Saffron

My daughter has a bath every night, but it usually just involves splashing around in some warm water. I try to get a bit of baby soap on her hands/face/feet. Sometimes I put a little conditioner on the ends of her hair. But honestly, if she doesn't get any soap at all, I think plain water is fine. I only really wash her hair once every week or two. It depends on if we have been swimming. Don't make bath time hard on yourself. If your LO doesn't want her hair washed, then just leave it. Or, pour a little warm water on the back of her head if it makes you feel proactive. :) She'll be just fine without a shampoo. xx

Avoid any creams with the surfactants SLS/SLES, or the preservatives known as parabens (methyparaben, propylparaben etc).

A second vote for Jill Dye! Her contact number is on this old thread, and more BF info too. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,501988,503894 Even if Baby's latch is fine, other things can cause pain. My daughter had a high palate and short tongue (though not tongue-tied). This was causing me a lot of pain, even though she was getting milk. Babies do outgrow this. A nipple shield can help some (I liked mothercare ones the best). Lily Padz silicone breast pads don't stick to cracked nipples and can be reused (order from NCT website). And a Lac consultant can help you position baby to minimize the pain. Also I had/have Reynaud's syndrome, which can cause the nipples to blanch and be very painful. You would usually see Reynauds in the fingers and toes, but it does sometimes affect the nipples too. If this is the case, avoid anything cold on your nipples and don't let yourself get a chill. If one side is affected more than the other, you can feed Baby successfully on just one breast. Good luck!!! xx

We like Aveeno too. As it turned out, my daughter doesn't have eczema, but she does have sensitive skin which is prone to rashes. In her case, it's irritation rather than allergic in nature. A small tube of Aveeno lasts us a long time. If you are using it daily, ask if you can get it on prescription. I have heard from a friend with eczema that you can do so. Not sure if anyone mentioned it (there is an extensive thread on it somewhere...), but whatever laundry detergent you choose, there are two more things that help: (i) use less detergent, and (ii) always give your laundry an extra rinse. I've also heard that you can do bulk buys for Ecover (makes it much cheaper). Not sure how this works, but perhaps worth looking into if you find that Ecover is good for you.

I'm particularly annoyed that all the super lightweight easy-folding buggies are either (a) ridiculously expensive, or (b) carry a top weight of 15 kg. My daughter isn't even 2 years old and already weighs 15 kg! Why can't there be a stong and lightweight folding buggie that doesn't cost a fortune. Definite gap in the market for a good design team!!

Hi all you lovely parents of singletons! It's a gorgeous day!! Meeting at mine this afternoon for tea and cake and laughs. (If the weather keeps up this gorgeous sun, we can even shift up the park at the end of my road. If we all decide to do that, I'll leave a note on the Forum, and a note on my front door for any late comers to join us.) XX

F- Did you let admin know? If people are being nasty on PMs and causing other users to avoid the Forum, then Admin should probably look into it. xx

It's interesting to see how Dr Christopher Green's perspectives changed with age and life experiences. No doubt his old methods (he is the originator of controlled crying) have worked for many families, and to his credit his old methods were based on behavioural modification theories and tested clinically (though I'm still not a fan of CC for babies). What is heartening is simply that he confirming what many of us have already felt intuitively towards our child/ren: simple things --such as spending time with your kids-- are best. Some excepts from the article: ______________________________ After recovering from a near-death experience, the celebrity pediatrician has adopted a more relaxed, child-centred approach. The 64-year-old told the Sunday Herald Sun he no longer believed toddlers needed taming and urged modern parents to spend more time with their children. "I used to be called the Toddler Tamer, but I don't think we need to tame them any more - I think we really need to value them," he said. "Most behavioural problems are not problems if you can spend quality time with children and give them attention." "When I did the new book, I put chapter one as the things that in more than 20 years of working with kids are really, really important. "It's things such as, if you give a child attention they don't need to misbehave to get your attention. "Simple things are always best."

When you say 'weakened' gag reflex, do you mean the reflex is depressed, ie doesn't gag when she needs to? Or the opposite? Interesting that the assessment is done by speech therapist. Would have thought it's done by neurologists. But there you go, learn something new everyday! How did the GP/ST differentiate between a normal sensitive gag reflex (not uncommon in babies) and a physiological problem with the reflex? Is your stepdaughter ok now? xx

jennyh Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I suppose I am just wondering if it is possible to > have a very sensitive gag reflex or ... Yes, that could totally be the case. It may just take a few months before your baby's gag reflex relaxes. In the meantime, you could try her with some solids she can suck but not swallow, for example, a piece of really tough beef or lamb. She'll be able to chew it, but not to bite off pieces. Even by just gnawing and sucking, she'll be getting lots of good stuff like mineral, vitamins, and amino acids (small proteins). > ...if there could > be something else that might cause this reaction? Well, anything is possible. If you're worried, always take your LO to the GP. (But in my experience, GPs and HVs aren't that great on giving advice about baby-led weaning issues.) I have known another baby with this problem. A sensistive gag reflex will sort itself out eventually. xx

Myriad toys has them. http://www.myriadonline.co.uk/products.php?id=1371 I know another website that's better too, but I can't rem what it is, argh! Search the old teething / amber threads. It's on there somewhere. It had a choice of all different colour, sizes, finishes etc. I think you can put an amber necklace on babies as young as 4 weeks. You could probably put one on a newborn, but companies just don't want the liability in case something goes wrong and they get [unnecessarily] blamed. (Will post the other website if I find it.) xx

A second vote for Pretty Pregnant on Northcross Rd. I think if they don't have what you need, they can order it for you.

I think they are all given together now, but it's fine either way.

