echo

Sorry to read about your stressful time. My experience with my daughter is that weaning took/takes a long time. Our little one is now 2,5 years old and she still loves to drink pints of cows/breast milk, but she is starting to eat more often with us and bigger portions. Although some days she does, others she does not! I found the 'baby led weaning book' by Gill Rapely useful, as she believes we should only offer finger food but not to get too worried if they take a while to eat a range of food. So if your little one just wants milk, then that's their choice, but to continue to offer other finger food to try. This book may give you more information so that you feel happier with letting her get on with it, espically as your GP is not worried about any underlying illness. Best of luck

With my first I had a similar experience and she fed and fed and fed.... I used a co-sleeping cot and I really do believe that it helped me to cope with her feeds. As I could just lean over to feed her after hearing her smacking her lips together to tell me she was hungry... without me having to get up... The more rest and sleep you are able to get the easier it will be to continue b/feeding. I also found the Sears The Baby Book very useful and helped me to understand my baby's behaviour and how I could help her to feel safe, secure and keep her well fed! The early days are hard, but it really does get easier:) Best of luck

I've recently had to put down boundaries with my 26month old, of only a morning and bed time feed, as she was starting to constantly to demand more and more to mirror her new baby sister's feeding (now 3 months). I'm offering rewards to praise her non asking and explaining she is a big girl etc, etc.. such as spending big girl time with her of baking, cooking etc. It's not too bad during the day now (the tatrum which ended me tandem feeding at a friends sunday lunch was the final straw for me!), but during the night she has crying fits when I refuse.. (difficult...) I personally would not feed my toddler if she was attacking me. Mine did at 14 months keep biting me which led to my breasts developing a serious infection. I used to take her off and refuse to feed her. After a week or two(?) she did stop... I suppose you need to think through where your boundaries lie. The thing with breast feeding toddlers is that you feel you are the only one doing it, and therefore you are a bit odd and perhaps treating them as a baby. I'm currently getting lots of pressure to stop from my friends and family, so reading this tread is useful.

In dulwich park, on one those hired three wheelers, whilst myself and boy friend were peddling away.....

SteveT I think you mean corporal punishment, you appear to have lived to tell the tale...

our childminder is male- so there are def male ones out there....

I'm pretty sure it's the 345 which goes to South Ken from Peckham/Camberwell not the 436.. I always find it is relatively easy and quick to go to places, but the rush hour coming back makes the journey much harder- as the bus is full of buggies or lots of commuters..

We've never taken our own car seat, but I'll think thats what we'll do on our next holls. On the first holls to Malta, it was unusable as we were given a 9month-3years seat for our 6 week old new born!! My horrified complaints and subsequent emails had no impact. The second holls to Madeira, was the right size but very tatty and did not really fit properly. We used very main stream car hire places and we booked in advance. I also agree that the seats are also expensive- in Madeira I think it worked out to be around ?80 for a two week hire period. This is not much less that the price of a good chair seat, so I was very surprised by the very old seat that was brought out. Although the idea of fitting our car seat to another car, feels a bit stressful- must remember to take instructions!!

I was at Myatts Field's today, but they were not on. The attendants did tell me the date, but I have now forgotten it. I think he said the 26th May??

I'm also 6 months pregnant and still b/f. I was hoping that my 22 month old would self wean, but if any thing she has just started to want MORE!! I am probably eating a little too much (as I've put on weight)- but such is life it seems at these times.. I will confess I am a little worried about how my daughter will cope with the competition- we will have to wait a see.. Respect due to Fuschia- extended b'f of twins.. wow!

perhaps start to do more group activities? He'll love it and apart of the stress of getting somewhere on time with a little baby, they're good fun.. Your most local libuary will have baby sessions, or perhaps take him to baby swimming at peckham pluse. Also the children's centre's (eg peckham rye oneo'clock club) will have baby activities. If you want to pay- there a lots of activites eg baby signing, monkey music etc etc

My toddler does the same! I did not realise there was a design fault! Not sure what to do, maybe a email to maxi cosi hq! Surely, they should not be selling their Tobi seats until a modification has been made? It is a pretty basic requirement that our little ones can not wriggle their arms out.

I changed mine at around 10/12 months... I just loved looking at her and she seemed to liked it... Although I now remember that I did try it earlier, but she cried. So you could always give it a trial and see if your little man likes it?

I did do the same as Carlito, and got the Southwark childminder lists. Places do come up; either from families moving, getting made redundant or having more kids.... I spoke to some lovely people, but they were too far away for it to work for us. In the end I had a recommendation for our childminder, and managed to get a place for the two days. He is in the next street to us which is a bonus.. Best of luck..

