Lochie

I think there are serious plans to reform the care system for the elderly so that there is a cap of ?35k for all care and the gov will pay for the rest - therefore meaning you don't necessarily have to sell your home to pay for care in old age. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13980493 Whether or not this will ever come to fruition is another thing.

Hi - I go regularly. Its ?2 a session and very much lively toddler focused i.e. a hall with lots of tables with toys for 2+, a small slide, some prams and dollys for toddlers to play with. There is a small corner with more baby focused things but its definitely better for toddlers than babies. There are often mums/dads there with toddlers and small babies in arms/on knees. I would definitely recommend a visit but more for your older child than the 1 year old...though there would be something for your 1 year old to do there you would just need to keep your eye on them as the older kids can race around a bit and knock the babies over onto the hard floor (my son is one of the guilty ones here!)

I'd never heard of it for labour either Basically heroin? http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/painrelief/diamorphine/

I have just bought one- am 38 weeks pg. Am not planning on using carry cot just reclining seat flat and putting fleece in city jogger to make it all cosy.this is my second child and don't reckon carry cot is required....

my son (2 years 4 months) has been in a bottom bunk with guard for about 4 months now and really loves it, I think because its quite cosy. I bought it thinking even if child 2 doesn't sleep in the other bunk eventually, its great to have a spare bed for when friends stay over. I grew up in a house big enough for me and my brother (4.5 year age gap) to have our own bedrooms but I do vividly remember there being a period of at least a few years when we chose to sleep in the same room in the bunks and it being quite fun and also quite reassuring when I was at that 'scared of the dark' age. I think that was when I was about 4 or 5 (I am youngest child) so even if your youngest is too young now a bunk bed might come into its own in the future. We bought this one its really well made and easy to put together (apparently according to husband!) http://www.johnlewis.com/231088114/Product.aspx

Have you got a microwave? its so easy to do it that way. For every e.g. half cup of porridge put one cup of milk in a bowl, mix, then blast in micro for 3.5 mins on high. Makes enough for about 2 adults and doesn't need to be pre made so nice and fresh...

yes i always remember the nappy lady tip as it helped us though the stage you are describing I think you put the changing mat on the floor, baby on changing mat, then (with you sitting down on floor) put one leg over the stomach of the baby who is lying flat - this prevents them arching their back etc whilst you wipe their bum. From doing it myself I remember it literally renders them powerless to crawl away (also makes you very unpopular but at least you have a clean bum!)

Sorry missed last night I'm really feeling SO tired now and mischievous toddler just adds to the exhaustion! Really feel full term now and am only 36 weeks perhaps this one will come early! Hopefully will be ok to meet on 18th Feb and am starting mat leave next week so also am up for week day meets (am toddler free on tuesdays, thursdays and fridays if anyone else is free) x

Thanks for the tips - yes I do think immediate action is right and removing from situation best. I've spoken to the health visitor who was at one of the play groups and she suggests same thing. Because I am very heavily pregnant I do find it hard at the moment to drag a large toddler unwillingly away though, I think that is why I've tried to avoid it in the main but know its the best way. Susyp and Emily E - totally sympathise about moody unforgiving mums, it can really ruin your day and it ends up making me want to say something along lines of 'well of course your child is an angel all the time isn't s/he' but I end up doing the right thing and walking away quietly. At the other end of the spectrum I do think so highly of mums that acknowledge your apology and empathise/laugh about the situation, such a small gesture but so much appreciated!

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to teach a toddler the importance of being gentle? My son is 2 years 4 months and is a lively and energetic boy who can get a bit over the top and pull hair/push/steal toys etc at play groups. I always immediately tell him off and make him say sorry to whoever is at the receiving end of this (usually victim is in tears). When we get home we talk about what has happened and I will say he has been naughty and ask him why and he?ll usually allude to ?pulling hair? or ?biting? etc ? so he knows what he has done. The problem is he now seems to be focusing on younger babies, I think he thinks it?s all a game. In the last few weeks he has pushed a baby over who was playing harmlessly on the floor, and today at a play group he tried to glue a newborn?s head (whist being breast fed) and went over unashamedly to try poke a month old baby in the face. It?s upsetting for me as the parents are usually aghast. I am also due with baby 2 in 4 weeks and am really worried he doesn?t understand that young babies cannot be bashed around in such a way. We have been telling him that a new baby will be coming soon, I don?t think he quite gets it, though he gets it enough to have pushed the newly set up moses basked out of our bedroom whilst saying ?byebye baby? (!!!). Perhaps this is a jealousy thing, but if so I am at a loss as to how to teach him the importance of being gentle at a time when he really needs to learn. Any tips? A pet is not an option!

