JulieP

Our little girl was only 16 months when my son was born. We read "Up to the skies" around that time. She loved it as although it describes babies and what they do, it was about her and emphasised how much we love her.

My first child was born at home. However it was a very long labour, I was awake for 3, nearly 4 nights. It was painful as she was back to back and contractions were not coming regularly or strongly which delayed things. We were almost at the stage of having to go to hospital when second midwife came and suggested I eat honey to restore my energy levels (the womb cannot contract on empty) and have a lie down and a rest. About 4 hours after this, gave birth to my daughter. Despite getting the longed for home birth, I still found the whole experience extremely traumatic both physically and mentally and was wiped out afterwards. My second child was born less than 2 years later. I had a set up a store of food to start eating as soon as the first contraction hit. Having a toddler to entertain helped the first stages of labour ? singing wind the bobbin up through twinges helped take my mind odd things! I do remember keep thinking about something from yoga where you relax your jaw? Four hours from the first serious contraction my little boy was born still in his membranes. It was really calm and while not pain free I knew what to expect so could really go with it. I was a really lovely birth I had a few twinges with my third child in the day leading up to his birth but nothing too serious or regular. Then he was born in 10 minutes, delivered by my husband. This was a bit of a shock but also quite empowering. Each birth quicker and easier and each time the recovery was quicker. Good luck with the birth, there are lots of good stories out there to give you confidence.

Another vote for felaway. Although now the area is marked, he might keep going back there unless you can completely get rid of the smell. I remember reading about this a few years ago when it happened to us (I think vinegar might have been suggested and there are specialist cleaners) apparently you shouldn't use bleach as this has similar chemicals to cat urine and will encourage them to keep going back to the same place.

Poor you susyp. When we first moved here we had a similar experience. In fact the cat used to come in the catflap fight with my cat and spray in the house - at which point I got a magnetic catflap to stop it. However, I hated the fact that the garden always stunk of P**s. It is no longer around now. I don't know if it is because: 1. We had a period without a cat, then got a very male (although neutered) cat from the rescue centre. 2. Next door's female cat was neutered which meant the cat was no longer attracted to our garden. 3. It came to a sticky end as I expect cats like this are probably more likely to do. Don't know if that's any comfort. All I could do while it was here was to shoot it with the water pistol and hiss loudly at it. Interestingly when the Celia Hammond came here to assess our house they told me if the cat came back to call them and they would trap it, neuter it and return it. I asked if this was OK to do even if the cats have owners and they didn't seem to have a problem. Might be worth giving them a call - although as Charliebubs says, it might be ingrained behaviour now.

Sounds a bit like tonsillitis / other bacterial throat infection. My daughter had loads of these when younger. Smelly breath (although can get smelly breath from not eating for days) and drooling (as too painful to swallow). Did the GP look at her throat / have a feel of her neck glands? I don't know if this is correct but a GP once told me that if temp in children consistently doesn't come down with calpol / neurofen, it may be a bacterial infection.

I went in there a while back with my 3 year old to get some bread. After choosing the bread went to counter and stood ..... and stood ... (no one else was waiting to be served) eventually one of the younger staff members approached and then started to slowly clean the coffee machine not even pretending to ignore me, but looking straight at me. I waited for some time for her to ask if she could help me but after standing at the counter for possibly 10 minutes in total, I put the bread back and left. While all this waiting was going on, my little boy was starting to get a bit bored and inquisitive. I would not take him in the caf? to sit down as I know it would be unfair on those trying to enjoy a relaxing meal / drink. However, it does operate as a shop as well and there would not have been an issue if I hadn't had to wait. This was the worst time, but had similar treatment on other occasions. Don't know if was because I was with small children.

