sophiechristophy

Hey everyone - would be great to meet up with those interested in the New Year (once the christmas craziness is over, and hopefully all these nasty bugs have gone away!!). Saff - thanks so much for the offer of a venue, I think that would be perfect! lets make a date for the new year - perhaps everyone interested could PM me, and i can report back to you numbers? Thanks, and hope everyone is keeping cosy. Sophie

i would ask if you have a sling? I have an ergo babycarrier, which is great, and my baby loves being in there while i am getting on with things, and watching what i am doing etc. I think that can be as stimulting to them as "playing" at that age - my 6 month old loves it even more now! x

My birthday is on Boxing Day, and it is pretty rubbish i must admit. My major birthday peave as a child was being given a christmas card as a birthday card, with the Merry Christmas inside crossed out, and Happy Birthday scrawled underneath. Gutted. I always thought it was fun to go out for lunch on my birthday, which we did quite a lot as I got older (think my mum was happy to have a break from cooking and washing up). Havent got too many tips other than that, it is just a tough birthday to bear, but it could be worse, it could be the 25th. That would mahusively suck. On the positive side, having a boxing day birthday does tend to mean that people remember you birthday, as it is an unusual day. Oh, and boxing day birthday means you are Capricorn, the finest sign of the zodiac if i do say so myself. Oh, and for SURE two presents, two cards etc.

saila - my nct group sounds really similar to yours, and i love the ladies in my group and we have a great time together and have done since our babies were born 6 months ago. we meet up at least once a week, and sometimes more. no one is suggesting that you just hang out with one group of mums all the time are they? it's just an interest group that's all!!!

Hi everyone, Not sure what happened here. The intention of my post was to see if there were any people interested in/following attatchment parenting principles, who would like to meet up. Some people are interested specifically in this subject, that's all, and I thought it would be nice to share ideas. To clarify - the group would be open, welcoming and supportive! I don't see this as controversial, and would at this point ask that we draw a close to the debate. Thanks to everyone who has expressed an interest, I thought it would be nice to have a get together at Sydenham Hill Wood (Cox's Walk entrance), perhaps next Thursday afternoon at 2? Please let any friends that you think would enjoy meeting up know. Thanks, Sophie

agree with sillywoman - HH you are talking about a different kind of spectrum. And as I understand it, attachment parenting doesn't demand "exclusive" anything, but is more an approach/style. you can still follow attachment parenting principles even if you aren't co-sleeping, breastfeeding etc, through other expressions of parenting.

I think it would be great to start one!

speaking of teachers that do rather well gift wise, a primary school teacher friend of mine who used to teach at a private prep school in fulham got given ?350 worth of selfridges vouchers one year! WHAT?!?!!!!! I think there was some sort of competition amongst the parents.... needless to say, she was pretty psyched!

Hi everyone, Hope you have all been cosy in this cold weather! I was just wondering if there is a group of attachment parenting types getting together? So far I have only been able to find a group in west London. Anyone know? Thanks!! Sophie x

another vote for the ergo - have been obsessed with mine ever since it was the only place my baby would fall asleep when she was first born, and now she is 6 months, i don't know how i would get on with my day without it! ergo rules!

Have to say, my husband is a teacher, and he would be grateful for absolutely anything, and invariably gets nothing at all! You are a lovely parent to be thinking of the hardworking teachers out there Molly! (he does teach in a secondary school, perhaps parental influence and presents have worn off by then?).

don't bother with this isofix - it's so expensive, and you can just fit the carseat with the regular seatbelt. S x

Hi everyone, I need to put my babies Child Trust Fund cash somewhere, but the list of providers is so long, I don't know where to start! Wondered what decision others had made? Thanks! Sophie

I also use Nature Baby Care nappies, and absolutely love them.xxx

Ruth - you are not alone in the totally skint stakes. I often hear myself saying, "oh,we're so broke/skint" etc, but when i hear myself saying it, it doesn't feel quite true as I feel so enriched having a baby. they almost make you feel as rich as can be. xxxxx

hey ruth - just noticed your mention about calcium, and thought you might like the info that we include in our childrens centre 'kids kitchen' sessions on alternative to dairy calcium sources: Fruit and Vegetables: Sweet potato Spinach Lemons Garlic Cauliflower Turnip Celery Onion Green beans Cabbage Carrots Kale Watercress Oranges Broccoli Cherries Avocado Pineapple Bananas Aubergine Tomatoes Coriander Beetroot Parsley Grapes Asparagus Green peas Strawberries Nuts and Seeds: Almonds (ground for under 5s) Sesame Walnuts (ground for under 5s_ Tahini Hazelnuts (ground for under 5s) Poppy Sunflower Bean, Pulses and Grains: Oats Tofu Brown rice Chickpeas Lentils Quinoa Wholewheat flour Soybeans Meat & Fish: Sardines Chicken Turkey P.S i am pretty sure my mum said that i self-weened at around 11 months when i was a baby, strange how some babies just do that when you think there will be more of a process involved.

if i were you, and i had already spent a lot of cash on lessons and are close to being ready to take your test, i would push on and get the license. it is definitley possible to get by without a car, but it would be such a waste of money to not go through with it now - who knows when you will get the opportunity in the future to spend the time and money on lessons/taking a test? get it under your belt, and then at least you have the option in the future to car it or not. x

vinegar?

there's a really great book called baby-led weaning by gill rapley, really recommend it :) xxx p.s. my baby's weight dropped from the 99percentile at birth to below the 50th, but she is strong and thriving so i trust that more than generalised percentile growth charts.

I just flew a 6 hour flight followed by a 9 hour flight with my daughter who is about to be 6 months. Best tip - call your airline and make sure you reserve a bulkhead seat with a bassinet. I flew BA, and they have these baby boucer-esque (without the bounce) seats that you can use on the platform that folds down from the bulkhead - my daughter slept in it for the 9 hour flight, only waking up once to feed! I did the outbound 9 hour flight on my own, and although a bit challenging at times (eating the meal was interesting, and changing her nappy then going to the toilet myself felt like completing a challenge on the crystal maze), it was actually completely fine. The good news is you get to board before anyone else! S xxx

does anyone know if tongue tie is more common in boys? I have two friends who had sons with tongue tie, and the posters so far have all had boys? just a coincidence? S xxx

I really love Nature Babycare nappies: http://www.naty.com/uk/Home/tabid/61/Default.aspx

How about Langley Park in Beckenham? Not sure what the train links are like, but my husband used to work at Langley Park Girls which accepts boys in the 6th form, and it is really nice. S x

Hey Pia - hope meet goes really well! Love Soph x

am I the only one who doesn't understand why people are bothered if their child sucks their fingers or thumb? why do people try to discourage it a all?