Ellie78

Hampton Court Palace. Lots of lovely grounds for picnicking, feel of the country but only 30 mins from Waterloo. Lots of activities for your ages- trails, costumed characters & performances included in ticket. And for what you get it's a reasonable (though not cheap) price Could easily spend a day there, even if the weather wasn't great- and if it is its glorious.

My son lives music and watching other babies/kids Disco kids says suitable for under 5s but at 11ish months do you Think he'll be too young? What do people think?

I should say that I completely understand why some people wouldn't do what we did - it's so down to the context and individual child. But I was 99.99999% sure he'd be ok, and I was absolutely set on coming home straight away if he wasn't.

Ha Otta & JessM - you got there before me. We actually left our son with his grandparents when he was 9 months. For a week. This wasn't something we had planned, and I completely understand why you're torn - we were too - but we had limited choices. My partner and I were both quite ill and weren't really able to parent - having said that, we did recuperate on holiday so we managed to get to an airport. I talked to a friend of mine who was a mum and baby psychiatrist, in a massive panic about attachment issues etc. She basically said that it would be hard on all of us in some ways, but good for all of us in other ways. She didn't come back to me with a 'no way should you do this' response, which I kind of was expecting - she basically encouraged us to go on the basis that we needed the rest. And it was. I found it difficult for a little bit, but he was remarkably resilient and happy (erm...kind of embarrassingly so..). He did miss us, but not so much it hampered his enjoyment of spending time with his grandparents who he adores. And the one missing mum and dad related teary episode he had, his grandparents were able to reassure him with cuddles with very little difficulty. We were in a different country too - we just decided that if things were bad, we'd come home, no worries. Honestly, it was the best thing for us and his grandparents - get this - thanked US when they brought him home. They found it an incredibly special time. So...we did it, slightly different situation with ages etc, but we found it absolutely fine. You know your child, you know deep down whether he'll be ok. I'd do it.

Ha! Nits.... That'll be the next one no doubt. Thanks all!

We're just adjusting to life with a mobile 9mo. He doesn't particularly like being in the buggy for a long stint and gets impatient if we're in cafes or restaurants - understandably, boring for him! What did/does everyone else do at this stage at the weekend? (He's not impressed by swings ..)

Yeah... I think that I was concerned about the short term 'cons' of a possible peak in anxiety and a little bit of weight gain (god, so what, my thought should have been) perhaps demonstrates that I wasn't in too deep. Equally perhaps that attitude came from the illness itself. You're right- whatever works really- it's the end result that matters.

midivydale - yes, I see that the meds might well help with the sleep - and getting back to sleep - it was an issue I was in a real fix about, but I erred on the side of caution - my good days outbalanced my bad generally (though not during specific weeks where things were particularly tough with illness etc). I guess I'm also just a cautious, and rather pessimistic person (hence the desire for CBT) - when they said that you *may* get anxiety for a fortnight - month, and you *may* experience weight gain...and those symptoms may stay about for a bit..I was out of there! I was sure both of those things *would* have happened to me, which would have tipped me over the edge! Stupid really. I'm sure it wouldn't have been bad - that's how risk averse I am. I'm glad - OP - that you are trying them - how is it going? Anyhow, I would have liked Saffron's GP quite a bit a few months ago. Saffron - I was told they fast tracked PND for CBT treatment too..not happened in my case. I feel absolutely fine when I've slept more than 5 hours during a night for a couple of nights - oh, I wish it was cheaper for the NHS to occasionally come round and babysit.

I was pressured to take meds - it was the only real option offered to me for PND. I'm still not sure it IS PND in many people's definition of it - if it was/is then then it is relatively mild in comparison to some. My low mood was and is caused by sleep deprivation, which I've always responded to very emotionally, baby or no baby. I felt disappointed that my only option (according to the NHS) was drugs - I didn't feel they were for me at the time, and I still don't. I felt that my body was already de-stabilised by birth, bring, and sleep deprivation and I didn't want to add to that - and I wasn't (and am not now) at such a low point I didn't care. I'm still teary at times, still find it hard to cope with little sleep, and I am STILL on the waiting list for CBT, which I insisted on. I first went to the GP at the beginning of Jan, when my son was just 6 months, but I'd talked to them about my mood before that, at about November - the HV recommended meds then too. Grr. anyway. I have come to terms with my low mood/no sleep. I feel much better when my son sleeps for a bit or has a good stretch. It's been quite rocky for us in that department. I wish there was a more holistic approach offered. I think midivydale is right - there are lots of things you can do to help yourself, with regards to diet/behaviour. I really had to push for CBT, and I'm still pushing for it (it was only offered to me on Mondays/Tuesdays and I now work both these days - I can't take time off). I'm sure that's not everyone's experience but it was mine. Nutritional advice would also have been good. And a blood test - I asked for one, to check iron levels etc, not given. But my GPs are rubbish and I am moving surgery.

Crikey! Can anyone lend us an ergo sling? Seems like we need one!

