The Nappy Lady

Personally I would take the car seat. If you do the sling thing then make sure the car seat belt is around you but NOT around baby - because if around you and baby, in an accident the force of your body thrown forward could crush baby between you and the seatbelt....sorry, not meaning to be a scaremongerer, just would hate for anyone to risk this. If seat belt is between you and the sling I think it would then be relatively OK, though the key would be how supported the head was in the case of an accident I guess. You can take the car seat on the plane for free remember, and if hiring at the other end (or using a taxi there) then I think it is well worth having the seat with you. Otherwise, do you know anyone - friend, neighbour etc. who might run you to the airport, with car seat, and then keep it for you until end of holiday and also pick you up? You could offer taxi fare equivalent/petrol money. We have a neighbour who has done this for us in return for us doing the same for them and it has worked really well, and is so nice to see a friendly face in arrivals to whisk you home. Happy holidays! Molly

Hi Fi, I've used a shade a babe with both mine - on the eldest even up to the age of 3/4 (went on holiday when preggers with no. 2 so had buggy for evenings out), and with no. 2 who is now coming up to 2 and it is working fine. Only really use the zip in the front in order to open it up a bit when they are awake and maybe needing a bit less protection, and a word of advice - I used mine at the beach and then packed it away for the winter, and next time I came to use it one of the zips had rusted up completely and broke when I tried to get it working, should have washed it off as I guess it must have got sea salt from the general atmosphere on it. Still works OK as it has velcro at the top, and zip on 1 side works, but it is annoying. Soup Dragon on Lordship Lane do some other, and cheaper options, I think a shade that clips on to the buggy and extends rather like a flat hood which a few people on here said was good last year. Best wishes, Molly

Seriously impressed, afraid I am NOT a morning person so children have to pretty much entertain themselves - or I use Auntie CBeebies if all else fails til the caffene kicks in! So glad you are feeling better F, didn't think they could/would tell that early, very cool. Everyone up now, including DH so off to sort breakfast, have a lovely day. M

Why do you think bump is a boy F?

Me too! Alarm call from baby C at 6.20 today - of course being a weekend she couldn't do what she did yesterday and go to past 7am......just made it downstairs with a cup of tea. M xx

Yes, Friday - I have same problem with C, it is OK to turn up late and join in. Will be very useful in a year or so when she drops the nap though I have to say. M x

1-3.15 is called Pick n Mix play session. Also Father & male cater group this Sat 12th 10-12 and again on 17th July - trying to measure interest I think. Twins & Multiples group every Thurs 9.30-11.30am Oh and bookstart is Tues, not Wed - 1.45-3.15pm Molly

Thursday morning is twins and more! There is also Bookstart there Wed pm and an art and craft session Fri pm, which we mostly miss due to nap times! Molly

F, First of all I want to say that I really feel for you, and am so sorry you are going through this. I agree the midwives should have been in touch with you by now, it is bad. However, the sad truth, which I know from harsh experience is that neither they, nor anyone else will be able to tell you whether your pains and bleeding are something to really worry about or not....this early in pregnancy they just don't know, and can't do anything other than wait and watch (though given you are on blood thinners it would be good to have some advice on that I must say - did they advise yesterday?). I know of people who have had quite heavy bleeding for the first 3 months or more but have still had a full term viable pregnancy. Seeing the baby was OK on the scan yesterday is a REALLY positive thing though, and I'm sure the bleeding and pains are going to settle down and all will be well. You do need to try to relax though - I KNOW that is easier said than done, but stress isn't going to help - do you have any Bach's Rescue Remedy you could take? If need be you can go back for another scan tomorrow, or next week if it would help to reassure you. Hang in there honey, I totally understand how awful it is, and how all consuming the fear is. Give your twins a big cuddle and keep faith. Molly xx

Ouch, poor you. If they don't go away post baby I did see an episode of Embarrassing Bodies (no idea why I am drawn to watch these bizarre programmes), where a man had piles very badly and they did some new kind of surgery that was quick, easy and wasn't as agressive as the more traditional methods of getting rid of them....worth looking into if needed, but hope it wont be the case. Molly x

F, so relieved you are OK, rest as much as you can. M xx

Ha! They are clever these babies - they don't want us to get bored, or worse yet complacent about this parenting lark!

