
Fidgetsmum
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Everything posted by Fidgetsmum
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Half Moon Montessori... do they make an effort?
Fidgetsmum replied to Sanne Panne's topic in The Family Room Discussion
My daughter started there this term, and I think it's great. Audio accompaniment definitely has its place but I've hung out there a bit since the start of term (the odd 10 mins here and there when I've been able to as it's my daughter's first experience of nursery) and I've been really very impressed by the level of personal interaction the teachers (or whatever you're supposed to call them) have with each of the children. They really seem to take care to spend the same amount of time with each child so none lose out. I've seen them reading (with their own voices!), playing, interacting and disciplining and I have to say, I've seen nothing that worries me at all. In my view, audio has it's place and I feel pretty confident that it's absolutely not the norm there. Just my opinion and observations though. I can see why it may have worried you. -
I have posted this in the Wanted section... but as it's toy related... As much as I love my dog, and as much as I'm actually in my thirties, to see him tearing a hole out of my beloved panda which I've had since I was a newborn, reduced me to tears, and then my own daughter to tears, as she had recently adopted him. I'm looking for a seamstress with experience of fixing toys to re-stuff Panda (imaginative name, I know) with safe modern stuffing and patch up the hole. The dog ate some of the outside, so I think it'll be a patch job, rather than just a sew back together job. Panda, I should point out isn't worth anything monetary wise, it's a purely sentimental wish to get him fixed. And although I can sew a bit, my skills would lead him to resemble Frankenstein's monster, rather than a Panda. Anyone know anyone that might help? Please?
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Advice re childcare vouchers during maternity leave...
Fidgetsmum replied to EmmaCC's topic in The Family Room Discussion
I just had exactly this confirmed by my HR department. They legally cannot take funds out of your SMP. -
I third the recommendation for Russell upstairs at DMC. Very very good, knowledgeable and a nice bloke so you don't mind having to spend half an hour in his company (my last Physio was devoid of ALL personality!). It's definitely worth spending the money if you can go without something else for a couple of weeks.
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Parent & Baby parking at Sainsburys
Fidgetsmum replied to bumpy's topic in The Family Room Discussion
... and this was Sainsbury's response. Dear Katie Thanks for your email. I'm sorry people are parking in the parent and toddler spaces when they don't have children. I can understand how disappointing this would be, especially as people with children have to park further away. Our car parks are owned by Europark car parks. They have patrols to check that the spaces aren't being misused. It is hard to determine if this is taking place with the parent and toddler as their could be a car seat but they still don't have a child with them. If they do see this happening, a fine is issued. The manager will speak to the supervisor at Europark to see if they could have it patrolled more regularly. We are grateful to you for taking the time to contact us as this helps us to continually improve our services. We look forward to seeing you in store soon. Kind regards Kathryn Kain Customer Manager [THREAD ID:1-3YOQIT] -
Parent & Baby parking at Sainsburys
Fidgetsmum replied to bumpy's topic in The Family Room Discussion
I'm never one to get on a complaint wagon, but the last three times I went to Sainsbury's there were people parking in parent spaces with no children in their cars. Occasionally you'll always get the odd one who frankly doesn't give a monkeys about anyone else, but I've seen it more frequently more recently. For information, there are 399 normal spaces and only 16 parent spaces - so, to all those out there (not yet on this thread) saying there are too many parent spaces already, who don't have a child or children to negotiate around the Ayrton Senna's who speed around the car park, I beg to differ (blimey - I sound like my mum!) So, because we never get anywhere with the store, I've just written this to Head Office: Hi My daughter is three in November and since her birth, I've been using the parent parking spaces in the Dulwich store car park. However, on a number of occasions, and indeed the last three times I shopped there (I shop there at least twice a week) I saw three different cars park in a parent spaces with no children in. Dulwich and East Dulwich is densely populated with 'young families' so there is a large Sainsbury's customer base with a genuine need for these spaces. There are 399 normal spaces and only 16 parent child spaces at Dulwich. Please can it be arranged that even for a limited