Knomester

Cazbee - I agree with Monkey that Christmas in Exeter Street is a lovely story about giving and sharing.

Does anyone have a recommendation for someone to dry clean a sofa? Thank you.

So many wonderful recommendations to choose from! I've bought the Michael Morpurgo one for eldest son's stocking and also picked up a second hand copy of the Story of the Snow Children. Definitely on the look out for Alfie's Christmas too now alice32! Redmonkey - my mum is a bit obsessed with Harvey Slumphemburger's Christmas Present so we heard a lot of that last Christmas.

LVWT - I'm the same with The Night Before Christmas!!

Lucy & Tom's Christmas sounds great bluesuperted! We'll have to read it at your house... Is this the 1001 things to spot book you have bluesuperted - http://www.amazon.co.uk/1001-Things-Spot-at-Christmas/dp/074609793X/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416837394&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=1000+things+to+spot+Christmas We're looking forward to the Jolly Christmas Postman which is coming as a Christmas present from Nana K. I've ordered the Michael Morpurgo one now hazelnunhead! I love his books which I've read as an adult and have bought our nephews all Morpurgo books as part of their Christmas presents this year too. I'll take a look at the others thanks Fmm, bst, hazelnunhead.

Still a touch early I fear, but in anticipation of 1st December (when Christmas festivities are officially allowed to begin in our house) I just wondered if you and your children have any favourite Christmas or winter themed books that you like to read at this time of year? I have a 4 year old (and a 7 month old who might just about be ready for That's Not My Reindeer!) and am on the look out for some new Christmassy books for him, particularly longer stories which he is really getting into now. From previous years we have: The Night Before Christmas (2 versions) Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jane Ray Babar & Father Christmas Christmas in Exeter Street by Diana Hendry & John Lawrence The Gruffalo's Child Stick Man I've a feeling there may be a couple more packed away with the Christmas boxes too... What do you enjoy reading around Christmas time? Does anyone have this by Michael Morpurgo - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Morpurgo-Christmas-Stories/dp/1405268956 Thanks

Bishberro - We love the Orchard games. Lots to choose from and so far our eldest has Goldilocks, Rocket and Crazy Chefs. He also likes the Going on a Bear Hunt board game and playing snap. We're thinking of the Bus Stop counting game for Christmas.

At 4y 3m we've been asked for a bike and a marble run. Not any old marble run though...he has spent hours pouring over the modular wooden marble run in the Myriad catalogue. I'm currently scurrying round family to ask for contributions to work out if it is at all feasible... Like you, bluesuperted, we've managed to avoid most things so far (although lots of new ideas coming home from the playground since starting in Reception). Poor second born (7 months) probably won't get much as we seem to have everything already! Is that the lot of the second born...?

Thanks so much for these tips - really helpful.

Thank you all. Back to the GP I think to ask for them to change the request from normal to urgent as under 14s have to go to paeds. King's said they have a backlog, but we can't wait that long.

Hello My 4 year old needs blood tests. The earliest appointment I can get in paeds at King's is in 2 and 1/2 weeks time, which is too long a wait. The only alternative seems to be that I take him to the adult blood clinic at King's or Dulwich Hospital (if they allow children - I'll check today). Has anyone done this? Thanks.

Just wondering if anyone has experience of the woombie convertible or swaddling past 20 weeks... Baby 2 is nearly 20 weeks and still swaddled at night in a woombie original. He is quite long and almost filling his BabyBay, so in preparation for moving him into a big cot I dug out Baby 1's old grobags and we attempted a cold turkey switch to a sleeping bag last night. He went down to bed after his evening feed as usual but then didn't really settle well and seemed to think it was party time (unheard of for him as he's usually dead to the world during the first few hours of night time sleep). I switched him into the Woombie and resettled him when we went to bed and he slept from then on as normal. Like his brother, he is a little Houdini which is why we opted for the Woombie - no means of escape! I think he needs to be swaddled for longer but I'm keen to start transitioning him to having his arms out in as case he starts to roll. I also have to pin his legs down with a light sheet otherwise he wakes himself up by constantly lifting them up and banging them back down onto the mattress. In the day he naps in the BabyBay with no swaddle and just a sheet & blanket tucked over his legs (or in the sling / pram if we're out and about). I've found the Woombie Convertible which allows you to leave one or both arms out and just wondered if anyone had had success with one of these? Or should I just stop worrying and carry on swaddling him and try again at 6 months?

Another recommendation for Pippa here! I've bought quite a few gifts for friends and she knitted me the most gorgeous peacock blue cardigan for my second baby.

Similar to Gubodge - tin of chickpeas (the ones with no salt added), 1/2 to 1 clove garlic (crushed), juice of half a lemon, desert spoon of light tahini, generous glug of olive oil and a drop of water to thin if it needs it. It's also a good vehicle for introducing new flavours, for example by adding herbs or spices or roasted peppers. If you can be bothered, skinning the chickpeas makes for a lovely smooth houmous without the hassle of cooking your own chickpeas.

