CFM

Looking for professional cleaning company to clean our house before it is handed over to tenants. Any recommendations? And does anyone know if that usually includes carpet clean or not?

Preferably at Kings or somewhere close. I have lingering postpartum issues after number 3 and would love to be seen by someone who will not just put me on another waiting list for physio... Thanks!

Email Jelly Belly as they have other options too. Kellie is great.

Oh no. From memory the nursery kids only do a few hours on the first few days, so don't count on a full day until into the week after! The reception is manned (?) by a lovely, helpful lady, who will no doubt be back from holidays after bank holiday weekend. You should also get an email from your class rep soon, normally there is a picnic meet up or some such before term starts. Good luck!

Check on the website, they have detailed times on that. Normally, there is phased entry for the nursery (ie they don't do a full day straight away), so you should probably call the school to check.

Naughty Little Sister books, the Happy Families series (as in Mr Creep the Crook etc) and Mr Majeika.

I had very similar issues with my third, after having no trouble with first two. In the end, I hired a Night Nannies "trouble shooter" who came for four hours over two days (to fit in two feeds each day) and totally got him onto the bottle. Brilliant. She won't do anything you wouldn't do, but is much more persistent and gives you the encouragement to continue. I still do combination feeding, but can at least be sure that if I leave the house the baby can take a bottle. One good piece of advice from the Night Nannies lady was not to bother with different types of teat - if you want them on Avent, insist on Avent. I've heard Dr Brown etc works for others, but we did get Number Three on bog-standard Avent in the end. Good luck!

Hi,

Not strictly a family issue, but wondering if anyone had experience/advice on long-term storage options in the area. We are moving away for three years or so and will be renting out our house. We have a bit of a challenging location on our hands, so will not take everything with us, only the main bits and pieces - things like bikes, barbecues, lawnmower, maybe larger bits of furniture etc will have to stay. Does anyone have advice?

Thanks

I used a dummy with my 3, but only the first was hooked (and then went cold turkey, sending the dummy to 'dummy land' at 20 months, in exchange for a present of his choice, a pink ukelele) - the trick is to use it to settle the baby/calm them down in the evening, but not to let them fall asleep with it in their mouth. Best to avoid using it in the day if you can, though it can be such a godsend for really "sucky" babies. Good luck.

(Edited to say you should TOTALLY throw money at the problem if you get stuck - best you will ever spend!)

What an awful experience. I have 3 kids and have many similar tales.... Including one where my (ASD) 3 year old was talking on the plane (yes, just talking) on a particularly stressful flight for me (alone, pregnant, 2 toddlers) and the man in front told him off very rudely 'as he needed the peace and quiet'. I looked over and he was reading the airline magazine. Charming. On the encouraging front, onvr when I was being told off by an old lady in John Lewis because the baby was 'making a racket' (he was), a passerby kindly reminded her that she too, was once a noisy baby. People forget, don't they? Good luck!

CocoC, Little Social is just opposite Pollen Street Social. Really nice - though I was very pregnant last time I went there and it was a bit of a squeeze getting into booth *embarrassing work moment*!

I would prefer Little Social to Pollen Street Social - more relaxed but great food. Otherwise really rate Chez Bruce - wonderful Michelin-starred food without going into London. Enjoy your night out!

We use Guardian alarms, and they have been good. We have a downstairs setting for overnight, and the children have learnt not to go downstairs while it is on (after setting it off once or twice). Has added benefit of keeping out of mischief in the early mornings...

Just to say that we succeeded in the end, but thanks to the help of a troubleshooting nanny from Night Nannies. After one visit, four hours, he was sorted. Completely worth it, and would REALLY recommend!

Thank you! We have space, but also a very steep garden, so will measure what would fit in the flattest part.

try Night Nannies. They have great troubleshooter nannies. Wish I had known about them earlier!

I am thinking of getting a trampoline and wondered what size most people have? We have 3 boys (youngest would be too young still) but eldest - 6 and 4 - would be bouncing together, probably. Do we need 10 ft? Thanks!

I should add the children had a great time, having been allowed to do all sorts of things plus the novelty of granny running the show!

I travel for work for long periods (2 weeks) in remote places, and have left my (then 2) young children behind with my husband and mum for backup. It is tough but necessary for work and yes, I do enjoy long haul flights like I never thought I would. Makes a difference to leave them with parent plus backup, rather than just one parent (who, erm, may not be that used to managing alone). If you leave all the practical stuff sorted (clothes, presents for any parties, food shop, pre-cooked meals you can freeze or leave in the fridge), that makes it miles easier as there are lots of small things you do that your other half probably doesn't even realise.

Baby bjorn - sturdy and big enough!

We had it and found it stained too much in the kitchen. Now have wood throughout but tiles in the kitchen bit. I find wood is fine with kids, it's the cooking stains that are a pain.

Any tips on getting a breastfed baby to consistently take a bottle? My son refuses - I have never had this problem with 2 previous babies, and am starting to panic! Won't take it when hungry, when not, formula, breastmilk... nothing seems to work.

i do. My son has Asperger's and we have been on both NHS and independent. You get good therapists in both, but I cannot compare the care we have received with our independent therapist with what we got with NHS, and the progress my son has made. It really comes down to the luxury of the time she has with my son, the detailed followups etc - all of which of course we pay for. Worth every penny.

I'm still looking for views on this, if anyone has... particularly on Mumbai. We have three young children, youngest will be only 1 when we move, so this is a bit of an adventure. I am finding choice of (or lack of choice of) schools/neighbourhoods particularly daunting.

We have used Nigel Eaton, who has done a great job. He has a website you can look at with prices.