i love my apron covered in crusty acrylics! AND i quite like looking at the colour of the sky! where do i fit in! :-S

Hi everyone, Bit bored at work (basically just work avoidance as have had a big lunch and too sluggish to concentrate on anything important!) so I've done some googling and racking of my brains and put together a very brief timetable of weekly mum and baby groups. Bit premature for some of the spring babies clubbers especially if you due May time but I'm due next month and it's all getting scarily close! My main recollection of when my son was born was how sleep deprived I was and hence unable to organise myself very easily, in particular with getting out the house! I also found it so hard to navigate myself in the unfamiliar new mummy word. So I figure this time I'm going to make a note of all the local activities and have them printed out in black and white so no excuses for not getting out this time! If you know of any other groups please do add and reload the document up for all to share. Also - I've only put cheap or free groups up as you'll find yourself inundated with flyers for the more premium courses i.e. ?5+ a session when your baby is born - they are very much a matter of taste and are so varied I haven't put them on the document but if you want to add any then please do. Rosie x

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my 2 year old son is still requesting recordings of Wallace and Gromit and Wizard of Oz - both shown over Xmas. Seem a bit old for him but he really loves them, might also suit 4.5 year old.

would love to join on 22nd but am being dragged to cinema by friend to see Warhorse - as if pregnancy hormones weren't enough I don't need to sit through a sobfest about a boy's love affair with his pony! Hopefully see some faces at next meet up, got 32 week scan tonight so hopefully all well x

I had to do this last year with my son in a and e. sorry to be bearer of bad news but it's really really hard! We literally had to sit him on our knee with no nappy and a towel to mop up any wee, then held a sterile pot with funnel over the necessary area until he'd done a wee. It took about two hours to come. Ask your gp surgery or pharmacy for the funnel bit that goes at the top of the pot, it will make your life much easier. Good luck!

If he likes planes and trucks then imperial war museum might be good.... I haven't been but hubby has taken O twice and he loves it 'apparently' (though suspect hubby might also love it too)

I've been and it's brill. Lots of tiny little girls in audience dressed as Dorothy so u might want to make that part of the trip and buy a gingham dress and red shoes. Equal to film in terms of scariness though obviously louder/ more visual as theatre production, but as long as mum is with her she will be fine. Enjoy.

I have the cameleon (well the Gecko but that is basically same as Cameleon). Think main thing about Cameleon is that it has great suspension and is very very comfortable to use. Great for walking over most terrains (so if you go on basic country walks for example it would be good) and it also meant in early days I was happy to go out with baby most days on walks. It has a carry cot and then converts into a seat, both forward and backward facing - so is a great pram that will last you to the toddler years. Cons are - it is a bugger to put in back of car and if you use bus alot (which I did) its a bugger to fit into pram area and if you are asked to collapse down it is virtually impossible whilst holding a baby. I haven't tried Bee but from what friends say and what I can see it is Bugaboo's attempt at a city pram - much lighter and slimmer. However doesn't have carry cot and have seen toddlers looking a bit big in it beyond 2. Have heard really good things about it though, not sure if suspension is as solid as Cameleon. Also alot cheaper than Cameleon. Best thing to do is to go to Peter Jones on a Sunday (you can drive and park) and try them out as its usually a quiet day and staff are very helpful Hope that helps!

Not sure if anyone can help - I don't really want to waste GP's time with this as its not an illness. I was just wondering if anyone has any idea of the best creams to use/ointments etc to prevent scarring. My son received a nasty and deep scratch on his face at nursery in early December and though its faded and healed the mark on his cheek is still there and doesn't seem to want to go. I wouldn't mind if it was somewhere else but his face is different. Any tips much appreciated as am sure this will not be the last time i'll need to use it :-S

Welcome Jane- my son should be 2 y 5 m when sprog 2 arrives so I share your concern! Midivydale yes will probs tune in too I always choke on tears at the end when the mum is cuddling her lovely newborn :-)

I think it will just remind me how civilised an epidural seems

i don't know if i can bear to watch this at 32 weeks pregnant with child 2 - feel like its a crime scene I can't help but look at!

also as above re: only buying 1 or 2 to start with - it is hard to get an accurate measurement pre-birth as your boobs can grow so much bigger when your milk comes in postnatally. So defo buy just 1 or 2 to start with then maybe a third a few sizes up or preferably get remeasured and make purchases post-natally (when you can find the time!)