Saffron

We had Oakwook midwives. They were all excellent. Linda delivered our baby. She was calm, kind, and had a lovely sense of humour.

When our landlady on Barry Road abruptly terminated our lease so she could make a quick sale, despite our contract, a huge dispute ensued. She did settle with us in cash, so we at least got our full deposit back in cash. But, we then only had a few weeks to move. We couldn't find anything suitable in ED in that time. We found a place in Brockley instead. Hilly Fields Park is at the end our road. We're walking distance to the Brockley Market on Lewisham Way and also to the shopping centre in Lewisham Town Centre. ED is a short bus ride away, as is Crystal Palace. Since Brockley is now getting the overspill from Nunhead (which got the overspill from ED), new shops are now opening on Brockley Road too.

We've taken our little one with us to Brockley Open Studios in the past, and it's been loads of fun and very family friendly. It makes for a very nice walk through the neighbourhoods if the weather is fine. There is a cafe in Hilly Fields park in Brockley and also a playground. http://www.brockleyopenstudios.co.uk/ xx

I thought the No Cry Sleep Solution was a brilliant book, but we couldn't make any of the strategies "stick" over the longterm, although I did have some success with behavioural fades (aka gradual withdrawal strategy) from another baby sleep book (Good Sleep Guide, or something like that... can't rem, b/c lack of sleep has wrecked my memory!!). Some children are just harder to put to bed and have a more difficult time sleeping on their own from what I can tell. Tamla, my toddler sounds similar. She is 2.5 yrs and rarely falls asleep on her own. People can shake their heads smuggly all they want, but I did not accidentally parent her this way. This is the way nature programmed her. She came to me like this, and I've done a bloody good job with a very difficult little sleeper! We're going to have a crack at another behavioural fade soon I think. Right now she sleeps on a small double fouton in her own room. She sleeps through the night if I sleep next to her, but wakes in tears around 3am if I'm not there. I've suspected for a long time that she has nighttime separation anxiety, despite being very independent during the day. She's also teething again, which makes it all much harder. (Geez this parenting thing is really tough! ;-) ) Anthropologically, I understand that between 2-4 yrs, you're out of the infant sleep styles and on the cusp of another big sleep shift. So, strategies that worked for babies would need some tweaking for older toddlers? Can anyone recommend some books for gentle sleep strategies in olders toddlers and children?

Oral hormonal contraceptives were identified as a possible cause of chronic gynae problems that I was previously having. This is far more common that doctors realize, IME. If you have, or suspect you have, recurrent vaginal thrush or bacterial vaginosis, recurrent UTIs, vestibulitis, or vulvodynia, I would strongly recommend that you discontinue oral or other systemic (patches/jabs) contraceptive hormones. (While NuvaRing is a combined hormonal vaginal ring, I understand that a progestin-only ring is in development and may be available to a limited market. GinaG3, press your GP or gynae specialist for more information. I had less gynae symptoms with a vaginal ring.)

There is another hormonal option besides the pill. I used to have this overseas when it was first on the market, but it's been slow to market here in the UK: http://www.nuvaring.co.uk/ . When I had this, I didn't have the same side effects as with the pill, b/c it has a more local effect rather than systemic like the oral pill. In fact it was the only hormonal contraception I really liked, but now I have a coil I don't bother obviously. I just thought I'd add the info b/c not a lot of people seem to know about it.

The changes a coil may cause to your periods are different from woman to woman. The copper coil did make my periods a bit heavier the first day or two, but still within the range of normal. If you have never had a baby, having a coil fitted is like a very strong period pain (my personal experience at least), and then a bit uncomfortable for about a day afterwards. I also thought having it removed was a painful, but the pain only lasted 1 sec. When it was out, there was no residual pain. Of course after I had Little Saff, I was a bit nervous about getting a new coil but it wasn't at all painful, just a bit uncomfortable(I was ~6wks postpartum). However, the nurse should have left my threads a bit longer, b/c 2 yrs postpartum my cervix/pelvic floor has fully contracted into its previous shape, and now my threads are so short that it's tough to find them to check them. Caveat, if you're recently postpartum and want an IUD, have them leave your threads a bit longer for maybe 6mo-1yr!

How strong is the pain? If the cramping is strong enough that you feel you want to take paracetamol, then I'd agree you really need to see someone today. You can also speak to someone at NHS direct who can assess you over the phone (tel. 0845 4647; https://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/About/ContactUs.aspx), and recommend a course of action (maybe nothing, b/c you're probably fine, but it's good to be safe!) I definitely had cramp like feelings in the last trimester, and it was nothing. I was told that Braxton Hicks are usually felt as a topdown sensation from the top of the unterus towards to the cervix, but mine was nothing like that. Mine was from the base of uterus upwards and felt like mild period pains, never lasted more that on/off a few seconds at a time.

If you are using the Rhythm Method for family planning, I have read (and I agree!) that ovulation is the time during each cycle that most women's libidos are at their highest. So using the Rhythm Method alone means a couple must refrain from intercourse during the time the woman's libido is highest. That can be difficult for some couples, hence why the RM has a dodgy rep! If you are looking for longer term contraception, say 1-5 years, then ask your GP/gynae nurse about having a plain copper coil (copper IUD) with no hormones. Synthetic hormones always gave me problems, although the contraception was good. I'm much happier with my copper IUD. Best of luck finding something that works for you. I know this is a problem for a lot of couples. xx

My impression has been that when brakes on other prams are damaged, people either throw the whole thing away b/c it was cheap, or it's easier to find places to repair other styles of brakes. ...although that's purely anecdotal.

