edanna

Don't hold out for a single room though. There are only two and you have to be v lucky to get one. I did and it was great but I clogged it up for five nights. So a lot of women came and went in that time without any hope of getting a single room.

I think it's really important to give positive encouragement without the implication that formula is bad for babies or that women who bottle feed are bad mothers. When you have a baby who is dropping off the bottom of the weight chart even though everyone says your technique is fine and you have tried everything to increase your supply, as I did, you already feel bad enough that breastfeeding isn't working out as you had hoped without the disapproval of others when you start using a bottle. One midwife told my friend in the same situation that she had 'given in' when she started mixed feeding. So it's fantastic to give women support - I had lots and lots - but pro-breastfeeding often ends up being anti-formula. And formula sometimes is the answer. please don't perpetuate the myth that everyone can breastfeed or that women who don't or can't are failures.

Have you read the most recent ofsted report? I don't have any personal experience of this nursery.

And there's nothing wrong with formula! As somebody who felt desperately guilty when forced to do mixed feeding because of my son's plummeting weight, I now know that life is way too short to beat yourself up if breastfeeding doesn't work out for you. There can be loads of reasons that it doesn't. It's always worth getting help with technique etc but if you have tried everything, and I really did, then you should never feel second best for using bottles. Good luck.

Fuschia is right that the water needs to be hot when it goes in the powder because the powder isn't sterile. Officially it needs to be at least 70C, but since most people won't have a temperature probe and even if they do won't want to be using it all the time, then the advice is to boil fresh tap water in the kettle and leave it to cool for NO MORE than 30 mins. Of course how quickly the water cools depends on the type of kettle and how much water you've put in it. If you put in at least 1 litre then cooling it for no more than 30 mins means the water will probably still be hot enough to kill the bugs. I know it sounds rather prescriptive, but all of this is an attempt to interpret the available evidence into something that's reasonably practical in the real world. The FSA is doing more research into this area at the moment. Of course, it's important to make sure that the milk is not too hot for the baby before feeding it - it's meant to be about body temp. It's also important not to keep made-up formula hanging around at room temp for longer than a couple of hours.

Would second Neutrogena and also if you have little cracks - I get them on my thumbs- try neutrogena instant repair lip balm on them - comes in a pot, sold in sainsbury's. Do wear gloves for washing up and also outside (though probably not the same ones!) cold weather makes my hands much worse. Also try different soaps for washing hands.

Yes it is an offence, obstructing the highway. But it's down to the police, who clearly have better things to do. The council can't do much. The answer is, of course, residents' parking, but I've seen the popularity of that on here! We have a similar problem with cones.

And actually - whatever the probe looks like - it's not that bad. Way better than a speculum in my experience!

Sanitygirl, so glad you had such a positive experience - sounds like it could be the same guy that did my second scan recently and he was very nice and communicative - I told him how much I appreciated that. But they're not all like that -he is by far the best of the several I've seen - fingers crossed you get another good one for your next scan.

Good luck prm! Take some snacks as well as reading material - depending on your appointment time, do be prepared to be there for a long time! Re the token machine, it doesn't give change so if you put in ?3 it won't give you two tickets - you'll get one and lose the money. So put the cash in for one ticket and then press the button, then put the cash in for another one etc. I do know someone who was told the sex at their first scan at King's - there's a new technique - but I think it's luck whether you get offered it and it's not 100% whereas at 20 weeks they can often be pretty sure. The way that the sonographers talk to you varies - some are almost entirely silent or mutter so quietly you can't hear. For my second scan before Christmas I had a really good one who kept saying 'I'm happy with that' etc but they probably won't say 'normal', 'normal', 'normal' and that doesn't mean there is anything to worry about. I think some of them forget how nerve-wracking it is for the parents. When they give you the combined results of the scan and blood tests then you get a probability of the baby having Down's. If you have any questions this is a good time to ask them, when you have their full attention! But please bear in mind that however nervous you are, they don't have any concerns about the vast majority of babies they see. Good luck!

Have you written to the council?

There's a bit about it in the booklet about admissions. I'm no expert but I get the impression that it's supposed to be about factors that mean that this particular school is suitable for your child and others aren't e.g. you really want a Catholic school.

Hi sbain, I've already read your lost iphone post about taking that tumble on North Cross Rd - and now I realise you're pregnant. Hope you're OK. I have baby no 2 due in April too and have been tiptoeing around everywhere and staying at home (when work allows) because I'm so worried about slipping. Anyway, I have heard good reports of that JAGS class too, but if you want something more gentle, there are a couple of yoga classes around... Try Health Matters and Soup Dragon.

It is really annoying Joel, but probably a one-off.

Well it's back and you have to admire the people working at night in these temperatures to fix water mains, which can't be easy.

I've just had a call back from Thames Water. They are repairing a water main in Ulverscroft Rd and hope to have the supply back within the next couple of hours. Depends how the repair goes....

Yes we are on Fellbrigg. Enjoy your bottle!

Are you the one with the empty wine bottle? (If you're not, don't be offended.) We have no water either. Have rung Thames Water and they say they will investigate.

Another tale of woe but with a silver lining... Left Holborn at 5.30 and got home to ED at 10. But it would have been later if it had not been for coach driver with a heart of gold, Neil. He gave me a lift from king's to northcross rd. At five and a half months pregnant I was really worried about falling over and he saved me sliding down dog kennel hill on foot. So thanks neil - you acted out of pure kindness and got me home safe and warm.

Polly D, hope you've got some advice by now - tricky at the weekend. A good idea to see your GP tomorrow if the baby is still being sick. This happened to my little boy at a similar age and I was advised to continue giving him formula, but only a small amount, then wait a while, then give a little more. Good luck!

There's a very long thread on Mumsnet about this - well worth reading - here

Mine had the TB jab with no ill effects. Can't remember what age, but under one. I happened to be at the hospital to see the paediatrician just beforehand and asked if it was safe and he said it's been around for many years and it's really safe. I know you don't want a lecture about vaccination Maki but it's everyone being immunised that keeps these horrible diseases at bay - I know there have been quite a lot of measles cases locally, though not sure about TB.

KBN, six months is not very old. I know it's hard - my son woke every half hour at five months old and weaning did help. He's a very good sleeper now (just 2) and has been for ages. I can't remember when he started sleeping through but it was a long long time ago. So I think it's a bit early to seek specialist help, when what you're experiencing is not that unusual. I've got the Millpond Sleep Clinic book, Teach your child to sleep, which is very good, though does involve controlled crying, which I know many parents struggle with. It helped me anyway. Good luck!

In my experience Barcelona is pretty awful... and not romantic. Edited to say that I mean the LL restaurant, not the city!

This is shocking. If you have had that experience with the vehicles of Clarkes, Ruskin or any co., especially on a regular basis, you should write them a letter because HQ probably have no idea how their drivers drive.