Gooders79

Have you had any problems with the second seat height/length? We have a relatively tall 18mo and expecting new baby next month but had read that the toddler might not fit in the second seat for long?

Had a better day with assistance from more experienced uncle demonstrating a new restraint type technique, not pleasant for anyone involved but does appear to get it down in one go.... Thanks for tips. Claire it sounds like exactly the same as you had to give, flucloxacillin, horrid stuff.

Our 18mo is on oral antibiotics for 5 days for a skin condition, yesterday took it reasonably well, this evenings dose he has just been spitting out and we can't get him to swallow it... He's normally really good with taking meds but this must taste vile, it smells awful... Any top tips??

I know there was a thread a while ago about loal rentals ideal for visiting families but don't recall where to start looking, anyone remember it? Impending parental arrival from overseas for 3 weeks to 'help' around arrival of second baby causing much anxiety...

I have stayed in these (http://www.bromptonlakes.co.uk/) pre children, they were lovely.

Another one bailing I'm afraid, we are all infectious with one thing and another and not fair on you all to come along. Hopefully will make it to a catch up soon, before all these babies have arrived!!

Could do next wednesday too, would be lovely to meet some of you, will have my 18 mo with me, Tracey

Nicola changed our lives with our 15 mo, she gave us simple and easy to follow advice and went from variable naps and up 2-3 times a night for 1-2 hours to consistent sleep in the day, and 7-6:30 overnight. It was much much needed, we have a happier toddler, happier relationship and we couldn't be more grateful...

Hi all, sorry haven't made any meet ups yet, hopefully will do as soon as on mat leave at Easter. Will keep an eye on the forthcoming events and pop along if I can! Tracey

Thanks again all for comments and Pms. I spoke to nursery yesterday, different staff to those I'd seen on friday. Two separate staff members said that this was not their usual method of managing a situation, they would normally say very firmly that biting isn't nice, remove him from the situation and he'd have 1 minute of time out. They both said exactly the same thing which reassured me they are managing the situations consistently as they arise and that Friday was an abnormal situation. I have asked them to follow up what the stolen was for Friday, ie. how long it was planned that he was separated and how long he'd been separated... It continues to be challenging to manage and if other parents of persistent biters have any tips then do let me know! My SIL had a hideous time with her second child until he was 4, my partner bit until he was nearly 5... It can be socially isolating and very difficult to manage relationships with other parents and within my own family have seen a complete variety of responses.

Thanks for responses, I know it's really challenging for all involved, I don't really want to be a parent of a biter either and have massive sympathies for the bitten... I think the thing that surprised me was they have never used this as a strategy before, it's more like they just got fed up with him and moved him. I was so surprised I didn't ask how long he'd been separated from the others. normally he bites when overexcited or frustrated, he appears to have slept pretty well today but does seem very tired tonight and also has a bit of a rash so might but getting unwell? They have chosen this week to start him sleeping on mats too rather than in a cot, we only got back holiday last week and he's been tired catching up from jet lag which isn't ideal. He's eaten well at nursery but indicated he was hungry when we got home and has eaten well again. I collected him about 4:20 today and they are open until 6. Very tricky, will see whether it happens again and talk to them about it at that point with respect to consistency and duration of his timeout.

Just interested in opinions really... I collected my 17 mo from nursery today to find him in a different section of the nursery to all of the other children, he was with an adult who was clearing things away so was safe. When I asked why he had been separated they said he had been bitten 2 other children and tried to bite a third. We have had problems with him biting generally since he was about 9mo but in the last couple of months it's really settled down and doesn't happen very often at all. I wholly accept he shouldn't be biting but to separate him from the rest of the class seemed a bit extreme, or an I being a bit overprotective?

