The Nappy Lady

Alethia, Thought you might appreciate knowing this clashes with the NCT Christmas Party in ED which is from 1-4pm on the 12th. May not affect you, but if you don't get much take up may be worth seeing if you could run your session in the morning, or on a different date? Molly

Crystal, Just remembered another tip I picked up somewhere - put pieces of fruit in the bath with baby and let them catch them 'like fish' and eat them. Obviously just water, no bubble bath etc. My little one seemed to quite enjoy it, I guess it was the novelty value! Molly

Hi there, I'd be really interested in this for my 5 year old. It would need to be Mon 21st and Tues 22nd to work. She already does ballet, but would be great to expose her to lots of other types of dance. What happens about stuff like tap shoes? Do you provide them, or are they not needed? Please keep me posted if this goes ahead via PM. I will also pass on details to the parents of the ballet group. Molly

So you're u der starters orders.....I will be back to say GO in 4 weeks! Good thinking Mellors.

Yes, was going to say my 5 year old now easy peasy - colouring, playing, cake making or helping me with dinner. TV as a good fall back if she is very tired. After school playdates are wonderful things too!! 14 month old harder, though having a big sister helps. I think as a parent you can feel very isolated at this time of day and year. If you have friends nearby try playdates, and even joint bath times then wrap them up their PJs and straight home to bed. If you take it in turns to host it can fill up one or two nights a week, especially if your other half tends to come home late. I find it amazing how much my two cheer up simply by being in a new environment. If you can't go out try playing in a different room to usual....bedroom? Make a duvet tent or play hide and seek if they are old enough - my big girl never tires of that! Molly

OMG have you seen the red bike on their home page...I'm in love...... No, no, no, no, no!!!! Molly

Hi Crystal, I agree with Trinity and think your little girl is doing really well. Remember as I think Pickle said in another thread regarding food - under 1 it's just for fun. Are you still breastfeeding? Whether breast or bottle this is still where she is going to be getting most of her nutrition from, she's just getting used to the textures and flavours of food in her mouth, so keep giving it to her even if most of it goes on the floor (demoralising I know - I hate that too, but at least I have a dog to hoover it up!!). It is very common for them to start off well on purees, then suddenly start refusing to be spoon fed - I had the same thing, now some days she will and some days she wont, even at nearly 14 months. I guess the novelty wears off basically. Sometimes she spoon feeds herself with a couple of mouthfuls but she isn't great at it yet. My little girl is with a childminder now 3 days per week and has good and bad days eating wise - yesterday pretty much all she would eat was some cheese, despite being offered plenty of other stuff. Plus she has water all day of course. But she was fine, came home and had a little beef casserole puree, a yoghurt and then a really good breastfeed at bedtime. I do appreciate that because your little one has dropped down the centiles you probably feel under more pressure to get loads of food into her, but again, it is really common for breastfed babies to follow this path. I know quite a few babies who will not be spoon fed, but will 'suck' the food out of the Pouches you get (can't remember the make, but they are the ones with the screw tops - oh Ella's Kitchen I think)...you could try those with her. They are easy to give when out and about too, so you can try to give little and often rather than in one big meal if you find she is better snacking rather than trying to get bigger meals into her. Agree also about giving bits of whatever you are eating that is soft. Mix vegetables with some butter to make them really tasty - they can take the fat at this age! Broccoli was a favourite for us, but is now a complete reject. Carrots she will eat until they come out of her ears. Strange. Rather than putting it on a plate I'd tend to put little bits in front of her on the table (get an oil cloth table cloth if need be). That way they can't just pick up the plate and throw it all on the floor, which is enough to make any Mum go into meltdown! Or, let her pinch bits off your plate - sometimes the novelty of that can get them eating. I was only thinking this morning how much I dislike this phase compared to either exclusive breastfeeding (so easy and no work involved!!), or later - my 5 year old now eats like a dream, while we sit and actually have a conversation, it is so nice....a good few years 'til the baby gets to that stage! So, good luck, keep going and don't despair. Molly x

