Gussy

several points: 1) Have you noticed Katy has had a make over recently? New haircut and eyeliner with wings no less. She keeps swishing her new hair. Still awful on the guitar. And no chance she is 23. 2) Jacob Scipio is just plain odd. I tell you what is worse, his new hair is even more unflattering than his old greasy pony tail number which was wrong wrong wrong. 3) I can't believe some of you didn't know Chris Jarvis bats for the other team! 4) Mickey John from Me Too is a strange stalker bloke who turns up at bus garages at 4am. 5) Agree Justin is nice, the sort of bloke you'd take to see your granny. ...I think Captain Mack (CITV, spit) is hot.

Hi all, I'm going through a bit of a mad phase making the kids loads of healthy ice lollies and was wondering if anyone knew if I can take the lollies out of the moulds once they are frozen and store them in the freezer in some way, to free up more space as the mould is quite large. I've thought about wrapping them in baking parchment, but not sure, I don't want them stuck to various bits of paper/wrapping. And I don't want to have to half defrost the darn thing to get it out of a bag/wrapper. Any ideas? Thanks!

There are no shops on Nigel road, only God Bless Hair salon! The shop I think you are talking about is next to the bus stop on rye lane (nigel road is more around the corner). Anyway, not to argue about location, but to say it sounds very violent, sorry to hear about it, hope the lady gets better soon.

Don't change a thing Ruth! You really don't need the stress with a new baby on the way, nor does little S. I read in lots of places not to make any changes 3 months before and at least 3 months after a new baby. Not sure how practical that always is but its to give enough time for the current bubba to not feel unsettled. Also, I've spoken to tons of people who have all regretted moving their toddlers into a bed too early and have had months and months of them being up and all over the place. Last thing you all need while everyone is adjusting to the new family dynamics. My little girl is 2.5 and she's staying put in her cotbed for as long as she a)fits and b) doesn't climb out of it. She's also still in a sleeping bag. If it ain't broke don't fix it! xx PS transition from cot to cotbed is not even noticeable and then baby can have the cot once out of moses, hammock, whatever.

I noticed it a lot since I moved here from N.London, but maybe that's because it's generally quieter on the roads/streets so I never noticed it before with all the other noise of buses/sirens etc where we were....I don't know but it does annoy me when it wakes the kids up which happens quite a bit. Some planes do seem like they are a few feet above the house!

SB I struggled with this for a long time too. I'm afraid I had to just go with baby and 'muddle through' but it was VERY HARD. Running between the 2 feeding, changing, sleeping.....they were on the same feeding times at one point so I was spoon feeding a toddler whilst breastfeeding baby with nipple shields and milk going all over the place - very stressful!!! All I can say is hang in there and let time go for a while, ie just muddle through until baby is a bit older I think. I know its not the answer but honestly by about 5/6 months I could push baby into the toddlers routine because we established much more set feeding/sleeping times. I found that by trying to push the baby to stay awake 'a bit longer' it would result in him being overtired and his naps went haywire. I'm with you on the routine thing, I think its vital when you have 2 little uns close together in age and especially when you are doing it alone with no outside help. But I really couldn't get one to work until he was older. It's a crazy frantic time with lots of crying, but I promise it will get better. For groups I would feed baby around 10am just before we left when he was really young as like you there was no way I could feed and not keep toddler contained (ie in the same room at home). Then we went out, baby slept in sling, race back home feed toddler lunch and baby at the same time so that he would sleep closer to toddlers time. As baby got older, toddler was a bit better behaved and I could bfeed while we were out which took the stress out of feeding before we left or immediately on return.... I also couldn't bath them both on my own for many months. I had to wait really until baby could sit up in the bath and he stopped cluster feeding so that hubby could help when he came back from work. What I'm saying is forget about all the things you are supposed to do - regular baths (I know but a good face and bum wash is just as good), I used a lot of TV and toys at feed times, all the no nos, but you have to get through it. It's a bit like a marathon, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Gradually as you get better at managing two, your toddler gets used to waiting a bit longer for mummy and so does baby, it will slot into place. Even with my youngest at 1 year now he still doesn't match my toddlers routine exactly, but its pretty close so that works for us for the moment. HTH x

Hi SG, I agree 5 months seems a bit early to be dropping the morning nap. My son always does a 30 min nap or takes ages to settle when he's overtired. Could you try putting him down a bit earlier for a few days, say 8.30am, just to try and claw back some extra sleep? It might take a good few days of doing this before he decides he might want to try it! I know by 8.30am my 1 year old is ready for a sleep, especially if his night is disturbed or he's had a few days of rubbish napping. Once he's back on track and caught up I can go back to putting him down nearer 9/9.30am. Maybe worth a try? Caveat - its only my experience, it might not work and many others may say drop the nap etc!! x

Hmm, they were back today on my road to 'finish off' the tree they seemed to miss yesterday.

