supergolden88

We cannot seem to catch a break lately. Baby boy just finished second course of antibiotics for an ear infection on Weds. Was fine for couple of days then yesterday started having low grade fever around noon. By nightime he was burning up despite calpol/nurofen, also bit sick so we took him to Kings around 4am. Was extra worried because we took a bad spill and even though he was not hurt or dropped he started running a temp soon after. They were very nice at A&E took temp, checked heart rate, blood glucose, urine, ears all fine. Throat bit red but nothing major. We came home about 7am and he had a bottle and slept for a bit on the breast. Since then however he gets fever the minute drugs wear off and is extremely unsettled and unhappy. Does not want the bottle and does not want to breastfeed. Completely disinterested in solids. Is drooling a lot - more than when teething. I am at a loss as to what's wrong can only think something to do with his throat as he seems uncomfortable drinking and does not want to lie down. Ideas?

My baby boy 8 1/2 months will not eat breakfast. I have tried various things: reddy brek, baby porridge, toast, french toast even pancakes and he will not have anything. Only thing I remember him liking was the pear & baby rice Ella's kitchen pouch - possibly because of the texture or the fact he could slurp it from pouch. He has a 200ml bottle of formula at around 7am or a breastfeed. He usually has no feeds during the night (unless ill then he breastfeeds for comfort). Offering food before the milk does not make much of a difference. Sometimes he only has about 140ml of the bottle and even the boob he is not so interested in (much more interested in chatting). Shall I just give up on this till he is interested? He is now finally eating lunch/dinner after a couple of weeks of refusing to open his mouth (fingers crossed this continues!). He seems a very healthy size.

My little boy has been completely off his food and a little grumpy lately so we went to the GP and he diagnosed ear infection in one ear. He is also quite run down from having had an endless cough/cold. GP prescribed antibiotics but baby is really not himself at all, very touchy and fussy especially when lying down. I have taken to napping with him so he can breasfeed himself to sleep. Is calpol or nurofen best in this situation? And how long does it usually take to clear up?

If you want to create an image in buttercream and then trasfer on to the cake you can do it by creating a drawing/template. Placing clingfilm on top. Creating the image using buttercream on the cling film which you then chill and everntually transfer onto the cake. If you want I can send you a PDF of a similar project - I haven't done this myself just happened to redesign a cake decorating book recently. Not so sure it's the effect you are after.

I may have to go into witness protection but yes good idea lets hope it brings on some changes!

The highchairs I don't care so much although I think it is very shortsighted to have a caf? that clearly attracts so many mum groups and only three highchairs (all used in the function room so none in main room). But yes the service was shocking. It is one waitress in particular who I had not encountered before. I politely asked for some ice with my drink. She brought the drinks but ignored the ice request. I politely asked again and said I would really appreciate it only to be told very curtly 'the drink is really cold'. Hardly the point. Eventually she brought the ice and slammed the glass on the table then proceeded to give me the evil eye the entire time we were there. She was so pointently glaring that when I left another customer made a point of making a jokey remark about it. There were hardly any customers there so it's not like she was busy. I have had friendly (but very slow) service from other waitresses in the past. I used to go there an awful lot but yesterday's bizarre episode really bothered me.

Whatever you do DON'T read Incredibly loud and extremely close. Although a brilliant book it is incredibly sad. I was depressed for ages. The Amazing adventures of Kavalier & Clay was a book I thoroughly enjoyed on holiday - it was out ages ago chances are you've read it.

I used to go there once or twice a week when baby was much younger. Service was very spotty - some of the staff perfectly nice some not so. I have seen waitresses roll the eyes when I walked in with crying baby and mouth 'sorry' to other patrons. Had not been in really long time. Used to be wall to wall mums now was much more empty. And this one particular waitress was a real witch yesterday. Substitute 'b' for 'w'.

Went there the other day at lunchtime only to be told that all 3 (!) highchairs were in use. So I walked back out again. Went with a friend yesterday and I have honestly never had such a rude service in my life. Friends had warned me in the past but I never came across it before. And on top of that the food was awful (quiche that I can only assume was sitting around for a few days cut in slices so it gets nice and completely dry). Will not be going there again - shame because the location and space are great.

Thanks for the advice everyone. He has an ear infection and is back on antibiotics. Still very fussy about all food BLW style or otherwise. But he will eat the Ella's pouches so may just give him those for a few days and offer finger foods on the side.

Well the cold was bad coughing/snot for a few days but no temperature and generally not much affected. Got better and then got worse again. Finally took him to GP July 1st, she gave antibiotics and said to give Calpol (but was not alarmed in any way). Antibiotics were 5 days during which time he improved, slept through for two nights and then started the coughing again. But it's only at night and he is very happy in himself. Past two days he has been completely unwilling to eat food from a spoon. Is also teething - two top teeth taking their sweet time to come through. The GP said his uvula is quite big which can cause him to gag while coughing. I suppose I could take him back just to be on safe side.

well the meal tonight was a bit of a mixed bag offered Sweetcorn: explored it a bit but really not that interested. Needs a few more teeth I think Cheese: took one bite made some priceless faces while chewing - think he kept that one bite down Cucumber: not interested Chicken drumstick: quite liked the taste but I think found it bit rubbery. Chewed on some for ages then spit it all out. Some may have actually been eaten hard to say Positive note: no throwing up despite never having any of this before (not wizzed up) apart from cheese His sister was home and making him laugh like a loon so he allowed a few spoonfulls of plum baby lamb/sweet potato (previously a real hit) and also some fromage frais. He drunk a lot of milk - more than usual... ...which is just as well. As I was typing this he started coughing and I only just managed to lift him out of the cot before he threw up all over me. He has had this cold (coughing and phlegm) for over a month. Taken antibiotics last week and the improvement lasted two days. May have to go back to the GP. Only symptoms now are fits of coughing always when lying down which usually causes him to throw up.

