nicolemodesti

My 11 month old loves Roary Racing Car and will watch it then goes off to play with the set of Roary cars. He has become an avid cricket watcher with his Dad, on weekends when looking at the highlights, and chuckles away to himself at the batters! Nothing wrong with anything in moderation!! Just waiting for the day he has an afternoon programme, when I can make dinner without interruptions!

Good luck Heidi.xx

We had a crib in our room, much larger than a moses basket and our son slept in there for first 5 months. Was much easier with breastfeeding as either me or my partner would pick him up. Have to say though that he only woke once during the night for a feed/nappy change as a newborn and was sleeping through, 7pm to 5am, from about 8 weeks old. Decided to keep him in with us though, maybe just being a cautious new mum or the fact that I loved hearing him! Have to say though that he would occasionally wake at 3am and have a little play with his crunchy crib book and go back to sleep. He moved to his own room at 5 months old and didn't have any trouble. My partner was brilliant with getting up for him and changing the nappy. Personal choice and sure that all advice here is what has suited parent/baby best.

I waited until about 12 weeks to do powerpramming and went to Crystal Palace. Quite good as they also did a check for things!! Before that I would go for walks in the park. Agree with the cuppa though as you barely get a chance to make one during the day let alone drink it!!

A big thank you, once again, ladies! I didn't know about the Soya and hormones bit...would have been good if the Health Advisor had of explained it but instead referred me to check the DOH website 0-5 years guidance for any concerns changing to milk!!! Unbelievable but true. I don't think my boy will have a problem as he drinks loads of fluid during the day and loves his beaker/cup as well as drinking from a bottle. Giving up making the bottles will give me, or my partner, that extra breathing time!!

Interesting about Soya milk as I drink that but was told not to give to him!! He tried some of my goat cheese yesterday and really liked it. You have all supplied valuable information and I thank you very much. I can now enter the 'milk' transition armed with better information!!

Thanks, this so far has offered me more advice then given today. While I am a very laid back and relaxed parent it definitely was that I just need reassurance! I had thought of swapping a formula for a cow's milk during the day and an afternoon one may be the alternative. He has breakfast first in the morning, grunting for it by 7am (I guess after being up for an hour he's entitled to), and normally his formula about 1 - 1.5 hours later, which is only about 100ml. This may be another alternative to a cow's milk bottle?? I would rather gradually reduce the formula too and see what happens. He will sometimes take his formula from a beaker but definitely prefers water or juice from his beaker or cup. Yes Pickle, people do have 2.5 year olds who drink milk from a bottle or even, as my friend has, a 3 year old who loves his juice from a bottle. Nothing wrong with it at all!! I know what you mean about telling you what they want or as is the case tonight, pointing towards the kitchen after dinner for yoghurt!! Good luck with you next milestone of getting someone else to feed your girl and put her down for the night....a night off would be a luxury for you!!

This may seem a bit daft but I am a little confused!! My son is 11 months old and I realise that at the age of 1 he will start to drink cows milk. In preparation for this I visited my local baby clinic today and spoke with a Health Advisor on how best to do this and what will happen with regards to his formula (Aptamil) intake. The whole visit was very hurried and made me feel completely stupid as well as coming away with unanswered questions. So I am hoping others will be able to share their experience with me as a guideline?? The health advisor told me that I would need to stop all formula at 12 months and only give cows milk as he would be a 1 year old boy. My son has always been a good milk drinker - both breast (until 10 months) and formula. Presently my boy has 3 bottles a day which is the equivalent of 600ml of formula. He does not always drink all this and will occassionally push the bottle away after 100ml in the morning or afternoon feed. He is very well established on solids and eats everything that we have introduced and keen to try new foods, especially knicking off our plates. Cows milk has been used in cooking and he loves yoghurt and cheese. He is very good at drinking from his beaker as well as a doidy cup. I give him formula sometimes at breakfast in his beaker. I also questioned if I should start to reduce one formula feed a day, over the next month, in preparation but was told that it wasn't necessary. Really by the end of it all I walked away in utter confusion and with even more questions. As my son will turn 1 just before I return back to school, after the summer holidays, I am wanting to have something started for the childcare with Granny and nursery (although they would be brilliant if not as they have been with him for 5 months). As the health advisor stated 'Every child is different' and I realise this, what I wanted was advice!! Do I stop formula altogether? Do I use the Aptamil Follow on Milk? Do I put cows milk in his bedtime bottle? (This was stated to me) How much cows milk in a day? As this is another milestone and transition in my son's life I just want to make sure that I am doing this in the correct manner. So if you feel like sharing any tips it would be appreciated!!

If she enjoys Eva Ibbotson, you could try 'journey to the River Sea' set in Brazil. A magical read. You could also try 'Spindle's End' by Robin McKinley which is a magical retelling of Sleeping Beauty for teenagers!!

With regards to authors, Garth Nix, an Australian author is great especially his trilogy, starting with Sabriel. Similar to Phillip Pullman!! Louis Sachar (author) is a light but good read for kids/teenagers. How about some poetry by Edward Lear or Spike Milligan??

You could try Nelsons Hypercal, which is a blend of hypericum and calendula. Bio oil should not be used if skin is broken.

Bellenden Bear do try not to let your end of MAT leave be overshadowed by guilt and anxiety.....sounds to me that you have an idea of what you want for your baby and have successfully set up the first step of switching to formula. Plus the added bonus that she will drink from bottle.

