Saffron

Moos Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There was a comment on the dentist thread about > breastmilk being bad for teeth, because it's > sugary. While it's true that breastmilk has sugar (lactose) in it, 'sugary' is a relative term, and it is inaccurate and misleading to use it to describe breastmilk from a scientific POV. Antibodies and other proteins in whole fresh breastmilk counteract the effect of bacteria in the mouth. Both immersion testing (Erickson et al 1999) and in situ testing (Tinanoff N. et al) have shown whole breast milk to be not dissimilar to water in its effect on teeth. Moreover neither extended nighttime nursing/bfing to sleep (Torney PH 1992), nor bfing older children (Alaluusua 1990), has been correlated with an increase in dental caries. So if your LO will only latch/suckle well at night (Little Saff was a night nurser until about 10 mo!), there's actually no need to worry about the effect on their teeth as long as you follow a good brushing routine.

Bumpkin Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ...read somewhere that the Nazi's considered > using fluoride in the water as a method of control > over the population as it's linked to a reduced > questioning ability and increased docility (this > may be nonsense... Whether/not the Nazis considered this, neurological symptoms such as a reuced capactity to rational will manifest highly individualistically, and (-->this is the important bit-->) are not associated with ingesting small amounts of fluoride as is found in drinking water or toothpaste (unless you eat a whole tube, but let's not be silly!). Neurological sypmtoms may occur after true fluoride poinsoning and are likely associated with exposure to salts of fluoride, eg aluminium fluoride. Paracelsus, the father of modern toxicology, had this to say on it... 'Everything is a toxin. There is nothing that is not a toxin. Dose alone determines toxicity.' So, a small amount of fluoride IS a good thing. And, actually, when used as indicated the therapeutic window on fluoride for dental protection is pretty large. I would suggest that wherever you live, always filter your tap water, then use a fluorie toothpaste. Topical application is sufficient to protect teeth.

We rarely sterilised anything for Little Saff. The quality of tap water and detergents are so good nowdays, sterilising isn't really necessary. I think for a lot of people it's more peace of mind. I have read that in Australia and New Zealand they no longer recommend sterilising for newborns also. Certainly once you see your little bubba licking the carpet or (worse!) eating the cat's foot, sterilising seems far less important! xx

I can never understand why so many people discourage comfort sucking and frown on it so much. Gina Ford advises never to let a baby suck on an empty breast (which just shows she's not the most knowledgeable anyway, b/c the breast is never truly empty as long as you're lactating...). And the nurse at my local GP's practice actually told me not to let my baby comfort suck! (She also told me bfing should stop when Baby gets teeth b/c breastmilk is bad for teeth. What utter rubbish. Breastmilk actually has antibacterial properties. I totally agree there should be more support for bfing. And there should be more acceptance for different styles of bfing. I like the La Leche philosophy that every mother-baby dyad is different. Bravo to the mum in the blog who got her infant to suckle at such an advanced age. I know Little Saff would still reflexively head-bob for the breast around 4/4.5 months. Even my lactation consultant was surprised (and pleased) to see the reflex still present at such a late date. We all have so much for to learn (and share) about feeding babies.

Ever heard this saying? 'The perfect doesn't have to be the enemy of the good.' If you can afford an all-singing, all-dancing pushchair that will make your child a super genius with the emotional fortitude of granite, while it automatically makes you latte at the busstop on rainy days, and folds itself away under your feet like a dog at pubs, then by all means take it! However, if you can't get the perfect pushchair, just get something good with wheels and a seat that doesn't take up too much space but still meets some of your needs. You'll be glad you have it (fwd or bkwrd facing) on the afternoon that a long walk saves you from cabin fever so bad you want to throw your LO down the stairs. ;) xx

Colloidal sliver eye drops are safe and don't sting. My bestfriend is prone to eye infections, but she is also allergic (severely!) to most antibiotics. You might need to order CS eye drops online. When I asked a local pharmacist, he had no idea what I was talking about. When I explained to him that it's simply ionised silver in solution, he said something like, You must be a chemist. Erm no, mate, I thought YOU were the 'chemist'!? Anyway, I digress... Colloidal silver drops in the eye, safe and painless. Bring them to body temp by putting them in your pocket for a while, as cold drops are unpleasant in the eye. If infections reoccur often, then deffo worth a nasal swab too. Good luck. xx

