nunheadmum

Was up there today but thanks to the rain, I totally missed all of this and stayed camped out in the RFH. Did see what looked like hundreds of nuns out running around Southwark bridge I think it was.....as some were definitely male, methinks if was some kind of fun run. But still a rather strange sight!!!

Not at the Forest Hill surgery but I found that the 2 year check wasn't taken very seriously at all - in fact the health visitor did it when she was visiting for my newborn.....even though my older daughter wasn't there!!! If you're happy with your child's progress, it may not be worth stressing about it too much...unless you're desperate for the books!

My local school nursery was asking us to confirm if we were still interested in a place by the end of this week or next (my daughter is 4 so would only get 1 term). So it may be worth asking at the local schools if it's still possible to put his name down....if you're quick!

'Expected 1st choice percentage' - sounds to me like most of the work has been done if they're close enough to be giving percentages when the difference is as small as one or two percent. Sorry just don't believe the excuses being given for the delay....it's all political as far as I can see.

Would be good to know what has been done. Not moving the date back to after the election would have been a welcome step. I've got a place in Lewisham - not my ideal - but I'm going to have to hold onto it till Southwark announce just in case the Southwark situation goes mad and I don't get my first choice. I feel that I'm being really unfair to those in Lewisham who may not have got into the school I'm holding onto but Southwark haven't really left me with any option due to the delay to their announcement date. It seems like Southwark are being crap but it's Lewisham who have to pay. I imagine that most of the parents around our way are in the same boat - which probably amounts to quite a few places being held simply as insurance.

I've had similar with both mine, most recently with my 21month old. I don't have any answers as to why. I think sometimes that it's just linked to little brains working at high speed and trying to deal with what they've come across in the day. I tend to do whatever gets us all back to sleep quickest and if it starts going on too long (more than 4-5 nights maybe for us, depending on how disruptive the behaviour is....we used to let it go much longer with No1), then a bit of tough love and letting them shout for a bit usually sorts it out (and we wonder why we didn't do it sooner). Sorry, I'm not as hard hearted really as that sounds but I tend to think that night terrors wouldn't happen every night consistently - if it's consistent then it feels to me like it's more likely a developmental thing that they need to learn to deal with themselves in the longer term. With those wise words I'm off to bed, hoping that no2 doesn't decide to shout (but not wake) 3-4 times a night as she's been doing the past week or so. She gets back off with no problem.....it's just dad and I who lie awake trying to work out why and worrying that next time she won't go back off....!! Any solutions on that one gratefully received.

You're not the last to notice - I didn't know it existed either. We could probably write a good guide between us to the hidden gems along the Southbank! Another gem - hubby tells me the poetry library in the RFH has a good kids section, if the kids need a bit of calming.

Telegraph Hill one o'clock is usually good. Open 9.30 to 3.30 I think and it's free. Got the swings and BIG slide next to it too. And a nice van doing decent coffee - tho the club itself does cheap ones and toast too. Usually go early morning so not sure if it gets busy later on. There are sometimes council run activity things in the area next to the club during the holidays.

Just remembered - the cafe inside the RFH at the front (river side) does a little selection of stuff for young kids - simple cheese or ham sandwiches, juice, carrot sticks, grapes, yoghurt, rice pud etc.....it's something like 5 for around 5quid but you can buy separately too. Much easier than trying to find somthing for fussy toddlers in EAT! And the adult stuff there is nice too!!

I went to Katie Sedgewick who lives in ED. http://www.kstherapy.co.uk/ I went to her place but I think she may do home visits too.

I was thinking the same but when I listened more closely, it didn't sound quite like him. It does seem to be a bit of a thing just now though, to get known names doing voices. It's sooooo irritating to hear a voice and not be able to place it!

Think the weather is meant to be nice this weekend - why not a takeaway and picnic outside (or inside RFH if weather lets you down). If you're not looking for a proper meal, there's an EAT in the courtyard behind the OXO tower which is nice and contained so the kids can run and it gets a bit of sun too. I've heard the restaurant upstairs at the RFH is nice and child friendly too in a non-Giraffe kind of way. Or the cafe at the Tate Modern.

I would say at 7 months, don't worry too much about getting it right. I think the comments above about keeping solids and milk separate are right - or only give milk after solids. He'll still be getting most of his calories from milk and it's more important that he enjoys experimenting with solids than worrying about doing it right. He'll get there in the end. If he doesn't take water and his poos are hard, maybe try a little more fruit or make his solids more liquid.

The paper booklet from Southwark did say 10th May. I thought it was moved following last year's debacle, not since this year's process started. Totally agree though that it seems to be a political move linked to the elections. I know I'll feel bad holding a Lewisham school when I know I probably won't use it but daren't release it just in case Southwark results go totally mad. But thanks to Southwark we won't really have any option!