I can't offer much advice but have a fussy eater of my own who is nearly 6! From weaning until now, we have really struggled to get him to eat any food. His list is almost identical to yours. He eats potato and no other veg at all but thankfully just about any fruit. He will not eat sauces but will have plain rice and pasta. I think it is just the way he is as he is the middle child of 2 good and adventurous eaters. He too is small and underweight for his age so I have had to give in to a certain extent to ensure he eats. Unlike your daughter, he will not even try new things unless bribed with a treat! However over the years trying different things has worked as he has eventually found new foods he loves. Despite being a fussy eater, he really enjoys the food he will eat so its not food per se that's the problem. In terms of school dinners it has been a problem. In reception, we talked to the teachers and went through what he would eat on the menu and give them a list. They have been really good by occasionally making a cheese sandwich if there is nothing else he will eat or ensuring her has pasta without sauce. This year (y1) we have been trying to encourage him to eat more of the hot food on the menu and so far (with rewards promised for good eating and getting feedback from the teachers) he is doing well. I didn't really want to stop school dinners as I think its good for him seeing the other children trying different options. As the others say, it can be a bit frustrating not being able to enjoy a variety of foods together but she is eating a good variety of food. I've found that going slowly as you are and trying new things works, but slowly and avoids mealtimes being a battleground.

Dulwich Hamlet football club usually do a sports holiday club. Our not particularly sporty children have done this a few times and enjoyed it. You do have to pick them up by 4.30 though. They usually advertise on here and you could probably do a search for previous posts from them. Last time I used them I could also book online.

Gumboots do an afterschool club and the school has it's own breakfast club. Rainbow club (Amott road) used to do both but closed down at the end of last term. If you want to use Gumboots, you might be best to get in touch sooner rather than later as they will probably be busy in the wake of the closure of Rainbow.

I don't know why they have closed but can only assume that the owners didn't think the site was viable as a business anymore. It seemed to be satisfactory at the last CQC inspection therefore I doubt they can shed anymore light on this. It is a shame Southwark cannot help as they will have had to rehome all the displaced residents so must have been aware. If you have concerns about something in particular, could you investigate the FOI (to southwark) request route? Have you tried the last owners http://www.abbeyhealthcare.org.uk/index.html - they should be able to provide this info as they were the last owners before the home closed?

How can it be booked until October if they are meant to be baptised when they are a few weeks old!. This must meant that babies are being booked in before they are born! PS: I don't know if it would be glib to point out that Jesus was about 30 when he was baptised?

I have a book called "who was who in Peckham" by JD Beasley, published by Chener books (1985). There is a section on writers. It might be worth popping in to (Chener)see if they have any copies left - or if not you can come and look at mine.

Hi, I sympathise, I have been there! Do you think he is waking as he knows he will get a BF in the morning (the earlier he wakes the sooner it comes)? Was the earlier rising associated with dropping the evening feed? My youngest when he finally stopped BF moved to bottles of cows milk (thank goodness he would drink it) and still seemed to need / want lots of milk.

We live near Bellenden Road and we did have a problem with a large un neutered ginger male but I haven't seen him now for several months. He used to force himself on our neighbours female and was aggressive towards our old cat (who has now passed away - unrelated to this) including forcing his way into the catflap and spraying in the house. I don't know if he has stopped coming because the neighbours got their cat spayed and we lost our cat or that he had met a sticky end. We have adopted another cat now from Celia Hammond. When they came around to do our home visit, they told us if we saw the cat again, they would be very happy to come out, trap it, neuter it and return it. I have the person's name and I will PM you with it.

I can't remember it being a problem, as all our children have my husband's surname on their passport while I still have my maiden name. Just a note of caution though if you are going to travel without your husband. Passport control may ask you for proof that the child is yours (as you have different surnames on the passports). I have a copy of our marriage certificate on my phone to show passport officials.

edhistory Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On the more general point of "pink", "fairy" and > "princess" books, my experience is that young > girls rapidly lose interest when they reach around > seven years old. > > John K Agree with this. My daughter went through the princess / only wearing pink stage starting about age 3. This got worse after starting school. Now aged 6 and a half, she is much more rounded and has many interests in terms of what she plays and reads. She is equally happy playing with barbies as playing pirates and it has been ages since the "princess" dresses saw the light of day.

