ParentDish - UK http://www.parentdish.co.uk ParentDish - UK http://www.parentdish.co.uk/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish - UK http://www.parentdish.co.uk en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Moments Like This: Ready for senior schoolhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/moments-like-this-ready-for-senior-school/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/moments-like-this-ready-for-senior-school/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/moments-like-this-ready-for-senior-school/#commentsFiled under: ,

When you have two girls eleven years apart you can't help noticing how quickly life whizzes by.

I look at Dolly, clapping, waving and staggering a couple of unsteady steps (these are her only three party tricks) and I have flashbacks of her older sister, Flo, as clear as yesterday. The baby is a daily, noisy reminder of how fast the years have passed, and it makes me want to put out a great big 'Stop' sign reading: 'Growth will resume shortly. (But only when I've got my head around it.)'



Continue reading Moments Like This: Ready for senior school

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>children growing upChildrenGrowingUpfastgrowing upGrowingUpmemoriesMoments Like ThisMomentsLikeThisShona SibaryShonaSibarysiblingsShona SibaryThu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 ESTAchtung Baby or Calling you Parents of Experiencehttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/achtung-baby-or-calling-you-parents-of-experience/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/achtung-baby-or-calling-you-parents-of-experience/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/achtung-baby-or-calling-you-parents-of-experience/#commentsFiled under:

Since my imminent meltdown was appeased by your comments regarding Finje not yet being able to write her name, I was wondering if I could be so bold as to call on your wisdom again?

Last week, we enjoyed the hospitality of two wonderful friends who live "Down South" in Nürnburg, I'll call them Mr and Mrs O. Mrs O is a Kiwi and Mr O a German so we have a lot in common.

Mr O is a GP in a family practice. With Finje's obsession for all things medical, he was kind enough to give her some hands-on experience. He pronounced her Doctor's Assistant and took her off to work, whilst Mrs O and I fired up the coffee machine for a child-free morning of English speaking catch-up.

Continue reading Achtung Baby or Calling you Parents of Experience

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Achtung BabyAchtungBabyasking children questionsAskingChildrenQuestionschilds experiencesChildsExperiencesdoctorgummi bearsGummiBearsis my child normalis my four year old normalIsMyChildNormalIsMyFourYearOldNormalSuze NowakSuzeNowakSuze NowakThu, 02 Sep 2010 09:00:00 ESTCo-sleeping: Why I love sharing my bed with my babyhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/co-sleeping-why-i-love-sleeping-with-my-baby/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/co-sleeping-why-i-love-sleeping-with-my-baby/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/co-sleeping-why-i-love-sleeping-with-my-baby/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm going to come right out and say it: I co-sleep with my baby and I love it. My husband does too, and we both feel that the pros outweigh the cons.

The interesting thing about it is that when you mention in conversation that you are a co-sleeping family, people can look at you strangely. Or, other parents will then admit to you that they do it too, but it's never something that's brought up freely. In some ways, it's almost a taboo.

My new friend S (whom I met at antenatal classes) was delighted to hear that this was our choice, but wasn't prepared to tell me about it until I 'fessed up.
"Oh we have our 15 week old in our bed too!" she said, when I had spilled the beans.

When I asked her why she hadn't mentioned it earlier in the conversation when it had come up she replied, "Well, you know, my midwife said it wasn't a good idea, and when I was in hospital after giving birth, the baby was taken away from me and put in her crib beside my bed at night time. I just thought it was frowned upon."

Continue reading Co-sleeping: Why I love sharing my bed with my baby

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>babyco sleepingco-sleepingCoSleepinghealth risksHealthRisksmothermumnewbornnightparentsafetysharing a bedSharingABedsleepingFelicity QuigleyThu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:00 ESTOnly 32 out of 2000 schools take up 'academy' status offerhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/only-32-out-of-2000-schools-take-up-academy-status-offer/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/only-32-out-of-2000-schools-take-up-academy-status-offer/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/only-32-out-of-2000-schools-take-up-academy-status-offer/#commentsFiled under: ,

Just 32 schools are set to open their doors as independent academies this week, with only 110 more due to follow suit in the coming months.