Also check the skin creams the GPs as given. If any of the products have SLS/SLES*, put them straight in the bin. New research from the States has shown that these surfactants can make eczema worse. (Our GP didn't know this and gave us these creams as a first line of defense! Get to the dermatologist ASAP.) Plus, best to avoid products with the preservatives called parabens. *sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate

Try giving the suppository when your LO is deeply asleep. A single dose of neurofen or calpol (oral or suppository) should not cause any digestive distress. When my daughter had viral diarrhoea last year, the GP suggested taking a stool sample if it didn't clear up in 2-3 weeks. Bacterial infections tend to take longer to clear from babies' intestines. You LO acutally sounds like she's not getting worse. She's probably just fine. If it puts your mind at ease to consult with a GP, then that's what I'd do too.

Hi all- We're still on for a meet-up at mine this Saturday the 24th September, from 2/2:30 ish onwards! :) Hope to see you there!! (PM me if you don't have the details yet xx)

Read here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/child-experts-growing-pains/story-e6frf7l6-1111114426718 Interesting food for thought!

If your little one will take a bottle of formula at night, you can then slowly fade the formula to water over a few weeks. This helps some babies to realize that nothing interesting is happening at night and to go back to sleep. After trying lots of different things, this type of behavioural 'fade' was the only thing we've had any success with. And at 20 months, my daughter is still such a rubbish sleeper that I've taken just to sleeping with her on a little futon in her room. Sigh. I feel your pain. xx

Diluted prune juice: 3 ounces prune juice to 2 ounces warm water. If it doesn't help, it's certainly not going to do any harm. Parents often report digestive changes in their babies during teething. No one really know why this is so. Because the oral cavity is continuous with the gastrointestinal tract, it may simple represent parallel development of different areas of this system simultaneously. Cold viruses can cause digestie changes in babies too, and they can take a while to clear completely. If your LO isn't better in a few days, see the GP. Also, NHS direct by phone is available 24/7. xx

Hi GinaG3. Children don't necessarily need social interaction with their peers in order to develop good social skills. Indeed there's some evidence to suggest that social interaction with adults may be of more benefit to children. So if you and Nana and other adults are interacting with your LO on a daily basis, then you're doing a great job. Of course that's not to say that your LO wouldn't enjoy nursery time with her peers. If you've not been frequenting toddler groups, probably starting nursery part time to begin is a good idea. I agree with the advice others have given you herein. And please feel free to come along to meet up with other parents and their only children at one of our informal gatherings. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,734309 PM me for details. xx

Thanks so much to everyone who came to the meet up this week! We'll have one more at mine on Sat 24th from 2/2:30ish onwards. Please message me for details if you want to come and haven't already received a PM from me. xx

new mother Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In cave terms, surely total - not just partial, > SW- submission of the mother to the egotistical > monster is best? > This way, the squealer gets at least one strong > adoring parent to protect him or her. Yes and no. Our species is gragarious, not solitary. So in 'cave terms' there would have been a clan of women all helping eachother. In naturally gregarious species, where it would be to the detriment of the group to have the mother overly-focused on the baby/child, then other women (and, yes, men) would have helped too. And that's the wonderful thing about humans, that we are flexible and not all made the same. But we don't all have large families anymore or live near extended groups of friends who can help. So, sometimes, the mother becomes the only and highly-focused carer b/c there is no one else to do so. And in this case, many women will struggle with an identity crisis. There are as many different solutions to postpartum identity crises as there are women in the world! xx

I could be wrong, but I think 32 weeks might be too young for night terrors, and I think nightmares would be easier to settle. As it's nothing obvious, it could digestive upset. Baby's intestines are still maturing and adjusting to new and interesting foods. You could try doing a little infacol (simethicone liquid) before dinner? Or perhaps infant gaviscon? If it doesn't help, it won't do any harm either. Worth a try if it makes you feel proactive. xx

Hi- Not too late or too old! :-) At worst this will be an excuse to get together for tea and cake with other mothers, and at at best our little group will grow to be a fun and supportive network. One of the issues parents of only children may face is networking with other parents. For parents of an only child, then sometimes it can be harder to meet other parents too. So my hope this group will be as much about children making friends as parents making friends too. xx

Never said I disagree, just that I feel completely differently, not only to your post but many of the replies to Josiehendrick's post. One reason for that is b/c I do feel an ounce of kindred understanding for Josiehendrick's post, when she said that she is (paraphrasing for brevity) scared of becoming something she doesn't want to be (i.e., losing her pre-baby identity to motherhood) and scared of not finding any other women with those same feelings. For many women this is a hugh issue. (Incidentally, her post never said that other mothering styles aren't cool or that there is anything wrong them, or that such coping strategies are flawed. See just doesn't seem to identify with them.) To tell a woman that you hope for the sake of her baby that she (the mother) becomes what she's fears and turns into a very different person b/c nature destines it so, seems to me a very odd thing to say. I cannot identify with those statements. Every woman will be changed by motherhood, as any great life events brings change. But not every women becomes a very different person post-baby, and it is not necessary to become a very different person in order to love and care for a baby/child. Even in the early postpartum weeks for *some* women, I do not believe that total submission of self is a good or necessary thing. The main reason my previous post said 'leaving semantics aside' was b/c there is no consensus on the terms 'EDyummies' or 'yummy mummy' within this thread. Depending on what people think a yummy mummy is, the term is either funny at best, derogatory at worst, and often ambivalent. I wanted to write (and for people to read) my post as much as possible with clarity and without emotive terminology upon which there is no consesus meaning. I offer my post only b/c it is a different point of view. Variety being the spice of life and all that... xx