Crawling, sitting, standing..... any Olympians in the midst? ;)

[beaditAli]

Our spanking new thread ladies!

Have you thought about a childminder SeaChelles? Not only are they usually cheaper but it's also more flexible. I let my parents set hours so if they only need me from 9-3 thats what they pay for rather than a full or half day that a nursery charge. For an 8 to 6 day I would charge £30 or £35 depending on what other hours the child was coming. We would never had been able to afford another child had I not been a childminder. And tax credits makes me laugh, if you have a joint household income of under £16,000 you get everything but if you are working 40 hours a week at minimum wage it's around £12,000 so they are not encouraging both parents in a family to work full time at all (probably answers your question saoirse86 too). I have absolutely no problem with helping those on low income but just because your income is higher it doesn't mean that you don't need help when you have children. It is all very well saying don't have children if you can't afford them but it is very difficult if you desparately want a child to say I won't have one because I can't afford to work if I do and can't afford not to work :(

Could Grace have a sore throat newmum001? If she is drinking well and also having plenty of milk it suggests that she has an appetite just not for solids. Ds1 always goes off his food when he's ill and doesn't always get his appetite back straight away. I would just keep offering and if she doesn't improve in a few days get it checked out.

Luke is the same with tantrums, arches his back and flings himself backwards, I have given up trying to put him down sitting as he always throws himself over backwards so just lay him down. He managed to hit his head on the door frame this morning as I picked him up out of his cot and walked to ds1's room before feeding him and he threw himself backwards as I walked through the door.

He is also pooing once or twice a day and does strain quite noticably but I think that's just him as it is always soft and his bottom never looks sore.

Sorry to hear about your illnesses patito, I went to out of hours dr with ds1 last night as his temp was 40C :(. He had a bulging ear drum but not really bad enough to be an infection and large tonsils but not infected so nothing he could find but has given me antibiotics in case it's the early stages of an infection. He was very concerned about the temperature and insisted that he has calpol/ibuprofen regularly to keep it down and if things haven't improved in 2 days to get him to my GP. Poor little man is not well at all but still wants to go to school!

Wow mammoth post

38w+1/almost 9 months

Debs Maybe Lucy's just got better things to do than poo then, so just does little bits! But as long as they're soft then she's not constipated. No idea!

Newmum Orlaith goes off solids when she's feeling ill/teething/has a cold, things like that. She'll probable be fine in a few days.

cinnamon I hope your DS1 gets better soon.

I didn't realise you had to earn so little to get tax credits. It's not that we're hard up, DP earns a reasonable wage, about £24k as well, and I earn about £7-8k normally. I'd earn a bit less as I'd do less hours, but would get about £6k in benefits so it just makes no sense to go back to work. I think I'll put her in some kind of childcare for at least a day a week because I think it'll be good for her development and it'll give me time to MN do some university work in peace. I had thought a childminder would be best. cinnamon I know you've been asked a lot about this so sorry, but where do I find details of registered childminders? I was thinking the children's centre, but (I know this sounds silly) I've got to know a lot of the staff there and I wouldn't want them to feel rejected by me not putting her in their nursery!

Grace sometimes does a one big poo in the morning and other days she'll do 3 or 4 small ones over a day. She really makes a performance out of it as well, she gurns like mad and her whole head turns purple but she's aways done that so not constipated.

I have no clue about tax credits/benefits as DP sorts all that out. I don't trust myself to do it as i'd probably get it all wrong and would be terrified of owing them money. But i'm wondering what if anything else i need to be doing regarding benefits if i don't go back to work till grace is 1. Do i have to sign on? Di have to let tax credits know that i'm technically unemployed now? I'm so rubbish at stuff like this.

Grace decided to show me up completely before, just as i'd finished telling DP that she hasn't eaten much all day he gave her her tea and she scoffed the lot including her yoghurt and then a bit of bread. Looks like she's playing games with mummy again, cheeky monkey!

