Lochie

Hi all, I'd appreciate some tips... I want to get my hair cut towards end Jan (I've been about twice in the last 3 years). Can anyone recommend a stylist or salon they think is good? The last few times I've been a bit disappointed (main gripe is doing a really hurried blow or being persuaded to have a 'fashiony' style when all I want is a classic good cut!). I don't mind paying for one of the more senior stylists for a better cut. Locally or up in town. As I haven't been in ages I don't mind spending up to ?80. Many thanks :-) Ps Sorry just to add Im asking in the family room as I want a mum friendly haircut really, if there is such a thing!

Ok great thanks BST. I will wear on front for a bit just to get used to where all the clips and straps are, hopefully then it will come with ease and I'll be strapping babies to my back in a jiffy! Yes MIV you welcome to try we need to catch up anyway and share tips on how to deal with mischievous crawling babies! :-)

Actually BST I did want to ask, is there an art to putting a baby on your back with the manduca? I tried it today but nearly dropped the baby on her head! Do you need 2 people to position the baby on your back?

Haha yes - I think you can easily justify a second! I got black but liked sand too...don't think I'll ever be able to justify another though! It is so comfy and a lifesaver as I have one solo baby jogger and a 3 year old who was insisting on being pushed in the pram too, so the last few months I've been pounding the ground with a single pram and two little kids sitting in it! Now 3 year old can finally have the pram too himself! Good luck BST if I don't see u before D Day! Exciting times! :-)

I just wanted to say I bought the Manduca after reading this thread, it arrived today and is brill. Previously had wilkinet and babybjorn and neither are a touch on this new sling. Manduca SO comfy and easy to use, we both have 10 month olds midivydale so I would recommend it for you too. I don't begrudge paying the ?80 price tag as you can tell where the cost has gone (design, ease of use, comfort). Wish I'd had it from the start! Can't wait to get out and about on the tube and bus without my pram! Thanks for the recommendation

I am afraid that a form of controlled crying is the only thing that worked with no.1 at about 12 months. It took about 3 nights but he eventually gor the message. It is not fun, I would sit on the landing outside his room with headphones on, reading a book, and would go in every 5 mins to comfort him. There is no 'nice' side to controlled crying, you need an iron will and to just think of the long term gain. I hated every minute of doing it but it worked. I am having same issues as you with no. 2 but can't do any form of controlled crying as she shares a room with no. 1! She is a sensitive soul too. In this instance I co sleep at night and just accept that is the case for now. Co sleeping has worked in the short term for us, but I know it will have to be tackled at some point. I'm going back to work in a few weeks too. I rarely get more than a 3 hour stretch of unbroken sleep, it is hard! By the way, if it makes you feel better, a friend of mine went to see her GP about this a few years ago. We share the same GP so I trust what they say. They advised to put the baby down to sleep, shut the door and 'don't go back in'. You really would need nerves of steel to do that, but my point is, medically speaking, I don't think it is harmful to leave a baby crying if they are well, fed, bathed and just clearly overtired Good luck X

Hiya, my GP has a few times prescribed an inhaler and spacer when my son has a cough. He is not asthmatic. I have never used it but might be worth asking your GP? I think it helps them breath easier...

Thanks for all the coil stories. Just goes to show there is not one type that suits all. I'm kind of put off the copper coil given the comments about bleeding and advice from doc, I may give the mirena a go. Someone mentioned the diaphragm too, I hadnt thought of that. Something to ponder on over Christmas, fun fun! Thanks again :-)

I also have had problems with my MIL and comments about religion, some of them have been really bad and irritated me to high heaven (should add I am agnostic too!). My son and daughter have never been christened despite various hints. My children are also too young at the moment to understand about religion. I actually agree with what Saffon says, I see it as less about religion and more about some kind MIL reaction to having the matriarch role taken away. Sometimes I do snap at the comments, sometimes I just bite my lip and keep quiet - I do know that it is such HARD work. Comments from my MIL that my husband sees as innocuous or jokey, I interpret as loaded with malice and an attempt to stir. That is kind of what upets me the most - less the big blunderingly stupid comments but more the small little jibes that most people wouldn't notice but I do. A few things I would say are: - I remind myself that my children really like my MIL. She is fun to them and so as long as they love having her around I just have to get on with it - I only ever had one grandparent in my life, the other three were deceased before I was born, so in a way I try to remind myself that my kids are really lucky to have four grandparents actively in their lives who love them dearly (I hope that is the same for you too) - As annoying as it is, this kind of stuff is all part of family life, so in a way I try and look on the humorous side (am sure I won't feel this way after Xmas!!) - As difficult as it is for you it is probably even harder for your husband, he is probably quite aware of how difficult his mum is and feels quite awkward In relation to the 'what would you do?' question I would take my MIL to one side (I have done this before) and explain we are not a religious family and so please stop making biblical references as I would like my children to make their own choices about religion when they are older. If this is met with resistance I would say that if it doesn't stop I will not bring my kids to stay with them anymore!!! Anyway good luck, I sympathise. Here's to a trouble free Xmas period!!! ;-)

