Crokes

There's a couple of threads on this that are useful (search blood tests). I went on a Wednesday around 8.45am and only waited 20mins. It seemed very quiet compared to other visits.

Thank you all - great tips and yes, it wasn't as bed as expected. Ate loads the night before, discovered savoury oatcakes, took food for after etc etc and I LOVED the ice cream tip!

Hello family roomers I have been to the doctors (so I'm not asking for medical solutions) but I'm hoping someone has some useful tips! I have one of those 'fast for 12 hours beforehand' bood tests. I understand the reasons for the fast (and that a good time to do it is overnight) but are there any tips for good things to eat just before the fast starts that will keep me going when I get up in the morning? (I'm currently on a high calorie diet so it's going to be a bit of a shock to the system!). Thanks in advance.

It's making me itch just reading about it... we've used the nitty gritty comb (used shed-loads of hedrin 15min stuff which definitely made some progress, but combing every few days with the nitty gritty comb made sure the last stragglers were gone.) I also continued to spray with the nitty-gritty spray and made sure long hair was tied back to avoid getting them again and again! I've also heard that neem oil is effective (added to shampoo and then combing + as a deterrent). Good luck!

seemster Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Try seeking out the lovely Sergeant James Hathaway > aka Laurence Fox, I said hello to him recently on > Stories Road, just off DKH. Possibly in the area to visit his sister who's married to (earlier mentioned) Richard Ayoade (they live in SE15 I think).

Good luck everyone.... just logged on and results showing. Very pleased with 1st choice. Hope others are as lucky.

I was in Asda just over a week ago - they had plenty in stock (look at the party aisle up near the chemist counter).

I confess I am a former fussy eater - as a child if I had a playdate, my mum would send me with a pot of jam or tub of dairylea because I hardly ate anything! I also had the same sandwich filling almost my entire school life! My mum spoke to a doctor about the lack of variety/healthy food and quantity but he pointed out that I was happy and running around with lots of energy, so not to worry, I'd grow out of it. I'm not sure if this is helpful or not, but whilst the list of foods did increase/improve, my fussy eating stage was quite a long one. I was in my teens before I really 'got into' veg and readily tried things but now I eat nearly everything and LOVE veg! I vividly remember my parents trying to get me to eat/try things (with no luck at all really). I think the worst thing was their efforts/battles to get me to eat things - it made me more determinded not to (even if I was curious), so I agree with Fuschia - letting them choose to have small bits (or letting them think they are choosing) is much more likely to get results. Best of luck to any of you in the same boat with your little ones!

We went yesterday (to Croydon branch) - just inside the entrance they had some trolleys that you hang the yellow bags off which had a child seat in (even with the seat straps it was not suitable for a baby who can sit up, as there were as no sides around the seat). Further inside by the restaurant area they had the trolleys like sainsburys with a child seat (probably only suitable for an older/larger baby that can sit up on it's own). Good luck! PS. Their marketplace section is being refurbished till the end of March - so they possibly had some things missing.

We looked at cars recently and noticed that the Renault Scenic has 3 isofix points in the back (so has the potential to take 3 car seats).

Do you drive there? if so, where do you park?

Brilliant suggestions, thank you. All went well!

I'm looking for some fun things to do for a couple of days during late December but my sleep-deprived brain is on strike! I'll be entertaining a 3yr old girl, 9 yr old girl , 13yr old girl (and be juggling a 7 month old baby too)...(Not on my own I should add!). Are there any things locally and/or am I mad to consider going into London (ie. will museums etc be crazy busy as I'd expect it to be in the holidays?). Is there anywhere that would be interesting/fun for all? Thanks in advance for any suggestions and happy holidays/Christmas!

of course! forgot about Argos. Brilliant, and they have some in. Thank you Jessie & SW.

Hmmm... feeling a bit unprepared... I've been meaning to get a spare for a while but now need one due to illness - any suggestions where to buy a single duvet from locally (needs to be low tog rating eg. 4 tog). None in Sainsburys or Morrisons. Thanks in advance.

If you search under 'cranial' on here then you'll find other threads with discussion and recommendations regarding cranial (giving you opinion on both sides). We found it very useful and have used both the OCC (not so local as is in Wandsworth http://occ.uk.com/ ) and Katie Sedgewick (in East Dulwich on Landcroft Road). Best of luck with your little one.

I think Pickle's description for contact sounds reasonable but reading the OP's post I thought it was also about the little girl being left to sort herself out. I can understand that teachers have lots to do and grazes are daily occurrences, but if it was a bad graze and dirty, it seems a shame that no-one helped her clean it up at all (especially as the little girl is just starting reception and the whole school thing is probably all very new)... or am I being soft (it says she's only 4).

Have had this with my little one too, lots of soft fruit was the culprit for us. My mum always said apples and eggs were binding... not sure how much fruit is too much, but as he loves the soft fruit so much then anything you can do to reduce it a bit would help (but I'm no expert!). No idea about the effect of cow's milk on it though. Good luck!

Signed and a big thank you to EDF (particularly knomester's brilliant post on breastfeeding/tongue ties). We benefited hugely from reading your tips and experiences.

sylviamaria Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Edamame beans are delicious and chopped spinach is > always useful in our home. Also corn on the cob > for the kids? Sorry to hijack, but where do you buy frozen edamame beans please?

kittysailing Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What is this 'iron' you speak of? Brilliant kittysailing!

Has anyone come across this? Any success? We picked up on a couple of the cries with our newborn (apparently its only appropriate for babies up to 3 months) and I think the Baby Whisperer book mentions different cries too. Thought it made interesting viewing and hopefully helpful to some too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv3-74EFtWQ (watch from approx 4 mins in if you just want the examples of the words)

Not used Millpond consultants but the Millpond book has some useful tips (and options depending on your parenting style). Although unfortunately the book doesn't really give solutions for newborns (more tips and an understanding about what's going on with their sleep/lack of sleep!). Having looked at their website this link they provide is written by one of their experts and helpful for newborn stuff (but not a complete solution unfortunately). http://mumstreet.co.uk/content/your-baby/sleep/newborn-sleep-and-what-to-expect/ Good luck and hang in there.

Brilliant news!

A belated thank you for your replies and PMs - as always the family room is a great source of experience/advice/support. After a couple more days of trying to get breathing/asthma back on track I took the steriods; they worked (with no further attacks either) and pleased to report that there was no impact on the pregnancy/baby (who arrived yesterday and was not early, nor low-weight etc).