The Nappy Lady

I had my mum first time, & my sister & my children's Godmother (who has no children of her own) the second time. She has an amazing bond with my daughter as a result & I'm so glad I was able to let her experience birth first hand. I'm afraid it was 3 years ago though, so like others above, no good to you.

The soft leather bootees over socks should solve the problem, good luck. With my first gap socks stayed on fine, with my second she had slightly curved feet (metatarsus addictus is the medical term) & socks would always come off unless she had the soft leather boots on top. So, I think sometimes the shape of the feet can clearly have an impact, even if not a medical problem. People are right about only using soft shoes though, she's worn special shoes with a straight inner edge from the age of 1-3 & this alone has been enough to gently correct the curve in her feet - which shows how easily their feet can be affected by footwear.

Do any of us really know what birth is like until we have experienced it? Not sure this makes us naive. I've had two amazing home births. Some would say I was naive, or over confident, or brave, or stupid.....or just very lucky. I would like to think I was pretty realistic but also confident that my body would be able to do what it was designed for & thankfully it was. All women should have the choice to give birth where they are happiest and certainly shouldn't be forced to choose based on guilt about taking midwives out of hospitals.

In the Summer my friends were having drinks in a garden centre cafe & her children (6 & 9) pointed out to her a stout man in jeans & a t-shirt with a White beard at another table saying it looked like F Christmas. He clearly noticed, and when he got up to leave passed their table, tapped his nose & said 'Yes, it is' and handed their mum a business card that was simply a photo of him dressed as FC with the slogan 'I'm always watching' on the back - no contact details or anything. He walked away & the children sat like goldfish for 10 mins!!!!! I love this man, whoever he is. I remember when I realised it was all a big lie, but went along with it anyway so as not to hurt my parents feelings!!! Hoping our eldest will play along for the sake of her little sister.

Lue Lue, thank you so much for posting, it is so good to hear from parents & babies who have benefitted directly. I'm so glad your little girl is now strong & healthy despite her early arrival.

Hi B, I can't offer much further advice, but can say that O turned into a TERRIBLE eater at about this age, meal times were a real battle but these days she eats like a horse... Even asks me for food which still amazes me. I remember C was really off colour after having the flu jab (if you recall they were giving it to babies 2 years ago), she won't back to breast feeding only for about 3 days, even though she was about 13 months old. I can totally understand how worrying it is, especially given how dinky little buglet is, but I'd say just keep a close eye on things & keep her hydrated & offering treats - little & often, when distracted - TV etc if need be, or meals with other children....or let her think she's being 'cheeky' & stealing your food when she isn't meant to.....it might work, at least once or twice. Fingers crossed she will get better soon, thinking of you. Xxx

Just thought it was worth letting people know as I've noticed various Medula electric breast pumps & that Eco moonlight nightlight which I know is highly recommended - all due to come up between now & 2pm.

Just had an email from the Head confirming they are in discussions regarding this and that it is very likely to happen, meaning 3 reception classes in September 2012. I thought it might be of interest to people.....

I got some lovely black jodhpurs/leggings from Sainsburys, they are the Gok ones & I love the fit especially as they are high waisted, so no nasty draughty bits!

Thank you marvellous ladies, I knew you'd be able to help. Cinders SHALL go to the ball.....

You know the kind - that will pull the right bits in, and push certain other bits up in order to make sure my party dress looks as good as it should!!

The pharmacy on Northcross Rd - now a Lloyds always had flushable paper liners fir sale. They were on the shelf to your right as you go in. If all else fails..... Www.thenappylady.co.uk Happy cloth nappy days people!

Well..... I always tried to go to places that have lots of room, like bread of life cafe, or park cafe & leave the buggy outside. But there are times it is tricky if baby is asleep etc. I do feel for cafe owners who need the tables to turnover enough to ensure a steady income on food etc & certainly not just coffee (even if over priced)! So, I see both sides & would like to think most people can be considerate about these things. I think sometimes Mums are just tired, stressed out etc & probably react badly in the moment (remembers sobbing outside what was Somerfield on Lordship Lane after mistaking the time & getting a parking ticket when my first was tiny - the warden must have thought I was a nutter). :-$ I know that until I had kids I had no idea what it is really like, and with the best will in the world I suspect some (not all) of those who are quick to condem parents on the forum also fall into that category. It's just a fact that it is very hard to really understand how hard it can be - after all we are just swanning around, drinking coffee in cares (or wine in pubs?) all day..... Right? I don't see how the cafe problem can be fixed to be honest. Personally I have no desire to struggle into a crowded cafe with a buggy and then sit there whilst constantly having to allow others to squeeze by me so I plan to avoid those places. Maybe certain cafes need to simply set themselves up to deter the Mums brigade if they don't want them, I'm sure there is enough other trade in ED to keep them in business? Creative ways to let us know (politely) that we are not welcome on the premises ladies?!

