Audrey

Hi All, appreciate this is done to death so apologies in advance. My daughter has asked for a disco party for her 7th birthday in June. I got a recommendation from The Little Disco Co for DJ Trev, but lost the booking while tying up a venue. Does anyone know of another DJ/ Entertainer who can combine some tunes and games for a bunch of 7 year olds for a couple of hours? Many thanks, grateful for any feedback! Audrey

I came on to suggest South Africa too. I'd recommend South Africa Airways over BA every day of the week, even though you have to connect through Jo'burg. In terms of cost and comfort it's incomparable. SA is incredibly child friendly, we were so blown away we are booked to go back next year. Only downside is the water is freezing (not to mention full of sharks!) so it's not entirely "sea-sidey", but so much to see and do.

Hi, Sorry to hijack - My 3.5 yr old woke up to use the potty 3 nights consequetively last week around 11ish (he didn't necessarily remain dry for the rest of the night, but it was a start) but we are back to square 1 now. He started preschool on Monday so I can know it's pure tiredness that's causing what seems like regression. He is so keen to go to bed without the pull-up tho, and lifting isn't an option as he screams the house down, we've been here before. He is a heavy sleeper. Am I just going to really confuse him if I keep chopping and changing from pants to pull-ups and back again? I'm taking his lead when he wants to go without, I've encouraged him back when it hasn't worked in the past, and we're all knackered from disrupted sleep! Thanks.

Thanks everyone. Spots still appearing, and are now dispersed pretty much all over, so hoping we break the back of it soon. She's still fine tho, so I guess that's good. It does feel like your going a bit crazzzee tho when presented with something that's only supposed to occur once!

I hope someone can help, I fear we are going mad. My daughter had (or so we believed) chicken pox in May 2014. I remember it as it was over the bank holiday, the weather wasn't that great. She didn't have it too badly, was a bit sick, but only had 1 day when she stayed in jamas, she didn't have a crazy amount of spots. She would have been just coming up to 3 then, her 14 month old brother (at the time) didn't show any symptoms. Roll forward to last weekend, she had a few itchy spots on Sunday, and came out in loads more around her groin that evening. She wasn't unwell, and ate a huge dinner (normal for her). I brought her to the doc on Monday morning and he diagnosed chicken pox, even though I did tell him she already had it, and his response was "I don't see what else it could be". Some had scab bed on her leg, and he pointed to that as his evidence. Don't get me wrong, they look like chicken pox. But she is not at all unwell in any way. I hate her being off school this week because of her Christmas assembly, but clearly don't want to spread anything esp before the holidays. Also the spots keep coming, there was a fresh batch today. I would have thought they all come at once. I did wonder if they were bites or something but surely that would limit any outbreak to overnight, if, say, it was bedbugs. The boy is out in spots as well, but similarity not sick at all. So, is it chicken pox or is there anything else it might be? Thanks!

Endless ABC and Tozzle 2 yo would spend his life on Tozzle given half a chance.

Duck & Waffle in the heron tower is something a bit different.

Buggie - weird I thought that CP is contagious 2 days before spots, and for 21 days in total. There you go - never trust the internet. Stopped BF last sept, so think that ship has well and truly sailed. He is having terrible nappies this week, and his sister also had frequent runny foul bowel movements (sorry sorry!) in the run up to her infection. So I THINK he is on the brink, I just didn't know if at some point I could move on from "expecting it any day now". convex, I didn't think vaccination would work when he had been so closely exposed.

The eldest had chicken pox recently, the first spots came up Thursday 22 may. So I'm guessing she had the virus since Tuesday 20th. If it's contagious for 21 days, does that mean that I can expect my son to catch it by Tuesday 10th? If he doesn't, does that mean he not getting it this time? I know this sounds like a very pedantic question, but we're going abroad on the 17th June, and I don't want anything to jeopardise it! Will he be stopped travelling if he is covered in spots but out of the contagious period? Obviously I don't want to travel if he is unwell or if he is at risk of passing it on. I think I'm the only parent in the world desperately looking for signs of a rash every time he wakes up!

Dadhacks.co.uk has a good post on it.

Water was on at Myatts today .....

Yup, a friend of mine has a utility room at the front of her house, such a good idea for dumping wellies, coats, scooters, especially when the weather is rubbish. She lives in a more modern design house tho.

Hi all and thanks for all the input. We went to Biff and got a great pair of startrite. The fitter there said they were essentially for protection of the sole outside, not supporting. But like experiences above, I think he is in the biggest size. And now he is screaming......

Interesting midivydale, the girl in the shop we went to was talking about the stiffness of the sole, and how he might not like it and regress to crawling. As everything baby related, so much conflicting advice..... I'll try another shop and see what more advice I get. Thanks all.

Thanks Goldilocks, what did you do for outside? I agree he is better off unrestricted, but don't really like the thought of just socks in the playground, and anyway it's impossible in this weather.

Does anyone know where I can buy 'sized' pre walker shoes? My 14 mo has just started walking, we've been advised he shouldn't be in the next stage sole for a few months until he gets more confident, but he is too big for the really soft soled which only seem to go up to 24 mths. He is a size 4/5 already! So I guess I need to know has anyone bought a bigger size pre walker, or have people gone to the next stage shoe straight away? Thanks.

Some of the vertaudet ones are hand wash only (I mean SERIOUSLY) which are an utter waste of space. I bought some and wreaked them on the first wash.... Didn't even dream that anyone would sell hand wash bf'ing clothes.

Hi - I'm thinking of meeting friends here later this afternoon, is it any good for under 3's?

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5846/greek-lamb-with-orzo Our whole house falls silent when this is served up ......

Yes, of course the elevation would alleviate that - not a huge amount of logic going on in my head these days.....

I don't think its possible for babies to sleep on their sides on a hammock? Might work as a comfy alternative to a flat bed, for the reluctant baby, but if he is just going to splutter I don't know if it will work. I have one I stopped using last summer if you would like to borrow it for a trial? I have the positioner as well.(I used it from birth to about 16 weeks, then the weather got crazy hot I figured it might be more comfortable in a cot.)

Learning to scoot seems to be quicker than riding the BB. I bought a BB last June for a second birthday and it's only really coming out regularly now. Having said that I'm happy that she can't go that fast on it yet, so she has stayed close to me and the buggy. I get the feeling that is changing tho.? I only let her out on the BB for short journeys unless both of us (parents) are there. It is fun watching her learn tho, it does feel likeshe is learning a skill.

Thanks everyone for your help. I think he will be ok for this trip in the existing, but will get a forward facing one for the next time. I can totally see that rear facing is safer, but I don't think it would go down well as his elder sister already has a forward facing. Totally agree that safer often equals where they are least likely to cause stress and distraction.

I probably should know... But I don't. We don't have a car, but have car seats for car hire, Nanas car etc etc. It's been months since we have been in a car and I'm wondering of the baby (11mo) will still be ok in the 1st stage car seat. By that I mean the backward facing one, it's a maxi cosy, the one that clips into a buggy if that helps. I put him in it today and he seems fine. His head doesn't poke out the top (ie there is "car seat" visible above the head cushion thing). OH is concerned that in a car setting his legs will be squished and he'll yell for the next journey he does, which will be in a couple of weeks and it will be a 90 min journey. Also while I'm asking questions, any specific recommendation for a next stage seat? Thank you!