The Nappy Lady

Alieh, I'm with you on putting your food down about night feeds...just had to do it with my 11 month old, after I was very ill and run down with a chest infection and just needed to start having sleep at nights again. She had been sleeping through on and off, but got into a 3am feed habit...so my hubby went to her instead over the weekend, then we left her to it - not crying, but 'moaning and grizzling' on and off...it took 3 nights of hearing her wake up, complain a bit then go back to sleep, with it being quicker each night, but she is now going to about 6am, and sometimes 6.30am if I'm lucky and that is much more civilised. To be honest this is pretty much what we did with daughter number 1, except we did it when she was 3 months old and she slept through 12 hours 7 til 7 from them on....you can so tell this baby is my last as I've done it all so differently, and been much softer, but finally at 11 months enough was enough. SB - really hope things improve, you've had more than your fair share of hard stuff to deal with, I'm sure he's going to be an angel of a teenager though after all the grief he's given you in these first few months. I would start to try him with a beaker, or a Dodi cup rather than a bottle from around now, they often get the hang of them amazingly quickly. Coffee soon? Are you free this week? Send me a PM. Molly xx

Ouch F, you poor thing. Molly

Thank you east of the rye it never ceases to amaze me what you can discover via this forum. Molly

Hi Beri, Can't find them for sale but how about getting some made up? I found instructions on how to here: http://www.ehow.com/iphone/#article_5377037 I'm sure you would find someone locally to do it if you don't want to tackle it yourself. Otherwise Ebay maybe? Even if you end up asking them to post fabric and pass basket on elsewhere if you got it cheap? Molly

Going down on their bottom is OK once they are older - 2 ish as Candj says, but whilst little the danger is they can tip forward and go down head first. So - go down feet first on tummy, and if you can hold their legs and encourage them to move legs down one at a time, controlling the descent that's perfect....my little one has just learnt to roll onto her tummy and get down off the settee etc. so natural progression is to start to do the same on the stairs. I'm told the sooner you can get them to master it the better from a safety point of view. Molly

Heidi, There is a Yahoo group that sells 2nd hand slings, let me know if you want the link, you may manage to pick up a Beco on there, better than buying brand new. Agree though that you should hang on to the Ergo as I'm sure in a while it will start to work for you....I'm actually very jealous as they are the 'creme de la creme' of baby carriers from what I can gather. If all else fails you'd certainly be able to sell it on and get most of your money back I'm sure. Newborns are such funny little creatures (hubby and I always say they are like a little alien species)! In a few weeks all the things you think your little man loves/hates will be changing, and that will carry on for....well ever I suspect...can only speak for the first 5 years, and so far it has been a roller coaster ride all the way. Take care, Molly xx

Yes, Tea Tee is a strong oil - I wouldn't use on a child under 3, and I wouldn't use more than 5 or 6 drops max, but it does seem to work really well (as long as you use the pure oil). With girls, if you can keep their hair plaited (if long) rather than loose I think this helps to prevent them catching the nits to a certain extent. Also, leaving conditioner in the hair can help as it makes it hard for the nits to get a grip in the first place! Some people do seem much more prone to it than others, and I don't think there is any logic to it - my daughter has only had them once in 5 years, yet others I know seem to get them all the time. I think it is very much down to good luck (I've probably jinxed us now you watch!). Nits are nothing, wait until you get the thread worms, now that really does make your skin crawl...eughh....and having to go in and check their bottoms with a torch in the night is pretty grim too. Ah the joy of parenthood. I remember being really freaked the first time I heard about them, but sadly, rather like nits it is very common in children in their first years at school. Molly.