Think there's a big difference though between giving a little cuddle and a baby / toddler who refuses to go back to sleep or won't go off unless you're standing beside them / patting / shushing etc for anything up to an hour or more! Having gone through both, the latter is the real killer. An ongoing run of that, a couple of times a night and anyone who doesn't consider controlled crying (at least!) is a saint in my book!!

Freedom Academy do performing arts classes at Goodrich on a Saturday morning - first class is 3-5yrs I think. My daughter did it last term and seemed to enjoy it - she's just turned 4 now. You get to leave them there too - which is an added bonus!

We've used Flickr which seems good and secure. I upgraded to the professional option as it allows you to put on unlimited videos (up to 90 secs) - great for keeping grandparents and the likes in the loop with young kids.

Ruth - we used Night Nannies with our LO when she was 4 months old. (She's our second and our first hadn't slept through till she was 18months which we couldn't face again.) It was no where near as bad as we thought it might be (only took 3-4 nights) and so much easier with a professional guiding you. It's not cheap but it was SO worth it and didn't take as long as we thought it would so not as expensive as we thought it would be. That said, from what you've said about co-sleeping, it sounds as though getting your son into his own cot may help a lot. Maybe sleep with some bedding in your bed for a couple of nights and then use that to make up his cot so it smells more familiar. A couple of your t-shirts or the likes in the bed or tucked under the sheet may help too. If you can get the cot next to your bed, sleeping near to it may mean you can get a hand in to reassure him if he does start to rouse. Or a cot that butts up to your bed is even better - but not so many cots do that. Having been there, I really feel for anyone struggling with a baby that doesn't sleep - they don't use sleep deprivation as a form of torture for nothing!!

I'd agree with all that's said above. They really do understand so much earlier than you'd think. I'd definitely start as you mean to go on - that way you're consistent and you don't need to worry about when they do or don't understand. I think tone of voice is useful to think of too. I definitely have a 'telling off' tone of voice which seems to work - they know they've gone far enough when they hear that. (And is now being copied by my eldest one with the youngest...so funny to hear!)

Sainsbury's has a fairly good range of basic stuff - pre-rolled white icing, food colouring, lots of bits to stick on etc. If you're not trying to meet demanding kids requirements, it may suffice. Does anyone know if you can paint food colouring onto white icing rather than getting it pre-coloured?

The Horniman and Southbank/Royal Festival Hall are our standbys for rainy weekends and think they'll be open with things on over the Easter weekend. Tate Modern too and any of the museums up town. Beckenham Spa seems to be open Good Friday at least - can't see anything about the Sunday. Not so good on things out of town as hubby hates the drive out of London! Thankfully at 4 & 21 months, it doesn't take too much to keep my two entertained.

Re the breastfeeding (if that's what you want to do) - ask them to deliver the baby onto you, or at least asap afterwards and don't accept the arguement that the surgeons / midwives / anyone else they can blame doesn't like it. They all told me, 'I would do it but the xxxx doesn't like it'. I was persistent and they did and my LO latched on in seconds. Barring a quick wipe and check a few minutes later, she stayed naked with me for at least an hour in the recovery room. The c-section itself was the best part of the experience for me - I thought the consultants / surgeons / anaesthetists / midwives were great and really willing to help negate the less attractive aspects of it. From both my experiences of the ward on Kings, I'd say be willing to stand up for yourself or get someone else to do so. Lots of others will be doing it and if you don't, it'll take them a long time to remember you're there. I was lucky to get over my c-section quickly - I was off painkillers by 10pm that night and out within 2 days. But I didn't have SPD. (And hubby does think I'm superwoman when it comes to pain - but it was only sore when I did things I shouldn't be doing anyway.) Hope it all goes well - I'm sure the tips of everyone above will help avoid the more negative aspects.

It could just be an non-specific viral rash - our little one gets them regularly after any kind of bug. But if you've any doubts at all about it I'd recommend giving Seldoc a call. The receptionists can be awkward to get past but I've always found the doctors quick to respond to little ones and happy to give general advice over the phone if you're happy with that i.e. you don't need to want an appointment to give them a call (which if your little one is asleep, you probably won't want to drag them out). Hope it's something simple!

For us, there have been so many. But my favourites (of the kids' favourites) have been... Each Peach Pear Plum - Ahlberg Dear Zoo No Bed Without Ted Giraffe's Can't Dance - Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees Any of the Alfie books / Dogger - Shirley Hughes Marvin Wants More - Joseph Theobald Hop Into Bedtime - Clara Vulliamy My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes - Eve Sutton I'm just thinking of getting some more books so will be keeping an eye on this thread!

Excellent - thanks. Just what's needed for tomorrow!