Thanks everyone. Never quite mastered a sling- we're going to experiment with a ring sling once we are out there. I'm a wee bit worried we're just going to have to try to imitate our life over her. Quite determined to do all the things we want to do.

Just that... We're taking our non-sleeping crawling 9mo to NYC. We booked this back in October when I still had money abs optimism. Now I kind wish we hadn't. Anyhow. We want to make the most of the holiday but can't expect him to be ok in the buggy for huge stretches. Any tips for baby friendly places? Soft play areas? We're staying in manhattan. We've got a long list of stuff we want to do but I don't want to assume he's going to be ok just to tag along...

I'd be really interested. I have a number of good high street dresses (Reiss, Whistles) that have barely been worn but won't fetch anything on ebay. I also have some pretty good knee high boots (FlyLondon) that (again) have hardly had an outing. I too would like to know how you decide what each is worth...

There is a childminder with 2 ft places advertising on the forum- not that this is a recommendation... I presume you've looked at that option a d decided for nursery but just thought if point it out just in case.

What Internet speeds do you guys have? We want to switch but involves downgrading from Nearly 20mbs to a 3-8 (possibly 6) range...and we stream stuff a lot.,

I've pm'd you

I'm just musing on this really...and I'll possibly get moved to chat...but I just wondered whether anyone had encountered blatant discrimination or just possible bias against them because of being a parent, during interviews for jobs. I'm pretty sure the fact of my 8 month old son counted against me during a recent job interview - they asked how I'd managed the childcare, which I didn't realise was a slightly dodgy question until after the interview and I thought about it. I wasn't desperate for the job, and it was really only a toe back in the pool of interviews, but I just wondered how people dealt with things like this and what I can expect ahead of me.

Hmm. I dunno. I had acupuncture when I was about a week overdue and went into labour 24 hours later. But it was a long, non-progressing labour (ending with ventouse and tearing) and I've always wondered whether that's because I tried to speed my body into things it wasn't quite ready for. Wish I had told those pressuring me about my late-ness to stuff off and relished each over due day as a day of relaxation and quiet.

My boyfriend has come down with the Norovirus - our son is 7 months old and I'm a bit worried about what will happen if I catch it, and there's no-one to look after him properly. Typically, my parents (who don't live far away) are out of the country on holiday. Boyfriend's parents live in Dorset, and can't really easily come up. I kind of want to feel secure that I know my options just in case, so wondered if anyone had any advice re emergency childcare scenarios - at worst, we would need someone to take him for a couple of days (I guess) and maybe someone else to cover a couple of nights (as he's still tricky at night). I wouldn't know where to look for this kind of thing last minute = we don't have bags of cash but I think we'd just have to take a hit if the worst happens. Hopefully it won't. Any advice really welcomed! I'd like to feel reassured.

If I was doing it all again.... Go for the Double Pump! I wish I had done. Pumping is time consuming, and hard to fit in between real bf feeds if you're trying to boost supply. I think I would have gone longer with ebf if I'd had a double pump. Was considering making an offer on one myself but I think it's too late to get back to ebf.

Thanks Chaps! That's really helpful. midivydale - have been meaning to PM - how is your LO?

My 7 month old son the famous non sleeper is - can you believe it - getting WORSE with weaning not better. Since we've started on solids (which we have done gradually and carefully), he has been very unsettled at bedtime - is DESPERATE to sleep but in obvious discomfort in the tummy/gut area. When I've kept him on milk he's been much better for the first part of the night. I'm going to the GP as soon as I can get an appointment and when I can make it in the snow but, having missed his quite substantial tongue tie for 3 months previously (I asked them about it 3 times, I know, I know...it's easy to miss), I don't trust them as far as babies are concerned. Does anyone know a good paediatrician (gastro/tummy issues?) I can press for a referral to? Or do you think I"m over-reacting. He's in obvious pain, and I'm now wondering whether there's been something we've missed all along.

Lush Body butter bar? Not sure how much they are...But they're nice. the bath bombs are cheaper arent they. Pregnancy massage oil? Can get ones for about 8 quid I think though I don't have any recommendations for brands - sure others do.

Thanks everyone for all your support and suggestions - it's good to know I'm not alone. I love the EDF. Daisylou - how did it go in the end? It's incredible really - one minute, his sleep's fine; the next minute, it's awful, the pits, rock bottom. I thought babies went through stages of things, rather than up and down. oh well. Weirdly, I actually feel worse when I've had a stretch of sleep. I was up 4 hours last night and I feel more like myself again. I've obviously become used to the sleep deprived me. We're doing a routine, but I think he's getting more aware of it now so we really need to mark each stage better with him. He is adorable though. Absolutely adorable. He's not just a sleep avoiding maniac, though my posts on the EDF suggest otherwise.

Thanks Saffron for the support. I know it's young isn't it. 'Controlled crying' covers a variety of sins though, I'm always confused about whether something is CC or not. My son was 4 months when we signed up to Millpond and the advice she gave us was what i would call controlled crying. But she said it wasn't. I've asked for another advisor so I'll see what happens with that. I'm just so tired of all of this.