srisky

Just to feedback following all your useful advice... ...we went to the Baby care place in Petts Wood and, as others have said, they were very helpful. We ended up buying the BeSafe iZi Isofix seat (the Britax 2 way elite was not avialable so not sure how it would compare). BeSafe only goes up to 18kg (approx. 4y) but with baby #2 on the way it will probably get used again almost as soon as our daughter grows out of it. We also found that for us the transfer from one car to another was easier with this particular model (e.g. grandparents' car, which doesn't have the isofix). We were initially pondering getting a second for the grandparents' car (as mentioned in one of my earlier posts) but decided they wouldn't be using it often enough to make it worthwhile. Our daughter seems happy in it but good to know that it can also be turned to forwad facing if needed. Hopefully, she will remain rear facing for some time, especially once baby #2 arrives and she has some rear facing company! Thanks for the advice!

SarahG Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You could also give him his own brush to hold > while you brush, then he can use his brush to have > a go when you've finished? This works well for us, in fact our daughter refuses to brush her teeth unless she is holding a tootbhrush (her old one) in one hand and a tube of toothpaste in the other....

Maybe one of the nursery staff will want to earn a bit of extra cash and be able to do this for you? We are in a slightly different but not too dissimilar situation - needing only a couple of hours in the evening 3 days/wk for nursery pick/feed/bath etc until we get home. We have someone from a local nursery who does this for us with the occassional morning help, too.

I had a similar query recently... http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,967011,967011#msg-967011 Let me know if you find one that's good!

What a great thread! Unfortunately, people do have bad experiences and it's important to learn from them. However, positive feedback can do wonders to reinforce good practice (sometimes the staff may not realise that they have had any significant impact) and can boost morale.

I can't advise much other than we have found the Christian in the computer shop on Pellat Rd (Netquest Consulting) to be very good and reasonably priced.

Thanks, Belle, more reviews the better!

Brilliant, thank you! Just the sort of advice I was after :)

We have used the BJCM since my daughter was born and have been very happy with it. Baby #2 is due in March by which time #1 will be 2y 2months-ish and we would ideally like to use a combination of buggy, buggy board and sling for the 2 of them. I would like to avoid a double buggy (tandem or single width) as the logistics of getting in and out of our place will be awkward. Can anyone recommend a buggy board that worked well for them with this particular buggy? There are quite mixed reviews out there, so it's pretty confusing! Oh, and the board must fit with buggy seat fully reclined for the newborn. Thanks in advance!

There is one on Walworth Road (E&C end, unless it's moved) 159 - 167 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RY Tel: 020 3049 8630 open until 6pm The Camberwell one mentioned by kirstymac1 is open until 7.30pm: Camberwell Building 100 Denmark Hill SE5 9RS Tel: 020 3299 5000 This is the link to the site for the info if anyone else has a similar predicament: http://www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk/sexualhealth

I know nothing about how much and when trees should be pruned but purely from an aesthetic perspective it's going to be a real shame that Barry rd is going straight from summer to winter with no autumnal hues lining the street this year...

Living in a box - Living in a box

oimissus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > we had this problem last year and gave up on them. > Looked a lovely nursery but that kind of thing is > important. Same here...

Thanks bluesuperted and nappy lady - reassuring info. I'm not tall so hopefully will be fine and hubby will prob be happy to be a bit squashed for the greater good. We don't plan on taking the car seat out once installed but may need to get a second for the grandparents' car and use that for the second baby once they are bigger.

You - R.E.M.

I've used the city mini since birth without the carry cot i.e forward facing from the outset. You can still see your baby via the windows in the hood and the mesh at the back so you will be able to keep an eye on them. I found my daughter always fell asleep within seconds of the buggy moving so neither of us missed out on interacting. Once she was older (6 months) she enjoyed looking around. Maybe you could see how you get on initially and if you feel you are missing out then buy the carry cot at that point? It's difficult to predict how you and your baby get on with the various systems out there!

Thanks all for your replies - very helpful indeed. Luckily (for the time being) my daughter is more than happy being rear facing, however, sods law would state that the moment we buy a new rear facing seat then she'll hate it so the option to switch it to forward facing would be great. Also very useful info re: Petts Wood, not far at all, and also that they take up so much room - we have a golf and with baby#2 hopefully on the way in March there will be very little room left in the back!

If you haven't already, consider having the nursery start date a month or so apart from your work start, as trying to do both simultaneously is stressful and your daughter may pick up on that. I started work a month before my daughter started nursery with my husband and my mum sharing the childcare until she started nursery. This helped enormously with my anxiety aboutr returning to work and made me more relaxed about helping her into nursery when the time came. Alternatively, have her start nursery before you return to work so you can focus on her settling in so you'll be much more relaxed and better focused on work. I know either option is not necessarily feasible financially or practically. Good luck! ETA: my daughter hated strangers (still does really) and would always need and hour so to warm to grandparents even though she saw them every week but managed to settle into nursery within 2 weeks so there is hope :)

Does anyone have any experience of these and able to recommend one? Our daughter's head is beginning to reach the top of her infant car seat and I would like to keep her rear facing for as long as possible. We would like a seat that will last until she is 12y (or whatever the height/weight is before they can use the adult belt alone) i.e. be rear facing, then convert to forward facing when required and finally act as a booster seat. There are various centres where you can go for advice and have the seat fitted but I would like to have a bit of knowledge first! Any advice welcome...

Thanks, Bea, and yes we did come along to the class!

No advice about how best to carry a toddler when pregnant but whatever you decide, make sure you do your pelvic floor exercises!

Do either of your children go to nursery? If so, maybe one of the nursery staff would be interested in the role. If they don't go to nursery, maybe one of your friends could recommend a childminder or nursery worker they know through their childcare arrangements. I know it's not the same as knowing them personally but may be the next best option. Good luck, I know it's very difficult to put your trust in someone for something that is so important.

and is it at the Victoria Inn? I assume it is but wanted to double check before I dragged my toddler through the wind and rain! Thanks

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000NUV3V2 Found this to be very good and very easy to install. Just don't lose the key or have a spare (ours is on the metal draining rack or extractor fan out of reach of little fingers).

No personal experience with potty training but have you tried those seats that go directly on the loo so toddlers can sit on them? Perhaps if he's seen you (and/or his dad) using the loo before he may be happier trying it? Also avoids having teach to use the loo after overcoming the potty hurdle.