Belle

Whippersnappers - free - at the Albrighton Centre on Dog Kennel Hill, 10-11. It's under 5s. http://www.whippersnappers.org/page20.aspx

I don't think the burden of private school fees is comparable to that of childcare if we're talking about expenses - the latter is a necessary cost for any working parent (excepting those with relatives who will do the caring for free), the former is absolutely a choice.

hah Crystal 7- Goose Green playground has a mud trap from hell at the moment, designed to torment mums like us whose kids don't wear appropriate footwear :(

Fab - thanks Apenn. Sorry about this though - but got there today and found a couple of changes at the toddler group above (it's v good by the way): 10-11.30, and now ?2. They have coffee/tea.

It seems unfair, unless I've misunderstood it, that because means-testing properly would be a massive hassle, they've instead plumped for a method which will mean e.g. a couple with a combined income of ?70k will still get benefit, but a couple with one earner of ?45k or a single parent who earns that will not receive it. I might have misread it though as trying to skim through whilst keeping an eye on my toddler!

ahhh love butterscotch angel delight, haven't had it in years though. I also end up sharing any treats I'm having with my son as it's the only way I get to eat them in peace/at all - so cupcakes, chocolate, biscuits, pain au chocolat etc.

About to try this tomorrow: Babies & Toddlers Group, St Faith's Church, Red Post Hill, Mondays 10.30-12, ?1, 6mths-3years.

We had a fairly traumatic haircut the other day, the only successful bit of which was achieved by a lolly they produced at the end. I took two and am storing the spare one up for when bribery is next needed, and next time will ask for the lolly at the start. Re chips - my son loves them and I love that he loves them (I AM Scottish). I tell myself that most of the chips round here are superior gastropub quality anyway ;-)

You'd think they'd hate to get so wet! My wee boy was soaked yesterday after trip to Sainsbury's to buy alternative wellies (some success with Thomas ones, progress...) Thanks ladies, you cheered me up. We made it through the day, am now enjoying a second glass of chilled white wine :)-D

Ooh glad I found this thread - thought I was going mad today as noticed blood spots on my son's pillow, not for the first time - but couldn't see any obvious external source! He's def teething so this makes sense. Phew.

Yep, i know really it's normal and def normal for him - think it's just the combo of it in one go when it's just me this weekend that has driven me to distraction a bit. But v good to hear other's tales - and how to deal with it too! He is starting at childminder soon and I was worrying about things like fact he won't wear wellies - so nice to know others are uncooperative too!

Have just looked up this thread for therapy after a particularly trying weekend with my toddler (and still have all of Sunday to go - my husband is working this weekend ugh). It's hard to imagine at this stage that he will ever NOT throw his food. yesterday he rolled in the mud at Goose Green for 15 minutes (I gave up stopping him in the end); threw delicious but expensive Mother Dumplings meat balls on the floor; ate playdough instead surreptitiously; wouldn't wear wellies when mud-soaked shoes were rendered unwearable so went out in rain in buggy shoe-less and raincover-less as refuses that too; woke at 11.30pm for yell (I had friends over in a desperate bid for some me-time after he was in bed), woke at 5am for the day today. The telly has been on for a shamefully long time already today. Reading this thread though has just made me feel so much better! Think it's hard to keep perspective when it's just you and an irrational toddler, and v easy to think you're somehow messing it up uniquely.

Just want to canvas opinion/experience on sandpits for the garden...I really like the look of the more fixed, wooden type (although not so keen on the bit where I have to put it together) - but they're quite expensive and thus if my little boy isn't wildly keen it's an expensive mistake. The plastic type are cheaper with built in lid etc but seem quite small? anyone have any views? My mum claims both me and my brother played in one our dad built for us come rain or shine, so am thinking it could be a good investment - my son likes any kind of messy play basically.

ps your jewellery looks beautiful!

Hi, I work in PR but more the boring corporate stuff so can't give you any practical advice I'm afraid. however, I'd say that PR has had a beneficial effect on several ED companies, so you have some good precedents. E.g. roullier white has had coverage in some national magazines and newspapers - and I know when I mentioned this to them they said their PR was v good. So might be worth asking some local business owners round here about their experiences and if they can recommend a PR? What I will say as a PR is that if done properly, it can be very good value for money. I'm sure there are plenty PR people on this forum so maybe there's someone who's more consumer-orientated who could advise you further.

I'd say spend some quality time with friends - long talks etc - as that does all get much scarcer afterwards, I always feel as though I'm not a brilliant friend nowadays as my mind is always half on my son, out of necessity really. It's fine, friends understand - but you might feel better if you've had some fun times with them beforehand.

Two of my friends have bought this - one has just had her baby, the other due any day, so I'll post back if I get any reviews from them! They'd both done tonnes of research and found lots of favourable feedback.

Yes - what Dulwichmum said. Though we didn't have the headbanging - and did on occasion have the odd ear pulling - we had loads of ear infections and once it was all sorted out, I did look back and realise 90% of our disturbed nights were probably ear-related. Having said that calpol/nurofen shd def help if it's ears, but of course you want to know what the root of the problem is anyway.

We were given (and I've subsequently done the same for other friends) a basket of muffins and fruit from the Beverley Hills Bakery - there are various different options. You can get really quick delivery from them, and I found it fantastic to have nice fresh baked goodies (and some fruit to feel healthy too) - I would say it was nice to have things to offer the visitors but we finished the lot...everyone I've sent these to has loved them too.

She referred me for some blood tests to ascertain various allergies - I checked up on the tests and all sounded pretty decent to me, they're a standard recognised by the NHS (though I could never persuade my GP to refer me for them). She also really helped me with sorting out my diet which used to be shocking. Maybe it's all common sense - but sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees. As I said, I found her very good. Not making any more claims than that - each to their own.

We gave my little boy a pillow when he was about 14/15 months I think, he was getting lots of colds etc and we thought propping up might help. He loves it - doesn't always sleep on it in the conventional way but often when we look in on him he's cuddling it, and gets v upset if he throws it over and then realises he can't get it back. With moving to a big bed, some people posted suggestions re that on a thread I started about cots versus cot beds, some good ideas there. Personally I want to keep my son contained behind bars as long as poss but can see the climbing is an issue! I have heard that the move to big bed can coincide with naps stopping so depends if you're ready for that I guess (though am sure that's just anecdotal).

KM - I saw a nutritionist at the Dulwich Therapy Rooms above Health Matters, Lyn Gordon - found her very good.

The other thing I did (similar to Candj's suggestion above) was replace one bottle/beaker with cow's milk at a time, over the course of a few weeks so he got used to the taste. But he never had a problem with it and realised that of course they taste milk in other things - e.g. cereal - so not like it's completely new.

The headache strips you get in chemists are actually really good - my husband suffers terribly from migraines and swears by them. forget what they're called - but you can get them in Lloyds. Know it's not a solution given how serious your headaches are, but might help alleviate things a bit.

It's really hard to know when phrases are offensive to some. A colleague once used the phrase 'a statement of the bleeding obvious', which I'd heard often and thought vaguely was a Monty Python reference (no idea if that's the case!). Anyway another colleague got very upset, said it was offensive and sacriligous and forced the original guy to apologise. Genuinely didn't know some people could find it offensive (still don't really know why), likewise the Irish twins phrase (ditto). Sorry to go off-topic.