Yorkie

http://community.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/from-a-mother-to-another/ For those of you wanting to pass on baby clothes to a mum in need, JoJo Maman baby are collecting for Barnados via their shops. You need to sort into gift bundles by age/size and print a label from the link above and they'll do the rest. Time to de clutter those bags of 'best' baby clothes you are still holding onto!

Thanks Molly, yes I was hoping they would be nursery buddies too. There were 45 sibling places in the end with 2 SEN so we would probably have had to live next door to the school(or in your back garden, fancy a lodger?) to get in on the first cut. We're 7th so all hope is not lost, there may well be some movement over the next term. I was just a bit stunned as ever since I was pregnant I imagined her going there when she was 3 and wasn't quite prepared. But in the grand scheme of things that can go wrong with children this is nothing, I'll get over it! Thanks for the suggestions Renata, I couldn't get hold of St Mary's but we're also going on the list at Chelwood and Rye Oak so fingers crossed.

Ah, 8 spaces doesn't leave much wiggle room does it. Am going to call them in the morning to see if they can tell me where we are on the waiting list, last hope! Feeling more resigned to it now and trying to ignore impending doom thoughts for primary next year. Need to stop reading the other threads!

I've just found out that my daughter hasn't got a place at Ivydale Nursey this September. We live three streets away, 0.2 miles on a map, closer as the crow flies. It's the nearest by quite some way so I'm feeling really despondent about finding an alternative now. I feel I've been incredibly naive. I had no idea it was as bad for nursery as primary school.. pause for laughter from wiser more experienced parents... apparently it's the siblings factor due to "unprecedented demand". I'm now also super stressed that the primary place won't happen either! When we moved here 4 years ago I was actually quite relieved the local school wasn't ranked Good in the Ofsted ranks as I thought it might mean we'd get in. Alas the combination of its improvements and the discovery by others of this hidden, quiet corner of Nunhead has scuppered me. Sigh :'(

Europe's largest knocking shop.

oh dear, I've cried through most of this one already. Makes you so very grateful if you've had a straightforward time, as the amazing woman has said so well. On a lighter note, I love the young men this series, so sweet whilst trying to be cool in such a female world.

oh no supergolden, hope he goes back swiftly. I'm in bed with mine, she didn't go down til 10! We're in sleep transistion craziness at the mo with a super early wake up & lunchtime nap all wrong (either too early or too late). Maybe she'll have a lie-in. Ha ha hollow laugh. Thank god for wine. Sweet dreams all.

I cried at the credits too. Honestly. I blamed it on the fact that this far into the series I knew the people behind the stories... But I think I'm just really soppy about babies since having one myself. We are due a heavy one soon aren't we, considering the stories so far. It's been said before I know but what a brilliant piece of television it is.

ah yes Ruth, I remember! I would like another at some point but I think I'd like a wee rest first. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks everyone for your supportive posts. If we do decide to bite the bullet and CC it I'll be back for moral support. She has still woken the last few nights but Daddy's back on duty and has been co-sleeping in her room and I then feed at 5/6. Not solving anything long term of course but at least I feel slightly less like a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

yes Snowboarder, I posted 6 months ago about back-to-work stress/sleep/mananging while OH did childcare an d you sent me a msg then. Both you and Ruth had done the CC recently, and I really remember both of your postings on the subject. And I do reflect often on the fact that both of you now have sleeping boys and another one on the way whilst I haven't moved on. Still, this too will pass. Will repeat to self. I must to bed. TFI Friday X

Helena, that's a variation on what I do to get her too sleep at nightime actually (failed attempt at sleep lady shuffle technique, still stuck on the chair!) so that may be a gentler approach. I think it so much depends on your mental health at the time asleep. My desperation has coincided with a shocking week at work (stress over workload and new boss plus personnel issues and direct criticism of me in an exit interview, ugh) so am feeling like a failure on all fronts at the mo :( & Molly, you're right about the flat issue although if it's a week of pain to get months of peace maybe they'll forgive. I do hear the guy above move when she is on a screaming meltdown and am grateful I never see him at the entrance. Thanks all, v useful to hear your stories. I think drastic action is probably req'd as she's a v strong willed girl (er, no comment) and we have been v soppy in our approach if I'm honest. But you live & learn eh. However have had Dominios for tea & halfway through a bottle of Co-Op's lovely fairtrade Pinot Grigio so not all bad!

I do hear what you're saying, it's just that if she cries for 2 hours with one of us how many hours will she yell for if we don't go in. 2,3,4? I will crack and then it we will all have been upset for nothing. I know CC does work and I know I'm of the verge of losing the plot but I feel, ironically, that I need to be in a strong place in order to see it through. I'm much more resilient than OH about crying (she has been left for the short going to sleep cries and I can switch off, he can't so much. We're on holiday in a week, with brother & kids so no option to do drastic training but maybe I'll try dropping feed then as at least can go back to bed.

interesting thought re allergy. It was a year ago & everything on that front hasn't come back. Will go to Drs as you suggest. She loves her milk (cow & mine) that I really hope it's not! Amazingly last night she skipped the 12-3 wake and went from 9-5.30!! Babies eh, she must've known I'd reported her to the EDF. Thanks Fuschia.

