Belle

Of course I'll take him out if I think he hates it - but my point was more that everything points to him enjoying it while he's there, it's just the act of leaving him which he finds difficult. I'm happy with the nursery (though as I say, not averse to ending the arrangement if I feel he doesn't settle), and feel they're making a big effort to help him settle. Yesterday, I hung around outside to listen when I left and he was fine within seconds, and was v happily playing when I picked him up. I also see evidence through his little book of what he's been doing etc. So my question was really - is this a normal adjustment phase, and if so, how can I ease it? And thanks v much for lots of useful ideas here. Hadn't thought of the more/shorter days idea, it does make sense. KnackeredCow (feels a bit rude addressing someone as this!), thanks for your tips - I think that's a great idea re having friends there. He is lucky that on one of the days he has a friend there he's known since birth, she is older and v kindly looks out for him. But yes, perhaps I cd seek out some playdates with children from the other day.

Moos, I hope you don't mind me resurrecting this thread - we are going through this at the moment with my 2 year old and I'm looking for advice (though I've already taken lots of reassurance from the posts above). My little boy is only doing 2 mornings a week at a nursery school, so I'm feeling doubly guilty as th is is meant to be 'for him' really. He apparently settles once I'm gone and certainly seems happy (though keen to see me) when I pick him up. We had an easy first week and then it seemed to sink in it was a permanent arrangement, and now he just clings, and screams when I move off. The staff do everything they can - distraction, reassurance, make a fuss of him when he arrives etc. I hadn't thought of letting him take a toy, but might try that. I've noticed on this thread and elsewhere that the recommendation is not to sneak off. My problem is that the minute I start referring to leaving, no matter with what caveats, he starts to yell. Sneaking off isn't much better as that just results in slightly delayed yelling. I've kind of settled on a compromise where I tell him what's happening whilst I'm still with him, but not literally as I leave, if that makes sense. Anyway - any other tips or anyone going through the same thing at the moment??

we use the bog standard ones - about ?8 from soup dragon or jojo, find them really good though less so in winter over a padded jacket!

That is awful - and v frustrating. I'm guessing you're at a different surgery, but I'm with DMC and am sure I've been offered IUD there, I was told one of the doctors was qualified to do it. I might have that wrong, but if not - seems odd that some surgeries offer and not others, and that it's a bit of a lottery. Anyone know if I'm right about DMC?

Ruth - my little boy does the same thing when we bring him in, and with the same consequences! so I sympathise. We had this at the same age, and rightly or wrongly I decided to ditch the much-needed and loved dummy. I felt that is what he was waking for, and he had to learn not to if you see what I mean. Of course I was terrified he'd be traumatised and/or have his sleep ruined forever but amazingly he adapted within a few short nights. we had already ditched it for daytime use a few months earlier I think, so didn't do it all at once, though I'm pretty sure we did naps and nights at the same time. You may not want to go with this, but thought worth sharing. I got some good advice on here at the time about how to approach it. He was too young for dummy fairy stuff so I just went cold turkey, took solace from the fact others had experienced the hell of the first night, and by the 3rd night he was asleep in minutes. it def did help his sleep, although think that the fact his ear problems were sorted shortly before the dummy ditching played a part too. Of course now we're back to bad nights for altogether different, as yet undiscovered reasons, these kids don't like the status quo do they?!

Saw first birth, need to catch up on the rest. Thought it was amazin g- that young couple blew me away. I thought at first oh no, she's having real trouble and it's prob really early on, so couldn't believe it when it turned out she was in transition! Need to see the rest now!

That's god to know, thanks Wave. Will try doing that, without making a thing of it.

I might try it out tomorrow too.

It can be just as quick getting from round here to theatre NM as it can be in hospital. There are people who can vouch for that on the forum I think. The midwife with you will call ahead to warn you're coming in, and if necessary you'll go in by ambulance. In the spirit of Ann and SW's posts (though about a different topic), please bear in mind some of the people posting here are very pregnant, close to birth, have made their choice having done their homework, and probably don't need to be berrated for it at this stage. I know it's a balancing act in the Family Room, and I believe in freedom to express different opinions, but since the original post began as a question about how to get VBAC (and actually asked for positive experiences), it was probably never that appropriate to jump in with 'don't'. I'd say the same if someone started a thread about how to get an elective c-section, it would be equally upsetting if people waded in with the rights and wrongs.

ontheedge Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > but surely colour is what you perceive it as who > can ever know what anyone else sees I think it's more the lack of ability to distinguish, when it happens, which can be a problem. So I guess with traffic lights for e.g., you'd have to learn the formation/position over colour. Green and red in particular are colours which are used for loads of things: warnings, appliances etc.

