Saffron

Ruth_Baldock Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yeah, go on, might as well get rid of my last > scrap of sanity. Yes, maybe that's what happened to the poor woman onthelookout saw? Child-induced loss of sanity!

Ruth_Baldock Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Two of the best nannies I have ever come across > just fell into tne job, fwiw. For > me, experience comes above qualifications, but > thats just my preference. > > People often mistake me for a nanny, I find it > amusing. Aint no one PAYING me to wrestle with > these two rugrats! *grumble* I'm starting work in Sept... add my rugrat to your collection?

amydown Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My post crossed with Saffron's and agree that it's > not jus the personality and caring nature to think > about but also parenting and childcare methods and > beliefs should be discussed upfront. > > Unfortunately, not all the nannies seem to have > childcare education or qualifications. I have met > quite a few that just fallen into the job so it's > worth keeping that in mind. Which is not of course to say that someone with no qualifications can't be great with kids, but I think we'd all agree that someone with a qualification definitely should be living up to it!

We were given a beautiful piece of stained glass as a wedding present: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bubbleroundels#

Urgh, if that's the nanny, what are the parents like? Sounds like she might not have much training in childcare. Maybe she is a neighbour or relative, not really trained for the role, if you see what I mean? Personally, I'd hope that if I were paying someone with a background in childcare/child development to care for child, then I'd expect her to actually care for my child. The caveat is that you need to be very clear with your nanny about what you expect. Maybe what you observed is the discipline or interaction that the parents consider normal or acceptable. It's not the way I'd expect for our family, but everyone's different. We did have one temporary nanny who didn't integrate well into our family. She was a caring, thoughtful person, but she prioritised differently than we do. Specifically, she was leaving my daughter to cry herself to sleep for naps, b/c she prioritised sleep over crying. That's not the way I was doing it, so we quickly had to come to a different arrangement, as her method rapidly resulted in a heap of night time sleep problems for us. I just offer it as an example of how a caring, well-meaning person can be doing the wrong thing for your family without really realising it. So, when you're looking for a nanny, you need to be clear with him/her from the beginning what style of parenting suits your family. Have you thought about speaking in a friendly way to the women you saw, to find out what her situation is? Maybe you're just generally catching them at a bad time of day. I know it happens with me and Little Saff too sometimes.

Hi Forumites - Anyone coming to Brockley Max Festival in Hilly Fields this weekend? We live just off Hilly Fields. Hope to see you there, weather permitting! Please give me and Hubbie a nudge if you see us!! http://brockleymax.co.uk/

How many godparents do your children have, and what role do you expect them to take? I ask b/c we're not a religious family, but our daughter does have 2 godparents (a married couple). They are named as her legal gaurdians should Hubbie and I meet an untimely end. We thought long and hard about who would be financially able and emotionally willing to raise our daughter in our absence. Little Saff's godparents are not related to either myself or my husband, as there were no family members suitable (too elderly, too far away, not financially capable, not appropriate). However, they are deeply integrated in our group of friends and would raise our daughter among the friends who mean the most to us and would keep our memories alive for her. We have another friend who has played a huge part in our lives, and who deeply adores our daughter. We'd like to make her a godparent too, but we're unsure how that works. Legally, do we list her as second guardian, in the event that the first set are unable to fullfill their duties? How many godparents do your children have? Are their roles largely symbolic, or would they care for your children in your absence.

Even if your baby does flip on his/her own, antenatal acupuncture is still a good thing to do. It's not currently known exactly how acupuncture works, but it's thought that antenatal acupuncture --even in healthy pregnancies-- helps to reduce stress hormones. This in turn is thought to fascilitate increased blood flow to the uterus, cervix and perineal areas. As the due date draws closer, acupuncture sessions become more frequent and more intense. Acupunturists believe this helps to ripen the cervix in preparation for birth. In truth, no one knows exactly how this effect is produced, but I can personally say that acupuncture does indeed induce relaxation, which is condusive to foetal movement. xx

Support a local artist? William Frost: http://www.wilfism.com/

I found it... http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,694815,865391#msg-865391

Pheromone traps, buy online. I think Forumite Sue had good info on this. Do a search in the Lounge.