Continue reading Only 32 out of 2000 schools take up 'academy' status offer

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>32 schools32Schoolsacademieseducationmichael goveschoolsKelly Rose BradfordThu, 02 Sep 2010 06:15:00 ESTFfion Hague's miscarriage hellhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/ffion-hagues-miscarriage-hell/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/ffion-hagues-miscarriage-hell/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/ffion-hagues-miscarriage-hell/#commentsFiled under:

As William Hague was forced to vigorously defend himself against allegations about his private life last night, he also revealed that his wife Ffion had had a series of miscarriages, the most recent having happened over the summer break.

In a statement issued by Mr Hague to end speculation about the nature of his relationship with his special adviser Chris Myers - who later resigned - the Foreign Secretary gave a candid account of he and his wife's struggle to start a family. He said that Ffion, 42, had 'suffered multiple miscarriages' and was 'still grieving for the loss of a pregnancy this summer'.

Continue reading Ffion Hague's miscarriage hell

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Chris MyersChrisMyersfertility issuesffion haguemiscarriagepolitical gossipspecial advisorSpecialAdvisorwilliam hagueWilliamHagueKelly Rose BradfordThu, 02 Sep 2010 06:00:00 ESTLong haired lovelies: Why do boys with long hair STILL upset polite society?http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/long-haired-lovelies-boys/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/long-haired-lovelies-boys/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/long-haired-lovelies-boys/#commentsFiled under: ,

'He'll get picked on!'
'He looks like a girl!'
'It's so scruffy on a boy!'

These are just a few of the comments levied at my seven year old son in the past couple of weeks, and throughout his life, really. All because he has (and always has had) long hair.

William's mane is his crowning glory. It is thick, wavy and abundant, and the most gorgeous shade of blonde. Admittedly, without a careful blow-dry and regular brushing throughout the day, he can bear a passing resemblance to a very woolly sheep nestling in a haystack, but on the whole, it is long and flowing and lush to look at.

Continue reading Long haired lovelies: Why do boys with long hair STILL upset polite society?

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>boys with long hairchildrens hairhair cutHairCuthairdresserLong hairLong hairstylesLongHairLongHairstylesKelly Rose BradfordThu, 02 Sep 2010 05:30:00 ESTRunaway lorry crashes feet from baby's bedroomhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/lorry-crashes-feet-from-babys-bedroom/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/lorry-crashes-feet-from-babys-bedroom/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/02/lorry-crashes-feet-from-babys-bedroom/#commentsFiled under:

A 15-month-old baby has cheated death after a lorry ploughed through a warehouse adjoining her home, missing her bedroom by just a few feet.

Taryn Alcroft and her parents, Andy and Ruth, were sleeping in their home when the incident happened at 3.26 this morning.

Mr Alcroft heard the vehicle smashing into the building adjacent to the house, and immediately phoned the emergency services.

Continue reading Runaway lorry crashes feet from baby's bedroom

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Alcroftbabys bedroomBabysBedroombreaking newsBreakingNewslorry crashes into houseKelly Rose BradfordThu, 02 Sep 2010 03:13:00 ESTMum of ten begs for more room in council househttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/mum-of-ten-begs-for-more-room-in-council-house/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/mum-of-ten-begs-for-more-room-in-council-house/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/mum-of-ten-begs-for-more-room-in-council-house/#commentsFiled under:

A mum who lives in a three-bedroomed house with 10 children and her partner is asking for a bigger house.

Donna Harrison, from Bradford, says she has been asking social landlord Incommunities to allocate her family a bigger house for five years, to no avail.

Donna has six children and also looks after another four, one of whom is her live-in partner's daughter.

She shares a bedroom with a son and daughter as well as her partner, and told the Daily Mail: 'I can't cope. There's no room in the house for the kids.'

'We have taken on three extra kids and no one's given us any help. When people have got 10 kids they should knock two houses through for them.'

Continue reading Mum of ten begs for more room in council house

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Bradfordcouncil housingCouncilHousingDonna HarrisonDonnaHarrisonfamily of 10FamilyOf10mum of 10MumOf10ParentDishWed, 01 Sep 2010 10:22:00 ESTHow to find out what your child gets up to at schoolhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/how-to-find-out-what-your-child-gets-up-to-at-school/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/how-to-find-out-what-your-child-gets-up-to-at-school/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/how-to-find-out-what-your-child-gets-up-to-at-school/#commentsFiled under: ,

Come early September, hundreds of thousands of four-year-olds will head into primary school for the first time and by 3pm, hundreds of thousands of their parents will be desperate to know how it all went. Were they the life and soul of the playground or did they even just talk to someone? Did they eat their lunch or sit there daunted by the dinner ladies? Most of all, were they happy?