A friend of mine also went to sensatori tenerife and said it was good quality and hassle free as lots geared towards kids. Don't think it's 'away from the masses' though but still sounded nice

Hi saffron that link was for seasonal canine illness do u have the nuvaring link?! ;-)

oh dear jessie that does not sound good yikes! Guess its all just about individual receptiveness and there is no way of knowing without trying it out oneself

Haha Belle yes, the very fact I'm having to pose this question makes me think 'for god's sake just get the snip man I'm fed up of having to sort this out all the time'!!!! My main concern is in relation to moods, my 'mood' was affected terribly after my first born and I really believe hormones had a massive part to play in that. Since then I have been very frightened of anything hormonal, otherwise I'd probably go for mirena and not think too deeply about it. I mentioned this to the doctor and she wasn't concerned, however, having just googled mirena and it's side effects it does say it can affect mood in a few women, hence my hesitation.

I'm sure someone on here can give me some coil advice as I am confused!! I am due to have a coil fitted at my surgery clinic in January. A doctor has just called me to discuss which one I want - copper coil or mirena coil. I don't want anything hormonal (otherwise I'd go on the pill), however, the GP has told me that the hormonal option (mirena) is better for my circumstances (I have heavy irregular periods which will likely be made worse by the copper coil). The doctor told me the hormonal element of mirena is localised and negligible, will lighten my periods and is a great form of contraception. I was just wondering if anyone on a mirena coil found that the hormonal aspect affected them in any way? I am really not interested in it gives side effects caused by hormones, but from what the doctor says, it doesn't. Any advice/experience of either copper or mirena? Thanks in advance. PM me if you prefer :-)

We are tempted to get tickets for this - might be fun for 4 yr old boy? http://www.scamptheatre.com/ We are going to see this with my 3 yr old son in a few weeks, can't wait! Just hope he sits still! http://www.sadlerswells.com/show/The-Snowman-2011

My son is 3 yrs 2 months and I need to get a new car seat as his sister (9 months) is ready to move into his car seat. I am thinking I may as well purchase a stage 2/3 car seat, though it says from 4 yo it also says 15kg min weight which my son weighs more than. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have just looked on halfords website and there are 16 pages of seats ranging from ?5-?500. Our budget is about ?100 if poss....if you pay more are you paying for safety or pointless extras? Our car doesn't have isofix either. Any tips appreciated :-)

Midivydale this should help: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/10October/Pages/draft-nice-guidelines-elective-caesareans.aspx

I'm studying at the moment and my tutor told me this week that babies born this year will be predicted to live at home until 32, pay off student debt at 52 and have a life expectancy of 90 with one in three living til 100. Not sure where she got her stats but if true quite sobering stuff!!

Hi mrs g, We kind of have a similar dilemma, not with jobs, but deciding whether to stay round here with family and friends and all that living in this nice part of London offers (but not being able to afford to buy a home).... or moving out of London and being able to buy a small house and potentially have access to really good state schools and a nicer quality of life (but very much missing friends and family). Someone told me that whatever you decide to do, it is always reversible....so you could try out this new job and city and go back to London if it doesn't work? At least you will know then. I work in HR and would also add that you could take this new job, prove your worth, then after 6-12 months ask for a 4 day working week? That is something I would definitely advise when being w working mum and considering full time work (when you actually want to work part time). Finally, depending on where the new job is e.g. Oxford, it's so easy to get back to London for the weekend to visit friends etc. I feel the London v. Out of London is often a head v heart decision. For me London is where my heart is but my head says standard of living and affordability of housing, good schools for kids etc means we will look out of London :-( I can understand why you will find the decision hard. Good luck!

