KBN

Have also been looking at the Fastfold - would you recommend it?

I have the Tripp Trapp. My daughter is 9 months old and is always strapped in. She is something of an escape artist and has already worked out how to push the highchair back from the table when it is close to it, and how to stand up in it and arch back. There have definitely been times when, but for the harness, she would have headed for the floor. I guess I would just say that she is always one step ahead of me and does things I sometimes don't know that she has mastered...

Snowboarder, we have PMed about this, so you know that my little one now sleeps v well after we had a night nanny in to help, but she was up every hour and a half for 6 months,and I know your pain. A couple of things that helped for us: my hubby would getup early than he needed to for work eg 6, and have littleun till 8/815 so i could at least get 2 hours just before getting up: made a HUGE difference to the dead in the morning thing - the saint still does this betweenn 8 adn 830 now so i have half an hour of sweet dozing, even after a full night's sleep. I also agree that the waking is due to feeding: a lot of babies use something as a crutch to lull them back to sleep, and baby SB might wake naturally at the end of a sleep cycle, and feeding is something that helps him to sleep. When we were cutting down the feeds, my hubby would go to her, not me, for a few nights, then I would go, pick her up and hold her to me, but not feed her. Then pick her up but not hold her in a BF position, then not pick her up, and soon she dropped that waking slot. And the being swayed by everyone and thing - that is because you are tired, I promise! I remember doing it - back and forth and back and forth.. It is nothing to do with being a rubbish mum! Good luck with it all and I really hope it improves soon!

got mine from kiddicare.com, about ?165 all in, with baby set cushion harness etc

The Brierley are great. I was with them and had a hospital birth (always planned that). They don't push home births though are very supportive of them. If you changed your mind and want to go to hospital,they stay with you, though they give the caveat that if one of their other women goes into labour at the same time as you, and it is unavoidable, they might have to leave you in King's midwifery care as there are laws about no of midwives at homebirths etc. They stayed with me all the way through (even had two of them at the actual birth!).

To those who had hyperemesis, did it come back again with second pregancies (I see you have had it all teh way through BanJo :-( )? I had it with my first, and consultant said "over 50%" chance of it coming back with subsequent pregnancies, but no one seems to be able to tell me anything about why it happens. I'm just not sure how soon I can cope with that again. I tried all sorts of medication, and nothing worked (didn't go for the one that needed drip administration tho). It is so grim - only the thought of another child could make it worht it!

Hi Jayd5, I was one of those unlucky people with hyperemesis, and for the first 9 weeks or so I did nothing about it, thinking "all other women are hard and i am a wimp". It was only when i got so ill i couldn't work I checked it out with the GP, so do go. As an indicator, I was sick between 6 and 12 times a day (and yup all day and night), and could keep nothing down. Literally, unfortunately. As some of the other posts have said, dehydration is a real problem, and I was given urine sticks to measure levels of Ketones, and called in if the stick was a certain colour as this was a sign things were bad: maybe you could ask for these to be sure you aren't getting down on fluids? And do not worry about weight loss/the baby: it takes what it needs and Mum suffers: littleun is fine! The other thing I would say is that if you can eat or drink something, no matter how weird, DO IT! When I could eat, I ate Twiglets (!), drank coke (which I hate normally) and was told by the midwife to sod the "healthy" rules as when the sickness gets so bad you need nutrients. For me.. well I was off work for 2 months, then it eased up at 23 weeks, and I went back part time on shortened hours, but I did have a tendency to vom all the way through...I thought it had gone completely for the rest of my pregnancy, but I vividly remember waking up about 5 days after my daughter was born thinking "whoa, no nausea". I guess we can get very very used to it! It is rubbish, rubbish rubbish, but with a wonderful 8 month old now I'd say don't get disheartened: it is all worth it!

My daughter is 8 months and an avid breastfeeder, so much so that she has never taken a bottle. Over the last 2 days she has refused 3 of her 4 daily feeds (only the early morning one goes in), and this morning, that was a struggle. I don't think she is starting to self-wean, as she seems upset at not being able to get milk - she goes to latch on and then clamps her mouth closed and cries. It is all quite upsetting for me! She is defninitely teething- tooth one is through and no 2 coming, and possibly has the remains of a cold, tho she seems fine in herself apart from teething grumpiness. She is eating well, and I'm offering lots of water at meal times, but wondered whether anyone has experienced anything similar. How long did it last? Any strategies? or hints....Do I just keep expressing to keep supply up? Thank you! K

I'm in the club too, and have a solution along the bag balm lines - lansinoh nipple cream: it has really helped! Just makes my hands a bit sticky....

So would you think it realistic to pay between ?60 and ?70 a day each family, inclusive of tax and NI - i.e. ?120 to ?140 gross for the nanny? I know one pays for the nanny's holiday too - how many days do nannies usually require?

I cannot fault King's. I had my baby there 6 months ago and the care was fantastic. OK - the postnatal ward was a bit skanky, but I was not there for long, and the labour ward staff were awesome - calm, professional and very nice. I certainly felt relaxed all the way through (tho when reading my notes with hindsight I realised they had got worried about wee one and were keeping a close eye - no one let me panic at all). And honestly, we live 5 mins drive from King's and it felt like the journey took forever. You really don't want the additional worry of traffic or being turned back and being in pain for a long journey: you want to be close by if you can so you can "stay in the zone" as much as possible. Good luck!

