10/10 Babies - Rock and Rollin Pumpkins showing us their groovy moves.

[Hermya321]

Right then (brushes off sparkly dress) I'm here!

(cue groovy disco lights and an appropriate selection of tunes)

I also have alcohol free wine, and I'm sure theres a stash of mini eggs behind the bar (along with other some other things) and I'm dancing, whose going to join me??

Stats list here!!

Lucky you, Patsy, re all the baby stuff you are getting!
Ha ha yeah - the travel system - used to be our parents only needed a pram, but these days, we have to have carseats, so now some prams are combined to make it easier to switch the child from pram to car and back again. Does feel more complicated, huh!
I would say parent-facing is good, best to get one that has the options so you can forward- and back-face.
We're aiming to get the safest car seat - we rarely drive, so not too bothered about it fitting on our pram. There are a LOT to choose from - wish there was a definitive best car seat we could all just get!
Cup holder - looks cute, good if you like drinking while you're walking. Good to try and get regular fluid intake, so we're getting the cup holder thing!
Matching changing bag - nah! £££, for what? I'm planning on just using a bag I've already got, possibly a backpack.

Oh, Nymph. I really hope it all gets sorted. Sounds crazy. I am going to give you some smiley faces to balance out those angry and sad ones: OK!

Ta abfabtHow long are you off for?

& if someone discovers the definitive car seat can they tell me, I havent got a clue.

Changing bag - join Boots parenting club and you'll get one for free. I've had two from them so far. Because I don't really have to buy anything apart from the pram and a new Moses basket mattress, I may actually treat myself to a nice colourful one though. There's SOOO much crap you can waste your money on - I never did because I didn't get the chance to shop before DS arrived and also I'm not much of a shopper anyway. Really don't buy any newborn clothes, just get some babygrows, because you will be given more than you can possibly use IME, especially if your parents' friends get involved like my mum's did! And cousins, and friends, and aunts and uncles - everyone loves a newborn! We didn't even buy a first stage car seat, just used my sister's. It had never been in an accident and was a reputable make to start with so it was fine.

Nymph, am off to read your work hell story, but much sympathy in the mean time.

I've got one more week - so will have had five weeks off. But I see no resolution happening, so could well get signed off again.

I'm going to email some car seat advisors in a bit - I'll let you know what they say!

abfab not worth the stress going back. Just make sure you're on full pay though.

Spoke to union, they are looking into it...

LMAO.... Check this out! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/969062-What-do-you-think-of-Jugurtha?pg=1

Hello All. Just popping in to mark my place. All well here, if a bit on the warm side - about 45 degrees I think. Thank God for ice lollies and air conditioning.

DS2 fell over this morning being a ninja turtle. He chipped his tooth and has a fat lip and burn on his chin. What a plonker.

nymph Ah right I see now, set your union on them. You've done everything you need to, it's their mistake and if they mess up your maternity pay you could take action on that. I could ask around if you wish and get back to you.

True, Nymph, I just don't know if I can easily get signed off by the doctor, just like that?

Good luck with yours!

Aw, ILGH. Poor little DS2. Is it a baby tooth?

Hi All,

Just popping in to say hi! And to offer support to you Nymph this hassle is the last thing you need!

Sorry about your Dad's leg MMoo

And your wee man's tooth ILGH, being a ninja turtle is quite a high risk profession I think....

Hello to all (waves)
xxx

I can cope with baby clothes buying, not that I have started. However the whole travel system, bottles, sterilisers, cots frankly just messes with my mind. Can't cope with it too much choice.

Friends and family have offered car seats and stuff but I am just not sure.

At what point did you do the nursery? I am waiting til my scan on Thurs before buying anything or giving the Husband the ok to decorate, not that be has any free time to do it anyway!!

So relieved that I am not the only one who can't get to grips with shopping for LO! I am rubbish at shopping at the best of times... I do think superstitiousness (for want of a better word) has something to do with it as well - I'll feel better after the 20 week scan (I hope!)

I've been shopping this morning. Got newborn nappies for green poop, steriliser (cost £11! Bargin) change mat, feed cloths,breat pads and a really nice neutral green/blue blanket. Had a lovely time. But I agree there is either too much choice for girls/boys or not enough neutral. Really dislike yellow as a neutral colour too.

