Germany?

[SarahDiener]

I just have some AIOs atm, but I plan to buy a whole lot of different types and brands. Umm, atm I'm looking at totsbots, Bumgenius, Fuzzibunz, I guess I'll do the German popolini too Yeah, I'll definitely wash them a few times. But also I think if you use new liners (obviously disposable liners are new anyway!) they don't touch the business bit . Also I think there is a specific washing powder you can get for in case the baby has an upset tummy, so it's super disinfecting . And yeah, they all say to try second hands

Yeah sorry Holywood! all this WoW jabbering. And no, we play on US servers! I have thought about chilling on a German server to help me learn the language

It's not so much that he has work here, it's that he doesn't have work in NZ I don't know if it makes it easier or harder that he equally wants to be back in NZ as me :/ Yeah, we lived in Florida for 4 months last year, I definitely liked speaking english, but we also had our reservations about living there. Where abouts do you come from in the states?

Yummy, Lemon is my favourite I think I'll do Lemon curd next time... I need more lemonyness out of my lemony muffins

Oh that's such a pain that he let it slip what you were having! And I can't believe you are almost due, I can remember when we were in the TWW! together! LOL

 

[Gunnhilde]

I miss playing wow! I used to play Vanilla with XH and haven't played since DD was born. I have no time.

As a follow up to the earlier question about language at home. DD will be speaking maybe 80% English at school, but we were thinking of doing 100% Danish at home to help me and her learn it more. Does that sound kind of overly ambitious/difficult?

I don't know how I feel about used cloth diapers. I suppose they are fine. I'd really like to use cloth next time around but I'm not too sure how that will work with where we live. The washing machines in our apartment complex auto dispense environmentally friendly detergent and I wonder if it will be enough or ok to wash the diapers in? I was planning on ordering them from Amazon.de if it'll let me. It seems certain products can't be exported.

 

[SarahDiener]

That sounds good speaking Danish! If my german was better it would be something for me to consider, but I think it would end up that I wouldnt talk Also, I'm not really sure I want to speak German for the next 18years

I think using less detergent is actually better for the nappies, as they start to get a build up of it and it makes them smell. Which is weird I know, you'd think the other stuff would be what makes them smell! And I'm sure eco stuff is better than normal anyway, well for your baby's bum anyway! I know there are some services for nappies in other cities here, I think they come and take them away and wash them for you? but I'm not entirely sure, never read up on it as It wouldn't be offered here I know even having to leave the apartment and go into the basement to do the washing is a definite downer on my desire to do cloth, I think that's why it's not so popular in Germany :/

Also if your going to buy internationally from amazon.de you should also look at amazon.co.uk, there are worldwide and euro sellers there and I believe they are cheaper for nappies!

 

[Saphira]

Interesting points, Sarah. I have noticed it's fairly common for people to have their washing machines in apartment basements here. Thankfully ours is in our apartment, for the convenience of course, but also.. we have such terrible luck with neighbors. "Spy", as I call him, has nothing better to do all day but watch people come and go and is always either peaking out of his window secretly or snooping around when we're anywhere near the basement to see what's up. He very rarely says hi but he's ALWAYS nearby. We have tons of weirdos in this building.. sigh.. but way off topic! Anyway, my daughter has extremely sensitive skin. Took us months to figure out how to properly treat it. At first we thought she must have a cow's milk allergy but now I'm doubting that. She's simply allergic to EVERYTHING with a hint of perfume. We can only use a prescription cream and Dermifant Kindercreme - Weleda, Penaten, Babylove, olive oil - completely irritating for her! We tried washing her clothes with Spee Sensitiv detergent and even that made her skin break out in these red patches everywhere. So, we only use Babylove Ultrasensitive Colorwaschmittel. Highly recommended from me! It has absolutely no scent to it but for baby's skin it's the best!

What didn't you like about living in Florida? I'm a Michigander but lived in Southern California for a good 10 years too. The U.S. is great but, yeah.. I have my reservations about moving back and my husband has his fair share of concerns about moving there as well.

Hi gunnhilde! I'm not sure about your situation but I'm guessing you're a native English speaker. I'd personally find it tough speaking German to my daughter all day. In fact, I couldn't do it, I'm guilty of baby talking and goo gooing far too much, which isn't so possible for me in German. But, if you're confident in speaking Danish and enjoy it then I think it's a great idea! You daughter's attending an English speaking school in Denmark? We have our daughter on the waiting list for a bilingual kindergarten in the area. We signed her up when she was a couple weeks old because we want to ensure she gets a spot. Really hoping she'll speak English with me but I can understand almost everything in German.. as long as I don't get spoken to in certain dialects. Then they mine as well speak Chinese, I wouldn't be any better off.

