cashewnut

There's a proper sewing machine shop in Deptford. I'm sure they do services. http://www.sewingmachinesuk.co.uk/shop.php?app=gbu0&ns=splash

Amazingly this has actually happened a few times now. The first couple of times were accidents - I thought the baby was fast asleep - turns out not, but I've also risked it a couple of times when I was too impatient to wait around. Like AJ said I'm not sure my first had a 'drowsy' state so this is a welcome development. Now if only a walk in the pram would work as well that would really make things easier!

Interesting. It seems easier a couple of months in rather than right at the start - which is the opposite of all the advice! We managed to get firstborn child to settle herself at about 3 months but up until then she fought sleep heroically however we tried to soothe her. Number two seems to be a bit more chilled but we are having some moments where I'm not so sure. Am trying to avoid overtiredness etc but it's all v tricky when having to fit things round nursery drop offs etc. Urgh ... things will be easier in a couple of months time!

Every bit of sleep advice for newborns seems to suggest putting babies down "drowsy but awake". Conjures up images of parents drinking tea while their newborns drift happily off to sleep in their cots. Does this actually work for anyone? - seems a bit fictional to me!

There was a useful thread on this recently: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1287410

We have also just completed on our house - very exciting! but not moving down until mid-June. I'd love to meet up and will PM those others who are moving soon.

I know Lewes very well. PM me if you have questions. Also see: http://www.lewes.co.uk/forum And for an interesting insight into (some people's) local reaction to people moving down from London this thread and others like it: http://www.lewes.co.uk/Forum/Post/Definitive_Guide_to_DFL's/30584 Overall I would say it is a friendly place though!

Funny article about Ikea expedit units: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/23/ikea-killed-off-expedit-storage Don't worry though I think it is getting replaced by something almost identical.

We have the Uppababy G-lux too and I'm happy with it. Advantages are it's very lightweight (more than a maclaren I think), folds very compact, and you can stand it upright (surprisingly useful). On the other hand I think it's probably a bit less hard-wearing than a maclaren, and it can be a bit awkward to unfold. It doesn't adjust to lie completely flat, but goes to 120 degrees I think. It was cheaper than a maclaren when we bought it but not sure now.

My daughter went through something very similar from about 7 months old. For several months she wouldn't let me put her down - even for a couple of minutes to make a cup of tea - without major howls of protest. She would often scream if I walked out of the room leaving her with her dad. Strangely though she was quite adventurous when things were on her own terms - I can remember going to playgroups where she'd wander off to the other side of the room to explore, but when I left her with another mum (that she knew well) for a minute to go to the toilet she screamed her head off the whole way through. She would NEVER let me hand her to an adult that she didn't know. It was extremely draining and made that stage of babyhood much harder than it would have been otherwise. I did improve a lot when she go to about age 1 though. She can still be quite clingy sometimes and it makes childcare a bit more complicated, but as others have said it helps to think of it as a sign of attachment and part of social development. It also helps to have one or two other adults that she can become attached to if that's possible (eg family members or friends that you see regularly). She'll probably still protest if you leave her but at least you'll know she's OK when you're not there. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Try Loaf? We didn't like anything in the standard places and found 3 or 4 there that I loved. I think they have a few corner sofa models. They are mostly online but do have a showroom in North London which is worth a visit if you're not sure. http://loaf.com/products/sofas

I can't understand why they don't just check all newborns babies when they're born? Surely it would take about 10 extra seconds for the doctor to take a quick look when they do the other checks, and save enormous amounts of grief for huge numbers of people? Am I missing something?!

Does anyone know what the best local internet forum is for Penge?

I'm also moving to that area in late spring and would love to get some advice on things to do (will have a toddler and a newborn so anything that will keep the toddler occupied without too much involvement from me is good!) and also find people to meet with little ones of a similar age. I have seen at least one good thread on the Sydenham forum about activities there as well. http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=10108&sid=e5c4bfa53934246cdfa9cc007547a39c I won't be around for a while but maybe we could do a meet-up at the playground in Alexandra Rec in the summer?! I'll try to remember to bump this thread when I've moved.

If you still have a temperature and feel ill you should probably go and see a doctor as they would be able to advise you as to whether you should take antibiotics. I do remember having very tender bruise-like feeling after blocked ducts/mastitis in the past though.

Selling drugs? http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,818144,847400#msg-847400

I emailed Ganapati and they said they were hoping to open in about a month - so just before Christmas I guess. And... "As far as delivery areas go, we have sketched out initially SE15, SE17, SE11, SE14, SE4, SE23, SE22, SE21, SE24 and SW9, and see how we get on with that!"

Walked past the other day and the person working on it said he thought it was due to open next month...

"To celebrate Children's Book Week, which runs throughout the UK until Friday 11 October, the reading charity Booktrust has drawn up its "definitive list" of the 100 best books to read "before you're 14". The list falls into four age groups ? 0-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-11 years, and 12-14 years ? and 25 titles have been voted into each." http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/07/booktrust-top-100-childrens-books Makes me nostalgic, and also very excited about all the years of reading we have ahead of us (ie excuse to read children's books again). Disappointed not to see anything by Diana Wynne Jones on there. You can vote for your favourites: http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/childrens-book-week/100-best-books/

This tunnel was very popular (and for at least a year after). It's great cos it's very impressive to small people but folds away totally flat. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-Apart-23EC106-Pop-Up-Tunnel/dp/B00361F3XE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381083608&sr=8-2&keywords=tunnel Also if you don't have it this pop up toy was a firm favourite at that age and for months. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Galt-6850007-Classic-Pop-Up-Toy/dp/B00005OB9H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381083712&sr=8-1&keywords=galt+pop+up+toy

monniemae that sounds really tough. I don't have any specific advice but just wanted to say that 13 days is very very young and my experience was that things change a lot a few weeks in. The problems we had were different (more to do with daytime sleep) but things started to get noticeably easier at around 8 weeks and at around about 10-12 weeks they totally transformed. That's not to say that it will be the same for you but I think a lot of newborns are in a kind of crazy chaotic state and they do come out of that. I thought it would go on forever and would have been much more relaxed if I'd realised how quickly the really hard bit would be over.

We also stayed at Birchill Farm and had a great time! Simon was really friendly and great with little ones. The cottages were done out beautifully and what with the farm animals, play barn full of toys and outdoor play area we had a fantastic time. Only slight drawback is that it's a bit of a drive to get anywhere (half hour or so to most local attractions) but I'm guessing that's the case with lots of farms in the countryside!

One thing I would say is I think some people overestimate the environmental benefits of reusable nappies. This study by the environment agency showed that the global warming impact of using reusable nappies was often higher than for disposables. But this is highly dependent on laundry choices. For example if you always line dry the reusable nappies, use them all the way through for two children and wash nappies in a full load the impact is lower. If you you wash at 90 degrees and always tumble dry it's much worse. http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/scho0808boir-e-e.pdf (see page 31 for summary) I think it's the cheaper option though.

I've PM-ed you.

Brilliant thanks guys. Any more suggestions much appreciated. There seems to be a lot to do around there but it's difficult to tell in advance what will appeal to very small people.