hanstands

Hi -- we've just moved from ED to FH-Sydenham borders also known as Upper Sydenham. We also wanted to be close to ED. We are now very close to Sydenham/Dulwich woods and the other entrance to Cox's walk [accessible on the ED side opposite the Grove Tavern]. Its also really near the Horniman with its gardens and park and feels, in a way, 'just off Lordship Lane' [hmmm, sort of!!]. Places to go out on a night are the spacious super cool and trendy 'Sylvan Post' on Dartmouth Road or the cosier [armchair-ish] yet chic Dartmouth Arms near FH station. Both really lovely with different vibes. Very good cafes are rich and plentiful over here with late opening arty 'Canvas and Cream', day opening 'Teapot', the cute one opposite the station I've forgotten the name of but they do great cake and have friendly staff and 'St Davids' just around the corner from there on your left if you follow the road round. Also, in Upper Syd you have Kirkdale where there is a growing number of interesting shops. Old timer 'Behind the Boxes' is there for any retro furniture, Alhambra for funky objects and rugs and a French bakery that do the best Almond croissants ever. Oh and 'Doorz' for retro doors and other furniture. On the FH-Syd borders you also have the brand new swimming pools and gym with library next door and even a new deli and old fashioned sweet shop down from there. And if you like a bit of charity shopping try ALD life opposite the swimming pool it has a high turnover of anything and everything. Schools you have Eliot Bank/Horniman/St Barts...All Good or Outstanding schools in terms of Ofsted with a good mix of children. Besides all that ED is just down the road, up Kirkdale, down Syd Hill and you're at the start of Lordship Lane and then Dulwich Park. Oh and instant access to the Underground network and Overground trains at FH Station. With Bakerloo line soon to connect to Sydenham station [i think]. Hope that helps.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_nail-biting-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-about-it_65507.bc This might help?

This is a little sad and hard for a parent I can imagine. I started biting my nails aged five, so my Mum tells me. It takes an amazing amount of will power to not bite them now [but I do manage not to most of the time] and I'm in my thirties these days. My Mum tried multiple bribes and the nail chemicals, none of which worked. It can [but not necessarily?] be a sign of anxiety in a child and some can grow out of the habit. Looking back I'd guess it was anxiety that had caused me to start. I'm guessing what might have helped me would have been someone to talk to about what I felt worried/concerned about on a regular basis. Ideally an interested parent, someone that I felt I could have talked to and not felt judged for what I was feeling. For some reason I didn't feel I had that so my worries were internalised and perhaps one outlet [for me] was biting my nails. You could try do a bit of investigating to see if there are worries they have that need talking through? Though it may be nothing to do with worry in your childrens' cases.

Incase anyone is interested I took the Oliver Bonas voucher option. Thanks again everyone, I don't know what I'd have done without you!:)-D

Fuschia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Indeed > iTunes and topshop cards etc from sainsburys even! Ah this is a handy tip...I may branch out a little further then--except I do like shopping local and at small inde shops...hmmm

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful ideas...I feel I've had an education on what its like to be a 14 year old today. I'm WAY past that age now and a bit clueless about teen life these days. The local part of my question was literal. I've not the time or energy to go beyond East Dulwich [i've two wee ones and am moving house in two days] so I think I'll try ED on Northcross Road for vouchers. Or does anyone think a voucher from the shoe shop Stella b would be interesting to a 14 year old girl? I'll not see her parents before her birthday to ask them unfort....THANKS again all.H

Fab idea...my three year old went on a Fungi Walk in Sydenham Woods with his Dad, loved it and hasn't eaten any wild fungi as a result.

OR does anyone have any ideas of local shops a fourteen year old girl might like to shop at so I can buy vouchers? Am pretty stuck to get just the right thing... Thanks, H

at six months I'd give: soft avocado cubes, soft banana, sticks of sweet pepper dipped in organic hummus, I wouldn't give apple yet as hard and can get stuck! dates and prunes to suck on. slices of soft pear. the odd raisin. softly steamed small broccoli florets, porridge made with coconut milk or water [avoid dairy at this age if poss] except natural yoghurt on spoon is ok I think. My baby takes the spoon ok, but most of the time it ends up everywhere but her mouth. So load spoons shallowly at this age...but defo start them practising, doesn't take them long to work it out.

Another Mum with two non-sleepers here, my youngest is six months. Neither slept/sleeps through the night, both had/have multiple wake ups every night, its SOOOO normal. I co-sleep and breastfeed wee one through the night, we have a kingsize bed and this works for us. Hubby gets up with them in the morn so I get a little lie in...[he's a morning person, I'm an evening and I know not all Dads can afford the time to do this if they start work early or have a commute]. Its hard to think of this now but it really is a short time of their and your life and soon they'll be off and in school and much more independent of you. This is such a good time to fill them up with closeness, love, cuddles and yummy milk [if you can, it doesn't suit everyone of course!]. The tiredness is not at all easy but doesn't last forever, it is a time of adjustment for the Mum and if you search hard and try different ways of dealing with it it can improve...early nights, daytime naps, begging for family/friends' assistance as mentioned above etc. I've a load of other Mum friends in the same boat...you're certainly not alone.

