November 2012 - Spring is here, time to get our babies out and about.

[StuntNun]

Apart from the 'down under' contingent anyway!

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2011361-November-2012-Walking-or-not-walking-talking-or-not-talking-any-other-skillz

Not so much frustrated VQ as thinking it is ironic for me of all people to be running off to the supermarket to buy formula because we have run out. All three of mine were topped up with formula from when they started weaning so I'm not anti-formula but I am aware that I may come across as quite pro-bf . It's actually much easier this time as I'll be able to celebrate the end of bf with cake. As I recall when I stopped feeding DS2 at nine months I had a beer and a packet of peanuts that night and got quite ridiculously drunk happy on one beer!

I still think of you as izzy too flouncy . You should change back :) since you're not flouncing anymore.

I really hope that at some point you will stop feeling bad about switching to ff - you did what was best for your child and there is nothing to feel bad about. Despite what you read on here ff is better for some babies, and is certainly preferable to moo juice for a lot of toddlers. From reading these trheads and listening to what doctors say over here I am starting to think NHS guidelines are seriously flawed (not on the 6mo exclusive bf advice, on the moo juice after a year advice, as they don't seem to have the knowledge to cope with the fall out).

soph I suspect the feeling happy and positive and low and anxious all at once might be linked to your work issues? I know that even when I was feeling great over the last year I always had the feeling, and couldn't always put my finger on it, that something was wrong. Then I'd remember, oh, work. Your messed up cycle might have something to do with that stress.

Flouncy I struggle to not call you Izzy in RL

And yes, Sophia I think it is the underlying work issue too.

Arrrggggh am having a proper AIBU moment.

Have a very close friend from antenatal classes who is currently injured. She usually has Fridays off and as I do we often do stuff together. So last Friday was the day after she busted her knee and I spent the morning taking and picking her up from X-ray etc, then on Sunday her hubby was away she was at mine all day so I could look after her LO as she can't on her own. This Friday she is asking if I can look after the pair of them again all day. To put this in context I am getting married in 6 weeks so organising that, have a 2 story extension going up at home and I've been at work all week. AIBU to say she needs to put him in nursery as I'm just too busy to look after two of them all say.

I'm a really bad friend aren't i.

Me too sophia. All your work dealings must sit in your stomach.

P is so weird. She is insisting on wearing her jacket and running around saying 'nanny nanny nanny nanny' in a shouty voice. She won't eat anything though. Starts trying then gags and spits it out.

Anyway.

I understand the frustration, confusion and upset about having to stop BF. Part of it, I suspect, is frustration that the medical profession seem to have such patchy knowledge and understanding of these issues and the support is extremely variable.

I am extremely gratefully for the stinky formula and I now think I can honestly say I am over it.

Anyway. How is little valium prince? Any sign of the rash shifting? Poor little man.

Totally agree with PR about no need for bf guilt for anyone, least of all those of you who have to deal with allergies and intolerances.

Fab news on the sleep Stunt.

Enjoy the fresh air Sophia.

Pikz YANBU. Difficult situation though, I know I would feel awkward about saying I couldn't help out someone in need, even though I would be annoyed about the assumption I was available. Your friend shouldn't impose on you though. Perhaps the thing to do is to be quite breezy and say no, using all the standard MN advice not to give reasons for the no so they can't be problem solved for you. Good luck.

You'll always be Izzy to me, izzy Flouncy.

Definitely pikz you do not need to justify / explain your no. "No, I'm sorry I have too much on this week", is enough. Her DH should take the day off if she still needs that much help, and she should definitely put the baby at nursery if she has a place. He'll be able to burn off his energy without tiring her out.

As women we are raised to not say no, which is why we feel so guilty about doing so (and myriad other problems, but that is a whole other rant). It is all very well doing favours for other people - we all enjoy doing that, feeling needed and useful -but sometimes we can't and that is fine.

Pikz I think say no I'm busy but maybe take over lunch? I'm a wuss at saying no.

Ashvyn was awake 2 hours screaming for a bit then just wide awake. Then woke again at 6.

Fh has taken them both down n I'm in bed. TYPICALLY I can't sleep. Annoyed.

pikz I agree! just say "sorry I have a lot on can't do this week" there is a whole thing about never saying no and alwAys saying "it's fine I can cope" in the end it can eat you up.

