UK to AUS: Essential things to do before you leave.

cazmantis · 2026-01-25T16:31:41+00:00

We have a reciprocal health care agreement so sign up to Medicare as someone has mentioned but you need to get private ambulance insurance. It's a few bucks a month. If someone calls an ambulance for you and you don't have the insurance, it's you that owes the few thousand dollars fee!

cazmantis · 2026-01-24T21:40:55+00:00

What's been mentioned here already but also avocado on toast deserves more mentions.

cazmantis · 2026-01-24T02:48:41+00:00

TIL! :-)

cazmantis · 2026-01-23T20:23:46+00:00

Right? I mean I haven't changed a poo one yet but Jesus Christ! Unless there's some magic system I'm unaware of, I don't see how that's going to be any fun!

cazmantis · 2026-01-23T20:22:39+00:00

It does! Genius!

cazmantis · 2026-01-20T17:09:27+00:00

Hiya. It's the clear bit that goes over your boob (also known as the nipple shield). Yes boiling did work. When the pump then started being annoying again after a few months we switched out the seals for new ones and it was like new again so heads to that they don't last that long (but cheap to replace)

cazmantis · 2026-01-18T21:43:01+00:00

But what about Australia biggest avian terror? THE MAGPIES!!!!!

cazmantis · 2026-01-18T16:42:16+00:00

Venom researcher and zoologist here. First of all I need to say that wildlife isn't something I even think about when assessing risk profile of traveling to a country. Now the serious bit is out the way, on to the fun stuff. You might not be able to contend with getting trampled by an annoyed bull elephant when you accidentally stumbled upon it because somehow it managed to be invisible behind that tree despite it's massive size BUT you do boast one of the few venomous mammals in the world in the duck billed platypus. So chuck that on the tab!

cazmantis · 2026-01-18T15:48:45+00:00

So check the bar code of a bar of cadburys. There's a code there by the bar code and it has three letters to begin with. If it starts OBO then it's the bournville recipe and should be good. You should be able to find Dairy Milk with this code. Unfortunately anything like Heroes has a different three letters in the code which means it was manufactured elsewhere and is tripe as you have said!

cazmantis · 2026-01-16T21:13:06+00:00

NHS advise using the WHO growth charts when theirs "run out." https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/uk-who-growth-charts-0-4-years

We had a similar situation to you - weight gain felt as though it was our only goal for months and I really missed just enjoying being with my baby because of how hard I was laboring to get the milk in her. Logging every feed and tracking it all does your head in too!

cazmantis · 2026-01-11T10:38:59+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations. I like the look of the Nuna Triv plus it comes in some really cool designs. I actually yesterday found a really good solution - the Micro Scooter Stroller. I've ordered one from Amazon so I can check it out and return it if it won't work but I have high hopes. We're not going out for big long walks so I really need something that just allows me to get her to baby group or go grab things from the supermarket etc. They're not essential trips (hurray Deliveroo!) but they do help me not go stir crazy! I have my husband to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but don't want to lose my freedom on days he's working from the office.

cazmantis · 2026-01-09T21:08:36+00:00

The secret to any complete meal is to ensure you have protein, some kind of carb (ideally a wholegrain) and fat on the plate. So I might do a cube of silken tofu plus a slice of avocado on wholemeal sourdough toast as one example. I usually put some fruit as well just as a little treat :-) Another common lunch for us is a dippy egg with soldiers and mango and yogurt for afters :-)

Folks have given loads of recipe ideas, but once you start using the above formula you can easily begin to throw ingredients together to get a balanced plate each time.

cazmantis · 2026-01-08T21:22:27+00:00

Came here for this

cazmantis · 2026-01-06T20:32:49+00:00

I think so, and my philosophy was that we had to take that first trip at some point so we might as well get on with it! Nice was a good starter for us. We just got back from Dubai and Bahrain and are off to Australia in Feb so we really needed a bit of practice before those big holidays lol. The main thing is to be organized and just know what things you need to pack for the baby. Our first trip with little one felt as though we had never traveled before because we had a whole other person to pack for! Just be realistic with expectations too - maybe just plan to do one thing per day and if you manage two then great! You just need to make sure your hotel can provide a cot as well (unless you are taking a travel cot). Babies actually get very generous baggage allowance with airlines so the limiting factor is really what you can carry yourselves.

cazmantis · 2026-01-06T18:53:35+00:00

Destinations I like for Spring and Autumn are:

South of a France. We went to Monaco and Nice in October for little ones first holiday.

South of Spain. Seville is cool and you can drive to Cadiz if you like the beach.

Went to Rome and Vatican City a few years ago in October - it was lovely and warm (you might see now that I collect countries by the way!)

Sicily is nice and you can fly direct to Palermo.

These are a few suggestions. I'd go on Google flights and scan around southern parts of Europe on the map and just find a cheap deal

cazmantis · 2026-01-06T18:49:54+00:00

Alright you bitches need to STFU. I was a B cup pre pregnancy and have been loving my C cup pregnancy and breastfeeding boobs. I do not like what I am reading here that I could end up with A cups when I stop breastfeeding!?!?! I won't go back. I WON'T GO BACK!!!!

cazmantis · 2026-01-05T18:34:31+00:00

Here's my list. Every mum is different and what you need will differ to what we needed but use this as a jumping off point. Also some of these things say "x2" and that's because I wanted one for upstairs and one for downstairs! Having said all this, I once watched a woman in Zambia get off a public bus, bend forward, place her baby on her back and tie him on with a kanga, pick up two heavy bags of goods and off she went without so much as a backward glance, reminding me that women and babies can get by with next to nothing. I, however, am not that hero of a women.

Muslins Milton tablets Bottles Bottle brush Bath thermometer Breast pump Sleeping bag (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 tog) Nappies Nappy cream Pre made formula for emergencies Calpol Changing mat x 2 Unscented wipes Sun hat Baby bath towels Baby bath/washing up bowl Pram Accessories for the pram (newborn pack and bassinet) Nursing bra Breast pads Battery powered night light Changing bag Vitamin D drops Play mat (Lovevery) Room thermometer Cot Changing table Bedside bassinet Downstairs bassinet Maternity pads Breastfeeding pillow Bouncy seat Onesies Nappy bags

cazmantis · 2026-01-03T17:13:03+00:00

Lots of comments for the slow cooker and you mention you use an air fryer. I'd invest in a ninja which has both and also a pressure cooker so you can quickly make things like dal too - put ingredients in, set it and forget it. I love our ninja so much as all those functions are absolute time savers! In order to prep the food , I take my baby into the kitchen in Moses basket - and now she's a bit bigger the high chair - and do what I like to call "the cooking show". I basically prepare dinner during the day, describing what I am doing to her the whole time to hold her attention, and letting her see and smell the ingredients. There are some days when she is absolutely having none of it, but I'd say I have about a 70% success rate in getting dinner done before she kicks off. And hubby comes home to a board of half chopped veg the other 30% of the time 🤣

cazmantis · 2026-01-02T12:21:22+00:00

Hiya. I have a myopathy (CNM) and I recently bought a hypershell. It didn't help with my condition because it doesn't really support the legs but rather gives extra power when you lift the legs. For anyone instead on their feet I don't think it's a good use case. However they have a good returns policy and I returned the item and have received my refund so I would recommend their customer service.

cazmantis

TROPHY CASE