period, those spaces are policed properly and the fines that are threatened in store, actually are administered. It would then only take some random checks after that period for the problem to be sorted. This of course will cost Sainsbury's money, but I would suggest that if this store do not look to rectify the problem, what would cost Sainsbury's more in litigation and PR would be a small child being hit by a car as they've had to walk from the other end of the whole car park (often one will park in a closer non-parent space to find there is literally not enough room to open a car door to get a child out so you have to park as far away as you can from the actual store). Many parents have complained directly to the store (see our local forum East Dulwich Forum for some of the local views on the matter) and the answer seems to be that the car park is not operated directly by Sainsburys. I used to manage a team of people - it's like me saying that one of my team underperforming is not my fault! Just not the case. Sainsbury's may not be responsible directly for their car park, but you certainly are indirectly and you will have negotiating power with your car park suppliers. Please please can someone police these spaces appropriately - even for a limited period with random checks afterwards. Katie -
Beth of BeeHealthy is fantastic and trained in pre and postnatal exercise. I strongly recommend her - she was brilliant with me. Not sure if she's taking on new clients at the moment, but do give her a shout. email info@bee-healthy.co.uk or call her on 07947 241221. Her website is something like www.bee-healthy.co.uk
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My daughter wouldn't sleep in the day either until I succombed to my sisters suggestion and got the book she used (with all three of hers) called The Baby Book by Rachel Waddilove. It's a nice easy gentle routine that doesn't make you feel guilty if you completely mess it up! My daughter got straight into it and has (routine wise) been brilliant since then.
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Hi snowboarder, My first experience was different to yours (big baby, more importantly big head, laboured at home, into hospital after 20hrs, third degree tear from rough failed ventouse and forceps delivery and 12 months pain etc etc - all better now though and due next one in December). However here are the things I know/have researched/believe (all jumbled up below) about VBAC or HBAC, having spent a LONG time researching homebirth when I was pregnant with my first: 1) Unless there was a specific issue with your CS (not what led to it, but the CS itself), there is no reason to abandon VBAC or homebirth as an option. Uterine tearing is the main fear, but the chance of this has been dramatically reduced since they have generally changed how they stitch it back together 2) My sister had an emergency CS for her first (laboured at home, face presentation, cervix couldn't fully dilate, baby becoming distressed - she lives in the wilds of Norfolk and had a bumpy 45 minute ambulance ride to get to the hospital). Her second and third were both born at home in a pool, with an independent midwife in attendance - short labours, no drugs (less than 8 hours for the first, 3.5 hours for the second) slight vaginal tearing (more of a nick she said) which was healed within a few weeks - no uterine issues at all. Altogether a better experience. a) She made a point of finding a midwife who had LOTS of experience with VBACs HBACs - experience counts for a lot as they can spot things going awry pretty quickly. b) she did hypnobirthing (not a group course, but a one to one affair with a trained hypnotherapist who could deal with her specific worries about her potential for VBAC HBAC). c) she had enough people telling her that every birth is different, that her body a least knew how to labour (if not deliver vaginally) and that having had one, she could focus on the addition to her family rather than the birth, that ultimately she focussed on what she could do, not what she might not be able to do. 3) I am currently with Christine Neillands (Hypnotherapy) at the moment to deal with some specific aspects of my last birth, before I have to deal with this one, and I have to say, she is excellent. Not cheap, but well well worth it if you can (and you like the idea of hypnotherapy). Most importantly for me, she is tailoring the hypnobirthing principles to my specific way of thinking (I might have to be in Kings this time for the birth) 4) The homebirth website www.homebirth.org.uk is essential reading - read ALL of it, even the bits that don't apply to you as it's really helpful to see the fears and issues other women have who have come from different birthing paths with their firstborn 5) Going to speak to the hospital is essential too (Mr Marsh I'd presume) so that you can make a balanced judgement. I'm booked with the Brierley this time, in the hopes of a homebirth but went to speak to the hospital too for their opinion on where I should