Jo'sEnglish

I prefer wooden toys because they are more sustainable and seem to last better. But my son is not yet one so I'm sure when he can start asking for toys things might change! I try and only get wooden toys for him if I buy them as I know we will get plastic ones as gifts. Luckliy we both have parents that think similarly to us and most of our friends are the same so we don't end up with too many plastic ones. You would think if people saw you mostly had traditional toys they would reaslise that is what you prefer but I don't think you can ever completely stop people buying rubbish! Overall, I don't think kids need that many toys and a few nice ones are better than a whole heap of cheap ones that break after 5 minutes. And we will definitely be getting lego when he is older (mostly so his Dad can play with it I suspect!) I feel like electronic toys should be covered under the WEEE directive?

I used to live in Nunhead and really liked it. It is quiet and peaceful and if you want the shops/restaurants you are close enough to ED that you can walk. I liked Evelina road because it has that real local shop thing going on, you have a bakers, greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers (which is excellent) and even a lovely deli now all close together. There is also the new Dish and the Spoon cafe on Cheltenham Road which I haven't visited yet but is pitched at being very family friendly and sounds great. It does have the feeling that it is on the up I think.

I noticed this place when driving past the other day: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/lewisham/9505410.All_night_nursery_launches_for_busy_parents/ Can't seem to find a website for them. Might be a bit out of the way but proof they exist!

When you say projectile vomiting, is it actually shooting out across the room vomit? As I understand it, that you would need to worry about as it might mean more of a problem. If it is just bringing up milk I wouldn't worry at all, especially if it is just milk and she's not bothered at all. Once in 36 hours sounds great (my son used to bring up milk after every feed just about!). As long as she is growing well, wet nappies, etc it is not a problem and she will grow out of it (although it is horrid at the time!) Good luck!

Thanks for all the advice and sympathy! The annoying thing is that he was quite happy in his playpen for short times, it was about the only time he actually sat still and played with things or looked at books as opposed to always having to go somewhere! But I think maybe I wouldn't be able to use it for much longer so maybe no point getting another one? What age did other people stop using them? I might try taking him in the bathroom while I have a shower tommorrow, I fear he might be like your baby though Convex! Put him in the high chair while I made dinner tonight and he seemed quite happy. How do you stop them unplugging things, turning the TV on and off, crawling under the table and getting stuck and heading for the cooker? I normally just say no and take him away but he either just giggles, heads straight back or has a tantrum, and it doesn't seem to deter him? Belle - I'm also jealous of people with babies that just sit and play nicely, or ones that don't crawl at all!

I got a basic, wooden playpen from the forum when my baby started crawling a few months ago (the week we were moving house!). I try not to use it too much, just in the morning while I jump in the shower and in the evening when I'm making dinner (and sometimes when I need to put washing out).He's now almost 11 months old and in the last week has managed to: 1. Dismantle it by pulling the bars out and then waving them round his head. 2. Work out how to open the door. 3. This morning (after we thought we had fixed the first two problems) he managed to push the whole thing over while he was in it. Clearly I can't use it anymore as it's just too dangerous. So I have two questions. Firstly, for those who had playpens, can anyone recommend one that he won't be able to destroy/push over/get out of but also folds up easily for when we aren't using it as we don't have the space to leave it out all the time. Secondly, if you didn't use a playpen, what did you do with your very active babies when showering, cooking, etc? I'm trying to work out if we can manage without one but I'm not sure how I'd get by as he is in to everything (pulling plugs out, getting stuck under the table, etc, etc!)

I've never actually worked in a school in London so can't advise about specific schools but as general advice when looking for a school I would recommend going for one that is accredited by English UK or the British Council and make sure the teachers have a minimum of a CELTA or Trinity Certificate (ie they haven't just taken a TEFL teaching weekend course...) and also it is probably useful to ask about teacher turnover. A lot of London schools pay badly and have a very high turnover of staff and this is unsettling to students (and staff!). There has been a crackdown on dodgy schools but it is one of those markets where people can see an opporunity to take advantage of vulnerable foreign students. International House or Kaplan are big and well respected chains but don't have schools locally (just central London). There are lots of great smaller schools, but also some not so good. If it seems too cheap there is probably a reason... Hope that is helpful. And if you need a private tutor then get in touch!

And I don't think you can beat plenty of nappy off time. Especcially when it is warm and they can go out in the garden and get some fresh air round their bits!

Metanium definitely the best when they have nappy rash. I use paw paw cream as an everyday cream because it is natural and not full of nasties. It's a bit tricky to get hold of though (I have to order online of get the Australian in-laws/friends to bring when they come over.) I love it though and it smells gorgeous!

