Audrey

I probably should know... But I don't. We don't have a car, but have car seats for car hire, Nanas car etc etc. It's been months since we have been in a car and I'm wondering of the baby (11mo) will still be ok in the 1st stage car seat. By that I mean the backward facing one, it's a maxi cosy, the one that clips into a buggy if that helps. I put him in it today and he seems fine. His head doesn't poke out the top (ie there is "car seat" visible above the head cushion thing). OH is concerned that in a car setting his legs will be squished and he'll yell for the next journey he does, which will be in a couple of weeks and it will be a 90 min journey. Also while I'm asking questions, any specific recommendation for a next stage seat? Thank you!

My point is that if this school is stated as categorically not a Harris then 180 signatories would likely be a breeze.

This is quite a fascinating thread. There's a shortage of secondary school places, recognised by everyone. Everyone is in support of a new school being set up (locational concerns aside). James, if you added all the support you have received, with that of the people who say "yes, but not Harris" then would you have enough support? Because if the answer is YES, and if it's also true that you have a "number of providers" in mind, then surely all you have to do is publicly promise that Harris won't be on the list of those to be engaged as provider, and then some progress is made. You have the support you need to move on to the next step, as you put it, and parents get a new school (I'm clearly simplifying the process to help make the point). James you are clearly eager to progress a new secondary, and this to me seems a simple way of making the next step to achieving that aim. The fact that you won't do this so far makes everyone feel at best like their views are being completely ignored, and at worst suspicious that you're really actually campaigning for a Harris.

Funny, I thought it was ?7 ph if the nanny was bringing own child - does the fact that it's a net rate not bring it above minimum wage? Is minimum wage gross? (Genuine question). Anyway if you go on childcare.co.uk and search on quoting rates there you'll get an idea of market rates.

AND the "we need a school any old school will do" mentality.

I was told you can call sunshine house direct.

www.pullensyards.co.uk/ se5artweekend.tumblr.com/ ETA: TBH I don't know how to do links, copy and paste, people, copy and paste....

Thanks Buggie. He isn't b'fed any more, but you're right of course, he hardly lives in a germ free environment!

I've never heard the term immunocompromised (had to look it up.....), but would a 7 mth old baby, otherwise healthy, be considered as such I the case of a live flu jab? I have to admit that I didn't do any research before bringing my 28 mth old in, probably should have done so with a small baby in the house. The nurse knows me, and I had the baby with me, so I would have expected to be made aware of this. This is purely out of interest as we're all fine, and the immunisation was weeks ago. As an aside she absolutely hated it and I think a jab might have been easier in a way.... (Maybe that's why we're all ok, maybe she didn't actually get enough of it after all the wriggling, and moaning after....)

Sounds perfect - thank you!

Hi, just wondering if anyone can give me any feedback on http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90239276/ (hopefully it links, it's the HENMES range) Am thinking of buying for a childrens room, and can't decide between blue or white. The white would match better, but can anyone tell me what the finish is like (appears a bit 'plasticky'??, but so hard to tell from the web)? From the website the blue looks better, and I could possibly get away with it under the guise of "funky", but I do want there to be a lot of sleeping going on in said room rather than a total riot of colours! Thanks!

Hello, Firstly, sorry for seeming to think everyone would want to meet at soft play - not really thinking that one through! I knew I wouldn't make dulwich park, bit too late for me as toddler sleeps at 12. Didn't make it to Tumble either..... But did leave the house. It's day 1 on my own with 2 babies, (bye bye baby moon, it's been fun.....!) so feel like ive achieved something! Next time....

Hi everybody, I've been totally rubbish at getting to meetups so far, but my little boy arrived on the 19th. I'm slowly shaking off midwives/inlaws/family etc and hope to get into some semblance of a 'normal' life soon... My toddler is home from nursery on a Tuesday so somewhere to go would be brilliant, I had thought I might try Tumble at the Alrighton Centre on Tuesday mornings, but I haven't been there and don't know what its like. Its for over 2s but she is well able to handle herself. Ideally I'd like somewhere she could be self sufficient so I can chill with the newborn! Also my mil will have her on Tuesday mornings every now and again as well (not sure how this will work/how regular it will be). Looking forward to meeting you all soon! Hope everybody is doing well.

On the feminist debate - I really think its the attitude you have, whatever choice you've made, wear it with pride. The fact that there is a choice (OK within reason, I know its not that clearcut when cost of living is factored in!) is, to me, the defining factor. Pass on to your children that anyone can do anything, how amazing for change would that be. As an aside what do people thing of quotas for women on Boards? I think it stinks in principle, and I'd HATE to be seen as the 'token bird', but tbh I'd support it for my daughters generation as I think that if it were introduced the sight of women at exec level would then be normalised.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=4632&searchterm=noodles&rdcnt=1 I'm not doing the diet, (but am interested in doing it in the future so following with interest) but a friend is, she mentioned these noodles and I just thought it was too good a tip not to pass on! Good luck everybody!

