budur

launderette on lordship lane,, right next to william rose butcher. we are in the same situation - w/m is out as kitchen is being redone and just drop off and pick up a bit later (you can do it yourself but saves us time, you pay a bit extra for the service but they give it back to you nicely folded, so i just pay the extra fee).

great ideas, thanks to all!

Hi, going to a christening in summer - hubby is a godfather (but sorting out pressies would still be my responsibility), all ideas I've seen are for the little ones. the only pressie i can think about is a bottle of good wine that will keep well and will become a great one by the time he's 18 (his parents love good wine and probably would not mind, but I'm not sure if giving wine to a 5 year old is such a good idea...) he's very active and sporty and they'll be moving into a brand new house at the end of the year and he'll have his own room. any ideas? his sister is easy - silver jewellery, but boys are much more difficult... thanks!

may be a bit late but i got a jar of oil from Clarins from a friend and it was great, loved putting it on my bump every morning after shower, fantastic smell, put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. it doesn't say "use during pregnancy" like mamma mio range on the bottle but the staff at clarins would know, there is only one of them, forgot the name of it. it lasted me through the whole pregnancy and i got it for one of my colleagues when she got pregnant and she loved it too. i'll certainly be getting it again if having another baby.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article7038245.ece

was considering it but didn't buy in the end. took my friend's 2 year old son for a trial to the shop and he was not comfortable in it, it was too narrow for him and he just wanted to get out of it (and he's a little boy for his age) and I was supposed to have a massive baby. really glad I did not buy it. ended up getting phil and teds which is so comfy as the wheels are big and great off road for country walks, but no use for you as weight was not an issue: we have a house, so no stairs and my hubby usually puts it in the car. a friend bought it and it kept breaking allthe time and she ended up returning it to john lewis and asking for a full refund. good luck with your choice.

Well, she has her moments, I think that's why they advise to start before 6 months, when not yet mobile so that at least they get used to the idea. She would sometimes want to get off when I just know she needs to wee or poo, so have to have toys or books around to keep her occupied and stay at her seat. We never tell her off even when doesn't do it on a loo but does in a nappy 5 minutes later, so that potty or a loo always remain happy places (I think sometimes she forgets what she's there for just playing with bathroom toys...)

You have to stop it now if you have the courage! I asked my HV about it and her answer was "I sucked mine until I was 15, tasty isn't it?" now what sort of advice is that! and my pediatrician at my home country was absolutely petrified when she saw it and ordered us to stop it at all costs as it's a really nasty habit (she was 5 months then). A few sleepless nights... and I gave up. And the main reason I let her do it because I didn't know it's so bad (I blame it on Tracy the Baby whisperer who said it's a great soother in her book and they stop it when they are ready. I met a few people who did it until they are 15 and still do when they are over 30 - when nobody is looking of course) and because my sister in law advised it (both of hers are sucking - 4 and 2 years old). My husband was against the idea of getting her off it - it will traumatise her too much...

But i did remember my pediatrician, so at 1 year I gave it another go - the nasty nail varnish (Mavala stop, supposed to be from 3 years i think and harmless but i tried a little bit to check that she wouldn't have any reaction first and she was fine). It worked straight away, a couple of nights of crying when trying to fall asleep without sucking, lots of cuddles and she was off! so 2-3 weeks she was thumb-sucking free and it was so great! but then she got cold and probably could not taste it any more - and it came back, worse than it was before. I have to admit that I think i stopped putting it on for a couple of days thinking it's gone already, so you really do need to continue for at least a month I think they advise. So even after the cold was gone, she didn't care about the nasty taste and continued sucking on. And I could see already that her front teeth are protruding forwards a bit, guess trips to orthodontists in the future are already on the agenda.

Attempt number 3 - thumb guards, gloves did not work because she would just get them off with her teeth and her sucking was getting really bad. So at about 17 months I bought the guards, I know they advise them for 3 years olds, but I could not think of any other alternative. They didn't fit perfectly, but did the job: 2 days of crying when trying to fall asleep and a week later she was totally comfy with them. Poor girl, she had to wear them over Christmas (much to the astonishment of the family, but oh well). I took them off after 2 weeks of wearing them 24/7, now it's been 2 months she's not sucking her thumb, but I kept putting the nasty nail varnish i used before as an extra security for 2 weeks after I took them off (for some reason she didn't like the taste of it again). She falls asleep easily now without any need to suck but I am watching her as she is now in the nursery, so who knows, may pick it up again.

Good luck, the earlier you stop it the better. My friend's daughter started doing it at 3 months and she just put gloves on at night and she stopped, the easiest to stop when they are just starting: give baby a dummy or a lot more breastfeeding just to get their sucking instinct satisfied. I know it's supposed to be a natural thing that they even do in the womb, but I've read that if they stop, they should do it by 6-9 months when the sucking instinct subsides, if they still do it afterwards it is turning into a not a nice habit.

