cactus

I would contact Southwark children's services duty social worker: 02075251921 and discuss your concerns. I've usually found them to be quite helpful, or as others have suggested, the NSPCC. I agree with midivydale, follow you instincts if you feel something isn't right.

I feel so sad for all of the businesses affected. The Half Moon has only fairly recently undergone a refurb, and the new dining room and menu were great. All that hard work and having to start over yet again, feel so sorry for them. Plus Barrie Westwell, who has the little magician's shop and theatre, has apparently lost items that he cannot replace. I had my son's party there a couple of years ago and his shop was such a little gem. Really hope everyone gets back on their feet as soon as possible.

Overground. You stay cool when others would get hot and bothered.

Re the uniform, children can wear white or blue polo shirts, so don't panic! Term starts on Thursday 5th September( though probably not for Reception), Tuesday & Wednesday are INSET days so I'm sure you will be able to speak to someone in the office then about the settling in arrangements. From what I remember they usually have a week of mornings, followed by a week of mornings plus lunch, but this may have changed. Hopefully someone with an info pack will pop up on here and let you know the timescale for this year.

We take the 363 from Peckham Rye when we go to Sydenham Wells, can't quite remember the stop where we jump off (Wells Park Road?), but then it's only 10 minute walk down to the park. No cafe, so a picnic essential. Myatt's Fields and Brockwell Park are great, when they're on! But both can become very busy, so Sydenham Wells is nicer for being a bit more low key.

Gumboots after school sessions currently costs ?9, they close at 6pm. Find them online - New Gumboots After school, print off the registration form and hand it in at Darrel Road asap. It's a couple of years since I've used the school breakfast club, but it used to be ?3 per session.

I think MrsDanvers was having a little joke, you know, too young for 'marital' arts.

Seathwaite Lodge in The Duddon Valley, beautiful but quiet corner of the Lake District Leeming House Hotel, near Ullswater, more pricey than a B&B, but a lovely setting. Ambleside is lovely, but a very popular destination so quite busy at times.

Thanks also to Lorraine, I've just come across this useful thread. My 8 year old has done 4 terms of keyboard lessons, but I'd like him to move onto piano, but I had no idea about what to buy so that he could practice at home, I do now!

Usually ?1, but last night no coins apart from the penny jar, so I raided his Christmas money and he got ?5!

Thank you everyone, for your supportive comments and recommendations. I'm definitely going to try another local dentist, and see if we can help him conquer his fears. Frankly I just feel a bit daft being referred to King's for a very simple procedure, which previously took less than 5 minutes to carry out. Poor boy wasn't even kicking and screaming the other day, just whimpering quietly in the chair. I do feel that with a bit of kindness and patience, he will be able to cope with the treatment.

Thank you Molly, for taking the time to reply. We live 5 minutes away from The Gardens, so I'm tempted to give your dentist a call and take a fresh approach. He sounds great, and the complete opposite of the rather harsh practitioner we encountered yesterday.

Earlier today, I took my 7 year old for his check up. He's had at least 4 previous visits without any problems, except for a filling, which didn't cause too much anxiety at the time, but which unfortunately now needs to be replaced. As soon as we approached the entrance he started to shake & cry, and this continued throughout the 15 minute wait and during the brief period in the chair. The dentist wasn't particularly empathic, and immediately referred him to King's Dental Hospital for treatment. Now this could be a positive move, but I'm also concerned that she made no attempt to reassure him and give him the option of returning on another day, and I'm concerned that she will always refuse to treat him because of his anxiety. I hope not. Anyway, has anyone had to take their child to King's for treatment because of anxiety, and if so, what was the procedure, i.e. sedation of some kind? The dentist today couldn't enlighten me at all and was fairly unhelpful. Also any tips to help with his general anxiety would be gratefully received. Thanks

Otta, I'm genuinely interested in the differences that you have noticed between Southwark & Lewisham Boroughs.

Thank you, I better get my skates on!

Re the shoe box appeal, What is your deadline for receiving the boxes at school? I've been looking at the website for lists of items needed, and I noticed a Nov 2nd deadline ... Thanks

It's important to remember that newborn babies need to feed little and often during their first few days. If you choose to breastfeed in hospital, then keep offering the breast and make sure you get help if you feel your baby is not latching on correctly. If you're back home the next day, your baby will not be guzzling lots of milk at each feed, but will more likely need to feed every couple of hours, from either bottle or breast. Exclusively breastfed babies are fine on colostrum until the mother's milk comes in on days 3-4, and it is normal for baby to lose a little bit of weight after birth. So if your baby seems healthy, has plenty of wet nappies and isn't sleeping for long periods without feeding, then perhaps mimic the natural process and begin introducing formula on day 3, I hope this makes sense.

If you have a straightforward delivery, then the chances are you will be home very quickly, either on the day or the day after birth. So generally, the colostrum you produce in the first couple of days will be enough for your baby, so it's unlikely that you would need formula in hospital, unless there are other health issues, such as those shen has described above.

I've booked a table at KaoSarn at least 3 times recently, so give them a ring 02070958922

You're quite right, my mum makes me a bottle of sloe gin each year, and it always tastes like very sweet benylin, I can't help drinking it though! Probably not a good year, if the blossom was ruined by the wind and rain in April, then very few berries this Autumn

Whilst I do have some sympathy for the OP, and young families of all backgrounds should ideally be able to access some free/low cost activities, I do believe that given the huge budget cuts our local authorities are having to absorb, it's vital that resources are directed towards the most needy. I agree wholeheartedly with LondonMix, my taxes may well be used to fund a whole host of services that I may never benefit from directly, but others will and I wouldn't have it any other way. I work in a Lambeth Children's Centre, and the parents who attend the various groups do not feel stigmatised, they are accessing a service in the midst of their own community and receiving support where it is needed. Poverty, poor housing, mental health problems and domestic violence/abuse are blighting the lives of so many families, their needs must be prioritised over stay and play sessions for Nannies.

The Zippo's horses do appear to be in good condition and therefore I would assume they are well cared for. However what bothers me, is the amount of time they spend on the road in trailers, being transported from one venue to another, and therefore they have limited freedom to be outdoors, grazing in paddocks. Then again, is this any worse than race horses, eventers, hunters, show ponies, etc being transported from one competition/meeting to another. Not sure.

Townley Road Dental Practice, very good with children.

sydneyswan, even easier, thanks for the tip.

Ruth, poor you, I can really empathise. My son was a shocking sleeper, he literally never slept through once in the first two years, and only gradually improved throughout his third year. I became obsessed with sleep/lack of it and felt quite bonkers at times! Thing is, small children aren't good at sleeping, developmentally there is so much going on, so many challenges and phases to grapple with, and I think it just takes time for some of them to cope with sleeping alone. You've mentioned separation anxiety, and it sounds like your instincts are probably right. In the end, what worked for us was to have a routine that suited us as a family, and then sticking with it no matter what other advice came our way! Also having my son outdoors as much as possible, and physically tiring him out, definitely helped. Even now that he's older, he doesn't fall asleep easily, unless he's exhausted. Have you got/read Margot Sunderland's book, the Science of Parenting? There is a useful chapter on sleeping, and it's generally a really helpful book. I have a copy you could borrow.x