pebbles

Thank you James for getting the recycling bins moved from corner of Whatley Rd and Lordship Lane - much easier to turn right now - thank you

I'm a SAHM and my 3 yr old son currently goes to a fabulous childminder 2 days a week. We live on Friern Rd and so his name is down for Goodrich (ok chance) and Heber (no chance at all) Nurseries. Having spoken with Goodrich and a few families around me I'm beginning to realise that our chances of his getting into the Nursery this January (we find out in Nov) is pretty slim. So my question is, what should I do? I and he loves his childminder and obviously I also look after him 3 days a week however I'm worried that he'll lose out if he doesn't go to nursery before going to primary school (he's a Sept bday if that makes any difference - however is a typical boy who spoke late but is catching up now). If he doesn't get into Goodrich (I've phoned around other state school nurseries but have been told i definitely wouldn't be in catchment area) would you keep him at a childminder where he is extremely happy until he goes to Primary or would you try to get him in anywhere for the "nursery experience" bearing in mind his name isn't down at the longer day nurseries as we've never needed it? What are the waiting lists like for Buds and the other shorter day nurseries? Any advice muchly appreciated

I agree with leta. Obviously it's interesting to read ofsted reports however please take them with a pinch of salt. Childminders have SOOOO much paperwork and personally i would prefer a childminder who didn't necessarily fill out every form that is needed (i don't care when my son does a poo and how many peas he eats!!!) but played and had fun with the children. I actually don't know what my childminders ofsted report is however i believe the care she gives my son is 100% outstanding. Telegraph - a friend of mine asked the childminder whether she minded if she could come to one of the playgroups she attended before she made her decision - obviously they would be on their best behaviour but you get to see the relationship between the childminder and children and obviously children are an open book and you will be able to see how happy they are and how much they love the childminder. I'm sure the cm wouldn't mind if you asked. Good luck

I agree with mcgolden and number 2 - i rate myself as a pretty good mummy of 2 - and trust me i don't give my 2 100% attention at all times - whether that be chatting with mates at playgroups, reading the edf!!! or doing normal daily chores that most people need to do - it's good for children to learn that they have to get on with their playing without their carer watching everything that they do. At the end of the day i don't believe any parent would send their children to anyone that they didnt' trust implicity - so go with your total gut - and definitely send you child to wherever you choose before you go back to work cos you'll want to make sure all is happy before you have the shock of work? ps - i pay ?40/day (8.30-5.30 - lunch and tea) and we pay her 4 weeks holiday and obviously if we take holiday outside those 4 weeks we pay as well. My friend sends her twins there as well and if they're ever late or need to send them earlier due to work committments she has never charged extra - she's just fabulously flexible. I think childminders are a fabulous option as they allow children to mix with all ages and i know my son loves playing with the big kids!!! Good luck with whatever decision you make

fab, thanks everyone, i'll try and find a class and if not will deffers get the dvd - cross fingers

Helenat1970 - Would she pick up baby signing quick enough ie before she started talking? I did baby signing with no1 but gave up i think before he reached 1 so never really caught on? Can you recommend any classes? - really can only do Tues or Thurs cos otherwise no1 would have to come along which i think wouldn't work? Thanks

oh sugar - so when i say my no1 didn't go through terrible twos - he's just turned 3 so perhaps that's what i've got to look forward to.

Hi linzkg - my hubby does exactly the same, i don't see how he can stay so calm but it does work. I think they can see their mums "weaknesses". I'm sitting here with a very large glass of wine praying tomorrow will be an easier day. Am relieved that it's not only my daughter that strangers will be thinking "oh my, what bad parents she must have!!!!"

Thanks guys, good to know i'm not the only one!!! CanadianLisa - I also feel i'm spending so much time sitting on the floor with her cos everytime i try and do something else i just get screamed at!!! Oh the joys

She's a right little madam :) Basically she's one of these babies that has either been an easy joy or really difficult - there's no in between. She's got a very strong character and definitely knows what she wants. Anyway over the past few weeks if she doesn't get what she wants or if we take something away from her she has a full on tantrum - falls back on herself so she bangs her head on teh floor and screams and screams. I've tried all the obvious distraction techniques to no avail but i refuse to give in. So basically it's tantrum or bribing with food. I have a 3 yr old son who has never tantrummed so i'm new to this. I'm worried that it's here to stay til she's 3ish - agh. But basically need any advice as to how to lessen it and to know that there are other babies out there who tantrum even thought they're not terrible two's yet. ps - she eats and sleeps well so it's not hunger or tiredness

I'm really shocked. My husband is a high income worker and I stay at home with the children. When i first read I thought yup, right decision - we don't "need" the money and the most important thing is to bring this debt down - however then i read it properly and just can't really believe it. How can they not means test - how can a couple with a total income of 75k still receive it whereas someone who's husband/wife earns 40k and the other stays at home to look after kids not receive it. To be honest I'm not sure what the correct solution would be - ie where's the cutoff?

