candj

The Vanish spray in the pink bottle works for most stains. Also the Oxy-Vanish powder stuff (they make one for babies) in a pot with lid is good for throwing into the general wash - the pot and label are white, I believe.

I used the Annabelle Karmel baby books to get ideas and they were great. I think the Baby and Toddler Meal Planner is the original one. I used to make all the meals (pureed fruits for brekkie, mini pureed cottage pies, fish pies, pasta dishes etc) on the weekends and freeze them in little containers and use them during the week which saved a lot of time. This forum is also great support for first time mums so tell your daughter to come here for questions. We're all friendly and relaxed. Good luck to your daughter with the pregnancy! edited to say cross posted with pickle! I started the message and got a bit distracted!

It will be really hot and the rainy season as everyone mentions. We took out two last February to Chiang Mai in the north and it was 32 degrees! I suppose if you go to the beaches it might be cooler and your hotel will be air conditioned, hopefully, but your 2 year old may not even notice the heat. Have fun!

Can also recommend Clare Byam Cook's book "What to Expect When You Are Breastfeeding." Clare was absolutely brilliant when I was breastfeeding both of mine (and having difficulty with my first) and her book is very helpful and informative. Sadly, she's not local as she is in Barnes so Anna is better off going with the above local recommendations. Good luck to Anna!

This is deja vu. I love being forty, strangely. I recently read something comparing happiness in life to a 'J' curve. The very bottom of the curve is the mid-thirties and as one gets older our happiness increases (presumably because life becomes easier, we become more confident, career is established and we become financially secure, kids grow up (move out!), etc). I think it's very true, in my opinion, and a nice way to look at life.

Absolutely dreadful! I couldn't even begin to imagine what her family are going through. Deepest sympathies to them and those who knew her. bbc news

I travelled many times when very pregnant with a note from my consultant which none of the airlines (BA) asked for. When I was 37 weeks pregnant with my first the latest I flew was going and returning from Dublin. With my second pregnancy and with a toddler (and husband too) the latest I flew was also 37 weeks to and from Rome. So both very short haul flights and again, no one asked how pregnant I was. It's much faster flying than taking Eurostar although much more pleasant and relaxing taking Eurostar and not having airport security to deal with, IMO. For a long haul flight, I didn't fly later than 34/35 weeks pregnant, but again with a doctors note which no one asked for. Just ask for assistance on the flight and at Schipol airport. They should have someone help you with your carry-on bag if they aren't able to give your pushchair back at the side of the plane. Or if you have a quinny zapp take it on board with you - we usually have to convince them that it fits in the overhead compartment, but they always have let us keep it on board even in smaller planes (Boeing 737 or Airbus 300s). Hope that helps and good luck. Edited to say, the ferry would be completely out of the question!

We use the 0-3 toothpaste for our 2 1/2 year old and the 4-6 year toothpaste for our 5 year old. I use whitening toothpaste and my husband uses regular (whatever that is). Pathetic or what? Probably doesn't matter in the end of the day as long as your children's teeth are being brushed twice a day and that they are not swallowing copious amounts of toothpaste.

We bought a double Chariot with the intent that I would jog (chuckles at thought) with the children in the park and then husband would attach it to his bicycle to tote them around to school, etc. It is the most fabulous, durable buggy when I can manage to get it out of my house which entails taking the back wheels off and folding it so that it will fit through my kitchen door and ultimately front door. As it stands, it is a lovely sculpture in our garden and a constant reminder of how we should be more diligent with how we spend our money, but thank God we have a weather proof cover (good Canadian ingenuity) which now has a lovely mossy green patina! I don't recommend these unless you really think you'll use it. My two are also 2 1/2 years apart and we looked at the P&T buggies but felt our oldest was too big for it. We basically used a buggy board with a MacLaren techno - wasn't easy at first and I needed to hold my toddlers hands to the handles while we crossed the street for fear of her jumping off at any given time and was a nightmare getting up kerbs. After a few months my eldest managed to learn to walk by herself holding the buggy and that was the solution. I also used a baby bjorn with the MacLaren when my eldest didn't want to walk which worked until my youngest got too heavy. Hope this helps - sorry for disjointed message...

What a**holes your landlords are. How can anyone just chuck someone out with a new baby. Sorry to state the obvious and not to be more helpful but have heard good things about both Daisy Lets and Property In (who we bought our home from) who also do rentals. Very best of luck to you three.