Hi Molly, all is going well. I'm back at work full time for the last six months and the little one is 18 months now and in the nursery a couple of days a week and nanny the rest of the time. She's just getting used to the nursery, been there less than a months, still not settling well, so the main thing now is for her to get comfortable there rather then worry about potty training. I did show them that she pees in a potty (which she did happily when i was there during settling time, but screamed when they tried later once i was gone...), so they said they'll continue when she settled (I hope).

She tells us when she wants to do a poo for a couple of months already, even if she's playing in another room she will come out and make clear noises that she wants to go, so we put her on a baby toilet seat downstairs (no space for a potty) or a big potty in the main bathroom upstairs. So she has may be one accident a month (mainly because we don't listen to her or last time were in the showroom which didn't have customer toilets). She does start to tell about the pees already too, but mainly while she's doing it... so still to come.

I was amazed reading a recent thread when one of the mums said that her kid is aware of wanting to go to the loo at 16-18 months and everyone is telling her to wait until "he's ready". They are ready as soon as we can do it. I just can't face the smells and look of poo on her bum and I'm so glad I practically don't have to clean her up for a year now. I am still doing it at main times putting her on the potty: straight after she wakes up, gets out of the car or a buggy (even babies naturally do not want to go under themselves when they are in a sling, in a car seat or a buggy, so once they are out is a good time to put them on a potty), about 5 min after the main meal. will certainly put her in coton pants once it will be warm, too cold now and she's in nappies, although now that she is in the nursery will probably take longer to get her off the nappy. So I call it more part-time potty training, I work in the city and during my precious weekends have other things to do than take her to the loo all the tme.

anyone wants an advice pls let me know.

hi, the option i was given when i was considering working for few days on specific deals was extra days off. so there wouldn't be any extra pay, but once i'm back from maternity i would be able to take the days i worked as additional leave days and spend more time with the little one when i wanted. may be a simpler solution. good luck.

Hello YellowC! Thank you so much for returning these trousers, didn't think I'll ever see them again (would of written earlier but our laptop died and was only resurrected after the NY). These were a treat to myself for going back to work after maternity and I just could not belive my luck when they were found. It does make you believe in people and was a great present on the 31st! Have a great NY!

and the little ones still have have an afternoon nap and yes going back in the dark in the afternoon is not very nice

me too!

more thoughts from full-time working mum. not going back was never really an option, we can live on hubby's salary but the quality of life would suffer big time and i earn well over the childcare costs (the little one has been to 8 countries before she turned one). i thought i was lucky that i could go back after the little one was 1 year old and hubby supported us during that time, most of my friends were back after 6 months. and to be honest, after a year at home i was ready to be back. in the ideal world 3 days a week would be great and i'm sure my employer could of given me part time option. but i've seen others do it - they end up with all sorts of crap that you can't give a full time banker and i wanted to enjoy my work (to the extend it is possible).

I cried the first couple of days getting home and taking my child in my arms, who was obviously missing me terribly, you can tell and being so happy to see me again, then just got used to it... now 4 months back at work the main things are: childcare is a key, i have a relative looking after the child and it means i know that she is well taken care of and quite a few things get done in the house. going back to the job you did before for a long time - means i don't have to prove anything and can leave at decent time (and give a few things to do to the junior colleagues!!!) and having understanding bosses who also have little kids: they are males, but i can talk to them about nurseries, schools etc. and my hubby is very happy too: he says i look good (obviously making more effort, not only jeans and t-shirts etc.) and he can talk to me about things unrelated to nappies, poos... i've also got a cleaner now once a week, means i can dedicate all my time to the little one on the weekends.

but... this is all about to change once the little one is in the nursery next year and like Molly i would have to manage 8-6 shifts, which means leaving work at 5, which then means catching up with work at home... but i'm happy to be back and i don't think baby is worse off without me always at home.

i think 9 is pushing it, think 10 would be perfect, mine still has a morning nap, Mon, thursday would be great for us, been on a waiting list for a year for the wednesday play group and we're finally in!

hi we went to this first class and i think you need to iron out a few things:

1) i thought kids were too small for the songs you were doing. you obviously didn't know the age of kids that will come to the class but with crawlers, toddlers they need to be much simpler

2) there was only one carpet area and everyone was on top of each other. the floor is not carpeted, so i think you need to have a few mats like they give in other classes so that kids are scattered around and there's more space

3) there were too many people, if it's a drop in class, probably best to operate on first come basis.

it's difficult to get something new off the ground so i hope you don't mind my views. i'm very happy you are starting something close to home and would be happy to give it another try.

good luck.

The Tories have a good chance round here I've heard. A lot of Tory voters have moved in over the last few years. Let's hope so.

ohh, i'd love to come to that. like Magnolia, the are so friendly there generally and baby friendly (not needed this time of course). opportunity to dress up a bit? (i don't i ever wear anything else than jeans these days) especially given the christmas season

i would recommend gina ford's schedule, never was a big fan of hers but her weaning schedule i thought was very good and suited my daughter very well and yes it does mean less milk but i was giving her milk porriges and yogurts so she was getting enough of milk. and night feeding... i had enough by 8 months because there was no way she was hungry at night, it was obviously just a habit. so 3 nights and i was done with it: did not leave her to cry on her own, i really don't approve of this method, but didn't give her a boobie either, just calmed her down and gave her water if she wanted to.

oh, i'd love my little one to go, she's too small though, just 1 year. did gymnastics myself for 3 years starting at nursery, but that was serious stuff - every day except for sunday, during holidays twice a day: start with a run, then stretches, then exercises, proper soviet training. dropped out in the end as was too much work but i guess muscles have memory - i can still do a split (i'm over 30), stand on my hands etc. and we did about 50 push-ups at the time just for fun! (wish i could do it now!).

