Thanks for the tooth brushing suggestions, all. I'll take a look in the toothbrush aiskle next time I shop, and start using a washcloth in the mean time.

Dr Tal, Thor can't get the hang of a sippy cup yet, but he's fine with a bottle and teat (like we use for his formula, but a different coloured and shaped bottle. I've been giving him the sippy cup once or twice a week, just to give it a go, but no luck so far.

Thanks all for your concern about the egg allergy. The allergic reaction wasn't nearly as scary as it might have been if we had been at home, but there we were, in the hospital, with nurses watching and monitoring every little symptom, and the antihistamine drawn up in the syringe and ready to go.

We saw the allergist - she tested for egg yolk, white, rice and pineapple, as well as soy, peanut and fish, and since he's already had wheat and dairy, she didn't need to test for those. He came up clear to everything except for the egg white and yolk, to which he had a moderate reaction. So we avoid egg, now, until 10 months, and he will be admitted to hospital again to eat muffins which are baked with egg - so an 'egg in baked goods' challenge.She reckons there is a good chance that even by then, he will have grown out of it.

I think it's great news, all together - I'm thrilled that he isn't reacting to any of the other common allergens, and egg allergy is one that they frequently grow out of, and isn't as hard to avoid (I think) as dairy or gluten. And while he's really young, he won't be getting much food except what I make from scratch at home, anyway, so it should be really easy for now.