Bumpkin

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

Agree with canadianlisa, by far the best i found was the cheapest wire one from Mothercare / Boots for arond ?15. Can put in from around 2 / 3 weeks and small babies are more than entertained by looking out at the world around them, they totally don't need to be vibrated / rocked / have toys hanging in their face all the time. Baby B loved bouncing in his for many months.

Mr B just found out can get week off mid October so am trying to find something not ridiculously expensive for a week with hopefully some sun and a 2.5 yr old. Ideally would like small family friendly hotel (not big complex, wasn't planning on putting little B in a kids club this year). Baby friendly bolt holes look fab, but once you add in food, most looking like over ?2,000 for the week which is out of our budget really at the moment. Any ideas?

My parents were v anti dummies and never used one with me & my sister, but we gave in after several weeks and it's been a godsend for getting baby B to sleep, on aeroplanes and (currently the most useful to me) as a threat of removal at bedtime in order to get him to go to sleep / get into pyjamas / clean teeth aged 2.5. My mum now says she wishes she'd used one for my sister as she sucked her finger for years and still has a swollen bent finger and had to have train tracks for very buck teeth whereas I struggle to see how a dummy would result in your teeth sticking out much if at all.

I know in an ideal world you're meant to make the baby go to sleep without any props e.g. feeding, rocking etc, but we did get a Tomy star which plays a lullaby and projects pictures of teddies onto the ceiling. Not for use in the first few weeks as too much for a real newbie, but it distracted baby B enough to get out of the room without too many tears and turns itself off after 10 mins. We still use it 2.5 years later...

I remember thinking about this as a good idea, but there is a really good toy library at one of the nurseries in West Dulwich which is ?15 per year for all loans. We used it a few times.

I don't think it's that painful when they are small. We went to Townley road and they had a toy Baby B hadn't seen before and he was so busy looking at it he didn't even notice the jab. It does swell up and leak pus for ages but again, didn't seem to bother him at all.

I second that; they always answer the phone promptly in person and appear to remember who I am (probably don't really, but it sounds good).