When it comes to getting feedback, school is starkly different to nursery. Whilst nursery staff typically dole out key info at picking up time - from food consumed to activities enjoyed - schools don't. The idea now is 'no news is good news' - they'd call you if there was a serious problem but other than that, you'll have to wait until parents' evening (the first one is usually around half term) for any notable comments.

Continue reading How to find out what your child gets up to at school

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>asking your child about their dayAskingYourChildAboutTheirDaychildGettingInformationAboutSchoolinformationprimary schoolPrimarySchoolreceptionschoolStartingSchoolTalkingToTeachersteacherLiat Hughes JoshiWed, 01 Sep 2010 08:02:00 ESTFemale teachers are letting down boys in the classroom, says surveyhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/female-teachers-are-letting-down-boys-in-the-classroom-says-sur/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/female-teachers-are-letting-down-boys-in-the-classroom-says-sur/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/female-teachers-are-letting-down-boys-in-the-classroom-says-sur/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sexism is alive and kicking in the classroom, says a new report.

A study carried out at Kent University suggests that primary school teachers, 90 per cent of whom are female, are unwittingly holding boys back by reinforcing gender stereotypes in the classroom.

Boys are expected to conform to a more 'feminine' style of play instead of being taught how to play the games they prefer responsibly, it says.

According to the report, which questioned 238 children, boys are far more likely to be perceived as 'silly' in class, and are more likely to be reprimanded for refusing to 'sit nicely like girls'. They are also seen as more prone to indulge in 'schoolboy pranks'.

The report suggests that the attitudes of female teachers may be perpetuating low expectations of boys' academic achievements, unwittingly encouraging girls to work harder by letting them think they are cleverer.

Continue reading Female teachers are letting down boys in the classroom, says survey

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>boysgirlsprimary schoolschoolsexismteachersKaty HollandWed, 01 Sep 2010 07:54:00 ESTDouble take! Two sisters give birth to baby boys at the same time in the same hospitalhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/double-take-two-sisters-give-birth-to-baby-boys-at-the-same-tim/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/double-take-two-sisters-give-birth-to-baby-boys-at-the-same-tim/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/double-take-two-sisters-give-birth-to-baby-boys-at-the-same-tim/#commentsFiled under: ,

The chances were slim. In fact, they were just 125,000 - 1. But a pair of sisters have both given birth to baby boys - on the same day, at the same hospital, on the same ward.

Catherine Morris, 34, (pictured on the left of this photo) and Dawn Potts, 31, (pictured on the right) surprised midwives at North Staffordshire's University Hospital after they gave birth to boys within seven hours of each other.

Catherine went into labour first, and was even given the room reserved for her sister's Caesarean section. She received a cheeky text from Dawn, joking that she had pinched her bed.


Continue reading Double take! Two sisters give birth to baby boys at the same time in the same hospital

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>against the oddsgive birthhospitalsisterstwo sisters give birth on same day in same wardTwoSistersGiveBirthOnSameDayInSameWardwardKaty HollandWed, 01 Sep 2010 07:00:00 ESTYour baby's coming, ready or not!http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/your-babys-coming-early-Samantha-Cameron/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/your-babys-coming-early-Samantha-Cameron/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/your-babys-coming-early-Samantha-Cameron/#commentsFiled under: ,

When Samantha Cameron was packing for her Cornish summer hols just a few weeks ago, she was probably thinking more comfy shoes and sun cream than nursing nighties, paper knickers and a going-home outfit. We are told that Mrs C woke up in the midst of her West Country break experiencing pains, and went to hospital just to be checked out, never expecting to end up delivering her fourth child. But it seems there's no putting the breaks on an eager-to-arrive bubba...

Continue reading Your baby's coming, ready or not!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>early babiesearly labourEarlyBabiesEarlyLabourpremature babiesPrematureBabiesSamantha Cameronsamantha cameron babySamanthaCameronSamanthaCameronBabysurprise laboursSurpriseLaboursunexpected babiesUnexpectedBabiesKelly Rose BradfordWed, 01 Sep 2010 05:55:00 ESTToddler comes face-to-face with escaped tiger on trip to the zoohttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/toddler-comes-face-to-face-with-escaped-tiger-on-trip-to-the-zoo/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/toddler-comes-face-to-face-with-escaped-tiger-on-trip-to-the-zoo/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/toddler-comes-face-to-face-with-escaped-tiger-on-trip-to-the-zoo/#commentsFiled under:

A day out at the zoo turned into a nightmare for one mum when her toddler came eye-to-eye with a tiger which had escaped from its enclosure.

