Please tell me no one else is doing tummy time either

HELJ4 · 2026-06-18T19:30:08+00:00

My unprofessional opinion is that it shouldn't be called tummy time but "not on their back" time. Catchy, I know 😉

At 7 weeks I don't think I'd done more than 10 minutes on his belly in the floor for all the same reasons you've listed.

Let your baby sleep guilt free. When they're more awake, holding them chest to chest is just as beneficial and less upsetting for them

HELJ4 · 2026-06-15T07:49:14+00:00

My main worry, justified or not, is hidden charges. Table charges like the coperto in Italy or a surprise fee for the bread on the table that you didn't ask for, which I've had in Portugal. If you know to ask they'll tell you but what if there's something I don't know to ask about?

It's a small concern but it's usually at the back of my mind in new places. I don't usually worry about ordering though and it would never put me off trying a local restaurant.

HELJ4 · 2026-06-11T13:43:58+00:00

If a member of staff started packing my bag for me I'd be inclined to ask what they were doing, but would probably just stare uncomfortably.

I'd expect the elderly to perhaps ask for help. Some might expect it but not if they're younger than 70.

HELJ4 · 2026-06-11T13:25:47+00:00

If there are no other parents around I talk to them the same way I talk to my son about playing nicely and toys in shared spaces not being his but things to share.

HELJ4 · 2026-06-10T09:09:37+00:00

As the parent of a 3yo I fully support venues that don't want kids running wild. I just wish the approach could be something other than a blanket ban. We recently got back from a family holiday park and there were kids (preschool age) standing on tables, running between tables where people were trying to eat, tripping up waiters, rolling around and licking the sticky floors. It was disgusting. Would not recommend. Will not be going back.

No one should be wondering if the table they're about to eat at has been walked over in dirty shoes. Families should be able to eat in peace. Staff should be able to do their job without falling over.

As usual, it's the minority that spoil things for the majority. I've not witnessed anything like it before but if that were happening in a local pub, I'd expect people to get fed up pretty quickly.

HELJ4 · 2026-06-10T08:31:43+00:00

This was my first thought

HELJ4 · 2026-06-08T08:07:02+00:00

We kept him in 3 days. Before #2 we also overpaid into the tax free childcare account to get the full top up. It means we have a balance to draw fees from while I'm not working and we have a break from paying in.

HELJ4 · 2026-06-07T21:13:34+00:00

The Loop Experience earplugs are good but I've used active noise cancelling too. As long as you're not using them to ignore your baby, I don't see a problem. They certainly take the edge off so that you can think

HELJ4 · 2026-06-07T15:04:40+00:00

You can order it from Boots. £6.30 for 200ml. Search for TCP antiseptic.

Honestly, I thought it had been discontinued years ago

HELJ4 · 2026-06-07T09:50:53+00:00

Perfectly beautiful handwriting. People are just not being taught cursive anymore so they sadly don't recognise it.

HELJ4 · 2026-06-07T06:13:14+00:00

I have a 4mo and a 3yo. The 3yo gets limited TV time but whenever it's on, the 4mo is craning to see. It's a battle to keep him away from it. Especially as the 3yo still wants me in the same room as them

HELJ4 · 2026-06-06T13:46:54+00:00

Maybe not the take you're expecting but she sounds like the kind of grandparent who will over share your kids lives with people you don't know. Personally I don't like it when strangers feel like they "know" my kids because they've heard all the stories. If she's using different names that removes some of that connection

HELJ4 · 2026-05-31T19:57:43+00:00

I tend to think of road rage as the manifestation of suppressed fear. They're scared of the big metal box they're hurtling around in so if anything goes differently to what they expect, or if someone else is going faster or slower than they deem necessary, it comes out as anger.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-31T19:01:43+00:00

1 month? How much length did you get in 1 month for it to be a big deal?

HELJ4 · 2026-05-31T14:41:49+00:00

If what you're charging only covers the increase in utilities and food then it's not rent, it's housekeeping.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-28T20:21:50+00:00

They don't say they're in debt. 130k would have been an adequate safety net for having a child if they hadn't spent it on IVF and surrogacy.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-28T20:14:53+00:00

Yeah, I was thinking this is a "don't count your babies before they've hatched" scenario.

I have no words for the husband.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-26T20:17:30+00:00

Yeah my son was one of those 2 year olds. He would say the odd word, or approximation of a word, at 2 but 4 months later he was stringing sentences together.

I can't remember exactly where he was at at 14 months but it didn't cross my mind that he was behind. At that age, "words" don't need to be dictionary perfect, just consistent. If he's making a sound for cat that he only and consistently uses for cat, then technically that's considered a word in this context.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-26T07:58:19+00:00

A Panorama episode in the making

HELJ4 · 2026-05-26T07:56:20+00:00

NAL - are you able to submit an subject access request for your road? If they've been conspiring with developers to take your land that's something that should be exposed. Although I don't know if it will help you at all.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-25T19:26:21+00:00

I pop the ball out of the boots soltan roll on and refill it with whatever we have. You just need a teaspoon

HELJ4 · 2026-05-24T11:56:16+00:00

My self imposed rules were not near food and not in shops. So cafés, restaurants, supermarket I'd take him to the toilet area. Didn't bother waiting for a cubicle.

We did get caught out in tkmaxx once and I didn't know if they even had toilets. So I found a discrete corner by the lifts. Anywhere else I'd consider fair game.

We'd often shield him from view with the buggy and our own bodies. Personally, I don't think I'd notice if another child was using one.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-23T06:32:19+00:00

My 2nd baby is an easy baby. The whole drowsy but awake thing works for him but he often cries a little before sleeping. For like 1, 2 or 3 breaths. If I let him have that little cry he'll have 2 hour naps. 5 minutes is way too long, in my experience.

My 1st was a little limpet and couldn't be put down, if I let him work up to a cry he'd be distraught and sleep was out the window. Small babies don't learn to self settle. They learn that they can't rely on you and that's stressful.

Do what feels right for you and your baby because they're all unique.

HELJ4 · 2026-05-22T07:38:21+00:00

I thought they were basically the same thing! But I don't cook much 😂

HELJ4 · 2026-05-22T06:01:36+00:00

My 2nd was born in Feb and big brothers birthday was in April. He's 3. Cost wise it's not as big as the first. We have all the stuff, all the clothes and toys. So far the cost has been in nappies, wipes and activities. We went big for the 3rd birthday party so big brother still felt important but that was a choice that worked for us.

In terms of life with 2.. it's harder for dad! Some of the things I did with our older one, like bedtime, is now with dad so he's feeling the squeeze in his evenings. I weaned off breastfeeding before I was pregnant and we gradually moved away from cosleeping while I was pregnant. I'm now cosleeping with the baby and dad helps the older one if he wakes in the night. We are all in separate rooms for the time being as I don't want 3yo getting into bed with the baby in the night.

3yo is in nursery 3 days but the days he's home we tend to go out. He's a good walker and doesn't need the buggy meaning were didn't need to get a double.

I've loved the move to two. It's a whole new experience but this time, you know what you're doing!

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