I have been following the other weaning thread with interest but need to start a new one as I am desperate for some quick advice. My boy is 8 months. Started weaning around five months, loved his food for the most part. He was having a mix of homemade food and Ella's pouches/plum baby etc. Had shown a preference for fruit/sweeter food over savoury stuff. Does not like yoghurt or fromage frais the little freak. The past couple of weeks he was off his food which I attributed to having a bad cold and generally being miserable. He is now bit better but has started competely refusing to open his mouth for the spoon. He happily tries rice cakes and other finger foods/fruit. He took a few bites of my lunch (avocado, tomato) but refused all his own yesterday. I thought I would try him on some food BLW style on the tray today. Complete meltdown. Did not want to try. I offered buttered toast and pasta bolognese. Not sure it was him being too tired and too hungry. Not sure if it's teething (second top tooth just coming out causing him lots of pain). He is only having three milk feeds (formula) a day - breakfast, 2.30 and before bed. Total about 600ml. Also breastfeeds before bed and sometimes during the day (and night) but not huge amounts. So he really needs to eat some food to complete his intake. Any top tips? Should I continue offering food rather than pur?es (was doing both). Any BLW foods that always go down well? He has always refused any breakfast other than milk and even the milk he is not ravenous for. Should I just sit back and wait for phase to be over as I am sure it will? I am not a relaxed, go with the flow kind of mum (as you can probably tell). Greek mums always seem to running after their children with a loaded spoon. Was the case with my mum now it's my turn.

Genuine question for those of you who are doing BLW. Do any of you work? I can't somehow picture a nursery or childminder going along with BLW. A good nanny maybe. My son is currently being very difficult about spoon feeding very possibly due to teething. He is happily trying finger foods offered but has a very sensitive gag reflex and only recently managed to keep anything chunky down.

I am meeting with a couple of childminders next week. None have current availability but may have a space for my son in the autumn when he will be 10/11 months. I have met the childminders at baby groups and already quite like the way they interact with their charges but this would be a home visit. Any tips as to what to ask?

My little boy was exactly the same when in the middle of teething/bad cold. Would not eat anything but fruit pots/pouches. Was off his milk too. And frequently coughing made him throw up everything - especially bedtime milk feed. But while I was tearing my hair out he was fine and 10 days or so later back to eating. I found taking him out to a cafe and feeding there was more successful that battling it out at home. Not so sure the cafe staff appreciated it.

Even if you sprayed them with a waterpistol everytime they did something wrong they still would not learn. I don't think they can be trained like dogs. My cat knows full well he is doing something wrong - he is out of the kitchen like a bullet if I catch him at it- but that doesn't stop him.

Yes I have found a steamed courgette with a bite taken out of it on the floor once. I thought maybe there was a spray to keep them away or something like that. I try to put everything away but sometimes baby will cry etc. so I leave the kitchen in a hurry. In desperation I have locked them out while cooking baby food or baking.

I know the answer to this question is probably 'there's nothing you can do' but will ask anyway. We have two cats, brothers, about 12 years old. Their catflap in on the kitchen door. They get fed wet food once a day and they have access to dry food (Hill's) all day so they can graze. One of the cats jumps on the kitchen counters every chance he gets - he is a scavenger. No matter how well fed and no difference if the countertops are clean he climbs on to check anyay. I have found the butter (left out to soften for baking) licked and muffins left to cool bitten. Drives me crazy esp. with a baby in the house. Is there anything I can do to stop him?

The cornflower goop can be coloured with food colouring and is edible too should a baby/toddler decide to eat some (and lets face it most do). And here how to make your own play doh http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Playdough-Play-doh/

I will hand the baking duties to the hubby whose cakes are so good he was drafted for the school fair - a complete stranger came up to him and demanded some. But baking and so on is time consuming and we are rather sort of time in these parts. I think some nice Prosecco and chocs with a handmade card will have to do. Maybe baking for the afterschool club seeing as there are several people there. I draw the line at the headteacher. And no lollipop lady around far as I know.

Luckily I managed to avoid stretch marks but the skin right above the belly button is a sorry sight! The crepey skin is not going away yet though. It looks like a balloon that has been deflated (which it was I guess). I think I would have to have almost zero body fat for the flab to completely go away. And at 38 that is not going to happen unless I go on a very drastic diet/exercise regime and I have no plans to.

What about afterschool club carers? Now am stressing

So in theory a teacher could end up with 30 bottles of wine... Not bad!

Clearly I must be the only mum who a/ has a flabby tummy b/ worries about it. I guess a swimsuit with control panel is the way to go!