nancyse15

My son goes to Saturday morning classes at St Thomas's. This is such a shame. We've been going there for the last 3 years and he has built up a good rapport with the teachers there.

It's brilliant - hence long wait list.

Hi there

Sorry to hear your son has just been diagnosed with scoliosis. I also suffer from this.

As you will probably know and will have been told by the consultant, now is a crucial time to get some corrective physio/pilates as he (and his spine) is growing rapidly. Have you tried Scoliosis SOS? http://www.scoliosissos.com/

They run an intensive 4 week course tailored to each individual and the results are very impressive. I visited earlier this year and wished I had been sent there when I had first been diagnosed. Unfortunately for me, my scoliosis was too far gone and surgery was the only option.

If you are keen to pursue the pilates route, then you could try the Laban Centre in Deptford.

Best of luck!

This is an example of why we should object to the spread of these Academies. An unqualified 'teacher' is not a teacher. Astounding that this is allowed or even legal. But it is.

St Mary's Preschool in Nunhead. 9.30-1215hrs. It's great. My son is very happy there and they have helped him gain independence and confidence. Think they take from 2.5yrs onwards.

Hi Angela

It's great. My son is there - recently started and loves it. The staff are very experienced and caring and its just right for 2.5hrs a morning. Lots of siblings of children at Edmund Waller School. I am pretty sure there are places available at the moment.

Hi, yes it's standard. Check out the NCMA (National Childminder's Association)for more information.

Try and liaise with her so that you take your holidays when she is taking hers. It will be more annoying if you need to pay again for someone else to care for your child while she is away.

Love mine. They are the way forward! Cheaper, more convenient and more eco-friendly than the alternatives. Takes some time to get used to and not for the squeamish but very effective.

I'll sign, I love it there. It will be sorely missed by all of us who go every Monday morning!

I would just get it over and done with and take her in for the MMR. Both my children have had theirs with no side effects. Separate jabs might seem to be a better option, but I think they are very expensive and bothersome and in the end why put your child through the trauma of extra jabs and upset if there is no proven benefit?

The noise team are great in my experience. I've called them out numerous times and they come in a timely fashion and take the complaints seriously. They issue a verbal warning first of all, then a letter and if necessary their homes are at risk if they are in breach of their leases. Don't dismiss it as a strategy. You need to build up a file of written evidence. good luck.

why not a child minder?

I went last week and had a pretty similar experience. Only one person admitting us despite a massive queue.

One person serving coffees and a loooong wait. Work experience youths just lounging behind the till who were not allowed to even put a croissant on a plate because of 'health and safety'.

The manager was so drippy and useless and offered no apologies except apparently they hadn't realised it was an Inset day and didn't have enough staff.

It was shoddy service which is inexcusable considering the high charge for admittance and for the refreshments.

Think we should write to HQ to complain.

first mate - are you suggesting some sort of BIG SOCIETY nonsense??

I am a sahm. It's a bit rich to assume that we have nothing better to do with out time than pick up the pieces of all these cuts because we are just lounging around doing nothing.

With the apparent lack of jobs out there, we should be employing someone professional to do this critical job, not patching together some sort of amateurish scheme. We are talking about protecting some of the most vulnerable in society after all.

They are absolutely amazing but they look after ladies planning a home birth. However, mine turned out to be a hospital birth but not by design. Cannot praise them more highly. Why not reconsider a home birth? You would be in the best hands x

My absolutely lovely, amazing childminder has a spot coming up. You can pm me and I'll give you her details...

Please consider a childminder over a nursery for a baby so young. They will flourish in a home environment - one adult only to bond with and only a couple of other children.

Feel for you Reneet. My DS2 is 9 months now, but you have brought back memories of last year when I was only working pt and struggling with dropping off DS1 and generally keeping the ship sailing whilst pg. It was sooo difficult in the early stages and the last couple of months.

Would seriously consider sitting down with OH and see if the household jobs and travel to nursery could be shared a bit more equally though. If you push yourself too hard you could end up exhausted and of no use to yourself or anyone else.

I can't help but thinking we can't (as a society and as women in general)keep going in this way. The amount we all do, the high standards we put in at work and at home - surely it's not good for us or for the kids. In fact it's pretty depressing to think of the impact all this child care has on a little one. 8-6pm is such a long day... sorry I don't want anyone to feel bad about it, but I guess I do feel guilty myself a lot. There must be a better way. Any ideas??

How about a childminder? A home environment with just a handful of other children might suit a 13 month better??

I took my 9 month in there last week in just a swim nappy and he adored it. Changing rooms were a bit on the nippy side though!

I'd certainly sign a petition. It's frightening if these things start disappearing. Always the young, the old and the vulnerable who suffer. Our children need services like the One O'Clock Club. It's great and free. I sincerely hope it is just shutting for a short time but I won't hold my breath the way things are going at the moment. We should definitely protest if so...

Bread sticks are always a hit, Matzos, large rice cakes (rather than the small baby orientated ones), Oat cakes - the favourite of our family, Jacob's crackers as already mentioned...

My son was worried about monsters in the night. He has a particularly fierce looking toy dragon which breathes plastic red fire (maybe the root of the problem?!)and just before I kiss son goodnight, I pick up the toy and do my best dragon voice saying 'I will protect you all night and make sure no naughty monsters get you'. Seems silly writing it down, but my son buys it entirely and seems comforted by it.

Also we have a reward chart for staying in bed all night and not coming into mummy and daddy's bed.

Good luck.

I couldn't rate the Brierley more highly. I honestly think I had the creme de la creme of care with them! They are an amazing set of women. So kind, caring. They listen. They are experienced and skillful. They visit you at home! It was a sad day when I was signed off their books. I tell you ;-) All my friends who were lucky enough to have them, agree with me.

Can't imagine getting better care anywhere else. Portland Shcmortland!!

Some of my friends had the Lanes and they are equally positive about them.

Katie Sedgewick - she is absolutely amazing. She is also great with reflexology, particularly in pregnancy. I was recommended her and she lived up to her glowing reputation. I have lost her card, but I'm pretty sure you could google her... works from her home in ED.