In answer to the question about books, as an EFL teacher the standard text we use for Grammar is Swan's Practical English Usage. It's a bit dry though. Most EFL teachers starting out use Raymond Murphy's English Grammar In Use. This is a book with exercises for students but it is really clear and easy to understand. I know when I first started teaching I didn't really have a clue about grammar (being of the generation when they decided it wasn't necessary to teach any at school I had never studied it) and I used this a lot (and still do occasionally!). Not so much grammar but an interesting read about language is Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue. The grammar girl webiste Saffron mentions is American English, there are some differences in usage so please be aware of this. Speaking as someone who teachs non-native speakers (my baby is too young to speak as a parent!) you need to be careful what you correct and what you let go. Children work out grammar quite organically and sometimes if you think about the mistakes they are making they are quite intelligent. For example, you often hear children saying things like "I goed there yesterday", which actually shows that they understand that a past tense is normally formed with "ed" (although there are of course many irregular ones!). As long as you speak correctly they will correct these things naturally themselves. Accents are more tricky, peer influence is a lot stronger here! Even if you and your partner had very strong Liverpudlian accents (for example) if they grow up in South London they will have a south London accent. You can correct odd words and that but probably they will just learn to speak how you like with you and still speak like their friends with them! But then we all speak in different ways depending on the situation, don't we? And it is important for kids to recognise this. In reference to using the -ing (not technically a gerund but I won't get into that!), as in the McDonald's 'I'm lovin' it', it isn't really American English (it is considered incorrect there I believe?) but more just wrong! State and emotion verbs aren't generally used in the -ing form. However, it may well be that it is an example of language evolving (although personally one I don't like!) 'Would of' is just plain wrong and something that really annoys me, I would also have taken my child out of a school that corrected that!!! Shocking. (disclaimer to say please excuse any grammar, etc mistakes here, I'm trying to wrangle the baby at the same time as typing! Oh, and I love Rastamouse ;) So nice to hear differnent accents!)

Just wanted to echo what everyone else has said. I remember sitting rocking my newborn son and wondering why no one had told me it was going to be so hard! They had of course, you just don't know what it means at that stage. I just think you need to do whatever it takes to get through. Take whatever help you can get, listen to all the advice and ignore what you don't like, don't worry about what other babies are doing (don't compare!), don't worry about creating bad habits (you can worry about that later), trust your instincts and do what you think is right. I think you sound like you are really doing your best, hiring a night nanny is in no way a failure, if you think it will help than go for it. If you don't have heaps of experienced relatives and friends around to help then it sounds sensible, and it is a good thing that you are exploring help rather than trying to struggle on and getting more and more run down. ETA - Oh, and I meant to say, remember to look after yourself, drink lots, eat well (takeaways if you need to) and take some time to have a break, have a shower, just lie down for 10mins while someone cuddles the baby. Don't try to do too much.

They do have a big wonder week/development spurt at around 26 weeks. This really did upset my baby's sleep at the time. But, it does pass! Maybe persist in trying to get her to take a bottle so you can have a bit of a break? I definitly wouldn't be giving sugar water (!) Does she seem hungry when you feed her or more that she just needs a feed to settle? Because if she is really hungry I'm not sure what a sleep expert could do to change that, if you see what I mean.

Personally (and I'm sure people will disagree with me) at 6 months I only just started thinking about a schedule. Until then he was fed on demand, napped when he was tired, still fed at least once a night, often twice and generally we just went with the flow. To me it sounds like your bub is doing ok! From 6 months we did start to get into more of a routine, mainly because he started on solids and so you try and fit around them and he settled more naturally into regular naps. He also went into his own room about 7 months or so because I think we were disturbing each other at night. He's 10 months now and naps great and generally sleeps through (although does regularly end up in our bed about 5am when he wakes, I find this is the best way to get a bit of a lie in!) Anyway, I suppose what I'm saying is if you can bear it save your money for a few months and see if he sorts himself out. And don't worry about those people who have babies that sleep through from the get go, they are lucky but not the norm!

I think Google translate might have been involved somewhere...

I second all that Pickle said! The Nappy Lady website is a great place to start, and don't go rushing out and buying too much before the baby gets here as it's good to know how big they are/build, etc and also see what you like don't like before spending too much money. Also, they grow out of the first size nappies very quickly, so bear that in mind. We used a mixture of terry flats (bamboo ones so nice and soft) and muslins as nappies for the first couple of months (really nice, cute and slim fitting) as you get through lots and these have other uses afterwards so you don't feel like you've wasted the money (and they are cheaper than shaped nappies anyway. Also, Southwark offers a voucher towards buying real nappies - http://www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/wherewhatwho/boroughs/?borough=southwark If you don't mind secondhand nappies you can pick them up cheaply on here or on ebay (and sometimes some new bargains too!)and it's a good way of trying out different types. Good luck - it seems a bit of a minefield at first with all the different types but you'll soon figure it out and it is well worth it in my opinion! Any questions, just ask! Edited as I wasn't actually using muslims as nappies....(thanks for pointing that out simonethebeaver!)

