millsa

has anyone been to Wavelengths Leisure Centre in deptfort? any good for toddlers?

can anyone recommend where to take a 2-year-old swimming tomorrow (Sat), somewhere up to half hr drive from ED? I am thinking 'fun swimming', something like Latchemere centre in battersea, with a shallow end and slides etc. Ive just looked at 2 websites: the beckenham spa and crystal palace sports centre but they are very confusing, and I cant find what I want. many thanks!!!

I know that two more autumn babies were born in the last two days, but I'll wait for their mummies to announce it :) I am due today but no signs as yet, fingers crossed please please please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

whippersnappers is a fun class with music and story-telling, I'd say best for toddlers not babies as toddlers get involved in story-telling by dressing up, but I used to take my son when he was a baby and he loved the drumming session (about 10 min of banging on drums and shakers) - and then he slept for 2 hours after each class, which was brilliant! :)

It was 3 years and 4 months between me and my younger brother and we have never been close enough to be 'mates' - he always looked up at his 'big clever sister' (probably something I kept telling him and he just believed in evenrything I said), and I admit I used to take advantage of him a lot. I was the one chosing games to play, books to read, in games we played I always played 'the best' characters and he was usually my servant - and it sounds like I was a massive bully, but he loved it and never said anything because he was 'a small brother'. I dont think it would have happened if the gap had been smaller. I wanted 2-2.5 gap between my children and will have 2 years 2 months. I know the first few months will be hard but I thought that if I wait for another year, and have even more independent son, I will never decide to go back into nappies and sleep deprivation again.

I second IKEA kritter, very sturdy and lots of colours to choose from, or you can get a plain pine one and paint it yourself

books are always safe and last long, for examples the ones with magnetic bits they can stick on. and 2 or 4 piece jigsaw with numbers or letters. and toy kitchens!

no pattern, as I thought... But thanks for all answers, I enjoyed reading them. craigy, my first one was 9 pounds and I am tiny, but he was still 10 days late! my cycle is short, but he was late. and as for family history, my mum had to be induced with me at 42 weeks but my brother came naturally at 38, so even more confusion here! :)

my friend was having a nice home birth last winter and suddenly nobody could hear the baby's pulse, so she was rushed to hospital. It took a bit longer than usual because of the snow - and she gave birth in a lift at kings! put me off having a home birth forever...

I have been told many times by midwives/other mums that my second baby will be late because my first one was 10 days late. Obviously there is no proof to such comments and they come when they are raedy, however I wonder what forumites' experience has been so far? Let's have a very inscientific survey here please, just out of curiosity. I am due in 5 days and it might help me prepare for another 15 days of having a big bump! Was your first baby early/on time/late - and how many days? was your second baby early/on time/late - and how many days? was your third...... Thanks!

massive congrats Claire! I keep hearing that second or third births are so quick, please keep them stories coming as I am due in 5 days and I am freaking out about labour!

Gina, 'Put your hand on your back and play on the 'ohh my back', keep rubbing and hope for a seat I say' - do you think some random people will care about your back, particularly if they are rude enough not to stand up when they see your big bump?! And why do you need to rub your back if you have a big bump? Hope will often disappoint you I am afraid. Just ask...

Sorry to be quite firm here but this whole discussion has really irritated me - particularly comments like 'I would never dream of asking for a seat whn pregnant'. WHY WHY WHY NOT??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can barely stand up, the bump is massive, you feel as if you can faint anytime in the heat (which has happened to me on the tube even when I was sitting), your legs are sore, maybe you suffer from varicose veins or are just knackered, you are hotter then ever, and YOU ARE HEAVILY PREGNANT - and you dont ask for a seat?/!!! WHY???? I agree that this is 'the English thing' - being polite. It is a very nice thing to be polite and I love this about the English, but I think you can be both polite and firm, particularly when dealing with so many rude people around. It annoys me when I see pregnant women getting on the train and just standing there, hoping that someone will stand up. Why don't you just make eye contact with one person (usually a young bloke), smile and say: Can I please seat down? IT ALWAYS WORKS.

hey, dont worry!!! our son has just started at The Villa and it is a fantastic nursery. I was very worried about settling him in as I am expecting a baby next week and was worried whether he'll settle before the baby comes, but he loves it there and doesnt want to go home. Will PM you as well. cheers

hi, not sure if you still need it done but I could do it for you. I have a sewing machine, I cant guarantee a perfect stitch but and I have just lined my son's curtains with a blackout lining, so should be ok. but let me know, cheers

I'd like to come along but have a 2-year-old with me on Fri - is it ok?

I'll come along on Friday but also have my 2 year old with me, is it ok? and big congrats to those who have already had their babies - I have no chance for an early one as have just been told by a midwife that 'the head is very high for 38 weeks'. Spicy curry on the menu now! x

I'll try to come along but we are going away this weekend so not sure we'll be back on time

good idea, have sent you a request

I had a voucher for a Mum-to-be foot treatment at the Elemis spa and went there when 8 months pregnant, and was utterly disappointed - mainly because the massage was rubbish and very short. It is a very nice venue in Mayfaif and it felt nice being in there, but the treatment was supposed to be 60 min long and it only took about 20 min - the rest was smoothies and 'just being there', which wasn't really the main thing I went for. I'd definitely go to the Sanctuary. and as womanofdulwich said, make sure you go out for the whole day, otherwise you might find yourself tidying the house or doing the washing etc. Enjoy!!!

yes on LL, see you tomorrow at 10

good luck Pickle, looks like M is definitely ready for a change if she told you 'no nappy' :) My son did the same at 22 months and I was shocked as didn't expect anything like this for a few more months, but took the risk (or a chance?) and everything went very smoothly (on the wee front). fingers crossed for tomorrow - big day 2 ;-)

lots and lots of praise when she does it on the potty, and you can also say that 'look, makka pakka doesnt wear a nappy so he must be doing it in the potty' - sounds ridiculous but I said it once in desperation and it really worked... As you have probably seen from my other posts, it took my boy 5 weeks to start pooing in the potty, he started holdling it in for 2 days because was getting too stressed, so I just put a nappy on just for the poo and eventually, after 5 weeks, he sat on the potty and didnt want a nappy. I believe they just need some time to get used to it, and you need to relax good luck!!!! x

hi supergolden, I am 35 weeks with my second and I know exactly how you feel! for the last 3 months I have been thinking 'how am I going to survive another xx weeks with such a huge bump, difficulty with sleeping (I can't turn from one side to another without waking up, which happens a few times a night), leg cramps, tiredness etc - I could actually moan here for another half hour how fed up I am, but on the positive side think that we are all going through this and it will all end quicker than you think. we can moan together when we meet on sunday :) x

I am not GF fan either and havent seen the book, but I pressume she says that once you have started potty training then you shouldnt put a nappy on (apart from sleep times). I would agree with it because I think that a nappy can confuse them: 'you dont want them to do it in the nappy while you are at home, but then put a nappy on when you go out - where is the logic?' I know it is hard to leave the house without a nappy, the first time we did it my son did wee 3 times before we got to the end of our street and I had to go back home as run out of spare pants! But we persevered and he got a message that he needs to do it in the potty wherever he is. I'd say dont confuse your little girl, just pack a potty and a few pairs of pants and brave the outside world! xx