sophiechristophy

ClareC - do you really think that staying at home is the easy option? And, do you think that those go back to work do so due to some sense of community in wanting their tax to pay for surestart?!?

furley-yap - a suggested edit to your post just to keep things fairly represented: "If like the OP, you and your partner choose to go back to work, to earn money to make a better future for your children because you want to, hence you need to hire a nanny because it makes most economic sense, then only certain community services are available to you. But if you don't choose to go back to work, because you want to make a better future for your children, are comfortably off or because you just don't want to, and you turn up with your kid, how can you feel that you have the moral high ground to demand admission over a nanny with her charges?!

Game of Thrones

I think it is a great idea - I would have thought that whoever is leading it will make the point more than once that you have to be certain you know what you are eating when you are foraging, so could be a good opportunity for your son to get a good grip on the idea that you do need to be careful when eating things that you find.

also pm'd

Hi everyone, Just saw this: http://www.bliss.org.uk/events/london-bliss-buggy-push/ It's in aid of a really good cause. Think I would be carrying my little one rather than pushing though! Best, S

It's simple = on the condition that your own diet is a healthy one, leaving out salt and sugar, each meal time just protion some from your food on to your baby's tray, and let them play! Food under 1 is just for fun, so don't worry at all about what they are actually eating. Just focus on enjoying your babies company at meal times! Treat them like any other guest at your table. x

I think this is a really interesting article: http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepthrough.html

I did not say that they are too emotional to discuss it, I suggested that if some people where feeling extremely sensitive about this topic then perhaps it would be in their best interests not to read this thread, rather than to ban the topic. HHB - for some reason you have read from my words something that is not there. I don't know why you have done this.

The intention of this thread was to discuss the issue of low breastfeeding rates in the UK and the potential causes of this, not to attack mothers or try to make any mothers feel guilty. Clearly, breastfeeding is a highly emotive issue, and those who have had difficult and upsetting experiences feel highly defensive, reactive and upset by this subject. Perhaps if you feel so sensitive and negative on the subject of breastfeeding then it would be better to avoid a thread with a subject line that is explicitly discussing this topic? In no way did I set out to offend anyone. The fact remains that we have poor breastfeeding rates at 6 months in this country, far worse than other european countries, and I think this is something that is interesting to look at and see if there are clear reasons why and if there are ways to improve the breastfeeding rates here. An NCT survey found this: "Every year more than 200,000 mothers stop breastfeeding in the first few days and weeks ? 90% of these mothers would have liked to continue. In Norway, Canada and Sweden more than 90% of mothers start to breastfeed and most continue without problems." How is considering this attacking mothers or aiming to make them feel guilty??? It is clearly an issue bigger than the personal choices of individual mothers.

Saila - who is criticising?? You said yourself in another post: "Support for bf is definitely worthy of discussion".

To the majority breatfeeding is possible. It is proven to have great health benefits for mother's and babies. I don't understand why discussing the fact that despite this the majority of women in the UK choose not to do it, and to consider why this might be and what things might help mothers in breastfeeding, causes such an agressive response. At no point have individuals been critised for their own personal choices, or mothers labelled as good or bad according to their choices.

Susyp - I noticed from your previous posts that your daughter has a milk allergy, and hellosailor, that your daughter had late diagnosed tough-tie. Just wanted to make the point that these are situations that would complicate brestfeeding beyond the norm.

Hellosailor I think that you have misunderstood my position on this. I am not saying that in absolutely all circumstances and under all conditions, breastfeeding is the right option for a mother and baby. From your description, you went above and beyond in your endevours to breastfeed, and managed under very difficult circumstances to breastfeed for a considerable length of time. In your situation, utilising formula feeding was ultimately the best option for you and your baby.

BellendenBear I totally agree re: extra support rather than lowering expectations. And I agree, it is something in the process that is failing, not mothers themselves.