The gagging phase soon passes and is part of their learning, but I know it can feel worrying to watch it. If you're stressy about it though then for your sake try defo soft finger foods such as soft-ish pieces of banana, avocado, wholegrain rice cake broken into pieces dipped in houmous, spoon half laden with natural yoghurt for them to pick up and suck on, a soft prune to suck on. These happen to be pretty gag-resistant.

You do legally need to get one, but you can get them cheaper than ?80 elsewhere.

I would have told myself not to worry about b'feeding them to sleep....ever! and relax and enjoy...the time with them is short.

Its a great way to wean. We did it with our first baby and will do so again soon with our second. Can't wait! I started with simple things at first like a steamed floret of broccoli in hand or a piece of very soft banana to hold and gum on. But anything really. Later on you can give them yoghurt and wet foods by laying out spoons full of it in front of them or handing them a loaded spoon to hold and feed themselves. Messy but feels good. Oh, and a lot of breast milk.

I love the being there singing with other Mums. The name itself didn't really attract me...i think mainly as its not my type of humour and had uncertain connotations attached. The concept of the business itself is wonderful...the important part! The name perhaps doesn't do the idea justice....having said that I wouldn't boycott it because of its name. However, as the name is what potential Mums/carers/Dads see and hear first it could easily be turning people away at first port of call. I do think the Corporate ID of a business is vital to get right if you want to get the most out of it...[i wrote my dissertation on this subject at College]. I'm still coming though, bought my ten week card!! It is a grand idea and you both manage it well R and F! Congratulations!

This one was our son's [and our] favourite: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Everybody-Poos-Taro-Gomi/dp/1845072588/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327269630&sr=1-1

Sometimes going back to a long, calm, cuddly, loving, storytelling bedtime routine done consistently over a week or two or three can help re-settle her in the night [though I know this ain't ideal with a babe there too but neither is the wake-ups]. This helped our two year old when he was just two.

Glad there is a little improvement Bee! Another thing that helped us was to lie baby on his back and move legs gently in a cycling motion, which puts gentle pressure on gut to squeeze trapped wind out. Then gently tipping legs and feet up and back over tummy again with same results if done over and over. The other one that helped get the wind out was to massage the tummy this way: with your left hand make a circular motion in a clockwise direction. At the same time, use your right hand to make a half moon motion also in a clockwise direction but from top of the circle to the bottom following the right hand as it goes round and round...hmmm not sure that's very clear... its hard to describe...I think its called a sun and moon massage or something like that...so perhaps you can Google it if you feel its worth a go...

This website was invaluable for trying out nappies for cheap then buying new, once I'd found brands that worked: [www.clothnappytree.com] Also, its worth knowing that the first three months are the toughest in terms of changing and washing reusables as they poo more and pee more and you're still trying to find your feet in terms of having a second baby! After three months it tends to be less changes, less washing, used to having a second baby by then etc and for us early and rapid potty training so less nappy changes and faff post 18months [which is when our boy chose to begin potty training]. Its also easier to have lots ready to try right from the start so that 'all you know' are reusables. Bit of a nappy addict now too, wasn't expecting that plus point... On the nappy type? I wouldn't recommend pocket nappies until poo becomes a bit 'firmer' as they tend to leak. They're great after that though when babes are weaning onto solids, easy to dry, easy to use. Fitted nappies with wraps are probably best trying out at the start. Eg 'Little Lamb' bamboo or 'Tots bots' Bamboozles though they do take a while to dry but if you've twenty or so [incl a few different varieties] you should be fine. Everyone seems to like Motherease velcro wraps. We don't have a tumble drier and its been fine for both babies. It helps to have an outdoor line though from early spring to late autumn. Line drying will cleanse and bleach any stains back to white if washing at 40 degrees, which I do. During winter some radiator hangers are good or a woodburning stove to make room nice and hot for drying...hee hee All the best with the pregnancy and your impending nappy search! Am happy to show you our nappies if that would help, I've quite a large stash!

Hello Bee -- so sorry to hear how tough it is for you right now...it will get better...My first was a bit like this, and the only way he slept in the day was in a sling or swaddled. As baby can be held upright in a sling it can help get the wind up and out too if it is taking ages to burp her...I have a stretchy wrap going spare if you don't have one?

I remember lying in the back of my Dad's Renault van vomiting and in agony as I had a tummy bug and was off school. Dad was then a self employed joiner and carpenter and apparently neither he nor Mum could take time off their work to look after sick daughter. So there I was lying in a van full of woodshavings and nails all day puking up in linseed oil-esque buckets.

I was aged ten and not a great sleeper. We were on a long haul flight to India and she gave me some of her prescription sleeping pills to help me sleep. Even with that though I still only managed twenty minutes...

Hello. Poor you. This is not at all pleasant. As its an inflammation Ibuprofen can help reduce it. I agree with what SC said, but I found expressing in a hot bath better as you could keep affected area under the hot water for a long time thus softening the blockage and you get a chance to relax at the same time. I used to bath and massage/express a few times a day for a couple of days and allow baby to feed lots from affected side after bath, his usually sorted it. Sometimes you can get this when stressed or run down too. Hope it gets better soon.

This is a great help. Thanks so much for posting OP. Hxx

Thanks Pickle...xx