Mellors

I think I'd try to get him into a bed before you go over there - I would worry that the combo of jetlag, new room and a bed rather than cot would just be a nightmare. If he's already used to a bed then at least thats one less thing to worry about?

I was in the same position a while back with my daughter, and I have to say that dropping the morning feed did make a big difference to how much she started eating at lunch.

Hurrah! Very glad its back. I've missed it. I am a VERY grumpy Mummy of one mini terror just getting over swine flu, and another with "ouchy ears". I don't DO lack of sleep. I hate to say it, but sometimes I am very glad to shut the door and go to work instead....

I moved R not long after B was born as we needed his cot (poor thing - properly booted out lol). He was about 2. In hindsight I would have kept hin in as long as possible though, as it did coincide with the end of his lunchtime nap (he just used to get up and play in his room). It did help with the toilet though, as we had a potty next to the bed and he would just go himself (jammies and pull up nappies being easier to pull down than proper trousers). I have a stairgate across his bedroom door to stop him coming out of his room and falling down the stairs, and for the first couple of weeks I put a duvet on the floor next to the bed for when he (inevitably) fell out). I never had a problem with the change from grobag to duvet - he loved his new big boy bedding. The do do a duvet that zips down the side I think, if you want something inbetween (more like a proper sleeping bag)?

www.singandsign.com Classes in ED on most days of the week. Both my children have loved it, but I agree there is not much point starting it till they are 9 months or so.

I agree re lunchtime nap. Much as I was loathe to give it up, I found that my 2.5 year old just stopped wanting to go to bed in the evening until about 9pm (had previously been 7pm). This coincided with noving out of the cot to the big boy bed, so he could get up and run aruond in his room. So we dropped the lunchtime nap (if he is tired I still let him lie on the sofa for a while watching tv as downtime whilst his little sister is in bed). He is now shattered by 7pm and will go down much easier (last night he asked to go to bed at about twenty past six!). I generally bath at about 6.15, tv, milk and jim jams whilst I put his little sister to bed at about 6.45, then up to bed for a story or two and tucked up and sleeping by 7pm. I like that last 15 mins or so of "together" time we have over the story when No 2 is asleep. I miss the nap though!

Take the weekly amount, times by 52 and divide by 12 for the monthly sum. (if you do it 4 weekly you will find there are 13 4 week periods in a year).

Turn off the baby monitor and get earplugs? ;)

Yay!!! How exciting :D

Funny, mine are the same as Pickle's - boy No 1 would happily sit there and be fed by a spoon, whereas girl No 2 has never let you put a spoon anywhere near her, she is far too independent. I have tried to spoon in things like yoghurt, but she just tries to grab the spoon off me and it goes everywhere - hence I try to mainly give finger foods so there is less clearing up. I recommend either a highchair with a built in tray or a tray that sticks to the table top if you have a pull up high chair (Tripp Trapp do one). Anything you can lift off, scrape the mess into the bin and give a quick rinse. Long sleeved bibs help (plastic ones that you can rinse are best, or normal ones and roll their sleeves up). Plus an easily cleanable floor! (and a cleaner.....) Stick with it - it really is much, much easier in the long run when you can just take them out to a cafe and give them anything, its just a grotty few months at the beginning.

I did BLW with No 2 (couldn't be @rsed to faff about like I did with No 1), and the only thing I would say is that it took a lot longer for her to eat a reasonable amount (more like 8/9 months than 6 months - it was pretty nerve shredding). Don't feel bad about using jars/tubs if you want to supplement - those Organix/Ellas Kitchen/Plum Baby jobs have nothing but fruit/veg in them, its just they have done the work for you. They sell a big variety in the chemist on North Cross Rd. Whatever stops you going demented with it in my view! Yoghurt, yoghurt, yoghurt as well. They love the stuff. Avocado and cheese have loads of cals in as well if they will only eat a little bit. You have my sympathy I find that whole weaning thing a really boring faff. If you can bear with it though, tne benefit of BLW weaning is that I took the little one to Wagamama at lunch today (age 13 months) where she merrily chomped down Duck Gyosa and a mini portion of Chicken Ramen with no help (although I am glad they were cleaning the floor not me). No messing about with baby food.

Free parking at any time in Flodden Road, and a quick walk round the corner to the hospital.

Creche-wise the one at Beckenham Spa (where they have gym, decent pool and personal training) takes them in an OFSTED one from 3 months. Its open Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm, and the ladies are lovely. You can join baby as a member for ?17.50 a month and you get as much creche time as you like for free, as well as soft play, Crystal Palace One o'clock club etc. I joined us both for ?40 a month, and thought it was great value. There's also a creche at Peckham Pulse from 6 months, although I haven't used it.

Hahahahahahaha, sorry but thats really funny. Poor you.

Yes that sounds right, he would start next Sept (when nearly 4), and she would be the year after (a few days after she is 3). Hmmmm, possibly not worth it then as she would only be there for a year and then I would have to move her, which is a faff. I don't have time in a morning to drop off at two places before going to work, so back to Plan B I think. Its all so complicated!

When does their year run from? My girl is 30 August (so will be the very, very youngest in her year at school)?

Half milk half water warmed up?

Poor you, it must be doing the rounds at the moment (Heidi's baby is also throwing up, and another friends daughter is the same). When I rung NHS Direct with mine last time they did it (its been a few times, boo!), they advise no milk (germs breed on it), but try and get as much water down them as possible and only dry foods. If they don't keep anything down for 24 hours or more, or have a temperature you can't control with Calpol then straight to the docs. Dulwich Medical Centre will have you in straight away if you ring for a baby (in my experience), although there has never seemed to be anything they can do about it, apart from give you the same advice re fluids/Calpol? Its worth keeping an eye on her fontanelle to see if its depressed/she is dehydrated? The one upside I have found is that they have always slept for England after an exhausting dau of throwing up - get 'em in bed at 6 ;) Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. xxx

Funny that you should ask this as I have been wondering. My two are a school year apart (2 year older boy, 1 year old girl) and I have his name down there. I was pondering whether to think about Herne Hill or Oakfield instead as they are more co-ed for when they are both there/she is there on her own, but that has put my mind at rest a bit. I love the facilities and outside space at DCPS.

How awful for the people involved, but a terrible shame to suspend the practice. I have to say that I was in exactly the same position (previous ceasarean, followed by natural delivery) and I had a non-hospital water birth with only hand held monitoring from time to time, and no internal exams. I had no idea that you are meant to have continual electronic monitoring under the NICE guidelines. If I had know that the consequences could have been so serious I might have thought twice about it though.

Brilliant - are you offering to have my kids tomorrow so I can get the shopping done without my buggy (a Double Phil & Teds - shocker!). I would LOVE to go shopping buggy free. I'll drop them off about 6am for the morning? Cheers v much.

Its awful, but the reason its in the news is because it is so totally unusual. Seriously the chances of it happening to you are a million to one - much more likely to get hit by a car and all that. You could take my approach and try not to read about these things so they don't upset you?

If its true that they owed money to HMRC (the taxman) and maybe owed any pay to staff (wages/holidays) then that will get paid first. I'd be suprised if there is anything left over after that?

My distance is much shorter as the crow flies (walking means you have to go round corners etc), so I would think that is true?

How embarassing if it was you and you were her mum lololol (very likely to be me on any given day screeching at my two, except sadly I am not blonde). Equally how dreadful if its your nanny - one of my fears is always what happens when I am not there (unfounded I am sure),