Gosh, remember this decision well!! Went back to work when my boy was 6 months and decided to use Aptamil First after discussions with other mothers at playgroups.My health advisors wouldn't recommend one or the other. Actually ran into one of them in the supermarket the very first time I was buying it!! We have been very happy with Aptamil over the last few months. Like you, Bellenden Bear, I felt really sad to cut down the breastfeeding but managed a feed every morning and occassionally in the evening. Would take my breastpump with me every day to school but never managed to express any more than 20ml, so gave up on it, plus didn't have the time either. My boy decided that he didn't want the breast when he turned 10 months old so was happy that he at least had formula to have. You certainly do not have to justify your decision as it is an entirely personal one and at the end of the day you were brave enough to ask for advice on a forum! Oh by the way we tried SMA when in Australia as we had come to the end of our Aptamil and it didn't seem to agree with our boy as he would bring alot of it back up and he had never done that before, on either breast or Aptamil. You could always try one of the Aptamil cartons for a first time. Good luck

Do you think it may be the tin foil acted as an insulator and he became too hot in the room?

Ah Alethea....what is the right or wrong way???? I'm still trying to work that one out but know that I have a happy, contented, beautiful boy!! Surely that's the main point and I'm sure you are doing everything in the way you feel comfortable with and certainly not a 'crap mum'.

Ainsworths (mother and child) chamomila homoeopathic tablet crushed on a spoon and given to baby. Works a treat for our boy.

As a teacher myself, in state primary, I would ask the school if they have a Gifted and Talented leader who may support your daughter. This usually is designated to the SENCO but some schools may have a G&T coordinator. Although the class teacher should be differentiating the lesson plans for all ability childen. There is also intervention programmes that can be followed in numeracy and literacy. Within our school G&T children are not targeted until Year 3, but have been identified at an earlier stage, and 'more able' activities are set in planning. Worth discussing with the class teacher. If you do decide private just remember the 'common entrance' exams and they do start at 7 as I have tutored many children in preparation for them, even at that early age!! So many children sitting a day of exams for limited places. Good luck with your choice.

Skip, as I wrote before my parents hired a car seat in Oz for us, when in QLD, through RACQ. Maybe try RACV in Victoria? RACQ also fitted the seat in their car. The seat was extremely clean and looked more comfortable/roomy then the seat we owned here! Good luck.

Great thread as my 10 month old son started his first unaided steps 2 weeks ago and will gladly walk around holding on to everything! Have got some startrites but a bit big so waiting to fit. In the meantime he is wearing thicker soled sandals, and the trusty crocs when outdoors. Not sure if any good for his feet?

Best to phone and enquire in Australia as we were there in February, in Queensland, and my parents had to hire a car seat for us as our Britax car seat was not 'universal'. They had additional seatbelts secured around the rear facing car seat as well as the 3 point seat belt. Each state may differ though!!

Woolies has made a comeback online!!! woolworths.co.uk. Article in the Guardian on 25th June which you could access online to read. May be worth a try as they are selling children's clothes again!

Our 10 month old loves the Sainsbury's Easy Porridge oats. I mix in boiled water and add chopped fruit which he devours! I place in either steamed apple, mango, melon, pear or banana. May be good with the banana that your little girl loves. You could also try in bread the wholemeal mini pitta bread if she enjoys finger food. Either plain or toasted and maybe a little hummous? I don't give any milk upon waking and he has water since he has given up the breast 3 weeks ago although before that he would only have a very small breast feed of 5 mins, if that. To be honest he does not want his bottle first thing. Mini sandwiches through the day or for dinner? Maybe try baby spaghetti or rice mixed with her favourite veg? Good luck with finding a meal to start her day and with the weight gain.

I agree that teaching is a great career in the fact that you get school holidays!! But as a teacher myself and returned full time when our boy was 6 months, I have found the last 4 months a juggling act. Especially as I have 2 subject leader roles apart from my class based teacher role. I am in school by 7.30am to set up the day, work relentlessly, and still don't manage to finish everything. Therefore after pick up from Granny, drive home, dinner, bath, bedtime and organising everything for our boy for the next day I find myself at the computer doing an additional 2 hours work. Saturday is also spent with 4 hours planning, marking and resourcing for school for the following week. Don't think that school holidays are spent just with your child as you possibly may find that you spend a day in school organising your next half term and sorting your classroom. Summer holidays will require more with a new class to think about.The teaching career is changing dramatically and new professional standards are quite demanding.I'm not sure I could have done all this with a new baby and enter the profession!! Saying all this I thoroughly love teaching and even do a couple of after school tutoring sessions. I was always sure that I would return to work even more so with the rather meagre maternity package offered in the borough I work in.Plus I have a fantastic and supportive Head Teacher who really does consider your emotional well being and will give me additional coordinator role time, out of class, if too snowed down. Even offered that I could do this from home but I just don't seem to achieve anything then! Working as a Teaching Assistant is an option but in my opinion it is quite underpaid for the hours and effort that these valuable professionals put in. Some have found that their pay goes directly to childcare costs and nothing left over. Wishing you the best of luck Belle in your decision making but please do enjoy your time at home as it really does fly by too quickly.

Thanks Fuschia Another good one is Streatham Festival 4th July - 12th July. Family fun 4th July on Streatham Common. www.streathamfestival.com