I'm in!

Nee1 - I've been reading a lot about CM philosophy, too. I love that she advocates such depth in every subject. In regards to specialization, my understanding is that with CM the idea is to finish 'school' by lunchtime, giving the afternoon free. I understood that this is time that the child can use not only for play, but also to expand on their interests. So, if your child desperately wants to be a marine biologist, they can spend as much of the afternoon reading about sea creatures, or pretending to be a shark or watching documentaries as you allow them to (*some* time needs to be spent outdoors!) - so long as they focus and finish their general lessons in the morning.   

This is something that I really like about CM. I've always been of the opinion that I want my son to have a good grasp on all subjects and still have time to focus on things that he loves. Goodness knows if I'd only done school in the morning, I could have learnt so much more! ( I am the type of person that reads textbooks and learns languages for fun  )

I really wanted to do babyplus when I was pregnant - I had decided long before that I would, but then I was living with my Mum and my family think I'm crazy enough as it is so I decided not to. I really couldn't handle the stess of what I knew would be constant mockery on top of relationship breakup and serious overcrowding. I wish I had had the opportunity...

I would really like to do a lot more whenever I have another baby, such as reading/music/babyplus at a set time each day. The worst result will be that I achieve nothing more than spending the time to bond with my baby

Is that baby just hanging off the door?! What on earth is the point in that 

My mum used a babywalker with all of us and is adamant that it did us all no harm. It probably doesn't have anything to do with the hip problems I developed in my twenties, due to hypermobile joints. Probably.

I really don't think they would do harm if used safely and sensiblly and in moderation. Lots of parents do the first two but leave baby in the walker for half the day - half an hour per day won't put nearly so much strain on the joints as three or four hours would...

That said, I haven't got one and wouldn't want one. I don't think they help to teach walking, as baby can't put feet properly on the floor. And it is hard enough baby-proofing to knee level, let alone remembering that this tiny baby who is normally just crawling can now reach the tablecloth, cup of tea etc.

I avoided wipes completely when Nicholas was tiny and now only use them very occasionally when we are out. We used cotton wool and water at first, then moved on to washable cotton wipes.

Personally, I don't think anything that can take permanent pen off a table top should be considered 'gentle to skin' 

I have told nobody anything about teaching Nicholas. I alluded to 'reading about' early education with my best friend, but even though I don't think she would be negative about it, I am waiting to hear her honest opinion before admitting to doing anything more than teaching Russian and signs.

My mother commented quite rudely about how 'some things are just taking it too far' when she saw an advert for YBCR. I decided not to mention those very dvds are under my bed in the hope that one day Nikki will decide that they are entertaining. At the moment, he would rather use LR or Wink for word flashcards.

The only early learning I admit to doing with Nicholas is Russian (and depending on the person, sign language) and this is only because his father is Russian and it is almost expected of me, since I studied the language for 5 years. I am frequently mocked by my family for wanting to teach Nikki things - be it laughing that I would buy him a model heart at *any* point in the future to joking about forcing him to learn maths while still in nappies. Thus I don't mention that I actually AM teaching him maths while in nappies, as well as reading and 7 foreign languages. And I *will* buy him that model heart, and the skeleton one, too!

I'm just not brave enough, or able to win debates, to just *tell* people.

Although flashcards are such a part of our life that I once almost casually announced to my postnatal group that I'd fogotten to do Nikki's dots that morning... I'm quite sure that had I not caught myself they would have decided I was insane and stopped socialising with me altogether - I am already the outcast of the group, being the only single mum, and the only one not using a nursery.

Hi all!

My son was due Christmas day 2009, but was a bit over-eager and arrived October 14th instead! Thankfully you wouldn't know that now! He may still be amongst the smallest of his age, and won't be walking any time soon, but he is happy and healthy (and into EVERYTHING - especially naughty things!).

Nice to get to know who has babies around the same age

I remember the days when Nicholas had as much of my dinner decorating him as I managed to eat... 

