Sonners

Sandy Ennis at the Dulwich Therapy Rooms is also very good.

Here are some ways to make your own: http://walkingwithdancers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/how-to-make-baby-wearing-coat.html?m=1 http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mycupcake/skoodlet-2 https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxjtDBLhmbinNDg1MTRiYjQtYzUyZC00YjQ0LThhZTEtMTUxZDY0NDZhZTUx/preview?pli=1&hl=en

Nannies who take their own children to work are often an attractive option I think because the rates tend to be a bit cheaper than a nanny who doesn't take their own child with them.

I've just started taking my daughter to Boppin Tots which was recommended to me by a friend who takes her 10 month old and 3 year old. We really enjoy it. It's on a Tuesday in the Village or Friday in Herne Hill and I think there's a sibling discount. Furthr details here: http://www.boppintots.co.uk/index.htm

Hi Klove I remember you from the Winter Babies meet ups when we were pregnant! My daughter is nearly 6 months and feeds around 6pm for bedtime, and again at 10 or 11 then 2 or 3 and then 5 or 6. Sometimes she might sleep until 7 if I'm lucky! But recently I've been getting her in with me from about 3am to try and get some more sleep. I'd like to move her into her own room but won't be doing so until she is waking less at night (or outgorws the bednest..). She goes down quite easily at night, and is starting to self-settle better during the night time wakings. We had a slightly awful time from 4 months until recently where she'd be up for an hour and half after the 2/3am feed but thankfully we seem to be past that now. My husband helps where he can - the saving grace for me has been him entertaining her for an hour from 6am most days before he gets ready for work so I can get a bit more sleep. On the weekends he will also do part of the night shift so I can go longer than 3 hours. Will your little one take a bottle of expressed milk? From talking to other at the Winter Babies meet ups, lots of the babies are still waking a fair amount although some are sleeping through (lucky buggers!). We still meet at the Bread of Life cafe on a Monday at 11am so come along if you fancy it. The sleep deprivation is horrible but I find hanging out with others in similar boats and talking about it helps!

We've just bought a Sunshine Kids Shade Maker (from Amazon). Not actually tried it out yet as it's for our holiday next week ut a friend has one on their Maclaren and says it's very good. You can use it to extend the canopy, or pull much further down for naps.

I would highly recommend the pharmacy as well! I had my daughter's photos taken there when she was 2 months and it was very quick and easy and the staff are really nice.

An alternative is Ann Dobson who will come to your house for the appointment. She was recommended to me by a friend and cut my daughter's tongue tie at 8 weeks. http://www.ann-dobson.co.uk/ Good luck!

Thanks TopTree, I looked there a few times and couldn't see anything (including about an hour ago!), but see they've now updated it.

I have been trying on and off to call Melbourne Grove doctors since Monday. On Monday and today the line just rings and rings until it disconnects. Yesterday it had an engaged signal each time I tried and disconnected. Just trying to work out if I'm being unlucky with the times I'm calling (although I have tried all times of day!) or if they have a problem with their phone lines currently. TIA for any info.

We went to a course run by Ariadna too and I would highly recommend her. If you run a search on her name you'll find others on her who also endorse her and probably a thread from Ariadna about her next course dates. I' also recommend joining the summer babies thread in the Family Room. I've made lots of new friends via the winter babies thread and meet ups!

The staff seemed very friendly but it was abit difficult to get a feel for it as it was very quiet due to it being Easter week. Nice premises and a big outdoor space. The biggest downside for me was that the front gate which should have been locked with buzzing an intercom for entry was open when we arrived and left and we were told it should be locked at all times. better hinges needed!

?4 at the pharmacy in Herne Hill. Very quick and easy.

The post-natal ward is really busy but the midwives are fantastic and give you a lot of support. One of them told me during my stay in January that the ward had been built to deal with half the number of births which they actually have to deal with! The 24 hour partner visitng policy is also amazing compared to other hospitals. King's is also one of the leading paediatric hospitals in the country I believe so definitely the place to be if there are complications. Good luck!

I agree that babies are different to children - I was in the Actress a few weeks ago and my two month old happily snoozed in her buggy from 7pm until half 10 when we left (although my husband was on hand to take her home if that hadn't been the case). It's a shame that it won't be an option any more. I was quite delighted to have a Friday night out for the first time in a while!

I am interested in views on this nursery too - I am going to look at it this afternoon for a January start...

Just thought I'd let people know that if you have a knock on the door from contractors purporting to be working on behalf of Thames Water and doing drain CCTV surveys in back gardens then they are legit in SE22 (and the lady said SE15) - I've checked with Thames Water. The contractors are MGJV. I realised that I'd been a bit stupid telling a stranger my availability for the week without checking first! Although there have been big trucks doing drain surveys on the manhole covers in my road over the last few weeks so it wasn't overly suspicious... If you want to double check for your road before giving out info on your whereabouts then you can call Thames Water on 0845 9200 888.

goldilocks Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You can however continue to claim it and then pay > the tax on it. There was some discussion about > this maintaining NI conts if you're not working. > I'm not 100% sure what the latest position on this > is but worth looking into You can avoid the complication of receiving the benefit and paying it back via a tax return by claiming and electing not to receive the money which keeps your NI being franked for a parent who stays at home. Sending off the claim form also gets an NI number issued for new babies.

Can someone explain the engagement thing to me - my midwife told me that I was 2/5th engaged last week (at 34 weeks!) - does that mean I have 3/5th to go, or does it mean I have 2/5ths to go?

Ramble I think that dates are better than pineapple. My ante-natal teacher said you'd have to eat about 10 pineapples to make any difference but a handful of dates a day was her recommendation...

I'm still following too! Last day at work tomorrow which is exciting... I'm definitely up for some maternity leave meet ups in the day after that!

Thanks for setting up the group Tess, although I think I might be being a bit thick as I can't seem to find it (can I blame baby brain before she arrives?!). I've put Winter Club 2012/13 into the search box at the top and it's not coming up - am I missing something obvious?

Stella good luck with the moxibustion! See you next time, Sonya

Oooh, yum, we love Joanna's!

Sorry I didn't make it to the last one in the end, too many factors conspiring against me on the day... The 28th sounds good and an earlier start time of 7pm would be great!