Sassy, I think the most important thing for your friend is to have support from friends and family. Having a baby at any age is hard work, but it's made so much harder if you're young and haven't got your mum's blessing or support! It's probably a terrifying time for her, and she'll need positive input and guidance to make the decision that's right for her, and not just because her boyfriend wants to have a baby.
Also, I have a question for you - as a FDC worker, how would you handle having to look after a high-needs hyper-boy like Aadi as well as the other kids you look after? If someone asked, would you be willing or able to take care of a full-on baby like my DS for a couple of afternoons a week? I am looking at taking DS to FDC, but the way he behaves ATM makes me reluctant and hesitant to inflict this mayhem on someone else who has other kids to look after as well. I need the respite, but I get the feeling DS would go onto some kind of childcare black list for his tantrums and I'd be stuck with never getting a babysitter for him ever, like Bart Simpson...

Mis_tree - hey you! Having a hard time, girl... poor Stanks really copped it with the ear infections and allergies! I have been following what's been happening with you (I lurk now and then, but don't post) and I felt so bad that you got such pathetic treatment from your old GP. It's so hard finding anyone who can do their jobs properly these days, but getting crap like that from a doctor when you're down and vulnerable is just WRONG. ggrrrrrrr.... I hope you have the time to look into some of the allergy support groups, and you get all the help you need to manage that so it's not a big deal for you or Stanky.

Us, well, it just gets better... *sigh* we've gone from having just the one tantrum between 3-5am to having 2+ hours of tantrums at 9 every morning, as well as the one at 3am, and sometimes one at midnight too, and any other time I go within sight of the cot with Aadi in my arms. I'm wasting my days trying to get him to have a day sleep in his cot, and end up walking miles with him in the pram by 10.30 because he's been screaming and kicking for over an hour and a half. I'm killing myself with trying to be consistent. It's pointless. He's slept in the pram a couple of times, but he's also continues the tantrum for an hour or so before finally crashing. I'm knackered from walking so far too. Afternoon naps I don't even try to get him in the cot. I gave up. So he's been sleeping (sometimes) on our bed again. By 7 he's exhausted and falls asleep in my arms after a feed, and it's just a matter of putting him down and shooshing him a few times and he's asleep. But only for a couple of hours maximum. He always stirs and cries, and needs resettling. The major problem is that he goes from 0-100 in a split second! He's sound asleep one moment, and up and crawling and climbing before he's even opened his eyes. Or he's screaming and slapping before he's even fully awake. Sleep school can't help that. I even tried the Polaramine today, just a small amount. It did nothing. Tomorrow I'm going to try Pain Stop. DP is uncertain about using medication, and I am too, but I have to get some rest or I'm going to crack.
So the mothercraft nurse has put me on to an unsettled babies clinic at the children's hospital, but I have to get a referral from my paed or GP, and make sure that it's marked urgent because we're going away soon, and I'm DESPERATE. Also, I'm going to get a visit from a MCHN at home now and then, just because. And I'm not going to the useless MCHN up the road from me anymore. Apparently lots of people have complained about her and end up back at the next suburb over, but they're fully booked now. I have another one to try, tho, and they're supposed to be good.
About the fontanelle/soft spot, DS had quite a large fontanelle (two actually) at birth, and it's still there. It can take around 2 years to close over completely, I think.
Right, DP is resettling Aadi now. I have to go take over... hmmmm.