Belle

Another thing to try might be some of the regular classes - sing and sing, little bubbles etc - when term starts again? There are sometimes nannies/minders at those plus it's a good way to meet other mums/kids in quite a structured format (sometimes playgroups are a little daunting esp if feeling she's the only nanny etc).

think it's one of those names where when I say it (scottish accent) it sounds v different to Aisha because of the 'r'. Hence my husband thinks I pronounce 'iron' funny. Whereas I think the English pronounce it like 'ion'.

Starting to wonder if perhaps it's just the (annoying) case t hat some toddlers grow out of needing 2 hrs sleep sooner than others? Mine had just over an hour in one nap today - it's possible that he was overtired as didn't go down till 12.45, but though he woke screaming (never a well-rested sign) he recovered quickly and managed to then go till 7 bedtime no probs. Argh though - somehow one hour a day seems v v short! Also seems to have completely vetoed any buggy naps which makes days out a bit tricky.

Good luck Anna! thinking of you x

Think there are a lot of families who do it by doing shift work - have read case studies in the past - sounds desperately hard work as when one isn't working, they're looking after the kids and vice versa. Not sure that's 'power couples' in the traditional sense. I've just started doing a bit of freelance and we work it by grannies/husband's annual leave at the moment.

Don't worry too much - might have been a one-off - might be lots of other times where it's more like cluster feeding. Saw a friend in a private hospital yesterday, where there are a million midwives to each baby and they seem fine about the fact he's going 5 hrs on occasion. Think it's true that you shouldn't leave them too long but I'm sure your daughter is having visits from midwives etc, so don't feel too responsible. Can so see how hard it is for the grannies in this situation! Don't be too hard on yourself.

Mine is only 18 months but fun def not the word for our mealtimes together ;-) we don't have a TV in the kitchen so don't do this, but I use it in the mornings for a bit so I can tidy up the breakfast things and do morning chores etc (in theory should only be 10-15 mins - often is a bit longer). That's meant to be it till some bedtime stuff - 64 zoo lane/bit of in the night garden - but on rainy days like today it's on a bit more. Often find he ignores it as Pickle describes with her child. What I don't do is have 'my' telly on in front of him (did loads as small baby, just like you Smiler with trashy stuff!) - partly because it's not fair on him, also on a practical level I miss loads of dialogue etc so just doesn't work. My husband does watch cricket in front of him (prob hopes he'll convert him early on...).

I thought it was brilliant. Hadn't read any of the advance press so was totally suprised by the modern-day thing, but thought it was really well adapted. Cannot wait for more.

i've been thinking the same thing Fi - trips to playgrounds/parks now fraught as son constantly stealing other kids' scooters - massive screaming fits when scooters are returned to rightful owners. He only started walking a couple of months ago if that so really just uses them as a walker rather than to scoot on. They're quite dear and am hoping to wait till his 2nd birthday but do waver...

We did try the 11-1 for a bit - first day was amazing, thought we'd cracked it, then got progressively worse so that by day 3 or 4 he only napped 40 mins - then nothing more for rest of day. today, for the first time in a few days, he refused a morning nap - tried for 40 mins or so but eventually gave up. We went out and about and I assumed he'd nap at some point since he'd had no sleep all day. got to 2.30 and he finally, after protesting, did fall asleep in buggy. Woke up 15 mins later. Nothing since, and consequently v tired grotty baby (and frazzled mum). I've found there's no correlation between daytime sleep and early waking Crystal7 - last week my son had two 1.5 hr naps, then slept till 7.10 (v rare round here!) - then a few days later had 40 mins total nap and same waking next day. Equally we've had several 5.30 wakeups this week and 6ish too, with varying amounts of daytime nap. It's like a bloody puzzle that's unbreakable! I think if it was just that he didn't need the sleep anymore, tough as it might be, I could accept it. But since there are days when he does happily sleep a couple of hours, that doesn't seem to be the case - so it's the unpredictability I can't handle.

The mythical 1-3 nap still evades my little one. Naps are basically driving me mad - please help if you've had similar experiences. My son is 18 months so by rights should be down to one nap I guess. I don't really mind which it is - just want to get it right at least half of the time, as at the moment it's always going wrong. Basically I can stick to the 9am and 2pm (ish) naps - but then some days he just refuses the 9am nap. He'll then crash later in buggy/cot and because he's so knackered, he doesn't sleep that long, then is crabby all day. So next day I might think, ok, we'll h old out till post lunch. Same thing - too knackered, so 9 times out of 10 he crashes before we get home and has rubbish buggy nap, or is overtired when he does hit the cot and doesn't sleep for more than an hour - then crabby all afternoon. Tried bringing it forward - makes no difference. Also, if he has a morning nap, he absolutely refuses to have afternoon nap in buggy. Can coax him into one in the cot but it's as th ough he can just about get by without it when out and about - until we get home, when he's clearly overtired, won't eat tea etc. If i'm going out for the day I usually try to either get by on the morning nap (usually means meltdown around 4) or hope for a quick buggy nap around the middle of the day (but if he doesn't manage it means he refuses lunch). it's really driving me mad, and it doesn't help that i've taken on some freelance so his naptimes are now even more valuable to me than ever. It's not just about me though - I'm conscious that the current system or lack of it is meaning he's knackered and grumpy most afternoons. It's also limiting our days out etc as I've realised only way to avoid this is to have nap in cot in afternoon. anyone else in nap hell?

