October 2014 // thread 15 // hooray, here come the babies!

[sazzlehopes]

Going through these fast at the minute!

I'm more interested in a nursery than a child minder. Not sure if that's a teacher thing.

I've never been keen on the idea of a childminder but know people who prefer them over nursery. Dp would prefer a cm because they are cheaper...not a good enough argument in their favour for me!

I was very wary of a CM initially because of the lack of supervision but now actually I would say I'd prefer a CM with lots of experience as you know who'll be looking after your kids every day - at J's nursery it was just an endless stream of young lasses straight out of college and they were shit with dealing with allergies or discipline.

When I found out I was expecting no.2 I really wanted somewhere he'd be able to be with his sister. He seems to prefer the family setting to a large age cohort nursery class. It so depends on the kid though - he cried at drop off every morning at nursery but took to the CM instantly and has never cried at drop off. I'm hoping Lilla will get to know her and love her as much as J does so that when I go back (either 2.5 or 3 days per week) she will settle easily.

I really also found the idea of J following a nursery 'curriculum' at 1 year old - off putting.

It very much depends on the child and family.

So yellow how is life with two children ?

Its Full moon on 8th october ladies ... You know what that means

8th October is the day I reckon I'll drop. Didn't know about the full moon though.

We did childminder too and was great for ds. I've just moved him now he's older to a montessori nursery and he's loving it. But he's very confident boy.
I hope my new baby can go to the same childminder in a year.

I have a feeling i might go then aswell, its my grans 1 year anniversary of her passing on the 7th and always had a wee feeling it might be around this time

Life with two is OK physically (but DH is off and I'm in denial about how hard its going to be after pat leave) but I'm really sad by how little time I have with J, that I can't lift him so I can't go to him at night / do bedtime as I can't get him in or out of the cot. He's become a total daddy's boy and I miss my wee man but I do love them both utterly and can't wait to see their relationship develop.

Oh my word, I can't believe how expensive childcare is down South! Even if I don't go back to work we are looking at putting her into nursery two mornings a week to allow me to study/work / do something on my own, but thankfully our nursery fees are £18 for half a day. Even with the fees up here there would be little point financially for me to work, it would be for experience or adult conversation!

My mw called back yesterday and wasn't too concerned about my fainting/ sweating fit in the morning as I felt so much better after an extra 2 hours sleep. I have an appointment with her tomorrow anyway but told me if it happens again in the meantime to call mlu.

My parents are here now and it's so lovely having day time company and help doing things. Going shopping and out for lunch today, so looking forward to it!

flip do you know if the CM you used near crouch end is still working? That's where I live. If so it'd be great if you could message me her details as always good to have a recommendation (if you do recommend her)!

I prefer the idea of a child minder because when very young children need a safe attachment object (by which I mean person) and with the ratios at a nursery I don't believe that Schrodenberg would get the attention needed. I'm quite focused on styles of attachment and stuff because of work.

Well, all the walking did was give me massive back and lady-garden ache all night. Today is a sofa day. Boring.

Omg; sometimes things do sink in! On the matter of childcare I suggested to dp a week or so ago that at some point during my mat leave, he put in a request to his employers to do a condensed 4 day week; thinking if I go back 3 days my mother could do 2 days childcare & he the 3rd day. It was more done in jest as the company he works for is very old fashioned, but over dinner with the parentals last night, he told them he's going to ask to work his hours over 4 days!! Is it sad that I am so proud (& flabbergasted)! Knowing our luck it won't be agreed now, but still, he'll be pioneering up there! Lol!

I think you can get excellent nurseries and excellent childminders, and obviously the opposite too! I see now that we were lucky that Dd had the same member of staff as her key worker for the entire time she was there. I also know that a lot of the staff that were there 6 years ago are still there now and even cared for some of my Colleagues children who are now at university!

Yeah, we had a conversation about the 9 day fortnight last night too - I think boyfriend might actually go for it. We also talked about several other options with grandparents doing a day a month etc. Quite a useful conversation.

The baby is going mental today - yesterday it genuinely felt as if it had shifted right back round to breech again, and it definitely ended up last night head down but on the right hand side. It's had a month in a perfect position, and NOW it decides to shift around. Great. I can't work out where it is this morning, but I'm sat leaning forward, knees below pelvis hoping it'll get comfy in the right place again.

Grump grump grump!!! Grump!!!!

40 weeks today and it turns out this one isn't going to be early like her brother and is therefore not going to be my favourite. Going for a fingering from a stranger today to see if that starts things off. Wish me luck.

Aww bump ... Good luck!!

God sake goats ... You must have a comfy womb!! Still no baby after that trek yesterday ?? Hopefully the full moon will encourage s/he to come out?

No sign of Mrsb yet... maybe things have kicked off for her. Hope so... need some baby action on this thread now we're into October.

I know Stigz - how crap! Boyfriend has decided he's ill now too, so could do with a couple of days for him to sort himself out a bit so he can wait on me hand and foot for a fortnight. Also the rubbish handy-man job from yesterday is being fixed today by an emergency plumber... maybe the baby is waiting for a genuinely finished bathroom. Haaaaargh cry.

Enjoy the fingering Bump.

Oh and enjoy getting spoiled binky glad you feel better after yesterday

Good luck bump! I loved the description of the sweep

Have people got changing tables/chest of drawers combo or the changing tables that can sit on top of a cot? If you have the latter, do you leave it on all the time or place it on and remove it every time the baby needs a change? We've got minimal space so just wondering which is the best route?

Also, should I stock up on any baby medicine cabinet things or are they too old for a newborn?

We've just got a chest of drawers that I'll put a plastic changing mat on the top of. The chest of drawers is currently beneath a ceiling that is extremely bowed and covered in mold. All the best for our child. Ha.

lulu as i am limited on space i just have a padded changing mat that i will cover with a towel when changing, it can be easily used on couch, floor or bed for easy changing, you could stock up on medicine etc i recommend always having gripe water in for trapped wind /colic but think you can only use from one month old ? I cant remember about calpol etc but one bottle should last a while when they are small

bump hope the fingering manages to start things off for you! I've got a sweep booked for tomorrow when I'll be 40+4 but I was hoping I wouldn't need it.

I lost a little bit of mucus plug last night. I know it could still be ages yet but I was really excited - that's the first sign that my body isn't planning to stay pregnant forever!

Lulu I've got a chest of drawers with changing table on top from IKEA. The changing bit can come off to make a normal chest of drawers. I haven't bought any medicine. For dd the first medicine we bought was calpol when she had her first jabs - no idea when that was, I've completely forgotten all the newborn stuff! She didn't actually need the calpol but the nurse recommended getting it in case the jabs made her feverish.

I found it really useful to have a changing table (or chest of drawers with mat on) because it was the right height for me to change dd. Lots of my friends just used a mat on the floor/sofa/bed like Stigz, but I find that hurts my back and/or knees and newborn poo often overshoots the changing mat!