nikki73

Thanks for your messages. Will pass them on and might get back to you Ryedalema.

Fuschia just saw a separate post on maternity vests which might be useful

Also second Gap. I got a couple of pair of jeans from there and a pair of black trousers which was perfect for work. I bought the jeans around this time of year and they were a tenner or so in the sale. I also bought a couple of T shirts from New look - the one in the City stocks maternity wear. I think they also have their collection online so you can check whether you like the style. I think formes has closed. Lovely stuff but pricey. On the whole though I mainly bought "regular" tuniques in slightly bigger sizes. Got most in Zara and a couple in Cos. And bigger size tank tops in H&M. Retrospectively it would probably have been worth investing in breastfeeding tank tops at the time. Oh and one of my colleagues who had v nice outfits would get them from mamas and papas. Better stop now I could go on for hours...

A relative would like to become a childminder but he's worried his gender would prevent him from finding any work. It got me thinking and there is certainly a fair number of dads who work flexibly to look after their kids in the neighbourhood but I don't think I've ever met a male childminder. Do you know of any and do you think there's a "market" out there for male minders. I am hoping your answers will give me ammunition to convince him it's a career open to all. thanks

I didn't do NCT either because of cost, timetables and not sure about the philosophy (but I agree that it really depends on who teaches you). As other posters say you meet mums/mums to be easily on the forum. The length of your mat leave could influence your decision though. If you are going back to work quite soon after the birth then there could be some advantages to NCT. Retrospectively I am quite happy I didn't do it.

Can anyone recommend a good playpen please. Will need to be put up daily so i need one thats easy to collapse and store. Would a travel cot do the trick or are they too small/unstable? thanks

hi amy i started a thread on this recently - dont know how to paste the link to it (dah) but its entitled Part time childcare - any tips on what works best for you? and dated 14 April. Monday didnt work for me but that was before baby.

i was told to take arnica when labour started but might be worth doublechecking when you buy it.

i have a billy bag. i am happy with it although two drawbacks: it's a bit heavy so awkward to carry with a sling and no cool bag section. one tip though: i got it as a present from the john lewis sale with over 50% discount. could be worth waiting a wee bit to see what the sales have to offer and get 2 for the price of one!! i used the boots freeby for a month or so and that was perfectly adequate for the first few weeks, although a bit plain

Vaccinations are such a personal thing. i had my baby's done at 3 weeks because we were travelling to a high risk zone. It started oozing and scabbing two months later and still is now - she's 6 months old so i'd agree with ryedalema on the picking point. I think i also read somewhere that if they have it done young there's less risk of scarring. my husband and family all had it done within the 1st month and none of them have a scar. My daughter didn't have any side effect but i found the experience unpleasant but then the HV who did it is not the most caring person (known as the witch in my household...).

baby gap is nice but you can't buy online petit bateau and white company but pricey

I agree I don't think Mondays work. Used to take them off for a while before the baby. Ended up spending friday nights in the office till 9 or 10 trying to wrap everything up. Those days are over.

Thanks for all those tips. I think I am going to stick to my guns tostart iff with and suggest Thursday as an alternative if all else fails. It's all quite complicated because my husband works shifts with no fixed day off but still hoping that he can do a day a week childcare. Oh big headache coming on...

Same at my local the Rye. Shame especially with very young ones since they happily sleep through.

Thanks for the tips I'll take it in turn to try them all!

I am going back to work in September and I am negotiating my work pattern. Up until two months before going on mat leave, I worked compressed hours with a friday off every two weeks. I altered my pattern a couple of months before EDD because i was getting tired with long days. Ideally I'd like to go back to Fridays off. My employer would like me to choose another day because of staffing issues, and preferably not Monday. This having been said no one knows as yet to which team I'll go back to. I suspect Wednesdays might be difficult too as this is the day most people come in and all staff events are held so I'd miss out on a lot of info/networking. I was just wondering whether you have any views on which day to take off. My concern is that if i were to take tues (especially Tuesday) or thurs off it might be unsettling for my daughter because of the stop and start nature of the childcare i.e. she'd have to settle in to her nursery/minder on a Monday only to be taken out again the next day. I also get the impression a lot of childminders don't work Fridays. Another concern is that I'll end up having to work on my non working day if I take it mid week whereas on Fridays a lot of people are off. My daughter will be 11 months old in September. Thanks in advance.

I am looking for a restaurant where I can have dinner with friends and a baby, either around ED, South Bank, London Bridge or Victoria. Anyone have any ideas please. So far have thought of Benugos, Canteen. It's to celebrate a birthday so was trying to think of somewhere a bit more special (which won't break the bank) but don't really have any ideas...

Totally agree: forget them!!! Have found that baby is no problem on the plane but more space would have been a blessing. Have flown BA with a newborn on a short flight to France - they were nice. Cathay: fantastic service (and nice food) but I didn't have a child.

Hope you aren't at information overload point yet!! I think I've seen the chart Molly refers to on john lewis blankets - maybe its also on their website? i started using a sleeping bag from 1 month and love it. you'll find summer and winter weight. Haven't tried the summer one yet though. I also agree that you'll find you use blankets all the time. I got 2 to start off with and ended up receiving several as presents. All useful because of reflux, something to lie on etc. good luck

I handed one in but never got a response. i know i should chase but never seem to get round to it.

my daughter's playmat is on a cushion on the carpet. you could also try a sheepskin on the playmat.

Thanks Belle. I've done the tablets thing once before and found it a bit of a hassle when you're in a country where the water isnt safe because of rinsing the chemicals off although i guess i could just stock up on bottled water. but will bring some as a back up just in case.

alieh have you tried this with easyjet by any chance? guess not likely to work?

Thanks for that Fuschia. Interesting and reassuring. Better get used to fractured sleep again!

My 4+ month old has slept through the night for the past couple of months and without a dream feed. Very very lucky i know! But for the last couple of weeks she's starting waking around 5 am (once at 1 am). She's also going to sleep earlier settling down at 8.30ish. Not sure what to do. Introduce a dream feed around midnight and risk waking her up or just feed when she demands it at 5 am knowing it can take a while for her to settle after? (but I am still on mat leave so not a huge problem). Another idea would be to introduce formula as a last feed but going on holiday and won't be 100% confident sterilising. Anyone been through this? Any tips? thanks