mima08

Lot.9 I think? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lot-9-Peckham/656155121079061 Not been, though heard good things about it.

The sorting post office in Peckham collects them for charity (cannot remember which one).

Hiya, I have used a couple of their free offers in the past for my business: free mini business card and a free payment card reader - all very good. I have not yet plucked the courage to get their gold card - not sure if it is worth it for me. Anything in particular you are wondering about?

Thank you - it's reassuring to hear that it is not uncommon (although I do feel sorry for all these little ones). Dr. said it was normal (really?) and give me Movicol prescription. She also reckoned too much fibre is only a problem when given in addition to a healthy diet, i.e. all bran etc (which we don't do). Moving to the juice with bits and will try apricots - and the Movicol if it happens again. At least she reassured me about the vomiting...

Excellent - have put Friday 13th in the diary - will pm you with phone no. in case something goes wrong... Look forward to it :) mx

A nerd the PR cafe sounds good, cannot do next Fri but pretty free any one after. I also have dropped Saffron a note, so hopefully the might be a few people interested. Mx

Hiya, yes there was a group a little while ago, I always meant to go but my son was a little young at the time. He's now 2.5 and I would love to arrange more playmates. We're around Friday afternoons and weekends, if you fancy meeting up. Mx

Hiya thank you that - it is very informative. I didn't know how lactulose works, knowing this makes me feel better about it should the Dr. recommend it (the HV said that a short course often helps - sounds similar to the advice you were given, Saffron). I've heard that anything less than 3 days is not considered constipation, but even after one day, he is in obvious pain - like Caz describes, straining, tears running down his face etc. The two instances where he vomited, it had been 2 days of no poo...each time he was in obvious distress - being clingy, complaining about stomach pain, crying, then "vomiting"- I really thought it was a stomach bug and only changed my opinion because the very minute the poo is out, he is happy, active, eats like a horse. Also, no other symptoms of illness, like fever or rash etc. The vomiting does not occur immediately after drinking, though and no coughing is involved, either. It seems more like the stomach is convulsing, causing the drink to come up. Might be as you explain about the organs being so close together? If it wasn't for those two incidents, I wouldn't be too concerned, but the last one had me really worried (visions of bowl obstructions, intestinal growths etc) but I guess then it would be a more frequent occurrence or increasing in frequency? Oh the dangers of google.... thanks again, mxx

My son just wears comfy clothes and shoes - the kind you'd let him wear for a good run around in the park. Not open toed sandals, though as they try & kick the ball. Am sure you both will love it! mx

Thank you all for your messages and pm's. I spoke to my lovely healthvisitor who even remembered us (impressive memory!). She suggested that it might be a case of holding in when he is too busy playing, as there are no other symptoms but that I should still go & see the doctor to be on the safe side. Depending on what the doc says re the fibre-balance, I will be introducing with "bits" and keeping a "diary" of when it happens, too to see if there is anything that triggers it. Caz - did your daughter & nephew ever bring drink up because their tummies were upset by the constipation? (I am avoiding saying vomiting, as it was clear, unprocessed water...) thanks again mx

I second Ruggerbeez- a real fun set up, we've been going for a few weeks and I love how coaches manage teaching skills (like kicking) in such a fun & games way. I tried another one in Nunhead, which was fine but less energy....Yes, they do teach girls, too.

Thanks buggie - I didn't realise it's up to 5years old that too much fiber can be a problem! Will think about the health visitors as have not seen them in a very long time since had no need for the last year... Does anyone know if the healtvisitors attached to DMC are still at Townley road? DCM being the other problem in all of this: impossible to get through to make an appointment, arrrggghhh!

Thanks for the suggestions I definitely agree with wanting to avoid medicine, yet it seems the only two things I can change is switch to wholemeal pasta and juice with bits. The rest of our diet is pretty high fiber, including lots of fruit and veg every day. He does not go to nursery and the childminder cooks lovely fresh food every day- again with a good mixture. Sweet stuff (e.g. biscuits or chocolate happens once a month, maybe less... I have avoided extra bran as I understand that young children (i.e. babies) should not be exposed to it as it interfers wit the development of their digestive system - maybe he is out of that age by now. Strangely enough, the heat-wave had no effect, and I cannot establish a pattern at all...

