edanna

Snsn have you tried the BBC kids' magazines such as Octonauts etc? They are really good to help with literacy and numeracy without feeling like teaching.

Hi susyp, I haven't met the mum in question but 'manipulating' sounds a bit harsh. Maybe she just wants to widen her daughter's group of friends. Maybe she wants to make friends herself. And sometimes kids don't play with each other at school but get on brilliantly when together out of school, in my experience. It sounds like you think the daughter isn't very nice, which is a different issue. I agree with the other posters that being honest - with sensitivity - is the way forward. Also, some kids behave totally differently when not on their territory - if you don't want to invite the girl to your house you could meet somewhere neutral like a park and observe how they get on. If the girl is still horrible to your daughter, which her mother will witness, then it seems fine to say you think they don't really hit it off.

Renata, I hope in these discussions that the balance of single sex vs co-ed is considered. For parents who don't want their kids in all boys/all girls schools there seems to be very little choice.

Assuming there's still enough snow tomorrow where would you recommend? Thanks

Like Katgod said, good principles, cringeworthy writing style. Worth a go I'd say. Worked for me with no 1 in the early days. Would also v much recommend Teach your child to sleep by Millpond Clinic. Although the advice covers much older children, it does have stuff about getting into good sleep habits early on, which you're still in a position to take advantage of.

Ah, EDmummy, why didn't I think of that. Glad to know it's not real. Thank you.

I hummed and haaed about whether to post this because I don't want to alarm people and because you never know with some things whether they are just a weird hoax. But there is a story going round about criminals putting out a carseat with a baby doll in it next to the road near somewhere they can hide - trees etc - to get people, mainly women, to stop their car and get out. And then they do horrible things to that person. Has anyone else seen it? I don't know if this is a real tactic but I would have fallen for it. And I think a lot of people would. So I'm mentioning it just to make people aware. Next time I'll post something happy.?

Oh, it's so hard and everything else is harder when you're sleep deprived. I'd recommend the Millpond Sleep Clinic book Teach your child to sleep. Hope it helps.

They are probably also looking to see what you have that's worth nicking - IT/audio etc and presents - so good to have all out of view (out of view of windows at the back too as I recently learnt the hard way).

While it is a good thing to be positive about breastfeeding and do as much as possible to help mothers feel comfortable breastfeeding while out and about, I think the enormous emphasis on breast is best unintentionally causes a huge burden of guilt for those mums who really want to do the best for their babies but breastfeeding doesn't work out. People have told me confidently that women can always breastfeed if they get the right support. And I had bags of it at Kings - I think you get a lot more support if you have a baby in special care - and yet it didn't work for me. When my health visitor told me I must start using formula after my baby's weight had dropped from the 92nd to 2nd centile I wept. I felt a colossal failure and hugely hugely guilty. I tried mixed feeding, expressing, even took drugs to try to increase my supply and it didn't work. I don't talk about it much because 5 years on I still find it really upsetting. Having said that, it was just formula and I wish I could have seen that at the time. A friend in my NCT group has a photo on the wall of all our babies lined up at just a few weeks old. Mine is screaming his head off and I realise now that he was probably starving, quite literally, because I was trying to breastfeed exclusively. Second time around I did try breastfeeding again but I had the cupboard full of ready to feed formula. And they are bright, healthy children with no allergies, ear infections etc. So if anyone is in the same position I would say to them: give breastfeeding a go, but if it doesn't work out please please don't beat yourself up about it

Here's the government advice: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vitamins-for-children.aspx

Dainty Sue - http://www.daintysue.com/ - she's amazing. The kids love her and so do the adults. She had people from 2 to 52 in stitches at my son's party at the weekend. I've recommended her on here before after last year's party and this year's was just as good.

Hi bemusED, our son is in Reception at Bessemer. It's a lovely school for all the reasons you state and more and was our first choice. I think there are various reasons it's not oversubscribed - many people don't know it exists because they don't pass it, it has suffered from being quite close to the very popular Dulwich Infants, historically it hasn't been very popular and has been improving rapidly (Good across the board in last Ofsted)but reputations take a while to catch up, and finally it's too far for some people. But essentially I think people don't know what they are missing. PM me if you would like more info.

Hi Amandas, they all have pluses and minuses depending on what your priorities are - proximity to your house, outside space, atmosphere, religious focus, Ofsted report. Go and see as many as you can because gut feeling counts for so much. We're very happy with Bessemer Grange - tours are Tuesday mornings.

We stayed here and it was a great location: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/VacationRentalReview-g186346-d2454854-Historic_self_catering_townhouse_in_central_York-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html#review_124481506

Hi PCM, definitely have a look at Bessemer. It's a bit out of the way so people don't always realise it's there. It's a lovely school.

It depends on which road and what end. Sundays are better. Fridays and Saturdays the worst but people do start leaving around 5.30-6 so it gets easier then.

No, sorry, only the Kings orthoptists, who I thought were brilliant. Could you ring up and find out how long it's likely to be?

Get some red lentils, containers/scoops/funnels etc and have lots of fun pouring them. They make a very satisfying sound. Naturally they go everywhere but if it's indoors I'd rather clean them up than sand or water. Thanks so much for all the tips on this thread - I learn a lot in the family room!

Hi dillydale, my son is starting at BG in September. It was our first choice even though we're not v close, though nearer than you. I think it's a lovely school though I don't really have any direct experience yet. I bet you'll really like it if you go and look round. send me a pm if you have any questions or would like to meet up.

We self catered in York recently - great flat but lots of stairs so it depends how little your little one is. PM me if you'd like more info.

Hi Dulwich Jon, maybe there are other schools nearby that have a shorter waiting list, which are off you radar? Don't know where you live though. Southwark may be able to suggest which schools are more likely to have places.

Hellosailor I'd put her to bed in nappy only at that temp. Hope things improve.

Hi Saila, if you had a long and painful birth first time then it's totally understandable that you want to try to control it this time and it's great to plan as much as you can. But the chances are your next birth will be much faster so although it will still hurt, the pain may be much more bearable if it's shortlived and you're not already exhausted after many hours/days of labour. My second was 90 mins from waters breaking - the first sign - to baby out. And we only just made it into the delivery room. I had about 3 puffs of gas and air and there was no time for anything else. I was all geared up to have an epidural but there wasn't time to even mention it. And yes it hurt but then it was over and the pain never got to an unbearable level. Hopefully you will find the same. Good luck.

I loved Bessemer when I went to look round for all the reasons others have given and so we put it first even though we're not very close. I'd love to hear from/meet current or future Bessemer parents.