oldnewromantic

Completely agree Lochie. I've trawled this post and I can't find any disagreement, or see anyone beating anyone else up over a feeding choice. Not really. Not when you read what's actually been said. There is another thread on a recent breastfeeding documentary that likewise has interesting discussion and sharing of experiences. We are all in agreement. What I don't like are headlines that give a misleading view of the true results of a piece of research. When that happens, it's worth discussing it (wisdom of crowds and all that) to get nearer to what the truth might be. Then we're all better off, better informed, and better able to to do the lobbying for whatever it is that will help with all aspects of parenthood.

Oh I see it now. I am merely a stooge for a conspiracy of multinational formula companies. How could I have been so easily manipulated. My advice? Stop reading the Telegraph. I can recommended a publication called The Week. It summarises all the issues and gives extracts from across all the broadsheets so you it does give a balanced view. I quite enjoy the crossword too.

Fuschia I did not coin the phrase. I did not refer to the NCT or any other breastfeeding support organisations. And FINALLY you've hit on the real reason it could be taken offence to, and it's nothing to do with babies. I just want to make it absolutely clear that the "you" referred to in the Telegraph is not ME. JennyH I too find this and other forums incredibly supportive. I used a babycentre.co.uk discussion forum a few years back and I can't tell you how much it helped me, sometimes just by reading the experiences that others had been kind and brave enough to share. So thankyou.

Fuschia. No one was insulting breast-feeders. The term breastapo was aimed at those who apply pressure to breastfeed, irrespective of the effect on mother and child and those around them. In my experience these are more likely to be people who haven't had children. I honestly thought the conversation we were having was an adult discussion around a piece of published research and whether the headlines told the true story of the results. You hinted at a statistical background so I was really interested to discuss it with you. If there is any campaigning here, it's to get people to speak out about their experiences, not necessarily from the point of view of 'we must all continue to breastfeed whatever the odds' and more from the point of being able to make a decision as to when to stop from an informed standpoint and with the support of others.

Fuschia, you're right about the breastfeeding at 4m being not necessarily exclusive. But the research has excluded from the 10,000 the 3492 who breastfed at the start but stopped before 4 months. And it doesn't take away from the fact that it was 6.5% of breastfed children who had abnormal behaviour scores. If 30% more of the NEVER breastfed had abnormal scores, that's still only 8.5%. I'm surprised they had so many who never breastfed (3292). Either that's more common than I'd assumed, or they ensured that they had a good number in there when they selected the sample.

Thanks Belle The abstract is here NOTE: This research compares term children who breastfed for 4 months or longer, with NEVER breastfed children. The results state No-one is saying that breastfeeding doesn't have many advantages. After all, it's natural and organic and unprocessed and we've all accepted that's better. But this research does not show the vast differences that you might infer from some of the headlines. I have to say though, I disagree with Belle about the RCM comment. If I came home from school with a bad exam result, and my mum had said "The last thing I want is for you to feel like you've failed" I'd have waved bye bye to my self-esteem. And (as I said on another thread) it's great that support's available to help mother's continue to breastfeed. But where's the support to say it's okay to stop! Because according to this research, ANY breastfeeding is good.

Fuschia, meant to ask you. When you looked at the abstract, did you see the figure .67 (with a large 95%CI around it). Did you work out what that .67 was referring to?

Point taken Fuschia. Thanks for reading it.

To save posting a long reply, I've blogged about this at www.BeckyBoooo.wordpress.com. It's my first blog, but like Fuschia the statistician in me could not be held back. I'd really appreciate your feedback.

I moved a 1yo in with a 3yo and never looked back. They are now 4 and 6 and love sharing. In fact they are chatting and playing right now, I'm off to get shouty....

Always take the potential resale value into account when comparing prices!! I had a Stokke which I absolutely loved. Here are the pros and cons Pros The child is facing you and at your height. (brilliant for interaction and chatting, not so good when you want to eat a donut without them seeing) The bag underneath holds absolutely tons It's incredibly easy to push and steer, even one handed You can now get a buggy board for it I sold mine for ?365 (with footmuff and raincover)so it really holds its value Cons It doesn't really fold up small so not easy to store You have to take the seat off to fold it (but don't think that's different to bugaboo) You have to buy the stokke footmuff cos it needs to divide in the middle but it gets tight on children aged 2 The raincover is a bit fiddly to fit. Hold onto it on the bus. Mine did once nearly tip. I also had a Maclaren for holidays. The only reason I sold the Stokke, was because at the time you couldn't get a buggy board for it, and as there was only 2 years between my two, I went for a Phil and Ted. The first buggy we bought was an Inglesina. Seemed to have all the functionality without the price of the Bugaboo. I regretted not buying a bugaboo. The inglesina sold for about ?30 in the end.