So this time I am going to say, yep, probably is the work stuff messing me up. I am not looking forward to the flying back and forth, and I am even daunted by booking the flights etc.

Well night five after the last dairy challenge and he's back to sleeping through! Clearly dairy and sleep are mutually exclusive in our house. This is the third month long dairy trial we've done and the results are always the same. Enough! High five to Stunt Jr for getting the same memo!

I sent Jonas to nursery today with koko to drink as he's taking eff all of the nutramigen I send. And he'll be having koko as a bedtime drink in ONE WEEK'S TIME when I wean him! So he needs to get used to it. He has shed loads of vitamins and calcium from supplements and he's getting bugger all when he refuses to drink the nutramigen so I don't mind him dropping formula and BM.

I utterly agree with PR on the follow on formula milk. We have a weird obsession with giving very young children cow's milk and then having to invent all sorts of sleep training techniques when it stops them sleeping - if J could take follow on milk I'd happily wean him onto it. And don't get me started on the patchy and contradictory support from HCP! Support for BF full stop is shoddy other than in places like Orkney where they won't discharge you from hospital until you are happy BF (if you want to!) and your milk has come in even if it means rooming in for a week.

Flouncy I have nearly called you Izzy at every haggis meet!

Team VQ and Pass get well soon xx

Pikz just say 'oh shit I've got a load of wedding stuff I'm doing on Friday - no can do. Sorry'

Soph this thread has been a real eye opener for how badly working mums are treated even by large employers who should know better....

Thank you everyone.

I said I needed to check when I was meeting the builders and kitchen fitters (true) and I had to do a good shop (also true) but could be around for a bit.

Feel dreadful about it. I'm just under so much pressure from every angle I feel a little like I'm sinking.

YW good luck with the KoKo

I am so lucky to have you lot to help me figure out what was going wrong with L otherwise I would have blindly stuck at moo juice and be even more exhausted than I am

Pass hope P is better soon as well as the mini PRs and VQs J and all the other poorly ones and mums

Sophia, I am not surprised you feel stressed. I would be in bits. This working mother thing is ridiculous at times. I nearly jacked it all in on Monday.

Pikz I would just say no, you cannot help on Friday. You do not have to give excuses, and you should not feel bad about it either.

YW exciting times cake and dairy in your near future you should be proper proud of yourself about sticking to that diet for so long. Proper proud!

I want cake

Random Q: R loves his dolly. Dolly is currently naked (with a pink fabric body). Does dolly need dungarees or a dress to wear?

Dollies in this house are usually in the buff. Their clothes are ripped off by the toddlers as quickly as I can put them on :o

Dolly def doesn't need clothes. She however needs a little blanket to be covered which can work as a dress as well if you use a piece of string as belt.

I want cake too. And galaxy. I could murder for a galaxy. There is one place in Hungary where they sell it and they don't post. Fuckers. Contemplating buying it on amazon for horrid price.

All dolls are naked. That is the rule when you are a toddler and pre-schooler.

Is the chocolate in Hungary really bad then Lily? Or is it that Galaxy is really good?

Dolly doesn't need clothes. Sunglasses, however?

P seemed fine and was asking to go outside so we went to sainsbury's. Got there, bought stuff, put it through the till and then realised I had no purse. Purse was in work bag, obviously! P by this time was burning up again and screaming blue murder.

Doh!

Sending to all those in need

Pidj I reckon constantly trying to dress dolly would just send the message that bodies are something to be ashamed of and should be covered up - and that probably wouldn't be good for future exploration of his body / sexuality. Jonas' doll is starkers. If given a choice he would be too. He can now remove dungarees and nappy - it's only the poppers on his vest that thwart him from revelling in his skinny nudiness. All the dolls at playgroup are naked. The only beautifully clothed dolls tend to belong to middle aged women or kids that aren't allowed to play with them or older girls who like to dress barbie and are interested in fashion.

Lily PM me your address - I can't bear seeing someone who can eat chocolate without it. I can easily pop some in the post (I might sniff the bar as I pop it in the envelope though!!! )

Hmm. Put p down for a nap and she woke after half an hour totally hysterical.she is a snotty writhing mess. Doesn't seem to have a temp but she looks and sounds awful. Poor wee soul.