The Nappy Lady

Yes, NHS will investigate after third miscarriage although huge majority (over 80% IIRC) of recurrent miscarriages remain undiagnosed. That's hard to accept too - if they find a problem there is hope of fixing it....but no diagnosed problem can also mean there's always hope.... Anyway, I digress...re fertility there is also a dye test they can do to check your tubes etc are clear. I don't know how much the NHS will do vs going privately, but certainly worth asking, & the longer you've been trying the batter in terms of getting help. Having 1 child is fine, when we were struggling to have a second I held on to the knowledge that so many couples are so desperate to have a baby, we were already so blessed. But also it means that you know you can get pregnant & carry a baby which the doctors always told me was more than half the battle. Good luck & try (ha ha, I know), not to worry about it as that in itself is a major factor in falling pregnant. Xxxx

Hmmm I asked when O started nursery & they said "leave it to us, it's what we are here for"!! I think with phonics it's important you understand the way it works. Otherwise I'd focus more on instilling a love of books - they did a great course at my girls school about reading and how to approach it - a snippet - cant pass it all on - let your child choose the book & ask them why / what made them choose it (cover, pictures inside etc). Read the blurb on the back if there is one. Discuss the cover and/or images inside and the characters, what they think might happen. Read the story & then discuss themes etc. ask questions to check the child understood the story. As they get older & are reading to you when you flip through before starting to read point out any potentially tricky words & discuss so they can hopefully deal with them when reading to you later. This is when the questioning at the end matters even more as reading without actually taking in the story / understanding it can be a common problem. I think the approach can work for any age adapted accordingly & it does seem to change the dynamic when you actually start to discuss books in this way. You get some really interesting & unexpected answers! Pre school I think I'd focus on numbers 1-10 - ensure they recognise all numbers & also know what number comes before or after each one too. This is something quite easy to teach that you can't really go wrong with. With phonics it isn't always entirely straightforward and I think (may be wrong) that there is potential to cause confusion so the reading to instil the love of books & maybe simple things like being able to write their own name are less daunting areas to focus on (or maybe I'm just a lazy, bad, bad Mummy who is good at coming up with random justifications for it!!). LOL.

Coco - there's a girl at school with that name, but it's also our dogs name....It has led to some interesting mix ups along the way LOL !!

I LOVE the name Alba, Polly D & Waaaahhhh Minder re someone else having a female Eden. No more babies for me, but now and again I covertly mention the name to my youngest & tell her she can always change her name later if she wants (is that bad?!!???). I purposely call our Charlotte by all the variations - Lottie, Charlie & actually we have a nickname we use a lot too. Our view is that she will decide later which of the variations she prefers - it tends to change from day to day at the moment but Lottie is the one she most often says is 'not her name' if used by nursery etc (they had 2 Charlottes so tried this initially at my suggestion but she put them right in no uncertain terms). LOL. I think others have said it before & my story proves it - only choose names that you also like the various shortened versions of!!

My 2nd was rear facing til 3, then seat turned to forward facing & still fits her well at nearly 4. I had it fitted at the place at Petts Wood too and they couldn't have been more helpful, even offered to fit again in a new car if we got one, or when I wanted to turn it around if need be. Do make an appointment for a fitting though, don't just turn up. We have a Volvo Estate & agree it's a but if a pain having to have the passenger seat so far forward when using the rear facing seat, but not that bad, and it's worth it for the peace of mind as long as you're not going to be moving it from car to car regularly which would be a real pain. Xx

I wanted to call my daughter Eden - officially its a boys name but I think beautiful for a girl. Hubby vetoed it - I will always be a bit sad about it. :-(((

Hi David You poor things, we had a pot stolen years ago too - so horrible. We now chain our pots down - thread through the hole in the bottom of the pot or around the trunk of the trees and then chain to railings or bolt to the ground....it seems to be enough of a deterrent. There are a few nasty people around who clearly have no morals at all. Very sad.

Re maternity pay as others said you need to pay national insurance and then, when pregnant you submit as I recall 3 months earnings (any 3 months from the previous 12 months) and they work out your maternity based on your earnings - though there is a maximum amount you can get. They actually tell you to make sure you pick your 3 highest earning months, the people were so helpful on the phone and there is info on line too. I think you get 9 months pay, but it's all a bit hazy now as it was 4 years ago!! I'd say go for it and as others said you can always keep an eye out for something better. But I do think getting a mortgage is going to be a problem I'm afraid.

We had a Babydan - they are great as a playpen, or can open them out and use as many panels as you like to make a room divider, fire surround or around a pond etc. such a great bit of kit. I used to shower with mine shut in the bathroom with me, on floor with some toys. Cooking - tricky...in sling, high hair or playing nearby...playpen helps but unless you get then used to it early they can really complain about being in it! Good luck.

Don't hold you're breath re Friday Knomester - I'm working Mon-Thur (boiling). Forecast predicts rain all day Friday....and Saturday.....and Sunday. %}>^>>>~~<?!! TYPICAL!!!

Another vote for Lorenzo! He's fab!