 

[Saphira]

Wishing you all the best for your third little one holywoodmum! Sorry to hear you didn't get to stay team yellow. We stayed yellow the whole pregnancy with our first and made it clear before every ultrasound we don't want to know. I was scared my doctor would say he or she on accident! This time we wanted to try it the other way and got to find out at 16 weeks. We were given a 97% certainty anyway.

 

[SarahDiener]

Haha my Parents in law have someone like that, except he loves to watch and then SUE PEOPLE!!! Everyone in their group of flats has been sued for one ridiculous thing or another!

Wow, that must be so hard to deal with, the skin thing Hopefully she loses it as she gets older!

Oh people were a bit insane in Florida... Morbid obesity, horrific plastic surgery and guns! just to name a few things. I enjoyed the weather a lot though . I loved amazon !!

Not sure if we will do daycare, something to think about later, but I'll be at home unless we move out of Germany... but then having her exposed to more German would also be good :/

 

[SarahDiener]

I just bought 10 second hand Fuzzi bunz :O!! I might sell off half of them and get some others of a different brand Get a nice varied stash

Also, does anyone at all know a good maternity pad brand? Everything at DM looks like incontinence :/ I gabbed a heavy duty night one from from something for now(whats the really popular brand? (I so can't remember...I mostly bring back a bazillion of the ones I like from NZ )

 

[morri]

there is a brand that although it is classed as in shop as incontinence pad but it is actually a maternity pad. They are called Pelzys.
Also I have seen Muffins at the bakery franchise "le crobag"

 

[SarahDiener]

Awesome thanks, I'll grab some

 

[Saphira]

Wow, I feel bad for your in laws, Sarah! He must have way too much time, not to mention bitterness. :/

Yes, it's taken us over 7 months to come to somewhat of a conclusion with her skin. We were so clueless as new parents and used only oils when she was days old and minimally bathed her.. everything I'd read in parenting magazines ended up being so wrong for my daughter. When she was around a month old her skin went from being great to intense pealing, dryness and redness all over. It got so terrible her pediatrician wouldn't even give her her first set of vaccinations until it was better under control. At least she doesn't itch nearly as much now and it looks great!

Sounds like the U.S. how you've described Florida. Well, not completely but in some areas for sure. Sounds like Southern California anyway!

We're not putting our daughter in daycare either. She'll go into kindergarten at the earliest 2 1/2. That's the youngest age they accept in. But, I'm going to wait until I feel she's ready. Probably more around the age of 3 I'd imagine. If you don't plan on staying in Germany long term then I don't see it as a problem if your daughter isn't exposed to the language.

Where did you get the Fuzzi Bunz pack from? Ebay? What kind of a deal did you get? Just curious what kind of price range I should expect.

Maternity pads are used right after birth, right (sorry, I'm not familiar with the term)? I used the DM brand maxi pads for the month after birth I bled. Did the job just fine.

 

[SarahDiener]

You must be a pro now with baby skin!!

We've been to San Diego, San Francisco and LA and never found it quite so crazy but we were in Boca raton!!!

Yeah I went to creche once a week when I was 3-4 just to expose me to other children . I'd want my LO to speak german because half her family doesn't speak english!

Yeah Ebay, second hand and I payed 54 euros for 10. They're pockets and came with reusable liners as well. I've seen things go for more and for less. But like the other ladies say, I can probably sell them off for a similar price. These are small so only for the first 3 months depending on size of my baby

 

[Gunnhilde]

Yes, DD's school covers about ages 3 to 16 and the vast majority of instruction is in English by native speakers. There wasn't any waiting list as they just opened last year (as the other private school in Aarhus decided to stop doing their majority English program). I'd rather her be in a Danish public school, but frankly I find them to be not very rigorous. We might switch over to the Danish private school by us next year, as a 45 minute bike or bus ride across the city is a little ouchie.

I think any time she'll be home, OH will be home except breakfast time and she'll be going to school 40 hours a week as she does in America. I'd really like her to be American accent free, though, and the key to that is getting going in the language before about 6 or 7.

Sarah- I have this awful feeling that it'll be Danish for the rest of my life. I'm studying it about 5 or more hours a day at this point.