I do actually incentivise my 3 yr old son to do stuff he wouldn't normally do with 'treats'. On some days he refuses to go to nursery and so I manage to get him in the car seat if I bribe him with some of the more healthy type sweets(yes hardly the same as crisps but its still not great at 7am in the morning!!!). Also where do you draw the line and how do you judge? Every day my son eats a banana and choc chip pastry for breakfast - am sure the pastry has as much sugar as some of the notoriously bad stuff. I try and balance any treats with fruit and veg but its really hard, or maybe I am just a soft touch and give in too easily. Food is probably the biggest bug bear guilt-wise in my life as a mum. Its a battle EVERY day to get my son to try new stuff. I probably make it worse by letting him have some of the really tasty bad stuff but likewise I really want my kids to know that things like mars bars and fizzy drinks are actually ok (in moderation). One thing I've really got into now is getting my son to help prepare the adults evening meal by pealing onions, helping to clean the veg etc so he at least gets an interest in food and then hopefully ONE DAY he might actually be prepared to eat the stuff with green bits in (god forbid) But yes in answer to your question - mars, crisps, coke on a daily basis for breakfast probably not a good idea!

hello :-) I don't know much about asthma in childhood but I do know that doctors prescribe inhalers for chest infections (and would imagine bronchitis) in children, regardless of whether they have asthma or not. I've had at least 3 inhalers and spacers prescribed for chest infections at this end for child visits to GP over the last 3 years. I do actually remember the GP saying you can't diagnose asthma until much later on - am sure someone else knows much more about this. My dad also has a chronic lung condition which means he gets bronchitis around ten times a year and he has an inhaler but is not asthmatic. Anyway hope little one is healing well. Am sure there are some asthma experts on here! x

wow that is ridiculously expensive!!! We went to the Selfridges one last year it was amazing but I don't think its on this year - it was under a tenner for all of us I think and that was redeemable if you spent money there. We are doing the Harrods one instead and that is a tenner as well, again redeemable against purchases (so may be able to buy one cup of coffee then or something whilst elbowing all the tourists out the way!) I am pretty sure there is one at the Glades in Bromley that is meant to be cheap and good? Also we have previously gone to school winter fairs in December that have had Santas - we went to one at Lyndhurst Primary School in Camberwell 2 years ago that had lots of reindeer and huskies too (kids could ride the reindeer). And only ?1 entrance. So defo worth looking at posters on trees etc for local school/library grottos instead.

I had similar levels of morning sickness esp with second child. It's so grim and I would say the things to avoid are the 'typical' cures/comforts for morning sickness as they don't work and most people always try to offer them and it gets a bit annoying....I'm thinking about things like ginger biscuits, no they don't help! Anything that stops her feeling like she smells a bit pukey would probably be appreciated! A really lovely expensive shampoo, bath foam, shower gel. midivydale is actually onto a good one - neals yard oils. I used to keep two in my bag in case anyone walked by with smelly food and I needed to avoid puking! The citrus ones are particularly good for that. With those levels of sickness you can feel sick every day all day for months so the kindest gifts are ones that are for mum and not baby and that give her some indulgence. White company also do really nice cashmere bed socks- the ultimate luxury! I hope she feels better soon

I think really it does depend a little. My first response was 'all wheelchair users should have priority', as ultimately you can collapse a buggy down but not a wheelchair. But then I guess there are mums/dads/carers with twins etc and those prams are not easy to collapse on a bus, if at all. With my first child I used to get on a bus with my oversized ridiculous bugaboo pram which is not collapsible without a lot of effort and time. With second child I only take a baby sling or cheap and light foldable buggy that takes up little space. I can understand a parent with double buggy and one sleeping baby and screaming toddler and lots of bags not wanting to fold their pram down. It is not cut and dried. I think if every passenger had the same set of moral standards everyone would help each other out but sadly I've seen more selfish acts on the bus over what people deem to be 'their seat/space' than anywhere else! So I don't think things will change and I don't think there is an answer to your question :-(

Over the summer I was on a bus from Liverpool street to Denmark hill with my baby in a sling. A woman got on with a toddler in a pram. About 3 stops later a mother pushing her teenage daughter in a wheelchair tried to get on but the lady with pram refused to fold the pram saying it was 'unfair' because she was there first and she didn't want to wake her sleeping baby. I think the whole bus was stunned and there was a lot of tutting and sighing at this woman. The driver indeed reminded her that wheelchairs have priority and turned the engine off until she folded her pram. She never did fold her pram, others just interviened to make way for both buggy and wheelchair. But the consensus from all passengers was total disgust at such a selfish act from the pram owner. I would check with TFL what the policy is because from what I remember the are signs on all buses saying wheelchairs have priority and if the drivers aren't enforcing this they probably aren't doing their job properly. I wish you the best of luck. I've recently started using the tube a lot with a pram and have found it terrible how inaccessible they are for pram and wheelchair users (Brixton seems to be the only station with a lift)....it's a bit of an embarrassment London being the major city that it is (but that is a whole other topic!)