Thiomersal is the mercury-based preservative for the vaccine and adjuvant does something like enhance the immune system's response to the vaccine (I think the latter for those who might be allergic to egg whites, the medium of most jabs). PS- Don't quote me as I'm not a doctor so ask your GP if you're concerned!

I think it was last spring when we had the biggest impact of swine flu so I suspect maybe we'll have a rise in new cases then - spring being the 'wettish' months conducive for a virus. I too had been deliberating about the jabs for my two, but am booked in this week as my GP rang me last week to say they were offering it.

Yes, they all pretty much started painting 'actual' graffiti, on walls, it was cheap form of expression. My original suggestion to Mr barber was to allow graffiti artists to use the wall as a space for themselves and his blanket reply that [all] graffiti leads to crime is what I was surprised by.

Yes spot on evelknievel, the 'broken window' theory asserts that graffiti, litter and dilapidated buildings can lead to a rise in crime, based on behaviour, not graffiti alone. Anyhoo, I guess the council are taking this one article as gospel since there is no explanation behind the anti-graffiti stance just the same article being attached to the thread. I just don't like the blanket attitude that no graffiti is allowed when it is a legitimately recognised art form and perfectly acceptable. This would make Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat roll over in their graves. Have you ever heard of them Mr. Barber?

Yes, I read that thank you Mr Barber. I still don't agree about graffiti and its relation to crime, in the 21st century. We're not talking 1960s Harlem. Not to at least consider graffiti as a legitimate art form seems small-minded. It's good to hold the meeting in the Palmerston as presumably those patrons will be the most greatly affected by this new art.

Look in SE22 magazine because there were loads of classes in the baby section. Sorry I tossed mine to the recycling sharks this week otherwise I'd look for you.

Not just Switzerland, but Asia is very attractive as well. HK has a cap on tax at 17% max and no capital gains, excellent education and public transportation and the growing Chinese economy on their doorstep.... and they speak English. I'm sure Huguenot too can praise the benefits of being in Singapore. And no I'm not a banker.

I'm unclear about what France is banning - the Burka or the hijab (sp?, the head scarf) or both. I feel the burka has over time come to symbolise, at least to the west, oppression of women (ie, Afghanistan/Pakistan- where women don't have the same rights, access to education, etc) whereas the head scarf is more a way of life and I don't know why anyone would find it so offensive and go so far as to ban it. Either way, it sends a terrible message to the Muslim world and subsequently their own population and will only further marginalise this segment of their society. But then it wouldn't be the first time the French Government showed disloyalty to their own people.

I think Diddidance have classes on Tuesdays (not sure of the time). My little one just started taking the class on Wednesday mornings after she went to a birthday party where Anne Marie from diddidance was the entertainment. It was great fun. Hope that helps!

Winglessxbird, I believe the art in Trafalgar square is classified as Contemporary art, assuming you're talking about the fourth plinth. And quite a generalisation to say you hate all of modern art. Mr Barber, it was only a suggestion and as I said in my reply to your PM, the statement that graffiti leads to crime is preposterous, at best. Leave the wall blank and sort our crumbling streets and pavements first. Best, -C

Sorry only skimmed the thread so don't know if this was mentioned... Why don't the council allow the graffiti artists to use this space, this being the one place graffiti wouldn't be removed or painted over in blue unless offensive in some way, of course. It would be an ongoing exhibition and might be interesting, at least much more interesting than a bunch of coloured blocks, in my humble opinion. Edited to add that no one will ever agree on one set painting/sculpture/vegetation added to the space and graffiti would certainly be a less expensive option.

There are a few threads on this topic already so do a search (top right). Good friends of ours have their eldest in reception and love it and their daughter seems to be doing really well. Best of luck.

There is Whippersnappers in Dulwich Park on Friday mornings which my 2 1/2 year old loved. Then there is also ballet at St. Faiths in Herne Hill on Fridays, but the class is in the afternoon. This is organised through the Dulwich Ballet School. Hope this helps.

Si Mangia on Forest Hill Road. Nice staff, very child friendly and great food.

We used the towelling mattress cover as well and found it a bit more breathable than the rubber sheet kind. They are not that expensive and can be found anywhere (mothercare, john lewis, etc). I used to also use the pampers disposable bed mats for when my eldest was potty training and found them very useful. I believe they come in packs of 10 and they are wide enough that you tuck them into the sides of the bed so they stay put. I think Sainsburys have these. I think your little one is having heavier than usual night nappies because as she's potty training she is learning to hold everything and probably holds it until the night time when she falls asleep. A next size up nappy will definitely leak if it is too big for her. Hope this helps and good luck.