GinaG3

Goat milk helped my niece significantly. We tried soy with my daughter and it caused huge flare ups but through allergy testing was ruled out as an allergy. I can also highly recommend simply goats milk soap by this company - http://www.thelittlegoatsoapcompany.co.uk. 1 bar gets cut in to 4 and lasts about 5 months here. It's now the only thing we use in the bath!

I suppose I'll just have to talk to them about it for a definitive answer. I wanted to donate last time, but didn't get round to it so definitely want to this time. It says on the FAQ section of the AN website that you can delay clamping and still donate.

The leaflets are in nearly every letter you get from Kings right now, maternity wise. I'm pregnant with my second and really want to donate but also want to delay cord clamping at birth this time round. Can you do this and then still donate? I've got a feeling you cant. Has anyone done it?

I can highly recommend dermasilk products. Although its not a cream it is brilliant at reducing the signs of eczema within 1 night, we have found. You can buy the face mask for ?19.50 on their website (look it up on google) and I think that is a sound investment if your child has facial eczema that your keen not to treat with steroid or hydrocortisone creams. Try eBay too, sometime cheaper. The products are available on prescription but my GP tells me not in Southwark, unless your at consultant levels it may be explored.

I dont have personal experience either but my mum had all of us at 17, 24, 31, 33 and 41. Last 3 were all natural home births (last one in the garden!) and says none of her pregnancies were any different to the others. Even when she delivered me at 10lb 10oz!!!!! She didn't feel more tired with one more than the other and had no complications in any pregnancy. Good luck with your decision, if it feel right go for it!

Nothing beats Henry in my opinion. I've had experience of many a Dyson and Miele and wouldn't recommend any brand over Henry! My parents one is still going strong after 15 years despite hoovering a 7 bed house with accommodation that regularly needs hoovered. Thats very good going for a ?89 investment, look on Amazon for the best price.

Can you tell me why Southwark feel the need to mulch when grass cutting? I don't know whether the setting is wrong on the mowers or what but it just clumps everywhere. I understand the benefits of it but its so unsightly. Up at Lordship Lane Estate it looks lovely when the grass comes alive with daisy's. The Dulwich Common side now just looks plastered with grass cuttings and even worse when they dry out. Can this road side not be left in a meadowy state? Even for longer intervals between cutting? Please also note, on Dulwich Common grass verge outside the estate there has been a dead decomposing fox for about 2 weeks, today they have just cut the grass around it. It is by the back wall of the Harvester.

My daughter is 5 and has always been difficult with getting to sleep. She HAD to be breastfed to sleep until 2 and didn't know how to get to sleep by herself. After that for a year she had to have comfort by rubbing a mole on my chest to get to sleep. From 4 I've had to be in her bed with her every night so she feels 'safe', I spend around an hour in there every night but I'd rather that than her feel worried and anxious about sleeping. I'll admit I've never actually tried leaving her to sleep by herself, if I say I'm going to the toilet or to get a drink she will follow me or sit waiting for me to come back. Our routine is consistent on week nights and consistent with a different routine on weekends where she is less worn out. Weeknights its dinner at 6, bath every other day at 6.30 and then do what she likes until 8. At 8 we go and get in bed, read a story together, then she tells me anything that she wants to talk about for 5 minutes, after this point we put on her audio playlist on her iPad (out of sight) and I tell her there is no more time for talking and I will talk on the walk to school in the morning. We then tell each other to relax (never sleep) and she drifts off with cuddles after around 20-30 minutes. Sometimes she tries to talk and carry on with needless questions but I always tell her I want to listen to the story as its my favourite and she can ask me all the questions in the world in the morning. She sleeps in her own bed until about 2-4am before coming to get in our bed. I just figure she will grow out of it or feel more secure when there is a sibling that shares her bedroom so she knows she has someone. Its hard but it doesn't last forever. I was exactly the same as a child and remember feeling so horrible without any one there.

sweetgirl what an awful situation for you, so glad your son was found safe and well. I have no experience of the nursery so have nothing more to add other than I hope it get investigated fully, this should not happen in any circumstance. Our preschool door was always guarded by staff in mornings and afternoons, always locked, and was very secure. I dread to think of staff not noticing a child exit the premises, I cant even understand how something like this could happen! Hope you all recover from such shock soon and get the answers you deserve.

My daughter is 5 and has always been a bad sleeper. From newborn she would have only 5 minute naps, waking 7-8 times a night until around 16 months old. From then she woke 2-3 times and went to bed at any time she felt tired, usually between 10-12 then sleeping in till 9/10am. At 2 years old this carried on, I'd known bedtimes as late as 1am, even with 6am wakes and one 1 hour nap at lunchtime. When she started preschool at 3 her bedtimes went from 10-11pm waking up at 8.45am. When she started school last September I made a very big push to get her in bed as early as possible. We now go and get in at 9pm and she generally is asleep by 10pm, she then sleeps until between 12 and 3am before coming to get in our bed, then woken up for school at 7.20 to everyone I know this seems really late and people have berated me for not getting in to a bedtime routine with her but routine is not the issue, she just doesn't sleep or get tired! She's always running around, bags of energy but can be pretty grumpy. The only time I've ever known her to go to bed before 7-8 is when she is really ill, and I mean REALLY ill.

Dulwich park, I'll be pitching my tent soon as landlord is selling imminently.

Theres one on the grass verge on Dulwich Common if you want it, no-one else seems to. I cant think why.

Could well be housing association. I remember seeing the tenants moving out years ago. It wasn't board up at the beginning if I recall but must of had issues with security as they installed all the grilling and the high security door. I think there are a few housing association and hostels around that area. Shame they aren't doing anything with it, especially given so many people are desperate for housing locally.

