Kes

Really helpful tips in here! Just wondering - did anyone find that having been to nursery made a difference to tiredness? My daughter has been doing 3 days a week 8-6 so the school day seems short in comparison but I guess it could still be more draining for them?

Can anyone who's been in this position offer any help? We have a place at a school in September for our daughter but it was quite far down our list and we're keeping our fingers crossed for an appeal/coming up on the waiting list at our second choice (we've given up on the first choice). So - how do I prepare my daughter to starting school when we're not totally sure which school it will be? Has anyone started at one school and then moved to another after a few weeks/months? Did you warn your child that this might happen? She's young in her year group, only just turned four, but very excited about the idea of school, I just wish I could get excited with her. Thanks K

I'm a bit late here but just to add, my Daughter is at Magic Mind and loves it. We didn't look at puddleducks so can't compare but when we were looking at nurseries we liked the feel of magic mind and the fact that all the staff were a bit older than some places and all parents, in most cases grandparents themselves. If my daughter ever sees any of them out in the street she runs up to hug them. I really don't know what they are supposed to be able to do at this age (she just turned 4) but she can write her name and is learning a few other words, knows most of her letters, is starting to sound out words and can count to 100, almost all of that has come from being at nursery for two or three days a week so I've been very happy with it and my younger daughter will be starting there in a few months. Definitely take a look at a few places as different things will suit different children, we liked that Magic mind was small as my daughter was quite shy and quiet when she started and we worried she'd be overlooked at a bigger nursery, although she certainly isn't quiet or shy now!

on this theme - any idea when is now the best time to do to dulwich hospital for blood tests? Non fasting so can be anytime but will be dragging baby along too so don't want to be there for hours as I have been in the past!

I had an elective at kings in November. They said they were testing a new protocol for straight forward cases in healthy mums, which would enable you to go home after 24 hours. I was desperate for as little time in hospital as possible so signed up. In the end I had some issues relating to my previous emergency cs and was in 2 nights but was glad of it as I found all movement very difficult so needed the hospital bed to help me sit up. All in all the whole process was fine. It did take quite a while to recover but nothing like the long labour and emergency cs last time Blog post about it here if you're interested: Http://www.southwarkbelle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/introducing-m.html

I managed to burst the zips on my pacapod bag, currently I have one of these: http://www.themiraclebox.co.uk/urban-baby-changing-bag.asp it has 2 large compartments I can easily take everything for toddler and baby in it. Material is a bit thin but so far I've not managed to break it! oh and I don't use the changing mat that came with it, I use one of the jojo folding mats that holds nappies and wipes, really handy

great, thanks for all the ideas! St James' Park sounds ideal.

sorry, I meant somewhere in central London (as it'll be easier for her to get to than ED) and that does the whole sandwiches scones and cakes thing.

A friend has kindly offered to treat me to afternoon tea next week, but I'll have to take my 7 month old with me. Any suggestions for somewhere suitable? Needs to be central as she's coming in from out of town and not too expensive as she's paying Thank you collective family room wisdom!

We went from 3rd to 14th at our second choice school (no hope of Ivydale which was our first choice)! There must also be people who didn't apply in time or didn't apply there originally and have now joined the list ahead of us, I can't believe that many kids moved into the area etc. and are closer than us!

Great thank you I'll give it a go then

What are my chances of getting on the no. 12 from Peckham rye at about 9.15 in the morning with a buggy? I was perhaps the only person who liked the bendy buses as there was lots of buggy space and I now try to avoid buses where possible!

Hello again, So I'm now on day 11 of the blog challenge and in the market for a guest post if anyone has something to share (doesn't need to be today)? Happy to consider anything, so long as it's not promoting something massively unscientific! http://southwarkbelle.blogspot.co.uk/

Pretty sure that the lists are still with Southwark. I had an email with our latest places from them yesterday.

Yay glad you're with us pebbles, hope you can get your blog fixed. I've got days 1 &2 up now. Day 3 I'm interpreting as not actually needing a new post (this is my way out of posting every day) http://southwarkbelle.blogspot.co.uk/

If you did decide to blog every day I selflessly volunteer to help with the extra eating!! From skimming the book it looks like you don't post every day although it is most days which is more than I do now. My plan is for a month of quite brief posts/other work on the blog to challenge myself to try some new ideas. I'd never manage daily posts long term either as the sciency ones need a fair bit of research.

Well it's June 1st tomorrow so that sounds like a good time! Anyone else? http://southwarkbelle.blogspot.co.uk/

oh good! See the post first post from Browncoffee above, the link is to an ebook which suggests a blog action each day. You're doing much better than me posting every other day!

I think I'm going to have a go at the 30 day challenge during June - anyone fancy joining me? We could link to each other, could work well as we're all local but with quite different blogs.

Thanks, by far my most read post ever! Browncoffee- can you link to your blog? I'd like to follow the 30 day challenge. Might give it a go too.

there is a creche in croyden, can't remember the minimum age, but your eldest may be ok. They have trolleys with a seat and hanging space for one of their bags and also shopping trolleys which we've managed to get our large 3 yr old into, probably worth taking a sling too if you have one though. We always try to take advantage o living nearby and being up anyway to get there as early as possible before it gets too busy. good luck!

How about Exmouth? There is a long hill down to the sea but there are hotels etc by the sea and a long flat path along the front once you're there. Not sure about galleries but if they have a car there are nice places nearby that will have them

Lovely to find some other local blogs - supergolden88 - I follow you on twitter, you make me feel very hungry!! I've had a blog for a few years, initially for the benefit of overseas family etc. Now I use it to have a good rant occasionally too. I've never put much work into building my readership so it's mostly just people who see me link to posts on facebook or twitter. That said I did get a twitter plug by Kirstie Allsopp a couple of months ago which was rather exciting! here's the blog: http://southwarkbelle.blogspot.co.uk/ and my celebrity endorsed post to save people hunting for it! http://southwarkbelle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/im-too-posh-to-push-telegraph-has-proof.html

have you been to the doctors? it could just be hormones still as you're breastfeeding but worth getting checked for thyroid problems or arthritis which can both occur post pregnancy. I ached all over for months after my first baby, turned out I had a thyroid problem, went on medication - felt brilliant! Hope you feel better soon

GinaG3 did you email the admissions address or reply to a previous email? I replied and got no response then realised it was going to a different address, I emailed the admissions email again and heard back in a couple of days.