Tiptoeing into the Second Trimester... Due April 2015

[HippoPottyMouth]

Ooh just seen there is a June 2015 thread now. Makes us seem like old hands

In the moses basket at 9 months, dances! I had to move dd out at 4 months!

Fizzy and Squatting My first DC will also be around the same age (2 years 1 month in April) and I am also gonna try having him walk more and more little distances as we get closer because I am hoping to avoid the double :P he is a very strong walker and independent already though so I think by April he would be fighting to get out all the time anyways lol

The one I use for work is a side by side as the one in front of others are so heavy to push BonjourMinou and I don't have to go shopping with it or anything. Ours lives in the garage. Ds1 was 3 1/2 when ds2 was born so I used to put ds2 in the pushchair but ale the sling so if ds1 got tired he could get in and ds2 could go in the sling for a bit. He loved it when he was little but got a bit fidgety as he got older so that worked well for both. Once he could walk at 10 months he walked more than ds1 if he could, he's such a physical little man and ds1 is mega lazy! Buggy boards are good too :)

Yes I've often got no choice but to let her walk at the moment as she's going through (what's hopefully) a phase of wrestling to get out the buggy. She usually waits until we're a couple of miles from home then screams blue murder until I let her walk, which takes AGES! Someone actually came out of their house the other day as they were concerned that "someone was being murdered"

Really don't want to waste money on a double if it's not going to get used.

Regarding Moses baskets, DD grew out of hers by 4 months. Will use it again though as want to keep DD in the cot for as long as possible before she gets a big girl bed

I going to chip in and say about slings....don't waste money on babybjorn! They are not comfortable or ergonomically ideal. I had one with DS and I couldn't use for the first 6 weeks when he'd have really benefitted, because he was too little, then when he got bigger it was too uncomfortable. I did love carrying him in it though and it led me to get better slings, and now I carry him in a toddler sized one.

I'm thinking of getting a Close Caboo for this one. If you buy a good quality sling they keep their value well if you want to sell them on.

Best advice I've got is for anyone is to look at local sling groups or libraries. And look up the TICKs safety guidance.

Hi all. I haven't been on for a few days. Actually had a bit of a social life now that I can go around telling people. I'm out if hiding! What a relief!

Have to say your all really scaring me with all this talk of baby stuff. What a mind field. How do you get to know it all? I thought I was getting ahead of myself buying huge clothes for myself as maternity wear. Yikes! I think I need to buy a book or something. My mam did text today saying her friend has a moses basket i can have. I thought they could sleep in there the first few weeks.

Thanks ladies - you guys rock .

We have a private reassurance scan booked at 8/9 weeks which will be in three weeks today. Will pop back then and let you know how I get on.

Till then safe baby growing and love to you all x

Phrynn - I was absent from this thread for a while so didn't get a chance to congratulate you. Congratulations! It's great to hear from you and I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy going forward.

Ha ha Squatting I can totally sympathize with the oohs and ahhs and stopping every 5 mins!

I know there's a lot to think about Sazzle, but it's true what a pp said about them just needing clothes on their back and a place to sleep. But it's nice to feel prepared for what is such a life changing event! I can't talk as we got every bit of baby paraphernalia on the market! Despite this we didn't actually spend much as for Xmas we asked for baby stuff only, and we had a huge stockpile of clubcard points which were used for everything else.

Think I'm going to try a sling this time round, I got one with DD but she hated it and I struggled to get her in it and comfy. Can't remember what kind it was but obviously not for me. The instructions were a one page black and white diagram which was useless. How easy are they to actually wrap? I'm a bit lost as to where to start. I did like the look of the kari me that someone else recommended on here already. Thing is I'd want one that DH will wear too and some of them are a bit fru fru and I can't see him wearing it or me for that matter some of the patterned ones are hideous it's like your drawing attention to yourself with clashing patterns.

Kari-me insisted to take me 2 mins to wrap once I practised! Mine was dark green, no patterns and would fit different sized people. I've been recommended to try a sling library as cowbiscuits also said to try different types. I liked that ds2 could be totally wrapped inside and toasty warm while tiny and I just had a big cardigan that wrapped around us both which did me the whole of winter as he was a sept baby, might be different with a spring baby though!!!