Its been about 3 years. Its owned privately I believe, purchased in 2001. I imagine the owners have just let it fall in to disrepair for one reason or another. Its really annoying walking past it, as I would love to live in one of those house, perfect location for us. For one to just sit empty like that is really sad. Shame really, last known selling price for it was ?118,00 would be worth over triple that now!

Very strange to see this happening especially in London. I'm used to living rurally where sometimes no street lights exist. Generators always kick in quick though. It's happened 3 times in last year on Dulwich Common, we are also having trouble with Estate lighting for months, although that now seems to be resolved. Lots if UK power network action around here in last few weeks. Maybe they are finally sorting it?

My daughter is 5 and still hasn't had Chickenpox. Could she of had it without me noticing? She's been around outbreaks but never caught it. She's a severe eczema sufferer so I think at some point we may not of noticed she had it. Last year she had what was diagnosed finally as scalded staph but looked like measles, but not chicken pox. At what point does it become more risky for your child to catch it? 5, 10, 15?

SEnewbie I was in exactly the same position as you with my first. She was breastfed exclusively and was not gaining weight at all her clinic appointments. I was hounded by midwives and health visitors for choosing to breastfeed over formula feed in my situation but I knew she was fine just not hitting NHS targets. I struggled for 8 long weeks before I found out about Peckham breastfeeding cafe, what an absolute god send. Without them I would of given up. Within 2 weeks I was feeding confidently, my daughter was happy, I was reassured about the lower range weight gain being normal. I ended up breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months and then continued for 2 years. I highly recommend you see the midwives, HV and support workers at Peckham cafe. It runs 10-12 (turn up before 11.30am) on a Thursday mornings. 5th floor of the library. Out the lift and to your right, along the corridor in to a suspended pod. I assure you, whatever your issues they will support you with all their dedication and passion. Best to arrive early as it is hugely popular, not just with Southwark residents! Best of luck and stay positive. xxxxx

Our daughter got in last year through a last minute application, we had failed to achieve a place at any of our 6 preferences. I couldn't be happier that she is there now. We've had some difficulty with her settling and the teachers have been brilliant with helping her and me feel comfortable. I cant fault it, only wish it was closer to our house. Our daughter has calmed down a lot after having difficulties with her behaviour at preschool and is doing really well at Bessemer, loving the work and has made a million and one friends. Its a lovely community. Best of luck with your decision.

Hi all, Just wanted to post to say try not to worry if you didn't get one of your preferences. Last year we were one of 139 families in Southwark to not get offered one of our preferences. I found the whole process grim and had no hope being between 39-60th on wait lists for schools within walking distance of us. I pestered and pestered Southwark, calling every week for our positions, this only made me more and more anxious about it all. We late applied to another school, further away but an excellent school. 1 week before my daughter broke up for summer holidays we were offered a place at the school and she started with everyone else in September. I couldn't be happier with the decision to reject the school place offered originally and opt to homeschool until another place came up. We didn't need to do this but I would of given the circumstances. My daughter has flourished, she loves her school and I love that she loves it. I just wish I hadn't worried so much and stressed myself out. I know its difficult but hold out and wait and see what happens. The lists move a lot, especially in June/July I found. Good luck to you all. xxx

We didn't get in to Horniman last year at 399m and didn't get in to Fairlawn at 700m odd. After all this, we ended up at a school that wasn't originally on our list and are really happy about it. Its much further for us to travel but the school outweighs the travel distance over and over.

I had them on LL estate this morning too. I just told him I put money in the pot when I see it. I don't give money to anyone at the door, real or fake.

sand12, please let me know how you find it please? I've got a huge marshmallowy kingsize all seasons duvet but feel really worried about it getting ruined as it cost a absolute fortune. I'm yet to have it washed but it needs it at some point.

My mother in law lives in one of these properties and has done for more than 20 years. Nothing significant ever happens around there, you will get your usual drunks shouting in the night etc but no real criminal activity. Sometimes the flight path becomes annoying when its in use over that end of East Dulwich Grove but none of this is out of ordinary for London. The neighbours on each row tend to know each other and are welcoming and friendly. I think its a really good location, and prices are good for the space also. I wouldn't hesitate to buy there and I've known the area for 7 years.

We take the bus every morning for school 176/185. We leave at 8.15am but have still had many occasions where the buses are so busy they just drive past 4 at a time. Few times we've managed to arrive at school 1 1/2 hours after leaving to catch a bus. Tuesdays and Thursdays seem to be worst.

In my experience, I would say its your usual separation anxiety too. Your child knows how you feel, smell and look and its a big security to some babies and children to have this consistently. My daughter was immensely attached to me, I absolutely loved it but it was very tiring not being able to do anything without feeling like I was upsetting her. She constantly wanted skin to skin, breastfeeding and comforting at the breast as if in newborn stage for 2 years, bath times together, being able to see me all the time, sleeping with me. It was very draining but progressively things got much better. She is now 5 and attends school full time. She loves chatting to people on the bus etc but can be a bit shy sometimes too. She is happy with her teachers (calls them best friends) but getting her in to the classroom in the morning can be a bit tricky. We've done great for the last 2 weeks with no tears or guilt of leaving her. She still has to get to sleep with me next to her in her own bed, and will then come in to our bedroom at around 1-2am (I've never done anything about this as such, it doesn't bother me much and I actually love the security too). She wont stay out overnight with grandparents but will do day time visits so I can go to appointments etc and does a day out with them on her own every weekend. We have always been extremely close and I've always practiced attachment with her, whilst also trying to show her how to be independent. Gradually moving away from her during play times, distracting her, helping her to do things by herself ie eating with cutlery. This all really changed from about 12-18 months old, when she really discovered that she could be near me but not dependant on me. When she started talking it was also a massive change as she began to understand and compromise on things. It will get better. Good luck xxxx