Ah yes, I suspected as much. xx

Forgot to say - not that I am suggesting anyone should do this - but if you were to give birth on the 30th August, but when you went to register the birth gave the DOB as 1st September would this ever get picked up on? I know the midwives / hospital know the DOB, but does this get passed on anywhere? I know in the past children didn't always know their actual DOB because it wasn't recorded in the way it is these days, but that was a long time ago. I know the doctors surgery gets paperwork through from the birth, so they would know the 'true' date.... Someone earlier mentioned giving the wrong DOB to the school, but this wouldn't work because you have to provide your child's birth certificate when they start school and a photocopy is (I think) kept on file at the school, but what would happen if the actual birth was registered on a different date? Interesting, but you wouldn't catch my trying to see if it worked...and wouldn't it be odd celebrating a birthday on the wrong day for the rest of your childs life?!!!! Molly

This has been a really interesting thread. My eldest was born on 4th July, so one of the youngest in her year, but so far (now in Year 1) seems to be fine...I think every child is different, but it is true that girls often seem more mature around this age. My view is that I'd rather she has to work a bit to keep up in class than be bored or able to coast, which would be my fear if she was one of the oldest in the year (she isn't Einstein, but she is fairly bright). As others have mentioned, at her school they have a full class of September starters and a different, full class of January starters, and these two classes stay separate right through I believe, unless you request a move. My youngest was born 10th October, so she will be the other extreme, so will be interesting to compare when she eventually goes to school. As Gubodge mentioned already some children with September and October birthdays are really desperate for school by the time they get to go - I can think of at least 4 children I know who fall into this category. Parents were at their wits end waiting for them to start school and children were really bored and wanting to go too! I agree there has to be a cut off point, but it is a shame that the system can't show a degree of flexibility for children like your son sillywoman.....it must be so hard to have had to cope with that, we all want what is best for our children, and it is so sad to think that potentially a very simple solution could have made a world of difference to him. Molly

Now stop it - you are just encouraging me....I am off to look at sensibly priced girly bikes (does this mean I have to start wearing tweed as well???!!!). Molly

and there I was thinking there was always room for a little bit of light hearted humour on the forum Y'man........ Y'man Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Nappy Lady Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > ......or if you're not that bothered about it > let > > me know where you live and I will send the dog > > round to your gaff next time she needs to > 'go'!!! > > > > :-))) > > ....And then the point was ruined, the topic > subdued, shame.

Thanks so much guys, I had seen the Weeride ages ago and completely forgotten about it. Am nervous about the whole balance thing, but this will solve that problem too. Will be so good to be able to cycle to work, dropping C off on the way (would walk it, but then school pick up can get a bit fraught, so cycling is the perfect compromise). Snowboarder, it comes as no surprise to me that you and I both want Pashley's....if there is a product out there that is similar to others, but about 2 to 3 times the price you can bet we will be lusting after it! Saldy I don't think Santa is going to be THAT generous for me this year. Maybe in a few years when I have proven my commitment to cycling year round! Molly

Does anyone happen to know whether you can fit a Humax Baby Seat onto a traditional ladies bike frame? By this I mean a bike with a basket on the front, and the style where you are sitting 'upright' rather than leaning forward like you do on racers and mountain bikes? Some websites seem to call them City Bikes....but my dream would be to own a Pashley (sp?)...this Penelope Keith in To The Manor Born!!!....don't think funds are going to stretch that far...but that type of thing.... I have a Dutch Classic which I love, but have been advised the frame isn't strong enough to take a Humax, and I really don't find mountain bikes etc. comfortable.... Any bike experts out there? Wasn't sure where to post, but thought I'd start in the family room, as I'm sure some of you out there will be cycling with little ones. Molly

pmsl @ Polly D !!!! Edited to say for those who didn't understand the abbreviation, it means I was laughing very hard at Polly confusing baby and hot water bottle. Molly

