supergolden88

So the headline on the BBC should say something like "Breastfed babies better behaved or so their parents think" And I find Breastapo funny. Because I am weird that way. Due to being breastfed no doubt

While I am all for breastfeeding how do the researchers qualify or even check good behaviour? Did they follow all those baby test subjects daily for 5 years? I know a few children who are real terrors and they were breastfed for over a year. I know several who were bottlefed and they are just as bad (or as good). I think the home environment and way both parents raise their children may be more influential than breastfeeding with regards to behaviour. But I am too tired to make any worthwhile comments here.

I know kids with severe nut alergy that are alergic to coconut (and their oil) as well as sesame etc. My son has a bit of eczema although I don't know if it is triggered by food. It actually flared up today after being almost gone so I am hoping it was the heat and not food that caused it

There's something to be said for spending a little money. With first baby I did not have a clue what to buy, did not have any mum friends and so ended up buying Graco travel system because it was cheap and would do the job. It included car seat, pushchair and some extras. A few months later I had to buy a new pushchair (a Maclaren this time) as the Graco one was incredibly hard to push, the wheels squeaked and rattled and got stuck and car seat was outgrown in no time. So in the end I probably spend as much as I would have done on a more expensive pushchair. That said the Bugaboo (and some others) are very expensive but seeing as you will use them daily for a couple of years at least it works out at less than a pound per day. And you can sell them on or buy them second hand to begin with.

I would NOT attach a dog to a Bee... strong wind has moved it so unless you have a very docile dog I would not risk it! edit to say how funny it reads attaching a dog to a bee... Wrong in many many ways...

oldnewromantic you are responsible for baby no2. It was meant to be a girl. Must keep trying... ** kidding! I have a 6 month old boy and nearly 5 year old girl. I think we may have missed the boat on them sharing... By the time boy is old enough my daughter will probably not want to share her very girly toys and space. But lets wait and see. In terms of noise etc as long as baby goes down first it should be ok but you could do some trial runs before moving the them in same room.

Yep though perhaps something less thorny... She has a set of gardening tools but most have been left in the rain for over a year so a new set would be a good idea. I need a plant that flowers profusely and is good for cut flowers. Any good books you folks can recommend? She has tons of books but haven't bought her anything recently (Octonauts was latest purchase some months back). I like the toy kitchen idea but they are either plastic and rather awful or wood, very pretty and really expensive. Hmmmmm

I love the Bugaboo Bee which I got for second baby but it does have a couple of drawbacks. The rain cover is fiddly and not easy to fold up or store when not in use. And I find the straps really short for some reason perhaps I haven't figured out how to use them properly! I also find the cost of some of the accessories completely outrageous - but don't feel you have to buy them if you go for one. I got a John Lewis footmuff for instance which was a third or more less than the Bugaboo branded muff and nicer too I think. The wheels are said to be rickety by many but seem fine to me. Sure they make some noise on uneven terain but nothing terrible. I love the fact I can push and turn it etc one handed it is so easy to handle. One more plus point is that the Bugaboos tend to retain their value if you want to sell it on. After browsing the internet for weeks dithering about whether to buy it we went to Mothercare on Old Kent Rd with our 3 day old baby and they demonstrated the Bee for us. They also gave us at least 10% off on the Bee and everything else we bought that day (bouncy chair, clothes etc). So sometimes it pays to go to a shop.

Can coconut milk be used in baby food - at 6 months? I want to add to a chicken recipe Also can you add rice/quinoa to baby food (which is then pulsed in food processor)? thanks!

Actually had a couple of good ideas while watering the garden - flower press and rose bush as she is very into flowers and always wants to cut mine any electronic gadgets that help with reading out there? That would be good for her and if any of you have a toy kitchen would you recommend it? Or is it going to just take up space and not be used? She loves helping out while we cook and makes her own brews out of leaves and sticks etc

Yes we donated an old canon to her (after she broke the lens but still works) and she also has a Vtech. So camera is out should have mentioned that... She's into dolls, role playing, reading, ballet, drama club, sports, school, anything girly but has pretty much anything. First grandchild so spoiled rotten

Help everyone. Daughter turns 5 in less than a month and not only have I not got her anything yet I have no idea WHAT to get her. She has a bike and scooter so anything else... What did you give your girls on their 5th birthday?

is this any good? cakedecorations

lovely but not cheap - 28 packets of seeds will be very costly I think I may just not do the party bags at all. Whichever way you look at it it's lots of money for completely throaway stuff

I have been reading the book again and I really think it would help you both. With older children sometimes CC is not the way to go depending on the sleep issues. If night terrors or anxiety etc is the cause the book recommends much gentler methods of gradual retreat which take longer than CC. CC is also sometimes very awful inititally with toddlers because they are very determined and can scream for hours. You really have to stick to it.

