Belle

I know the kind of thing you're referring to and I hate it too, but I tend to avoid it as much as poss in people. I've definitely gravitated to the mums/dads who are upfront about the difficult times. Of course everyone does have times when things are going well, so mums shouldn't feel they have to lie or pretend things are awful, but it's about how it's presented - completely agree with you.

similar experience to Pickle, and that was despite being in King's for 7 days, so traipsed up at 8 weeks or so. We didn't get one further down the line (8 mth check didn't happen) but recently had one as a routine after his grommets and all was fine. I was told at the initial hearing test that they're not always conclusive in that problems can develop over time. They also annoyingly ask you to try and make it so your baby is asleep for the test! If we could all do that on demand we'd be v happy mums/dads!

ah glad it's not just me! hope you had a nice time today Pickle!

anyone else's child waking early/often due to the roar of planes at the moment? It's quite possibly nothing to do with the planes in my son's case, but useful to have something to blame! I think it's just that around 4.30/5 kids allegedley come into a lighter phase of sleep and that's when there seem to be a lot of planes going over us. Annoyingly also during afternoon nap time!

ooh what about afternoon tea somewhere? with champagne! millsa that's such a shame re elemis, I must have been lucky, guess sometimes these places take the piss.

don't try to fit too much i - I've done that and then got stressed which defeats the point. But maybe arrange a nice lunch for yourself somewhere, and take a good book/indulgent magazine? I had a foot treatment and pedicure at the Elemis spa and it was amazing, they give you nice smoothies before and after and whole experience was lovely. more locally, Therapy is an excellent salon, have had some nice treatments there including a v v good massage. If you went for Elemis, it's in that lovely bit of Mayfair, so you could browse some of the posh shops and then pop over to Selfridges.

Distracting a tetchy toddler with Nick JR and just saw the most unbelievable ad for a toy dog which you feed water in order to make it 'pee': Pipi Max. Hilarious, especially the bit where the Pipi Max pees down a manhole onto a man with a hard hat. Check it out next time if you have Nick JR...I know you can get dolls that pee, but dogs?! Seriously?

Have you filled all the spaces for your saturday morning discussion class? Also wondering - are you still planning to do Spanish after this term?

Ruby rhymes is in Herne Hill I think - i've not been but is meant to be good. Also think little bubbles might have a herne hill branch? These are paid for ones though, so not cheap either. One o clock club in brock park def is cheap (think just donation for tea/coffee?) and I find it quite good, lots of space and good outdoors bit - plus it's next to a playground.

I think this sounds like a gd idea. Although in our case my little boy seems to have completely lost the knack/will to sleep in buggy, prob because has been largely put in the cot to nap for months.

I always thought it was 12. I guess like lots of things the judgement call (leaving aside how the state sees it) should be based on the individual child/teenager.

Elderflower - you really seem to hate this area, which is a shame if you have recently moved here. I personally love living here. This thread has made me think I must finally get round to going to an EDWI meet, as they sound great.

a cyclist has been hit - my husband just called to let me know about the traffic. I think it is very recent as when he went past the ambulance hadn't arrived yet. I really hope whoever it is isn't badly hurt.

10th good for me.

ooh - yes forgot, a lot of the time my son (born just before the jan 09 snowstorm) was swaddled in a shawl. But as Esme says - better to err towards too cool than too hot. Something else i forgot to say - don't worry too much about the toggage seeming so little compared to our duvets when you do get to grobags. I remember thinking ONLY 2.5 togs?? but of course they're much smaller and the sleeping bag design in itself is an insulator.

Yes - one o clock club is the little building and playpark bit next to the cafe on the rye, near the entrance across from Roy Brooks estate agent.

think we didn't use sleeping bag till he was 8-10 weeks, from memory, maybe later - there is a minium weight I think. So we used sheet/blanket combos at the start(look on the back of any John Lewis sleeping kit, eg blanket, and there's usually a guide for what's safe at what temperature) and think we had him in vest and long sleeved/legged sleepsuit.

Oh yes, no kids. Well certainly not my kid!

There's bumps and babes on a monday - goose green community centre, ?1.50 donation and you get tea etc, 10-12. Think that would suit him - there are toddlers but also lots of smaller babies from newborn up, and quite a few crawlers. well done him on crawling so early btw! I'm pretty sure rhyme time at the library (11-11.30, Wednesdays) is still on - maybe someone on here can confirm, I've only been once in recent months as mine just too big and unruly for it now. But great for the stage your son is at. It's free. Also Peckham Rye One o clock club is open 1-4 most days, and during the holidays it's open 10-12 Mon, Weds, Fri. Outside prob less good for him but inside there's soft mats etc for crawlers/pre walkers. Rocking horse etc.

Hi Ruth - thanks for starting this thread! Def up for this. Wondering if September would be best as people might be away at the moment? if so, I can do any Fri or Sat pretty much throughout Sept, apart from the last Sat (think that's the 28th). Will have a think about places we could go - was thinking hte other day that the little bit at the back of Green and Blue might be nice (the bit which is good for babies/kids in daytime)?

Yep - we gave our son one but he was ambivalent for ages - would go to sleep without it at around 8 months, then a spate of ear infections meant he got reliant on it. Went cold turkey at around 15 months (with helpful advice from PR darling and others on a thread I started, thanks people!) and was fine after 2 or 3 nights (and really only the first night was tough). As others say though some just give up on their own much earlier. I was anti-dummy at first but came to think: if something gives them comfort, why not give it to them?

is she the one that rachel macadams played in the guy ritchie movie?

Ah congratulations Anna! so glad to hear things went well xxx

is gambados the soft play thing? will google

Really need to get my 18 mth old out of the house after serious cabin fever set in yesterday thanks to the rain - what's good that's reasonably local? Feel as if all I do is take him to the park/playground at the moment, and since it's a weekend his dad is around too so would be nice to do something different.