At the moment, we have a language each day and seems to be working. I speak English as the main language weekdays, and try to keep to Russian at weekends. I am introducing British sign language, which is useful in itself and also helpful in associating foreign words to their meanings.

I then have material in the 'language of the day' - we watch 15-20 minutes of cartoons, I am making single-word books in the various languages (eg. animals, food - I'm using the Wink word sets as he is familiar with them). I put on foreign-language radio, children's songs and audiobooks for as much of the day as possible (I aim for 3 or 4 hours of audio material) which allows us to hear the language, to help him get a more native accent. I want to try and phase out English as much as possible, as he will learn it almost by default living in England, but as the only language of our 7 that I can do more than say hello and count to five in is Russian, that will take a LOT of time!

We use various different media - Wink to learn for Chinese and Japanese, Muzzy for French, Spanish and German, Pim for Chinese, traditional Soviet cartoons for Russian, as well as lots of random cartoons/songs off you-tube and other language sites...

I eventually chose Irish over Italian as our 7th language, as although it is less useful it was my grandfather's first language and thus I feel that I should do what he failed to do and keep that knowledge in our family. The BBC have a great children's fairytale program which they broadcast in Irish and can be found on iplayer. Not that I expect many here would need to know that

Sorry if I'm confusing you with too much information. The basics are that I am trying to give Russian as a second 'native' language (his father's) and so speak it a lot, although only at the weekend to minimise confusion. The other languages I plan on learning together with him and am using lots of exposure to attune his ear, while teaching basic words/phrases gradually. When I am more confident in my Russian being understood, I hope to switch to Russian in the week and English at the weekends. I have no idea what will happen with the other languages, whether he will want or be able to use them for day-to-day communication... he barely speaks three words consistantly at the moment!

Thanks aangeles! A friend gave me their bumper Muzzy, so I did know about that, but would have to fork out again for Chinese

Thanks also for the warning about Pim Japanese. I had assumed they would use Japanese characters (that's what they do in Chinese) and as Nicholas is already doing Wink Japanese, I don't want to confuse him. Are you sure there is not a Japanese script option? I know on the Chinese version you can choose between characters and pin yin.

I am thrilled to have an age-appropriate cartoon series to google. Thank you! I have only ever come across Pokemon etc. I do believe it is the language that is the 'educational' part of the dvd - if he's picking up Japanese, then that's good enough for me!

I didn't get the WINK english dvds as I deemed it an unnecessary expense as I'm using LR in English, which is very similar. We use Japanese and Chinese dvds and if I thought I could fit more into a day, I'd consider the Korean, too. My son really enjoys them.

I wish I could get Pim in my local library

I must say that the downside of teaching multiple languages is that it doesn't come cheap! I try to use as many free resources as possible, Pim and Muzzy are so great but so expensive in one language, let alone 7!

I wish I could afford Pim in Japanese, as it is the only language we're doing where I don't have age-appropriate cartoons. Nikki seems happy enough watching Let's Learn Japanese (an adult video course) which I got second hand, but it does teach more 'adult' things that aren't really necessary at this age.

Babies are great at surprising us. I was feeling put off because after an amazing start with signing (remembering and using his first sign the very next day with no prompting) we seemed to hit a barrier. He only ever repeated one sign. He still rarely signs anything else, especially without prompting. Then yesterday I was singing 'incy-wincy spider' but my hands were busy and I couldn't sign. He gave me this really odd look and by the second line started signing himself! Not all the signs, but it was obvious what he was doing. And he doesn't even sign along with me normally!

I'd say that you'll see results with your daughter's reading sooner than you expect, at a time you least expect it (though not, perhaps, as soon as you would like to see them)!

Thanks also for bumping the thread, as I had not seen this article before - very interesting!

Some baby slings are suitable from birth - I had a sleepy wrap (one of the cheapest on the market but actually better than several more expensive models) and although it is not quick to get on/off it is brilliant.

I still have a clingy baby, but as Daddude suggested music seems to work a treat.

Hope you work something out soon!