Yeah - I hate the comments about 'ooh you must get to watch a lot of Loose women'. (as if that would be a good thing anyway!)

Just finished the Oliver James book and was suprised to see that actually he doesn't condemn the working mum. He basically says it's important to get the substitute care right if that is the way you go. Not saying I agree with all he said eg he is very dogmatic on the nursery issue. But it wasn't as black and white as I'd expected from the reviews. It's interesting what you say Saila about the pressure not to work, as I know that's something lots of working mums feel (and i think something OJ picks up on too) - but on the other hand, I always feel a bit embarassed to admit being until recently (and now still 95%) a stay at home mum, because I feel there's pressure to go back to work. so I guess there's prob guilt/anxiety/perceived disapproval from others with whatever decision you make. I remember telling a specialist at King's who I saw when my baby was 6 months old that I wasn't going back to work, and she gasped in disbelief. She was pretty horrified. I think there are also preconceptions about the circumstances around that decision ie people sometimes assume the one income you have must be enormous. Or that you're a really old-fashioned family. Neither of which are necessarily the case. To go back to the point of this thread: absolutely agree that it makes a refreshing change to read a report like this.

Hi there, that's very interesting - as I too had pre eclampsia, and was due to be induced as my son's growth had pretty much stopped in the womb, but he came early of his own accord at 36 + 6 weeks. I can offer hope now! My son's strawberry has gone down considerably since I last posted. It's still there - still a bit raised, still some colour, but most of the colour has gone. When I posted this thread my son was less than a year old - he's now 18 months. the contrast to where he was at 7 months (just to put in context of your daughter's age) is astonishing. Obviously they all go at different rates etc, but my understanding was that they do pretty much all disappear, it's just that some will take up to the age of 10, but that seems to be rare. If you're worried - and I do totally understand the feelings you have - why not ask for a second opinion? We were never offered the treatment you mention incidentally - just basically told to aim to heal any ulceration and keep a close eye on it. We now are on annual GOSH checkups - where for the first year we were seen every month or two. I know laser is an option but I think perhaps in more difficult places or for those which don't disappear. Oh, also - think I mentioned above that my nephews both had one. The elder's has gone, the second, who is 3, has one on his tummy which has gone down recently quite a bit. Whilst my son's in a 'difficult' place, in one way it's a lot easier than many in that it's not visible so we don't have to give the repeated explanations. I think 7 months is still v young in strawberry terms, I know our doctors were still checking for it to have grown at that stage, so think it must be a positive thing your daughter's strawberry has stopped growing. But I'd def push for a second opinion rather than wait for the next GOSH appt if you have concerns.

How about Selfridges/Liberty? appreciate she's prob more into high street stuff when it comes to buying but at that age (and still now) I loved window shopping all the designer stuff, those shops are great places to spend some time...can take her for a snack on the lower ground floor of selfridges and do some people-watching. Often the make up counters are quiet on week days and the girls on them are dying to do some trials/makeovers on people...

To be honest, the swimwear-modelling annoys me least - I mean, she's Giselle, that's what she does. But the other stuff, ugh. I really feel sorry for any new, struggling mum reading that. yes lochie, rumour has it that's not the only surgery she's had. hah!

Latest annoying celeb mum: Giselle. Apparently she meditated through 8 hrs of labour, and was up next day making pancakes. She then did some swimwear modelling 6 weeks later. Good for you lady. That's not to touch on her proposition to make breastfeeding compulsory (how?!). Shutup Giselle

We got a couple of things which don't take up much space but really help to minimise clutter: http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+Tidy-Books%C2%AE-Bookcase+A5417 (actually got this from Mothercare when they had a 20% off offer, worth looking out for) http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+Ultimate-Toy-Sorter-System-with-12-bins+A3262 Neither of them super cheap, but I didn't want to get lots of different things, just wanted a couple of units really. V easy to put together and my toddler loves them.

We moved a few obvious things (like the nasty sharp chopper attachments for the magimix) out of low-down drawers etc, put up stairgates and fixed tall bookcases to the wall. Also bought a playpen/room divider and never used it as a playpen - have one half in front of the fireplace and the bookcase that has most valuables on it, and one in front of the drinks cabinet (!). The rest we kind of learned as we went along.

Points for improvising once he was busted though!

I've flown a lot with my little one, always with a Maclaren, but have seen all sorts being loaded on - including the big bugaboo chameleons, travel systems, Plikos etc - I think you'll be fine with a bee. we flew on a Thompson flight in may and there were bigger prams than Bees being taken at the plane door. As to that point - it's up to the airport/airline - in France we had to hand it over, but every other flight we've been allowed to take it to the plane door. however we've rarely got it back at the door on the way back, and it can be a long walk to pick up luggage, so as ludo suggests a sling is a good idea. have never used a buggy cover but then my Maclaren was pretty cheap! Might be worth getting one for the Bee if you're worried.

Zara have some lovely (non maternity but v floaty and comfy) tunics in that are nice with leggings

There's an h&m in Brixton?? Hurrah!

We went for two godmothers and one godfather for our son - so not the traditional arrangement - but it was what felt right. Not sure if family were put out but I did find people expected it to be a bigger do than it was, almost like a wedding. as it was, we stuck to godparents and v close family. Did get a few comments about that.

maxi-dresses are a great idea - I think that Celestial on Lordship Lane has some in that are quite cheap and would do for after baby is born too, maybe with cardie if it gets cooler. Think pretty pregnant have a sale on as do Jojo, though realise both still quite dear.