nunheadmum

Just noticed that the school my little one is due to start next month is lowest of all the schools we thought of putting down when choosing. (We got our first choice). Yet everyone I speak to at the school couldn't say better things about it. I'm the first to say to others that league tables and Ofsted's only tell one part of the story and need to be taken in context but I think I'll need to keep repeating that to myself over the next few weeks!!

Afraid I've tried mixing it with Ribena and using a syringe but she refuses it all and gets too worked up. Got some Medised today but it's just as bad. At the end of the day, she'll get by without it so I'm not putting her through the stress of forcing it in. Just can't convince her that she'd feel better with it. Thanks anyway. Good to know there isn't a classic trick I'm missing.

I don't want to get into the debate on the merits of using these. But if you do use them, does anyone find that their LO's take Medised any easier than Calpol night? My youngest (not so young!) refuses to take Calpol night - says it's yukky (thanks big sis!!) - will only just take Calpol but seems ok (usually) with Nurofen. She's got a stonker of a cold (not just a sniffle, a real stonker) and I'm sure Medised would help her but the last time we tried to get her to take calpol night, she gagged and sicked up and then wouldn't take ANY medicine. It took lots of coaxing to get her to trust us with Nurofen again. She's got a temperature so don't want to lose the one reliable thing we've got. But as Medised is (if I remember right) not coloured, I'm wondering if it may go down easier - or does the extra ingredient make Medised as yukky as calpol night? Just desperate to help her get a decent sleep - better than lots of medicine, I'm sure.

I was advised that if you get tax credits, you may be better off not to use Childcare vouchers. I can't remember the reasoning now - but others may be able to give more detailed advice. Also it's worth being careful if you are planning another bubs - if you get vouchers, your maternity pay is based on the amount actually paid not the amount plus the sacrificed amount for vouchers, so you could end up getting less maternity pay. (Unless you work for a generous company which gives more than statutory and includes vouchers in it's calculations.)

I'd recommend having lots of options - I found most other mum friends are happy to help, even if you think you don't know them well enough. Would also recommend having landline numbers for everyone - most folk don't answer mobiles at 2am but landlines tend to get through!

ELC are doing a big Fairy castle with fairy friends - quite expensive but 20% off today. Our eldest (same age) is really into all those little sets with characters and accessories - Polly Pocket and the likes. For reading books, The Book People do lots of sets of readers which the schools use - really short little books which they can start to read themselves (or words from, at this stage) - at major discounts. I picked up the Oxford reading Tree ones a while back at a market and A really likes them (when I can wean her off her princess books). The youngest loves them too - someting about the really simple stories and repetition of words. Not really got ours to get the hang of board games so no recommendations there, I'm afraid.

What is it about Octonauts - my 4.5yr old is utterly mad on them. Got to see them twice a day at least!! Not sure I could take having to read the same book over and over and over........!

Sorry, wasn't on the forum yesterday morning. Hope you managed to find the info in time. Thought all the little ones were soooo nice to watch. Older ones were good too. As were the mums (or should I say women, shouldn't presume) - I was very impressed!!

My two were mad keen to get out. Built a tiny snowman in the tiny front garden but kept them happy. Probably a bit over the top in the hand-me-down ski gear but kept them warm. Was quite chuffed with myself for judging it right for once. Think I enjoyed the hot chocolate afterwards more than them though. Cbeebies feast over lunchtime and now making toilet roll binoculars and happy. This day has just gone too well......something big has got to go wrong soon!

LauraHW - After suffering 2+ years with no1, we went to NIght Nannies at 4 months with no2 as we were in the same situation as yourself with 5+ wakes a night and were simply exhausted. It was the best thing we ever did. Within 3 nights she was sleeping through the night!!! I can't say it'd be the same with all kids - some may still need night feeds or have other reasons to wake but, in our case, it clearly was simply waking for comfort. (At 2+ she still wakes at night and comes to us if she thinks she can get a cuddle to help her nod back off!) But having a professional advise you really did help us realise what was real need and what was being manipulated by a 4 month old. And after a few nights of decent sleep, I felt so much more able to function and actually enjoy my kids.

Definitely agree that as you get more than 1 and they get older, being able to drive is helpful. I swore I wouldn't fall into the driving trap and with no1 I did walk miles at the start. But once no2 came along and no1 was a whining toddler, the car suddenly had real attraction! If nothing else, it gives you more options. As others have said, it sounds like you are pretty close - probably better pushing on and doing it.

Just to demonstrate the difference between how we see ourselves v how others see us - Molly I've seen you at playgroup and always think you're one of those at the heart of the group who seems to know everyone and others gravitate to. As Robert Burns once said (on a slightly different topic) "O would some Power the gift to give us To see ourselves as others see us!" I think sometimes the problem is also that once you do talk to someone, all too often the kids take the attention of the other person and we put it down to our poor social skills, thinking 'if I'd only been more interesting, they'd have come back to speak to me' when in reality it's just how it is.

I had to smile on the train this morning.....a very made up girl with perfect hair and great clothes, on way to Spitalfields, sporting a proud 'Baby on Board' badge. Thinking of this thread, I did wonder what she had in her head about life after the baby and what the reality would be. Personally I wasn't very good on the social front before the kids but now I REALLY struggle socialising with folk without kids. And that's even with working 3 days a week in the real world. I just feel like I know nothing about what goes on in the world beyond cbeebies and kids. It's not been too bad as I've worked at the same place since before I had the kids but now I'm facing looking for a new job, I'm dreading the prospect of having to re-establish myself in a new environment.