The 230g Bengal tiger managed to jump over a 12ft fence and apparently roamed freely around Jungle Island Zoo, Miami, for about 20 minutes.

Mother Diana Barrett said she walked around a corner to find little Dianita face to face with the tiger.

Continue reading Toddler comes face-to-face with escaped tiger on trip to the zoo

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>escaped animalescaped tigerEscapedTigerjungle island zoomiamitigerzoo tripZooTripKaty HollandWed, 01 Sep 2010 03:26:00 ESTHealth and Safety officials ban kids' garden trampolinehttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/health-and-safety-officials-ban-kids-garden-trampoline/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/health-and-safety-officials-ban-kids-garden-trampoline/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/health-and-safety-officials-ban-kids-garden-trampoline/#commentsA childminder has been ordered to take down a children's trampoline from her garden - for health and safety reasons.

Sharon Farmer has had the trampoline in her shared garden in Lewisham, south London, for 10 years. It has a safety net around the sides and it is supervised at all times when children are playing on it.

Not only that, but the parents of the children who use the trampoline have all given written permission for their children to use it, and Sharon is insured for the children she looks after. There have never been any accidents.

But health and safety officials from her housing association are still not happy, and have ordered her to remove it, claiming that children could be injured if they bounced off it onto the grass.

Continue reading Health and Safety officials ban kids' garden trampoline

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>childminderdangerdangeroushealth and safetyHealthAndSafetyorderedtrampolineKaty HollandWed, 01 Sep 2010 03:08:00 ESTMums lie to their kids every day to get them to eat fruit and veghttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/mums-lie-to-their-kids-to-get-them-to-eat-fruit-and-ve/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/mums-lie-to-their-kids-to-get-them-to-eat-fruit-and-ve/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/mums-lie-to-their-kids-to-get-them-to-eat-fruit-and-ve/#commentsFiled under: ,

The average mum tells her child TWO fibs a day to coax them into eating healthy food, a new poll has found.

The most common lies include telling toddlers that eating fruit and veg will make them really strong like their favourite TV hero.

Millions of mums regularly wheel out porky pies such as 'carrots will help you see in the dark' and 'fizzy drinks will turn your teeth to jelly', according to a study commissioned by Philips' Avent.

Continue reading Mums lie to their kids every day to get them to eat fruit and veg

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>dietfizzy drinksfruit and veghealthy eatinglying to kidsLyingToKidsunhealthy dietKaty HollandWed, 01 Sep 2010 02:43:00 ESTFive-year-old dies after mistaking dad's painkillers for sweetshttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/five-year-old-dies-after-mistaking-dads-painkillers-for-sweets/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/five-year-old-dies-after-mistaking-dads-painkillers-for-sweets/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/09/01/five-year-old-dies-after-mistaking-dads-painkillers-for-sweets/#commentsFiled under:

A five-year old girl died of a massive drug overdose after mistaking her father's painkillers for Jelly Beans, an inquest heard yesterday.

Hanna Collins, from Borehamwood, Herts, swallowed the fatal dose of the drug, Tramadol, after taking the packet from a cupboard in the kitchen, where sweets and chocolate were also kept.

The inquest heard that she often stood on a chair to get the treats herself. The top cupboard, where her father Andrew kept his medication, had a sign which read 'Keep Out', but Hanna could not read, and it is believed she mistook the pills for sweets.

Continue reading Five-year-old dies after mistaking dad's painkillers for sweets

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>child safetydrugsfive-year-oldHanna CollinsHannaCollinsmedicine cabinetMedicineCabinetoverdosesweetsKaty HollandWed, 01 Sep 2010 02:10:00 EST101 Uses for a Dedicated Dad: Televisionhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/101-uses-for-a-dedicated-dad-television/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/101-uses-for-a-dedicated-dad-television/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/101-uses-for-a-dedicated-dad-television/#commentsFiled under:

By television I mean anything that appears on the dreaded box, including videos and DVDs as well as broadcast programmes.

My wife and I are not of the school that says you have to drastically curtail TV watching or not have it all, so the boys are well versed in the spectrum of entertainment available to them, and indeed the younger ones have inherited a wealth of videos from my oldest.

