Polmoche

I?m surprised that this debate has come down to what really is a criticism on people?s parenting skills?chopped off fingers = careless parenting. If you actually bother to see how those accidents occurred many of them occurred in a split second when parents thought their children were safely out of the way but weren?t. One child for example ran in and jumped in the buggy just as the mother was snapping it open. Another got his finger amputated all the way when his mother was getting a demo at a store on how the buggy works. Were these poor parents not being ?sensible?, or just unlucky? One of the first reported cases goes back 5 years ago, quite a while not to do anything about it, considering that a simple cover on the offending hinge would have done the job. And that?s what we?re talking about here, a SIMPLE COVER that doesn?t necessitate some radical and expensive design change for Maclaren that probably doesn?t cost all that much for them to knock out. As for comparisons to car doors, knives etc., people know the inherent dangers of these products. Did anyone honestly think that if there child?s finger got caught in a buggy hinge that it ran the risk of being cut off? I certainly thought it might be a bit mashed, but amputated? Surely, we should hold children?s products to a higher standard, especially if the problem as in Maclaren?s case could have been fixed easily and cheaply? And as for ?only? 12 cases in one million, that?s 12 cases reported, not of actual instances where the parents did not mention it to the company. Also, I think people misunderstand how the CSPC works in the US. It is a consumer protection agency, not a place where you sign up en masse to sue a manufacturer. Likewise, just because a manufacturer has a recalled item doesn?t mean that they will be sued. In the US, the Bugaboo Bee was also recalled by the CSPC because of a faulty brake, though that was never mentioned in the UK. There were no reported injuries, just some a hundred or so complaints that the brakes were not sticking properly, which prompted Bugaboo to put out brake replacement kits. Surely it?s a good thing to have an agency like this looking out for the consumer?

If they are the same exact product then Maclaren should allow British customers to have the same safety kits. 12 amputations in my view is too many. It's too easy with kids to get distracted, which I'm betting what happened in those 12 cases--after all even Americans are not that stupid to fold a pram with their child inside it.

Anyone else confused about this Maclaren story--so American customers get added protection, but UK owners of identical models only get a reminder to keep children clear of a buggy while it's being folded??? I can easily see a scene where you think your child is clear, only to have their finger clipped while you are temporarily distracted yet still folding your buggy!

Actually, america is a real mixed bag when it comes to home birth. It's not actually illegal to have a home birth, its just illegal in about 11 states for a mid-wife to assist the birth, in another handful its legal, while most of the states its sort of legal sort of not legal, and therefore unregulated. The big issue there is that no one knows how to regulate it so its fallen through the cracks. Also the other big issue is insurance--most people in america have private insurance and most insurance companies do not like home births!

Bellenden Jo--did your child go there before? Because they might be staggering the start dates. This is my child's first time.

I got the letter too saying they would not open until November, which basically means I had to tell my work that I would not be able to put in the hours promised until then! So very annoying.

Not till November??? I haven't heard anything and she is not returning phone calls or emails. Not a good sign!

Anyone know? They don't seem to be returning calls. Thx.

About the brake, you need to spray it with silicone spray or it does get stuck. This happened to us as well. My nearly 3 yo still looks ok in it, still comfortable.

regarding soft play--wouldn't it be lovely if they took all the balls and bunged them in a washing machine just every now and again? The last time we went it stank in there--of course it didn't put off my kids, just me.

> Howver if we want men to pull their weight more, > they can and will and its up to us to ensure they > do.After all we all know they are pretty simple > souls (albeit with a tendency towards laziness). I think many of us do this already--men call it nagging. ;)

Thought the low down ones were off limits because of dogs? Are they sweet yet?

Having a choice and having a work/life balance is all a myth. There is no such thing. It's all compromise at the end of the day, and some are better than others, worse than others, things you're forced into because of circumstances. If you ask most men, I bet they would say they have NO CHOICE either, ie. they are forced to go to work to earn money for their families, and that goes for the ones that don't earn as much for their wives too. Back to the original thread though, what is so depressing about this story is how much this woman has been "blamed" for her "ambition." It's not enough to think that post-partum depression is enough of a killer in its own right, no she was being greedy thinking she could have three children plus a well-paid job. And as for the response about women working helping drive up house prices, where does one even start???

the thing is that route over the hill is a nightmare in the morning because of the school run for Fairlawn and the Catholic school--the name escapes me right now. Traffic always gets blocked up because of the kids crossing with the lollipop lady. You are almost better off walking! Plus, there are three buses that actually stop out there, the P4 goes there too.

> > why is it that the men don't step up and help? Or > do they and the woman don't let them help? > I just don't get it. > I don't understand why these woman seem to end up > doing EVERYTHING > > At 5 months pregnant i'm very scared and losing > sleep over this very issue > I feel like i have chosen this path of career-self > distruction and sometimes feel stupid for doing it > 'too early' at 31yrs... Better discuss this now before the baby comes, bc you won't have time to properly discuss once s/he arrives!

fidgetsparents, if you haven't already you MUST get this book: That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown.

Hi, you might want to try Puddleducks in Nunhead. There's a bus that goes directly to new cross station in 8 minutes right outside the church where the nursery is located. From New cross, the train takes 10 minutes to london bridge.

lemony snicket series? Or is that too young?

What does she like in general (wider interests?)

So does the Wildlife Centre/Devonshire nature reserve have indoor space in case of rain?

where are the wildlife gardens? Sounds like a great venue. I also just noticed Dulwich Park cafe does parties during the weekdays. Looked pretty reasonable. food and drink plus everything set up starting at 5.60 a head.

peckham rye park if weather is good.

Actually, not everyone in developing countries is dirt poor and some gasp! have access to nappies etc. They just CHOOSE to do things the old way. I have seen it myself, babies potty trained at a year old. But yes, the mother has to be with the child all the time, day and night.

Most of the developing world does this. Nappies have made us lazy (myself included). Plus not practical if your child has to go to a nursery or is with a nanny/childminder.

Very sad. There's another bridge that's been destroyed as well. Looks like all the top bits were simply pushed off into the stream below. The last time I looked you could still see the bits all flung about the banks.