be, due to history of tearing (and excessive bleeding from a miscarriage in February). For tearing, by the way, they only insist on a CS next time around if you had incontinence issues - this (thankfully) was one aspect I managed to avoid 6) My best friend had an early CS with her first (early placental bleeding, baby better out than in even though a few weeks prior to 40 wks gestation) and a successful VBAC in hospital (not interested in homebirth) with her second. Interestingly, she felt she bonded quicker with her first baby and her opinion was that vaginal birth was not all it was cracked up to be - so it just goes to show, you won't really know how you feel until you get there There. A braindump of all I can think of. Hopefully some of it's helpful. DO read the homebirth website, even for just their opinion on VBAC's generally. Also look at vbac website which I think you can link to from the homebirth website. Also take a look at american VBAC website- it's american (my mum lives there so I did research on english and american websites) - they have some interesting stuff. I hope you can feel like you can make the right decision for you - I've learned through this pregnancy to keep asking questions of as many people as possible until I feel I can make the right decision - if you don't feel like you're getting all the options given to you, keep asking - but who's to say I don't end up with a similar experience to last time. But at least I'll know I looked at all the options and felt ready and comfortable with my choices to let nature take it's course, whichever way it wants to take me!
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I got an all seasons which is a 4.5 tog and a 9 tog which you can use separately or button together. Little ones definitely don't need the same tog rating as adults. As it was for a single bed, and we wanted it to last for years to come (assuming it's the same bed now that she'll sleep in for years), we got ours from John Lewis, but I'm sure there will be cheaper alternatives out there too. Currently, she's in the 9 tog but her room is like the Arctic overnight.
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Children's book on becoming an older sister
Fidgetsmum replied to Fidgetsmum's topic in The Family Room Discussion
Thanks for all the suggestions - amazon here I come. And BB100 a thanks in particular, I hadn't thought of making my own too which I think we'll definitely do (I say we, but my husband's the arty one!) -
Baby due at Christmas and I have a great book for my nearly three year old called 'There's a house inside my Mummy' which goes through all pregnancy things (like why Mummy's fat etc!!) But I want one that deals with the postnatal stuff like 'just because mummy is feeding and can't get up and dance doesn't mean she doesn't love you' and 'just because Daddy is winding the baby and can't put you on his shoulders, doesn't mean he doesn't love you' etc etc. Can anyone recommend a good book on the subject? Thanks!
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Just seen Chuck's Ocado idea - brilliant!
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Food. Without a doubt. The last thing you can think about is cooking or even eating sometimes. My dad arrived as a surprise(having driven 5 hours to see us) with a Harrods hamper (he's never normally even vaguely that generous!). But it had a whole chinese meal in it for my husband and I, some beer for him and a Guinness for me (that he'd added in!). It was the best present out of everything we got. Recently a friend had a baby and we all created a Meals on Wheels rota for her. I know you are away so can't cook but why not organise them a takeaway even - it doesn't have to be posh but it makes a huge difference to not have to think about it. Spa breaks are a lovely idea, but personally, I preferred the more immediate help than the longer term - I didn't take up the spa day I was given for over 6 months and when my daughter was a newborn, I couldn't actually see how I was ever going to be able to take it up!
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I second the mybrestfriend pillow - my daughter was hauled out at birth so had some jaw/muscle/ligament damage so wouldn't/couldn't open her mouth wide. Add that to my GG cup (on a 5'2'' frame) and I struggled for a while and tried all sorts of furniture/towel/clothing arrangements. I found the rugby hold good when without the mybrestfriend pillow (particularly at night in bed), and the mybrestfriend fantastic for positioning her just right when at home on the sofa etc. I'd lend you mine, but I'm also due soon! Oh, and massage massage massage those lumps (towards the nipple) - I did it whilst daughter was latched on. You may find you swear a bit as it's not a pleasant sensation, but it meant I avoided mastitis, which from my friend's description, was something to be avoided at all costs if you can. Good luck - no one tells you how hard it is - but it does get better as you and your baby work it all out between you.
