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[Devrij]

I read an article a few years back that sockets guards were useless and could even make the sockets more dangerous.

This is the website the Institution of Engineering and Technology released regarding the matter http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

NHS also released a statement https://www.cas.dh.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspx?AlertID=102494

"This Alert is issued to highlight how, in certain circumstances, the use of plastic 13A (13 amp) electrical socket inserts (sold as safety accessories) can overcome the safety features designed into socket outlets."

Ah good, that's what I thought, but nice to have it confirmed in detail

My poor kids, the only child protection we have is the stair gates.. Everything else is fair game

To be fair, we were the same until we moved into our new place and we were forever having to pick up a crying girl because she's fallen into something

 

[Devrij]

Really good thread and one i read regularly even though I'm not a dad.
Me and my partner want kids one day, were looking at about 5 years time. We haven't really got are ducks in a row yet. We're moving out together for the first time into a rented house in may. I've just started a new career that I'm just above minimum wage for the first year and then goes up a little bit more. My partner is in a job that i can see leaving in about 6 months and has no idea what she wants to do job wise. We also would like to get married and have are own house before we have kids. We're lucky that the house we will be renting belongs to my partner's step dad so we're getting it cheaper. But we have till 7 years before the lease is up and we could potentially buy it if we have enough deposit and get a mortgage on it, or we have to look elsewhere. Anyway back on topic, say if we get most of our goals out the way, stable jobs, marriage and a good amount of money behind us for a deposit or even halfway to one. Would it be a bit unwise to have a baby in a rented house. I know millions do it but if we were trying to be sensible, we would be worried that we couldn't save a deposit and run a baby as well. My partner is okay with renting and having a baby, she thinks we could still save a bit, but thinks it's a good idea to have the deposit or near to it and we could still cope.
Basically it comes down to can a couple on low paid jobs have a baby while saving for a deposit on a house, or should we have deposit and get the house first.

Nothing wrong with having a kid when you're renting (we are doing that), but it isn't cheap so look into what support is available from the government in your income bracket, or start thinking about career progression. Childcare for us is about £1k/m, and we earn about 55k between us which about covers rent, bills childcare and the rest.

Really sit down and work out what you get (maternity pay, etc) and work out if it's doable or how much of a gap you need to fill. You don't get to change your mind once the baby arrives!

I should probably update this thread as my wife gave birth to our daughter on 13th March at 06:55. Definitely the best feeling ever; I've never wanted to stare at something so much in my life, she's beautiful.

I feel like I already can't remember life without her. I'm looking forward to watching her grow and develop, it's such a satisfying feeling.

I remember feeling the same! In a few months (or whenever) if you have a weekend away from her you'll feel weird like "oh man, we can just walk out of the hotel and get dinner!".

Congrats!

 

[Devrij]

All I can say is that the Urbo we have is unsuitable for gravel.

I should have sussed this out, but my daughter has just started going to nursery and guess what, she keeps getting sick. She's been there for a total of 4 days over the last two weeks. First she got a big rash all over her face and a fever, now she has a stomach bug (and is feeling very very needy as a result). Hope she catches up with the rest of the kids soon!

 

[Devrij]

Get used to it, she will have a stream of coughs and colds and fevers for the next few years!

As long as she makes it more than a week without getting one it'll be an improvement!

 

[Devrij]

Just out of interest at what age did you guys think you would like to have a child.

I'm just now at 35 thinking it would be nice to have one.

For us it was my other half that had the ticking clock that pushed things forwards. I'm 31 this weekend, we still rent but are able to afford a 3 bed and nursery, bills etc without being left broke.

It was a case of now or never, but given more time I don't think either of us were in a mad rush to have a baby. Now, of course, we are absolutely smitten and wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm glad I had her at 30 though because I didn't want to be ancient by the time she was older and doing lots of outdoor activities

 

[Devrij]

Having a rough week of it this week. First she was throwing up on Wednesday, seemed to be better for her 1st birthday on Saturday, at which point most of us got the stomach bug, and now she has conjunctivitis. Not great start to my new job taking time off on week two.

 

[Devrij]

I'm just feeling sorry for myself. There are few things more crap than you and your missus taking turns shouting rainbows and you still have a little girl who wants to run around and needs taking care of.