Ah, thanks all. Hope I didn't come across too neurotic, and do realise he's really young - and I'm not bothered about when he learns colours etc at all. Really helpful explanations and info from all. I think what I was worrying about was less it being a problem per se, and more situations eg nursery/school where teachers might think he's just getting it wrong and push it a bit (like I've done thinking he was just getting mixed up). When he corrected me re green/red, I realised there could be many situations like that where he's going to think 'shut up stupid lady, they're both the same'. I might mention it at nursery just so they can be aware. If I notice it more in the years ahead, I'll def get a test arranged when he goes to school. Molly - thanks for the comedy stories! edited to add, re the most pertinent detail (it's been a long day, brain not working properly) - I don't know re family history. Pretty sure my dad wasn't (he was an artist, sure it would have come up?) and am sure my mum would have said...but if I understand the genetics right it could have come down e.g from my mum's dad? Buggie I remember those workings from Higher biology but that was a long time ago, have forgotten how they work...

Anyone know much about this? I'm increasingly convinced my son has red/green colour blindness - though he's only 2 so aware I may sound like an overly paranoid/anxious mum. It's just that he makes a point of saying green things are red and sometimes vice versa, and corrects me when i say 'no, green'. He's still getting to grips with colours but it's a consistent 'mistake', and just recently I heard red/green colour blindness more common in boys than girls. Anyone have any advice/experience?

Do all wall stickers come off easily? Not keen on the idea of permanent wall decoration...

It's funny, I read this thread's title, thought 'nah, not me', then read all the posts, and yes, absolutely! Have to retrieve all toys every night, HATE it when one disappears, put things in the box they came in often to keep them together. I think it's true that it's our way of imposing some order on a situation which is inherently disorderly and unpredictable.

Agree with Keef.

Though interestingly, if you refuse an epidural for whatever reasons, you may still need one further down the line - I was given a spinal block at fully dilated, as forceps were expected to fail (they didn't), and a c-section needed (it wasn't), and one of my NCT group had a natural birth but extreme tearing, so she was given a spinal for stitches. So prob best to be at peace with whatever may need to happen. I had thought the risks were established as quite small? Slight tangent, but I do get irritated by some of the tag lines on Baby Centre type posts, members saying things like 'three children, no pain relief', like a badge of honour.

Just browsing bed options for my 2 year old, as we're looking to make the switch soonish. I'm tempted to go for a Warren Evans investment buy (good guarantee etc), but also like the Ikea options, including some of the daybeds which seem quite good in a way. Any particular recommendations?

Oooh, caught up on 40D, think I cried most at this one. Mainly because my son was a forceps birth and it made me sob seeing how they do it (even though I know it's perfectly safe and he was fine!). Think seeing births you can relate to are that bit more emotional. Absolutely LOVED the 'pain in my backside, pain in my minge' comment, and when her mum said 'she says it how it is'. Brilliant. Felt so impressed with both the women this week especially, they did so well in difficult circumstances. I cd see what blonde curly midwife was trying to do - hold off to see if the woman cd do without, guess she thought it was early on yet. But thought the second midwife dealt with the patient better. I think people do have different pain thresholds, have heard the bad period pains from a few people.

I thought the last series with the whole maenad thing went a bit awry, and feel the same about the current werewolves storyline. I guess after the initial tension of Sookie and bill meeting etc, the show lost its way a bit. I quite enjoyed the political stuff, with the vampire independence lady on tv debating with the christian far right etc. STill watching though...

I bought mine from a website called Myriad - does wooden toys and other baby things, but there are loads of places online and think some ebay sellers too. Think there are other recommendations on the forum if you do a search.

There is a nice restaurant in St James Pk I think - 'Inn the Park ' - pretty sure has a posher side and a more canteeny side. Otherwise South Bank because scope to run, playground, can run around inside RFH (which also has a range of food from posh skylon restaurant, sklyon grill, to sandwichy things downstairs). The only pubs I know that would fit the bill are local - The florence in herne hill, or maybe the Herne on Forest Hill Rd.

Ah, the Borrowers! Loved it. A lot of what I read was prob a bit too girly, but on Enid Blyton, there is also the adventure series - River of Adventure, Circus of Adventure etc - tend to be much thicker volumes than the famous five ones, I read them all. Also read a lot of Noel Streatfield at that age, but as I say perhaps too girly. My nephew is that age and my MIL signed him up to the Puffin club, which he seems to enjoy.

Supposedly it's a natural analgesic - rubs against the skin, helps in the same way I guess copper bracelets do? We have one, have done since first signs of teething. I take the view that I'm satisfied it's safe , and in the throes of teething hell anything is worth a try. They are v much the norm in France & Switzerland I understand. My son (just two) has only recently started noticing and fiddling with his, so have taken it off - only the back molars to go, suspect nurofen a stronger weapon in our armoury for that...

Freddie and the fairy - Julia Donaldson, Zog - Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler, second the Hairy McLary books & Baby's catalogue, What the Ladybird heard is lovely (and good fun getting 2yr old to find the tiny ladybird on each page), Owl babies also lovely. Am really enjoying this stage of books - though not when I have to read Zog twice a day every day for a month!

I used to be proud that my son only had water, but gradually v diluted high juice snuck in, along with innocent smoothies, and now of course he demands it. I still give him water at least half of the time, and he drinks quite a bit of semi skimmed milk. I basically think it's fine though - he drinks more when he drinks juice, so I worry less re hydration, plus some of these servings count towards fruit intake, so I'm opting not to sweat it on this one...