nunheadmum

I would mix the formula with water, gradually increasing the amount of water, and give it in a different cup like a straw cup or sippy cup. When we did that with our LO she lost interest as the milkiness decreased, but it wasn't too major a change to cause all out terror at night. Maybe change the cup in the day first, so it's more familiar. And perhaps give the drink while doing something else like reading or singing - so gradually that becomes the focus of the time rather than the milk. It does mean that you need to consider how to replace the calcium but there are other sources. You could even keep a cup of formula during the day if your LO likes it and then you know she's getting some easy calcium - but from a sippy cup perhaps rather than a bottle.

There also seems to be another Harris School too - is it Peckham Park. Can you explain at all Renata what the link is between the two? The Primary School book seems to indicate some link but it's not totally clear. It also raises the question as to whether Harris secondaries will then give priority to kids from the Harris primaries. I know they do seem to be doing a lot of good work in bringing up the local schools but is anyone else a little wary as to the number of local schools being run by Harris? Part of me thinks, if they're performing better than before, it's all good but I can't help but worry when one player gets too active in any one market.

Rather than a naughty step, our nursery use a 'sad face' - simply a very basic sad face drawn on paper or card - and if a child is naughty, they have to sit there. It is reinforced with the message that their behaviour is making mummy/teacher sad (and possibly other kids if pushing, shoving is involved). It's more portable than a step so can work better if you're caught with another little one elsewhere in the house. It worked great with our youngest since about 2.5 years, she HATES being put on it - even if you don't leave them, taking them there can help with the message.

I'm with Belle - 'The sky is blue, the grass is green, may we have our Halloween' and a party piece to boot. A much nicer approach I think than trick or treat. But I think even up home it's dying out....probably depends how much of a community feel & trust there is nowadays. Not sure about letting my LO's out or not. It's nice for them to do something with friends but I dread a bucket full of sweets that I'll feel guilty about then trying to ration out (but guilty too if I let them binge)!

We seem to have acquired a rediculous number of dolls with all range of skills - noises, illness, feeding. The one think I have drawn a line at is pooing - I refuse to pay rediculous prices for 'baby' nappies (I know I could do something else but I just know I won't have the patience!). Of all the ones that do something, I do think Annabel is the best - it gives a bit of interaction but nothing too wild (never have managed to get it to cry real tears). But my youngest is equally happy with a cheap version that only does really basic noises but is much lighter to carry. My eldest will just as often branch off into little tiny dolls or ones with longer hair or..... Whatever you get them, it's theirs and they'll love it - or they'll ignore it but that's down to them, not the doll and they'll come back to it at some point. Yes at times they'll see someone else with another one and want that one too but that'll happen whatever you buy!

Was I going mad or did the Sarah Beanie programme last night use some of the Show Me Show Me background music? Maybe that Scottish Ale was stronger than it said...........!

I know they do rock guitar lessons at Ivydale school for kids as young as year 1. Maybe give them a call and ask for the contact details of who they use. Most of their instrument teachers are really into the approaches that work for young kids.

I know one mum who took her daughter out of SWOY reception class as she found it too strict - her daughter was coming home crying. Afraid I don't know much more than that - it was a passing conversation, so not a lot of context. I was surprised to hear that as we thought it seemed really good when we visited it. Maybe just the wrong mix of child and school (or parent and school)!

Your daughter won't be the first in this situation that the nursery has had to deal with. They will have their ways of helping the babies to adapt. You'll be amazed at what kids do at nursery that you'd NEVER be able to get them to do at home. Yes, it may be that she ends up with a slightly different routine on nursery days and it may have a knock on effect in the early days. But talk through it with her carers at nursery as she adapts and before you know it, it will have settled down. I found at the start that I always worried about what the nursery were doing differently from myself at home. I don't think we ever did things exactly the same. But my 5 year old who even now continuously wants to cuddle her comforter and suck her thumb at home, had jetisoned both habits at nursery within a few months. She'd happily go back there any day so fitting in with their ways has certainly had no ill effects.

I sooooo want to go skiing again. But suspect my 5 year old would ruin it as she's so shy and unwilling to go into strange groups, and the cold won't help. Has anyone got any recommendations for how to get over this? Do any of the chalets with nannies actually take them out in their own group? I suspect my patience would run thin quite quickly if I tried to teach them myself and it wasn't working. (Got 3 year old too - although I suspect she'd love it, without a shy big sister to copy.)