 

[Devrij]

Spent most of today feeling sorry for myself, but my little sister sent me the video of my daughter's birthday and it feels worth it now

 

[Devrij]

I'll see your problem and raise you a...mum and dad both having migraines whilst twin toddlers both have bad diarrhoea from a stomach bug? I didn't think life could be so cruel to me. Had to get the inlaws round to help

Ouch, that's brutal. You win!

 

[Devrij]

It's weird I would say my daughter has been ill once since she started nursery at 9 months (so 2.5 years or so). Hopefully my son will be the same. With regards to the plane, we've started weening our son a month ago and aside from him being a food monster, it's so nice to deal with a solid dirty nappy. I do kind of miss the noises tho as it did make me chuckle when he did. Also took them both swimming on Sunday and he was so placid, even to the point of kicking his feet lol.

Weird how a solid turd can make you smile, right?

My daughter just poked me in the eye, which isn't that big a deal, except she has had yellow gloop coming out her eyes for the last few days so now I get to have it as well! That said, she's in much better form tonight and it was great to see more smiles today. Currently lying in bed with her watching some Peppa pig and all my griping about being ill seems longer so than yesterday. That said, I'll still be paying £250 for this week's nursery while my other half takes a week off work to watch little gloopy eyes here

 

[Devrij]

Soon to be first time dad here, just had a mild panic as the other half has had a stinking cold and throat infection for the last week. Not felt baby kick as much and now at the maternity ward having everything monitored. I swear the little one is going to put me in an early grave.
Good news now though as everything seems to be ok!

You'll be grand, but we had a similar situation where regular kicks stopped for nearly 2 days so off we went to get checked out. Everything was fine of course, but you may as well pay it safe for your own peace of mind so you aren't worrying about it for days.

And yeah, the worrying doesn't really stop in the first year at least (as far as I've gotten),but it does lessen when you start to grasp that they are fairly tough. I think it got easier when I realized that my daughter will often make a bigger deal out of a little fall on her butt just to get a cuddle from her mum. My forehead is getting bigger by the day

The first time they face plant into the floor when learning to walk is pretty brutal though.

 

[Devrij]

And...I've caught hand, foot and mouth. Well that's great, it's supposed to be really difficult to catch as an adult and I was careful too. Bleh, that's work ****** for a few days!

The joys of kids, at least he's feeling better!

I think it's just that season. Mine has recovered from the vomiting, the gloopy eyes and runny nose, but is now dealing with a nasty cough that is keeping us all up every night. On the plus side, her voice is going a bit from all the coughing which makes her sound like Donald Duck

 

[Devrij]

Anyone got one of those in ear thermometers? Seems impossible to keep my daughter still long enough to get a good under arm reading, and I am always deeply envious of the docs who have those in ear ones that take the temp almost immediately.

At a glance, they seem to be quite temperamental judging by reviews, so any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Devrij]

We've got an in-ear thermometer and it seems to work fine. It's the same one used by the NHS so I guess it's accurate enough!

Which one is that?

Sounds like your boy is on the mend TK7, hell of a scare I'll bet

 

[Devrij]

This Braun one.

Awesome, thanks

 

[Devrij]

My daughter is finally learning to use a spoon. She's done some other cool stuff like pointing out colours when I ask her to, and she can now say apples (bapples, at least) when she wants an apple. She's a right little madam though sometimes!

 

[Devrij]

You live just down the road from me . My little one talks gibberish and never shuts up but if you ask her what day it is, she will always tell you it's Saturday. Sounds pretty close if that if that's what she's trying to say.

Ha, yeah it's the whole stopped clock being right twice a day thing.

I've actually moved down south recently so should really update my profile.

On topic, tonight we have started sleep training in earnest. It is tough. I don't think I've ever heard her cry like this, although she is tiring herself out now and losing some volume, which is at least encouraging.

So for anybody else doing it. You'll feel like an absolute ******* doing it, but in about 20mins when they start losing a bit of steam you start to feel like they might crack before you do.

Still feels terrible.

 

[Devrij]

Well, 30 mins later she was asleep (still is), so actually not as bad

 

[Devrij]

My wife and I are on countdown now 6 days to go to due date to our first. I'd say i'm 50/50 on the excitement/terrified scale.

That's roughly where I was at the same point. Do you know what you're having?

 

[Devrij]

Nope we agreed to keep it a surprise, i'm going with boy and wife says girl. Majority of people have said boy so waiting very patiently to find out!

Good luck mate. I originally wanted a little lad, but having a girl I honestly wouldn't have it the other way now. I reckon you'll be happy either way