Knomester

I came across this petition today which seeks the correction of tongue tie in newborn babies within three days from birth. I know I'm not alone in the Family Room in having struggled with feeding a tongue tied baby, so thought there may be a few of you who might like to sign... http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36614

Hello Belinda The Dulwich Natural Childhood Group website might be useful to you: http://www.naturalchildhood.co.uk/

Baby Knomester loved his 1st birthday party too! It was a family party for about 20 people, including his 2 great grandmas. Food, cake, unwrapping presents and lots of laughs. He wasn't at all phased by the number of people and dmolished more than his fair share of his chocolate monkey birthday cake!

Like Pickle's daughter, Baby Knomester has been exposed to the pox twice (that I know of) now but he's not had them yet.

Like hellosailor we use metanium and Weleda calendula nappy change cream. We used to use the Weleda one every night as a barrier cream and now just use it if he's looking a bit pink but nothing needing metanium (he's 23 months now). To be honest, he hasn't suffered much with nappy rash and I do think that the Weleda cream has worked well in that way as a barrier, epecially overnight when he has a wet nappy on for 12 hours.

I'm guessing it's the same house on Dunstans sharing their music with us again this evening...?

Tanzania and Zanzibar. A few days on the coast south of Dar where there was nothing to do except do nothing, then the most amazing 4 days on safari in the Selous National Park and finally a few days in Zanzibar with the last night in Stone Town. I wouldn't bother with Zanzibar again, but I'd love to go back to Tanzania. Adored it.

Me too Molly... Wellies and raincoats may be on the cards again instead then! At least Baby Knomester and his Daddy have had lovely weather for their trip to Crystal Palace to see the torch today.

That's great news buggie!

There were lots of children playing in the water play at Brockwell Park yesterday Fuschia. We're planning a trip over there on Friday if the weather is still like this. The water tap wasn't on in PR Park over the weekend - I think it has been turned off permanently?

The House of Fairy Tales sounds amazing Pickle! Having been, do you think it would be suitable for an inquisitive (almost) 2 year old?

Ruth, we have a Beco Gemini for Baby Knomester. I've no idea how much he weighs now but I would guess at around the same as Lex or a few pounds more. At 23 months, I still carry him on my front in the Beco, but I find it hard work (party because I don't do it very often now, so out of practice, but also because of my by rubbish back). It's fine for up to an hour or so, but after that it gets too much. You can back carry with the Beco too, but I'm not coordinated enought to get him in it on my own! I like the look of bluesuperted's Manduka which E always looks very comfortable in. They're all pretty pricey though and probably not THAT different to your Ergo?

Thanks Fuschia. We've booked at place for one of the sessions at The Dish & The Spoon (which also serves fab coffee and cake..!) which coincide with my week's holiday with Baby Knomester! Also thinking about the Hilly Fields activity too Saffron.

We love mackerel in this house too! Our current favourites using smoked mackerel are: smoked mackerel with a warm salad of new potatoes, beetroot, capers, gerkins and parsley or smoked mackerel with beetroot and celeriac remoulade (http://www.thegingergourmand.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/smoked-mackerel-with-celeriac-beetroot.html). Like david_carnell says, mackerel can stand big robust flavours and there's a lovely Rick Stein recipe for Mackerel Recheado which we eat with pilau rice and katchumber salad (http://cornwall-living.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mackerel-recheado-recipe.pdf). Baby Knomester doesn't always like very spicy food though so if we're eating with him, we tend to choose simpler dishes, e.g. fry fillets and serve with tabbouleh style salad made with bulgar wheat and puy lentils or with quinoa. It also makes good fish fingers coated in egg and panko! There's a recipe in a Waitrose Magazine which my Mum gave me last week that we're going to try soon which is for mackerel with soya beans and sushi rice, but I can't seem to find the recipe online anywhere.

We travelled up on that line on Saturday (mid-morning). We only had the one toddler and no pushchair, but lots of luggage. The wheelchair spaces are huge, so if there is no disabled passenger using the space you will have no problem with your pram. There is also generally more space around those sections of the train (and large disabled toilets with baby change facilities). As ncj97 says, there is space to park your pram in the doorways too. Having used that line for many years, I would say that it depends on when you'll be travelling as to how tricky it will be to find space for all of your luggage and pram. Our Saturday morning train was nowhere near full, we hadn't been able to book seats, but got a table together, and there was plenty of room for luggage. It was the same when we travelled down from Manchester on a Monday lunchtime. Virgin Customer Services aren't always the most helpful bunch, but when you get to the station and onto the train, I have always found them really helpful and some station staff have bent over backwards to help us out in the past. I'm sure you'll be fine!

Brilliant Ruth :-)

I'd agree with the Science or Transport Museum - both perfect for that age and on a rainy day!

We don't have room for a dryer, so we bought one of these last year which dries a large load of washing overnight and doesn't cost much to run: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/21736/Dry-Soon-3-Tier-Heated-Tower-Airer (We're not particularly enjoying the lack of sunshine this summer either, but I have to say it hasn't kept us indoors - impossible with a 22 month old toddler with seemingly endless energy! Wellies and raincoats and lots of dry clothes have been our saviour...)

I don't yet have a child of that age, but I was raised in a home where everything was always open and questions answered frankly. I knew all about how babies were made before I started at primary school (with a little help from this, rather explicit (!), book - http://jezebel.com/5300095/70s-european-childrens-book-depicts-penetration-crowning/gallery/1 ). I don't know any different, so I can't say whether it was the best way for my parents to approach things, but I certainly wasn't scarred by any of what I was told and for me it was no 'big deal' because I'd learned about it all in a natural way. I was a child of the 70s so I doubt my Mum was into shaving her legs etc at the time! My 22 month old already knows what tampons and panty liners are (they live in the bathroom and he has asked). Trying to convince him that he doesn't need to use them is another matter entirely...

Thanks theratprincess. I also PM'd Jurand but haven't heard back yet. Would be great to get a class organised!

Thanks. I think my toddler may be a touch too young at 22 months. But then we're in the park every day that I'm not at work anyway!

Thanks for this Fuschia. Do you happen to know what age range the sessions are aimed at? I can't seem to get onto the wensite... Thank you.

Sounds very familiar... We have been going through something similar with our now 22 month old toddler on and off about 3 months now. It started with him happily lying in his cot and then shouting to get up after shorter and shorter periods of time or napping 1 lunchtime out of 3. We moved his nap times around, tried later and earlier, organised very active mornings to tired him out, etc but nothing seemd to make any difference. Now we don't even bother trying. He will have a nap on the days he is with his childminder, but not at home, no matter how tired he is! The advice we were given by friends and family was to keep trying and stick with it, which may well work for some children, but in reality it was too stressful for us all. For whatever reason, he doesn't want a nap when he's with us at home. He has never slept in his buggy (even as a small baby...) and rarely falls asleep in the car, so we don't have the nodding off at 5pm issue, just the overtired toddler one! I hope your toddler takes to her nap again soon...

OK, so this isn't strictly family related...but I thought it might be of interest to some of you who like baking. The details of the events are usually hidden somewhere in the depths of the What's On section and get lost very quickly. The gatherings are local, friendly and free to attend. There are even already a few family roomers who come along! http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?6,914503

jollybaby - I am in awe of your solo travelling! We have just been on holiday and a friend recommended the Itsy Bitsy Spider app (which our 22 month old toddler calls 'jump hat'). We kept it as the last resort in our armoury of things to amuse him whilst travelling and he really enjoyed playing it.