Why a web site? When we first met at Ante Natal class it was quite possibly the last thing we were thinking about. After enduring sitting with a bunch of strangers (some of whom even managed to drag their partners along) for an hour or so at a time, talking about our expectations for giving birth and the first few weeks, the thought of building a website about our experiences didn't figure. Looking back, it's hard to imagine just how unprepared we were.

When we talked about a lack of sleep and reduced social life, we had no idea that translated it actually meant no sleep and no social life. We also discovered that when you have children all sorts of really funny things happen and quite a lot that are not so funny, but no-one told us about those. So when, a month or two after giving birth, we finally got dressed and started meeting other parents we learnt that it’s equally grim/hilarious for everyone.

And so it was that we found ourselves comparing notes about sleepless nights, maternity clothes, stitches, nappies, teething etc. Five of us from the classes kept in touch and dragged ourselves and the screaming midgets round to each other's houses every Wednesday to stuff our faces with copious amounts of the stodgiest cakes we could buy. When we talked, we realized that we hadn’t really known the truth about any of it beforehand. The books are by 'experts' but our kids seemed to defy most of the criteria for normality. It was then that we realised that the kids we had were normal and that no child on earth is a contented baby at the age of 3 weeks.

Two and a half years down the line, we had so many anecdotes about poo and vomit and were fielding questions from expectant friends, so we decided to set up www.dontdropthebaby.com. It's not a serious site, so please don't treat it as one. It is best viewed with a cold Stella or glass of Pinot Grigio in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other.

*Oct 2009 update* - unfortunately, for reasons best known to technical geeks, we had to take the extensive old site down and start over. We will get all the articles back up, but between school runs, nursery runs, potty training and other unpaid duties. So bear with us & be kind!

Contributors

Sam

Exasperated mother of two school age boys, one lively pre-school boy. I gave up an unpromising career as a psychiatrist in the mistaken belief that life at home would be easier. Seven years of cold coffee and walking round covered in mucus have disabused me of that idea but I can't be arsed to re-write my CV and return to gainful employment.

When my sons are in trouble or danger (which happens at least 5 times on a good day) my first response tends to be to reach for the camcorder.

Why my friends with new babies ring me for advice I'll never know...

Andrea

Slacker Mum to one son, aged seven. He did have a Timberland shirt once, but I didn't buy it.

Also the proud owner of a two year old girl. For some reason my friends think it's funny to buy lots of pink fluffy things. She has her own handbag already although I do worry that she doesn't yet have shoes in the same shade of pink.

If there was a book written about my mothering talents, it would be 'Not now Bernard' by David McKee.

And yes, I did drop my baby once. He was 7 weeks old and I fell asleep feeding him at 2am on the sofa. Unfortunately they hadn't covered this basic at Ante Natal classes. Besides, I think the genes he got from me pose far more of an risk to his intelligence than a bump on the head caused by my incompetence.