BellendenBear

I discovered a whole packet of Giovanni Rana ricotta and spinach tortelloni in there a coupe of weeks ago. Not cooked but reckon if I'd left it long enough it would have steamed to al dente!

I discovered a whole packet of Giovanni Rana ricotta and spinach tortelloni in there a coupe of weeks ago. Not cooked but reckon if I'd left it long enough it would have steamed to al dente!

I read some of these posts in utter disbelief. I can not believe that people seriously believe what they read on scare mongering websites and in doing so put their and our children at risk. Despite what some have said, this IS a public health issue. Infectious diseases (including measles) remain a major cause of death in children and are responsible for around 14 million deaths in under 5s each year worldwide. We are lucky to have access to effective vaccinations. If you look at the statistics for any of the infections (diptheria, pertussis, HIb, Polio, Measles) there is a dramatic decline in the number of cases following the introduction of vaccinations. Similarly at times when there is a decline in the uptake of vaccinations, the incidence of infection quickly goes up again. A similar thing to the current measles outbreak happened in the 1970s when there were scares about the pertussis jab. Several whooping cough epidemics followed with associated neurological complications. While in developing countries such infections remain endemic because they do not have access to vaccinations. The eradication of these infections may also be in part due to improvements in hygiene, diet etc, but the statistics for how measles has returned since the MMR scare speak for themselves. Southwark and Lewisham are prime examples of this. And measles, mumps and rubella are all airborne, so apart from a reduction in overcrowded living conditions, I don't really see how diet and water quality can have made such a difference. Some have questioned whether they are being irresponsible by not vaccinating their children. Be in no doubt that you are being very irresponsible. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient proportion of a population are vaccinated to provide protection for the unvaccinated individuals. The threshold at which this occurs varies for each infection but is generally around 85%. No vaccine offers total protection to the individual so it is crucial that herd immunity is achieved to offer overall protection for the population. Some people truly are at risk from vaccinations (eg post-transplant) so this makes it even more important for healthy kids to be vaccinated, and even more irresponsible of parents if they are not. Furthermore, there will always be some individuals, particularly in areas of social deprivation and with a transient population, who are disengaged with health services so will default from vaccination. This increases the potential impact of a decision not to vaccinate following an article in Crystal Therapy Weekly. Fortunately, serious infections in the UK are rare so it is easy for us to forget the impact that preventable infections can have on childhood morbity and mortality. Let's not let this make us complacent. If you don't vaccinate your child, chances are they will be fine (same as we all know someone who smoked 40 a day and lived to be 80) be be under no illusion, this is because the majority of other children have been immunised.

Try asking the homeopath for some of their hocus pocus when your child has meningococcal septicaemia, mumps encephalitis or some other preventable childhood infection that can kill or leave longterm neurological impairment. These illnesses are still endemic in parts of the world that are not lucky enough to have access to vaccinations. This isn't just an issue for you and your child, it is a public health issue.

She asked if anyone in the house smokes, I said no, she ticked a box and gave me a leaflet about smoking. She asked if I took drugs, I said no, she ticket a box and gave me a leaflet about drugs. She asked if I was claiming benefits, I said no, she ticket a box and gave me a leaflet about benefits.... Then she observed me breastfeeding which I thought was going pretty well after helpful advice from a midwife, my baby seemed happy and was gaining weight. She shook her head, told me I was doing it all wrong, completely contradicted everything I had been told at the breastfeeding workshop and generally treated my boobs like they were public property. I have been banned from seeing our HV by Mr Bear. He got fed up with me seeing her then phoning/texting him at work in a frustrated verging on tearful rage because her solution to every question was to breastfeed on demand'. To give them the benefit of the doubt, HVs in this area are probably under-staffed and having to prioritise their workload to support at risk families, those with massive social needs and those who do not have access to Internet, NCT or other means of support. I just think it's a shame that so many of us have had the feeling that they turn up with their own tick box agenda and leaving us feeling frustrated or inadequate.

Hi Amy, you just have to keep trying, I know how frustrating it is. I did have a bag full of bottles that I tried to pass on a few months ago, I didn't get any takers so threw most of them away a couple of weeks ago, damn! In the end, playtex drop-ins were the only bottle my baby would accept (after about 2 months of trying). The teats are latex so are much softer. After a few weeks with these she would happily take any bottle and now we use the avent ones that I had bought right at the start. You are welcome to have my drop-ins, I think I have some unused teats. Good Luck

Poundstretcher in Peckham (by Lidl, behind Burger King)

The term BLW seems to be used a lot purely to describe giving finger foods, but isn't there more to it than that? It is about allowing your child to chose from a variety of foods and go at their own pace. With the puree approach you can still offer finger foods and encourage variety of taste and texture. And it doesn't have to involve force feeding calories down their necks. In the end I opted for the bit of both approach - purees because I am impatient, and finger foods to encourage independence. People have been giving their kids purees for years without making them all picky or unadventurous. From what I can gather from my Mum, I wasn't offered anything that wasn't mushed and beige for months (I don't advocate this). BLW seems to have a hint of doing something different for the sake of it. Surely babies brought up with this method are going to have a healthy attitude to food and eating because their parents have thought about food and feeding habits. Are the 2 things not parallel rather than being cause and effect?

