pebbles

I too started with our son just over 2 1/2 and he got it in 5 days and since then has only had the very occasional accident and mainly due to being too caught up with what he's doing to remember but we are literally talking i can count on one hand in the 2 months since.

The one thing I did find a little difficult was getting him to go on the big loo rather than the potty which obviously proved difficult when out and about and i didn't want to be carrying a potty around with me. It finally clicked after a week or so however I would suggest you get them used to it asap so you can be out and about and can take him/her to big loos!!

Good luck. Don't rush it

malleymoo - love that one - made me giggle out loud

Not mummying as such but quite a few shopping incidents which i solely blame on hormones and tiredness due to children - scarily all in the last 2 months:

finishing sainsburys shop, paying for it, put kids in car, go to put shopping in boot and realise that i hadn't put any of the items (big weekly shop) in bags but all back in trolley separately.

finishing sainsburys shop, paying for it, put kids in car, put trolley back in trolley park, drive home, go to unpack and realise that i have left shopping in trolley - go back to sainsburys and go to security guard and luckily some kind man had handed in my trolley!!!

and the age old fav, go shopping, check out and realise wallet is at home - aghaghaghaghaghagh

oh the joys

Yup, Mellors bedtime routine exactly the same as ours. We had one of those seat things for no2 to lie down on so although my hands were always near they were also free to fend off too excited toddler. I actually would feed while i was reading no1 stories and then would leave him playing while i put her down and then go back to him for one more story and bed. I found then that if she was crying i didn't have to leave her for too long. Also as feeding took so long it also made me read to no1 for longer which isn't a bad thing!!

A couple of other things that I don't think have been mentioned.

Make sure you have changing mat, nappies and wipes downstairs cos last thing you'll want to be doing when playing with no1 is take no2 upstairs to change her/him during the day. Do everything downstairs.

The other thing i've really found useful is making sure no1 is changed and ready for the day before we go downstairs for breakfast. We used to have brekkie in pjs and then go back up but it just became an absolute battle so a lot easier to go downstairs and start the day!!!

Good luck. In absolute honesty i found being pregnant and dealing with a toddler SOOOOOOOO much worse than dealing with 2 - unless you have an evening like mine when no2 projectile pooed in bath just as no1 was blowing bubbles!!! - then it gets complicated :)

Thanks MM - phew - here i was thinking he's going to have a mouth full of fillings cos i've left it 2 years - he he he

I was feeding misspebbles in my arms and after looking around the room trying to find her for a good 10 seconds i turned to my husband and said "where's misspebbles" - couldn't believe i lost her in my arms :)

My ds is 2 1/2 and i haven't taken him to a dentist yet. I've suddenly panicked cos have realised that lots of his age group have!!!

So... should i take him soonish

Then... where can anyone recommend for children? Are children covered by NHS or will we have to pay?

Thanks in advance

Thanks Hoipolloi - sorry for the misinformation

Hi SB

okedoke, it is indeed confusing

DCPS - as a school it goes from nursery - 13 and for boys you can go to nursery the Sept after they're 3 (I think this is right) ie my son is 3 on 8th Sept 2010 and if he goes will go Sept 2011 (girls however can go from 3??). It is competitive selection. I'm pretty sure that once you're in then you can continue up the school. Once you get to the Annexe (5-7) as so many boys go there from the Nursery then the number of places for other entries is really quite small) - something to think about?? My mother taught at the Annexe for 25 yrs before retiring and she couldn't be more positive about the teaching here.

Dulwich Collge - the nursery/primary part is called DUCKS and is situation just past the toll gate on the left. It is indeed first come first served. We put our sons name down when he was 3 months old wanting him to attend nursery from 3 however we were phoned at Easter and he only got afternoons or full day on a Friday (arvos just don't work with no.2) so turned it down but couldn't believe that having had his name down since 3months that there were no places for mornings (all taken by children who had been therefore from 1yr old etc i think). Again the reputation is fabulous. Although it is part of a bigger school aparently as it's on a different site it's not too daunting for smaller children.

Alleyns - don't know much about their entry system - pretty sure it's competitive like JAPS. Also have heard fabulous reports about it.

Herne Hill - first come first served. Again reputation is very good and if wanting a smaller school for your child apparently it rocks. The main problem i've heard however if you are wanting to continue on from 7 in the private sector you have to go through the whole competitive selection at 7 with potentially small numbers of places due to kids moving up from the schools nursery.

I'm pretty sure all this info is correct however if anyone knows differently please do let me know as i'd be interested as well.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

HATS - just keep trying. had exactly same problem. the ones that worked for us were the ones in the same material as swimming costumes that had the neck protector as well. don't know what it was or whether he first wore it in swimming pool so therefore wet again his head so harder to get off but having had a few months of hell here went on hols and he didn't mind the new hat so kept it on when we got back and although he looked a bit stupid in park with this "swimming cap" on he didn't want to chuck it off

TEMP - I've been lucky enough to travel a bit with my kids to a lot hotter countries and i've always put them in very light

grobags (mostly cos when young they rolled over and couldn't roll back without it and then when older could climb out of bed if they didn't have them on).

Anyway... toinght - 2 1/2 yr old has t-shirt and .5 tog grobag (he doesn't ahve monitor in room) and 7m old has long sleeve babygro and .5 tog grobag (25degrees currently however i know can get down to 18d or there abouts in this weather). the windows have been open all day (apart from nap time) so fairly aired. I used to really worry about temp in rooms however i know when i go to bed too warm and chucking my feet out of duvet within a few hours i'm snuggling up and think they may be same.

our eldest is a warm boy and used to complain of being hot (or that's what i think he was complaining about) however our youngest wakes i think when too cold. I HATE BEING HOT AND HUBBY HATES BEING COLD

i'm waffling. basically within reason try and ignore the monitor and go with how you feel.