My job is three-fold. First I have to keep all the technology running. This of course also falls within the realm of fixing things, but it's also about masterminding a communications hub that channels various Sky and Freeview programmes to the required TV set in the right room at the right time.

Continue reading 101 Uses for a Dedicated Dad: Television

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>childrendaddairy of a dedicated dadDairyOfADedicatedDadkidstelevisionTVwatchingMarc BeishonTue, 31 Aug 2010 08:30:00 ESTSuperbug outbreak kills three babies at leading London hospitalhttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/superbug-outbreak-kills-three-babies-at-leading-london-hospital/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/superbug-outbreak-kills-three-babies-at-leading-london-hospital/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/superbug-outbreak-kills-three-babies-at-leading-london-hospital/#commentsFiled under: ,

Three newborn babies died, and 12 others were infected, following an outbreak of a superbug in the intensive care unit at University College Hospital, London last month.

Records from an emergency meeting show that one premature baby died from a bacterial infection that doctors were unable to fight with antibiotics.

Two other babies also tested positive for antibiotic-resistant bugs after dying from complications relating to their premature birth.

And a fourth baby was found to have been infected with a bug resistant to gentamycin, which is the antibiotic used to treat premature babies. This baby is believed to have recovered, with a further nine babies found to be carrying gentamycin-resistant bugs.

Following the emergency meeting to discuss the outbreak on August 10, the unit, which treats some of the country's most vulnerable babies, has undergone an intensive clean, and no further cases have been reported.

Continue reading Superbug outbreak kills three babies at leading London hospital

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>antibioticsbaby deathshospitalLondonneo-natal unitNeo-natalUnitpremature babiesPrematureBabiessuperbugsUCLKaty HollandTue, 31 Aug 2010 08:14:00 ESTThe Newborn Diaries: 39 Weekshttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/the-newborn-diaries-39-weeks/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/the-newborn-diaries-39-weeks/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/the-newborn-diaries-39-weeks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've officially self-diagnosed myself with "nappy brain".

I've never been the most organised or "with it" person, but at this stage, things are getting ridiculous. I can barely string together a sentence, let alone make it anywhere.

I had an antenatal GP appointment the other day, the one, planned leaving-the-house venture that was in my diary for the whole week, and the only requirement was to show up with my maternity notes. I made it to the clinic but usefully left the maternity book at home and then forget my urine sample in the waiting area of the surgery. Classy.

One big perk of being pregnant and rarely leaving the house is that my spending has really been curbed, but I am sensing that I'm on the brink of a major blow-out. I want to buy the unborn child everything (Baby Einstein toys, a knit sushi rattle, the whole new Baby Gucci collection), and I fantasise about designer footwear, dresses I won't be able to fit into for months to come and jewellery for myself (clearly all essentials a new mum requires).

I'm proud to say that when in the grips of a potential frenzied shopping disaster at my computer yesterday I restrained myself and bought "labour aids" instead of anything fun: a few aromatherapy oils from Neal's Yard because I've convinced myself that sniffing lavender oil will ensure I handle labour with grace and ease. Yeah, right.

Continue reading The Newborn Diaries: 39 Weeks

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>39 weeks pregnant39WeeksPregnantpregnancyThe newborn diariesTheNewbornDiariesJennifer BartonTue, 31 Aug 2010 08:00:00 ESTPresident Obama's baby is all grown uphttp://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/president-obamas-baby-is-all-grown-up/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/president-obamas-baby-is-all-grown-up/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/08/31/president-obamas-baby-is-all-grown-up/#commentsFiled under: ,

My, hasn't she grown?

President Barack Obama may still call her his baby, but his daughter Malia is catching up with her dad in height.

At the tender age of 12, Malia is believed to measure 5ft 9inches - just four inches shorter than her dad, who at 6ft 1 stands among the tallest of all US presidents.

A growth spurt over the past year has seen her shoot up to nearly the same height as her mum Michelle, who is 5ft 11in.

Pictured at the end of the family's holiday in Martha's Vineyard, it was clear that Malia is growing quickly, and experts are predicting that she could grow to be 6ft tall.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>daughtergrownMaliaObamaPresidentPresident Obamas daughter MaliaPresidentObamasDaughterMaliaKaty HollandTue, 31 Aug 2010 07:58:00 EST