Thanks, Fuschia and Devonlass15, for meeting up at the Plough the other day. Shall we try to organise something round mine one day in Feb? Three comfy sofas, lots of tea and cake, two friendly cats, children always welcome... Late morning/early afternoon is usu good for me and Little Saff. If anyone fancies some more 'mummy matchmaking', get in touch! :)

Ooo yes, deffo agree with having a sling! It's so much easier on buses etc, and tiny babies just love to be carried. Plus it feels lovely to carry your baby. There are lots of reported benefits to carrying newborns (and older babies too), so perhaps you can ask MIL to buy the sling too?! heh heh heh

Little Saff got in a cycle like this too. It was very frustrating. I don't mind doing night feeds, since that puts her back to sleep easily. It was her early morning cluster feeding that was killing me. At 11mo she was still often awake 2 or 3 times a night (then waking up at 5:30!). Hubby and I decided to try a non-conventional approach over the winter holidays just before Little Saff's 1st bday. We kept her up really, really late, often with friends over and lots of activity, but also sometimes just me and hubby with a bit of television and some baby games. When I say late, I do mean late, sometimes midnight. She was so knackered, she'd sleep until 7:30. What a blessing! This seems to have broken the pattern for her. Now she sleeps from 8pm to 6am (until the next development step/tooth/runny nose probably!). I don't know if that will work for you. I guess my point is that if you've tried lots of other things, maybe throw away the books and do something completely different?

> Obviously it's > inconvenient and inefficient to sterilise before > every pump. Any thoughts gratefully received. > You totally don't need to sterilise before every pump. Simply place the used equipment in the refrigerator between uses. Then you could sterilise, for example at night for use the next day, and everything should be ok in the bag, even if there's water. Or, if you're worried, simply pop all the sterile stuff back in the fridge overnight. xx

I like our parent-facing buggy because I like to look at my daughter and talk to her while we walk... and we do A LOT of walking! So if I had a fwd facing buggy, I wouldn't see as much of her. We got a secondhand Bugaboo Gecko, and we live in a 1st floor maisonette with no downstairs storage for the buggy. It's a challenge. Also consider that you can get carseat adaptors for many buggies now. You can pop the carseat off and fold the buggy to go in the lift. You're LO should be ok in a well-fitted carseat even for longer walks in the buggy. I think John Lewis and others do 'buggy demos'. So maybe go look at a few different styles. And when you find the one you want, ask your MIL to buy it for you! :)

Maybe that's a natural reason people don't say so much in our culture about what it's really like. It's a very different experience for everyone. What works great for one is rubbish for another. The reality of the postpartum experience can even be very different from one baby to another for the same person. But if people want to share their eperiences or read about the experiences of others, it's probably not a bad thing. It's important to know that there is a wide spectrum of what is 'normal' after a baby. And if you think you're alone going through the hardest time of your life, you're not! There is light at the end of the tunnel after having a baby. xx

Re: Bailiff-- Do not even let them in. You have the right to refuse them entry. Keep all doors and windows locked. Never let a bailiff in, even to use the phone or toilet! Once a bailiff HAS obtained 'peaceful entry' (Ha!), they are then allowed to break-in to your property later (weird!). But even once a bailiff has entered, there are certain items that they are not allowed to take anyway, eg essential domestic items, beds/linen, kitchenware, clothing, etc.