What do people recommend about the side return gates? We were thinking about spending some money in getting a new gate put in as ours is very flimsy however I'm thinking no matter what the gate they can always climb over the top - any advice gratefully received. Thanks

We've got the sand table from John Lewis where you can put the lid on and then it's like a picnic bench for children. It's the best thing we have for the garden. Seb and his friends play in there continually and although probably not in the rain he does play with it during the winter as well. I love the fact that it's a picnic table as well cos he eats out there in teh summer as well which he thinks is a real treat. It is expensive but worth every penny and will last forever i think. Also looks nice in the garden which was quite important to me.

My no1 did exactly the same - i think 10 days was his max - and mostly it was fine. Occasionally it was fine but on the odd occasion he seemed a bit uncomfortable the dr recommended some cool boiled water - and hey presto - he went!! So think very normal in breastfed babies. No.2 however poos the whole time - agh

Thanks James

Hi James, I don't know whether this has already been spoken about but 2 recycling bins have appeared on Lordship Lane outside Bells (corner of Whately) and it has become really difficult to turn out of W onto LL as you can't see any cars coming. Is there any chance of these being moved further in or on the other side of the road? Many thanks

My son has just turned 3 and we had his bday party at home however you can obviously hire a hall for what we had. Basically we hired a bouncy castle (for the toddlers) and the softplay stuff (for the no.2 babies) and honestly hand on heart it really was very stress free. There were 11 3 yr olds and about 6 baby/crawlers and they totally knackered themselves out between 10.30-11.30 and then i served lunch - don't do too much - sandwiches, baby sausages, pizza, fruit salad and cake and then they were all gone by 12.30 all with very happy children. I hired the bouncy castle and softplay stuff from Kim at Tippee Toes - www.tippeetoes.co.uk or 07903618432. Her partner dropped everything off at 9am (bang on the time i wanted). He was very quick and tidy and they picked it up at 4.30 (I had a sneaky bounce when I put mine down for their nap!!!!). It was extremely reasonably priced and honestly was amazing. I feel at 3 (and then potentially with younger children) it's best to run around. Saying that he did go to a friends bday the other day and there was a face painter and that was a huge hit. I can't recommend Kim enough. Enjoy, it doesn't have to be hellish

We took our son to SA at 3 months and he didn't have to have anything (i'm 99% sure however still had baby brain then, actually still have it now!!!). Thinking about it he had had his 1st 2 jabs but not his 3rd and certainly hadn't had his BCG. How fabulous, you'll love it :)

My son is 3 (last week) and although he hasn't asked about the dying question yet, both my father and mother in law are no longer around and for as long as I can remember i've called them Grandpa Paul and Granny Annie (and he calls my mum Granny and my father in law Grandpa - so there's that bit of a difference) and I point up to the sky and stars and say that they are no longer with us and we can't see them but that they are up there and they are always looking down and interested in what he is doing. We have their photos in a lot of places and he knows who they are but I don't think at the moment understands, but what i'm hoping is that when he does start questioning that it won't be so much of a shock???.. .hopefully I do believe in God and I hope one day I can equate this into heaven however at this age I just like him knowing that I had a Daddy and my husband had a Mummy - if that make sense I will follow this thread with interest..

I rolled up towels and put on either side of mine. It worked more often than it didn't but basically it's just a matter of waiting it out until he starts rolling back. Really annoying phase.

Advertise on this forum and you might even get a bottle of wine in return

Lego Sticklebricks Big hit with my boy but all his "girlfriends" absolutely love it when they come to play and their mums say oh i wish we had that

1st baby 20 days early 2nd baby 3 days early Don't get your hopes up, I was so certainly that no.2 would come just as soon so it became a very painful waiting experience

pour yourself a glass of wine and deal with it tomorrow

Totally agree Molly - dreading the day that we can go really cos then it means i no longer get my peaceful lunch - agh We love CP for that reason - open in the mornings