Belle

I would say try to finish the course - as someone above said, have wayyyy to much experience of ear infections and they are awful especially if recurring. I do what your boss says and seems to work.

I struggle with these bloody early mornings too. I want to do your approach Molly - but my little boy starts screaming when he sees me (if he wasn't already) - but then feel cruel not going in if he's starting to sound upset.

Good advice. Will keep putting in the soft toys to try to stop him bashing his head, though he ritually throws each one out before going to sleep at night...

yes we have the cot bashing too! In fact that's more the issue as my husband has just pointed out that it's not that my son nearly fills it yet - it's that when in his 18-36 mth grobag, that nearly fills it...oops! :-$ Still though like you say the bashing is a worry plus in our case wakes him up.

I went for the cot option when buying for my son, partly due to space but also I thought maybe we'd go straight to single bed from that. well, he's not especially tall - but at 19mths is starting to look v big in his cot. But then growth does plateau doesn't it, so perhaps I'm being overly anxious? anyway my thought was perhaps to invest in a cotbed to give him more space but still behind bars, v necessary, as long as poss. Then next baby if there is one, could go into the cot. However I'm a bit superstitious on that point - so don't want to buy purely on that basis. Those who started with cots - did you find they lasted a while or did your little ones outgrow them before you thought they were ready for a bed? I def don't want to put him in a bed for a looooooong time!

Does anyone know what's happening with the whippernsappers classes at the Albrighton Centre? Tried last week but it was all locked up - thought they'd started back with the new term. Website doesn't look that up to date.

Didn't see it - and sure it's not the same people anyway - but i once rented a flat from a family who did something like this. The kids were def young - one was school age, one a toddler from memory - and I remember thinking that whilst in many ways there would be tonnes of great experiences etc etc, it was all a bit crazy really.

The Mag is good - just in the sense that t hey'll do kids portions of food and they're very welcoming to children. If it's more that you're looking for somewhere with stuff for the kids to do while there, maybe the Florence in Herne Hill as they have a playroom?

sb - I'm exactly the same, I know it's illogical but for some reason I could never bring myself to ask. What annoyed me was people bumping into me, more than the standing thing, but again - just couldn't find a way to say something. Guess some of us just aren't assertive! I really wish I was and did try, but more often than not prefer to avoid the situation - I remember once on the way into work I got off the train at Peckham Rye as I was feeling crushed and unwell, took a few minutes and boarded the next train.

My husband is still in Birmingham, and not leaving anytime soon. I'm multiply gutted because a) miss night out b) have night in on own (would sound good but see later points) c) did ocado shop but crucially forgot to confirm so all the shopping i was expecting in the last hour - including my dinner - not here and d) thought to console self for a) and b) I would watch cheesy romcom on Sky box office, only to find there is some impossibly annoying fault with Sky cable or something and can't book/record/watch anything for some reason. Argh! Woe is me. Also just had embarassing chat with Sky wherein it was obvious I know nothing about Sky, phonelines, cables or anything useful other than the name of the film I wanted to watch. I was also somewhat the wrong side of a double gin and tonic. Edited to say sorry for whingeing and hope a good night is had!

my friend gave birth in a moving car on way to hospital - it was her 3rd so she'd been a little too relaxed about labour!

i do always read se22 - maybe not immediately but at some point during the month. same with living south.

Husband just had to go to Midlands on work - slightly unfeasibly saying he'll be back in time for me to make it out but I might be a latecomer. Hope to see you all, need a night out. x

ClareC - I had that issue a lot as my son had a lot of ear infections from around 9 months, and wouuld get in the habit of waking at night and getting cuddles/medicine/whatever, so that even when he was recovered his sleep would be disturbed for a few nights after. I would just get gradually tougher as each night passed so that by 3 or 4 nights on I'd just be going in, laying him down and saying 'you're alright' and then going straight out - we always got there in the end. Sympathise as know it's frustrating. We still have this occasionally now.

That's great Yorkie - look forward to meeting you.

Yes I'm def coming.

Fab idea. tried to do one for myself a while back but didn't get far, but will check back to see what i can add. Off the top of my head: Bumps & Babes 10-12am, Mondays Goose Green Community Centre Not aware of age limit but should think not much more than 18 months? ?1.50 donation Bumps & Babes 9.30-11.30 (I think), Fridays St Faith's Church Hall, Red Post Hill 0-12 months ?1 donation Copleston Playgroup 10-12, Tuesdays, Term Time Copleston Centre, Copleston Rd Not aware of an age limit (stuff for babies and toddlers) ?1

Does anyone know if the copleston playgroup is back on again?

In the last hour or so: "please don't bite mummy's toes" (actually very hard to stop him doing this in a way that's painless for both of us) (too late):"Oh no, that's not a carrot, it's an orange crayon..." (has taken to eating crayons on occasion mainly for a reaction I think.)

yes have noticed that when looking for houses to buy etc

aw thanks all, good advice and also good to know I'm not alone! Tonight was better though still a lot of protesting, and as ever I've no idea what we did differently. Though Nunheadmum I think you've a point re connection with day time actvitiy and sleep. Trouble is on days when he doesn't sleep well there's not much I can do - do try to get him to go back if nap was particularly short but it rarely works. have been thinking about story tapes and know his cousins use them so will bear that in mind - he's always had a lullaby on his monitor so as a sort of extension of that it might be quite nice for him. Also agree (and relieved to hear it from others so don't feel too mean!) that there's not much point in endlessly going in etc. Think there's def an element of attention there - though it is hard to know how much you should then afford as of course he has a right to be reassured that I'm nearby etc. I do sometimes speak to him over the monitor to tell him he's fine (and to go to sleep!) which seems to help. Thanks all! Made me feel much better.

If it was party political business he'd have had to pay for the room himself I think? I know of lots of cases where MPs and staff shared rooms at conference for that reason. Also think it's hardly the first time someone of that age and apparent lack of experience has been made a special advisor, there were lots who fell into that category under the last administration too. Agree phone tapping story much more important...

Think we've hit a great new phase in which my 19 mth old battles bedtime. In the last week we've had 3 bedtimes wherein he starts off moaning, then shouts and screams for up to 90 mins before sleep. I dont' think it's the case that he needs a later bedtime as we actually find he sleeps better (as in going to sleep and sleeping a bit longer, ie sometimes 6ish instead of 5ish) with a prompt or even early bedtime (so 6.45/7). As always I feel like I'm scrutinising each day retrospectively to figure out what we did or didn't do that could have adversely affected bedtime. Can't see any patterns though. Is it just something they do - get to a stage where they want your attention more/want to be up and about etc? Going in doesn't help, drinks/lullaby etc don't help - have just found I have to let him get himself to sleep. It's v different from the little baby thing of screaming on being put down. It's more wakefulness I think. It's awful when things change isn't it?! used to love that post bedtime period, when I'd have a nice drink and relax for the first time all day!

my mum would just keep barging into my room which drove me nuts so I'd get up to pre-empt it - you know how much they like their privacy/don't like people in their rooms.

My test was somewhere near Guy's - not sure if that's Sunshine House? I know for lots of people it'd be no problem but at 8 weeks I was still in major anxiety mode so do remember being a bit stressed. Baby didn't sleep but used the dummy and was okayish. Not really advocating for or against the test here though, I feel quite ambivalent about it. I finally got the HVs to do 8 mth check at 16 mths (had asked several times but been fobbed off, knew it wasn't a by invitation thing) - they just asked if I thought he could hear. But when we had to see an ENT surgeon for his grommets etc he asked about the 8 mth hearing test so not sure if perhaps in some boroughs there is one? Think all these things vary.