WHAT BABY PRODUCT COULDN'T YOU DO WITHOUT?

[Rhiannon]

I've found the baby intercom (Tomy Walkabout 2000)very handy although I can't find the downstairs one at the moment, I've started to turn out cupboards in the hope it'll turn up.

Britax car seat (the polystyrene one) suitable from 9 months upwards although I found it only useful from 18 months up as they both fell out the side of the seat belt when they went sleep in the car.

Pupuce I totally agree, I never used babywipes except when I had to for convenience, like driving through France etc. I felt they were too strong for my baby's skin, however I think there are more and more v. gentle ones available.

I got a stain out of my carpet with a babywipe when Vanish didnt work...now I'm not so sure that they are gentle! I certainly never use them when dd2 has nappy rash, you can almost see them stinging...

couldnt do without: dd2's sleeping bag, at the moment the fab Bumbo seat, and Motherease Sandys nappies.

Its cloth wipes for me too, easy to wash and just use tap water.

Never given any medication to my kids... they are not very often poorly to start with and then the very rare times they have been poorly I just stayed with them the whole day, gave them TLC, no drug, what ever they want to eat or drink (luckily they aren't asking things I would be really against )... and usually within a few hours it's all back to normal. I did warn you "Hippie mother" alert

pupuce, I have to say I do the same, mainly because dd1 will NOT have calpol by any means. We dont bother having any in the house now. She had Scarlet Fever a couple of weeks ago and I couldnt get ANYTHING down her, calpol, nurofen, she wont have it...had to give her tepid baths for the fever and just lots of cuddles. She was fine but I cant help feeling a spoonful of Calpol would have made things a lot easier for her...

Pupuce - what if they were running a dangerously high temperature? My ds has been up at 100 a few times and the GP has been quite concerned that we get the temperature down very quickly or ds could've fitted and died.

I don't give Calpol unless he has a fever, but then I definitely see the importance of reducing a fever.

Enid - fever is a way for the system to fight the infection... reducing the fever only masks the illness !

M2T - we posted at the same time... I know I am in the minority.... I am lucky (maybe or not) but DS's fever has only ever gone as high as 39 degrees.

It has often confused me as to why the fever must be reduced, as we were taught that the temperature rises to make your body an inhospitable place for bacteria/virus to reproduce. I suppose it's now an evolutionary flaw in humans.... the reaction just gets taken too far sometimes, an over-reaction.... to the point that it can cause death.

Much like allergic reactions.

Cloth wipes (IKEA flannels), Tots Bots nappies, Graco battery operated swing, Graco Travel Cot, Kamillosan and I would just like to second Bobsmum about the boobs, found them pretty essential.

large bottle of wine....

LOL Mabs - definitely!

oh yeah, bring it on!

Medised.

agree with medised. Anyone else find infacol a complete waste of time?

Infacol was our life saver in the first 3 months - I'd forgotten that bit. It worked wonders for us. I know it doesn't for everyone though.

I am afraid I do use Calpol for temperatures (and baby Ibuprofen too) as it can be dangerous for babies and young children if there temperaure gets too high. A friend's baby had fits as a result of his temperature rising too quickly - no other reason. He just had cold and it rose really really quickly. I also follow alll the other doctor advises for temperaures too - cool bath, undressing, sponging skin, etc.

Have often used Nurofen and Calpol together(what a bad mother I am) but my ds fits when he has a temperature. He's been admitted to hospital numerous times with it, and if you have a child fitting you will do ANYTHING to stop it in MY experience.

There's nothing wrong with Nurofen & Calpol! Now I AM a bad mother because I've given DS2 Calpol and Piriton because I've run out of Medised...

Soupy - get back to the bar the good parent.

Sorry, not heard of Medised - what is it?

A cold remedy, paracetamol plus antihistimine, which has the "unfortunate" side effect of causing drowsiness.. Much the same as piriton syrup oddly enough

Soupdragon - i've got piriton and medised too , and I swear by a 'cocktail' of tixylix nightime and phenergan on a long flight

Ahhh... a parent after my own heart!

Cheers. DD (14 months) gets hayfever so we have used Piriton syrup the last week or so, on and off.

I don't use Calpol that often, but it definitely makes a big difference when my boys are ill. DS2 has recently had 'Slapped cheek' and was really miserable, but perked up after a dose of Calpol.