millsa

Gumbados in Beckenham or another massive soft play in Croydon, Ive forgotten the name - particularly if you can bring one or two of his friend's along. And go mid-week if you can. Gambados do birthday parties as well but just taking the boys there for a day works magic!

but i guess Liliana Susannah doesn't go very well together :)

Just wait and see what she looks like. We struggled a lot because I've always wanted Elena but a few months before my Elena was due, my husban's sister called her daughter Eleanor and he didn't want a name that sounds so similar. I decided to wait and see the baby and if she looked like Elena to me, I would still call her Elena. But then just before the birth someone mentioned a name Liliana which I loved immediately, so when my baby finally arrived she looked just like Liliana :) We have shortened it for now but maybe when she is older she will be Liliana - I second snowboarder here that it is useful to think what the name will sound when they are adults. I also like Anna - so beautiful and simple. Good luck! ps. Zara was also on my list but when a few people said: 'oh Zara, like the shop?' I decided against it.

Just a quick message to say big thanks for all PMs - I will reply individually, possibly tomorrow. Very helpful!!! I'd be more than happy to hear from more parents so pls PM me if you have a child in GG or DKH or if you are considering applying and why. Many thanks again!

Please forgive me asking about schools but I am running out of time. I know it is very late (applications deadline 15 Jan) and some of you will think 'she should have thought about it earlier' etc. I thought I did because our child has a place secured at a local private school but I am still not convinced if I want to go down the private route so I'm going to apply for the state ones anyway. We are right in the middle between DKH and Goose Green (and Bellenden is pretty close too) and I thought Dog Kennel Hill should be my top choice, followed by St Johns and St Clements, but having seen the latest tables and stats I am not sure anymore! Also there is many of you who seem very pleased with GG, and the stats are excellent, which makes me even more confused. I will do my best to visit GG school before 15 Jan but as I don't know any parents whose kids go to DKH or GG (or Bellenden?) can I ask you to post your views here, or PM me please? - why are you pleased with the school? - are there any negatives/room for improvement? - would you put the school as your first choice? Thank you very much in advance!

congratulations!!!!!!!!! Maybe I will go for number three then? xxx

hi, does anyone know any playgropus this morning for 13-month-old? thanks!!!

I travelled last months and they have asked me to open every single pouch of ella's kitchen food, which was such a waste of money as they dont last long once opened, and it was my supply for a few days (and my daughter doesnt want to eat anything else!). I really wanted to punch the horrible woman who made me do it. Only managed to ask politely at the end if she has any children, to which she troed to kill me wth her vicious eyes. Stressful for everyone. supergolden, we are also flying from gatwick on sun morning, 6am flight. maybe see you there? x

hallo, can anyone advise what activities for babies (10 months) are on today and tomorrow? I cant find that useful whats'on guide on the southwark website. many thanks!

er... I think I am too foreign to understand your suggestions Fushia. I will PM with more questions. Thanks EmilyE, how do you play is farmer's in his den? if anyone knows more please let me know. thanks!!!

Can anyone suggest games for a bunch of 3-year-olds that can be played in a garden/park? Something that will involve about ten of them, both boys and girls, possibly with prizes/a prize but not necessarily. Need ideas asap. Thanks! and indoors: apart from 'pass the parcel', what else can you suggest for a birthday party? thanks!

i would like to come along, my daughter will be 10 months this week. pls keep me posted x

the one sanity girl has is great!

can you buy a travel bag for the pram if you worry so much? i have flown with ryanair loads because it is the only airline that flies to my parents town, and i hate it, but it is easier if you are prepared in advance for all bad things it is associated with, like no priority boarding for families, constant announcements about 'become a millionaire with ryanair' and 'yet again we landed on time', tiny leg space, people rushing and stressing, very steep stairs, delays, etc - all things mentioned above. I now know they always happen and it is somehow easier to fly knowing all this and not having a nasty surprise every time. just try to think that it is short flight :) and take your food with you, theirs is disgusting and expensive. good luck

it probably hasn't been much interest because you have to pay seven pounds for half hr or 45 min, i dont remember exactly but that put me off, particularly if you can get to these classes for free elsewhere