If you think that's bad my daughter got 3 big chocolate eggs in school. One in class one at afterschool club one at holiday scheme. We weren't going to buy her any but of course my mother also send her a boxful of (very expensive good chocolate) easter treats and so did her auntie in Canada. The eggs have been put on a high shelf and at some point we are going to have to open them and dole them out. Why on earth would they give out big chocolate eggs at school?? In the end who eats most of the chocolate? Me.

I do think she slept too long in the day. And I would not give feeds in the night if baby was sleeping through before. If you are using CC in the day then you have to do it at night as well. It is dreadful but if you follow a method you have to stick to it. Did she not have much milk in the day? My son keeps chatting to himself sometimes for a long time around 3am. He usually doesn't cry anymore unless something is bothering him (eczema recently). Not sure what keeps him awake perhaps it is a naturally wakeful period in the night. I think I read somewhere that we enter our deepest sleep early in the night then have a wakeful period in the middle of the night and again deeper sleep towards the morning. Although morning tends to be 6am for babies. Just when I really am finally sleeping.

Yes I am inclined to say no to party bags. But if her friends have brought them on their birthdays* she will expect to bring them too. She does not miss a trick. And has reached an age (or maybe just the going to school) where she is very concerned about what other children think of her. *(and they have: full of sweets and crisps. I had to say the crisps are too salty for you and (some of) the sweets too bad for you. Then promptly scoffed the lot) May look into paper bags with some trinkets from Farmers (is that what the shop is called on LL?) and the cupcakes. Need to consult with the school mums.

I have one of those activity stations handed down from a friend. It is big and ugly but keeps baby entertained for short bursts (5-10m or longer). Plus it's safe to leave him in there for couple of minutes to make tea or go to the loo! like this one leapfrog But I think your baby will start being happier in playgym, pushchair etc as she grows. My son screamed bloody murder when he went in his pushchair or car seat at first. He literally would scream till he choked in the bugaboo. He is ok now unless really tired and cranky. The sling has been a lifesaver - would not be able to cook, do laundry etc without it! By far the best entertainment for my baby is his sister - she is nearly five so able to distract him quite nicely for a bit.

My daughter turns 5 in a month and she is having a party inviting a few of her friends - some from school, nursery etc. Her birthday falls on a Monday and from what I can gather kids bring cake and treats for the whole class. What is the protocol these days? A party bag per child plus cake? I was thinking of baking cupcakes so one for each child instead of cut cake. Party bags can get very expensive and I have to provide 28 of them. Any ideas? She also goes to afterschool club but I don't suppose I need treats for everyone there too?! Maybe a cake? Arghhhh

definitely electric I have a Medela Swing and it is great. I am sure there are better ones out there but this works for me. I used to have the battery operated Medela (forgotten name it was 5 years ago).

well I will be impressed with any fitting that will even out right breast (or enormoboob as my husband affectionally calls it) and the left which is much more ... modest

yes persevere if you can with CC - not good to change things around now unless you are happy to do so. And if it is a really wakeful period perhaps she will realise instead of screaming she can play/chat to herself. But dont go in every ten minutes - go in at 5/10/15/20* etc. *or whatever is the longest you are comfortable with. The night nanny that helped with CC a few weeks ago was against all mobiles/music etc. especially in the middle of the night as that may make baby MORE wakeful and playful. She was also against white noise but I have not followed that bit of advice - we have a wave white noise app on my iTouch through the night and during naps. It probably does not make any difference to the baby but it helped ME sleep when he was still sharing our room and it drowns some of noise of the household.

The thing I found when they are so young is one week they will nap/sleep great and the next they will do something completely different. It changes almost daily. Just go with the flow ... for now at least. You can try to put the baby down for a nap at the same time each day but there's no guarantee that it will follow the routine and sleep as planned. I think it is more important to establish a bedtime ritual/routine as that is something even really young babies respond to (marathon breastfeeding sessions followed by bath, massage and more breastfeeding in my case). Going to bed at the same time each day helped my second realise it is bedtime/night pretty early on - just out of necessity having an older child to put to bed at the same time. enjoy your newborn and good luck

short answer (bouncing baby as I am typing) is yes you can regress and need to go back to CC. but I would also look at how much she is napping and whether you need to reduce her nightime sleep by putting her down later. All babies experience a wakeful period (my boy is pretty awake between 3-4am) but your daughter sounds as if maybe she is not that tired. Also maybe she is learning a new skil that is keeping her brain active. this too shall pass