buggie

Absolutely agast at the HV advice given to you Monniemae. Does sound like you need to come to an arrangement with bubs regarding getting to sleep though, not least as it sounds v stressful to you (which if making you tense will make bubs tense & so difficult to settle. Def look into a white noise machine - we used this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Homedics-Lullaby-Sound-Spa-Nursery/dp/B002EWT4BI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380818493&sr=8-2&keywords=white+noise+machine+homedics Was fab as had timer on it to set for when it should be turned off. Might also be worth "nesting" them in the Moses basket as could be their still getting use to all the space they have now - this http://www.hellobee.com/2013/09/03/surviving-reflux-colds-angle-sleeping-and-crib-nests/ Is the best link if could find to explain it. Try not to do things to settle her that cause you major discomfort, even if it takes a little longer initially to settle her, if you're comfy you'll be less stressed, and over time, the consistency will mean she picks up cues that it's nap time. May also be worth getting reflux/colic ruled out - maybe try propping head end of Moses basket/crib to see if that makes a bit of difference too. Hope some of this helps x

Berbel- might be worth making sure you're getting all the help you can, if you're on working tax credits you might be eligible for some free hours towards childcare (available to all sch term after they turn 3yrs). It can be used for private nurseries but as their open more weeks than schools works out to be nearer 10 than 15hrs a week. See here for info: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200016/childcare/710/early_education/1

I used paper blinds from here: http://www.blindsinabox.co.uk/index.html while waiting for plantation shutters to be fitted (about 8wks after windows were measured) including in my bedroom & they were fab - v quick to put up/adjust to correct size and the black ones cut the light out really well & considering the quality v, v reasonably priced. Unsure if still the case, but I got them in Wilkinsons in Bromley.

We used the upstairs room at The Old Nun's head for our daughter's 1st birthday & really liked it.

If at Kings, fracture clinic will give him a much better sling than the one given in A&E, and they have information there about the company who do the waterproof sleeves. (Unsure I'd recommend swimming but ok for bathing/showering) They'll change the cast in fracture clinic too to a much lighter cast which will help with comfort. Clothing wise, layering is your friend, t-shirts + shirts easier than jumpers/long sleeved tops (maybe even get a few primarni things to "customise"). The first few days when something like this happens are tough, but don't doubt how adaptable your son will be & that he may well adjust/work out how to manage daily tasks.

Joy of being in Nunhead means the new full size Waitrose in Deptford (although they claim it's Greenwich!) isn't much further to go than ED sainsburys :)

Am I being dippy to wonder how anything but the bit laying right across the bar dries on the the Lakeland driers?!

Oh BB - I'd forgotten all about my practical lesson I did with you! Am fairly sure at 9wks majority of my shush patting would be done with bugglet in my arms - gently swaddled & holding her upright to my shoulder, nuzzled into my neck & gently shushing/patting her bum until she wasn't crying/felt relaxed, would then lay her in the Moses basket (with doughnut round edge - made with rolled up blanket - as bugglet was stupidly tiny & still seemed swamped by the basket!), and continue the s/p'ing, watching for further signs of nodding off, as I saw signs of her dozing, I'd gently slow/reduce the level of shushing & how hard I was patting. At any stage I'd be ready to go back a step - even to point of picking her up again if not happy when initially laid down, and there were even a few occasions where a v short feed/suckle was needed (growth spurts typically!!) But, having settled +++ babies before I'd become a mum myself (babysitting from 14yrs, nursery nursing & nursing), the baby whisperer method mirrored what I'd found to work already (IIRC Tracey Hogg had also been a Paeds nurse, so interesting our experience had been the same). Consistency is most important thing. As I wasn't feeding to sleep (as a rule), hubbie would also settle her & would do the same (and loved doing it) - he was often the one who noticed signs of her settling herself a bit sooner than I would! Would recommend getting dad involved so that settling isn't always on your shoulders/reduces your stress if an ting happens & you're unable to be there yourself to settle. Totally agree with mrsps - often tell parents I meet through work that if things aren't a problem to them that it's ok to go with them (unless their ok with giving chips to a 3mth old or leaving a 4yr old to put the knives away from the dishwasher - neither a true example from my work!!).

If your free during the day, there's hummy mummies which run East Dulwich sessions on Monday & Fridays (there is a hummy daddy at the Brockley group - more daddies welcome!) Otherwise, might be worth looking into Nunhead Community choir, think they meet on a Thurs night at Ivydale School.

My neighbours son started there last Sept and really like it. They were surprised by the school going into special measures, but say it is on a v minor thing (something to do with maths results) that hasn't had s big effect on their son(who is on the G&T programme). Get the feeling that being that rare thing (a co-ed LA comp) there is pressure to try & make it an academy, thus special measures being quickly applied.