My 8 month old did the same thing. Slept through from about 9-10 weeks then started waking again at 4 1/2 months. This was around the time that breast feeding became a wrestling match as she became distracted, wriggly and annoying. I wanted to avoid early weaning if possible. The thing that seemed to work was stretching out her milk feeds to 4 hours apart (8 overnight). She was then hungry, took big feeds, was much less distracted and slept through again. Bliss. What has happened at 8 months as I have gone back to work is a totally different story and one for which I have not found an answer. Grrrrrr.

i believe in turnips

So far Huguenot you seem to be winning the argument. All we have heard in the BB's defence are a few heroic personal anecdotes. However it has neither been suggested that the entire generation are culpable nor that subsequent generations are without fault. It is however undeniable that current and future generations have an enormous bill to pay in economic and environmental terms. xx

Vik Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Also worth having a look at Camberwell Grove Early > Years Centre at the top of Camberwell Grove. Camberwell Grove also has a really long waiting list (12-18 months. It is run by the council who have recently closed some of their other nurseries so CG have had to take some of the kids from elsewhere.

I have just finished weaning from breast to bottle ready to go back to work next week. I started when baby was 6 months and have done it slowly over 5 weeks, still breast feeding in the evening. This is at the same time as weaning onto solids. I was totally daunted by the prospect of doing this but have to say it had been fairly easy. I stopped a feed at a time and totally replaced with formula (she loved it) and expressed to relieve discomfort. Baby Whisperer advises to express for 15 mins for a couple of days, then 10, then 5 and so on. I was able to add this milk to solids and to bottles. With solids they start to reduce the milk intake anyway and I found that having her on formula made it easy to slowly cut out feeds but know she was getting enough. GF's weaning book is the most useful I found for helping to move from baby on 4 hourly milk feeds to one on 3 solid meals and 3-4 milk feeds (I am the controlling type and needed to have guidance with this). You will need lots of breast pads. Good luck!

Dungarees are better than trousers for big bum babies in their cloth nappies.

We found wedging baby on her side improved sleep a lot - look on 'babyreflux' website for wedges.

Peckham Pulse have lessons for babies. I have been taking my baby since she was 4 months and she/we love it. The classes are done over terms of 10 weeks and the new term just started 2 weeks ago. I highly recommend it, lots of fun and definitely wears them out.

Apex chimneys are excellent, really professional and knowledgable. They are registered with whoever chimney sweeps are regulated by and provide all the paperwork and certificates. They are also very safety conscious and will make sure your fireplaces are safe to use- 2 of ours weren't but the previous owners had been using them.

We moved our baby into her own room at 8 weeks and wish we'd done it earlier. Prior to that I was feeding 2 or sometimes 3 times each night. Since being in her own room I have never had to get up more than once in a night. She first slept through til 7am at just 10 weeks and that quickly became the norm. I think that when she was in our room I was disturbed by her grunty truffling noises and responded by feeding her when perhaps she didn't need it. In her own room she quickly settles herself back to sleep (usually) but if she really is hungry or needs me then I hear her. It was just a case of breaking the frequent feeding and needing to be fed to get back to sleep. The earlier they learn to do this the better in my opinion. If there is a number 2 he/she will be out of our room asap!

fmay, I have a bag of different bottles if you want to give them a try and don't want the expense of buying new ones only to be rejected. I got them on here a few months ago, 5 or 6 different types. Success with playtex drop-ins and now my 6 month old will drink from any bottle she can get he hands on. I offered them on the forum a month or so ago but no takers. Also, have you tried a fast flow teat? Mine fusses much less with them. Let me know if you want the bottles. Lots of interesting comments. Yes, these final weeks of mat leave seem over-shadowed by guilt and anxiety. So difficult.

Ideally I would express, or better still not go back to work until she is one. I feel really sad to cut down the breastfeeding. Expressing at work would be really difficult. I know employers are supposed to support you but the reality would be that even if they gave me some designated time to express, my workload would be the same meaning that I would have to go in early or finish late so would see even less of my daughter. I also work irregular hours with some early starts which I think would add to the difficulty. And my ability to express is affected by how relaxed I feel so the workplace would be far from ideal. I hope to continu to BF in the evening and have enough in the freezer for a morning feed for a while. But as HH says, I shouldn't have to justify the decision I have made.

I am going back to work soon so need to start replacing some breast feeds with formula. How did you decide which formula to use? Obviously each one claims to be full of omega this and that and to be the best breast substitute. I know that Aptamil have recently been in trouble for some of their advertising claims. Am I making this into a bigger deal than it needs to be? Advice and reassurance please!

Many congratlations! You've made me go all emotional. Savour every sleepless minute of this wonderful time.

Happened to me at 37 weeks, I was planning a homebirth so at least didn't have to go to MAU for swab etc. I spent 3 days pacing, kneeling, cleaning stairs, eating hot curry, having acupuncture and walking miles. Nothing happened. In the end I got a call from Kings in the evening to say I had group B strep so had to go that evening to be induced. After all I'd done I was absolutely knackered! 30 exhausting hours later my baby was born. My advice is to do what Sillywoman says but do rest. And if you end up being induced have an epidural. Good Luck!

Yes, Stella is one of the community midwives, part of the Southwark East team. You will see her for all your routine antenatal checks which will take place at the GP surgery. She or someone else from that team will also visit you at home 4 or more times postnatally. If you want a homebirth, Stella will try to be there, if not one of the other East team will do it. You will meet them all at a homebirth meeting near the due date. They are all lovely. Unlike the Brierly team, the East team don't come with you to Kings if you end up needing to go there. If you want the Brierly you do need to contact them early as they are very popular. I was very happy with the care and support I got from the East team. The only reason I can see to go to a private hospital is a nice room, nicer food etc. If you want the reassurance of having the best expertise if anything gets difficult, then the NHS wins everytime.

Mr Bear and I debate this issue frequently. Our only conclusion is to get out of London before they are 7!