I've returned to work p/t. Granny looks after our little one for one day and she is at a childminders for two days. He is very good, yes a he! and costs ?40 per day (he is based on Telegraph Hill). So good child minders are out there.. just keep looking. I found the process very, very stressful! as I saw a lot of 'bad' ones in my opinion.. Also I found that at a year old, my baby seemed a lot more robust and ready for more social engagement. She loves playing with the other children. The down side has been, she has been ill more, which creates a new dilemma of who takes the ad-hoc time off! Also remember you can claim the child care tax rebate thingy, which can save you up to ?900 per year. Can you phase going back to work? i.e. three days for a few months, then four days if it feels right?? Finding the right child care is obviously very important, but I did not get it completely sorted until I went back. Obviously plan for returning to work, but enjoy your life with your baby as it is today, tomorrow, next week, next month and even next year etc. p.s Our Granny is the same, she has never visited us in our current place, as she does not do public transport. We have to drop off; suited and booted... but it is to Battersea not Twickenham

I get occasional hand Eczema. I think the best ever cream is The organic pharmacy- ultra dry skin cream, it is expensive but it works and lasts for ages. Health matters do sell it.

I've just started going to the Sitaram pregnancy yoga at Kings Hospital on Saturday's. It is a bit of a tight squeeze at times in the room, but very relaxing and not to far to travel. Don't be put off by their complicated online booking. You have to registar and have a password etc. I bought a trail lesson, before committing to a package. www.sitaram.org/

Just noticed the most of the albany discussion threads are locked. Has the forum administrator explained why?

We still have not booked... decisions, decisions- It difficult to know how much we can do with our little one, without it becoming a chore! I have been looking at the toddler friendly 'adventure' holidays to Morocco- but the earliest age is 2 years. I had not thought about Cuba- i loved to go! Thanks for all the comments, they have been really useful, especially the weather warnings.

Help! I'm trying to plan a January winter sun holiday. What are others experiences of taking their little ones away? I've been thinking about places like Morocco, but I've not found the place yet. I'm looking for a place that can offer lots of rest and relaxation, perhaps an experience of a different culture and keep my 1.5 year old very happy. Any ideas?

Sorry if I have caused offence by suggesting that maybe some babies are not night- time parented and this is why they sleep through. I was not trying to over simplify the BIG issue of sleeping and feeding. But trying to offer a different perspective on 'sleeping through' which can feel very elusive. Going back to an argument against blw, some feel that feeding lots to babies enables them to sleep through. Which, according to BLW, may not be in the babies best interests. The issue of controlled crying is very emotive (and a different topic), especially as I think it means different things things to different people. Which is probably true for all theories of parenting, as we all put our all slant on things. I'm all for discussing and reflecting on our experiences and opinions on forums and more.. Anyway I hope everyone has a happy day with their little ones- the sun is out and it's a wonderful autumn day best wishes echo...

Hi Snow boarder, I'm also doing the blw, although I've mixed in some spoon feeding. Sometimes i just want to feed her soup or risotto etc. Although i do encourage to feed herself (hopefully I don't sound too guilty for not being a purist??) I feel BLW is an approach to food and feeding. I think it's a positive one, as it attempts to stop parents force feeding their child, regardless of whether the child wanted to eat. If you adopt BLW, when your child doesn't eat its not a battle between angry parents and upset children. It is about trusting you baby that they will tell you when they are hungry and what they liked to eat. Personally, I don't think it is unusual at 6 months not to want to eat very much. My daughter had no interest until around 7.5 months. But, she was and still is at 15 months, waking up for night time breast feeds.. She loves milk!! But, I have found that her sleeping has changed enormously, with her settling to sleep for longer and longer periods since she started crawling and especially since she was walking. I remember well the pressure my mother and others put on me to feed my daughter rice powder and more, from about 4 months. It is pretty standard UK parenting, esp in my mother's era. Also the slightly competitive edge of smugness of having a child that 'sleeps through'. I suspect (rightly or wrongly) a lot of people are just refusing to night time parent and maybe letting their baby's cry?? Any way- it's meant to produce happy, healthy eaters- so hopefully our children can miss out on a whole of range of eating type issues later on But don't worry if you use the odd spoon, I did and still do.

I felt I had aged 10 years, after making my baby and looking after her. I started working with Beth from Bee -healthy for 1 hour per week and I'm very pleased. It has enabled me to become much fitter than before and motivated to do more exercise in-between sessions. We work out in my local park- so no gym.. Beth has now been bitten by the baby bug and she'll be on her maternity leave at Dec. (But back next year) She charges ?35 per session, so you get an idea of how much it costs. Despite feeling it is an luxury, i do feel a lot fitter and worth it. If you have a baby friendly trainer, they get to hold your baby whilst you do your exercises.. Any which way you do it, I hope you get your va va voom back..