Have always thought a problem with spoon feeding could be that babies are erroneously given solids at too early an age from a spoon. We had such a happy time with BLW, of course I'm biased, but surely any type of weaning style can be made safe and fun? The main thing with weaning is that it's a happy and interesting way for Baby to learn about food in a manner that's appropriate to Baby's developmental stage. (Coincidentally, I once had to sit silently at the luncheon of a friend's NCT group, while one mother smugly related that they wouldn't be doing BLW because it was "too dangerous". Her comment came directly after someone else had asked me if we were doing BLW, because Little Saff (then ~8mo) was happily helping herself to half my sandwich, the best bits of my salad, and more than her fair share of chips. I felt I couldn't comment on the smug remark b/c it wasn't my own NCT group. I was only a guest. It was an awkward, angry, unhappy moment for me. Needless to say I never went back to any of their lunches. I think she was one of those smug people that has to belittle anything someone else does. I've known plenty of other people that did traditional spoon-fed weaning, and are quite lovely people. I wouldn't tar a whole genre with same brush, and the same goes for BLW.)

Giles Davies on Barry road is very good for acupuncture. He had advise on whether moxibustion or other acupuncture treatments would be best. I also had antenatal acupuncture from Ella Keepax who practices out of Harley Street. They are both very good practitions.

It's unfortunate that anyone would make you feel less about weaning choices either way. (Incidentally, people have made me feel bad about BLW too, so some people are just bound to rubbish anyone else's choice no matter what, I guess.) I can definitely say that BLW families I have known have been really laid back and friendly about it. It's not a new concept, though it's seemingly sudden rise in popularity stikes one as nearly out of the blue. It's just been rebranded and published under the name BLW, but this type of "whole foods" weaning has existed for a very long time. I think I must be in the minority with my BLW experience in that we hardly had any mess (aside from clothing) or waste at all! Because my daughter hated the spoon and was brilliant with BLW, I'm always curious to know why other people chose other styles of weaning. Was recently related a weaning story by a friend, that she and her weanling had a go at spoon feeding each other. I thought this was an interesting and useful twist on spoon feeding, esp'y for those who might not want to go down the BLW route. It lets you and Baby see weaning from each other's perspectives! :) I don't think that would be possible with very young babies, so that would be another reason for waiting to wean until 6ish months.

TE44 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I cant put links at the moment but easy to find > different scientific views. I have merely tried > to answer and explain to comments made to me. It > may seem to some I've moved off topic, but as Ive > said before other aspects etc. if there was no > conflict of info, would there be a "minefield" I > am not concerned with proving to anyone whether > I'm right or wrong and certainly have not claimed > to be an expert, as has been said, an individual > decision. Well I'm off, as I'm getting bored of > saffron not grasing anything beyond the science. If you post incorrect information on a public forum, you can expect to be corrected, and I'm not the only one who has pointed out the inaccuracies in your statements. My grasp, if you read thoroughly, goes well beyond science. I have also used the principles of logic, ethics, linguistics, and phenomenology in my statements. For further clarity, informed choice is not a choice based on beliefs. Informed choice is a choice based on present available data. A choice based on feelings is an emotive choice. A choice based on beliefs (whether religious or otherwise) is a faith-based choice. So to disregard data to make a choice based on feelings/beliefs is by definition not an informed choice. If a parent is happy with that, fine. But by definition one cannot say that that is an informed choice. The belief that science prevents us from knowing our own bodies is totally illogical. One might more readily say that it's an individual's distrust/misunderstanding/preconceptions/etc that prevent the individual from using science to more fully understand his/her own body. TE44, the statements you've presented herein are circular, specious, and illogical. They do nothing to help parents make choices about immunisations. Indeed, I would say that if your intention was to add credibility to non-immunisation arguments, you have actually done the opposite. Your ability to side-step criticism with redirection is phenomenal. You should have been in politics. * * * * * Moving on... Just out of curiosity, would anyone who didn't immunise their children for fear of adverse reactions, then also refuse them medical drug treatment if their children developed vaccine-preventable diseases (for fear once again of adverse reactions)? I wonder, is it the fear of prophylactic vs therapeutic treatment that causes some parents not to vaccinate? And how could immunisations (or indeed could immunisations) be advanced to allay this fear?

emser Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > OMG she is not mentally unwell, she is just on > drugs! > And I actually had the Police around yesterday > because somebody was lingering in my back yard at > midnight last night, and I mentioned her to them, > and they know her very well! > You cannot just brand every drug addict with a > mental illness! Addiction is considered a form of mental illness.