WATER - keep offering - however if u r worried that they're not taking water from anything then try different beakers. when no1 was 6 months old i went to australia for 6 weeks and he REFUSED water from beakers or bottles so i gave it to him in my gym bottles (ie i squeezed it into him) and he loved them and thought it was a game and still does.

good luck. every season brings new amusments

xxx

Ignore my last message, fil isn't leaving til after lunch so i can't bail on him in the morning. Sorry and do keep me informed of next meet up just in case. Enjoy the sunshine

I'm going to try and make it too. Father in Law staying tonight so it depends if i can get rid on him tomorrow!!! I have 2 1/2 yr old prob on scooter and 7m old prob in baby bjorn. Hopefully c u there

I had a last minute decided homebirth with no.1 (decided at 36 wks and gave birth at 37 wks). I was with Kings so phoned them up and they had 2 community teams - East and West team and they sent a woman around who talked me through what i should do when i went into labour but also to drop off the goody box (everything that they'll need in labour). I hired my own pool. This was 2 1/2 yrs ago however I don't think things have changed.

Please don't panic cos if St Thomas' aren't able to offer you community midwife i'm sure you can phone Kings and change.

I would get on the phone first thing tomorrow morning.

Good luck

I also went there as a toddler - late 70's - and have only heard fabulous things about it still. Unfortunately as stated earlier it's too far away for us to send our toddler however if closer it would definitely be my no.1 choice. No idea why waiting list so small?

Hi everyone

Am looking for a gardener and love that garden man posts his hints but I haven't been able to find any recommendations yet so just wondered if anyone had used him and what they thought before i book him.

Many thanks

Pebbles

ignore me its back on again

Anyone else not got any?

Can't wait, see you all there

Congratulations Trinity, how exciting

The other internet tab I have up at the moment is researching balance bikes for my ds who is 2 1/2 and i think i'm just as delighted at the beginning of the stage :)

What a glorious day

xxx

This has seriously made me giggle.

So many times i have met nice mums but haven't had the guts to ask for their number - good on you :)

I too pity men (or the brave women out there) who ask people out on dates

I flew with Virgin in January. I took the seat option and was very happy to have it for the day flight out there cos it kept him in position adn didn't allow him to jump out (which he would have done if he had the option).

I tried it for the evening flight back however it doesn't recline so sleeping was never going to happen so i asked them to remove it and they did, no questions asked and literally took about 2 mins - i'm shocked that you are being told that this isn't possible.

If both flights are nighttime then i would say no however if you have to do a bit of day flying and your toddler is full of energy then i do really recommend it.

The position that he got himself into to sleep bizarrely was knees on the floor and then head on the seat!!! Luckily there was no turbulance but he slept 6 hrs without a peep. Maybe worth a try if you don't get anywhere with any other positions. I also took his pjs, grobag and teddy that he sleeps with every night so that i was able to get him changed and read him a book so he vaguely knew what it meant. it took a good few hours for him to finally fall asleep but i think it did help trying to get the situation as right as possible!!!

Good luck.

Hello everyone, I'd love to come and meet you all. 8 fine by me

See you there

I totally agree with fushia re pick your arguments and let the small stuff slide

We felt we didn't wanted 2 words, MAJOR things like hot fires, cars on roads etc etc we say DANGER and although it took time by goodness if i say danger now our 2 1/2 yr olds stops immediately adn turns around and doesn't move off that spot and for things we don't want him to do and that we can't distract we say no

Whatever you do decide are the major issues where you do want to say no to, make sure you discuss and agree with partner and any other carers cos they need the same rules.

I was taught by an amazing friend and mother in situations like eating soil instead of saying no just distract them and let them move on themselves. I suppose I totally agree with the word no but didn't want to be repeating it all day every day so distraction does work for us with the little things and as they get older eating soil doesn't tickle their fancy like it did at 14 months!!!

For me politeness was no.1 and so from word dot i have gone overboard with my pleases and thank yous and at 2 1/2 he's quite a late developer with his talking and just getting the hang of it now but pretty much his 2 first words were peas (please) and tank (thank you) and i just love it.

anyway, as always i'm waffling.

pick you battles but 14 months isn't too early - clever little mites these kids :)

good luck

Asked Mr Pebbles and these are his replies - 2 children, 2 1/2 and 6 months

Fathers day present - night/weekend away with me, alcohol, good food and no kids

Hardest thing about being a dad - tying everything together. when i asked him what he meant he said "making sure the family unit runs smoothly" - i'm thinking cos i get so involved with the kids he's able to take a bit of a step back perhaps

strictness - he says he will definitely however i beg to differ :)

fabulous thread Molly

From the moment when Pebbles junior was able to get up the stairs we pretty much never carried him down again (obviously within reason).

"backwards" was the word that we all used and for a good few weeks we would be in front of him turning him around everytime he tried to go forwards and saying backwards at the same time.

it probably took us 3 weeks in all however we've never had to carry him down the stairs since (apart from fabulous 2 year old tantrum reasons!!!) and we also didn't get stairgates for exactly your reason.

Do stick with it Keef cos although it's a hassle for a few weeks in the long run it makes life sooooo much easier.

Good luck