoors for the next 2 months...

We had a bit of a mix n match approach - agree it's helpful to teach them about danger, but can't watch them so stop every single thing. There's only so many things I want to say 'no' to each day. So for instance, we had locks on most kitchen cupboards, but left the pot cupboard for him to open and play with the pots - I found we needed something like that for him to access and keep him entertained while I was cooking

There was a thread on this about a week ago

We had a similar situation with first couple of nappy-free nights being perfect and then a few wet nights in a row (although only 2 bed changes, the other nights he must have started to wee then stopped himself so only PJs got slightly damp). I find that with most things it seems to be two steps forward, one step back. So that after a week or two he was sleeping through with no accidents again. Likewise for daytime toilet training, weaning, drinking water etc - almost like once they do something that's a big achievement they lose interest a bit and regress slightly, but then pick it up again fairly quickly afterwards