Belle

I remember someone telling me the Christmas when I was pregnant that I was 'big for a February baby'. As it happened he was IUGR (retarded growth) so he was most definitely NOT big for a February baby and came in January anyway! Did also get told by a pair of ladies I met at a public meeting how completely awful labour was and it was the worst thing ever etc. Then was quizzed by a guy in the office about whether I'd be circumcising my son (husband is Jewish) and if not, why not.

I agree about the not drinking comments being annoying - I found I wanted to snap at people who said 'anything you want to tell us?'. Mainly because, surely they realise there's a good reason why you might want to keep it to yourself, so they are only making things awkward by bringing it up.

I think your last comment says it all - what an arse! Try to ignore it if you can - easier said than done though. I have to say taxi drivers were the absolute worst when I was pregnant - and the trouble is it's quite likely you get more taxis because you're pregnant so you're more exposed to it. I began to dread the chat, especially once I'd been chastised several times for finding out the sex. how could I, did i want to ruin the suprise of having a child, etc etc. One in particular got really wound up and then I made the mistake of confirming that i had kept my own name on getting married - I thought he was going to blow a gasket. The thing is you can't tell them where to get off (short of curtailing the trip like you had to) because you're kind of in their hands to get to wherever your'e going. SO annoying! don't worry about the size thing - I had people tell me in the same day once that I was really tiny for how pregnant I was, and really massive. People just want to comment I think, and often don't particular mean what they're saying.

LOVED the argh to ZZZ book - very funny, and absolutely spot on. have the oliver james book too and looking forward to reading it - don't know if will agree with what he says or not but do enjoy reading different parenting stuff, find the whole subject interesting. To be fair though Little ED Family - it's hardly his fault where he went to school - that would be his parents' choice :) From what I've read of his stuff in the Guardian, I don't fall any of his categories as he typifies stay at home mums as the sling-wearing/attachment parenting type which I most definitely am not, despite being a SAHM. I identify more with what he calls the 'fleximum' which tend to be part-time workers I think.

I use the same one and find I can fit my (wriggly) 16 mth old through the gap when unzipped.

that's quite impressive - I have relied upon cbeebies until now when we've launched into breakfast - have already had a fight with some Oats so simple ending in disaster, and then tried to slice bread from breadmaker only to realise it's not done yet, so have a slightly irritable toddler chewing soggy bread at the moment.

aah I see - and they do say harder to get it wrong if it's a boy (!)

Well mine wasn't bf and despite some 'golden' days of 7/7.30am wakings (rare and lovely) he's generally an early waker. So there's an anecdotal rebuttal! Def the stirring at 5 - and then it's hit and miss if he goes back. Yes - why do you think a boy? And how are you feeling now?

me! Better than yesterday when he woke up at 5...Couldn't sleep last night because of husband snoring though...

i have the same things - asthma and eczema and it runs on both side of the family, son already has the latter - but I gave him all the things you mention from pretty early in the weaning process. the only things I've ever seen an obvious reaction to (not any more though) where tomato sauce type things, but literally a v superficial reaction - ie w hen smeared on cheeks, they'd go red (after washing sauce off I mean). Apparently all the boys on husband's side did that. Anyway point is all the supposed 'baddies' seem fine so think it's a case of try it and see. I think as well as nuts (think perhaps this is because of choking hazard too), the other main thing people warn you to hold off on is honey. Pitta and hummous = fab staple so go for it!

what's the goose green playgroup?

It does seem really unfair when you did it all by the book and got in touch with them v early on as well. From memory - did you have an independent midwife with the twins? In which case you know what you're getting so sounds like a good plan - but it's a shame that things didn't work out with dmc/the lanes. God around here - what with primary school places and huge midwifery caseloads, it's all a bit stressful having kids!

I know they hadn't done your booking in yet but they'd seen you and sent you for a scan so they should really have responded to the messages. Realise they're busy so people who are not yet patients will be lower priority but I think you shouldn't fall into that category. And as you say you were clearly upset on phone etc. apalling admin. It's a shame as they're such nice midwives.

