Moos

This thread made me giggle, as I thought it might be about the infamous baby neck-cheese. 'No, I know you don't like it, darling, but I do have to wash under your chins...'

So unspeakably sad, all those young people just launching their lives. And their poor families.

We have lots of slipper socks, mostly from Germany where they're really common, they're called "flitze" socks. Maybe a company like "Jako-o" (online kids' clothes, I think German) might have 'em?

Bless her. She'll be a lot less sleepy by then, mind - but 6 months is a wonderfully charming age.

Ah.

Dongle point of entry?

...and if we're all as keen as this in July, just think of the response you'd get in November, with the prospect of months of cold & dark hampering outside play!

Completely agree with lwotl, Belle & others. My brother & I are July kids, never crossed our minds that we should consider ourselves at a disadvantage. Our August cousin on the other hand was held back a year (I think aged about 8?) and his mother said it was a great decision for his confidence, happiness & academic achievement. We're all now adults, relatively compos mentis and holding down jobs.

Dammit, can't cut & paste on my phone, but the last 2 paragraphs has just made me laugh my socks off.

Thanks Kimmy, look forward to hearing more! I agree with ClareC re: the Gambado layout.

Curious to know whether 'adult must accompany child' suggests a 1:1 ratio required?

Excellent idea. However, I'd be cautious at allowing tinies to play alongside boisterous 4 year olds. I'd suggest 1-2 year olds in one section, 3-4s in another. If you can accommodate babies of 6 months-1 that would be great too.

I don' know what that is, but I am fully armed with a baby possessed of an upset stomach and absolutely ready for a big ole barney. Which side am I on again?

My 8 month old does it from time to time, esp if left with a friend, granny etc. rather than his father, with whom he obviously feels very comfortable. As far as I vaguely remember from previous baby it happens on and off for a few months and is part of separation anxiety. You'll probably also find your small acts up and starts being naughty (when a bit older) when you come home from work, even though your child cared will assure you he's had a great day.... it's a special present just for Mummy. I tried to think of it as a sign of love... (sigh). Sorry. But forewarned is forearmed, I guess. Best of luck with return to work.

Hee hee, no problem Mr. Plagiarist!

What Otta said .... ah, feels good to say it again. Anyway, Strafer nicked this thread from my facebook of some months ago.

I enjoyed co-sleeping with our second baby, but for us it made the waking more frequent, and he decided he only wanted to sleep while latched on too, which was impossible. If it works for you, then it's a great way to live comfortably with a small baby who needs to feed in the night several times. What worked for us once I gave up on co-sleeping and put our baby in his own bed was a sleep training method called gradual retreat which took a month to do and was hard work but gradually helped him learn how to go to sleep on his own so that when he came into a light sleep he would settle again. Can dig up an old post if useful. It is a phase, try not to see it as regression as it stems from your baby developing into a new stage of awareness and maturity of a sort. I think all babies go through it. For what it's worth, I used to feel terribly guilty (with my first baby) when people advised 'it goes so fast' and 'you'll look back and miss this stage'. I would wonder how I could be so miserable and feel some days went so slowly when more experienced mothers were warning me that the time was passing so quickly and that I'd wish the newborn phase back. Clearly lots of people do, but I never have and find the older baby stage (and the toddler stage and the preschool stage) much more rewarding. Just offering a different perspective.

This is probably massive overkill and way too much work but I know a little girl who has a superhero cloak with her initial embroidered on it. Would it be possible to buy a cloak and stitch one on out of felt? (though even as I'm typing I'm thinking Crikey, what a hassle...)

Baby at 7, 4 yo at 7.30. Either can slide by up to half an hour, but it's rare for it to go that far beyond official bedtime.

I haven't used it yet but I hear the back of the neck is a good place to sticker. Had a real frisson of fear at the Belair Park fair in the thick crowd with v excited and fast sprog holding my hand.

Oops, just caught zeban's post. Hopefully my last explains. cuppa tea and others, thanks for your responses - food for thought. Ctea, how old is your LO? My boy just 4. The baby is of course just a baby and not able to be either naughty or good!

I wasn't having a go. I genuinely want to know how people teach their children how to behave well, and what they do in a consistent manner to achieve the right result. That is what I mean by disciplinary technique. If anyone here thinks that 'discipline' is a bad word then that says a lot to me about them. I really do want to hear! Would much rather hear about what people find works than what they think doesn't. As I said before, I think my 4 yo has outgrown the naughty step and we're not going to use it any more. I think we will try to find consistent actions for particular naughtiness. I try not to shout at my son, as it is scary for him to see a parent out of control. (I don't always manage this). I prefer to tell him calmly that he was naughty and therefore x is going to happen, e.g. the thrown toy is put away for the day, or no pudding, or whatever. Still trying to get it right though.

Would still be interested to know what disciplinary techniques you use on your kids, zeban? And civilservant?

Good practice is to give people on ML an average increase, ie average across the company. It is direct discrimination and therefore illegal not to consider you for a pay rise, but lots of companies do that - mine tried. If they say they considered you but didn't give you a raise you are entitled to ask why, and "because you were on ML" is also an unacceptable and discriminatory reason. Companies rely on women being too nervous & guilty on return from ML or not knowing their rights, and lots of people get underpaid as a result. Best of luck.

So funny. You should have sent him to ask next door if it would be OK.