I think i might have a crawler on my hands in the next week or 2, she keeps throwing herself forward onto her hands and swinging her legs round as if she's going to get on her knees but can't quite manage it yet. She's bum shuffling but just round in circles and before she was sitting playing when all of a sudden she did this mad kicking thing with her feet and ended up in the air then landed back onto her bum laughing her head off sooo cute!!

Hope your DS1 feels batter soon cinnamon

I am in suffolk and it's on the county council website, www.suffolk.gov.uk saoirse86. Then go to Education and learning, then early years and childcare and there is a childcare search. I am also registered with childcare.co.uk and I have had quite a bit of business through there but with ds1 I preferred to go through the council as I knew they were registered. Having said that you should check the registration certificate when you visit but it may save you some time!!!!

You don't have to sign on ever newmum001, you should let tax credits know if there are any changes to your income and being on SMP is a reduction so you should let them know. Not sure how it works for the last 3 months of maternity leave when it is unpaid as I have never been able to be on SMP for that long but someone else may be able to help with that bit! I love bum shuffling, Luke is so determined and is getting pretty quick now too.

Luke has tooth number 6 peeking through this evening

newmum If you're unemployed but have a child under 5 I think it is you can claim income support. It'll probably be less than you've been getting on SMP but it's pretty much the same as what I get on maternity allowance. Then you might be entitled to housing benefit too but it probably depends on your DP's income. You have to tell tax credits about any changes. I'm not sure about this but I've heard that if you give them all the information as soon as you can and you get overpaid, they can't take it back as it's their fault not yours.

Thanks for the information cinnamon, I'll have a look at the birmingham city council website.

For those with iPhones there is now a mumsnet app . It's very purple!!!

Hi all. We've been looking at childcare too. In our area, nursery is £50+ for a full day, 8-6 . DH and I both earn a good wage, but I want to work 3 days a week, and nursery will basically wipe out anything we have left at end of month. Travel is also an issue - 90 min commute makes even 8-6 difficult for us. I'm going to ask if I can work from home as tge drop off/pick up will be so much easier, plys would save £3k a yr on travel, but not sure how well that'll go down.

On poos , Arlo prob does 5 or 6 a day. He's always been a frequent pooer!

I was looking at the council run nurseries and they're strangely cheap but they seem to only do full time places. They're £140 per week which would be good if I was working full time, but I won't be! I've requested an information pack because I think I need to sit down with a glass of wine cup of tea and have a good read of it all!

Dixie I hope that works out for you. If not, could you look at nurseries near your work or would that just be a nightmare each day?

morning all. had my anomaly scan today. everything looks good. got a very clear picture of the baby opening and closing its mouth to swallow- it was very cute. didnt get quite as good look at the twins due to space restrictions/wriggling etc.

patio do you live there full time then? sorry if you have said before i have missed it. i think its disgraceful too, bad for them on the whole cos it has put us off buying there and probably a lot of other people too. did laugh that italy was worse though! obviously ive not heard that otherwise we may not have bothered looking in italy! too late now though.
debs my two's poos vary considerable not just between jacob and isobel (even though they eat exactly the same) but also in themselves depending what they eat. isobel usually poos a few times a day- twice is average. whereas jacob usually only once a day. if he misses a day though, the next day will be v v v messy. it can go all the way up his back-yuk.
i wouldnt say jacob has tantrums as such but he can start shouting and screaming. i usually just match him and then say- what wrong with you - nothing thats what and start tickling him or just say hey mister shut up! depending what mood im in!
hope your household becomes a healthy one soon patio
im just about to ring the docs myself cos jacob keeps pulling at his ears.

sassy yes we live here full time, although I haven´t resigned myself to being here forever. But TBH the longer Im here the harder I see myself going back just dont tell DP I ever said that .
Glad your scan went well, I still can´t believe you´re pregnant.