Really interesting thread! My daughter is 6 months, and I'll have to go back at the end of a year - financially we can't do without my salary. I would love love love to be a stay at home Mum, and that's after working really hard to become a city lawyer. I've always known it doesn't mean to me what it does for so many others, and now I've had my mini un I feel that she keeps me fulfilled in a way nothing else ever has. The best deal I could possibly get from work would I think, be 4 days and 8 to 4 on the understanding that I won't leave before 5 and would log in from home in the evenings. Personally I think this is too much, but don't know how hard to fight as I need my job. Ugh. Anyone else tried to get flexible working from city environments? Snowboarder, I really sympathise - it is such a tough decision, and amazing how a little face smiling in the morning can lift the whole day.

Hi Nunheadmum, have PMed you about nightnannies.. K

Thank you all - much appreciated. I know she is young still, but waking every 45 mins to every 2 hours without fail is real torture, and I don't think it can be great for her either. Not even looking for "sleeping through" - I don't mind night feeds, it is just that I think something needs to click and isn't. Her daytime naps are never more than 45 mins and often 25 - like she can't link sleep cycles well. Will give some of the above some thought. I'm now sure as you say nunheadmum that half problem is us - just need someone to look with outside eyes really...

Does anyone have any recommendations for a sleep consultant? Our six month old has never been a good sleeper (wakes on average 6 times a night and sometimes for long periods), and now after 6 months of never more than 3 consecutive hours sleep (and that on a good night), hubby and I are reaching breaking point. We have tried so many different things, and are about to move cot into nursery and have just started weaning, but would like to get in touch with a consultant if things have not stabilised in a month or so's time. Has anyone used one and could they recommend anyone in particular? Is it expensive? Also, does it work?! Not necessarily after a miracle sleep through after 24 hours style help (Ie.g. I'm quite happy to feed in the night if it seems she needs it), just need to see some sort of real improvement. Thanks, K

Just to weigh in with a different perspective. I'm based more North Dulwich way, so this may be the difference, but my HVs are great. There are 2 attached to the practice. One came to see me shortly before birth to introduce herself, and then again about 2 weeks after birth, where she was helpful, if repeating stuff I had been told by others. Our baby clinic can be a bit overcrowded and perfunctory, but I have left messages for HV twice. Each time she has phoned back promptly and talked me through issues (variously sleeping and weaning) for at least 20 mins. Far from just giving pat advice repeating NHS recommendations, I was told at 5 months, after baby seemed v hungry, kept waking and had poor weight gain to wean early - she is prepared to use her own mind. I also have a terrible sleeper, and really feel as tho HV engages with me in thinking about what might help - made me describe a night and day in detail, and gave good tips. I have been frustrated at times with long waits for weigh ins but overall think these guys are doing a great job in tricky circumstances.However, in my NCT class, my HV seems by far the best and the others have some terrible stories, as do people above. I just thought I'd add that mine have been a help, for a different angle...

Any advice/opinions on Teddies in West Dulwich appreciated - I'm thinking of sending my then one year old daughter into the Baby Room. I looked around and it seems v friendly and open, but would value some thoughts from Mums who use it. Thanks K

Golly I'm not sure I should have read all of this! Anticipation of this lasting is not good! Sorry you are having such a rough time snowboarder... Anyone any ideas for setting good sleep habits for a 10 week old? She sleeps, but ONLY on us, or co-sleeping. I battle with her in and out of the cot between about 9:30 and 12 (having given her a bath before), then relent and she sleeps with us. Then she sleeps very soundly and she wakes once or twice between c 1am and 8:30am (I'm breastfeeding). There seems to be no point in trying to settle her before about 9:30 as she is so alert and sometimes stays so till gone 2am. Do I go with the co=sleeping for now, or keep battling on with the cot? I don't mind the co-sleeping (in fact I like it) except for the guilt - the "everyone else's baby manages a cot, why not mine. Will we have to share our bed forever?". I know she is very young still but want to give her the best help for a good night.. During the day she sleeps a bit (in her front carrier, on me, or occasionally in the pram) but wakes in an instant if she is away from me. I'm trying to make her sleep more but that means my sitting still with her... I went through a patch like yours snowboarder where I had not slept for more than 3 hours during a night - and it was the end of me. i don't know how you are still going! sorry to crash your post but wonder whether anyone can help?

Apologies for repeating various threads, but they don't seem to answer my query... I will be looking for a nursery for my then one year old next year (in May), and I'll be working 9-5 ish. Any recommendations in Herne HIll/East Dulwich/West Dulwich etc that does a full day (i.e. pick up 5:30 onwards)for young ones? There seem to be plenty for age 2 onwards... I need to commute to London Bridge... Thanks K

Thanks all, I'm going to give it a go. Taper - it may do nothing, but if there is a chance that it might work and save my daughter angst and us the grief of coping with it, it is worth a go... K

Hello all, Do people have views on cranial osteopathy and whether it works to settle babies? I had a difficult birth - ended up ventouse, and my 6 wk old daughter is pretty crotchety/colicky/cries when feeding etc. Has anyone used CO for this and did it work? Am V nervous about someone manipulating my little one's skull but hear only good things... Also, where should I go? Thanks K