Was going to do the same Molly. I watched from my window as 2 guys cut indiscriminately. No taking out ageing branches or thinning on the side near power lines or buildings, just the whole lot lopped off and fed into the machine below by 3 blokes. It looks like the trees have been in a fire. Wish I'd had the balls to go out and stop them.

They've just finished 'pruning' our road this morning. Awful, the poor old trees have been totally savaged. Just a few stumpy branches left. What a shame.

I can't wait for that day ???!

littleEDfamily for president! :))

Cuppa tea - my point was, I'm not convinced this is NORMAL. Yes of course kids hit, push, bash, nick toys and I fully accept that. I have 2 kids and they both 'scrap' A LOT. My annoyance is with the frequency that this is occurring. Three days in a row on top of most visits to the playground and I'd think anyone would have to ask the question, or at least thinks jeez this is a bit excess, no? Maybe we've just been unlucky recently, but the more it happens the less I think so. I appreciate it is difficult, and actually in all the incidents recently the parent of the other child came over and promptly told them off and removed them, so I don't have an issue there. It's just that this kind of fairly aggressive behaviour seems to be very common. Maybe those that think it's normal aren't helping the situation. With 2 kids, one running riot, the other cruising, I find it extremely difficult to keep an eye on them both, and yes you have to let go, but not just turn a blind eye or let them run off knowing that they sometimes smack other kids because that?s what kids do. I wonder if it was always like this or it?s on the increase? Are we too lenient these days? I know I've got a fairly high tolerance for toddler behaviour, but I really draw the line if she deliberately pushes another child after being told not to, then it?s home time.

Right I've had 3 days in a row where my little girl has had her face pinched or hit by other kids and I'm getting annoyed. What is it? I watch her very carefully and trail her about so I can see exactly what is happening at each 'incident'. Example, she was following around a 3.5 year old and they were playing nicely together on the slide etc and then she just turned around and grabbed her face really hard until my girl cried (she is only 2.5yrs and can't understand why its happening). It's upsetting for her and me! Yesterday she was grabbed in the face and it broke the skin and she was bleeding. She was only looking through the window in the wooden 'wendy house' thing. Yes all kids go through phases (mine included - had few months of pushing kids down slides etc). But I made it crystal clear it's a no go and she has stopped doing it now. I actually can't go to the playground and not be very worried/trailing her about when she comes into contact with other children. It's very very stressful. This makes me sad, especially as she is very sweet and kind and loves other kids. Has it always been like this? My mum doesn't think so and said she never had to worry about us when we were small around other kids, bar the odd one here and there. Yes she has to learn life lessons that other kids don't always want to be her friend, but hitting and pinching seems to be rife (and yes it's happened lots before these 3 incidents in a row), rather than one offs. Am I really supposed to just accept this is the way it is? Not sure I like it.

Think yourself lucky, mine went up a whole flippin size so now I'm a size 8. Big foot. It pee's me off as I can't get a lot of shoes I like in my size. Many places 'run out' at size 7.....nevermind, I can't really complain as I live in my Converse and love em.

They are putting down the new soft matting stuff underneath I think. Spoke the one of the builders, but he was only there to flatten and level the area. Another company are coming in after to lay the matting......hope they hurry up, we go most days and my little lass is missing the swings!

There's a doctor in the states called Dr Brian Palmer and he has extensive knowledge of all things frenulums! There's a very interesting (if slightly scary/not for the faint hearted) presentation on his website, which I found very informative. I haven't posted as like I say it's very sciency (lots of surgical pictures), so it may not be for everyone, but for those interested it's worth a read. Here's a snippet on breastfeeding: 88 - There are also consequences of labial (on the lip side) frenums. The consequences are usually more esthetic in nature but they can impact breastfeeding as well. They can also lead to orthodontic failures if not addressed before orthodontics. It is best to address them as soon as the oral surgeon and parent feel the patient would be able to tolerate the procedure. This procedure is not routinely done on a newborn because more muscle tissue is involved, but in rare cases, it might need to be addressed if it interferes with breastfeeding. The labial frenum can interfere with breastfeeding by being so tight that the upper lip cannot lift up or flange high enough to make a good seal around the breast while the infant is trying to breastfeed.

