jules b

this sounds so so horribly familiar! Our first son, nearly 4 now, still doesn't sleep terribly well, but as a baby it was torture. He had colic and the only way we could get him to sleep was by breastfeeding so he had a very strong 'sleep association' (to use the lingo). This meant that every time he went thru a sleep cycle (every 45 mins) he woke and couldn't resettle himself so at 10 months old was still waking, crying, and insisting on being fed, every 45 mins, all night, every night. And from about 11pm till 4am, often he just couldn't get back to sleep even tho i was holding him. I got every sleep book i could lay my hands on and the most helpful one was the Millpond one. For a start it explains how babies sleep. However, i was too tired to work out my own plan of attack, and there were too many layers of problems so i didn't know where to start. In the end, in desperation we got a consultant from Millpond, and it was expensive, but it worked. Our consultant did not ever insist on any particular technique, but made a plan with us, and helped us put it into practice. All by phone consultation. Like i said, it was expensive, but for sleep i would've paid 10x! Here's wishing you sleep, and if it's any comfort, reflux usually disappears at around 8months (our second son had reflux), just do whatever it takes to get thru! Get whatever help you can. Good luck.

I feel for you, it can be so disheartening. My son is 3.5 years and only just out of daytime nappies. I was panicking as we had tried several times in the past year and it had always become a big ordeal despite me doing my best to keep it low key and unpressured. A couple of months ago he just got interested in the toilet by himself so we seized the moment and he pretty much just trained himself. We did all the positive reward stuff (stickers and books or toy trains as a reward worked a treat) and lots of reminders ("do you need to go?" every few minutes it seemed) but it worked and I was so proud. Then, when we had all decided he was fully potty trained and stopped giving him stickers or reminders, an accident, then another one, and another one... It coincided with a change of class at his nursery and his grandma going away and in retrospect we should've just kept on with the stickers etc. I've since found out that it is really common to have a relapse as the child stops thinking about it all the time and just forgets. So we've gone back to rewards and reminders and he's getting better again. I can't offer much practical advice I'm afraid, but do want to say hang in there. Things can change quickly and when the kids are ready they seem to get the hang of it overnight. I agree that now she is out of nappies try not to go back into them so she doesn't get disheartened herself. My parenting maxim is 'this too will pass', but I'm better at remembering it after the fact than when I'm in the middle of it!

The Mulberry centre (I think I've remembered the name correctly) at Myatt's Feilds in Camberwell is brilliant, tho it may be booked up for October already.

Thanks, that's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for and I've booked a couple of lessons to see what it's like. Appreciated.

Hi, thought I would bump this message to see if there were any more recommendations out there? Ideally not a weekend...

This will not affect me directly, but those who live locally should make their voices heard especially regarding the Size and hours of operation of delivery vechicles. You don't need to be against the idea of the change to be concerned about a possible (emphasis possible) negative impact, -personally I would much prefer a M&S to an Iceland! The planning stage is your chance to get clauses added to the planning permission that mean there are not noisy deliveries at 4am for eg. It is normal practice to do this, but difficult to do anything after the fact. I live over the back from another supermarket loading bay, and as there were no restrictions put on their planning permission there is almost nothing we can do about it now. irst mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Local residents, > > If anyone has concerns please get them in > here...before it is too late. There is only a tiny > window to voice objections > > > > email: planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk > > with your name,address and application no: > 12/AP/1340 > > > Do particularly consider how the development may > impact on your everyday living if you live close > to the proposed development, parking, noise, > deliveries, etc Positive comments can also be > submitted! It would be good if local businesses as > well as residents respond to the consultation too.

Very interesting thread. I go to the Lister, but have been looking for somewhere to change to as they have exactly the same problems there, and again, these seemed to start just over 6 months ago. A GP friend says that these practices are both finding it hard to retain staff as they treat them badly, and as a result are left with filling in the increasingly large gaps with locums. I wonder what has changed to make things so much worse lately?

that's so tough, -especially when teething too. Have you tried a dose of calpol just before bedtime? I know it's not a 'sedative' but it does seem to calm our little one down and let him relax into sleep. Personally, i wouldn't bring him downstairs during the night as it will make him think it's time to wake up and play. Our little one has never been a good sleeper at night (after terrible colic as a baby), so i don't know that i'm the best person to give advice! but what you describe is exactly what we had at about 14 months. We decided to go to a single nap, and someone suggested 11 am as a start time (lasting for about 2.5hrs max), then slowly move it a bit later as it suits. It took a few days to settle into a routine but then his body clock kicked in and so long as i got him down at the right moment it all clicked. If i missed that sleep window tho' everything went a bit pear shaped as he got fractious: soooo tired, but hyper and unable to calm down. Good luck, -this too will pass! ps the best help we got was from a group called 'Millpond'. They weren't the cheapest, but have a book that you can get second hand on Amazon for peanuts and it has lots of really good advice and explanations of how/why/what/when a baby sleeps. It's also really easy to read when you are exhausted.

These guys aren't local either, but they have been more than happy to visit us at home in the evenings, - Mark Brock and Steve Calder from Forte Financial. Mark was recommended to me as a mortgage broker about 8 years ago and he has been brilliant with a couple of re-mortgages and another purchase since then. They also do financial investments (this side is handled more by Steve), and have explained all the ISA's, pensions, trusts, insurance etc that seems to be necessary once you have a family, and given us a clear recommendation. Contact details below: t 01934 612331 f 01934 631331 e info@fortefinancial.co.uk

Saffron, -so true! I asked in John Lewis about this 15kg limit and was told that yes, much heavier kids are put in the buggies, but that the warrantee won't cover you if there's a problem. Sigh. Seems like a cop-out to me!

Does the Warwick Garden's outdoor playgroup run during winter? ps great thread

You've all made me laugh out loud! Oh thank heavens there are others out there having the same issues, -limited acceptable foods at home (but eats anything at nursery), certainly no greens (with the exception of broccoli, which my 22 month old loves but it gives him tummy ache, sigh), resorting to ellas fruit and vege squeezies, eating-out just a trial, struggling with the waste, the rejection, the devilment in his eyes when he slowly and carefully drops stuff on the floor while watching me... becoming screamy mummy and then bursting into tears when i've made him cry... I'm trying the 'this is all there is' strategy at the moment, but he just doesn't seem fussed and happily toddles off to bed with an empty tummy. If anyone out there knows a magic answer, -i'ld pay good money...!

Why are dock leaves important?

Hazlitt's is great (tho i agree about breakfast). Also try the Malmaison. It's a boutique chain (sister chain to Hotel du vin) and they do great breakfast in your room. Haven't tried the London one, but can highly recommend the Oxford, Belfast, Cambridge, and Henley ones!

the aquarium at the Horniman Museum is great and loved by my 20month old. He goes free, and i got a year pass for ?6. It's small, but that works out about right for a toddler's attention span.

really feel for you, -i had 8 months of nausea with my little boy and don't know if i can go through all that again! Have you tried chewing on crystalized ginger? It normally works for me when nauseous tho stopped working the day i got pregnant, -typical! It's probably not going to be enough on it's own, but may help a little? I can also recommend the OCC, -very caring helpful people, and great system of pay by donation.

not on again until wednesday, but the rhymetime session at dulwich library 11 to 11.30am is brilliant, free, and hasn't shut down during the summer.