Similar success for us too, occasional blip, but we normally get woken up with shouts of "it's morning time!" Once the sun has come up.... Really need to suss out how to do the w/e lay-in thing it mentions in the instructions!!

Rather than arming yourself with illegal weapons, how about first teaching your children not to provoke dogs/never to touch a dog without permission from the owner. Also to train yourself to be calm when near dogs (you come across as someone who sees dogs as a threat rather than something that normally brings love & fun) as if you're flapping, your children will flap & this could escalate a situation. Being an ex-paeds A&E nurse I can concur with the other posters that random attacks are hugely rare (think I saw less than 3 in over 10yrs). Most dog bites (& in the grand scheme of accidents attending, dog bites make up a v small percentage) are by dogs that were known to the "victim" & would suggest there's a significant number where it is a game gone wrong - game often meaning teasing the dog.

James, your phrasing makes it sound like the two are miles apart (the distance can more accurately be measured in yards), and with Turnham School as far from the border on the Lewisham side, is there an Honor Oak ward councillor equally getting their knickers in a twist about this?!

While I agree a new primary school is needed, and would be in a location that could be advantageous to us, am slightly alarmed by all the aspiration all talk of high achievements and top 10% of performance - sounds more like a hot house than a primary school for young children just starting out. Would rather be hearing how nurturing and encouraging the school will be instead of where it wants to be in league tables.

Am current Puddleduck parent and can highly recommend it, really lovely team. My DD has been going since she turned 2yrs (is about to turn 3yr) and is thriving there.

Oh no, made my best mummy mate through this group first time round, and was hoping to stop by once I'd had no.2 to say hello, what a shame especially as I'm sure it hasn't been an easy decision :-(

Nairns do chic chip oat cakes?? Greenwater you've made my day :-) Few weeks in I'm feeling far more positive, saw a different dr today who said my GTT result was hugely borderline and that I may not have it (arghh!!) but to con't monitoring/keeping aiming to keep to the limits they set for blood sugars. Weirdly not feeling as limited with brekkies now, and I do the 2 breakfasts thing too, annoyingly don't get to stop off at shops en route to work, but my evening treat is often a small bowl of raspberries & cream :-)

Will you be doing a similar list for primary school open mornings/days? Not applying till next autumn, but hoping to take advantage of impending mat leave & see a few this year!

Saw this linked to on twitter: http://www.youngminds.org.uk/news/blog/1584_emotional_health_the_scaffolding_of_life Thought it would be useful to share, especially seeing the other thread regarding starting reception, but also for any with kids moving schools or even staying at the same school.

Think NSPCC is v good starting point & would be able to offer you advice/possibly report things on for you. AFAIK Southwark HV's are attached to GP surgeries rather than covering a geographical area so isn't guaranteed that your HV would also be their HV, but, hopefully by contacting NSPCC their HV could be located & informed of the concerns & follow up with the family. CP cases are rarely straight forward (families often aren't upfront about their problems/difficulties) so a lot of it is collecting up the pieces of the jigsaw to get the real picture - Pickle, you've got a chunk of that jigsaw in this case so by sharing your observations the family may well get the support they obviously need without things escalating. Is a scary call to make (calling SS at work to check if families were known when I was in A&E never got any easier), but it's got to be done xx

Might be worth popping into Kings (the foyer) they use to have accommodation listings that you could collect from the main desk (this might've changed in the last few years), otherwise, have you checked with LAS if they can recommend/have accommodation listings?

Hi Fellow Autumn Mums-to-be, Posted a while back in the classified section, but not had much interest - am having a baby boy in Nov so have bundles of clothes my daughter had available to anyone interested. Here's the original thread: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,1154974,1154974#msg-1154974 The green duffle coat has now gone & happy to take ?5 a bundle. My daughter was a September baby so were all good for this time of year. Thanks x

Well, big revaluation is I've found a bread with 3g (yup only 3g) of carbs a slice!! Annoyingly it's only available at waitrose, but as our other recent reveal action has been doing the waitrose online shop we're sorted! It's called Livlife seriously seedy - looks like small slices but their really filling & I can do 2 slices for brekkie with fried mushrooms (yum!!). Will look out for staff oatcakes - sound nice :-)

We used the upstairs room at The Old Nun's Head - they had some big bean bags which they were hsppy for us to use & combined with our own playmats (the foamy ones) made a great area for the babies to play in with ballons & bubbles the older kds entertained the younger ones (plus the bean bags were good to flump onto!). If most of the kids coming are 1yr old I'd suggest going to a proper soft play place could be under used & would save that for when they were older and more independent.

Mmm... Pancakes - that's the sort of thing I was thinking of!!