June 2008: new year, new diets, new resolutions, but when push comes to shove creme eggs are still the solution!

[KnittingRocks]

Sorry, couldn't cope with Christmas anymore!

Keepcalm - it took Fraser almost two weeks to start telling us. We were taking him every 45-60 minutes though so maybe he didn't need to go really.

Keepcalm, GF suggests that you should move from putting them on the potty to asking them whether they want to go within the first week (can't remember which day!) so they start having some control. If dh doing today on his own I would stick to what u've been doing over the weekend.

Oh and we're not bothering with travel potty yet, just sticking with normal one out and about for mo.

Potties only lasted a week here so I was glad I'd got cheap ones! Although one of them is now chucked in the back of the van for emergencies, but we haven't actually used it yet, we just hold him over the toilet when we are out and he seems perfectly happy with that. I've also broken all the rules and used pull up nappies when we are out, but he hasn't ever wet or dirtied one, he just asks to go to the toilet, I think you quickly find what suits you. Also I found after the first few days I had more success when I stopped prompting him to go on the potty as he is stubborn and always said no .
J decided last night that he didn't want to wear his nappy in bed, he has been dry at night since we started potty training but I was still a bit . The pants seemed a bit damp this morning but I couldn't decide if it was a bit of wee or sweat , the bed wasn't at all wet, still I think I will try and get a nappy on him tonight!

We have messing around at mealtimes too, he seems to get very easily distracted. Threatening to take him straight up to bed usually concentrates his mind for a few minutes. Has anyone else noticed that their toddlers appetites have changed? He isn't a fussy eater (unless rejecting some cheddar as he had seen some blue cheese on the table counts ), but he doesn't eat as much as H, who eats like J used to, if you see what I mean.

I agree that we can get a bit over bombarded with parenting information, for most things you can find pretty compelling arguments for opposing approaches, which leaves you feeling more confused than when you started. I think I tend to let my lazy nature take hold and go with whatever seems easiest, and if it doesn't work try something else. BLW was a good example of that. I just used to stick a load of food in front of them then sit back and read a magazine , if it hadn't worked I would have tried spoon feeding.

Thanks everyone, I think we'll just stick with the cheapy one we have for now.

Apparently S is doing fine today - it was a good two hours after he took his overnight nappy off before he had a wee. The GF potty training book arrived this morning courtesy of Biscuits (many thanks!) so I'll be pouring over that later. DH is going to take S to the shops later which will only take about 10 mins or so, as advised by GF!

KeepCalm opposing information to confuse you here - we bought a travel potty on the weekend, and we're big fans already.
We only had a cheapie one, and we were working on getting Iestyn to go on the toilet anyway and he does quite a lot.
However, we went to London and it's a long journey, and we had a poo in a service station (rather, just Iestyn; I did a wee and I did it in the toilet like a big girl ). It occurred to us, having stopped on side roads/carparks twice to do wees, and having to empty a potty in the service station, that we needed some way of dealing with no 2s, so got ourselves a travel potty.
It has paid for itself - Iestyn is not a child who will go on the toilet and 'have a go' if he doesn't want to go. On Saturday we went on the London Eye, he needed to do a wee, so he did; there and then, in the travel potty. At high altitude! He can hang on, but wouldn't have been able to do so until we got off the London eye.

They're fairly specific situations though.

I had other things to say but now I can't remember them.

haha not quite a blw convert but finding finger food much more successful this time! d ate big pieces of broccoli and pear yesterday. And he likes having the spoon loaded for him. he is still not eating much tho.

We never used a travel potty but have found need for having a potty with us even now they will use the loo. It is a pain taking the big potty so travel potty would prob be useful. We use a nappy sack to deal with no.2s if necessary (rare). They moved onto toilets quite quick but don't always like public loos so a potty in the car can be useful. We try not to use it though - we want to encourage them to use the loo even if they don't like it.

Lol at your mum Knitting - after PTing the twins I have to agree with her really. maybe the earlier you do it the harder it will be tho. I think most toddlers will adapt to anything ie using toilet if circumstances ie not wearing nappies force them to.

Well, day 3 has gone ok. Only the one accident, and S did actually ask for the potty just before the accident bless him. Am looking forward to sending him to nursery in pants . Not sure what to do about his nursery nap though. He doesn't nap at home anymore, but still has an hour at nursery. GF advocates nappies for sleep time to begin with...

Food for thought re: travel potties so thanks for that. We're not going anywhere the next week or so that we might need a travel potty, so i think we'll see how we get on over the next week or so and then decide whether or not to fork out.

Right, must get back to the studying. Happy valentines day!

Keepcalm we just left C in pants for naps at nursery, it's been fine. She's the same with no naps at home, unless she's in the car, and we find that as long as she goes to the loo fairly soon after waking there's no accident.

D had her first laugh today had forgotten how addictive tiny ones laughs are - have spent ages making silly noises etc to prompt more giggles!

I have won a small victory over something that was really annoying me, please bear with me being smug for a moment... we have been going to a playgroup at the local leisure centre, which charges 2.50 for a parent and child. Since going back after having D, the evil receptionist who takes the money has been charging me an extra 50p for bringing a second child. I pointed out that children under 1 are usually not charged for as they essentially can't use anything there and that D was asleep the whole time and the receptionist came up with a load of ridiculous reasons why they were charging me extra (because I brought a pram (i did with just one toddler) because they provide tea/biscuits (I don't eat more because I've got another child) because otherwise they'll be running at a loss?? ) anyway, I asked politely if I could discuss the policy with the manager and she took my phone number. 3 weeks later I had resigned myself to just paying the 50p when the manager called me back and said she'd been on holiday, was going through messages and she totally agreed with me! She had set up the group and had overlooked putting the policy in writing as she thought it was obvious and had never intended to charge for tiny ones - I feel vindicated in complaining now and I was allowed to go for free today!