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Flying to US next week with nearly 3yr old. Just read loads of threads across the internet that kids headphones are a must as the ones they give out on the aeroplane are too big, and the ones we have at home are the 'stick right in your ears' ones that won't stay in her ears. It's too late to order online and I can't get into town so I'm hoping someone might have a pair we can borrow or buy? Thanks!
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We did ours in East Dulwich (it was 2.5yrs ago now) with a lady called Xenia - a good mix of factual stuff about hospital birth with some good information on home birth - but not new age at all.
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Cranial osteopath recommendation
Fidgetsmum replied to Countjc's topic in The Family Room Discussion
Simon Turgoose at The Vale Practice is fantastic. I've always travelled to Wandsworth (near where I used to live) to a woman called Ratna at The Vitality Centre who was my first introduction to cranial osteopathy. But it's really too far away so I (with some trepidation) tried Simon. All I can say is that three sessions later, and my hip pain (caused by an old running injury plus now being pregnant) is completely sorted. He really is excellent. And DOESN'T tell you you need more sessions than you actually need. Very impressive. I will definitely be getting him to treat me after the birth, and if needs be, my baby. -
Some positive birth stories at Kings, please.
Fidgetsmum replied to Fidgetsmum's topic in The Family Room Discussion
Thanks edanna. So pleased you got a better birth second time and again, so reassuring to hear good things of Kings. x -
Some positive birth stories at Kings, please.
Fidgetsmum replied to Fidgetsmum's topic in The Family Room Discussion
Thanks fhmum for your addition to the thread. I've looked at these birth stories at least every few days and it's really helped me be positive about where I'll have to be. Thank you everyone for keeping it positive. -
Sleep with newborn - if you had it to do over again
Fidgetsmum replied to reren's topic in The Family Room Discussion
What will I do differently? Well, firstly, I wouldn't wait till breastfeeding is excrutiating until seeking help. I also wouldn't let myself get as low mentally as I did again without seeking help. Looking back, I just refused to accept I wasn't coping but this time, if it happens again, I won't hesitate to seek help from everyone! I would definitely have my next one in a moses basket for 3 months in our room like we did with my daughter and, maybe for the first two or three nights in our bed (but no more - I didn't sleep a wink for fear of squishing her!). And we'll definitely refer to The Baby Book by Rachel Waddilove which, as someone else on here has said, gives you a routine but gives you the skills and acceptance that sometimes routine is the last thing on your baby's mind and that it DOESN'T matter. I ended up using the book from 6 weeks till she was 2years and it was great for me and my daughter - she really thrived following (vaguely) the routine that Rachel Waddilove advocates. Other than that, I think all would be the same - but I can see that all babies can be very different so who knows what this next one will bring! -
My daughter and I went (she was the same - always dancing at home to music etc) when she was 2 and a half. I'd taken her to lots of other classes before which she'd really enjoyed (Little Bubbles for example) but for some reason, diddi-dance just didn't do it for her. I was really disappointed, but after 7 classes I decided to call it a day. I have to say, the teacher was fantastic (Constitutional Hall on East Dulwich Grove), I thought the activities and dancing and the music were all really good too and there's plenty of variety within the class (although on a weekly basis there's little change to the format). The class was an hour long which I felt for the littleys might have been 15 mins too long, but that's only my opinion and in all honesty, none of the children looked like they cared! So I would definitely recommend it, even though my daughter didn't like it. I've been tempted to leave it six months and try again in the next class up when she's a bit older. Hope you like it!
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Planned home birth, facing induction
Fidgetsmum replied to anna_r's topic in The Family Room Discussion
Fabulous news! Congratulations!
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