oops, it's me. Was on OH's laptop! Title meant to read HELL not help but equally applicable. Had 4.5hrs last night and work stress v bad. Should prob just give in & go to bed.

she's woken at 12 since 6 months when solids started (& stopped due to allergies) so BM only til 7 mths. Naps hit & miss (40 mins if bad night 1.5 - 2hrs if easy resettle. I did night feed when she was ill over Xmas which I think has probay mucked it all up...

re meal planning, we have a blackboard in the kitchen & I chalk up our meals on a Sunday. Makes it so much easier when I get in from work. We have about 10 meals that I just rotate. Dull but manageable and makes Shopping (Sainsburys online so you just go through your usuals list) much less stressful. As a child we had the same thing every week day, I'm one of 4 so imagine it was one of the things that kept mum sane. Night night room, I have just cleaned my bathroom sink & bleached all the plugholes :)) X

I'm one of the last of my girlfriends to have children so you think I'd know what I was letting myself in for but little did I know... Since then I've taken to putting a wee letter in to those who have followed, seperate from the congratulations & fluffy presents, saying How're you doing? I hope you're okay but I thought you might like to know that I felt like I'd been run over by a bus for the first few weeks. I was getting 3 hrs sleep in 1.5 hr batches, I cried every single day and I felt overwhelmed by the exhaustion and responsibilty not to mention the stress of breastfeeding which took me weeks to master properly (when you can't 'get it' on day 1 and what feels like 25 different midwives have tweaked your nipples and told you to work on your latch...) and you feel like you must be so bloody useless when all these women before you have sailed through it etc etc. In the hope that those who are feeling like it realize they are not alone and it's very normal if they are suffering too. And if they are lucky enough to not recognize it then they can just think poor cow, I'm lucky! Two friends have found it helpful, my sister just said actually I found it all ok and then served me homemade cupcakes (as her 6 week old slept). Good job I love her dearly. And no it hasn't changed, he's 8 months and is still a dream. Mine's 18mths & still doesn't sleep through

I'd second RFH, loads of space & busy enough not to feel too noticed. Also cafebar upstairs at the BFI (benugos)is lovely and has good changing facilities. Less family oriented though, I find myself gazing wistfully at young trendy types with no committments... I'd also recommend London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. V family friendly & has a feeding room if you want total privacy.

Me three! Happy New Year one & all, thanks for being part of keeping me sane. Wishing us all peaceful nights & happy days ahead x

we're off to Yorkshire tomorrow, in hire car with 17mth old. Currently swithering between A1 & M1 route and watching weather forecast. I am tempted by the Motorway, surely they keep that clear?? Will let you know! Also bit bored of family going all professional northern on me and complaining about metropolitan news bias. No snow at home & all flights from Manchester Airport ok plus trains fine north of Peterborough. Yawn. Our intention is to move back one day but am slightly worried that my 12 years down here in that London have spolit me forever! Anyway, I digress. Stay safe & warm wherever you end up x

the thought of being pregnant this tired and with a toddler scares me stupid, let alone actually having a newborn all over again! Yes, am up again. What's the weather like down there Pickle?

My 16nths old does this too and tonight has been awake since 10.30. She does the wanting to play thing too & I'm sure it's a distraction for her for some kind of pain/distress as it's usually just before a tooth appears. She's also been ill and is doing major babbling with new sounds so I wonder if she's getting ready to say something too. Her other milestones have usually played havoc with her sleep too. I'm sure it's a phase which will pass once the 'thing', whatever it is, has gone but if it persists more than a few nights I wld go back to the Drs. Hope you're all asleep peacefully tonight.

morning, I've been up with my poorly one for the last hour. She also has the evil cough so each time she was almost back to sleeep she woke up. Have done whole lullaby CD to no avail. Given up & feedingnow. I'm trying to give up breastfeeding (down to one feed at 5/6am normally) in vain hope that it'll help with the sleeping through (she's 17 months & I work FT, exhausting even with Daddy on duty for the first wake) but then when she's ill I'm so grateful I have this lovely soothing comfort for her. She's been coughing for 10 days, is happy enough during the day and has no fever but I'm wonderung if I shld take her to the Drs on Monday just because it's not shifting. Had been calpol/ibuprofen/cough lintusing in first days as it was a cold. Would you go? I hate to waste Drs time if it's just normal winter bugs, especially as will have to plead/demand appt as daily ones v scarce. Is this normal for this age? & on a more frivolous note, who got kicked off the Xfactor last night? Was catching up on live Corrie episode on the telly box and forgot to flick over). Motherhood for me = never watching anything in real time ever again!

ok I'm withdrawing gracefully but looks like there might be more numbers for next weekend? Have a good night if you make it out & hopefully see some of you in the new year.

Sorry to hear you're back in Kings Fuschia, hope you get out again soon. Congratulations on your newest addition. I'm one of four, including twins, so have been thinking of you (& my mum!) lots. The EDF accompanied me through most of my baby's night feeds this time last year, it was how I stayed awake (reflux baby needed to be upright for 20 mins post feed) and I was a bit paranoid about co-sleeping so always stayed awake before transferring back to cot. These days I'm queen of the lying down sleeping feed so not really up to posting but am usually here in spirit in the early hours! I did once do my Sainsbury's online shop at 4am...