Pickle

I don't think it's unsafe, try not to worry. I've been putting my baby to bed dressed as she has been since birth in Jan - vest, sleep suit and 2.5tog sleeping bag. We put our other two (nearly 4 and 5) to bed wearing summer pj's last night only to find they had both got changed into fleecy winter ones over night claiming they were cold :)

Oops I didn't mean my response to sound so abrupt, sorry :-$ Unintentional, was rushing! Molly that sounds like a great setup, so much more flexible than the 5 half day system, and if it had been available at Goodrich I probably would have done it, as my daughter would love to stay longer.

Frowned upon as far as I'm aware, and if not by the school it would be by other parents as so many kids miss out on school nursery places that really want/need them. But worth asking I guess!

We got a surprise last night to have a bat delivered to us in the sitting room by our cat :-S It was very small (body about 4 or 5cm long, with a wingspan of 20cm or so), and as it was curled up we couldn't work out what it was. Admittedly it caused a grown man and woman to scream when it then stretched its wings out and flapped! It seems unharmed and was released into a tree at the back of our garden. A lesson for me, I didn't realise there were bats in the UK!

Yes, us too. I've been finding my broadband increasingly unreliable, which coincides with lots of marketing calls from them trying to push the new fibre optic service, hmmmmm. Anyone signed up to the new one?

We never used a harness either, and cushions for about a week before I realised that although they looked pretty they weren't practical from a weaning/mess/constant cleaning perspective. Not necessary at all.

When I had my 1st child I bought a Chicco highchair based on rave reviews on Babycentre type websites. Complete waste of money - he was comfortable, but it was massive, pretty hideous and near on impossible to clean! I cut my losses, gave it away (couldn't sell it) and got a Tripp Trapp which is still going strong nearly 5 years on, and we bought a 2nd one for our daughter. Well worth the money and have good resale value too. I'm going to get one of the basic white Ikea ones for #3 to use in the interim until I can convince my 5 year old to relinquish his Tripp Trapp, they are small, practical and easy to keep clean (and cheap!)

I have two numbers for Magic Moments: 020 8693 1177 (will only be answered during creche session times as it's the number for the room it's held in) 07837 335 620 (Lynda) It's been nearly a year since we went there now, but we ran into the lovely Tessa and Anna at Beckenham Spa earlier and they were so chatty and lovely, my little girl was thrilled to have seen them.

Sorry to hear you had such a terrible time. You would definitely benefit from either a private midwife or using one of the local midwifery groups - I was with the Lanes for the birth of #3 4 months ago and had care from Erika right through my complicated pregnancy and throughout my induction/labour. I needed an induced birth, but she was fantastic at working with me making sure the things I was determined to have happen did happen (mobile labour despite being hooked up to drips and monitors), no hard core pain relief etc. I can't recommend her highly enough, an amazing lady. I met a number of other Lanes midwives while I was in hospital, they all popped in to say hi and boost my spirits, I would have been happy to have any of them looking after me. With regards to syringe feeding, I was expressing colostrum prior to the birth and there were syringes, storage bottles etc. freely available and I was given lots of syringes to bring home too, so things seem to have changed. I do remember being given those rubbish little feeding cups with #1 five years ago, but didn't see any of them this time. P x

I always ask for extra crispy (verging on burnt), my kiwi palate is far too refined for soggy British chips ;-) All of the local shops are happy to oblige. Now if only I could find a paua pattie and onion sausage I'd be happy.

Us too. I must arrange another session now that we've had another baby!

I was impressed with the settling in process at Goodrich last September when my son started. The children who are completely new to the school tend to start first, and those who have been in nursery at Goodrich are later to start, so she won't be in a class of 30 from day 1. I worried about things like how he would cope at lunchtime etc., but it's been absolutely fine. Despite it being a big school things tend to be done in smaller groups, and it's amazing how well they adapt. My daughter is also starting in reception there in September. We will find out what class they are in nearer the end of this term (before the open morning), which can help to then start forging little friendships with others who will be in the same class.

We only just watched the first episode last night, but were saying the production team must jump for joy when the likes of the two old boys from Bermondsey walk through the doors, they made fantastic viewing.

