hanstands

I hardly ever post about this kind of thing as I've never been that sure about the way I've done/do nighttime with my baby but I have kind of followed/faltered through it by following my intuition. The not so good news for you SB is that my 17 month old still wakes about five times a night every night and has gone through phases of every half hour/hour and out the other side a few times. ATM its around every two-three hours so I'm getting more sleep. Similar to what F says I think its related to brain development and night-breastfeeding. As for advice, all I can say is that the two things that have made it do-able for me is that my husband gets up with baby in the morning almost every morning and gets him dressed and gives him breakfast [husband tends to go to bed early the night before and I tend to get a lie in in the morning]. The second thing is that we took one side off baby's cot and put rest of cot next to our bed so we have space to sleep without kicking one another but I don;t have to get up to re-settle through the night. I have considered night weaning alot and am still considering it now. I also feel since my baby turned 16 months that he could deal with it alot better now than prior to that if we did choose to night wean. If I night wean I will re-post to let you know. I really understand how hard it must be for you but I think you are amazing for getting up and out of bed so many times every night - WOW - I know I couldn;t do that. Your baby is very fortunate to have a Mum with such unbelievable patience. Hope it gets easier for you sometime very soon one way or another...xx

Hiya I have dyed two slings successfully using the Dylon Dyes and have plans for more very soon. I just put them in the washer and follow instructions. I guess its always a risk dyeing as its hard to tell the strength of colour you will get esp if its over another colour - but quite an exciting risk - I would say listen to your intuition and go for it. If you love your sling you will use it more often and enjoy using it. I dyed my Ergo purple and loved it so much more than the original colours. I think they cost a fiver a pack.

We went to the drop in football classes on Sat morning at JAGS for 1-4/5 year olds I think...not that badly priced at ?3 at time [pay at desk before you go in]. You'd need to check yourself but I think the classes start at 10.30 or 11 or similar.

I love my reusables and don;t mind the washing part at all - some nappies dry faster than others...some are more easy to put on off, some are more reliable, some more colourful...I guess you;ve to decide what your priorities are and try few different types and brands of nappies. I did this v cheaply by buying secondhand on: http://www.clothnappytree.com/forum. When I found a style and brand that worked for me and baby I bought some newer ones, either from this site or from other companies. I must add though it is very hard trying to choose your nappies until baby arrives as the baby's shape, size and gender all affect which nappy would be best for you. The ones I prefer are brightly coloured+crazy designed 'pocket' nappies, these are very easy to put on/off [they don;t need a wrap] and quick to dry [brands include: Minki/Weenotions/Bumgenius/Wahmies/Mommy's Touch/Funky Nappy]. I also use fitted nappies with wraps as they usually last a little longer between changes [brands: Tots Bots 'Fluffles' are my favorite as they are super soft and snuggly and quick to dry - I use these with a MotherEase velco-fastening wrap. Hope this helps you a bit! Am also happy to show you my nappy stash if you think that might help too...[but I have none to sell you though]...

Hiya Iain - I feel for you all. I had terrible problems at the start and it was the [many different] ladies at the end of the 'La Leche League' helpline that helped me [i used to call them day or evening and they always were happy to talk and their advice and support was humbling and extremely helpful] - all were great, some were better than others - most really kind and sensitive. I would also be in tears quite alot but they were fine with all that - National number [which is the one I called] is 0845 120 2918. There is also a LLL Mums and babies group that meet up at a Mum's home in Forest Hill, open to all Mums, for support and advice, on once a month, the leader of the group is called Elena, if you want her number please pm me and I'll send it back. I really didn;t regret persevering through the hard bit - was really really worth it for us [but I know this is not the case for all].

We had the 12 week scan. They then told us there was a 1 in 22 chance of our baby having Downs. We decided against the invasive testing as we would have had the baby either way. What also really convinced me not to have the testing was that if the baby did miscarry due to the testing [2 in 100 chance which seems quite a high risk to me] I would have really suffered knowing that my choice to have the test brought this about. I would've found it very hard to forgive myself. Baby didn;t have Downs.

I signed, but how could I not being an Albany Mum - they were truly amazing with us. Very sad its has come to this...but I don;t think its the end necessarily...xx

I'd love to come if my babe is better by then...xx

Really enjoyed that article Fushcia, thanks for posting. Like most Mums who have posted responses I am also not getting much sleep with my 14month old and have tried lots of approaches to getting Fella to sleep longer to no avail. However, most of the time I have managed with it latterly because DH helps by getting up with wee man in the morning and giving breakfast etc then i would get up a bit later and take over having had an extra hour or so on my own. However, I know that most Mums don't have it this good and I deeply sympathise with your exhaustion. However, this may interest some of you - a few months ago I came across a leaflet in Dulwich libray that said 'Want to improve your sleep?' naturally I said, 'yes' and it led me to a free course that Southwark do to help folk sleep better - I did this course about two weeks ago, my baby is still waking the usual 3-6 times every night [more so at the mo as he has Croup - nasty illness] BUT I've had the best nights sleep in over a year from what I learned on this one-day course: incase anyone is keen [and I know it won't suit everyone] :http://www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk/a/4965 The course doesn't give any info on baby sleeping or any kind of parenting advice but I simply applied alot of the general tactics to my sleep and worked around the baby waking and has made quite a significant difference.