It sounds perfectly reasonable to me Ruth! Get everything ready, pump, creams, shields, just in case. Tongue tie def runs in the family (and one would assume upper lip tie does too - my grandfather had it). I know I expected the worst the second time around and I was glad I did in some ways. It meant I was straight on the phone to a lactation consultant and within 3 days of birth we had the tongue tie snipped.....(shame it didn't do anything, but that was probably the upper lip thing too causing problems, which I didn't know at the time). PS second Peckham Library drop in. Very friendly, lovely ladies, and they see a lot of tongue tie babies, so nothing will be 'overlooked' there x

Knomester I was told to do the same thing but found it an impossible task. I had to use all my energy, arms, pillows just to get him into a position where he could latch without taking my nipple off! I was also told by a speech therapist to try holding his cheeks squashed together whilst feeding (to aid his seal around boob) but it was impossible. Talk about making a task already harder than it is. One other note, many people (including a paediatrician) told me to give up breast feeding and bottle feed. I tried a few bottles, but I actually found his seal around the teat was even worse, and he gulped so much air I had to stop. So, it's not always the answer... Good luck Jess, be interested to hear what they say.

I think its great to get more nurseries, but isn't there already one on Amott Road? In the baptist church? Seems odd to have 2 so close together no?

Hi Jess my little boy also had a big sucking blister on his top lip, although it went around 3 months I think? The guy in Southampton is a consultant paediatric surgeon called Dr Mervyn Griffiths. He does private work, not sure how you would get referred otherwise? I spoke to his secretary (when I was desperate) but at the time he was away on a sabbatical for 6 weeks, so I didn't want to wait that long and took him to Kings. Anyway, Mr Griffiths (from my research) is the trailblazer of tongue tie so I hear and may well have lots of experience with upper lip tie as well? Could be worth a call for those who can afford it/willing or that worried to travel to Southampton.

Hi Anna, I did a lot of reading and it did say that posterior tongue tie and uppler lip tie often go hand in hand. Very interesting isn't it? Lots of HV's GP's have no idea of this either.

Hi Jills my son has this and also has tongue tie. We struggled to breastfeed and went through a year of trauma. I've literally just stopped bfeeding (he's 1 year next week) as after my 5th round of mastitis and cracked bleeding nipples I just couldn't go on any more. Anyway, I self diagnosed his upper lip tie around 4 months as I noticed when he latched his top lip would curl under instead of outwards, and his frenulum was really tight and attached right to the tip of his gum. He had a poor seal around the breast, swallowed air and it caused colic (and lots of frustration and upset for our family). I mentioned this to lactation consultant No.4 who wasn't too sure, but after getting out her book with photo's in it, she agreed with me. As with what to do, she had no idea and just said to ask the surgeon at Kings to snip it at the same time as snipping the tongue tie! (I didn't get around to it in the end.....long story). Anyway, at 7 months my little boy got his front 2 teeth and like you, he has a big old gap between them. I've done a lot of Googling and it seems the dentists in the US and Canada are much more clued up on this and treat it quite commonly. Everyone here (including a speech therapist) didn't really have any advice. I'm going to take him to the dentist soon just to see his opinion. But I'm not planning on doing anything until he starts talking and then re-evaluate. It's a difficult one, I'd like to find a specialist dentist or experienced dentist in this area but haven't come up with anyone yet. On a side note, does/did it affect his swallowing? Or does he dribble a lot? My little man has a few difficulties with swallowing lumps, so we are a bit behind everyone else with weaning....not concerned though, but wondered if you found the same? It's not often I've heard of anyone else with upper lip tie, I thought I was battling on alone!

I looked into this for my homebirth as I wasn't happy with my midwife and I was advised to contact the Supervisor of Midwives - should be able to find this on hosp website or get no. from switchboard. You have a right to ask for someone else and they should treat your enquiry in confidence. If you get no joy there or another good place for support is an organisation called AIMS - some useful info on this website: birthchoice uk website

Sunbob that was going to be my next stop if the baker's didn't have any!