Agree with all that's been said. Can you break your day up to generally allow you to be home in dark room for feeds - say first thing, lunch time and early evening, which still allows you to go out for the morning and after lunch. If he's not demanding feeds in the day spread them out so he is hopefully hungry and do where he feeds best whenever you can. And start giving some cooked veggies etc to play with as F says....doesn't do much in terms of replacing milk til later but will start the process and he may take to it like a duck to water. Do you have a hugh chair he can sit up in? M xx

He was completely in the wrong for being on the pavement, my hubby is a daily bike rider and gets so cross with those who ride on pavement, ignore red lights etc. So sorry you had to experience this, very scary with baby there. Hope you feel ok now. Molly xxx

Is he showing interest in food - for instance trying to grab stuff off your plate etc? What happens if you feed him in a dark room during the day with no distractions? Does he 'ask' for breast regularly then play up or just generally not seem bothered (baby C comes up and grizzled and bangs her head against my chest for example!!). Molly

I just use Tea Tree oil - 5 or 6 drops added to the shampoo in your hand, wash their hair and leave it on whilst they are in the bath for 10 minutes or so, then wash out. Seems to zap them every time! Molly

Not sure if this helps Belle, but what we've done is have a typical white stairgate at the top (no ideal of make, but it has pads that screw in or at at the top and bottom and I've managed to make it fit very securely between a door frame and wall at the top of the stairs. At the bottom, rather than have a stairgate (because I do hate them so much), we have a Baby Dan playpen, opened up to create a barrier with a door in it, so baby can't get get near to the bottom of the stairs at all. I appreciate this does depend on the layout of your house/room configuration though. At 11 and a bit months she's now able to crawl up the stairs, and general advice seems to be once they are capable of it, let them do it as much as you can (with you escourting them of course) so they master it ASAP, plus it helps to wear them out, which is all good! The next step is helping her to master how to get back down safely on her tummy, which she's just beginning to show signs of 'getting'. Hope you manage to sort something, the pull out ones do seem like a good idea, as no trip bar across the bottom when open. Molly

I agree, nothing to worry about I'm sure, how cool if we could produce different colours on demand eh?!!!

Yes, sling meet would be a good thing to do (if you Google them I'm sure you'll find a local meet), and also there is a Yahoo group where you can swap or buy slings 2nd hand (pm me if you can't find them). I know some serious sling wearers (goes with cloth nappy territory I guess) and Didymos seemed to be one of the top options. We have a Hug a Bub which we used masses with daughter no. 1 - hubby walked her in it every day for the first 6 months or so, it is green and purple, (you can have it for a tenner if you want it as we are done with it now). The issue with a lot of the fabric slings is that once baby gets heavier they tend to stretch when you wear them so don't work as well. But they are fab for the early days. Have you looked at Ergos....or I have a Beco which is almost identical but a bit less expensive and have to say I love it. They are hybrids, a sort of cross between a completely soft cloth sling and something like a Baby Bjorn. When tiny you carry baby on your front facing you, then later on your back rather like a back pack! They are fab and my 11 month old has always loved it, never been happier than when in her sling. It rolls up to look something like a bum bag when not in use, which I also love - here's some examples; http://www.tendercargo.com/catalog/Beco-Butterfly-2-Baby-Carrier-2.0-II.html?gclid=CLDrrt_Wip0CFVtn4wodijIO2Q Hope this helps. Molly

Linzkg, Just a thought - empty old 'Salvation Army' hall on Nunhead Grove, next to Doctors Surgery. Been empty for years and looks run down, plus change of use issues etc. I guess, but I wonder if worth investigating what the deal is with it....no idea how you even start to find out who owns it etc. though. Molly

There is definitely a trend here, very interesting. 2nd time around, having now got to 11 months the 4 month phase was without doubt the hardest bit, bad sleep, very demanding, wanting to sit up, not quite able to, frustrated baby, tired Mummy etc. etc. I called in both my Mum and my Mother-in-Law for help and somehow got through it, but I do remember feeling at my wits end for a few weeks..... Good luck, you have my sympathy. Molly

