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Thank you for the advice everyone, much appreciated! Saffron - we use the aquafresh milk teeth for age 0-2, thanks for the tip. I hadn't even considered that. We've got a dentist check up in just over a wks time so I'll see what they suggest too. Pugwash - I'm so pleased your granddaughter had a successful tonsillectomy that's great to hear it's done wonders for her eating. I'm sure it'd make a real difference to my son too as part of his eating problems are around anxiety that the food is 'too big' to swallow. The spray is sounding like a good option for us, think I'll try that first. Thanks again!

My almost 3yr old is a bit of a picky eater and is suffering with repeated bouts of tonsilitis and mouth ulcers so I'd like to give his system a boost with some form of probiotic/multivitamin but not really sure where to start. There are so many on the market! Can anyone recommend anything. Maybe some drops or something that can go straight into his mouth as he definitely won't eat a chewable multivitamin and would probably spit out anything I mix with milk/squash. Thanks!

Thanks for your replies Tanza and carebear, really appreciated!

Thanks Crokes I'll check out those links, good to know things are improving for you too! Gives me hope! X

Thanks redjam I must admit to losing my rag over this probably more than I should, it's bloody hard when he spends all day talking about food and asking for food, for such a fussy eater he's obsessed with the stuff. Thats a really good suggestion re not labelling him as the fussy one though (which tbh we've already done) I'll make a conscious effort to amend that! Thanks for giving me some hope!!

Thanks, yeah I keep offering and I've tried the mini pizzas, homemade sauce etc and getting him to help and again he was trying these before he started getting I'll all the time now he just cries and doesn't eat it. So 5 nights out of 7 he'll go without dinner (and I'll let him have pizza the other 2 nights so I feel like dinner isn't always fraught). Thanks we'll persevere!!

Just wondering whether anyone can offer some advice. I have a 2.5yr old v fussy eater. He's always been funny with food, doesn't like anything soft (like sandwiches) or wet like shepherds pie, porridge, pasta etc. Survived on a limited diet which included sausages, pizza, toast, chicken nuggets, dry cereal, Ella's fruit pouches etc (yes I know how awful that sounds). Last Oct I started following the 3 day nanny approach to eating - offering X for dinner followed by yoghurt (which he likes) no matter what he ate and making no fuss, it seemed to be helping he actually tried fish fingers, ate a bit if sweet corn, licked the spoon with lasagne on etc (though he didn't seem to actually enjoy the new tastes). Was feeling hopeful then he got a bad bout of tonsillitis and would only eat bacon and dry cereal. Even when he was better he wouldn't try anything again. He's since had tonsillitis (and been on antibiotics) 4 times in 6 months and barely wants to eat anything. Won't even touch chicken nuggets or sasuages. Mostly just the awful cheap pizzas from co-op, yoghurt and toast. I'm letting him have the bear claws with hidden veg and Ella's pouches to get fruit into him and putting courgette and beetroot in cakes. I'm kinda at my wits end with it all. Just hoping someone can say 'I've been there he'll grow out of it' or offer any other pearls of wisdom! Oh for the record my 3.5yr old eats a very varied diet. But while he sits and enjoys the shepherds pie, fish cakes etc the younger one just cries for 'food' (toast).

Thank you all so much for your replies, advice and experiences. Well still no joy but I'm going to persevere maybe with the distraction technique and getting her used to 'playing' with the bottle as she's now getting the hang of grabbing things. Fingers crossed, though the CFS is at the end of this month so I'm not too optimistic we'll crack it by then...

Thanks for your replies! Yes we've tried the NUK latex. I would say it was the most successful, as she put up with it in her mouth without screaming for the longest time. But she still won't suck, just chews until she's really fed up then screams the house down until she's breastfed. I'll see if I can get other half to have more of a try as I'm trying everyday and getting nowhere. Possibly as she knows the real thing is right there. Fingers crossed we get there in the end!

Can anyone share some tips or tricks for getting a baby to take a bottle? I have a stubborn 3month old bottle refuser. Tried different bottle types, expressing/formula, different people offering the bottle and we are getting nowhere! I love breastfeeding but I've got tickets to the Chelsea Flower show (never been before, always wanted to go) and I've got to crack the bottle by then as babies aren't allowed... Thanks in advance!

I think if you do a search for 'Doctor' or 'surgery' on the forum you'll get a fair few reviews of many of the GP practices round here. I've only got experience of Melbourne Grove which I would say is fine. Nothing to rave about but equally nothing has bothered me enough to change surgery. Biggest issue is that it can be a nightmare to get through on the phone to get an appt. I don't often get to see the same doctor, they seem to have a lot of locums but I've never had a problem with their care for me or my 3 children. Not sure that's much of a recommendation though! I have heard/read a lot of good things about the Gardens, they might be worth a look if conveniently located for you.

Fab, thanks rachel4, sounds like just what we need!

Has anyone used a buggy board with the mountain buggy duet? How was it and which one did you go for? I'm trying to figure out what combination will work best for my 3yo, 2yo and newborn. Happy to sling the newborn for a bit but would like an alternative as I've always ended up with bad back ache having the others in the sling for long walks. Thanks!

I'd definitely recommend my cleaner, Dora, who works for Andrea Professional Cleaning Service. She's my lifesaver. You can contact Andrea on 07793504145.

Yeah I think it depends on your circumstances as to what's going to suit you best. My first was only 15months when the second arrived so we went for a double and preferring a side-by-side style, went for a mountain buggy duet as it's nice and narrow - the only side by side we could get through the front door. Even now my eldest (now 3) is horrifically lazy and loves to nap at times so I'm glad to have the double. I know others who got on very well with just a buggy board and sling as their eldest was happy to walk/board and on occasions they would swap and the baby could go in the sling. Also, depending whether your eldest is at nursery/playgroup you might not want a double if you are only pushing one around the majority of the time.