The music shop on Grove Vale will be able to help. Definitely try to hire rather than buy when she's still using the little violins. Good luck x

I too am full of praise for Kings. A family that live near me were filmed, so it will be interesting to see if the footage is shown (3 year old boy and quite a funny situation so it might be)

I was just going to add about the newborn insert, you beat me to it :). We are just at the stage of taking it out of our seat, baby is 4 months. Once it's out it gives quite a lot more space.

I take my nearly 4 year old to Diddi Dance, which she loves. There are a number of different classes over the week and you can do a free trial, if you Google them you should find their website.

They need to stay in a rear facing seat for as long as possible, at least 9 months (there's a weight guideline) but ideally much much longer. It seems unlikely that a 3 month old would be too big for a Maxi Cosi seat, my older children were in theirs until well over a year old. What makes you think she's outgrown it?

After staying the same last week I lost 2lbs this week, so I'm very happy. The end is in sight now. I was out on Monday night and hadn't done much exercise over the week, so went for a run once the kids were in bed last night - in torrential rain, hail, and then bizarrely warm sunshine for the last 10 mins. I felt brilliant afterwards, but as I headed out the door to start running I did question my sanity! Hope you are all having a good week.

oimissus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > well, she could, Pickle, she could easily go out > and leave a grown man to make himself some lunch. > The fact that she doesn't is up to her, surely?? > (or even leave him a sandwich, if she was feeling > charitable?) > You're right, there's nothing stopping her really, but after 17 years of marriage (they got married at 21) she can't see that. Frustrates the hell out of me when I visit her! I have another friend at home whose husband arrived home at 5pm when I was there visiting her. She had a 3 day old baby and a 16 month old toddler and, in front of me, he shouted at her because his dinner wasn't on the table. Not good. So ladies, celebrate these partners that do little bits to help :))

Convex Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hopefully not too typical nowadays Pickle! Hmmmm, I think there are still a lot of kiwi men like that unfortunately. My brother, for one (like father like son) and a number of my friends are in very traditional relationships. One in particular can never plan to go out for a whole day when her children are at school as her husband comes home for lunch and she has to be there to make his sandwiches... :-S That's why I moved away and married a Scot! Oh, and Otta, you cheeky sod - dinner was already made and waiting in the slow cooker. Domestic goddess ;-)

My 28 year old sister moved home for 3 weeks while my Mum was in the UK visiting me. To look after Mum's cats and our 60 year old able bodied Dad who doesn't even know how to boil an egg (let alone keep 3 cats alive). A very typical kiwi bloke, but to give him his dues he was great at doing things with us when we were growing up, just not the domestic type. Funnily enough he will spend hours cleaning his cars yet claims he doesn't know how to apply those skills to the house.

First thing I would do is get a cleaner - at least that way the cleaning gets done every week by someone and avoids tensions around those types of chores. I'm a stay at home Mum and have one who comes for 3.5 hours a week, she cleans the house and irons 5 work shirts for Mr Pickle. Sorted. In our house I do all the cooking and childcare during the week. Hubby leaves for work at 7am and is generally home by 6:30pm to help with bedtime for the older kids leaving me to focus on the baby. I do the washing, bit if he notices the washing machine is finished he will hang it for me, and he empties the dishwasher most mornings before he leaves for work. He does the washing up of pots etc. after dinner. Bills I tend to deal with, but 99% are direct debit. Holidays are joint decisions. In the weekends he is brilliant and willingly takes over most of the childcare, and will always offer to take all 3 kids to the park so that I can have an hour "off". We both get the opportunity to do the things we enjoy, I go out to rehearsals twice a week and go for runs in the evening when i can, and he has hockey/squash/football. I think we have the balance right, which is brilliant. I know people who have partners who get home from work and spend the rest of the evening playing computer games, and weekends they do the same, god only knows why they put up with it!

The one and only time I've swum there half the pool was used for the aerobics, leaving those of us there to swim with the ability to do widths only, completely pointless.

That's a result Amy! Could be a number of things, baby feeding more certainly a factor. It could also be that your efforts from a couple of weeks prior have shown up now. With my own weight loss I tend to find the results of a really good week can show a week later. Or it could be that your metabolism needed a shakeup, and your holiday has done that for you. Just watch what you eat and exercise for the next couple of weeks and hopefully any excesses won't catch up with you. How brilliant, well done on a great result. P x