Crokes

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).

Thank you massively for all the lovely, helpful and thoughtful responses and PMs/offers (EDF family room rocks!). Problem solved and very pleased to report our baby arrived yesterday morning, at home in the pool.

Convex, great thinking, thank you (didn't think of it that way round!) That would work too. We've got a generic liner from the midwife now (as a back-up as it's ?50 and will be quite loose).

Hello lovely family roomers (posting here as well as in the classifieds as I think this gets more traffic) Embarrassingly we have got the wrong size liner for our birth pool in a box. If anyone has a liner for sale for a REGULAR size birth pool in a box then please message me asap and I'll call to arrange purchase/immediate collection! Thanks!

It's also worth looking at the Industrial Design degrees at Brunel, Loughborough and I think Newcastle(?). Further afield yes but all have great reputations for product design graduates and no need for the foundation degree first (at least there didn't used to be with those courses at Brunel and Loughborough). Obviously involves specialising slightly earlier (but then I guess that's one year less in education) The one I did gave all students the option to come out with either a BA or BSc AND my peers have gone on to do a massive variety of creative vocations. Good luck to him!

Agree with recommendation for Amott Road Preschool. It runs 9.15am - 12.15pm. Worth calling to get on their waiting list (no charge for being on the waiting list either). They have a facebook page if you want more info/contact details (type in Amott Road Pre-school into Facebook search).

I don't venture out to the shops/London too often and find online shopping normally is well priced or cheaper - even more so by using cashback sites for each purchase eg. my fav is Topcashback http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/louise_z Once registered, you start at this website and click through to the website you want to buy something from. Each purchase earns a small percentage that soon adds up and is easily paid into your bank account as cash when you request it. (I use this website for buying most things - it often has discount codes you can use too. The downside is that not all websites are listed).

Hello fellow-family room users I am currently speaking to medical professionals about this (and will continue to), but would welcome hearing others experiences as I am in a real dilemma. I am pregnant (in the 3rd trimester) but have been suffering with bad asthma since an attack about 10 days ago (I'm normally happy to manage my asthma as I've had it since I was a child and have regular reviews). I'm on antibiotics to counter a chest infection and taking preventative (seretide) and ventolin inhalers. I can get through the day (by not doing too much and using my inhaler regularly) but struggle through the night and 1st thing in the morning (very wheezy, difficult to talk). The baby appears to be fine - loads of strong movement. It has been recommended that I take oral steroids but I am reluctant to do this; although I know I need to get the asthma back on track asap I've also been told/read that it's not ideal for the baby/ there's potential for premature labour (which I really don't want, as I was hoping for a more positive birth experience 2nd time round). Has anyone else taken oral steriods (e.g. prednisone) or had asthma attacks whilst in the later stages of pregnancy? PM me if you'd prefer. Thanks in advance.

Check out non-breastfeeding dresses too - v neck styles can work well. A friend inspired me after she bought a trendy v-neck dress from Warehouse for a wedding and was able to breast-feed in it. I found a lovely crossover/v-neck dress in H&M that was ideal for breastfeeding discreetly too - both were not to expensive and easily wearable again.

Brilliant - thanks for the recommendations... like the made one but not sure on timings/customer service reviews, so it looks like we're off to ikea!

Not sure if this if the right place to ask but as our family is due to expand soonish, we're looking for something to give us flexibility with sleeping arrangements/guests. We're looking to buy a sofa bed or chair bed (suitable for one person) and would really appreciate some recommendations (if there are any!). We'd rather not go for a futon... is there anything comfortable to sleep on that doesn't cost the earth and is still space-saving?! Thanks in advance.

If the distance suits you then try calling Barbara Rexstrew at JAGS, Tel: +44 (0) 208 693 1181. They have a room you can hire for parties or they hire out the Green Dale building on Green Dale (we hired this one recently for a kids party. Would definitely recommend, it was ideal, well priced, even has some parking).

I'm pretty sure that Bookstart at the albrighton centre finished for Christmas either last week or tomorrow.