Pickle

Full fat milk is best for children, I think a move to semi is OK from the age of 2 (although my kids still have full fat milk now). They need the fat when they're small.

The formula type milks available for 1+ really are just a marketing ploy by formula companies to keep you spending your cash with them. Cows milk from 1 is absolutely fine (and certainly my two preferred it to formula), and when given in conjunction with a healthy varied diet your little one will still be getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs. P x

Snowboarder, my 3.5 year old is still in his converted cotbed, with room to grow.

Definitely pros and cons no matter what the age gap is. In my case we have a small gap of just under 17 months, however our intended gap was 2 to 3 years. As my son wasn't walking when my baby arrived (he didn't walk until he was 21 months) in some ways it was like having twins - two sets of nappies, two children needing carried everywhere etc. That said, I didn't find it too bad - for me the hardest period was the six months or so when the baby was 6 months old and needing more than just milk and my son was launching himself into the terrible twos (which admittedly weren't too bad, but still a challenge with a baby demanding attention too). These days I love the fact I have 2 so close together, they spend the best part of the day playing games together and are best friends. Even when they go to creche a couple of mornings a week they spend a lot of time playing with each other. We can do activities that both children enjoy, they like the same books etc. I'm from a family with large gaps (10 years from oldest to youngest - I have a brother 4 years younger and a sister 10 years younger), completely planned in that my Mum had time to spend with each of us in our baby months while others were at school which is lovely to be able to do. However she had the benefit of having me when she was 23, so had the luxury of time. I do remember vividly people's reaction to her being pregnant with #3, lots of raised eyebrows and comments about how tough it would be given her age (33!).

I have just under 17 months gap between my two and it's brilliant, especially at the age they are now (just over 2 and 3.5) - they play together, we can go to groups and they're both interested, and they are developing a really close relationship which is lovely to see. My gap wasn't planned to be quite so small, but has turned out to be the best thing that ever could have happened.

Sorry I missed this, was away on holiday for a few days. Next time!

I got one 2nd time round and wish I had one for my first child - super comfy to feed in, and we still use it now for bed time stories and cuddles. Well worth the money, I picked mine up 2nd hand on the forum for ?50 which was a bargain!

In my early years learning a musical instrument I used to get banished outside to practise by my parents. Our local icecream truck played "Greensleeves" which was one of the first pieces I learnt to play. I thought it was hilarious to play it and watch the boys from next door rush outside with their money to get icecream only to look confused when they couldn't see the truck anywhere. Cruel, but at least they recognised what I was playing! I tell my 3.5 year old that the music playing means the icecream has run out :)

We've had brief phases of this with both children, at around the same age. In both instances it lasted around a week, maybe two. Both times when it became obvious that there was nothing wrong we simply adopted the strict approach - they were still in cots, so we would just go in, lie them down and leave (and repeat and repeat and repeat!). Maybe we were lucky, but the phase passed and we went back to our usual easy to bed routine. We've always stuck with a 7pm bedtime no matter what happens. I know how you feel about the post bedtime period, certainly the best part of the day for me these days :)

Hi Amanda, What age group does this cater for? Can we bring older children, or is it for babies?

I have also been bitten while rolling in the mud doing BMF... one night I caught the little blighters in action - two of them, and quite big, so I think they are horse flies. They got me on my calf, my leg ended up swollen and sore right down to my ankle and up to the knee. I've tried using standard bug sprays but they don't seem deterred by it, might try the Avon recommendation.

Me too Molly - there's a real need for it in the area but no obvious location (or money, in my case!)

Aaaah, I can relax then! Hpsaucey, you make sure you keep your nasty spiders in Nunhead. I will contact our local councillor to see what can be done about a spider-proof perimeter fence ASAP!

I wish I was immune... then I'd be much better at dealing with the "Mummy Mummy, come and LOOOOOOOOOOOK at what we found" cries from the kids when they proudly show me the 8 legged monsters they find. Horrible horrible things (the spiders too).

Belle, I'd forgotten about the asleep part. I arrived in time for my appointment with a blissfully sleeping baby, however 4 hours later was an entirely different story. Complete nightmare (and I then ended up in the middle of rush hour trying to get home again).

This is a thread I wish I'd never read :-S

Neither of mine got their hearing checked while we were in hospital (despite being in for 2 days after the birth of #1), so I traipsed up to London Bridge with #1 when he was about 8 weeks old like a dutiful first time Mum. Once there had a 4 hour wait, finally got the test done. The woman doing it said "you do realise this test does nothing more than determine whether he can hear or not? Seems like a bit of a waste of time for you to have come here when you already know the answer to that"! Needless to say I didn't waste my time 2nd time round. If it was a more scientific test than simply yes/no to whether they can hear I would, but within a couple of weeks it's obvious whether a baby can hear or not. P x

We've just been blackberry picking at the Camberwell cemetary on Forest Hill Road, got a few small berries but the bushes have been pretty well picked over already so not much left.

I go out for early morning runs and have noticed they seem a lot lower at the moment than they usually are (feel like I could almost wave at the passengers!). It usually goes in phases, so hopefully in a few days they'll change the approach route and we'll get a bit of relief.

Oh goodness, thankfully they've never questioned what's inside my 3.5 year old's beloved "Barney" (which used to be a dog, but is now just a bit stinky mess of brown fur) - I think the smell would put them off investigating him anyway :-$

Ooooh, lovely! I'd go for all-out indulgence and go for a day at the Sanctuary. Mr Pickle treated me last year for my birthday and it was absolutely brilliant, I sat reading my book, sipping a glass of champagne with my feet up and relaxed more than I have for years. I have another voucher to use (he sensed it was a success so I got the same this year!) and can't wait to use it. P x

When M was working towards dropping her morning sleep (much earlier - she was down to one nap a day before she was 1, whereas C continued with 3 naps a day until 18 months) we did exactly as proposed by randomv. If we had an activity to go to at 9.30am I would just get us organised and out the door about 30 mins earlier and go for a walk, 9 times out of 10 she'd fall asleep and have a short nap prior to arriving which did seem to make a huge ability to her then managing to get through the morning without any major meltdowns and successfully eating lunch before naptime. In the earlier days I then left the groups a bit early to get home for an early lunch, but gradually was able to drag it out a bit longer. P x

We took cartons of ready made Aptimal (and later when the kids were older the "growing up" milk) on flights with no problem. Generally they'll let you through with them, or if all else fails you can buy the cartons at Boots once you're through in departures. Personally I wouldn't use the hot water on the plane to make up bottles - rather take bottles of mineral water to mix it and get them to warm it for you (if you go the powder route rather than ready mixed). In all our travels to NZ we've found that they make big exceptions for baby foods in general. One trip I took my own tubs of frozen baby food with me and they were fine. We've also taken jars (although once again these are available in departures and most airlines will supply it if necessary). Have fun!

If you run round the road inside the park it's about a mile, so go round 1.5 times.

Beckenham spa also has a nice soft play, takes about 15 mins to drive there from East Dulwich.