Hiya I am looking for some advice: my 2.5year old frequently suffers from bad constipation (I say frequent - every few weeks, but sometimes not for many weeks in between). When he does not go for a day or two, it becomes very painful for him, he complains about stomach ache and has even vomited from the effort of straining (this happened the twice this year). The minute he "goes", he is fine again - lively, happy, very active etc. I have given him Calfig when he doesn't go to avoid it getting too bad, but don't want his digestion getting used to that. He has never suffered from other symptoms (I read on other threads about kids having a temperature etc) and is generally very healthy. His diet is good - lots of fruit and veg, lots of water, sometimes juice, next to no sweets...So I am really at a loss what can cause this? I am taking him to the doctor this week but just wanted to get some further advice / ideas please... thanks! mx

Hiya, we had nothing as horrid as you describe it but my 2.5 old was vomiting out of the blue today (though it has stopped) and his childminder said one of the other families have a bug, too. Hope it gets better for you, soon!

Hi - my 2.5yr old has just started going to the ruggerbeez classes in Belair park http://www.ruggerbeez.com/content/dulwich, very entertaining for both of us :) Can be drop in or sign up.

I have come across the effect that reward has on effort elsewhere - in designing employment reward packages, in fact. There is a school of thought that says (in very simplified terms): rewards in form of bonuses etc undermine the intrinsic desire of wanting to do a good job and leads to behaviours that focus on short term results. It also suggests that people who have an intrinsic enjoyment of whatever their job is, are happier and do a better job (the answer is to provide a good work environment, appropriate remuneration and support to let people do a good job). Applying all of this to children, I read the article to mean that (too) frequent reward for outcomes/ achievement could have an effect of undermining a child's desire to do something for the sake of doing. I have read similar theories as BB that state it is better to praise children for effort as effort is something that is within their control (i.e. they can always try). Whereas praising for something like being "smart" or an end result, could undermine confidence because those things are not necessarily within the child's control. An example would be to praise a child for reading a book by saying "well done, you finished the whole book, wasn't that fun?" would focus on the enjoyment of doing the activity as opposed to saying "if you read the book/ you get an A/ etc. you can have xyz". I have personal experience of a teenager who was always praised for being so smart: "he doesn't even need to try, still gets great school results". That didn't work when it came to A-levels and he is still (3years later!) very reluctant to try something that appears hard, for fear of failing. Of course, this is just one case, and I am sure there are many more reasons for this behaviour, but I do try to emphasis effort over outcomes with my little son. Would love to hear more researched (and experienced) opinions...

Hiya, I saw Daniel Harvey, the chiropractor on Crystal Palace road when I had very bad SPD - could hardly walk. 3 sessions and I could move around again without pain. http://www.dulwichchiropractic.co.uk/ good luck, mx

There still seem to be dirty glasses on the counter? Yet most of other furniture gone - strange... dbboy - do you know those rent & rate figures for fact or is it an educated guess? I am just very curious what kind of costs are involved in a place like that...

It's been a while (mine is 2.5yrs) but we used to go swimming and to sing and sign: both I believe run at various locations on the days you are after. Alternatively, check out the ED Tots website www.edtots.co.uk

and another thank you! Having only one and still feeling regularly overwhelmed, this is a lovely message. And well done you for doing a great job.

All of the above! Plus, I saw on your facebook page that you are hoping to be fully registered in Jan (not quite sure what this means) and that you are planning on a pilot project starting Sept? Although my son won't be going to school 'till Sept 2015, but am interested in the idea...

A long build up works well for us: so we start talking about 1/2 hr before bathtime that it's soon time for bath, then stories etc. effectively spelling out the routine and repeating this every 5-10 min. My 2.5 yr old is much more amendable to go along with things when I use this approach. It's very repetitive but works more often than not... good luck! mx

Thanks for posting this - will finally get to check it out!

Great stuff - have shared on fb! mx