Hi gals,

Brooke, dunno if this helps, and I'm not advocating controlled crying or anything, but perhaps leave it a little longer to go into her when she grizzles after the 10mins. Pup occasionally grizzles a little bit when I put him down, but that's all it is. If I leave him (I ALWAYS am nearby listening just in case it escalates) he usually settles. If I go in, then i have to repeat the whole settling routine again. Of course, if Maya is going to town, you would want to do something. But for me, I found that sometimes I was just going in to him too early. Other than than, I really don;t have many good suggestions.

Bel, hard one about not trusting your ILs and being a bit stuck for a child minder. I've left Pup with my mum and my MIL on seperate occasions for about 2.5 hrs at the longest. My MIL doesn;t really seem to be a baby person ewither (she is good with kids though), but Pup has never had a problem when being with her. He is all smiles or fast asleep whenever I have come back. Are you able to check in at all whilst away? (either physically or by phone). I guess that unless you think she may harm Coby then you might have to just bite the bullet. It seems to me that most mums have a better relationship with their daughters babies than the MIL does. Hard call though.....

Brooke, thanks for the feedback about Broome. I lived in Perth for about 1 year (I have family and friends over in the west) - worked for UWA - so as I have been around a lot of Perth and the south, I'd like to go north. I've really been no further north than New Norcia. But on the same token, it would be great to catch up with friends in Perth (and maybe a few of you as well??!!). I'll have to check out frequent flyer points and flights.

Kate, don;t envy you with the tiredness. Ooooh I can soooo remember it.