I'd speak to his teacher. We play it by ear with homework, and so far the teachers have been very supportive of this approach - my understanding is that they are setting it so that parents can support their children's learning and get a feel for what they are doing in class but it certainly isn't compulsary. With our just 8 year 3 daughter we prioritise; Musical instrument practice every day unless exceptional reasons Then spellings or other homework (tends to alternate week by week) Then reading which she's now pretty much doing herself (bedtime reading). I dont agree with children doing loads of homework at this age, but I think a small amount is OK. It really helps if you can get a feel for the schools expectations, and then try to somehow approach it with enthusiasm yourself (I often find I'm trying to cram it into the day & almost approach it with a bad attitude myself - "argh and we've still got the flipping homework to do" type Of thing!! Sometimes I say to my daughter if we can get this done really well now then we will have time to do XYZ, things I know she likes and that helps. Good luck.

LOL yes I know what you mean but to be honest I think they sort of dismiss most of it pretty quickly - what seems a BIG conversation to us isn't to them (especially if we've approached it from the "this is all totally normal" point of view..so they remember bits and then will ask for clarification on other points again later. What I've found between the children is that it's only come up rarely and then there may be a brief discussion or 1 correcting the other on some point before they move on to something else! I suspect it's less interesting once they think they know it all! LOL

Sounds like a good plan...but do fill in a Nappy Lady advice questionnaire too as it may provide some helpful additional advice. Also if you're doing cloth nappies definitely look at washable wipes too - they are FAB, so much better then wet wipes in every way. Clean baby better, save hundreds of pounds & chemical free. I tried to restrsin myself, given that I'm no long the 'official' nappy guru of SE22 (& SE15) but I couldn't quite resist!! :-)) Cloth is great, good luck with it. Xx

Rydalema - make sure you read the books alone first! There are a few bits in "hair in funny places" that we tended to skip initially!! We call ours a Foo-Fa!!! LOL

Yes Sillywoman, I'm conscious of some big milestone moments coming up (again) and am loving watching her growing and changing, this is a whole new kind of magic! My gut reaction is to start slowly next year - our walk to school is so short and no big roads to cross and I will be around walking the little one anyway, but it would be helpful if she could run ahead if late, or follow on if she's stated late for a club activity etc. Will ponder some more and maybe see if she could walk with a friend sometimes when we do finally take that next scary step!! Where are the years going??

It's a debate that is starting to come to mind now my eldest is 8. At 9 (many years ago) I was off cycling & pony riding with pals for hours around country lanes. I'm not sure times have really changed, we just hear more scary stuff now. But then again I'm in no rush to let my 'big girl' venture out alone. What have others with older children done? I know by 11/12 they are off to secondary school and mostly making their own way, but did you wait and throw them in at the deep end then, or build up gradually? I think school allows them to walk back & forth alone from year 5, which is a year from now when she's 9 going on 10. Hmmmm

How timely - I was having a chat with my just 8 year old earlier today. I'd been to see our practice nurse for a smear and she was with me so asked why/what for (didn't see it happen as I was behind a curtain) but I explained to her. Then mentioned that at some point in the next few years her periods would start and she just said "yes I know, I think it will be when I'm about 10 or 11!". Wow! A friends daughter started before her 9th birthday so I wanted to touch on it. But we have always talked about this stuff and been quite open - only tell them as much as they need to know at each point - keep it simple, but truthful I'd say. She's been in the bathroom and seen enough to know what happens to ladies and I'm glad as she considers it 'normal' and will never be freaked out or scared by it like stories I've heard of older generations. Mommy laid an egg & Hair in Funny Places are two brilliant books. I honestly think if you take the approach that it's just another interesting part of nature and relate it to other animals etc it's not such a big deal in the end - hasn't been yet for us at least - though we haven't actually got down to the nitty gritty facts yet!! We were having a chat about extinct creatures the other day and she understood that once there was no mating pair left that the species in question would die out so I think she's fairly clued up. Good luck with it!

Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh Me too! My youngest had her first ever trip, with nursery, to the seaside today. They had a lovely day but got rained on twice and hailed on once - it just ISN'T FAIR!!!!!

Farmers on Lordship Lane do laundry marker pens. I do have some of the my name tags iron in labels too though and they are good (can have a name & phone number on which I think is a great idea).

I really liked last nights episode, and the way that current residents read extracts from old residents diaries - so clever! I found the editing on the Notting Hill episode a bit distracting at times(people 'jumping' at edit points).... But regardless of that every episode has been fascinating. I've lived in my road for 15 years and had many interesting conversations with other residents who have lived there from birth, now in their 80s plus - its so great to do this on a wider scale! I want more!!!

I find tights come up really small and also seem to shrink - I.e last autumn I bought 8 year old tights for my 7 yr & 3 month old daughter from John Lewis and after one wash she hated the feel of them around the gusset. Hence leggings - would live to think its because she's trendy but no, just fussy!! LOL

We've given up on tights and now buy leggings which my girls wear with socks and shoes or boots in winter. Plus a skirt or dress or even black shorts or culottes over the top. Easier to put on and off than tights and don't have the whole falling down / not long enough hassle. I'm sad as I loved buying coloured tights to match her school sweatshirts but the grumbling & 'hoiking up' of tights en route to school was driving me mad!

Kittysailing My hubby (BBC reporter/presenter) wants to know if there were various producers working on this as the Reverdy Rd episode feels so different to last weeks Notting Hill one? He hasn't seen the others but feels the style is very different?

My two squabble such a lot at the moment, it's driving us crazy!