Yes, ballet at Ivydale very much still on. Lots of little girls there tonight having a great time. Teacher is Fiona Foster - the kids love her and she's great with little ones. http://fionafoster-dance.co.uk/ [email protected], 07771 691031

It just seemed strange to me that they were rather wooly about what they were collecting for - no mention of any specific campaign or area and when I said I'd rather give online, she said 'Oh well, if you google Kings it should come up' and offered no other materials. If it was legit, they probably should train their collectors better! Hope it was legit as it's the kind of cause I imagine folk might give to while they wouldn't give to other larger charities.

Just had someone at the door collecting for Kings hospital. Seemed personable but not very specific about why they were collecting. I didn't give anything as it seemed a little dodgy (and suspect online donation would be more lucrative for the trust if I did want to give). Anyone know if it's really Kings?

My mum tried to convince us that it was stupid to follow fashion (in part, to cover that she couldn't afford to change our clothes on the whim of fashion), even down to refusing to buy jeans when they came out...despite their obvious hard wearing properties. We got some choice, not remotely fashionable gems instead. Then there was the haircuts......short, curly perm because it'd be easy to look after. Had my hood up for weeks!! Used to hate too that we weren't allowed to play with all the other local kids on the 'Bing' - the old discarded piles of rubbish from the coal mine which, long abandoned, ran below. Probably more bonkers that everyone else DID let their kids play on it, but it was hard always being the one saying 'We're not allowed....'. And then there was the 'Glen', the unused wild area between us and the next area, following a rather fast flowing large stream / small river and prime space for all those activities no wants to be seen doing. We were allowed to go for picnics down there in the summer!!

Just to add that for state, DON'T rely on being reminded by any official body. As soon as your child turns 3, check out what the application dates will be and put them in your diary...if in doubt, double check each September if your child falls withing the age criteria. It's stressful enough without missing deadlines! It's a bit like immunisations.....would be good if they reminded you, but with school it's a bit more critical if you forget!! (Spot the mum with a second child, petrified she's going to do something stupid!!!)

Hang in there - they're fickle little sods!! My daughter did the same but a month or two down the line, she started to get on it and now, a couple of months later, her only complaint is that she's going too fast!! (And my complaint is that I can't keep up!)

Jo-Jo used to do adjustable belts too, that clip onto the belt hooks rather than having to be done up - good for LO's going to the loo independently. My youngest had the same problem as you and these helped. http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+2-pack-toddler-belts+B6074?tyah=y

Depending on the nature if your LO, it may be worth thinking now if any of the holiday clubs are extensions of after school or weekend clubs - that way you could maybe take them along for some shorter sessions before any long days in the hols or simply to familiarise themselves with the staff. I know my daughter would really freak if I tried to take her to something totally new - no matter how much I know she'd love it. Doing it with a friend would help too. But when they're young, doing swaps with other classmates / friends is probably as good an option. Generally I'm happy for my LO to have a friend over as it keeps her entertained better than when she's on her own - so other parents may be more willing than you'd think.

I imagine that the school nurseries will potentially take a much wider range of children if attendance is free - I'm not making any judgements but private nurseries are costly (even with their element of government grants) and therefore that limits who can send their kids there. And I suspect that school nurseries will focus on bringing the kids up to the level preferred for entry to reception - in both social and academic aspects - rather than developing any one child in their particular strengths. (Not meaning to do down the school nurseries - some are brilliant - but their resources can be more stretched than a private nursery.) Private nurseries will vary more in what they provide depending on the ethos of the nursery but they should essentially provide the same basic skills that the school nursery would provide as I believe they need to follow the same basic curriculum outline - but may implement it in different ways and may have more resources to go beyond the basic curriculum. I suspect that some private nurseries would focus more on the academic than the school ones - it really depends on their ethos. My daughter certainly did things in nursery (private) that she then repeated a year later in reception! Whether you want your child to be encouraged academically at this point really is your choice. It's one I struggle with. Ideally I think the best option is to find a nursery that tries to give opportunities if your child is that way inclined and enjoys it, but doesn't push it and first and foremost helps them to develop their social and personal skills. Depending on your child, a small nursery where they get quite close to the staff and a small group of kids may be best or a child who is already socially adept may prefer a larger set-up (like a school one) where there is a bigger group of kids and it's closer to the real school environment . Also consider the hours. School nuseries tend to be morning or afternoon only. You may feel that shorter days suit your LO better (they can get very tired) or you may need longer days if you are working. I've found larger nurseries (particularly school ones) seem more full-on for the kids so they get more tired - a smaller nursery seems gentler, but then the step up to school can be a bigger one. In the end, I think the home environment is as important in how a child does as what nursery / school they go to. So don't worry too much about getting it exactly right. Visit them and see which one 'feels' right for your child and works practically for you.....a mummy stressed from running miles for drop off / pick up isn't good. You won't wreck their future career prospects if it isn't the 'perfect' option and whichever you pick, you'll always hear others talking about their nurseries and wonder if you should have gone there!