Hi Emma, Congratulations on your pregnancy! I have no experience of hypnobirthing, but went into the whole process feeling very positive - my Mum has 6 children, the first at 18 and the last (me) when she was 40 - all without any pain relief and some at home (not allowed with me due to her great age, which at that time was considered ancient to have a baby - back in 1969!!). She always told me labour was 'pain with a purpose' and that she actually enjoyed giving birth. I appreciate that all of this could have meant nothing, and that luck plays a part too, but in the event I had two wonderful, perfect home births. The first in 2004 at the foot of our bed on my hands an knees, after 5 hours 20 minutes of established labour, with only a TENS Machine, daughter arrived as the sun rose just after 6am on the 4th July...with a midwife named Dawn! By 8pm new baby and I were tucked up in bed eating tea and toast (best toast I've ever had). The second in October 2008 after 1 hour 30 mins of established labour in a birth pool in our dining room, log burning stove lit and candles burning, at about 7.30pm (with the wonderful Brierley Midwives in attendance). By 10.30pm there were 6 of us in the sitting room, new baby skin on skin, and all drinking champagne to celebrate. Both times I was on a huge natural high after the birth, which lasted about 2 hours afterwards, when I finally stopped buzzing, looked at my new babies and shed a few tears of joy. Truly, truly amazing - my own personal Mount Everests I suppose. Certainly the best, most empowering thing I've ever done, and the best experience of my life. I would do it again tomorrow if I could, but I think for us two is enough, sadly. My first week with both my newborns were completely rose tinted, fuzzy hazes of happiness, before the hard work of motherhood kicked in of course. For me there is nothing like the newborn baby cuddles. I know not all women have this experience, and what Heidi went through was the other end of the scale. I would wish my experiences for every woman, and am so sad it doesn't always work out that way. But, don't assume your birth experience will be awful, it can truly be wonderful and empowering. I truly believe if you go into it feeling calm, secure and positive (and hopefully without being induced) your body will usually know what to do, release the right endorphines etc. to get your through it, but I appreciate it is a scary process, expecially first time when you just don't know 'where you are' at any given moment. For me, first time around, the minute I was told I was 8cm (only internal I ever had in labour) I knew I could do it as was nearly there, and that gave me the relief and courage to go on. Hope this helps, PM me if you ever want to. Good luck! Molly x

Hi Karen, Of course you can, I will be there tomorrow morning from soon after 9.30am until 11am if you can make it? Give me a bell if you like, or just meet me there, Yvonne that runs it is really friendly anyway, really welcoming. Molly 07977 130318 xx I

Thanks Sunbob, had forgotten about this. The new Childrens Centre is WONDERFUL isn't it, we are so lucky to have such a lovely space virtually on our doorstep now. Molly

Thanks, can't get to this in time I don't think due to school run, suspect it will be full when I arrive, but may try for the afternoon session, and just leave early for school pick up, gosh the days get short when you've got a 'big one' at school. Would have been nice to see you Pickle....

Got a pretty free day tomorrow and just wondered what's on that might be good for an 11 month old, any ideas? Thanks, Molly

Thanks Trinity, I would imagine we could all easily donate a few items for these boxes, will investigate further. Molly

Maybe they could change some of the extortiontaly overcharged Kings car park into a helipad instead? (edited for spelling).

Hi everyone, Just wondered if there is anyone on the forum who happens to know a co-ordinator for these? My Mum knits hats to go in the boxes, and donates to a scheme up in Derbyshire normally but has done quite a few whilst with me down here, so wondering whether anyone is packing boxes locally? Molly

Hi there, My 5 year old now has just started year 1, and loads of friends and neighbours have got children in reception, nursery etc. So far we've found it a wonderful school, with a very strong/active parent body and some excellent after school activities. The Foundation and Early Years stages are particularly strong with some wonderful teaching taking place. We've lived in Nunhead for over 12 years and the school has improved consistently throughout that time, when I first came to the area it was all about how to 'get into Goodrich' but I now consider myself to be exceptionally lucky to live around the corner from Ivydale, and it was certainly our first choice when we had to fill in the necessary forms. Don't underestimate the value of being able to walk to school either, I am so glad we don't have to do cars or buses etc. Molly