Does sounds strange. Was it maybe one of those tapes that have the sound to tell you when to turn the page? Maybe teaching her how to follow that so she can experience 'reading' the book by herself? I've got some of those kind of CD's but my LO still wants mummy or daddy to read the book - would be nice if she could do it herself sometimes, just for variety if nothing else. (And because mummy really doesn't want to read Cinderella / Sleeping beauty / Snow White EVERY day!!!)

I would recommend Night Nannies www.night-nannies.com. After 2 years of trouble with no 1, we used them with no 2 when she was young to try and stop us developing all the same issues. The nanny we used Maya, was French and had studied childcare at degree level (as apparently you need to do in France) so had covered things like child psychology - may be helpful for dealing with an older child. (While dealing with our younger one, she gave us lots of pointers on our 2 year old too.) She really did help us and gave us a lot more confidence to deal with problems ourselves afterwards. Not cheap but sooooo worth it once you get a decent night's sleep and feel part way normal again! Sleep deprivation is horrible. PM me if you want any more details.

Colourbox on Ivydale Road are excellent - lovely staff, small number of kids. All the kids seem to love it.....my 2 certainly do.

I would echo Sillywoman's advice to speak to Cathy Walton - I found her really good when everyone was telling me I needed constant monitoring for VBAC. It felt like she was able to balance the mother's perspective with the important bits of the medical reasoning and help clarify what was being said due to procedure and what was backed up by research etc. She spoke to me like I was still a reasoned, sensible adult - which was refreshing (and all too rare in hospitals, I find). Re the CS, when I had a planned one first time for breech, I was out in 48 hours and certainly felt able to go sooner - was off painkillers within 12 hours. My main gripe was the night and lack of care - like you, that got to me. But second time round when I was kept in, I felt much better as I knew what to do with a baby. I kept the baby with me at night and all I needed very close by. It made it much easier being prepared and I didn't need help in the end, so didn't get as frustrated. I really hope you find some solution that works for you - the stress can't be good for you or baby.

I've got exactly the same problem with 4.5 and 2.5 girls.....and at 2.5 she WILL notice if she's missed out! I think I've reconcilled myself to having to update some of our older toys or duplicate the things they play with most to avoid arguements. (Although obviously older sis will think she can requisition all the new stuff and give little sis the old ones...so maybe not avoiding those arguements after all!)

Does she like singing - I've found the Monkey Music CD's and similar have got us to Scotland and back. Charlie and Lola one is our fave now No 1 is older but no 2 likes it too as she's familiar with the programme. Mum and dad are brain dead by the end but keeps the little un's happy. Similarly maybe books on CD - you can get ones like the Gruffalo and Hairy McLary etc. Otherwise just be ready to do lots of stops. Just wandering round a service station may suffice at that age. And if you can do the trip in the evening, it may help - unless they fight sleep in the car like my youngest does. Would say you could borrow some of our music and books but looks like you're coming the wrong direction! Good luck - wouldn't wish a long journey and screaming kid on anyone!!!

No, they're doing it by the book with consultations etc. I'm on the management team so I've been involved since day 1. From the errors made, it's clearly errors and not intentional. I think the external consultant has just been sloppy. I was just hoping there was some way we could be honest but still keep the extra money. Will just need to make them feel guilty and hope that works!! Thanks anyway.

It does say estimated - which I thought would mean they could change it. But thought it worth checking. Thanks!

I don't think they've rolled in anything else - for me the figures wouldn't make sense that way either and I don't think they can include anything else in redundancy pay as it isn't taxable whereas holiday pay etc is. I've dealt with redundancy stuff before so I do know a little about it. They have used a consultant who was meant to have prepared this info - I think the consultant has just been lazy and not paid enough attention when copying over old documents. If it is right, I'm happy to be told so. But I just wondered if, should it be wrong, are they bound by what they've told us at all. If not, others may lose out money if I do bring it to light and it is wrong - and I'd feel rotten doing that to others (unless they agreed to it).

Not sure if this is the right section for this but hoping some mummy/daddy HR professionals or lawyers can advise. Our organisation has just handed out redundancy letters - not formal notices but letters saying that our posts are being made redundant and we can apply for newly created jobs. Accompanying them were 'estimated' statements of our redundancy payment entitlements. But they've got the calculations wrong and most of us (if not all) have been told we can get more than we're officially due. Does anyone know where we now stand? Do they have to honour the amounts stated or can they say they were only indications etc? My tidy mind would rather say something and get the error noted and dealt with by whichever procedure is correct. But some colleagues would understandably welcome the extra cash and hence perhaps I should keep my mouth shut if saying something would lose them the extra. It's not massive amounts we're talking about - we only get statutory so it's not lots to start with. Best option morally would be if there was a legal requirement now for them to honour the amounts stated. I suspect it won't be that simple? Thanks!

Afraid we went a couple of months ago following reviews we'd read on the forum (actually our first meal out for probably at least 2 years - eek!) and we were really disappointed. The food was mediocre at best - we cook as good ourselves at home - and very little in the way of meat. We used to love the Italian on East Dulwich Road and was really hoping it'd be similar. I can see it being a good place with the kids and may go back for that. But not one for an adult meal for us.

Isn't it amazing the things you do to make your other half feel useful during labour!!! But updating the EDF I think is definitely a good use of his time. SG - hope you've got your bubs by now. Fingers and toes crossed that all is going well for you.