Could be Disney-type characters to get around this?

Kalamiphile Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thank you for all your helpful suggestions, glad > to know we are not alone! We have always said to > her use your words as she is way ahead of her > peers in talking, singing and reading, and this > seems to be the only area she does not use her > vocabulary! Well that explains it really. No child could be perfect at everything! And it would be expecting too much of any mother to have a perfect child all the time. I'd say it's fairly normal at any age to get frustrated with issues like space and communication. The only difference being that it's acceptable for toddlers to aim the occasional kick at someone. Whereas, that's generally frowned upon in adults. (More's the pity really. I've had a couple of foul-tempered profs who definitely deserved one in the shins. ;-) ) The behaviour might even be an early sign that she's the cusp of another leap in language and vocabulary.

I've heard of people having these repaired at cycle shops. The brake system on Cameleon is similar to bicycle brakes. Explain to the shop that it's not under warrenty, otherwise they won't want to touch it for fear of invalidating your warrenty. Also, ring Bugaboo distributors (even though you didn't buy yours new) and ask about repairs. You'd obviously have to pay for the repair, but there shouldn't be any reason for them to refuse you the repair service.

Spread your range beyond East Dulwich. There are lots of families in Brockley/Sydenham/Ladywell/etc with young children and decent enough incomes to spend something special on parties. Your idea sounds like lots of fun. Best of luck. xx

Belle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ----- > Scotland runs (or did in my day) a 1 March-28 Feb > system, so that the age range is 4.5-5.5. > Preferable, in my opinion, but I am biased! sorry, > continuing the tangent. Yes, that must be what I'm thinking of. I'm often surprised by the differences between the English and Scottish systems. No wonder so many people speak about the problems of children young-for-year in the English system. Sol, your plans sounds really sensible, given that the system seems so inflexible.

Definitely agree with others that she could be frustrated in some way. When she kicks/whines, what do you or your daughter say to her? We've rencently found that saying, "Don't kick/etc; use your words," is starting to result in better behaviour. This should help with crying when her toys are taken too. Ask her childminder always to use her words to tell her what happened with the toys (if she isn't doing this already). If your daughter's LO is not very articulate yet, this could take a while. She doesn't sound like a monster at all. Just a normal toddler! xx

It's discretinary, no? If you don't want your child to enter reception as young-for-year, then it's the parents' perogative to hold-off a year surely? Can't see why this would be any different in practice for older children re-entering school.

Hi Strawbs, what other foods does your LO eat? Milk is the main souce of calcium and other nutrients in general for under-ones. However, seeing that you're having so much trouble with it, maybe it's worth ditching it altogether and finding other sources of calcium and nutrients in his diet since he's already 8 months old?

If your child started at 4yr 4mo, then he was young for his age within his reception class. So wouldn't he still be in an acceptable age range if he skipped a year? Just curious, because, some children wouldn't start reception class until they were for example 5yr 4mo.

Don't worry about the school. Teach him the way that you would like to see it! How do you write his name? With a cap at front? That's what I would do. xx

I can also highly recommend Giles Davies. He practices out of his groudfloor office at 15a Barry Road. He and his wife have grown children, so he's a very good sounding board for all things family related too. Ella Keepax is excellent as well. She practices out of Harley Street, but she lives locally I think. You can do a search for her user name. I believe she's on the Forum. Best of luck. xx

Hi Renata, your wording is a bit unclear to me. Are you saying "no" children can't miss a year of education and re-enter school with the year-younger class? Which is to say, that if they are going to miss a year of education in their current local school, then parents would be responsible to home school (or other temporary/supplemental education) so the child(ren) can stay up to date with their peer group? My friend spent a year in Thailand with her daughter. She home schooled while they were away, and then her daughter re-entered the British school system with her peer group. This was a great experience for them both, though I recognise that everyone's circumstances are different. But if your circumstances don't allow you to home school, or travel can't be taken over the summer, surely schools can't exclude a student on the basis of the student's knowledge? So would the child(ren) go into their peer group, but receive additional remedial tutorial education until they were up to level? Also, for anyone who might be in similar situations, travel b/c of work etc, think about having your child to study towards the International Baccalaureate instead of A-levels. The IB might also make it easier to apply to universities overseas, should you child want to do so. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Baccalaureate

I think we should give the kid who reported it enough credit to distinguish whether it was a genuine offer or if it seemed dodgy. There was something in that child's gut perception of the situation that made him (her?) think that it was worth reporting.

toomuchchocolate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks renata. To be honest it's not just the > water feature in that new play area that makes it > horrid... The lack of fence means it is a dog > toilet for many dogs and the area around and under > the saucer swing is a mud bath (99% of the time so > far this year) despite the rubber matting. I've > also seen a fair amount of broken glass round the > climbing frame. > I could be wrong, but I think part of the playspace to which you are referring is not part of the 1 o'clock club. In which case, there will likely be no change to this area.

uncleglen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There is a world of difference between a year 6 > child and a 6 year old child (no-one would let the > latter go to school on their own I would hope) Yes, I think some people do let young children, eg 6 yrs old walk to school alone... wasn't there a thread about it a while back? But 6 yrs or yr 6, if the school had not informed parents, and a real abduction occured a day later, people would then be criticising the school for not contacting parents in the first instance. So I think the school did the right thing.