I totally agree Otta, no intention to defend all parents & I appreciated that very sensible post on the other thread. You are right, we shouldn't encourage the 'them & us' thing, though sadly I have always felt it's presence on the forum. This FR thread started quite sensibly with a question about a raised issue but we have all been very naughty & taken it off at a tangent. It has been entertaining though.

Careful, I gather we (Family Room Bullies) are ganging up - pushchairs fully armed, bottles of milk at the ready, I'm swinging my baby reigns around my head ready to launch an attack. If 'we' agree on a subject it's bullying, if 'they' agree on a subject it's objective criticism. Love & peace people.

P.S. I do sleep in my clothes ready to leap up & dash to A&E at any moment though! ;-)

Threads like the one this post refers to remind me of pre Family Room days when I so often ended up upset or depressed by the attitude of the 'anti child brigade'. It's so sad that in this crazy world where there is some true atrocities going on, that people cannot just live & let live when it comes to stuff like this. Sigh. As for the woman who posted re drinking & parenting being so wrong. Unbelievable. I'd love her to walk a day in our (a parents) shoes. Hands up, guilty as charged, I sometimes come down from putting the girls to bed and mix myself a drink & laughing say 'ah, just 1 to take the edge of the day' because it amuses me. These people slam us for having kids, slam us for making our lives revolve around said off spring, slam us if we get out & don't live our lives around said off spring. In the word of someone famous, "you cannot please all of the people all of the time". Voddy & coke anyone?! Oh dear,

There is also this, which is what I always told people about in my nappy demos; "Many consumers believe biological detergents are harsher on sensitive skin, but a study published in the British Journal Of Dermatology found little evidence for this." Because the non-bios contain bleach, whilst the bios contain enzymes, and actually both can be equally aggressive on the skin. What is relevant is how much detergent you use in each wash, and what you/your family happens to be sensitive to. There is no non-bio detergent in most of Europe and no higher incidence of skin sensitivity or eczema. Food for thought! Molly

This is worth a read, though I do post with the caveat that it is a Daily Mail article, so apologies for that; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2050239/How-washing-machines-familys-health-risk-Low-temperatures-mixed-loads-spreading-dangerous-bugs.html I don't think this is cause for panic, but I do think it is worth bearing in mind that some items - towels, bedding maybe, and certainly cloth nappies (I have to include those, don't I)! and certain clothes depending what they have been exposed to, should be washed at 60 degrees. The article mentions Nappisan, but remember this can be very damaging to modern shaped nappies, items with elastic, velcro or any bamboo fabrics so is best avoided, other than on flat terry squares, towels etc. Most of our washing is done at 30 degrees, but I still wash towels and bedding at higher temps. What about everyone else?

Agree - 31st. Clocks fall back the day before so it will be dark plenty early enough.

Very sad to hear of egg throwing etc. We always put out pumpkins & decorations & welcome callers, but the year we had a 3 week old baby we simply put out a sign saying 'sorry new baby means no treats this year' & we had no trouble at all - heard people approach then saying "shhhhsh & walking away". We have huge fun with it in our house & do go calling at certain pre agreed houses. I'm happy my girls will grow up understanding what is acceptable behaviour. I love seeing how much effort some people go to with costumes. I also totally respect that it isn't for everyone. If you really don't want callers I'd def. Put a polite note up to that effect.

I paid my CM ?15 for pick up & care to 6pm - that was a couple of years ago.

Unless your first was a very 'sicky' baby I wouldn't worry. The concern is around potential mold spores in the mattress. My mattresses has protectors on, which came off for washing so I washed what I could, aired everything really well & re-used, after lots of reading & asking others what they did. Do what you feel comfortable with - no point fretting. Hope that helps. Molly

The one I have is a German make, will check later. It's a moulded plastic seat similar to the rear mounted seats, except it only comes up to underarm height. I was advised by bike shops to get a rear mounted seat but I'm so glad I went front mounted - the centre of gravity feels right & I like having my arms around my daughter & being able to talk to her easily. She loves it & likes her 'job' of ringing the bell! She is now 3 & just on the cusp of having to go into a rear seat as the max weight in the front seat is 15kg. We have a Hamax rear seat from our 1st daughter anyway but I'm in no rush to swap her over. The only downside I can think of is that you can't mount or dismount elegantly with the front mounted seat because you can't go forwards off the saddle, other than that I love it. Mine has a single bracket that clamps to the handlebar stem of the bike with a sliding 'lock'. To fit the seat you just slide it's 2 prongs into the clamp & slide the lock across so very east to take on & off, like a Hamax. Not all the front mounted seats work like this so if you go down this route that is with checking. I've seen a few for sale on the forum & eBay though they don't come up as often as rear mounted seats. I think mine is a Kinded Sulkie but not 100% will check later.

And I have a front mounted seat on my bike if you want to try that too. Bike is set for me at 5' 7"