I'm a bit of a wimp and tend to avoid entire days out at the moment unless essential, in some ways it is a pain, but I know it will only be for a while, and I always feel we are all at our best when we are roughly sticking to the routine. If we go out in the morning I try to make sure we will be home before she nods off, though if it is a short journey home and she goes to sleep in the car or buggy I can almost always transfer her without any problems (touches wood at this point). I don't stress too much about her having lunch before her nap - try to have snacks with me if running late, and if we get home and she's clearly bushed no point trying to make her eat because she's past it. I find she still sleeps fine and will happily have a light snack when she wakes and then have a really good tea. The big sleep does cut the day in half horribly, and in the week with the school run to factor in as well ....well you can imagine, we have a window of opportunity from 9-12 and then 2-3.30 and that is it really. Big days out - we either take the buggy or the sling, she will sleep in either, but generally only for an hour, rather than the usual 2 hours + at home, and I really value that time when at home too! As F said, if going somewhere further afield I will often leave late morning so she sleeps in the car on the way, doesn't always work, but from 11am onwards there's a 75% chance it will. Oh - on holiday in Spain we put a sunlounger cushion down on the ground, with a towel on it in the shade and she sleeps on that with a muslin over her - easy to move the cushion if the shade moves, and more comfortable (I think) than being strapped into a buggy. Could do the same thing with an inflatable lilo and a towel if you don't want to leave the pool maybe? I kind of love and hate the lunch time nap, I know I will miss it when it's gone, but then again I feel as if we can start to have some big family days out again with both girls which will be great (without the need to lug buggys along and fret about whether she's slept for long enough etc). I hate the fact I'm not more 'go with the flow' in the way some of my other friends are about all this, but I'm not and so I guess I've just got to accept it! M

Gosh, no idea, but did see a lady on a bike the other day with a tiny baby in a sling on her front - depending how brave you are and how long the cycle trips would be would that work? I've only seen them that small in a car seat fixed into the trailer I have to say, but I think I'd feel they were very vulnerable at that age in one of those. Molly

My eldest is mad keen to share with her little sister, but until C is sleeping better I just don't want to risk my older one having disturbed nights - given that she sleeps for a good 1 to 1.5 hours longer in the mornings than her sister and that she is at school now so I really think she needs her sleep. I just wish C would 'get with the programme' and accept that anything between 5 and 6.30am is NOT MORNING!!!! Arrgggghhhh! Molly

Hiya, Much like RandomV, O would never drink Cows Milk, so I just made sure she got loads of cheesy sauces, yoghurts, semolina puddings etc. etc. you can smuggle a lot of milk into them under the guise of other food! Now she is 6 she has milk on cereal, and sometimes asks for warm milk at bedtime, but I think it is just her way of getting in on being the baby of the family now and again!! On the nap front - would try to keep him going as long as possible, but if he goes down any time from 11am onwards for a couple of hours that should work fine, and you may find it slowly moves back later all on it's own - so for us it went from 11am ish back to 12, and now going down regularly between 12 and 12.30pm for 2 to 2.5 hours (usually have to wake her). The transition can be tricky, the worst is if they do a short lunch time nap, then want to sleep again around 4pm which can cause havoc with bedtime, but I find if you can give them a really busy stimulating morning it works wonders. Whilst away though I'd try to just go with the flow as he is going to be a bit thrown by being away from home. If you are going to be in a pool a lot swimming etc. you may find the 2 naps a day return to normal as he should be tired with all the swimming and excitement (that's what we found anyway). Enjoy. M xx (edited due to typo).

Hey Linzkg, Yes, I'm so with you on this - would love to sleep with mine, but it is only now my eldest is nearly 6 that there is any hope of the two of us sleeping in one bed - as she's finally stopped wriggling etc. all night long. The odd time her Dad is away she comes in with me for a treat and we both love it. Was thinking more about the advice on keeping a baby in your room with you until 6 months old, like others, I just found it mega stressful because of trying to give my hubby a good nights sleep so he could work the next day. But also, if you put them down at 7pm and don't go to bed until midnight (as I often do), then they would be alone in the room for 5 hours, then in the room with you for 5 hours....so it is 50/50 anyway....just an interesting thought. M

My eldest looked bald for such a long time, no haircut til gone 3 - really! Was soooo sad as was desperate to do bunches etc. finally now at nearly six she generally sports brill plaits - at last! No2 currently looking like a Who from Cat in the Hat as hair growing forward from double crown into her eyes, can't all be cut I to a fringe so she's sporting a pineapple top, and sometimes one each side to match (evil snigger)....living having a baby/toddler with hair this time around. M

"Pants" with the CD special edition (Lenny Henry doing disco, reggae and other crazy versions) is a masterpiece! Molly

Corams Field, 10 min walk from Kings Cross sounds amazing (Google it), lots there to do. M

...playground (to finish Fs post above LOL). It's right br Kensington Palace and fab. Day out at the seaside?

As with MakeHQ for us. Had bed in baby's room for me if needed so could be in there for the bad times! M

Intended to post this last night - it was on top of a post at bottonend if BR near PR Park, just by the shops after the tyre place. See thru plastic with a blue top and base. Had water in I think. Molly

Oooh Wood Vale has some lovely houses, lucky you! I really liked the LLL couple, maybe they will end up in this area - would be v funny if they popped up on this forum! M

F - change of plans so not going now, I know tricky for you on your own with twins so hence the heads up. Have new baby to go visit (who-hoo)!! M