Pickle, think you could make serious money importing those electric blankets! Especially on days like today. Am sitting here looking at my (less than 1 year old) M&S slippers, which have holes in the soles and thinking that hubby is right and that I really do need a new pair. Just need to get to the shops to get them, so not quite so attached to them, just can't face binning them before I have replacements! Molly

......or if you're not that bothered about it let me know where you live and I will send the dog round to your gaff next time she needs to 'go'!!! :-)))

Each to their own. I'm not 'incensed' about it Domitianus, but I consider myself to be a responsible member of the community....so I clear up after my own dog, try to keep my kids under control (that includes not mowing people down with my obviously oversized - by ED Standards(!!) - buggy), hold doors open for others, report items that are 'dumped' in the borough, or graffiti etc.....I've also been known to 'encourage' the odd teenager to pick up their litter and put it in the bin. I guess I was just brought up this way. IMO it is not acceptable for dog owners to leave dog poo on pavements. Of course children are taught not to tread in it, but accidents will happen, especially at this time of year with so many leaves on the pavements. It isn't just unpleasant, it is a health hazard, for adults and children alike. This is not about 'pandering to East Dulwich Mums', it is a basic hygiene requirement in a highly populated area. Shouldn't we all be able to walk the pavements whilst enjoying the local trees, architecture and general surroundings, rather than scouring the flagstones for the next dog deposit? Incidentally, I spent most of my childhood on a farm knee deep in mud (and worse!!), so don't assume I have an obsession with clean sterile environments or thinking my kids can't get dirty, nothing could be further from the truth. I agree it isn't the most important thread on the forum, but isn't the idea of a community forum that ANY issues in the community can be discussed, however minor they may be? I'm sure it is relevant and important to some (and as far as I know you are not obliged to read a thread that holds no personal interest to you). Molly

....Yep, we are officially old!!! :))

Well, must admit the hardest issue for EDMums night out on 12th seems to be where to go - maybe this is the solution!!!

Tee hee, yep I am with you there. One of my favorite quotes is Oscar Wilde's 'I have lived not too long but too much'. My first 25 years were crazy, very happy to be inside with my slippers on (and a good bottle of wine) these days!!!

Then again Lorraine, how fab that you are happy to just be how you wanna be and not feel under pressure to 'keep up'. You may find in a few years you regain your youth a bit (I did briefly between DD1 and 2), but if not who cares as long as you, kids and 'hubby' are happy. Pickle, I was thinking how gorgeous 21 year old son of neighbour was recently then realised I have known him since he was 8 and could technically be his mum, that made me feel VERY old! My 80 year old Mum says she still expects to see a 40 year old when she looks in the mirror, so I don't think it gets any easier, eek! Molly

Yes, my arm just OK after Monday night jab, and not feeling ill, but very croaky today...not sure if it is related or not. Glad you feel better Belle. Molly

OMG Pickle, just think - if a spider inside the cosy toes then your poor youngest has had their feet in there with it!!!! But hang on, as someone with NZ origins are you not supposed to be good with bugs and stuff, or is that only Aussies? Think maybe NZ is a bit more civilised in that respect. Snowboarder - now have hilarious image of you being at 1 o'clock club or similar and cat suddenly appearing from out of your buggy, having been curled up asleep and inadvertently taken out for a 'walk' with mini Snowboarder! Five pound note is a result though...do you think mini SB has been taking lessons from Fagin?! Molly

For anyone who is interested, I was just sorting my email folders out and found the link to one of the reports on bio vs non bio detergents.... http://www.scienceinthebox.com/en_UK/safety/detergentswithenzymes_en.html I agree with what some have said about the milder products like Surcare and Filletti (sorry if got names slightly wrong....) I do think in extreme cases they can be a better option, but in more general cases interesting to note the findings of this research... Molly