Rigby&Peller in Knightsbridge is the only place I've felt comfortable getting a fitting. (You know I'm more than happy to go with and perhaps throw in coffee, or look after baby)

Southwark have a commitment to clean up reported dog poo within a matter of hours. so keep reporting it!! The number is 020 7525 5777 or fill out a street cleaning request form https://eforms.southwark.gov.uk/273.html

Got my tickets! And hoping to meet up with some mums I haven't seen for ages.

Here here! Right behind you @LadyRuskin. I made sure I had the steriliser and bottles ready and waiting. Because by the time you get to the point where you decide to hit the bottle, you are in no fit state to start reading instructions! I would just like to point out, that there was always someone on hand to help with breastfeeding. In fact the world and his wife couldn't wait to get their hands on me. But a lady in my maternity ward had been bottle feeding and cleaning the bottles by rinsing them out in the sink in the bathroom. I know this is an extreme, but could no one have shown her how to use the steriliser? Anyway, I also just want to say that everyone on this thread is wonderful, non-judgmental, and totally awesome. Yay!

Firstly, I should probably say I didn't watch the programme because I thought it would make me angry. I bottle fed from 3 weeks and 1 week respectively. I don't feel guilty, I see a huge number of advantages with bottle feeding and it has not adversely affected by beautiful healthy children. It's great that there is help out there for those that want to carry on. It really is. But I felt I ought to feel guilty for stopping. One woman in Peckham library even stopped talking to me when I said I didn't breast feed. I remember walking into Kings and seeing all these posters of happy mums smiling beatifically into the eyes of their darling breastfeeding children. Well you know what? I don't think I looked at my children like that till I bottle fed. Partly cos I couldn't see their face jammed into my boob. Who knows, maybe that's what I was doing wrong. So if anybody out there is breastfeeding, stressed, hating it, and wants to talk to someone about stopping? Happy to help.

Hello. If you want to find out more about Hollydale, then either jump over to the www.nunheadforum.co.uk as a good way to find other Hollydale mums (like me), or you can follow the school on Twitter @HollydaleSchool. Many thanks for posting this Renata

To everyone. Before you sign up for South London Dance Studios, please read all the rules and regulations on their website. In my experience these rules are strictly adhered to.

Hello Fuschia. I was wondering how things are going at the McAlpine dance studio? (I"m the friend who's frequently in tears from a couple of posts up). I'll PM you.

Southwark council currently have a consultation on their website which you can use to 'vent' or something more constructive should you so choose. You can also phone the council's environmental department and apparently they commit to clearing up any reported poo in 4 hours. Having spent yesterday scrubbing my carpet, and having spent today scrubbing my car, I'm right now thinking all dogs should be banned. Actually I'd go further than that but I daren't say it here, I've seen what you lot can do.

I really think London Bridge is quickest. Although having said that, my closest station is Queen's Road Peckham which is 6 mins to London Bridge. Or you could just ignore everyone and go to the nationalrail.co.uk website. They also have a good, but expensive iphone app.

According to some papers from the Education and Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee on Monday 12 July 2010 - this problem was put forward as a proposed topic for discussion (see copied text below. Might be worth following up with the gentleman who prposed it (name below). Two other members of this committee are Councillor Althea Smith (Nunhead) and Councillor Adele Morris (Cathedrals ward). When I acted protectively to my children when I saw a pit bull type dog roaming free ahead of me, the owner told me that I shouldn't 'bring my kids up like that'. Really not sure what you can do about this other than teach children to recognise responsible owners from irresponsible ones, and to watch out for potentially dangerous situation. Increase in dangerous dog attacks ? are children being adequately protected? There has been a 66% increase in dog bites over the last ten years, with more than 100 victims being admitted to hospital each week in England, according to the Mail-Online News. The 2008/09 figures show that of a total 5,221 people who were treated ? 1,250 were children ?including many babies and toddlers?. The article goes on to say that the true figures will be much higher as the data does not include victims seen in A&E. The problem is said to be more acute in urban areas, such as London. I believe this would make a good and timely topic for review by the Ed & CS Scrutiny Sub Committee to assess how Southwark is coping with this growing threat to our children?s welfare and safety. Colin Elliott Education Representative

If you want to know what stats to ask for, look at Lewisham's website. They publish everything! I would recommend applying online. I live on the border of southwark and lewisham so two years ago, I applied to four in southwark and four in lewisham as they don't talk to each other.

Brilliant! I've just booked a table at the Clock House. Thank you so much. Thought I was going to have to trog into town.

Anyone know of anywhere local(ish) that might be open for booze and grub? Ta