Re maternity wear - availability of long sleeves in winter would be nice. And an alternative to jersey, I know its practical, but I'm so sick of being jersey-clad! (RuthN - Verbaudet and Serephine do 'before and after' tops and dresses, and not as expensive as I thought)

I can't recommend a company but your sister should know that the car rental co is very unlikely to fit the baby/child seats for insurance reasons (or so I've been told the 4 times I've hired a car since needing such kit). The problem for us is that we don't have a car in London so haven't a clue how to fit the damnable things.... can put a little pressure on relations right at the beginning of the holiday, but thats a whole other issue.... Its something worth thinking about depending on the ages of the little ones with your sister being on her own. If anyone has experience to the contrary would love to hear!

Snowboarder - Have you thought about a house swap? Absolutely its not for everybody, but might help stretch the budget seeing as you want something good for your last out-of-school-holiday holiday. Friends swapped their place in Walthamstow for a place in Norway and had an amazing time seeing the northern lights last year, which otherwise would have been mega expensive. I don't know about the finer details but there are loads of websites on it ..... Alternatively airbnb.com is good, but may be more useful for city accommodation. We used it last year and had a great place in Amsterdam. Its reasonable as your staying in peoples places and communicating with them direct(they are most certainly NOT there at the same time...!)

Hello, Sorry I haven't been able to meet up yet, and the 12th is out as well as I'm doing a spa day before I hit 32 weeks and can't have anything indulgent! Hopefully the next one, and definitely from the 20th feb when mat leave starts. Hope everybody is doing well and had a great Christmas!

There's a walk in nhs at Victoria that does this ( not all of them do). Have used medicentres as well. They do require olive oil drops for a week prior, but I guess if your mum had a scheduled appt she knows this already.

I'm in Camberwell, so this is not directly applicable to me. I've been watching this with interest, and I've been pm'ed - probably because I have a "1-2 yr old". I was going to reply directly to the pm, but decided to make my views public. I'm open minded about free schools and academies in principle, (in truth I haven't done enough research to form a well balanced and defendable opinion) but I do have concerns about something as important as education being handed over to the private sector, and especially in the concentrations seen locally. I believe that there should be a wider 'tender' process, rather than what looks like 1 preferred provider. I think its headed toward a car crash unless their operation is rigorously monitored, and I'm not sure I trust that the resource and capability to do this is in place. What happens if the LA comes down heavy on something like school meals - do Harris threaten to pull out? 1,000's of kids out of school? How can this be a healthy situation? (And don't think some scenario like this could never happen. After all, the banks would never run out of money and need a bailout, would they? Really?) I also don't like your "there is a shortage of school places, so support this" mentality. I think education is far too important for panicked knee jerked decisions. I think the local authority should be providing OFSTED outstanding schools, they should be firing underperforming teachers, and adequately remunerating staff at performing schools. Yes its an ideal, but its also fundamental. Why isn't it happening? Everyone's bored of the old 'previous administration' line being trotted out so don't bother with that one. What is in your power now is to start planning to avoid a secondary school place calamity. If you don't want the job, stand down and let someone else take the mantle. Let it be your legacy, so in 10 years time we are not hearing "well theres no secondary school places because the previous administration didn't do anything to provide for the record number of children projected to leave primary schools.... they must have seen it coming...."

hello all, and hope your doing well. I'm hoping to make the 29th at the EDT, but depends on the outlaws visiting..... 'nuff said.

Hello, not sure whether the meet up is happening today or tonight, but out of courtesy I just wanted to let people know that I can't make this evening this time (OH is at a work thing), but hopefully next evening time one. Thanks for the replies on pillows, that mattress cover looks a bit crazy! Anyway I've stuck an extra pillow at my back and seems to be working for now. I think I need to avoid rolling onto my back, that's what seems to be making me stiff. Maybe a wedge would be a good idea as well. Hope everyone else is sleeping and feeling well!

Hello all, Yes another full time worker here too, so until Feb a daytime thing unless at the weekend won't work for me either. How about the next meet up is evening or weekend? I'm guessing everyone will be busy over Christmas, but January feels like a long time away.. (March seems like an eternity away if I'm being honest... this work/toddler/pregnancy combo is no joke!) Anyone got any really good pregnancy pillow recommendations? I have the dreamgenii one from last time, but just doesn't seem to be cutting it this time around. I'm waking now in the middle of the night needing both a drink and the loo (never sure how that works!) and can't get comfy when I get back into bed, my back is getting increasingly stiff despite lots of stretching.... and I just can't afford to lose precious sleep!

My daughter has an Irish passport (I'm Irish, her dad is from London). It's something I wanted her to have. She will grow up in London and so will identify easily with that part of her background, but I want her to to have something physical in her life that is a reminder of the other half of her lineage. I like the idea of her pootling around the world when she is older with an Irish passport, she can have both (or either) an Irish and a British passport which may give more options as you mention above, but for me it was more of a sentimental decision. I'll leave it up to her to decide later if she likes.