Kari-me used to take me 2 mins!!!

I'd use a sling library but I just checked and my nearest one is an hour away. About the same distance as the nearest nappy library too.

There are all different types of slings and it's worth getting to a sling meet to try some out. A traditional style woven wrap has a bit of a steep learning curve, as does a Moby, and wouldn't be ideal for someone new to babywearing. A Close Caboo or a JPMBB has a bit more structure and are easy to use with a squishy newborn. Daddies often prefer a soft structured carrier such as a Manduca or an Ergobaby. There are lots of different types though so sometimes when you have been using a sling for a while you decide to try another type. A ring sling is great for all ages of child but you do need some instruction on how to use them. I'm going to get a Close Caboo to start with and probably a Connecta for DH to use. It is essential to be aware of the TICKS rules especially to be sure the baby's chin is off the chest so that their airway is open. There was a type of bag sling where the baby tended to fold up in it and the airway got closed which was very dangerous. When your baby is in any kind of carrier they should be in a natural position similar to how you would hold them in your arms. So a front carry is the same as holding a baby up close to your body with legs bent up like a frog with one of your arms around the back and one under the bum.

Still lounging about in bed trying to convince myself I need to get up. Just noticed that I have a tiny bump lying down now. Made me smile.

I tried a wrap around sling (Moby) but it didn't suit me. Bought second hand and resold on Ebay for very similar price so not too bad an investment if you don't have a local sling library or helpful shop.

We had huge success with a soft-structured one though (Action Baby Carrier) and in fact still use it occassionally as a back carrier for DD now aged 2.5, having first used it at 2 days old! We got a plain black version that DH was very happy to wear too.

I didn't find the Moby wrap that hard. I practised with a doll a few times before DD was born and used it loads. bloody brilliant.

On the subject of double buggies, we have a Phil and TEDs that I inherited from my sister. I absolutely love it. It goes everywhere, through mud six inches deep or bumping down tube steps. fantastic. Has also been handy to be able to take a friend's child to playgroup or similar when looking after them. I honestly don't know why more people don't get double buggies first time round and save themselves the expense of buying another later. However second hand buggies seem to be pretty reasonable so I guess not the end of the world. The only downside of our buggy is because it's 10 years' old it isn't compatible with the child seat conversion dufruy so had to transfer DD out of car seat into it.

Which phil and teds model do you have, londonlivvy?

I'm not sure as it's flipping ancient (more than ten years old). Will have a look at their website and see if I can identify a modern equivalent.

I'd love a Phil and teds!!

The action baby carried looks quite funky!

Dh sister came today and all was fine! She was her usual chatty self and told me to look after myself. She have dh a bit of a lecture about how expensive teens are and that he'll have one at home when he retires but otherwise was very positive.

bonjourminou my Phil and Teds looks like the classic. I notice that they do have a car seat adapter now. They haven't safety tested it for the v older models (in case you buy on ebay) but apparently it will fit (anecdotally).

You can also run with a Phil and Teds.

Also (I promise I don't work for them) Phil and Teds fit down the central aisle of a bus (albeit with a bit of wiggling). Can be handy.

cinnamon my childminder bought a Phil and teds for about 70 quid on ebay!!

Mine is a side by side three wheeler, can remember brand but I got it for £56 on eBay in amazing condition with cosy toes, rain cover and pump. The kids quite like being next to each other and it's so easy to push even with my two 18ish kg mindees at the moment, good basket for school bags and although its wide it doesn't really matter for school runs, toddler groups and forest walks :) maybe I need to keep a closer eye of f&t on eBay then

Hi ladies! It's luna with a name change.

I have a mint wrap, it's a bloody pain to get right but I quite liked it when dad was small. Will probably use it for bump to start with so dd can continue to use the pram till she's a bit bigger, figured if I can get through till she starts nursery in the September we'd be good and the I can install a buggy board.