Bonfire2010

We go to Tumble sessions at the Albrighton which are free play. My sons are 1 and 4 and both enjoy it. It's on Tuesdays 10am-12pm and Thursdays 2-4pm. ?2 per child.

My 1 year old no longer uses a bottle and drinks from a doidy cup when we are at home, but I am looking for a beaker for when we are out and about. Any recommendations gratefully received as there are so many on the market!

That's interesting bluegoo...hadn't really considered that as we don't use any bath products for either of my kids. Have been referred by my GP who assures me we will be seen quickly. The GPs at our practice can't agree on what is wrong. Fingers crossed we get things sorted out quickly.

Great - thanks all for info and PMs.

...for my 1 year old. Need someone local and private as have a limited timeframe due to impending move. Thanks x

We are in Camberwell and our son goes to Mother Goose on Greendale, SE5 (behind Sainsbury's). He's 4 now and has been going since he was 9 months old. He has been well looked after there and we have been happy with the care he has received. It opens at 7.30am and closes at 6.30pm.

Kuki hair on Bellenden Road. I have been getting my highlights done by Pauline (one of the owners) since they opened but have also had my hair done by the other stylists on the odd occasion and they are all good. If you do a search you will see they have a lot of recommendations on here (including from me). They have a new website www.kukihair.com

Morning groups are useless to us at the moment. My one year old wakes up early and needs a nap by 9.30am - and can generally sleep through until lunch. He also needs an hour in the afternoon at around 3.30pm (although he is fighting this more now so I think he'll drop it in the next while). My oldest (now 4) slept from 10-11am and 3-4pm each day until he was 2ish. You could set your watch by him.

We recently had a party for our 4 year old at Albrighton Community Centre. It was ?50 for 2 hours and we paid an extra ?40 to hire their soft play equipment, which they set up for us. The use of the kitchen, tables and chairs was included in the hall hire cost, as was 30 mins either side for us to decorate/tidy up. I can't find their website, but there are details on their Facebook page (they call it a Tumble party).

These people https://www.bemybear.com have come to a Christmas family day that my firm runs for the last few years. The people who organise it seem very nice and there are some choices of what to make - last year my (then) 3 year old made a footballer bear, and this year he made a turtle and they made my youngest (1 year) a puppy. I have no idea of costs etc. as it was organised through my firm, but it might give you some ideas.

Have to agree with the positive feedbacks..they were great with us when we used them to get out to Gatwick a few months back, and were very accommodating when we messed them about with timings when our flights were delayed. The driver even played our toddler some fairy stories on his phone which was a kind touch.

It's definitely 1 year plus. Got my oldest son done at the South London Travel Centre (has mixed reviews on here but we found them to be fine when we went) and am getting my youngest done in a few weeks after he turns 1. It's 2 jabs, a few weeks apart from memory.

Pretty sure there were some in Just Williams yesterday.

Thanks all. We have the exact table and chairs you are talking about SLad (bought from the forum) and agree they are great. Do like the idea of upgrading the bath toys cazbee. Ours are looking distinctly the worse for wear now! I've found a fishing game for the bath which might be OK. My older son announced this afternoon that he wants to get his brother a pirate ship toy for his birthday, which is actually really good idea as they play together with my older son's pirate toys (with me stripping them of small parts). Playmobil look like they do something for the right age group so I'll be getting that. Other than that the search continues...although thinking back to my older son's 1st birthday, I'd be as well banking the cash for him and wrapping up a few empty cardboard boxes!

My youngest son will be 1 a couple of days after Christmas and I am struggling for ideas for what to get him for his birthday and also Christmas itself. I don't want to combine presents as I want him to have something to mark each occasion, especially as I know a lot of our family are intending just get one gift, which is fair enough. The problem is that having already got an older son, we have lots of toys and clothes stored away ready for him to grow into. Every time I think of a present I remember that we already either have it, or something similar in the attic. He likes building blocks, but we already have his brothers' duplo and wooden push along bricks/walker. We have enough books to fill a library, and all the teethers you can shake a stick at. He likes music so I have bought him a little set with maracas, tambourine etc. but that's as far as I have got. I don't want to go too mad, but I want to get him a few things that are just his, and I also think that his brother should see that it's not just him that gets presents. Any ideas would be appreciated.

patt1980 - I emailed them with the same question as I have an 11 month old. I received a very sniffy email telling me that ALL children pay if they go in and not to bring a buggy as there would not be any room. I was really put off by the tone of the email (especially as I hadn't asked about buggy space, and was only making general enquiries regarding price - not demanding my child be let in free) and decided to go elsewhere. As it's our last UK Christmas we are taking the kids to London Zoo. Expensive, but the cost of the Santa visit includes zoo entry, so we'll be making a day of it.

The Victoria Inn on Bellenden Road has a playroom and a screen in the bar so you can see your kids playing, but you can't book it out so it can get fairly busy on weekends (esp. Sunday afternoons). The Florence is also nice.

Yep, that does make sense, thanks Otta. My eldest is fine with stairs so I think if we take it slowly we'll be ok. Thanks again all.

Great - many thanks both. If it's only one flight of stairs I might chance it with the buggy.

I have got to take my youngest son to The Royal London Hospital tomorrow afternoon. I'll also have my oldest (4 years) in tow. I've decided to get the overground from Denmark Hill (lift access permitting) but am wondering what the platform to street access is like at Whitechapel station. I've looked at the tfl website but it's not giving too much info away. Does anyone know what it's like? I can take a sling, but would rather take the buggy if possible as will have to take lots of snacks, drinks, toys etc. as distractions while we wait.

I'd also recommend Emete (Friddles Cakes). She made an amazing Octonauts cake for my son's birthday party. Not only did it look brilliant, it tasted lovely too. I saw some other cakes she was working on whilst I was collecting mine, and they all looked beautiful.

Yep...I'd second Frozen I'm afraid! The girls at my (4 year old) son's nursery have all become obsessed with it...

I'd second Russell on Crystal Palace Road. His practice is called Dulwich Physio and he's based above DMC. I had bad SPD during my last pregnancy and he really helped. If you have private healthcare they may cover the costs - I am with AXA PPP via work and he is/was on their list.

Horniman aren't doing the grotto this year. I was looking at Whippersnappers but was wondering if it's worth it so interested to read buggie's response.

Just come back to this thread. I am so doing the dyed philly idea! Thanks all!