Ive started a blog !! I cant believe it, never thought of myself as blog type but was 1. a way for our families to see what we do with the LO on a more regular basis and 2. Being a STAHM with kids over 1 is v. rare here so is some kind of answer to the people who are always on our back with regards sending DS to school. Its still very much "in the making" as I get offically 2 seconds a day to myself (and half of that I MN ), but bit by bit will go adding in.

saoirse, noooo! Can't imagine taking a baby on my commuter train for an hour into London. If anyone so much as coughs too much or talks on the phone, they get evil looks (and yes, I may have been guilty of giving them myself in the past!). Don't think a baby would go down too well on the 7:27!

We had ds1 booked into a nursery near to our work which I thought would be better as I'd have more time with him (although we travelled by car) Dixiebell but decided after some problems he was better off without the journey so I see what you mean and a train mus be worse although once I'd bought my ticket I'd be inclined to ignore the glares!!!

Are you keeping the sex of the baby a surprise sassy34264?

Luke can now wave but he is poorly :(. I think he has what ds1 had as he just has high temp and nothing else. He just kept whinging and laying on me, thankfully calpol perked him up. In the last few days his bump shuffling is reallygetting him around and ds1 is getting very annoyed!! I put him down in the bathroom, went to get ds1's antibiotics out of the fridge and came back to find him at the top of the stairs , will have to be much more careful from now on!!

yes cinnamon ive never found out for any of my pregnancies. i like the surprise- although i have a funny feeling its a girl. may have said that already, forgive me my head is mashed. i am 20 weeks now. so shocked that i am half way already.

Nope, train with baby would def not be a good idea. Imagine if we had to stand with him for an hour - usually get a seat, but not always. And no space for buggies in the morning. Plus I have a bus journey at the other end too. Actually, I quite enjoy the train ride as sone 'me' time - you are forced to just sit and read or listen to iPod, without the guilt you have at home that you should be cleaning or something. I don't imagine nursery will be any cheaper in Victoria anyway. We'll prob end up going with a childminder. We met a lovely one last week. Also a horrendous one - have you read The Twits? It was them. House was so cluttered and dirty, with trip hazards everywhere, and underwear hanging in the kitchen ("that's where we do crafts when my washing's not out"). there were swings in the garden but "you can't get to them at the moment because of the brambles". DH swears the little girl there was mouthing "take me with you" as we left !

Hehe Dixie! Don't childminders have inspections so their houses are suitable for looking after children? I can see what you mean, and I'm sure you're right that Victoria wouldn't be cheaper!

You get inspected once every 2-3years but you know when they are coming, unlike nurseries, as most childminders are often out on school runs or visiting places so you can prepare in advance. If she was any good she would have made sure there was no washing or brambles when new parents were visiting. Maybe she wasn't that bothered about new custom and was just going through the motions to keep her husband happy

only walked to the docs and back and im in pain. the ligaments at the bottom sides of my bump are really starting to reek havoc on my ability to do much. it use to cause me some pain with the twins but this time it is worse. im nearly as heavy now though as i was at the end of the last pregnancy- not good.

DD2's nursery is about 35 a day, not sure if it is dear or cheap but it is a surestart one so I would guess it is average for our area.

Lucy isn't pooing so much now but she has a cold so isn't eating either. She has had 3 mini ricecakes, a spoonfull of cheerios, a spoonful of scrambled egg and a slice of cucumber since weds afternoon. She isn't even feeding much off me, just sleeping loads

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!! We've had a fantastic holiday. The weather wasn't the best but it was warm, sunny and cloudy & we made it into the pool every day. Olly is going to be an easy tan baby. Even with factor 50 on, lots of shade and not masses of sun, his legs are really brown. They were both brilliant and we met a couple with a dd 6 months younger than ds1 so he had his first holiday romance. I'm gutted to be home but at least that shows we had a great time!!!

I'm going to meet my new niece on sunday. I'm very excited. They've called her Lucy which is my name. Not after me, just because my sil loves the name. I'm dead chuffed tho cos to me it shows i must be a nice sil otherwise she wouldn't do it. I'm not sure my db had much of a choice tho, I think he will find it pretty strange!

