Pickle

This thread has made me laugh, but am I the only person who doesn't associate with any of this? Am I just lucky? My kids are 4.5 and 3, we manage to live a chaos free life. I guess there's plenty of time for it to go wrong, but for now I'm hoping I've escaped!

My friend and I both used to take our toddlers to powerpramming - mine, at the time, was a bottom shuffler and used to have fun shuffling round the grass while we did our exercises (while my baby slept in the P&T). My friends little girl would run about - the way Liz structures the classes means there's always someone to keep an eye on the mobile ones. I've very strongly of the opinion that if you want to fit something into your life you will manage it, but exercise seems to be one of those things that people find 1,000,0001 reasons why they can't! Come on ladies - no excuses!! ;-)

Running was the only thing that I found realistically worked around having two with such a small age gap. Once they were sleeping reliably till 7am I started going out running early (6.15ish) - hard to start with but after a while I really loved being out in the early morning peace & quiet. Also I did BMF, which was fantastic for fitness, and their classes worked around kids too (early mornings, or evenings after they are in bed). Good luck!

I too had "random" midwives through my labours and births at Kings, and they were lovely. By that stage I didn't really care who was there!

How pregnant are you Marvellous Mavis? I know the Lanes only take a limited number of "caseload" patients (something like 18/20 a month), but also a larger number of other patients - who don't get the at home, one on one type care, but will still be seen regularly in the lead up to birth by one of the team. It's been a while since I had my last baby, so that may have changed. Also, I'm not sure whether you have to be a patient at DMC to get the Lanes Group? Someone else will be able to confirm I'm sure.

There are lots of different ones, suitable from 6ish months from memory (it's been a while!). My babies preferred them to baby rice, and you can mix fruit etc. into it just as you would with the rice.

There are lots of different ones, suitable from 6ish months from memory (it's been a while!). My babies preferred them to baby rice, and you can mix fruit etc. into it just as you would with the rice.

My expertise go no further than "I did it with my kids, and they've survived so far"... but IMO that would be fine. It's been in the fridge, and I assume you made it up correctly with scalding water this morning? In which case no worries at all. I wouldn't keep it any longer than 24 hours though. Seems a bit of a waste to buy powdered formula to use such a small quantity though? With my 2nd (where I couldn't be bothered expressing) I went straight to the baby porridge type cereals that have milk powder included, so you just add water.

Our cat kindly delivered a dead rat to us in bed last year. Not the type of wake up call I welcome it's fair to say :-S

Only 10 donors?! That's a real shame, I hope those that can help will do so. Such a worthy cause, and if you're in the habit of expressing for your own baby it's not really any extra hassle.

Crystal Palace sports centre are more relaxed, I can take my two (3 and 4.5) by myself. They have a couple of teaching pools which are ideal, as the older kids can touch the bottom. I think Beckenham Spa will be OK with 3 kids and 2 adults, as long as the older children are 3 and above.

I KNOW I'm going to get shot down, and I'm not suggesting anybody follow it to the letter, but I found the Gina Ford book great for giving me an idea of nap times/lengths/how much etc. for each stage of development. I didn't follow it 100%, more adapted it to a "lite" version, but it worked wonders for us and I have two brilliant sleepers as a result. Just a suggestion :)

It shouldn't take long for baby's tongue to be snipped if you're in the system - these days I think it may even be done there and then (some with more recent experience will be able to help with a more definite answer). Don't expect a miracle cure, it will take time and perserverance for you to get things right afterwards - in all honestly I would say it was at least 4 or 5 weeks before breastfeeding my son was a pain-free experience for me (although his operation wasn't done till he was 8 weeks, so quite late). It's definitely worth getting some help after the operation. Good luck x

With my son (now 4.5) I struggled to find help through the NHS/Kings channels with breastfeeding - he was tongue tied and it wasn't picked up until he was about 6+ weeks old. I remember being in tears calling every number on every piece of paper I had been given, and still not getting any useful advice or appointments. I used a private lactation consultant (Jill Dye), who came to my house and was very helpful. I've recommended her a lot on the forum and know a number of other ladies here have used her. Hopefully if you need support you will find it locally, but if not, there are other options. P x

If you're looking at state schools it's not really a question of choosing the best one, it really comes down to what you are allocated based on where you live. I'm also on Upland, and have a son at Goodrich nursery who is about to move to reception in September, and my daughter starts nursery in September. I'm happy with the school and my son is settled which is the main thing at this age. You really don't need to worry now - apply for school nursery as Fuschia says, at about 2.5, and the application for primary places happens a year later. Heaps of time yet!

It is a shame, but IMO I would like to see more money pumped into services that actually help women who want to breastfeed, rather than just overall awareness campaigns.

So, so sad :'( Pictures from the kids are a great idea. I also think a donation to the hospice is a nice idea, it's something I've done in the past. P x

The kids gave Mr Pickle cards and chocolates at 7am, then I entertained until them 8:30am (I say "I", I mean CBeeBees) - so he got a nice lie in. But now I have a day of rehearsals (one down already, another this afternoon) so he gets to spend father's day looking after his children!

Ha ha, sorry to disappoint, but no!

That is brilliant Ruth, I'm so pleased for you. I've been to Kings a couple of times in the last few weeks and can't fault the care I've received. We are very lucky to have such a great resource right on our doorstep.

My (sleep loving) son kept his right up to around 18/19 months, my (not so sleep loving) daughter dropped hers at about 9 months. Oh how I loved that little bit of time at 9am when my son was in bed, I used to have a late breakfast and a shower and it was bliss. Changed days now!

Some kind of symbol - was cool for the artist formally known as Prince (or is he back to being known as Prince again these days, I struggle to keep up!). Maybe you should be "The Lovely Lady", given that I don't think a nasty word/post has ever come from you and you're always full of nice advice? P x

Have to agree with you Moos, and will join you in that lie down if that's OK. I may as well - eldest child at school nursery, youngest at creche, and my cleaner is currently busy working her magic ;-)

I have a cleaner - got one temporarily when heavily pregnant with child #1 and still have her 4.5 years later. My justification is that I would much rather be spending time with the kids and doing things I enjoy rather than cleaning the loo and constantly feeling like I had to clean. I do clean (and iron) on the days she isn't here, but it's nice to know that once a week someone will come and do the whole house for me. We have a 5 b/r house, so for me to try and do all the cleaning as well as juggling the children would take me pretty much all week to get round, whereas she can do it all in one go. That said, my cleaner always tells me that my house is the most spotless one that she cleans in a week, so I obviously do more than a lot of people she works for. I guess I'm lucky that we can afford it as well as me being at home, but both hubby and I agree it's the best ?30 a week that we spend!

With WW you can pretty much eat "normal" food, it's just about portion control and the realisation that by making healthy choices you can actually eat a lot more than if you choose high fat unhealthy foods. I have always loved their recipe books and still use them now (I have pretty much all the books they've ever done due to my time as a leader), they are practical and contain recipes that the whole family can eat. It's not diet food, just normal healthy food. I used to run a couple of morning meetings where the majority of people were Mums with young children - so if you do want to stay for meetings you won't be the only one with a baby. When I first did WW (post arriving in the UK, where my diet consisted of Brick Lane curry and alcohol... I was in my mid 20's and loving every minute!) I did it online as it suited my lifestyle. I lost a lot of weight and kept it off for 5 years before getting pregnant with my son.