mrsbee

I thought that this book (weaning made easy) was excellent. It gives a good overview of both BLW and spoon feeding and also overs allergies, intolerances etc.

Count me in as well

Reneet - I agree completely with what you?re saying. I am currently weaning baby number 3. I was hoping to spoon feed from 6 mo (as I had done with the previous 2) but he was having none of it so I had to go down the BLW route. And I have to say I really didn?t like it ? the wasted food, the time it took for him to eat anything and the mess. I did read the book and didn?t like the tone of it at all, lots of claims not backed up with any sort of evidence ? BLWed babies will be less fussy, less obese etc. Also was not impressed with the cook book. After about 6 weeks he started taking the spoon so I have taken some of the principles of BLW (i.e. babies can eat what you eat) but puree/ mash it up so he actually eats something. I do still give finger foods but mainly as a snack. I read this book (weaning book)which I thought gave a good summary of both approaches and would highly recommend it. I do think that BLW needs a certain mindset which I don?t have. Also I actually find having a few pureed meals in the freezer great in case I need something quick and suitable for a baby. As Pickle says as long as you and the baby is happy then stick with what you?re doing.

The other thing I would say is if it isn't going well don't be afraid to stop and start again in a couple of weeks/ months. I persevered with my eldest and it took a while to get there. With number 2 I tried a couple of months ago and although we had some success I didn't think he was truly ready so stopped and restarted a couple of days ago and we haven't had one wee accident so far (however poos seem to be taking a little bit longer to master!)

This happened when my little one was 2yr 3 mo - even a 15 minute nap meant he was still up talking (or jumping in and out of the cot) until at least 9. I just stopped naps altogether and put him to bed at 6.30. He did get tired in the day so we had a quiet hour over lunch time where I just let him watch tv and this meant that he could last the afternoon. He is now 2yr7mo and quite often has a 20 min nap on the school run but this doesn't seem to stop him sleeping at 7 like it did before. No idea why but I've learnt to just accept these things and not to try to understand them...

Good luck today Grotty. I'm currently potty training my 2.5 year old so know what you're going through! He doesn't have a nap so we don't have that issue but when potty training my older boy I kept him in pull ups for his nap until it was consistently dry which didn't take too long once he was dry during the day. Night time was a whole different matter probably took another year before he was dry at night.

So sorry to hear what you are going through. I've also been there having had an awful 12 week scan - nuchal measurement was over 4mm, no nasal bone and two other markers for chromosomal problems where found (one in the heart and one in the liver) on the positive side my bloods were fine. I was given a 1 in 2 chance of downs (you can't get any worse odds) and 1 in 8 for other problems. I had a CVS there and then and it did come back clear (I now have a very healthy 2 year old). you have my sympathies, the wait for the results is horrible however you are in the best place and I really hope that you get good news on Wednesday.

We have a manduca (similar to an ergo) and a macpac framed carrier. I use the manduca on a daily basis (currently with a 6 month old but have used it for carrying a 2 year old) and I love that it can be put in the bottom of the buggy or in a day bag and it is really comfortable to wear for me and really easy to get the baby in. However my husband much prefers the macpac and we tend to use this for longer trips. And actually my older boys probably preferred the macpac as well - maybe because they are a bit higher up and can see everything and they have slept better in that than the manduca (though the baby sleeps well in the manduca). The macpac does have the advantage of having storage space that the manduca obviously doesn't and also does have a good sun/ rain cover. Also our macpac carrier can be adjusted depending on the height of the wearer so can cope if wearers are different heights.

I use a Manduca which can be used on the front and the back. Currently use it for my six month old but have also used it for my older two until they were 2.5. I love it - I find it easy to get the baby/ child in and out and really comfortable - can carry then for a couple of hours no problem.

absolutely lovely

Fuchsia - it is lactose intolerance as they did a reducing sugars test which proved positive so not an allergy (though that is still a possibility). Also I did double check with the GP (actually both GP's that I have seen) and they agree that there will still be lactose in my breast milk but if I cut out diary then the level should reduce so hence should help with digestion.

A quick update on this. So it turns out that the baby moving down he centiles is because he is lactose intolerant and hence the reason for the poor weight gain. This was only diagnosed at six months so he is now having lactose free formula and I am on a dairy free diet (which is proving more difficult than I thought) as I am mixed feeding. So hopefully now along with weaning he will start to put on a weight.

A quick update on this. So it turns out that the baby moving down he centiles is because he is lactose intolerant and hence the reason for the poor weight gain. This was only diagnosed at six months so he is now having lactose free formula and I am on a dairy free diet (which is proving more difficult than I thought) as I am mixed feeding. So hopefully now along with weaning he will start to put on a weight.

