RenF

Hello, Thought I'd just share my experience. My LO (now 1) was sleeping through from 5 mths to about 9 months. Then, a house move coupled with (I think) some developmental leaps meant she suddenly started night waking. For about two months she would wake every night at different times, but once awake would be awake for two hours, getting increasingly distressed at our attempts to settle her. What we eventually tried was to initially go in, give her a cuddle say shh and then settle her back down. After this we would decrease the amount of time we spent in her room, gradually progressing through not picking her up, just gently shushing her whilst standing next to the bed and then shushing from the door. This gradually started to decrease the amount of time she was awake for and slowly she has resumed sleeping through. This may of course be nothing to do with my 'technique' and just due to her being ready to sleep through again, but it felt like a not too stressful way to let her settle herself when a couple of weeks of being in her room for hours just felt it was making things worse! Hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

You could do it in a bit of olive oil I suppose, but I use a tiny nut of unsalted butter- bit tastier I think! You're really only cooking to soften it up, as raw apple is a bit challenging I think without all your teeth!

Saila that really concerns me- I'm psyched up for a bit of a discussion with them tomorrow now... That is absolutely not on if it is the case.

Thank you all for the replies- The point about fruit is a very good one- they have a mid morning snack where they eat as much as they like pretty much, so I wonder if that might be part of the issue? Nappy lady, when I said strict routine I meant they get changed regularly regardless and also when they need changing (ie very wet or poo). I would be horrified if she was being left for a couple of hours with a soiled nappy, so whilst I really don't think that's happening I will definitely raise it... We supply our own wipes etc so I don't think that is the issue.

My little girl has been at nursery now for about a month. Quite soon after she started, staff commented to me that she seemed to be getting a nappy rash. This was a real surprise to me, as we have been very lucky and she's never suffered with this. The rash (well, it's more redness really than a rash) has come and gone but has never been a problem when she's at home on the day I don't work/weekends. However, LO and behold today she came home (after three days at home) very red, and clearly quite tender as she was upset getting in the bath/having nappy changed. It's quite upsetting really, and obviously we're going to speak to the nursery but I really can't imagine why she's getting a rash unless her nappy isn't being changed frequently (which I'm fairly sure it is as they do it on a strict routine). The only thing my husband noticed was that her nappy wasn't on very snugly this evening ie; could the urine be sitting on her skin rather than being taken in straight away and therefore causing a rash? Does that seem likely? Anyone with any experience of this? Thank you!

If you're worrying about toast disintegrating then try cutting soldiers up and bake in the oven on a low heat. Makes them really hard, which sounds counter intuitive but they can then suck on them and they slowly melt rather than breaking off in hard to swallow chunks. Second cooked apple- I cut into wedges and then fry in the pan with a little unsalted butter and cinnamon. My LO loves them. Also steamed/roasted veg fingers? Steamed fish which they can break chunks off and eat? Ummm... Some good inspiration on this website too: http://www.babyledweaning.com/recipes/ Hope everyone is well again soon.

Ha ha Chillaxed- our monitor has the voice thing too, and my hubby once used it to say hello to our little girl through- absolutely terrified her! It's not something we use as a result, but might be useful when she's a bit older "go to SLEEP!"

We have a BT one- it's been great. Good range, temperature monitor etc. Just a personal opinion but can't help thinking the video monitor might have made me super paranoid! I'd have spent the whole evening watching it!

Thanks all- will look into.

I just phoned Peckham Pulse to find out about swimming lessons for my daughter who is nearly one. Bit disappointed that they only have lessons during the day on weekdays- nothing at weekends (not for her age range anyway)... thats us working parents out then! I'm going to have google for swimming lessons elsewhere on Saturdays/Sundays, but if anybody knows of any offhand I'd love to hear about them... thanks!

Fuschia and Sillywoman, you're right of course (and I wish I'd said as much in my post)... But I can definitely identify with the feeling of 'failure' even when the rational part of your brain tells you that you and baby are both healthy and that nothing you did was 'wrong'. I've pretty much reconciled myself with what happened during my labour, but a year on I admit to still having the odd pang of something (not sure what, sadness?) that things didn't quite work out as I'd hoped. Dev, as you're realising it doesn't really matter in the end, and in a few more months time all this will seem a distant memory! All the best

Devsdev, your experience sounds so similar to mine (birth plan fail, nipple pain, supy issues and all!). Well done for persevering... It's ridiculously hard to begin with but am here to say it gets easier. I bf my daughter for 10mths- and she was also combi fed throughout that time. I haven't much other advice to offer but just to say there is such a thing as posterior tongue tie - which is much harder to spot than normal tongue tie. I know that the midwives who run the bf cafe at Peckham library are trained to spot tongue tie (they rule it out in my little one). Also, for supply I found fennel tea really helped. Good luck!