sophie, thanks for starting the thread, and others for contributing - your comments ring a lot of bells! My son is nearly three and baby is 8-months-old. He is in nursery three days a week but he only started when he was over 2. We were offered a place when he was 12, and then 18 months old, but I just didn't feel it was the right time to leave him, he was still a baby... When he turned two I felt more ready to leave him, and also I was just about to have baby no 2. I loved spending time with him, I have decided to stay at home with my baby until she is at least two, but I will probably stay longer as I don't think I will be able to find a new part-time job which will pay much more then just covering the cost of childcare. All my friends have gone back to work after max 12 months, I have felt lonely at various groups as most other carers were childminders, I felt ostracised and have justified to others that I am freelancing every now and then etc. But then I look at my mummies friends who work part time and most of them say that they do full-time hours in two or there days, that it is very hard to juggle, rushing to pick the kids up etc, and I know that I don't want to do it. I also look at my son and think: he will start school next year and that's it, that's my baby gone... It is hard hard hard work and we have bad days when I am exhausted but I really love looking after my children. They grow up so quickly. At the same time I worry a bit as I don't know what's going to happen to my professional life in a few years time. But I try to convince myself that it is all worth it as, if I wasn't around, nobody would give me back those precious first years with my little ones.

congrats on number 2! :) i second ikea expedit units, you can buy as big or as small you need and add more, and they look ok in any room really. we use our coffee table to storage toys in the lounge - in three boxes under the table. my son takes almost every single car out of the boxes every morning, and I put them back in the box and under the coffee table every single evening, but the room looks tidy when the kids are in bed. to be honest you might not even need a changing table - i have never used it with baby no2 , just change her on the floor/our bed etc. good luck with everything xxx

hi, Ive just seen a leaflet about a baby and toddler group at the Grove Vale library on Tue mornings. I am thinking of trying it tomorrow with my 8-month-old but wonder if anyone has been and if it is any good? what do they do? it is such a small place that I cant actually picture a group of toddlers running around there. thanks!

hi susyp, i've just read your first post and couldn't believe it - I felt like reading about my son, who will also be 3 in July. So many similarities, but when I read about her complaining about tummy ache it freaked me out a bit - because my son has been doing the same too! We dropeed his nap last Oct when he was only 2 and a bit but only because he still slept for 2 hours after lunch and then didn't want to go to bed till 10pm. Evenings were long and difficult, but when he didn't nap, he went to bed easily at 7. It worked for months and I was happy, until about a month ago when he suddenly gets sleepy around lunchtime, falls asleep in the car or buggy around 4 or 5pm etc. Last week it happened twice - fell sleep at 4 and slept for an hour, and yesterday he fell sleep at 5.45 pm and actually slept through the night. We did a blood test as our GP thought he might have a urine infection (because of tummy aches) but it came out clear. We always do 'quiet time' after lunch but I think he just need to sleep, and I dont mind it anymore I just want him to enjoy his afternoons, but he just doesn't want to sleep, fights as hell unless we get in the car or a buggy. It really messes up my 2nd baby's sleep routine though as she needs to be in a cot for afterlunch nap. oh well... And the most annoying thing is that he wakes up at 6 (instead of 7.30 or 8 as he used to) and wakes up yawning!

Liliana :)

we have used baa baa blackout blind for over two years now - it is a portable one so you can also take it on hols etc

thanks everyone, reassuring and useful posts. She is 6.5 months and a tiny tiny little thing (2nd centile), so maybe just not interested in food yet. Saffron, thankd for the offer of the book but i will stick to annabel carmel for now. Very useful post Picke as it looks like it is the same here: my son was just obsessed with his food and ate LOADS and NON STOP. It looks like it might be another two months before the pink princess starts eating properly. I will stop worrying now :) THANKS AGAIN!

hallo. I started weaning my girl 4.5 weeks ago. She has been quite fussy and eating tiny amounts, but at least eating. But yesterday she refused all solids - I tried giving her different things throughout the day but she just kept her mouth shut and didn't take anything (just formula). Today is the same - I have just lost another battle... Has it happened to anyone else? Maybe I should just not give her milk and wait till she is REALLY hungry, but it breask my heard when she cries for milk... This is my second baby and although I generally have a relaxed attitude to bringing up my kids this is already stressing me out :( thanks in advance.

hallo, looking for a quick advice: i need to get a few books for my friend's 18m old baby girl. She loves looking at letters apparently, but all other girly things would do (her mum says). any suggestions? sorry dont have much time to research what is suitable. thanks!

it has also been 5.45 am for us for a while which is just not right. it will be more difficult to persuade my toddler to go to bed at 7 though, but I'll swap it happily for an hour extra in bed in the morning! x