I love shopping for baby, I am an old hand at it though and know how to sift through the crap. Only spent around £30 total.

Silver, I felt the same - it's SO overwhelming. But I wrote a list of what big things we needed (pram, car seat, something to sleep in), and have been researching each thing bit by bit. First big job was the pram, have got that now. Decided on the sleeping thing (we're going for a baby hammock as opposed to a cot, as well as having our baby in with us to co-sleep at night), and now I am busy looking into car seats. You'll get there.
I do get a bit side-tracked sometimes, but I think we have time, so not overly concerned!

I initially found the Baby Show totally overwhelming, but it was actually very good for being able to see so much at once, comparing there and then, and making a few purchases. We also bought a nursing chair, which I hadn't started really looking into (apart from getting side-tracked and dreaming of this: www.vivahomestore.co.uk/revolving-sphere-chair/default.aspx?istCompanyId=c99ced69-d4ea-4329-94a3-c43 c2a953175&istItemId=xqwmpm&istBid=t - so some things just need trying out and not so much thought. It was comfortable - job done.

I'm now getting side-tracked over into high chairs, and have seen a nice one for £305! Eek!

We aren't doing a nursery as this baby will be in with us. If we find it impractical when the baby is here, we'll then tackle it.

Where did you get your stuff from today, Xav?

You are so organised! Haven't bought a thing- done a bit of research on prams but there are too many options and I don't know where to start plus I am really superstitous so maybe that is holding me back as well.
Still got the house to do first which is becoming a big stress and led to another big row/ me crying last night so am feeling miserable today
Anyway as the sun is shining will go and sit outside to cheer myself up.
Been keeping up with you but for some reason my lap top won't let me post messages- which means I can only post when I am at work- but it makes me look busy!

Thanks Dilly for saying about the flying thing- I was convinced it was 30 weeks so turns out I can go on holiday after all!!

I am sure once i start buying I won't be able to stop as I am definitely the all or nothing type of girl!

Boots - pampers new baby size 1 £10 for 108

Mothercare - tommee tippee steriliser - £11 (with friends staff discount!)

Matalan - changing mat ,blanket (but it's the same color as the change mat) and the feeding cloths.

Yeah - I waited til my scan - lucky for me, I am early October, so I've had mine - hence a mild shopping spree. Would ideally have waited til week 24, but hey.
I'm 21 weeks today!

Here's a good website for car seat info:
[www.carseatinfo.co.uk]] - I've sent them an email with my questions, so hoping for an answer soon, then I am ready to buy the car seat - doesn't mean I have to buy it soon, I just like to have my shopping list ready.

Nice work, Xav!
And oh, to have a staff discount at Mothercare!

Oops sorry, my link didn't work:

www.carseatinfo.co.uk

Oh, I love shopping for baby things. But this one doesn't need anything much. I need new mattresses for the cot and the moses basket but that's it really. Am expecting a deluge of girls clothes from friends who have daughters. Will splash out on some nice toiletries I think, Burts Bees is lovely. And I'll get some nice girly pattern reusable nappies but really only need a couple. In fact, I can't see us needing to spend any more than £200 (mattresses are expensive here).

Am therefore more than happy to offer my opinions, wanted or otherwise, on all you first timer's purchases. That way I can live vicariously through you . Re car seats, I have a maxi cosi cabriofix for the baby and a maxi cosi axiss for DS3 - the axis is fab cos it swivels round to face you when you put the baby in. I think it's suitable for newborns with an insert but may be wrong. It's ££ but worth every penny if you have a bad back.

DS2 better now, off to dentist to check the tooth tomorrow - it's his incisor and they're baby teeth so not so bad.

Sorry, that axiss is group 1 so only for 9months+.

Thanks, ILGH.
Which reusable nappies are you going for?

Glad to hear Ninja Boy's tooth is just a baby one. Phew. Hope he's ok.

I had a phone call from the hospital about an hour ago - EVERYTHING'S FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy, I am one relieved, happy pregnant woman. thank god it's over. I know there is still a chance they pick up something on the longer results in 10 days, but it's tiny odds. For now I am just celebrating. Actually now the initial relief is over I feel a bit sick, which I think is the draining adrenaline. Early bed tonight and happy dreams.