crystal7

Lots of sympathy poppy! Like snowboarder i think/hope we've left most of the very broken nights behind us but it's taken 15 months! My daughter fed 3 times a night until she was about 9 months. Always seemed hungry and it was the only way to settle her. Thing began to improve as she got older and wasnt bothered about night feeds by 13months. She now sleeps 7ish until 5 50% of the week. Still comes in with us the other nights. Think what you do depends on how tired you are and what you feel comfortable with. I mostly felt ok and am a real wimp so would never try cc. Not much use am i but wanted to reassure you it's definitely normal more so than you think! Good luck!

Like verds i met some lovely friends whilst pregnant by replying to a post on the edf. We still meet up now 17 months on. I did nhs classes too and they were fairly informative about labour especially about procedure at kings. I couldn't justify the cost to myself either- wanted to spend the money on a buggy!

Hi ClareC tried to reply to your message but your mailbox is full. You can pick up the book tomorrow or Friday after 4.30 or during the day Mon or Tue. x

I can lend you mine- pm me if you're interested!

Disposable. Another vote for Lansinoh. Washable weren't absorbant enough and showed through tops IME.

I really liked my Cath Kidston changing bag but it was quite bulky and wasn't easy to carry with a sling in the early days when my daughter would scream in the pram! I've got a black Skip Hop bag too which is great to clip onto the buggy handles and has lots of useful pockets but isn't pretty... Next time I'd like a Storksak or Leo and Lin, not sure how to justify the cost to OH though (like some of the posters here he doesn't see why you need an special bag at all!).

I went back to work 3 days a week when my daughter was 11 months. She had never taken a bottle so I just fed her first thing, at 4.30 ish when I picked her up and again at bedtime for about a month. Then when she was a year my childminder offered her cows milk in a cup mid afternoon so I didn't need to feed her when I picked her up. As others have said it's amazing how adaptable they are, if you're not there they don't miss the feeds (at least my daughter didn't). She's 15 moths now and has just gone off breastfeeding completely which I thought would never happen (!) Good luck!

I wanted as much time as possible with baby so worked until 38 weeks (I'm a teacher so don't get annual leave whilst on mat. leave). My little one was a week late and the 3 weeks I had before she was born were great but very busy- cooking for freezer, cleaning, buying nursing bras plus hair cut and waxing! I was also a bit anxious baby would be early and I'd be unprepared. Would do the same again though- was hard enough returning to work when my daughter was 11 months *sob* wouldn't have wanted it to be any earlier (I'm a big wimp!)

I have Mondays and Tuesdays off. I quite like being at work at the end of the week and my colleagues are always pleased to see me! Also nice not to have that Sunday feeling especially after a busy weekend. But most of my friends work the beginning of the week so feel as if I'm missing out a bit.

OH and i are veggie sort of- we eat fish but E has meat now and again. I'm looking for meal ideas too siobhanleighhunt & like you i don't want to eat food loaded with cheese butter etc. Keep food ideas coming!

I'm a teacher in a school being used as a polling station tomorrow. We still have to go in womanofdulwich! Children cant come in for child protection reasons i think.

E had hers at 9 months (that's when we were invited due to waiting lists). The actual jab seemed to upset her a little more than the ones she'd had previously but there were no side effects at all (was told there aren't as many side effects with BCG due to it being injected under the skin rather than into the muscle- don't quote me on this!). There is still a visible scab there 6 months on and it did weep/bleed a few times soon after she'd had it done but didn't bother her at all- just us! Have heard it's not very effective as gwod says but I'd rather be safe than sorry especially with E in childcare 3 days a week. Good luck whatever you decide!

1. Some sort of curry with paneer 2. Goats cheese salad with sundried tomato and avocado 3. roasted pepper and halloumi

I can make next Monday too!

Jo jo maman bebe have some gorgeous stuff, www.nordickids.com for something a bit different, zara and hennes lovely too but can't buy online.

Hello! My nearly 15 month old daughter started sleeping through (some/most nights) a couple of months ago (yay!). However she has been waking up for the day increasingly earlier. I had resigned myself to 5.30ish. 3 days a week we have to get up at 6 anyway for work. Plus it's such great progress considering she was waking up every 3 hours until she was 10 months. However she's not woken later than 5 for about 2 weeks and the last 2 mornings it's been 4.30! I try bringing her into our bed but she just wants to play. The room is very dark so don't think it's that... Any advice or even reasurance that it's just a stage and will pass soon (preferably before she starts school!). I'm not really a leave her to cry sort of parent (no criticism intended!)- yet!

My sympathies as I know how horrible this is. My daughter (14 months) has been going to her chidminder since January and still cries some mornings- clings on and wails actually. I end up feeling like the worst mother in the world whilst at work. But she does stop very quickly, it's the 'hand over' she hates!Agree with Fuscia, so much better when someone else is there to cuddle.

Great to meet you all. Let's do it again- mondays are good for me!

Snap!

Hello! Planning on driving to France this summer with E who will then be 17/18 months. Has anyone been anywhere close-ish (we want to minimise driving time for obvious reasons), with nice scenery, pref on the coast (maybe the West Coast?) that's suitable for a toddler? Better still does anyone have a recommendation of a place to stay (self catering)?. Was thinking of the Dordogne but might be too far... Sorry a bit vague but thought I'd pick your brains whie I find the time to read the Lonely Planet guide!

We made a mistake in buying the Cosatto Close to Me cot. One side slides under the cot so you can pull it right up to your bed. When we moved my daughter into a cot (around 3 months) she was still waking up 3+ times a night and breastfeeding so I thought it would be useful. BUT it doesn't sit right next to the bed, there's a gap that I was worried she'd fall down and you need quite a lot of space to pull the side down and slide it under so tricky to chnage from 3 to 4 sided. We used it with 3 sides for about a week! It does look nice though and my daughter's a little titch so she'll fit into it at 2 I imagine and then she'll move to a single bed (wuth bed guard!). PS love the look of the bednest! Don't think OH would approve though!

When my daughter was that age I think I spent most of my time in cafes! Agree with others though it is hard, gets easier once they can sit up and weaning breaks up the day a bit too... One thing I used to do, which was daughter loved, was take her into the bathroom while I had a shower. I used to take off her nappy and lie her on a changing mat and she'd kick away and listen to the running water. It meant I didn't have to wait until she slept every morning to wash (especially as some mornings she'd refuse to sleep for longer than 10 min!). Not possible anymore she's be climbing into the toilet or something! I also used to go to the Brixton mum and babies cinema session with her most Fridays when she was around this age, she could bounce around on my lap and I could to watch a film.

Oh good I don't work on Mondays and the meet ups are usually on Fridays. I'll come along with my 14 month old, post nap- 3ish. Looking foward to it!

Another vote for Jacks- just wish it was open in the school hols (I'm a teacher!). Not in ED but that Cafe Provencal in Herne Hill has toys, space and a kids menu. The Bishop on weekdays is great for lunch- lots of space for crawling/toddling and nice food.

Loved this book too- especially the parts about sleep! Another great one (which has been mentioned before on here I think?) is What Mothers Do by Naomi Stadlen