Thanks Skylark.  It's interesting to see read websites and their scare mongering about the fluroride debate.  It'll be interesting to read the articles listed on the all-natural website (I wonder how to get a hold of them - do you have copies of articles that you've read that you can put on the website?)
I certainly hold concerns about too levels of fluoride intake (which is why I put the comments about fluorosis on teeth).

Hi!  I was wondering if any parents had practical suggestions for teaching good habits (eg packing up toys), teaching good behaviour and manners to a 12 month old ... especially things that worked with your children!

I have been saying to her say "ta" - an aussie slang for please or thank-you - when I offer her a treat (and try and remeber to sign it).  Occasionally she'll repeat it.  She's not talking yet just babbling.

One friend suggested that I should say "it's time to pack our toys" (in a bright enthusiastic manner) before putting her toys in their box, in the hope that eventually she'll put things in the box with me.  She pulls things out readily but doesn't ever put them back in!

nohayo - it's unlikely that whatever you were doing caused the spotting - spotting is quite not un-common during the first trimester but you certainly did the right thing by looking after yourself.

I agree with marimari - for anyone who wants to embark on exercise or is wondering if they can continue with their current exercise regime you should check with your physician as to what they recommend for you!!

Walking is good throughout pregnancy if you have no other medical conditions.  If you are taking up exercise for the first time during your pregnancy you should speak to your physician.  It's important to monitor your heart rate and make sure it doesn't go too high.  If you have been previously exercising it's would be quite safe to continue to do so.  I used a heart rate monitor when I ran and played sports - until I had problems with my sacro-iliac joint mid pregnancy.  My OBGYN told me to stop running but encouraged me to walk, do yoga for pregnancy classes and aqua-aerobics for pregnancy run by physiotherapists to keep my fitness up.

There've been a few studies which have shown that moderate intensity exercise doesn't affect the fetus.  There may be an association with increased birth weight with exercise.
The only thing is that you shouldn't exercise so hard that your heart rate goes above 140 bpm and there are definite studies which have shown that women with body high temperatures (such febrile illnesses) during pregnancy having babies with congenital defects.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

The main danger of too much fluoride intake in a young child is:
"Dental fluorosis
Too much fluoride at an early age can cause a child’s adult teeth (which form underneath their baby teeth) to stain. This is called dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis looks like fine, pearly-white mottling, flecking or lines on the surface of the teeth; it is usually very hard to see. It cannot develop after teeth are fully formed and does not affect the function of the teeth. Dental fluorosis can occur in areas with or without water fluoridation.

Young children, aged 0 to five years, should not use full strength fluoride toothpaste if the drinking water supply is fluoridated. Avoid any use of fluoride supplements in the form of drops or tablets to be chewed or swallowed."
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Dental_care_fluoride

Fluoride in small quantities is safe and has been proven in epidemiological studies to prevent tooth decay.  Fluoridated water has reduced tooth decay significantly.

Here is a quote from the British Dental Health Foundation
http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/faqs/leafletdetail.php?LeafletID=3
"Fluoride comes from a number of different sources including toothpaste, specific fluoride applications and perhaps the drinking water in your area. These can all help to prevent tooth decay. If you are unsure about using fluoride toothpaste ask your dentist, health visitor or health authority. All children up to 3 years old, should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million). After three years old, they should use a toothpaste that contains 1350ppm-1500ppm. You can check the level of fluoride on the packaging of the toothpaste. Children should be supervised up to the age of 7, and you should make sure that they spit out the toothpaste and don?t swallow any if possible."

See next post about dental fluoridation

Hi everyone,

For all the parents who've held first birthday parties and for those about to - where do you draw the line with invitations?

I've been to parties where there've been over 70 adults and 30 children ...

I'm trying to work out where to draw the line with invitations.  We're definitely inviting family (grandparents, sibs, step sibs, close cousins and their kids - which brings it to 24 adults 11 kids).

We "owe" 1st b'day party invitations to a handful of families and we will definitely get invited to another 2 ... the question is whether to invite return the invitations and also whether to invite families who have babies turning one later this year (who may or may not have parties or have considered inviting us to their party inthe first place) ... and what about the people who didn't invite us to their 1st b'day parties but are good friends of people who are being invited ... decisions decisions decisions.

Thoughts ideas anyone?

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking forward to reading the current and future posts on parent web!

Will there be country specific boards like on brillkids too?

Cheers, mtb999

Hi - for those Aussie parents out there who are thinking of getting Little Pim but have held off due to the price - I've found a local website which sells them quite cheaply.  It's called Burn Direct.

The following link will get you to the search page for Little Pim
http://burn.com.au/products/products.php?Pl=%26Tp%3D&Fd=description&Qy=little+pim

They currenlty have Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian, Iapanese, English and Hebrew.  The 3 pack is US$34.18 (46.95 - at the current very good Aus-US conversion rate) which is the cheapest I've seen, they do make their money on the P&H but it still worked out cheaper than ordering it from the States.  They sell the individual discs too for US$ 16.29 (22.95) - but you may as well get the 3 pack for under double the price.

Hi - I was wondering if anyone had the chance to attend the either lecture in Melbourne or Sydney?  If you did - what did you think of it and would you mind sharing any information for those of us who live outside those cities please?

The files look really good - however wouldn't it be better to place them in the Chinese section of the downloads??

That's brilliant to see!!  Especially the filming of the kids after their term break and seeing that they had retained the information.
Aside from the video is there any other information about the pre-school on line?  Are they using Doman's technique of flashing - sets of 5 cards, randomizing the cards and inserting a new card every day and discarding one after 5 days?

Hi Niniedney,
I personally would continue with the Doman method - as you're able to randomly show the dots to your children, esp if you're concerned about to cost of Tweedlewink discs ...  Tweedlewink easy to use, as you can park your kids in front of the TV, however the subject matter isn't randomized - that would be my main criticism of the programme and any right brain kids DVD programmes (including Wink to Learn - once again very convenient especially if you don't speak English or Chinese and want your child to learn another language).  It would've been ideal if they could've somehow put more chapters eg. day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6 (remove a number add a new one), day 7 etc - however I'm sure it wouldn't fit onto one DVD 
Cheers mtb999

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if there are any people from China/Taiwan who can recommend titles of education children's shows which are shown in China?

I know you can get Dora in Chinese.  My niece watches the cantonese version (she understands Cantonese) but will recite the emphasised English words!  I would prefer to get DVDs which are purely in Mandarin - preferably with chinese character subtitles (if there is English - then it's a bonus)

I've found a show called Qiao Hu Baby  巧虎宝宝版 which appears to be quite good (on youku).  Are there any other's you would recommend?  I have a friend who might be able to buy some DVDs from China for me.

Thank-you for your help
mtb999

Hi - I received an email from Jackie Durnin founder of Australian Baby Hands.  If you fill out the following survey there is a link for a 10% discount voucher off all products, even if you don't send your child to a Baby Hands Class.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=SeJRm82GAHMgfzyO1GgB%2bA%3d%3d#q8

Speaking of which - has anyone sent their kids to a Baby Hands Class and how did they find it??  Cheers