Disclaimer: I sound like a miser don't i? It was the principle of the thing, not the 50p!

You don't sound like a miser at all Biscuits! Well done on your victory! I phoned Waitrose at the weekend because they overcharged me about 30p - when they send a more expensive substitute they're supposed to only charge you for the price of the original item. I go through my delivery receipt with a fine toothcomb. Look after the pennies...

Neenz is on the radio (5)

That was funny. They were doing a piece on hypnobirthing and I had texted in. They called me back but I couldn't speak to them as it was the middle of preschool pick up. Got home, put the radio on and guess who it was.

That is so funny Spider, imagine if they had had us both on. The clip is here www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00yjxjp/Gabby_Logan_15_02_2011/ if anyone wants to listen. 55 mins in. As always with these things I have now thought of lots of things I should have said. Dr Hilary Jones .

We have had a couple of very good tea times here the last couple of days. I think we are definitely making progress with the sitting nicely and trying new food. Daniel had swede, broccoli, salmon and pear blw-style today

I have just made DH listen to you on the radio. He is gutted that I missed out on the opportunity of talking to Colin Murray about "women's stuff" . Not CM's forte he thinks. Anyway, only right that you should get to talk about it, because if you hadn't put me onti Ina May etc I doubt I would have got my head in the right place for W's birth.

BTW Neenz sounds alot like Deb.

How cool! Haven't had a chance to listen to you yet as on work laptop, but as soon as I get my home one on will have a listen.

Haha yes I thought talking about my 'cervix opening like a rose' went down really well!

I'm really glad the Ina May stuff helped with W's birth . Like you have said recovery from W's birth was nothing like as hard as your section - the more women that can be helped to give birth naturally the better. Hypnosis might not work for all women but I think some of the techniques and the preparation can help everyone. But I wasn't bashing epidurals cos they can be a godsend in some labours - I just don't think women should go in there thinking 'just give me the drugs' (which one of the travel guys on 5Live said his wife would be doing )

I agree, there is certainly a place for epidurals. When I was having P the epidural transformed me from throwing up after each contraction to sitting up in bed enjoying a v dubious NHS tuna sandwich, all in about 20mins. W's birth was undoubtedly painful but I felt like I could manage it and let what had to happen happen without being frightened of it. When I watch "One born every minute" It has struck me how frightened so many women are and how poorly they have been prepared for childbirth. It makes me sad that it should be like this. BTW - I saw on FB that you are running a doula course at your house. Are you training too?

Yeah I'm going to do the doula course in may and then hopefully train to be a hypnobirthing practitioner next year. I don't if you know a doula called Lulumama who posts on MN? She lives near me and thinks we can maybe work together a bit eg help each other with childcare or have each other on standby for births. It's not exactly a 9-5 job is it so childcare will be an issue. I will carry on with my job at the Express for a while but I wasn't enjoying it before Daniel was born, although I do get paid well for the hours + childcarew vouchers so maybe worth persevering with for a while.

That's an exciting change Neenz. Would be happy leaving journalism behind for good or can you see yourself doing some freelance work too?

BTW where is everyone else?

Keepcalm - how is potty training and first day back at nursery?

I'm here but tired - Iestyn has a cough and is sleeping badly, and DH hasn't been around (he isn't much atm!).
Otherwise I'm ok tho!

Desperate to hear Keepcalm's latest on the potty training!
We had a breakthrough - no accidents at nursery yesterday or today, and a poo on the potty both days. I can't believe how excited I am about that...

Look - a brew! Mmm.

Here I am with the latest instalment. Potty training going v well so far. S is starting to ask for the potty when he needs to go, although we're obviously only at the 30 second warning stage.

First day back at nursery today and only one accident . DH took him in today so I didn't get to be all smug with the nursery woman.

At bedtime tonight (which hasn't finished yet [sigh] - how old are they before they just take themselves off to bed?), S needed a wee after he'd put his night time nappy on, and wanted his nappy off to have a wee. Unfortunately the potty was downstairs, so although he wee'd in his nappy he was keen to change it.

So, overall, all good here. Knitting - are you starting today?

I have a VERY overdue assignment that I need to try and finish so I must go and crack on!

Oh, Neenz - well done on the radio. Not sure if I agree that there's anything wrong with woman going into the hospital with the 'just give me the drugs' mentality though if they've made an informed choice - I was very much like that! All the doula stuff sounds very exciting - right up your street!

Exciting news on the nursery breakthough Dewin. Surely that deserves ?

lol, Dewin can't really have ! Well done S on the potty training. Has that stupid woman at nursery apologised to you .

I suppose you are right about women choosing epidurals if they have made an informed choice, I just assumed you'd at least have a go without one if you knew the downsides. Did you decide beforehand you were definitely going to have one?

I am catching up on Big Fat Gypsy Weddings on 4OD. I thought the first two episodes were funny/harmless but this one is depressing - about how the girls leave school at 12/13, they don't know how to read/write properly and over half suffer domestic violence in their marriage. "They blame themselves and try to change themselves because what other choice is there: it's not like they can go out and provide for their own family" .