In terms of using / not using the bottle. With no2 managed to wean him off using the not offering approach at age 2 and he went straight to drinking water / juice from a cup. No3 weaned using a bottle at the same age but he drank a lot of milk and still does a year later, although not using the bottle now. He seems to need to drink a lot more than no2 and loves milk. I don't think I would have been able to wean no3 without the bottle but I think it depends on the primary reason for bf (thirst/hunger versus comfort). That may also have a bearing on how much milk you are producing and how uncomfortable stopping will be for you. Good luck with it

Agree with you Kristen. When we first moved here, I returned most mail to sender. Luckily, I opened one letter (which had no return address) to be informed the baliffs were coming round to collect debts from a previous occupant. One call to the company prevented them from coming.

Not sure if this is the same thing, but a few years back got house insurance docs from M&S to my address and using my surname (as it appears in the phonebook) with a made up name for my first name - using my initial. I called M&S and cancelled it. Later heard on the radio that online insurance companies offer vouchers or other incentives (hence M&S) if you arrange insurance with them. The insurance invoice comes to the address and they take the vouchers online.

lane lover Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Some of the posts actually make me laugh at times > - in a sad sort of way. > > I just dont see the point of aimlessly ranting > about it, because it wont move the poo. > > As for having poo on your shoes or your pram, I > usually go around the poo and not plough straight > through it. It has worked for me so far anyway ... The sanctimoniousness of this - it's easy for you to step around it. What about those who are blind or visually impaired or just not that nimble? Anyone who has ever pushed a stroller or a wheelchair will know that you cannot see what is directly in front of you - neither can you make quick avoidance manoeuvres. Every time I walk to school, through the minefield of poo, I have to stop myself thinking about all the children, having walked through it because they don't look where they are going, sitting down on the carpet - don't think I need to elaborate further. OK posting on here is not going to help much but the fact that it keeps cropping up suggests it ranks up there with the great M&S/Waitrose debate?

I agree with redjam. My daughter was born in August. She enjoyed reception as it was mostly play based and had a bit of a rude awakening going into yr 1. The group of friends she made in reception have remained close friends (she is now yr2)and she is quite nostalgic (as far as a 6 year old can be) about her time in reception!

Went a few years ago. Children loved it.

My youngest slept really well until he was 6 months old (on several occasions slept through). Then everything changed and he became a really bad sleeper. He ended up co-sleeping (and almost continuously bf all night),it was the only way we got any sleep! I'm afraid until he was 2, he stayed up later than the other children. I kept him downstairs while I made dinner, did other chores and he got tired enough to put to bed. Many times I would pop him in the phil and teds in the kitchen while making dinner and he would fall asleep there (and I would take hime to bed when I went up). It meant a lot less precious time to myself but the only other way was screaming at the doorway of the room (on the few occasions I tried to get him to stay in the room). It got to the point that my husband and I were not sleeping that well with a child stretching horizontally betweem us so when he turned 2 I put up a cot bed next to my side of the bed and used bed raisers (from disability shop) to bring it to the level of our bed (with a bed rail on the outer side). At that point he was able to understand a bit more and made a big deal of having his own new bed cover etc. I started to bf him in the room lying on the bed, removing him before sleep and lying with him until he fell asleep. When I stopped bf, he would have his milk and I would lie with him. We then progressed to having milk before bed and me lying with him, then me saying I would come back and check him when he was asleep and finally moving into his brother's old bed (in their room). The cot bed is still in our room (I took the raisers off to lower the bed about 1/2 way through this process). He comes in occasionally but at nearly 3 he spends all night in his own bed 5-6 nights of the week (and he is very proud of himself). Long post but it is evidence that in time it gets better even with the worst sleepers!

I have only briefly read through the document. My concern would be the 30% who do need admission (not including maternity service users) who will need to be admitted to King's or QEH. The ?36m (as far as I can see) is capital to spend on changing buildings etc. Will these two hospitals be expected to take in what would be the equivalent of 3+ wards without any extra on going funding to pay for staff / other running costs?

The point I was trying to make that was however much you go outside at the moment, it will not impact on vit D synthesis. I also was conscious not to advocate too much sun exposure in the summer - for obvious reasons.