I can't remember who posted what but sassy glad the scan went well. I can't believe you're 20 weeks! Whats your due date?

Childcare here is around £30 a day.

Olly poos once a day (or 3 times today!!) but he's ff.

Tantrums, I'd have none of it and do what you're doing Chelle just walk away!

Well. Got myself a jobbie. Start in 2 weeks. Its just working for an independent company doing Audit, Risk and Health and Safety work and the starting wage isn't great however the boss is going to pay for me to do my Audit and Risk qualifications.

Got offered 2 jobs on the same day and then offered another 2 interviews today as well.....sods law! But hopefully I've made the right choice. Gutted to have to go back, nearly in tears just thinking about leaving him, let alone when I have to actually do it....

Olly is ok. Another bump on the head today when he misjudged his cruising distance, but I popped some ice on it and its not too bad. He also looked and me yesterday and held out his arms and said Mama....which of course made me cry!

Chelle Grace has been doing that for a couple of weeks and i makes me melt. She's also started giving cuddles in the last few days which is a huge deal as she has never been a cuddly baby. Congrats on the job

Banana glad you had a lovely time!

Chelle congratulations!

Glad you had a good holiday banana.

PIL's had Orlaith for the day today and came back saying that she stood on her own for the first time and said bye-bye! Bollocks

saoirse, the only reason I went to visit was that they had an outstanding grade on their ofsted report. Don't know how tgey managed it. It's a husband and wife team, both registered. Have since spoken to other mums locally who'd been to see them and they were equally as shocked at the state of it. In fact I'd heard someone say before we went that the place was dirty but thought they were just being fussy or snobby - childminding is bound to make the place untidy at times isn't it? Nope they were actually underplaying it. I was actually very disturbed for two days afterwards at the thought of leaving my baby with them, but don't worry cinnamon, the lovely lady we saw next restored my faith in childminders! Pristine house, no brambles or death-traps in sight!

I've officially started looking at nurseries and childminders, and it makes me kind of sad even though it'll only be a couple of days a week. When PIL's dropped Orlaith back last night I had all the lists of childcare out and they started asking me about it. Then started saying that MIL should look after her to save on costs. I felt like telling her to get lost, she's not looking after her because she does a terrible job, feeds her shit and she can't keep up with her as it is, let alone when she's walking, and I would rather pay for her to be looked after properly thank you! But I didn't, I just told her I thought it would be better for her development to be around other children.

Orlaith woke up about 8 100 times last night, I'm so exhausted. She was really bunged up so I think that was what was waking her up. I've been using a nasal spray and olbas oil and propping her up, does anyone have any other ideas of what I can do for her?

Glad you had a lovely holiday bananacurry. Yay!! For the job SeaChelles, hope you enjoy it and I'm sure olly will be fine. Myself and other childminders have discussed the randomness of some outstandings but she is very far from outstanding! It varies so much depending on inspectors I think but clearly not in her case. Also yay for all those saying mama and cuddling, I have neither

I get on with my mum but I feel the same saoirse86, she is too soft and gives my boys loads of crap so I wouldn't want her to be a permeant carer plus it's nice to keep that special grandparent relationship too.

We've been out fathers day shopping today, got some bits for my dad, stepdad and dh. Plus I got a few bits for the boys and new knives and chopping board! I am far too excited about that . We got back and Luke pulled himself up . He's so much more advanced than ds1 in everything its quite amazing! He's totally back to normal now so think they both had the same 36hr bug.

Off to see my friend today, baby will be born on Wednesday at almost 34 weeks and they are estimating it to weigh 4lb!! She's pretty down but hoping for best outcome and 34weeks is pretty good I have two friends, one who delivered at 31week and one and 34weeks who now have strapping 4 year olds no different to ds1.

Have a lovely weekend everyone and enjoy the sunshine if you have it!!