Can we have another round of sharing good tips?

[Fuschia]

Mine are - for snacks and lunches use bAco pots - cheap but reusable Abd no worries if they get lost or lids get lost plus they stack very neatly

Small size for snacks

Large for sandwiches

Sick children

Alternate nurofen and calpol

Dress in a loose large sized tshirt ( I keep s stash of these also for beach/ after water play)

Lie towels and reusable cotton nappies in the bed so easily removable if they are sick without stripping the whole bed in the dark

[Saffron]

Instead of ketchup, use a big dollop of plain yogurt with a little dollop of concentrated tomato paste on top. This cuts way down on sugar/salt/preservatives.

[Claire29]

I was in Poland for the weekend with my eldest who is 6 and on the way to hotel was sick in the bus, then we got to the hotel and he was sick and wouldn't do anything except lie on the bed......I thought typical we have come all this way for my brothers wedding for me to spend the weekend in a hotel room. Anyway my cousin whose hubbie is a doctor, said to give him a little bit of coke( as in drink!) he was really ill and didn't want to drink any as he hates fizzy drinks but I gave him a few tiny mouthfulls, and it was like a miracle, within about 10 minutes he was up and about and stopped been sick. Whatever is in it seems to be good for stopping sickness, ideally flat coke is best. I would never have thought of that but it worked for us, thankfully and i didn't spend the weekend in a hotel room!

[cazbee]

From the mum of a very refluxy baby, big cotton scarfs (cheap from H&M or similar) in light colours or patterns are a slightly more dignified and trendy way to catch baby spit. Wash first so they are absorbent and throw in the wash again once you get home. Also more discreet for breastfeeding than a white muslin over your shoulder and just as light and breathable.

Can't wait for more replies on this thread!

[Saffron]

Claire29, it's mostly the sugar in cola that helps children feel better when they are vomiting. Sugar helps tell the brain that the contents of the stomach are safe to keep. I suspect the caffeine probably helps too as it relieves the lethargy that often accompanies vomiting.

As children, if we were ill in the winter, my mother gave us cola, heated to reduce the fizz, warm and soothing with a twist of lemon.

[sillywoman]

Muslin cloths take dye brilliantly.

[Fuschia]

To manage lots of kids doing different activities and minimise lost kit keep bags ready packed Ome peg child pet activity snd put clean clothes straight back when

Washed

Keep all shoes by the front door one box per child and teach them to put away... And you will avoid the ignominy of being late to school ( John Barnett doesnt open till 930)

[Moos]

Fuschia, you've been iPhoned again!

This is a pretty obvious one, but here goes: keep a list near the front door of things you ought to have with you in your magic bag. Mine has:-

- things never to go out without (eg nappies, bottle of water, mini bag with plasters etc.) and then subsections for different weather and different things that you'll have to do:

- warm weather subsection

- cold weather subsection

- if the trip out will involve a meal

- if the trip out will involve a nap

And so on.

You may not need it if you're not as much of a forgetful doofus as I am, of course, but it's saved my bacon a few times.

[ryedalema]

I hang things from the front door so that there's no option but to remember them. I have some tips but they might not be 'good parenting' - ahem..

- if you little one has an afternoon nap that lingers and if you'd wake them then it would affect their night time sleep, what works for us is to put baby rice or super fine porridge into their milk bottle and sleep feed them. We find that it's often hunger that wakes them after that and that keeps them full all night.

- any dummy users out there (no comments please - I did say I might not be a 'good' mum) if your little one is in the throes of teething, put a bit of gel on their dummy, works really well and dead easy to get them settled (also works really well with sore throats!).

- don't bother buying bibs, they are too small and never seem to catch what's being thrown about- muslins tied around the neck are perfectly fine and wash/dry really easily xx

Love to you all xx

[Fuschia]

Either remove tshirt at lunch tO keep it clean and feed toPless or feed evenings then straight in the bath

I do the hang things on front door or post it on front door thing

Having a standard list with subsections sounds like a good idea!

[ryedalema]

Ah - that poses a q. My OH (who is from Papua new Guinea) always used to eat Mangoes in the bath.

Could one bf in the bath? Or is that fraught with H & S and logistical hazards? I'm just thinking dribbles could be wiped away easily :)

Anyone ever tried it?

I've fed topless (not in public) many times, and now wear a dressing gown over my work clothes when 'enjoying' breakfast with the girls before the nursery run - saves loads of stress!

[srisky]

My little one went through a phase of hating baths so I'd we'd co-bath and I'd comfort feed her if she got distressed. I didn't do it for long, as I didn't want to make it a habit but more to reassure her so that she could feels safe and secure in the bath.

The main thing is that you can get yourself and baby out of the bath safely. I used to make sure my husband was around when I did this - if he wasn't then I wouldn't get in the bath.

[Fuschia]

Oh yes

Bf in the bath us very comforting

When

Latest baby wouldn't bf at snout a week

Old with his Tongue tie the closestodt relaxed timed we had were bathing together though even in the bath gf wouldn't latch till he had it snipped

Mine have grapes or blueberries in the bath sometimes

[Ruth_Baldock]

I used to bf in the bath during witching hour to calm the little bugger down. Still breastfed in the bath right up to the day S turned his nose up at it all.

I still co-bath a few times a week, too, and S is 17mo. Normally on days that I'm at work, otherwise I have no 'quality time' with him. Aw.

My tip: for a baby who is coughing and said cough is keeping them awake at night- vicks on the soles of their feet stops the cough- has to be a thick layer, mind. Use socks to stop it going all over everything, or babygros with feet. I think olbas oil works well in this was

too if applied directly to socks/babygro rather than little feet.