Lochie

Thanks re biff tip - i never think of them for shoes just clothes. Will check them out. Those Moccis are so cute - really tugged on my heart strings;-)

Thanks Vickster that link works. I love those shoes, we already have some he has grown out of. I don't know why but his feet seem really big and I get a lot of squawking from him when I try and ply his feet into age 1 year old little jelly shoes, as if they are too small. So maybe I will get his feet measured...

My little boy is very active and really loves to be on his feet. He can't walk but he can stand and take tentative steps if I hold his hands. We have bear floorboards in our house and I really want to get him his first walking shoes so he doesn't get any splinters....also I guess to get him used to the feeling of shoes as I don't think it'll be too long now til he is tottering around! Any recommendations? What age do you have to get feet properly measured? He is coming up to 10 months. Its also a good excuse for me to go shopping for him again, I can't seem to stop myself! ;-( Any tips appreciated.... x

Yes I saw them (Mel & Den) yesterday she was wearing a red dress and looked AMAZING! I also read an interview recently with her in OK 2 weeks after birth and she was saying that there was nothing about new motherhood that phased her blah blah and how the weight just 'fell off'....hmmmm, got to stop buying those mags for the sake of my sanity!

Give Napisan a try!

Thanks both this is really useful and yes I agree with the shoes analogy!

My bro is about to have a baby and his lovely girlfriend is bewildered by what buggy to get, with a budget of under ?300 preferably!! It got me thinking really, has anyone had a pram system that has really lasted, that they would recommend to their best friend, that they would never part with? Are the more expensive ones REALLY worth investing in? I have an second hand bugaboo and maclaren type buggy, and I really love my bugaboo (mainly for the amazing suspension and ease of pushing). However the thought of buying it new at ?600 seems quite daunting to me if I were to do it all again. Any tips appreciated so I can pass on to the parents to be who have asked for my advice!

By the way I know it sounds a bit weird but I have a theory it is the birds that wake them!! In high summer the birds start tweeting at about 4am and they can be quite loud if the room backs on to a garden (if you have double glazing tho its probs not that)....I guess that is natures way and nothing you can do about it if it is that ;-(

I nearly bought these but resorted to bin liners (which still let light in - maybe mine weren't thick enough!) - so might be worth a shot http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/detailfash.php?type=FASH&code=B9140&proddesc=Magic+Blackout+Blind&supercategory=BRN00042&branch=&wcategory=CAT00283&catdesc=&super=0030BRN00042~0010BRN00052~0130CAT00283&treecode=TRE00009 Effectively they shouldn't let any light in! You can call Jojo and they can order in and u could pick up early next week...

Thanks guys ;-) @michaell i'll let you know what groups my mum is going to go to and PM u!

Thanks Verds yes I will let you know - of course this includes grandaddies too!

My mum is looking after my (will be) 1 year old from September for 3 days per week when I go back to work. She has set the stipulation that I sort activities for them both on each day... but then made the comment 'will that mean I'm the only granny if its a room full of mums?'!! It just got me thinking really - not that my mum really minds, but is there anything locally specifically aimed at grannies who child mind - I guess a mother and baby club that has a lot of grannies in it! Its not really the social aspect she craves as she has lived in the area for 40 years odd, but I would imagine that maybe granny childminders will have similar things in common?!!! (this is not meant to be a patronising post btw!) Or alternatively does anyone here have parents who help with childminding, who might be interested in play dates...(with a 1 year old from September)....

thanks everyone - so useful x

And thank you linzkg too - that is funny about the sleeping in the corner of the cot thing, quite sweet really ;-) Hadn't thought about osteo, am seeing health visitor in a few weeks so I'll ask her, maybe its worth a shot...

Thanks Pickle that is really helpful and puts my mind at rest. I'll sleep a bit easier now ;-)

Advice wanted re front sleeping and snuffling!! Front sleeping: Am sure this has been posted loads of times and have just seen post below re: rolling....but.... Does anyone have advice on front sleeping at 8/9 months? My little boy is waking every hour or two at night as he is adjusting to the novelty of new sleeping positions. He is often drowsy but moany when he wakes, and only seems to want to sleep on his front with his head wedged in the corner of his cot. I get so paranoid and it equals huge lack of sleep for me as I repeatedly turn him onto his back. Is there an official 'cut off' point age when front sleeping becomes ok and nothing to worry about? Snuffling: Any remedies for a baby? It is an ongoing problem - baby is not ill and does not have temperature, but does seem to have a permanently snuffly nose at night which leads to lots of grunty snoring then waking to try and clear nose. Have tried saline drops but doesn't seem to work. Advice much appreciated as I am desperado for a good nights sleep now!!!

Thanks that is very useful..... I've got some blurb from them through the post and as I am in Lambeth I don't think its easy for us to get a place anyway :-( The nursery hunt continues!