Hello, Have you heard of the "no cry sleep solution"? Not something I've used but heard from others it's quite a gentle way of encouraging sleep without 'props' ie bottles/dummies/boob. Have a google for Elizabeth Pantley and a technique called the Pantley pull-off (ridiculous slightly dodgy name I know!)... A friend used this to help her daughter settle without a dummy, and it can be used for bf to sleep too. I haven't used the baby whisperer myself but have a friend who swears by it! Good luck

Thanks so much for the replies and ideas- as ever it's nice to know that others experience similar issues. To be honest, I think the logistical issues of the nursery run are by far the most stressful bit of returning to work! Baby F is 11months and seems definitely to want something else to eat when we get in before bath, bed and bottle. One idea I had was making a batch of mini muffins with grated veg (courgette, butternut squash have gone down well in the past). Baby F loves these and it's a cheeky way of getting a bit of extra veg in there...

Just looking for a bit of inspiration really if anyone wants to share! Baby F has started nursery and I generally pick her up between 5.30 and 6 pm. Nursery gives them a cooked lunch then she has a bottle about 2.30 and 'tea' at 4 ish (generally something like sandwiches or soup). I don't think 'tea' is enough for dinner, and it's too early besides (don't want her waking up hungry in the night), but it seems too much to give her a full meal when we get home... Wondering what others have done in this situation? Any great ideas for healthy filling snacks? Thanks!

Probably the best thing to do is google for local nurseries in your area, then make appointments to go along for a visit to get a feel for the place. Some do have waiting lists, but things change all the time and if you only want part time it might be different. Lots of childminders advertise on here, as well as sites like netmums so again perhaps meet a few and see what you think. There's load of advise out there about child care, but really you will make a decision based on your gut feeling about what's right for your child. You may go into it thinking nursery would be best, then meet a childminder you love or vice versa. I think having a look about first is the best thing to do. Hope that helps!

Good to hear- thanks.

There seemed to be some fun stuff going on at the Horniman this weekend- hat/mask making which might suit your 3 year old, and our 10 month old loves the aquarium downstairs...

Hi all, Think there was a thread elsewhere on the foodbank in Peckham, but just wanted to make people aware that they take baby food as well as other more general groceries. I had some (obviously unused and sealed) baby food that was given to me that I wasn't going to use, so I took it down there today. They were really grateful, and in fact the two women in there picking up food boxes had babies with them so I'm glad I took it down. Link to their website: http://www.pecan.org.uk/our-projects/foodbank

Thanks for the replies all- a few bits to think about for sure, and interesting to hear that she's not the only one who has done or is doing the short/randomn nap thing. I've always been a bit nervous of waking her up from naps, although I know some people find it a really effective way to get a good routine going. I think with nursery starting in three weeks, I might see how that impacts on her and take it from there. Edited to add: Oh, and sods law- she's been asleep for an hour this morning so far, so looks like another change is on its way. Funny thing. :)

Thanks Snowboarder, good to know she isn't the only randomn napper!

Hi snowboarder, thanks, I've done that a couple of times and occasionally manage to get a slightly better routine going, but eventually she just seems to end up exhausted, and I feel like I'm forcing her to do something unnatural. Yes, leaving her when she first stirs does sometimes result in a bit more sleep so maybe I will persevere with that. It's quite strange and I don't really know anyone with babies the same age who nap like she does! I worry a bit about nursery because I just can't see her getting through the day without a complete melt down as I think they'll struggle to let her sleep so often. I'm kind if hoping they might know some magic to help her nap more efficiently!

Yes, sometimes she struggles (ie if teething, as she is now), but 9 times out of 10 she settles after a cuddle.

Thanks Bumpkin- I know the 12 hours at night is brilliant and I'm sure lots of people will think I'm being overly picky... But, it's not that I want her to nap for my sake, more her own. She just seems so tired throughout the day, she struggles to sleep in her Pram unless it's constantly moving and often by the time we've got to an activity or group for her, she's ready to sleep which is a bit frustrating, so we spend a lot of time at home.

I wonder if anyone can help me? Or even reassure me! My daughter is 10 mths old. Day time naps have always been a bit of a mystery to me. Currently she is having three half hour naps per day. But she frequently changes her napping routine, seemingly regardless of what I do! Quite recently she was having two at least hour long naps per day, occasionally having two hours in the afternoon. When she was very wee she would sleep for three hours in the morning and then not the rest of the day! I try not to let her get overtired, and put her down for naps when she is tired, we have a nap time routine, and I've spent days and weeks at home trying all sorts of things to establish better naps (ie this mythical long afternoon nap I hear others speak of!) I genuinely wouldn't be bothered if she didn't nap at all, but she basically struggles to stay awake for more than two hours at a time, and then only has these tiny naps, which really make going anywhere or doing anything quite difficult. She sleeps pretty much 12 hours at night so nothing to complain about there. So- can anyone relate/explain or advise? Or, should I just leave well alone and hope starting nursery at the end of the month sorts it?! Thanks...