Bumpkin

We have had a regular family of blackbirds in our garden for the last 3 years, always pecking for worms in the grass. Also have a family of great tits which have fledgelings at the moment and saw a couple of goldfinches earlier this week. Not a lot else though but i thought blackbirds were one of the more commom birds in East Dulwich...

Brilliant, this made me laugh so much. I'd read it before baby B came along, but found it so much funnier 3 years in!

Sorry to hear this Susyp, maybe he was so cross partly due to being embarassed about the snoring.. Mr B is alway paranoid about snoring although thankfully he only does when he's very drunk! I think once you have kids, separate beds are more common than you'd think from vague discussions with friends although maybe not everynight as a permanent basis. I'm lucky in that Mr B always volunteers for the spare bed (I can't sleep in our spare room, it's too noisy!). I think trying to get him to go to the drs is a good idea, but hard to get men to agree to this, definitely approach it when not tired and annoyed! I had a patch of sleeping really badly recently and finally got some zopiclone from the drs, only needed a couple to get my sleeping back on track, but they gave me 6 blissful hours of deep sleep and I woke really refreshed, funny side effect was that apparently I snored really loudly on them which sent Mr B scuttling to the spare bedroom again! Good luck.

I dont' think there's anything wrong with night nursing for babies when they are small (clearly!) but babies are creatures of habit and I imagine most would happily continue to wake to be fed throughout the night for way longer than they actually physically need to be. I see our job as to nudge them into developing an age appropriate pattern of sleeping / feeding which will no doubt be resisted at first. I certainly wish I'd done controlled crying earlier as it was damagine to me / partner / child to be quite so exhausted at all times and it was only talking to my parents generation that made me realise it was totally the norm then to get kids to sleep through way earlier and did the kids no damage at all, in fact they massively benefit from a better nights sleep.

Well we're now having a very peaceful morning as little B fell fast asleep in the first hymn. Just as well as we've got party this afternoon and he was up early and jumping about loads. I thought he was entranced in wedding, but then started snoring...

Have much sympathy, my now 3 yr old was a 5.30am waker for a long time. Finally got a Bunny clock on advice of friend and it totally worked! Feel so much better now I can go in and say 'great, you're awake, let's have a fun day', rather than 'no, no go away, go back to sleep'!. Did have to have one morning of angry shouting (from toddler) to get the message that he stayed in bed until bunny got up, but after that, 7am in the week and 8am at weekends, he wakes earlier, but doesn't shout for us until bunny is up, so wish I'd tried it earlier. Also, I get very little sympathy from parent's generation as the view from both sets of grandparents and other friends' parents is that there was no way on earth they were getting up at 5.30am, the kids stayed in bed until they were allowed up and there was no negotiation. Think there's a lot to be said for 70's parenting, it's not as if we're all massively damaged by it (speaking hopefully!). We're all seen as a bit too soft these days.

I definitely found Pampers the best when my son was younger and never had a problem with leaks. Did find Huggies leaked though.

My little boy started there a couple of weeks ago. He started at a different one in Jan, but really wasn't settling so I switched to Little Jungle as an opportunity came up and he massively prefers it. I really like the manager and staff, they are very keen and motivated and want to take time to get to know the parents as well as the children which is lovely as at the old place I sometimes felt a bit in the way when I went to pick him up. The food's great, they go out regularly and it's a lovely environment.

Hi Damzel, sorry didn't read your first post properly, no I just use the pampers ones for night, but they seem fairly wet and horrible after a wee. However, I wouldn't worry too much about the regressing thing. I know before you start everyone says that you must never stop and your child will get confused and never properly learn, but having gone through it, I now know loads of people that started, stopped and very successfully started again later. I was one, started July, couldn't cope, went back in nappies and then did it again in September and all was fine after the usual 2 weeks of weeing on the floor. I wouldn't stress, just wait until whatever underlying problem is sorted and you are totally ready then just start again and act like all is fine and I'm sure it will be. Good luck!

Think pull ups would prob work? They seem pretty damp and nasty after a wee, think they are meant to be next stage on.

