mima08

HI - I don't have a toddler yet, but think martial arts are great for children of all ages - provided they are taught in a school that has the right approach - emphasising courtesy,integrity, perseverance, self-Control and fun! I have some experience as a martial arts teacher (black belt in chinese kung fu) and strongly you look closely at any prospective school: if there is too much emphasis on competitions and too much swagger among the older students, it is probably not that great. My teenage step son goes to a taek won do school in Beckenham and I am very impressed by his attitude to his training and how this spills into other areas of his life, i.e. hard working and helpul (yes, he is checky sometimes too - great fun kid). I don't know the name, but is run by a female instructor and all I hear about her impresses me too. Hope you find something you like - if you do, please let us know, in a few years I'll be looking too!

Hi Sally - I am currently working my way through the BLW book by Gill Rapley (my LO is the same age) and it is hugely inspiring (ok, a little preachy sometimes). By the sounds of it, your LO seems to be textbook potential - and I have to say, one aspect that makes me so interested in BLW (other than the potential health aspects) is that it sounds so much fun! I, too, feel sometimes it sounds scary - but then, not more scary than going down the puree route (I don't think I would be able to remember the stages, timings etc). I will need my copy of the book in general (need something to hold on to ;-)), but am happy to lend it for a read, if you are interested - pm me!

Oh, I didn't know about Charlotte Peacock - will definitely check them out in September! In the meantime, I might try something at the cafe - will report back (all childcare dependent ;-)

My LO has been like this for a fair few weeks now and what i found helped was a) giving infacol again (I think with all the fussing he gets more windy) and b) moving to variflow teats - that way I can change how fast he takes his food in mid-feed: sometimes he guzzles at size 3, sometimes back to size 1. Although he is eyeing up food and grabbing for it, I don't think he is ready for weaning yet (22 weeks), but I am very keen on BWL, so will wait till 6months anyway. Regarding babies "needing" more than they can get from milk, the BWL book says that milk feeds are much more densely packed with nutrients than solids, hence babies are getting the nutrients they need at this stage (and for some months to come) from that. I am no nutritionist, it just sounds good to me - maybe someone else on here knows more on that subject.

hiya, I am by no means an expert but I found the cheap sewing machines I have owned very annoying and difficult to use. Bizarrely, I find sewing easier now that I have bough a mid-range machine (John Lewis, ?180) although I am not very experienced and have not much time since LO arrived. I think it is easier due to more robust way the foot holds the fabric, the way the fabric is moved and other "control" features which means my seams are a lot more straight :). The sales staff in John Lewis are really helpful and they hold advisory sessions sometimes - I recommend speak to them. Also, there is a sewing cafe in Clapham "sew it over" which has just opened and runs lots of classes, they might be good to advise (though I have not tried it myself yet). As for a book - sorry no suggestion, I was given some basic learn to sew books from the 50s!

ohhhhhh - these are good! funny enough, we were taught the Cameron's leg ones at powerpramming a few weeks ago too! If I now grow 7 inches.....

2LouLou, I am with you, not looking forward to going back in Autumn at all. But that has definitely do to with the fact that I did not like my job and would have been looking for something else if I hadn't been pregnant (or trying) for most of last year. I think I would feel similar to uptime if I enjoyed my job... Have you done any research of doing part time work? Even starting to plan may make you feel better about the idea and let you work out if it is your job / company / the hours / etc. that you are dreading.(Personally, I am still hoping for the divine intervention of a great idea for self-employment - or a lottery win).

thank you, have pm'd you,mx

sainsbury tower fan @ ?24 but only owned it now for 15hrs, so not much to go by - was desperate yesterday ...

thanks all - fan bought, bowl of water placed - unfortunately my freezer is too rubbish to freeze a tub this quickly, will be ready for next heat wave (probably arrives when he turns 18 ;-))

I've tried it first time last week - after "conditioning" like Fuschia describes. He came up a little unsure, looking to me for cues, so I laughed and cuddled a lot, then he was happy enough. I came across this website which looks pretty cool http://www.babyswim.info/swim-blog.html

Probably really stupid question, given that large proportions of the world's population manage in much greater heat, but I was getting worried as I saw the thermometer in LO's room climb higher & higher... The growegg is flashing red at me & we are well outside of the recommended 18degree zone. I've got all the windows open to get some draft going while the blinds on his room are down to keep sun out. Room isn't ver big but high ceilings, which is why I didn't think a small fan would do much. How is everyone else coping and keeping their LO safe?

Thank you all for your comments and particularly the reassurance that this will pass .... (the link is great, thanks!) If any of you currently going through it want to start a "screaming 4 months club", i'll be up for that (thinking strength in numbers ;-) HH - you post made me laugh, and yes, although there are many, many, many wonderful moments, it is HARD work, too! Re vaccinations, interesting: I had wondered but the last jab was 3 weeks ago and he is still behaving funny, if it was jab related, I'd think it should stop at some point? It definitely helps to think maybe I am not doing anything (ok, everything) wrong...Belle - thanks for the link, off to do the quizz again now.... uuupppps- no, dealing with screaming first!