I just went on the SMA website and there is a very stern disclaimer before you even get to the website www.smanutrition.co.uk Talk about making you feel bad....I agree Saila it is so hard if you physically can't breastfeed, it makes you feel like choosing formula means you are putting your child last. I remember reading an interesting article in the new year though about formula being as good as breast milk (soz Belle not trying to start a b milk v. form debate, I'm just always interested in the way this is handled by the health profession...) http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice-clinical-research/clinical-subjects/midwifery/baby-formula-as-good-as-breast-milk-claims-study/5010121.article

Yes this has happened to me before at Sainsburys - no to Nectar points on formula :-( Surely if they are going to take that stance with formula they should do the same with alcohol too (not that I would EVER advocate that!!!)

I think the bio and matchmaking ideas are really important. I've had a bit of a pipe dream these last few months of setting up a group called 'Mummy Mentors' - literally a buddying system that allocates a seasoned mum (doesn't need to have a brood, just an experience of motherhood be it with one child or several) with a brand new mum based on how the new mum is experiencing things. Like Belle I was diagnosed with PND 6 weeks after birth, and through a post on this very forum Belle stepped forward and we started a kind of pen friend relationship really. I cannot emphasise enough how important it was to me to speak to someone who had similar experiences - a few weeks after giving birth I had met up with my NCT buddies and felt very isolated by the fact that their labours had been straightforward and they seemingly were not phased by motherhood at all (one of them gave birth in the loo and said she didn't know what all the fuss was about!). I think the one to one aspect of support to new mums is vital - a mentor who isn't your own mum or sis or best mate (not to underplay how vital those relationships are!) - but someone who you can chat to and just listen and share stories. The mentor system would also work for new mums who are having a fab time of new motherhood but who just feel a bit lonely or who want someone to hook up with to ask about breast feeding issues etc. I think online bios would be a great way of new mums having a browse and then just PM-ing a particular mum whose bio they think might work with them. Perhaps a September start date would be a good date to work to as Sanity Girl has suggested....and also a monthly get together of the Mummy Mentors with new mums just from a social point of view too from September ....

I remember thinking in said order: 1) YES I did it!!!! (5 mins after giving birth!) 2) I've never seen a more beautiful baby in my life 3) How come I've been sent home with a baby I have no idea how to look after - are they mad! 4) Jesus my boobs hurt 5) Its not possible to survive on so little sleep 6) I need a valley cushion! 7) Damn I thought my other half's paternity leave would consist of us having country walks and pints in pubs with our lovely new baby but I can't even fathom getting out the house! 8) Breast feeding isn't working for me or baby but I feel too guilty to bottle feed 9) I feel anxious alot of the time and am annoyed at other half for wanting to go out and play football when I've had no sleep and I'm sick of watching loose women on my own! 10) NB - 5 months later! - I've really got the hang of this motherhood lark and am happy to call my baby the love of my life! (much to my fiance's chagrin!) Am sure all this is very familiar (at least I hope it is!) - but having had a very difficult first 3 months, I feel I wouldn't have found things so tough if a post natal group existed, and am a strong supporter of any group that helps women adjust to motherhood (realising of course that a lot of women take to it swimmingly but others might find the adjustment a little hard). I had an outstanding health visitor who 'normalised' feelings of new motherhood for me (the feelings of anxiety, the feeling that you'd rather have a good solid 8 hours sleep than win the lottery, the feeling that you'd like a 'day off' from looking after the baby)...I have mentioned this to the lovely lady Alice who runs Bumps and Babes every Friday in North Dulwich and who also is an NCT teacher. It is something I am sure Health Visitors (at least good Health Vistors) are very good at doing, but sadly I don't think they have the time to provide that level of support to women who want to have a cuppa and a long chat about their new life as a mum. Unfortunately in our society I don't think that motherhood is put on a high enough peddlestool! (am sure its been mentioned loads of times but Naomi Standlen's book really captured how important just 'being a mum' is). I'd love to be involved in a post natal support group - even if it involves helping a new mummy with the often daunting task of going to their first mother and baby group - I'd love to help out!

Another vote for Tommee Tippy disposables - I had so much milk leakage I was having to double up on breast pads and the TT ones were the only ones that eventually really worked. Bit pricier but comfy and they came in their own little plastic wrapper so easy to just grab them and take them with you when you are on the run...

Thats good to hear. Will check Ofsted too...

Does anyone have any experience of Dulwich Wood Nursery & Children's Centre? Its run by Southwark and I've just rang them to put my 7 month old baby down for a place (though they say there is no space but think someone will drop out soon), hopefully to start by September. I'm trying to get my little boy a nursery place a day or two a week. During my search I have met with lengthy waiting lists for the private nurseries and am hence wondering why this particular nursery doesn't seem to have one (or a long one at least)...any experiences of the centre would be gratefully received ;-)

I can also highly recommend this group as I go regularly with my 7 month old. Alice is great and not only is she fab with the babies but is also very sensitive to the mums (she really helped me with my adjustment to being a new mum). Sometimes I go and there is no one there but myself and a few other babies - I'm not sure if that's because its not very well advertised!