We could put a washing machine in the apartment, but there is really only room for that or a dishwasher - and I kind of want the dishwasher. I don't mind the shared washing machines. We also share a bike and stroller room. With how the rental system works, there isn't a lot of apartment turnover, so OH knows most of the people as he has lived there for 8 years.

I'll have to look into the uk amazon. I had originally gone for it, but it had more restrictions about what they would and would not ship to DK. I was getting so frustrated! Who can't ship a shower curtain?

Florida is not my favorite place at all. I think people are so obese because it is hard to exercise in the heat and humidity and they just sit inside and eat all day. Connecticut is not like that, so for that I am glad.

 

[morri]

The scandinavian school systems are normally highly regarded even if they aren't as rigourous.

 

[Gunnhilde]

The scandinavian school systems are normally highly regarded even if they aren't as rigourous.

That is true, but they just don't offer the options for acceleration for gifted students. OH actually suggested private school. I can see the benefits of either public or private, but I think private will be a better choice for DD.

 

[SarahDiener]

That's true, although Denmark isn't as high as say Finland But 45minutes is really lame :/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment#2009

Haha I was looking at the dishwasher spot and thinking... I could so put my washing machine there... but I think the landlord might flip out

I think there might be a button on Amazon.co.uk that selects "worldwide" or "EU" postage.

I'm not sure if anyone goes outside in Florida... everything is inside and air-conditioned

 

[Saphira]

That's true, although Denmark isn't as high as say Finland But 45minutes is really lame :/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment#2009

Haha I was looking at the dishwasher spot and thinking... I could so put my washing machine there... but I think the landlord might flip out

I think there might be a button on Amazon.co.uk that selects "worldwide" or "EU" postage.

I'm not sure if anyone goes outside in Florida... everything is inside and air-conditioned

Why wouldn't you be able to put your washing machine upstairs? If there's room I don't understand what the problem would be?

I don't want to go outside in Germany lately. I think we live on a separate island in the area we live in.. never rains, very rarely do we receive even a breeze to help cope.

 

[SarahDiener]

I think the flat might have a slight damp problem. It's totally ok with us living here, but I think the windows were not done quite right... So he wants us to avoid drying in the flat or anything. I'd imagine a washing machine would be on his list of no-nos

Is it still hot there??

 

[Saphira]

I think the flat might have a slight damp problem. It's totally ok with us living here, but I think the windows were not done quite right... So he wants us to avoid drying in the flat or anything. I'd imagine a washing machine would be on his list of no-nos

Is it still hot there??

Ah, I understand!

Unbearably hot and humid, yes. Ironically it did just start raining. A rarity!

 

[SarahDiener]

I think it's either cold here or super hot but it does rain a heck of a lot

 

[holywoodmum]

I've been looking for maternity pads too - hadn't found any, so will check out those brands in DM. I asked my mum to bring some from the UK - she said she couldn't find them, so brought night time ones instead - I forget to mention she should look in the baby aisle, not with all the other "feminine hygiene"!
DD2 just started kindergarten (a few days after she turned 2) and I'm really pleased both girls are there - not least cos I'll get a bit more time with the new arrival, but that if even if we're only here for 4 or 5 years they will take the language away with them - and DD1 will at least make it to Grundschule here before we move, so she'll need the language then! I also think I'm not cut out to be a SAHM, so I reckon in a years time I'll be looking for a job of some sort just to keep my brain busy!
It's so much cooler here now, which is lush, but other than that I've had a bit of crappy day I had my doc appt today, after a farcical morning of dashing around (missing changing bag (complete with purse, keys), trip to kindergarten to see if it's with the bugggy, trip home again when it isn't then I find it right next to where the buggy had been parked... then in to town for a mooch before doc appt, call from kindergarten to collect B who apparently wasn't well, so back there and back to town again!) A complete comedy of errors! Anyway, nothing wrong with B thankfully, so she came to docs with me, then I had to "entertain" her while I was on the CTG machine for 20 mins - then had to give my belly a good old jiggle to get a response from baby.
Doc then scanned me, and the wee bugger has gone bum down again - can't believe I got so close to 39 weeks and it's breech. I think it turned on Wed. Gutted doesn't come close. The docs is a total worry wort, started going on about section before due date, so I'm panicking cos my parents don't get here until due date and I have to go to hospital to discuss my options (so much on having decided to use the birth centre, a decision I agonsied over!).
MW was a bit more level headed, she's coming to the hospital with me so hopefully language won't get in the way. reckons there's still time turn back, and that they can't make me have a section before due date if that's what it comes to