Thanks for the advice - I have tried pear (but he really struggled to hold it - any tips on how to help him hold slippy fruit??) and some toast. I have to say he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about either but I'll keep trying some other foods and hopefully he will start to get the idea. Crystal I was hoping he would also open his mouth like a bird like my other two but this one obviously has other ideas.

I have just started weaning my six month old and was intending on doing purees as I did with my older two. However he doesn?t seem keen ? just holds the puree in his mouth and some is swallowed and some spat out. But today I gave him a cooked carrot and he was quite happy to suck on so maybe baby led weaning is the way to go. Though the problem is I know nothing about it ? I have ordered in the book but until it turns up what do I do? Just give him bits of fruit and vegetable to suck on??? Any tips would be most welcome.

Like Pickle I have also used a hugabub for all 3 of my babies. The baby is really cosy and will sleep while leaving you with two free hands to get on with jobs/ have a cup of tea...

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give the Bridge a ring. Pickle - Beckenham isn't possible just yet as they insist on 1 adult to 1 child for under 3s - so until the middle one is 3 we can't go there.

Can anyone tell me where my husband and I can take three children under the age of 5 (4,2 and baby) swimming. Southwark pools insist on 1 adult to 1 child so we can't go any of the local pools. I know we can go to Crystal Palace but was wondering where else we could go. Thanks

I'd love to come too and I've got the other half already lined up for babysitting duty

When number 2 arrived this was the thing that I was most worried about and I tried a number of different of ways until I found what worked for us. The key thing (which is what Pickle has also said) is to be organised. I get everything ready for bed sometime during the day. Then give baby a feed at toddler's teatime and have them in the bath by 6pm - I put both in the bath together and after a short while got the baby out and get them dressed in the bathroom while the older one played in the bath. Then I'd get the other out and get him ready for bed. Once the eldest was about 22 months I'd put him in front of Night Garden (we live in a flat so I'm never too far away) and he would never move from in front of the box. I would then feed baby and put him down and usually he would settle by the time Cbeebies was finished and then I could concentrate on the elder one. Now I have three I do exactly the same - I don't know how I'd do it without the tv though! Also I rarely have help at bedtime and agree with both you that daddy can be more of a help than a hindrance - I have actually asked him not to arrive home at 6.50 as it causes too much excitement with the 2 and 4 year old and undoes all of my good work!

Another vote for little rascals - my 2 year old has been able to climb to the top for the last 4 months or so. I've never had to climb up with him but he has always been a good climber (and just follows his older brother everywhere). The cafe is fine I've had lunch there and it does the job. Also last week I took them to Beckenham which they loved we spent over 2 hours there - again the little one could go everywhere and was fine with the holes. A bit more expensive than Little Rascals and again has a little cafe. Both are good as you can sit and watch them from the cafe bit (which works for me as I have a baby as well). I've also taken the 2 year old and baby to Toddler World - which was good. But definitely only up to 3 - my 4 year old would have been very bored. We also go to Peckham Pulse which just about keeps them busy for 45 minutes.

Fuschia - I think you have hit the nail on the head as part of the issue may be that he is being distracted during feeds with the other two running about. I can't go and feed in a quiet darkened room as I did with baby number 1 as god only knows what the others would get up to if I wasn't there. I am just going to have to make more of an effort to make sure he is getting a good feed every three/ four hours - maybe put the other two in front of the tv for 30 minutes. Thanks for all the advice - I'm not going to worry too much but will just get him weighed again in a month and see how we are doing. If still not gaining weight quickly enough I'll pop to the GP.

Thanks for the advice and reassurance. He is happy, feeding and sleeping well and plenty of wet nappies so I'm sure he is fine. He is gaining weight just not as quickly as the health visitor's would like. I'll just keep going on as we are and get him weighed in a month or so. Ruth - that is a brilliant bit of advice and so true.

Baby number 3 is nearly 16 weeks old. He was born on the 75th percentile but has been steadily moving down the centiles and today was between the 9th and 25th. He is still gaining weight just not as quickly as the health visitors would like. He is fully breast fed and is happy and alert and doesn?t seem to be starving. Any ideas about how to get more milk into him ? I really don?t want to introduce formula (as with two other little ones I don?t really have the time to be making up bottles, sterilising etc.). Or should I try not to worry about it and just assume that as long as he is gaining weight and is happy all is OK.

Thanks for the suggestions. CP one o'clock club is good and that is where we usually go but I/ we need some variety. I am going to try city farm as I hadn't even thought of that.