It's all such a personal experience in many ways, I realise now the needing to share birth stories was actually part of my own debrief and comi to terms with what happened... In many ways my birth experience wasn't that horrific compared to many but post delivery lo was whipped to scbu for a couple of hours. I found all through his first birthday I had flashbacks which really surprised me. So many people were talking of the celebration of a first year and it felt so abstract to me. Emotionally I feel like I've adjusted quite well but continue to suffer physical side effects of an assisted delivery, the women's health physio team at st Thomas's are excellent in my experience and can be accessed via heir URL gynae consultants, your GP can refer you directly into them, once I persuaded GP to do this I was seen quite quickly.

Sitters.co.uk might be able to help, normally three hour minimum booking though...

We went to memmo baleeira in the algarve last year, just down the road from the martinhal. We got a really great rate, easyjet flights into faro and hired our own car. Beaches were glorious, indoor and outdoor pool, our suite had a dining area kitchenette and living space separate from the main bedroom. Restaurant on site was good and walking distance into town and lots of other places to eat and drink. Our son was 9 mo when we went but could see I working with him now even though a bit older.

I had three different manual pumps and got on with them fine, seemed quick and easy enough to me, used to pump whilst lo napped. Was fortunate enough to have a good milk supply and easy let down too which helped. Then one of friends came to visit and was a shocked I was pumping with a manual and bought me the ameda lactaline double electric, although I didnt think I needed it, it was soooo much quicker and easier and I wouldn't go back to a manual now unless away for a night or something...

http://www.physiotherapy4kids.co.uk/ Vathana sackett has extensive experience with under 5s and might be able to help...

Dulwich DIY had some the other day

Mousses in Lefkas comes highly recommended by my SIL as being good in terms of budget and child friendly...we haven't been but considering for a family get together late summer http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/greece/lefkas/aghios-ioannis/villas/mousses-thalia.html

Do you have the infant insert for the ergo? This allows you to use it from Much earlier than 14lb.

We reached breaking point with our lo last month, all very tired ratty and waking 2-3 times a night and taking an hour plus to settle back to sleep. I am back at work and pregnant with second so limited time for catching up on much needed sleep. We took advice from Nicola Watson from child sleep solutions and had great results. Basically once I stopped breast feeding he only seemed to settle with a cuddle to sleep and then whenever he woke he wanted to be cuddled back to sleep, it could take 4+ attempts to transfer him successfully to bed after he'd dozed off on me. Naps were variable with length and he often woke obviously needing mo sleep but unable to get himself settled again. We decided to go down the traditional controlled crying route, after a lot of reflection I thought he would find it more distressing with me patting and shushing or sitting I the room not doing anything but offering emotional support. He's quite a strong willed character and is prone to biting, slapping and pinching at the best of times, flailing around n the bed head banging was not unusual... I was braced for the couple of hours of going in and out and worse sleep for us all for the first few days but actually the first night it took 10mins, and similar length of time the following few nights. Now we are putting him down at night without any crying at 7 and he's sleeping until 6:30ish, napping well during the day, seems quite a lot happier. It has changed our lives! I really wanted to give a perspective on cc from a quite painless perspective and I really don't think we've had any detrimental effects to hm. He is older than your lo (15 mo when we started) and as I said I think this suited his personality well. I would highly recommend Nicola to help you work through the specific issues you have and how best to manage them. Good luck!

I'm not sure there is a perfect solution, we had a cameleon which I loved, sturdy, great and easy to push, always looks really comfy and secure. Wasn't always great for public transport where stairs involved but buses were manageable not at peak times. Now we have a bee, I'm glad we didn't have it for the newborn, occasionally a bit unstable on turning, generally a lot less steady, lie flat option not as good, (carrycot on cameleon great for travelling in the early days... Having said all of this I don't know many people unhappy with bee or oyster... I hated my Maclaren techno xt but it was second hand and a new one might be much nicer. Used a sling a lot in the early days and its an essential for when we fly or do longer journeys now...

Unfortunately won't make the catch up today we have some unexpelted visitors, hoping to join you for a meet up in the new year! Tracey

This sounds great, love to knit but haven't really had time since my first came along, now expecting second and will be on maternity leave from April!

When we were at the evalina they said new research has found it is common that aqueous cream makes eczema worse...