Just to echo mrs f: there is a lady who regularly brings her toddler to powerpramming and he runs around and has a whale of a time joining in (and the rest of us are only slightly put out by being vastly outdone by toddler in the sprinting ;-). So if you came, there might be two toddlers, they could even keep each other company. My LO never manages a full hr in the pram either, but it's possible to work around & still have a good workout. Molly: have tried the wii fit, it is ok,but not a lot of cardio work (unless the wii fit plus has more)- resistance training is not bad, but like all of these, you have to actually do it (cue me finding excuses like: I have no batteries for the balance board....) Claire - serious hat-off to you, wow! I have posted a similar thread after just 1 baby - will look for an event now!

definitely not just you: I sometimes wake up looking forward to my evenings.... It's ok when LO has a good day, but on some of the days recently mean I cannot wait...re the better halfs: my theory is, if he stays up for fun, then no sympathy is required: don't make breakfast ;-)

Hiya - I'd love to do the personal trainer, but financially and time-wise it's a no-no....:( Have managed to step up exercising though, every other day, which will help (I keep telling me). Might try the library whether they have the Davina Dvd's in addition to the great pilates/yoga mp4s SG88 provided.... Sol - it is interesting what you say about blood tests: over the years I have had loads for thyroid issues as I keep having various symptoms which Drs think may indicate thyroid problems but they never come up in the tests - but I am talking lots of drs over many years...hmmmm, might try again!

Hiya, wow, you seem pretty determined, thinking about exercise with two after just 7 weeks after no. 2! I cannot help with exercise for two (other than the stuff you have probably thought about, like dvds etc IF you get time) but re C-section: I was told if I felt like running after my 6 week check up to go for it... am only just getting around to it, but probably not as fit as you in the first place. Have you got a double buggy to come to the likes of powerpramming?

Hiya, just to put my two pennies worth in: I have no experience with thumbguard, but I did suck my thumb till I was 7 and ended up with top teeth pushed out & bottom teeth pushed in, always wished my parents had somehow stopped me....

thank you for your comments, and your empathy, it is really appreciated. And although I don't wish this to other people, it does help to know others have gone through similar experiences....I really start feeling like a bad mum that I cannot soothe my baby.... I do think there is some frustration in there (I try extra feeding, but no, that is not the issue 99% of the time). It just seems to switch so quickly from very good natured to this screaming. I do try acceptance, just in the sleep deprived, slightly mad brain I start to think maybe my baby doesn't like me... :(

I can feel a ranty post coming on but am at my wits end.... My 4.5month old has recently (ie over the last 2 weeks or so) taken to have regular hysterics - several times a day. He screams and screams, bright red with tears streaming down his face and he is obviously very upset. Absolutely nothing I do seems to help. He does not appear ill in any way - he eats like a horse, and has no temperature. It also seems to be independent of the teething (another issue altogether) and is not really reminiscent of his colic days (different type of crying) It is not at the same time every day, more like after he has been awake for about 1hr. However, he also regularly wakes up from naps screaming, sometimes after just 30min, other times after 2hrs. I have tried: - putting him to bed at first time of fussiness (usually results in waking screaming 30min later) - lots of winding (burping does not stop it) - tons of cuddling (nope) - distracting with toys/books/games (nope) - being very calm or high energy & happy ( neither seems to make a difference) - singing lullabies (nope) - feeding (nope) - dummy (I feel a bit I am constantly "plugging", which is awful) I never leave him when he is crying, but it is very hard to take, particularly because the minute someone else, like DH comes home, he turns all smiles.... Any suggestions - please?

I had SPD in the last few weeks of my pregnancy and saw the Chiropractor on Crystal Palace Road - 3 sessions and I was sorted. Can hugely recommend. Hope it gets better soon! mx

hope the link works? https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FDCuOChOCj_EbeeoLKXC8pT6VdJ8tk8Qg4KPJMRo1II/mobilebasic? various ways to try & help

Fuschia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Google dysmorphic ejection reflex ... When you get > a rush of bad feelings when the baby latches on > I get it sometimes ESP if hot and bothered > OMG, that described me to a tee! Cue endless tears and feeling dreadful for being such a bad mother! I ended up suffering from Raynauds - which apparently may be brought on by strong emotional distress....

Hi - if it now is the cold and stuffy nose that are bothering him, you could try putting some olbas oil on a tissue out of reach in the room: helps clear the nose. There is a children's version too, but on research 1 - 2 drops of normal olbas oil are fine

not sure if bumping is allowed, but the story made me cry...