What Belle says makes sense to me. You can function at a high level even with severe anxiety as you develop coping mechanisms (which may or may not be helpful in the long run). In my experience, when my mind can't cope or there's something big going on, my body starts to fail me. As an example, recently during an incredibly stressful hospital stay with my then 5 week old baby my mind shut down (just to 'get through' I imagine) but my body reacted violently with nasty mouth ulcers and hives all over my body within hours of my son being admitted. Tellingly, they calmed down within about 48 hours of being discharged. Your jaw pain and teeth grinding sounds very much like this to me (as a fellow teeth grinder...!). Depending on what the problem is with your jaw you may find an operation may not be necessary to alleviate pain. Have you managed to get on top of the grinding with a mouth guard? I've had operations but I wouldn't say they necessarily helped with the pain in the long run. At times of stress the pain is there regardless. It may be that an operation may add to your stress, not help alleviate it?

Thanks LauraC I'll add that to the list to download for our next road trip! I'm not sure my almost 4yo could manage chapters yet either, but he happily enjoyed the first story in his new Mrs Pepperpot collection of stories last night.

The first week for Reception this year starts on Monday 8th September, but not all children will start that day. There is a staggered start with a few children starting each day over the course if that week. The children will also only be going in for half days for the first week (mornings), starting full time on Monday 15th September. The class teachers are doing home visits the previous week (w/c 1st September). Information about the uniform, etc is on the website I think, but if not please let me know and I'll dig out the letter we were given at the class visit in July for you.

Bubster I wouldn't say I'm feeding pain free, but It's worlds apart from the the days of the screaming through feeds! I have almost healed but it took giving up completely on the right for that to start healing and even then it has taken a few weeks to heal. I jus do 3 feeds a day on the left and I'm really happy that I managed to persevere with that. I fed my first son exclusively to 18 months so it is different this time around, but we're all happier now there is no longer the same stress and pain associated with breastfeeding.

Resurrection of this thread is perfectly timed as we have been looking at longer books / stories for our almost 4 year old this week! Bluesuperted we have only got as far as ordering a collection of Mrs Pepperpot stories (which I remember loving as a child) and will let you know how we get on with those. In a similar vein, does anyone have any recommendations for collections of audio books / stories for this age group?

We couldn't use nipple shields because strangely they made my wounds worse (same for expressing with a pump, had to do it by hand). I completely agree with what Tara says about the time needed, perhaps just by some babies. With my fidget baby it took a couple of weeks to notice much difference (I'd expected an instant change) and then a further 5 weeks (ie 7 in total) until I was feeding relatively pain free. This time round it took much longer - I'm feeding from one side only (plus formula) after 15 weeks and it's only been in the past week that I've been able to stop the painkillers and stop using the novogel pads. Are you using novogel pads? If you've seen Katie Fisher I'm sure you are. They were my life savers! Good luck with the cranial osteopath - it was really helpful for us first time round.

Bubster I'm so sorry to here you've been having similar problems to me. The pain is dreadful, but it will get better and you will heal in time. Keep that in mind as you go through this process. I was completely baffled by bottles and formula too but have now got my head around it (although I must admit to predominantly using ready made formula). I have the MAM anti colic bottles which can be sterilise in the microwave individually. I also have a MAM microwave steriliser which fits around 4 or 5 bottles at a time and keeps them sterilised for 24 hours. It is easier than I first thought and there's lots of good advice on here, but you're right that there isn't great independent advice available. There is some info on the NHS website but it's the practical information I struggled to find (other than on formula websites). Good luck. You're doing an amazing job.

We have the BabyBay like bluesuperted. Loving it so far (baby 2 up is now 3 months old). Very sturdy and looks like it will last us quite a while.

Having just carried my 11 week old baby in bluesuperted's spare Manduca for an hour and a half walk I have to say that I am (as she knew I would be!) already a convert. I already have a Hana Baby wrap (used since Baby 2 was born - I love it, but not one to put on in a rush when I am in a hurry), a Beco Gemini (which I bought to carry my first son from 8 months until he was around 2), a Babybjorn Active (which I haven't used at all with Baby 2 and don't intend to) and a Connecta UV (yet to come into its own as Baby 2 still a touch small for it). But I think once we've road tested bluesuperted's Manduca, if Mr Knomester likes it too, we'll be getting one of those too... (Must start selling the ones I don't use!). I'd say that any soft structured carrier like the Ergo, Manduca or Beco would be better for your and your baby's postures than a babybjorn. I suffer with back and hip problems and find the soft structured slings far less stressful on my spine. The sling library is great, but personally I couldn't have managed to get there or road test any slings in the first few weeks so I found it useful to already have a sling I knew I'd be happy with.

Here are he links to other threads with general info on tongue tie and Katie Fisher as promised: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1307062,1307062#msg-1307062 http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,570543

Having been through the same (for the second time) recently, I would highly recommend Katherine (Katie) Fisher. She was a godsend for us over the Easter bank holiday weekend, seeing us at shirt notice on Good Friday and performing the procedure on Easter Monday. We then had 2 follow up appointments and numerous telephone consultations (all included in her price of ?120). I also agree with the other poster about cranial osteopathy. Your friend may also wish to seek advice about other infections she may have which sadly often go hand in hand with tongue tie and nipple trauma (thrush, staph, etc). I'll dig out the other threads I started and post them here for you once my boys are in bed.