So glad all ok Fuschia, but really shocked by the lack of coherent service you got and by how hard it was for you just to find someone to see you - ridiculous that it should be so difficult! You poor thing. And v annoying re the midwives not getting back to you, can well imagine that you'd like to have it all sorted. would it be worht tring the Brierley just in case they have any cancellations - you never know...

hi...i was very dubious too but then after weaning my son went through a phase of not drinking much milk and we were worried in case he wasn't getting enough. We did check the difference between SMA Gold and follow-on and from memory the latter was slightly more concentrated - ie we thought it was worth switching in case it meant he was getting more nutrients etc even if drinking less (if that makes sense). In general though I think there's not a lot of difference and if he still likes the Aptamil you've always given him it's not worth changing now.

corams fields lovely - went recently and going again tomorrow - various animals, about four different play areas including sandpit, and outdoors cafe plus near brunswick centre for family friendly restaurants.

I think it's fine - often people actually include receipts saying if you don't like it, change it - so what you're doing isn't far different to that. Much better to get something you'll actually wear otherwise it was a waste.

I didn't want music either but molly, you re minded me that when I was in labour with mine I was watching Masterchef, which I am a massive fan of - but for a while after I couldn't watch it!

It's great - have lived here in pre baby days, and now again with baby and I love it. As little ed family says there is so much on our doorstep, and I found it a lifesaver in early days with baby to be able to get out to the park easily or just wander to the shops without it meaning a major journey. There are tonnes of nice cafes etc to sit in when baby is quite small and lots of activities for when they're bigger (including plenty of free ones eg One o clock club, whippersnappers). there are good community midwifery teams but they get booked up early on so you'd need to get in quick...and the other down side is that since it's such a nice place to live the house prices are v high. We're not on the tube but I find transport quite easy as there's trains to London Bridge from ED (no steps on the London side, only a couple on the way back - makes trips to Borough market/Tate Modern with buggy v easy) plus buses to the west end, waterloo and victoria. Or you can go to Peckham Rye or Denmark Hill for trains to victoria and the city. There are nice delis (some might say overpriced...) and pubs yes, and I do know my neighbours pretty well. It's a good place for making mum friends too.

i think despite the down sides I am v thankful to the dummy for saving my sanity - son was very screamy (looking back wonder if it was because of his reflux, or poss colic or just the fact he's very 'spirited') and it was a lifesaver, and there have been recent times eg having his operation for grommets when I was thankful for it (they let him keep it in throughout the op and it certainly helped calm me that he had it as he was put under). Anyway have been inspired by PR darling's story so gave it a go tonight (poss a bit mad given haven't tried any naps without it yet so not sure how I'll cope tomorrow...). Took almost exactly 45 mins so just like with your son PR D! He did stop after 20 mins and we had just started congratulating ourselves when he started up again and it was pretty horrible. What I'm now really dreading is the night as normally if he wakes we just rush in with the dummy...will have to have some resolve.

Well said Sean. Completely agree.

Exactly - I don't understand the feeling of outrage that he somehow swindled the taxpayer. I also don't think his wealth is relevant to be honest.

Embezzling? It wasn't fraudulent to claim back rent - MPs are allowed to do this on expenses. If he'd been living somewhere else, or indeed doing as many do and claiming morgtage repayments, it could easily have been more than 40k. It's a question of whether it was wrong not to declare who his landlord was.

The weird thing is, often it falls out when he's asleep and he doesn't notice at all - so I don't think that's what wakes him exactly (and also he can fall asleep without it in car/buggy ie when on move) - but it's as if once he's awake he needs me to come and replace it, where before we never had this problem. I had hoped we'd missed that stage! All the baby sleep advice always seems to say get rid of crutches eg dummy...

Is 16 months a crazy time to try to wean off dummy completely (only has it for sleep really)? I can totally see the merits of waiting until he's 2 or 3, and he's certainly well past the stage of us being able to remove it without him noticing, but I think he's so dependent it's messing sleep up - he now doesn't retrieve it himself in the night, but cries until we come and do it.