My first came nine days past EDD and was born with no probs...came in his own time. I have a friend who was 3 weeks past hers EDD and all happened naturally - though not sure I could've been so brave. Try not to worry too much and trust it'll happen when it does...in the meantime fill your life with things you enjoy doing with friends, shopping, reading, short trips out - treat yourself as much as you can from now until birth - it can be a fun time and full of good memories of your last days of independence...

...is anyone going on the march round parliament tomorrow [sat] and taking your children with you?? We'd like to go but would prefer to hook up with a few others from ED or around who also may be taking their children?? If anyone's keen? Weather looks like its gonna be perfect...

We tried every cream and oil for bath that the doc could prescribe to no avail...then we were recommended 'Hope's Relief Cream' - this is the only thing that worked plus not bathing him for weeks [washing the main bits obviously but not in a bath]. Its now cleared up except for a few minor dry patches that come and go on his legs which I just use the above cream and it softens. No more itching. I think you can buy this from Healthmatters and also online for the same price. All natural ingredients too...no petrochemicals or parabens like in most of the prescribed creams. Hope something on this thread works for your wee boy. :'(

Hello there:) I've not heard of the 'Eco-nappy' brand [is it a disposable or reusable?] but I do use lots of different brands of washable nappies and have found them really good value for money and alot of fun collecting and using them. My boy seems happy in them too and looks extra cute with a fluffy bum. There's a nappy forum called www.clothnappytree.com where there is SOOO much advice about all the different reusable brands - you may find some info on there about this brand. You can also buy/sell or swap nappies too - which can get quite addictive so watch out.:-$

I take a little Elderberry juice when I have a cold and have also been known to give my year old baby a drop or two in his drink when he has a cold and it seems to keep our colds quite short lived. I have some ED Elderberry juice, homemade in our freezer if you'd like to sample some [for free of course] - it really does seem to help??

helena handbasket Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- It was a LOT of work and took a > couple of months (with very few tears I should > add) but I turned him into an awesome sleeper. What did you do and how did you do it?? Its off topic perhaps though could be helpful if Snowboarder's spoon feeding doesn't help the sleep, which it didn't with mine [but hope it does for you!!]

My son bit for a while, maybe for a about a month, and then the phase passed on its own. I didn't do anything to stop it, it just stopped on its own in time - but, like you, there were a few painful moments and I had to increase my observational skills when he was around others and other babies. He doesn't do it at all now and hasn't for months. It may just pass on its own...try not to worry about it too much for now.

was going to give it a try tomorrow afternoon...as the Peckham Pulse one is hard to get into if not a member...or so I've heard. Is it easier to get into than PP? Is the water warm? What is the pool like? That kind of thing...Thankyou!

thanks for your help and suggestions...cake is for a party where there will be quite a few Mums who aren't giving their babies sugar yet [to hold it off as long as possible] so want to try include them in some kind of communal birthday cake eating...will be making a very sugary option too of course, yum, perhaps lots of red velvet cup cakes!

help, I'm not a great chef but would like to make a cake that babies and adults can eat that is also pretty healthy and looks good too...I bet there's some great Mum/Dad children's bakers out there who have some tried and tested ideas??Thanks!

I've read about this - and read that its alot worse than mastitus and I've had that about 8 times. Poor you, how awful. Are you laid up, is it really painful, are you able to feed still? Let me know if you need anything brought round or if I can help out in any other way at all!!!

Hiya - there was a Slingmeet on this morning at the Horniman Museum cafe [which is the usual current venue]. To find the next track down the SE London Slingmeet here: http://www.slingmeet.co.uk/forums When you have a wee baby the stretchy wraps are the best - any brand really as long as its a stretchy wrap - the Didymos ones are better for when you're carrying your older baby say past 4-5 months as they aren't stretchy and baby is held closer in to you so lighter load for you to bear. Recommend buying a secondhand stretchy wrap to start off with then trying other slings at Slingmeet, after your baby has grown a bit. Hope that helps! Slinging is SOOOO nice - especially when they are very wee...ahh - how lovely.

Hello! I didn;t do hypnobirthing but may I suggest one book that really really helped my labout go well - 'Guide to Childbirth' by Ina May Gaskin. It as bit hippy in parts but I don't know what I would have done without it [i read alot of books but this was the one!]It is an immensely empowering and positive book - It took away nearly all my fear, when the first labour pains came I felt so excited and positive about it. The Oakwood midwives will be your second excellent asset to your labour - I had the Albany midwives and again don't know what I'd have done without their constant coaching throughout the latter stages and their genuine care and love. I had a drug-free, gas/air free, home water-birth in 5 and half hours with no tearing. I put it down not to wimpy me [i am scared of injections and sometimes faint at the sight of blood!] but doing lots of homework, going to lots of the Albany antenatal classes [free and open to all expectant parents, Thursday evenings and Tuesday daytimes at peckham Pulse], my midwives and Ina May book.

where and when are these classes run locally and how much are they please?

I would also recommend Forest Hill Road Group, didn't get on too well with Dulwich Medical Centre myself but they may have improved by now - hope so!

We put fella in stretchy material trousers where you can get in nearly all baby shops - or older kids trousers/shorts and roll up/cut-off the extra length. My 11 month old wears his two year olds cousins shorts and they work great as mid-length trousers and cover his cloth nappy with room to spare. Have you thought about 'babylegs'? Makes nappy changing easier too. Though if he's got very chunky thighs they may dig in a bit at the top at this phase, but may work well later on for him when he lengthens out.