Very interesting website. It would be good to have the ability to comment or ask follow up questions though. One of the situations on there is very similar to what I would like to ask but doesn't really answer exactly what I would like to know.

Also did what Convex did - it was bliss! The best hours sleep I had I reckon as I wasn't worried about listening out for the baby as I knew he was being looked after. Also, echoing what others have said in that if she can ride it out for a couple of weeks she'll probably get over it - it does end!!! Pumping I found an extra hassle really (although I only had a manual one) and then you have the issue of getting the baby to take a bottle....

The first couple of weeks I did wobble with the baby-led weaning. He managed quite well but gagged a lot and I wondered if I was doing the right thing (particularly as Mum, friends, etc were all very sceptical). But I'm so glad we persevered as the gagging soon went away and he improved so quickly!!! But, I am not a purist, I don't really agree with following what any book says to the letter as I think you have to watch your own baby. I did pass him things if he was struggling, particularly slippery things. Maybe it is worth thinking about what you give her for now? For example, things like pears he struggled with (as they just slipped out of his hands), things like carrot, pasta, broccolli, etc he could manage a bit better. Also, we do spoonfeed him a yoghurt every night which I am sure means people will tell me I'm not actually doing baby led weaning at all (bah!). I've tried handing him a loaded spoon but he gets so excited he bangs it on the table and yoghurt flies all across the room/furniture/cat. I'm not prepared to go this far with letting him get on with it! And he LOVES yoghurt so is really quite happy to be fed it. I did sometimes give him some mashed potato on a spoon at first, but now at 10 months he just scoops it up. Perhaps help her a bit when you first give her some food so she doesn't get too upset and then leave her some things to practice with? Really though, you'll be suprised how quickly she improves. I think it is normal just to get things almost in their mouth and then miss at the last minute and the fact she is so keen means she'll be very determined to do it! Good luck!

At 3 months enjoy not having to think about weaning yet :) 6 months is the current guideline. Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about rushing out and buying anything yet. I would just start doing some reading and thinking about what you want to do. Highly recommend the Baby Led Weaning book. Even if you don't go down that route it is very interesting in tellig you about how you know they are ready, etc. Someone once recommended another book that gave an overview of the pros and cons of both baby-led weaning and traditional spoon feeding weaning which I thought looked good but I don't remember the name...? Meanwhile, make the most of only having to think about milk!

Aquatots do swimming lessons at Lewisham hospital on a Sunday, and they have a summer term starting in July, unlike most places that stop over the summer. Don't know if they are any good as I've only just signed up! ETA: I've taken my little one to Jelly Babies at Peckham pulse to the 1pm Sunday session a couple of times and it has been really quiet. I believe the morning session is busier.

I dropped each feed gradually, one at a time with a week or two in between dropping this. I think this helped with the hormones but also the feelings of attachment with my baby. I still had a little cry at the last ever feed though!!! Despite this my boobs were quite hard and lumpy for about a week after stopping. I worried about mastitis coming back (I'd had it before) but it was fine. Have you tried giving formula in a bottle or just expressed milk? My baby wouldn't really touch a bottle with expressed milk but drank formula fine weirdly enough!

dulwichgirl2 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have always thought Nunhead had potential and is > still handy. Schools ok. There used to be a 100 to > 150k "discount" too. Nunhead is lovely, much quieter and more villagey feeling than ED, but close enough to get the benefits. It has an excellent little strip of shops (Deli, baker, greengrocer, fishmonger). We couldn't afford to buy there though and had to move further out. Ended up in Hither Green which has a similar quiet feel, lovely parks and excellent nurseries and schools. Can walk to Lewisham town centre and Blackheath and Greenwich (as well as ED) not too far away. We love it so far!

I like H and M ones as they do organic cotton (?10 for 3, mix and match), and also they have a kind of ruched bottom which is great as we use cloth nappies which are larger round the bum. Do like next ones too as they are nice thick cotton, and my Mum got me some from Debenhams which have washed really well.

monsoon often have some nice smart clothes. I like the grandad shirts they do, very cute.

Thanks for posting that link Yak, very interesting and useful, it has been saved on my computer! The course looks good too but my baby is too young for me to go on the waiting list, will remember for the future. mima08 - thanks for your post, I would love to see the article you mentioned if you can find it. As a language teacher I am very interested in that side of things. Interesting about the rules thing too, being strict probably isn't my husband or I's strong point but we maybe need to consider this as time goes by...