snowboarder

If did it again I THINK I would get a Bee - I've loved my icandy apple but it's kinda heavy. But has been SO comfy and I love that baby faces me and we can chat. Think the cameleon is lighter than the icandy so maybe that would have been better - I really liked having the proper pram carrycot when he was tiny as that was where ha slept in the day mostly - never had to bring the moses basket downstairs.... Strollers all the way now. Until we have to (Oh lord) think about a double....(NOT YET!)

Only got the Oh Snap last week so not test driven yet BUT in comparison to the ergo - my first thoughts are - it is a bit sturdier, and I think will be better for carrying baby on front as the straps criss cross over your back - I found the ergo pulled on my shoulders a bit. But - no hood, and comes up higher at the back - potentially could swamp a 5 month old! You are welcome to pop over and have a look/go.... Ergo and Oh Snap etc (connecta/beko etc) all adopt a v different position to the babybjorn in that bubs sits astride you rather than just hanging there...

ps just to say there are lots of more gentle approaches too - baby whisperer shush pat etc....

I think then you will have to read up (Gina Ford does have some advice I think?) and try and get AGE SPECIFIC advice if you can - I think the thing that will prob be different is the amount of time you actually leave him to cry for. And it's important to be able to 'read' his cries - ie is he just cross you're not feeding him or is something wrong? Also at - what - 4/5 months you might be still doing a dreamfeed or something? We went completely cold turkey on the night feeds but again bsb weighs prob 23lbs not 13 so is well able to get through the night. It's VERY hard to be consistent and keep your nerve. I am still suffering stomach clenching anxiety! I also read an awful lot that made me feel that it was something I could never do, but I got to the point that I could physically no longer 'parent' him to sleep 4+ times a night, and he needed to learn how to do it himself - if not for the very reasons you talk about - he was not getting enough sleep himself either.

Tricky - we have just done this a bit with baby snowboarder BUT he was 11 months old, which I think is v different to using it with a much younger baby, so think it would be confusing/poss v bad advice to go through what we did. I would really recommend getting some professional advice/help if sleep/lack of is really not manageable. It took us ages to get to that point, but am glad we did get help in the end/and ongoing as there was no way I could have faced it on my own.

Until recent clear out/donation to sister I had a silly range of slings - given I rarely am very successful using them!! Had a babasling and babybjorn for when baby was little - used the babsling alot round the house for sleeping. Hated babybjorn. Graduated to Ergo and a mei tai sling - failed to use them both really as a) baby snowboarder started taking all his naps in lovely comfy pram and at least I could walk then park him somewhere that way, and b) never got round the how to carry all your stuff problem. Have now bought a babyhawk Oh Snap in funky camo print as celebration of better sleep/birthday pressie for me(!) and hoping to use more now that not dependent on buggy sleep. We will see.... (Oh yes - also have a proper bushbaby back pack thingy for country walks (ahem). Lets just say it needs breaking in.) Please don't laugh....

Oh GOD must retract previous denial of nicknames....I forgot hubby tends to call babysnowboarder 'doodle'. I have no idea why, and if I ask what he and baby have been up to he sometimes replies 'just doodling'. Madness. (He previously called both cats this, so fairly non specific, but he seems to like it.)

I can ask at the mag this weekend just to double check if you like as am only round the corner. Otherwise Plough is fine - in fact might even be better - def bigger? Haven't been to either on a fri night in so long so don't know how they compare....

Hoping for endless supply of highchairs, unlike at the Bishop where we've had to depart 3 times in as many weeks as the all they have were occupied!!

So - I implemented the two strikes rule this morning at breakfast - the food messing/throwing really drives me mad. Result - baby had no breakfast. Hmm.

Am I the only one to find this a bit odd? Maybe am very dull - apart from the occasional 'hon' or 'sweetheart' (or 'you monster') term of endearment I only ever call babysb by his real name or the shortened version. Where do all these nicknames come from?!?

friday...(think/hope!!)

helena handbasket Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Anyway, once they're sleeping through the night > and potty trained, do you really want to go back? > We're just starting to be sort of normal people > again, after THREE years! Exactly what I think I will feel like...so if I want another think I'd better get on with it before life gets too nice again!!!

I'm very much up for food and wine at the Mag. Nice and relaxed, maybe eat if want/or not (I will or will fall over). I can be there PROB 7.30 earliest. Looking forward to it - haven't been out in ages. xx

They DO understand so much more than we think I am beginning to realise. Like I tell bsb he's not having something back - he cries....I say we're going for a nap now - he cries (!)...Would he like a biscuit - smiles and looks at appropriate cupboard....Where's Spot? - crawls off to find Spot book.... Crafty. But yes HOW to get them to understand when you say no you mean NO. I'm constantly saying NO....maybe that's the problem!

I always thought I would have 2 little girls.....I currently have 1 boy!! If I ever recover from his first year maybe he'll get a brother or sister, but no more than 1 I don't think. My husband is one of three and hates it....so it's 2 or 4.....

Can't wait till mine is old enough to like things like all the above! For now I need a giant play barn with cafe for me....Where is it please?

Hmm apparently whippersnappers NOT on. All v confusing!

Are the schools still open? Whippersnappers/rhyme time etc are only 'term time' (which always seems odd given they are for babies who don't go to school!). Also - soft play at Peckham - does anyone know what the hours are? Bored and need activities! Ps - what is gambados? Good for just 1 yr old?

Oh...stop it...

Did anyone see they have the new micralite in Soup Dragon? Was tempted to try it out but restrained as a) baby in bad mood and b) do not need it.....

Sorry am probably being a bit oversensitive - but the comment 'middle class dating service' and 'overblown and precious' from someone who didn't actually attend the classes themselves just feels a bit like being told you are a rich twit/loser with no friends for doing so! Hey ho - as you say keef it's not like they are compulsory(!), so great for some not for others. As with most things though when those who criticise actually have no direct experience their comments can be seen as a bit unfair.

Yes - I was going to respond to LousyLu/Keef but got distracted yesterday - I do think that your comments are unfair - The content - well I don't think the NHS do an 8 wk course (could be wrong) and would have to schlep up to Kings rather than do in ED. I also have friends with and have had experience of looking after babies/children, but that in no way prepared me for motherhood and the support network provided by people going through exactly the same as you at the same time I found invaluable - lucky you that you had such a supportive network already!! I also don't really think it was that expensive for what it was - when I consider what you can pay for other things - ?200 or thereabouts, for 2 people for 8 sessions - so ?12.50 each for an hour and a half - gym sessions can cost this! Anyway - whatever - each to their own. But I thought it was great personally, and whatever happens in the future re the people I met at NCT classes, the classes/teacher and friends pretty much saved me from going crazy over this first year!!

We got them at Sallys the Florists just by Lucas - prob not the most economical but v handy and we had a lovely party!

I needn't have worried. Bsb anticipated BST perfectly and woke an hour earlier than usual (so 4am GMT). Oh good.