It can be really hard to coordinate schedules with other mums and babies too, especially if your LOs are on diff nap routines/go to diff classes/ diff schools etc. Plus some people work or study part time so only have 1 or 2 free days/wk. Then to top it off, everyone has their own idiosyncrasies. Me, for example, loathe going out in the morning unless it's something really special b/c Little Saff takes her longest nap mid-morning. I generally sleep then too. Otherwise I'm a total zombie for the rest of the day. No wonder it's so hard to meet new people! xx

karter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > what is the most > important thing we should buy? Thanks Buy a cheap digital thermometer and a Tummy Tub. Tummy Tub is so much better than a regular baby bath. http://www.nctshop.co.uk/Tummy-Tub-Unique-baby-bath/productinfo/4413/ Little Saff used to have a bath in the TT everyday. About the time that she outgrew it, we started weaning. It then transformed into an excellent bucket for soaking stained baby clothes. You could also use it to keep toys in. b/c it's clear, you can see the toys in the bottom. Excellent value for money and very sturdy. Also, whether you do disposable or washable nappies, have a couple of different brands to hand. Different brands fit differently... and there's no way to know until you try them on your LO. Finally, if you can afford it (or find a second-hand one on the Forum), get a baby hammock instead of a moses basket. We had this one http://www.amby.co.uk/site/pages.php?fid=0,11 . It was lovely.

Hi all- Forgot to say that Little Saff and I are often free on Saturdays too. Hubby often works Sat and sometimes Sun... so if anyone else is around on a wknd with nothing to do, get in touch. :)

Oh if you're a smoker, pack a nicotine inhalator or some pathches etc, b/c you might be dieing for a smoke... but those 5 min you spend outside might be just the time your little bundle decides to make an unexpected appearance. (Or worse, you return to find they've rushed your wife off for an emergency somethingorother and you have no idea where she is!) xx

Don't even DARE tell your missus that you thought she was going to wash the dirty dishes! If you don't already have one, get a cleaner. Order take-away and pick it up on your way home from work. Or, be prepared to cook simple dinners quickly and frequently. Go out on Sunday morning and buy coissants and a newspaper. When you get home -- instead of flipping to the sports section and losing yourself for the next 1/2 hr -- start on the cover page and read the paper to your missus while she lays semi-comatose on the sofa.

Pack your OWN supply of chocs. Mr Saff ate all my bounty bars! Grrr. But he did do an excelent job spritzing me and the midwife with some lovely Neal's Yard Remedies like these: http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/spritzers .

http://www.tate.org.uk/families/modern/23204.htm For the under 5s at Tate Modern -- free!!!!!!! Little Saff LOVED the musical slide. And since it's indoors, no wet bum at the bottom of the slide. :) xx

Wow that's bold. I was a total mess when Little Saff (now 1 yo) was 4 wks! Last week I took Little Saff up to Tate Modern. They have a free indoor play area for pre-schoolers. However, the Tate Modern cafe wouldn't be my first choice for bfing. No comfy chairs, and no privacy. Wracking brain to recall a suitable place... Hmmm maybe one of the pubs? There are a lot of more 'touristy' pubs along the SB, so they should be ok with little'uns. And pubs often have some booth-style seating, which would give you some privacy. When are you going? If you want some company, Little Saff and I might be able to join you. :-) xx

I think I had the Ameda ones from the NCT shop online. They were fine during the day, but I found sometimes I needed to double-up at night. LilyPadz silicone breast pads (also from the NCT) are very good if you get sore nipples. They won't stick to sore skin. I always washed mine with Ecover, and they lasted about 3 months.

My super-extroverted 1 yo daughter would probably get along great with your twins! Never been to CP 1 o'clock club, but I have a friend (also with a boisterous 1 yo) in the area. Maybe we could meet there one day? We don't have a car, but we're highly mobile with buggy or sling. (Btw, anyone going to CP station via train, don't forget: STAIRS! (My poor husband got caught out on this once, taking buggy instead of sling for Little Saff, oh dear!) xx

Are there any badges left? It was a chaotic holiday around here, and I never got round to getting in touch! xx

anna_r Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Daughter (2 next week) has just been diagnosed > with suspected mumps. Just curious... how do they confirm mumps these days? Is it obvious from syptomatic presentation in such a little one? > This is despite having had > her first mmr jab. That's terrible bad luck. I hope your LO is better soon. Were you advised to continue with the combined MMR when she is recovered, or will she receive separate singles? I'm not aware that it should make any difference immunologically... just wondered what the general practice is for such a case. Speedy recovery xx