I'm looking for work at the moment and so far I'm only going for jobs that are put up as part-time. (Have you checked out the Women Like Us website - worth a look for decent mummy friendly part-time roles.) I've found so far that most of these (where I've got an interview) are anticipating you having some kind of reason for looking part-time and usually bring it up at the interview. If they do, I try to be honest but show that if they can be flexible, I'll do my best too - getting hubby (or others) to cover odd extra days if given warning, getting in early and working from home etc. So far, I haven't got any of the roles but I don't think it was due to my childcare arrangements! In my last role I worked 8-4 which was great as I travelled out of rush hour so had far less delays. In reality I don't think I ever picked up late from nursery and was usually there by 5.30 and sometimes by 5! It felt a bit crap, always having to be the first out the office.....but that was probably as much in my head as anyone else's. I suspect it may be harder to raise in full time roles. I would second the approach of keeping it until the second interview to ask. And when you do get that job, don't be scared to ask other mums etc around you at school or nursery to be your back-up. Most would be willing to help if you do get stuck and it really helps to reduce the stress, knowing that your LO's won't be totally abandoned if your train gets stuck.

I think the playgroup at Ivydale Children's Centre used to have a speech therapist who attended certain sessions (in a very informal approach so you could just have an initial chat). May be worth giving them a call to see if they still come in.

Has anyone been yet to comment on the show? I've heard there are lots of motorbikes this time? Is it a lot and does it make it very noisy? I'm thinking of taking my two but they can be a little averse to noise and the smallest has a bit of a love/hate thing with motorbikes so, if the show is dominated by bikes, it could be a waste for us. We'd a great time last year so would otherwise be going back this time but don't want to put them off it.

Would recommend all that is said above. AND make sure you get landline numbers for everyone.....mobiles often get left downstairs / put on silent etc, etc at night.....especially if you go off unexpectedly early!!!

Another vote for the Decathlon balance bike. Good size, lighter than the Puky (worth thinking about if you walk to the park etc.....you can end up carrying them a lot in the early days!). Great value. Worth considering how long your LO is likely to use the bike for before going onto something bigger with wheels. If they're a pretty active little boy, they may move onto a proper bike fairly quickly, so it may be better to wait and invest the big money at that stage. Alternatively, there does seem to be a good second hand market in the bigger named bikes such as Puky, Likeabike etc.

You're right that there's no uniform for the nursery at Ivydale. I haven't had a child in the nursery but my eldest just finished reception there and the nursery and reception classes operate together a lot. My understanding is that there is always fruit out in the nursery and the kids can help themselves - although they keep an eye on them to make sure the kids don't gorge themselves! We were advised to take a change of clothes at the start of reception - I think they have spares if needed but the kids usually feel better in their own clothes, if available. They get to go out a lot so they will need coats, jumpers, hats, wellies, sunscreen etc as appropriate for the weather. The staff in the nursery are lovely so I'm sure they won't mind if anyone turns up in something more adventurous - I'm sure I've seen a few! If there are any issues, they're sure to deal with it....and little ones usually take it better from nursery staff than from mum, so it may be better to save yourself the battle. I would be wary of taking in any precious toys. By all means, take it along on the first day if it helps settling in and the staff will advise how they prefer to deal with it. But I usually just tell my LO's that if they take a toy, they'll need to share it with others....that usually dissuades them! That said, I did find the reception teachers good at dealing with it if things did get taken in......I'm sure nursery will be the same. Don't worry too much though about what to do or not to do. Ivydale is a pretty relaxed atmosphere. It can mean a bit of lack of info at times, which frustrates us all no end. But the early years provision is really excellent. I'm sure your daughter will love it. And the parents are generally a pretty nice bunch too!