Just curious, reneet, did you read the BLW book? Was it the expression "baby-led" that put you off the concept, or were you frustrated with initial attempts at offering finger foods in general? In any event, it sounds like weaning is going really well for your LO now. Similar to bluesuperted, my BLW baby was a brilliant eater, and we found it all very stress-free. (Though now as a 2+ yo toddler, I must admit she does have a taste for crisps. Hmm, I think that one's down to Daddy!) I think people who do the best with BLW from the beginning are those who recognise that it is an exercise in free will as much as letting go. (Which is not to say that this doesn't happen in traditional weaning, but it definitely is a big part of BLW.) I also liked the BLW concept b/c it gave guidelines (eg 6 mo start) but emphasised the imporance of following Baby's lead developmentally. From this perspective, some babies may start a little earlier, some a little later, depending on development. We're not all the same as adults, so of course we're not all the same as babies either! Whatever style you choose, if you find it frustrating or upsetting, just take a step back from weaning for a while. Weaning really should be fun and enjoyable for Baby and parents. Milk is the most important food under 1 yo. Until then, it's all about new experiences, tastes, and sensations.

Did anyone else see this or know about it? http://www.change.org/petitions/bbcnewsnight-i-deserve-an-apology?utm_campaign=naLPqAyBkO&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert

Hi moominfilly. Have you read the BLW book? It has lots of tips and advice. When you offer mashed food, are you giving Baby the spoon to hold for herself? Otherwise, what you're doing is not BLW. It's traditinal spoon weaning + offering finger foods. That's absolutely fine. I just wanted to make the difference clear. Even if you feel more comfortable with tradition spoon feeding, I would strongly encourage you to read the BLW book b/c the developmental info in it is very interesting and useful, and the book is a short, easy read. (I'm happy to loan you my copy.) In particular the BLW book talks about the tongue and gag reflexes, why these are important, and how they change as Baby grows. Personally, I would give up the mash/purees and do BLW (ie, finger foods only), this way Baby progresses with learning to chew and swallow at her own pace respective to development and reflexes, with a lower risk of choking on semisolid food. You may find that this type of weaning seems slower than traditional weaning, but there really is no reason to rush. Happy weaning. xx

TE44 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Saffron, Science is now at the early stages of > recognising links with stress affecting the immune > system, ... Also not true. The links between stress and immunity have been some of the earliest recognised by medical science, and research to further the understanding of adrenocortical interactions with the immune systems continues to play a role in the understanding of these interactions in both human and veterinary research. The reason I'm drawn to pointing out the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in such posts is not to tell people what choices to make. So, TE44, it's not about whether or not I personally "believe there are people who want to take responsibility for there own immune system". That actually does not even come into it. The reason I'm drawn to pointing out inconsistencies and inaccuracies is that providing wrong and conflicting information does not help parents make informed choices about whether or not to immunise their children, which is actually the topic of this thread

Oh yes, let's role back the clock b/c modern life is so awful. Bring back the Dickensian workhouses. Children were safe all shut up in those where they couldn't get out at all. Modern childhood is in danger of descending into madness? Puleeeez.

Yes, the perfect doesn't have to be the enemy of the good, does it? In a perfect world there would be plenty of safe space and time for children to run, play, and be themselves. We don't live in a perfect world, but there are still good options for children if we put our minds to finding solutions. The OP's link sounds like a pretty good solution to me.

womanofdulwich Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > surely you start on baby rice not purees? It doesn't matter, so long as the food is appropriate, ie not salty or excessively oily or spice. Really any unprocessed foods are fine. Processed foods like bread are fine too, just check the label for salt content. Of all the store-bought breads, I found that pita bread or crumpets had the least salt. They can be cut into strips for Baby to hold. Meat is also fine. Baby is not likely to be able to chew and swallow much meat, but just gumming and sucking on eg a strip of steak will mean that soluable proteins and essential amino acids are dissolved and swallowed in the saliva.

Also here: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/solid-foods-weaning.aspx#close

I'm also surprised by your HV's advice. NHS official guidelines are still from around 6 months, no? http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Babies-weaning/Pages/Introduction%20old.aspx