Didn't expect to generate such strong opinions, why do mums always think it's about who is doing what better? whatever works for your child is great. Good point on childminders/nurseries, they wouldn't do it. I'm actually back at work full time, but lucky to have a relative looking after the baby for a bit. Her kids grew up without any nappies whatsoever, so she is completely in tune with me regarding EC. I'm planning to send her to the nursery at 18 months if all goes well and specifically asked during the nursery tour if they had any kids who are potty trained at 18 months, they said yes, few are. There's still 6 months to go, so will keep you posted whether this will work in the nursery or not. Don't think she'll be potty trained in the conventional way by then (pulling pants and putting them back herself) but hopefully she can tell/communicate with nursery staff when she wants to go.

It's just a cultural thing, you guys grew up in UK thinking starting from around 2 is the right thing to do. I came from a culture where nappies only appeared about 10 years ago due to globalisation. Doctors still believe that starting as early as possible is best for the child as this is one of the reflexes that babies are born with (remember when baby is born she often pees or poos when you take the nappy off? because they are born not to do this under themselves, they are already pretty smart) and should be developed, not ignored and then tried to be revived again later. And when they start telling you that there's a higher rate of girls having cistitus because of the contact with urine and the poo getting into the front part is not good at all... it really makes you think and try to start the process earlier. I do it because i think it's nice for my girl's skin not to have any contact with the poo as it all goes in a potty or toilet and there's nothing to wipe afterwards. But it's not perfect, she peed on me today when i held her on my lap when i got back from work, we both were too excited to see each other. No fuss, it's not supposed to be perfect, but she had a couple of hours of nappy free time in the afternoon. It's interesting that Tracy Hoggs (the Baby whisperer) in her latest book recommends starting at 9 months when baby can sit properly on the potty, although she admits she was all for the conventional way before too. I personally think that starting earlier than 6 is better when they are not mobile (your point Molly about baby moving around too much) and can get used to the idea with less fuss and the instinct is much easier to get back. anyway, was great to hear all the opinions and I'm sure every mum knows best what's good for her child and makes her life easier too be it early potty training or late one.

Just as a discussion point I am wondering if anyone starts potty training earlier than from 2 years old which seems to be the average age in the UK. I started at 6 months after a lecture from pediatrician back home (ignoring mum's complaints until then). I'm so glad that I did. Since that time (and baby is a year now) she hardly had any poos in the nappy (it's ok when she was breasfed, but once on solids it's really not pleasant). Once babies are on solids, its so easy to recognise when they are doing a poo. I bought a big potty like a chair with a back that she can lean on and started putting her on it after naps, about 15 min after milk, after proper meals, before going out and after coming back home from a walk. She couldn't sit properly by then so I was holding her and she quickly learned to do everything in the potty. When out and about I just hold her above the loo. I am not paranoid about missing a pee, if she does it, not a big deal, but i do change the nappy straight away, so it's always dry. Sometimes she goes through a few a day, sometimes the same one from morning till evening. But I always do catch a poo, and she does about 2-3 a day, just put her on a potty after a meal and if I can see her straining ready to do one. It really surprises me when I see mums with 1.5 - 2 year olds watching their kids doing a poo in their nappy and then taking them to the toilet to change. Isn't it much easier to take them to the loo straight away so that they can relieve themselves in the toilet and there would be nothing to clean up afterwards. And I'm very active: I go to cafes, parks, visiting friends, taking tubes, trains, buses and we've been on long haul flights a number of times with her and it still works. My hubby is not as good with this but he also knows when to put her on a potty and give her toys that we have nearby, he can't hold her over a loo properly. She's now a year old and knows exactly what potty is for: she'll wriggle and stand up if she doesn't want to do anything or sits on it playing happily and we know that she'll do a pee or a poo. The best use of this was probably on the beach: in a hot weather I just didn't want even to think how it feels to be in a nappy so we put little cotton panties on her and held her for a pee from time to time. Would be interesting to hear different views. I know that it's much easier to leave this until the child is much older, but would be good to know if anyone would like to or did start potty training early.

mine just started standing (not unaided) and i got her first shoes (she's 12 months) in Dulwich village, lovely kid's shop. Shoes are great, soft but with proper support. They said (and this is what i was intending to do anyway) to put them on if she wants to walk outside while we are holding her, but keep her barefoot at home so that she can still learn to grip properly. Need to get back in 6-8 weeks, but they said these would last her a long time and they are washable in the washing machine.