Hi bouhbouh, sorry to hear you're having a rough time. It's not easy and although work can be a 'break' in a way it is very tiring commuting, working and then doing the whole bedtime routine thing over and over.. I went back to work when my son was 13 months and it was almost a relief for me as all my NCT mums had gone back and I found it quite hard coping with a 13 month old on my own full time. Also I had a nannyshare which made my life really easy in terms of no worry at all about my son and barely ever having to drop off or pick up. However, J's 3 now and I would love to not be working, I think as they get older you can interact so much more and you realise how fast time flies and how precious this time off with them is. The main thing is can you afford not to work? Once you have a child you realise how much less money you need. I used to look back at my mum's generation of non working mums and feel sorry for her, but sometimes now I almost wish that was the norm again. I do regret not having had more time off to cement local friendships for him; being able to have a much shorter day for him at nursery and getting to know the mums there and feel more part of the local community rather than what feels sometimes like a compromise on all fronts. Don't know if ths helps at all, but I wish you all the best in your decision.

The other thing to consider if you can afford it is a nanny share as this may not cost much more than the expensive nurseries for little ones and there are loads of people that are up for sharing in East Dulwich. Your baby can then sleep in it's own bed for naps (or at sharer's house), you are more in control of the food and it's great on the days they come to your house and you can just leave your tot in pyjamas to be fed breakfast with no stress of rushing a baby out of the house.

I've always found nanny share partners on this forum and they've all been great!

Will Goose Green school still get the funding for the improvements to classrooms and the new canteen that they were predicting to have in place for September this year?

I've got several packs spare not used of various sizes which you are welcome too if you like.

It's a slightly contentious issue in our household as Mr B read somewhere that the Nazi's considered using fluoride in the water as a method of control over the population as it's linked to a reduced questioning ability and increased docility (this may be nonsense, but he's pretty well read). My friend and I were both fed flouride pills by our parents and have no fillings now in our 30s and pretty good teeth. My friend stated she would far rather the good teeth than the questioning mind.. Mr B on the other hand has a keen mind and rubbish teeth with loads of fillings. I'm using smear of adult toothpaste on toddler B, but prob wouldn't hand out the pills these days..

We've got a very large just about to be 3 year old who shares a nanny with another 3 year old 1 day a week and they both fit fine in the Phil and Teds so I wouldn't worry too much. My boy is the same size as an average 4 year old, so you should be alright for a bit.

Hi Marike Gumboots is getting refurbished and has temporarily moved to Nunhead, due to be back in May. You're fairly unlikely to get a place in the near future there though as very long waiting list. However, they are expanding, hence the refurb so worth a try. Sure and Firm on Uplands road is very near and new, might have places. Good luck

I think the key word in James' post is 'anchor', meaning it would then attract the other chains...

I'm torn as I'd love either, BUT, only if it leaves the rest of the lane relatively unchanged. What is the likelihood that this would increase rents in the vicinity and push out the independants to be replaced by ever more chain stores?

I've suffered from very mild eczema in the past and found evening primrose oil capsules really helped (on advice from friend with worse eczema). Also, the lady that sells shea butter products on Northcross road at the weekend said it was great for eczema and had totally sorted a kid at Kings and amazed the drs. Never totally sure about these things, but worth a try maybe.

I've been wondering about growing pains; my 2yr & 10 month old quite often complains of back / leg ache, but it's obviously not a bad pain as he just mentions it in passing and is happy to carry on what he's doing (whereas all hell can break loose for a hurt finger...). Wasn't sure if they suffered at this age and if it was anything to worry about (presume not if not much fuss made..). Re the stomach ache - again a regular complaint just preceeding a poo.

Mum used to do a dish from the old Hamlyn's recipe book which was cooked sausages wrapped in a slice of processed cheese with Branston pickle inside (cocktail stick to hold together). Put these in a dish and tip a can or two of baked beans around them then lay plain crisps over the whole lot (salt free best). Then bake until warmed up / cheese goes all melty. I used to love this, but my other half was revolted at the thought (think I did it for him once, quite fancy it again now).

Thanks, have been on waiting list for 2 years now, so in with a fighting chance but you never know... just wanted to see if there was much feedback from current parents on how happy their toddlers are there. Minibus sounds good, but probably need to settle in first hmm.

Is it moving? Has been on off for ages! I'm hoping to get little on in for Jan, but just working out how to cope with getting to potential Nunhead venue and to work and do pick up without going slightly mad (Mr B probably working out of town around that time helpfully..). Also, any feedback on how good it is? Thanks