millsa

thanks everyone! nunheadmum, if the name comes back to you pls post here as this sounds perfect. i will try netmums as well cheers!

We need to spend 5 hours at Gatwick this Sat morning, with our 18-month-old son who will be extremely bored and grumpy if we don't do something exciting for him :( We will have a car so we are thinking about going somewhere to entertain him (up to half hr drive away) but have no idea where. Does anyone know any indoor activities for toddlers near Gatwick? thanks in advance!

Hi Belle, I fly very often (started when my baby was 6 weeks old, and he is 19 months now) on my own and always use my maclaren techno xt. I have maclaren cosytoes AND a fleece cosytoes underneath it, and although the buggy never folds completely I always leave both cosytoes on the buggy. I just warn the guys who pack the buggy on the plane that it has not completely folded and they just pick up the whole thing, and I have never had anyone refusing to pack the buggy. It might not work if you leave the buggy at check in (and carry the baby in the sling), but I always take the buggy through bording and leave it by the plane just before getting on. There is always a helpful guy who holds the baby while I fold the buggy, so don't worry if you are travelling alone. Good luck - everytime I do it (fly on my own) I always think: how have I done it all again by myself? But it is easy with one - it will be challenging with two! Would never have thought just over a year ago that I'd be giving such advice! x

Hi Gubodge, that's what I am hoping for - that I will just get put the newborn in a sling and get on with life as if not much has changed :) and one more thing my child psychotherapist friend said about 'preparations': never say to your toddler that it is the baby who stops you from doing things you used to do, like picking up, carrying, running around etc. Simply explain that you are tired or your back hurts etc but never blame the baby. It is going to be interesting...

hi Sanne Panne, sorry to hear about the accident, and I really hope she will recover well and soon, and you stop feeling guilty. When I started reading your post I worried that something has happened to your baby (in the tummy) so at least it wasn't as bad as I feared. Thanks for the advice and warmest wishes xxx

I agree with every single word mumra said above. Can't recommend Tess enough. and yes, the ED one bookes up very quickly: my baby was due in July and when I booked in Dec, about 7 weeks pregnant, I took the last place!

Dear All, Many thanks for all congrats - the forum is such a great way of spreading the news :) and thanks for the advice, and tips on books (Pickle, I can wait till Easter for your book). Candj, I love the idea of little gifts from the siblings and we will definitely do it. I think I will do it slowly and gently introduce him to my growing belly, without worrying how much he will understand. I met a friend today who is a child psychotherapist. His advice was to start telling my boy as soon as possible about the baby as -according to my friend - my son already knows that something is different, and we need to ensure him that it will not affect our love to him. He says that nobody can tell what toddlers really think but there has been enough research done to prove that toddlers whose mums are expecting become very clingy at various points of pregnancy. My son has been ridiculously clingy for the last two weeks and screams histerically when I leave the room... so I told him today that there is a baby in my tummy. The education has started...

hi damzel, I have PMed you my mobile, pls text me if you are still going out and I might join you. any others?

I don't know whether this has been discussed on the forum... My son will be just over 2 when his little brother or sister arrives. I still have over 6 months to go, but I wonder when is 'a good time' to start telling him about 'a baby in mummy's belly'. I just wonder how much he will understand? What can a 20-month-old toddler make of it? 'Baby in a tummy' must sounds so alien to toddlers... And how can I best prepare him for the new arrival? many thanks in advance :)

well it looks like everyone is bailing out - I am happy to go out so I will wait for a few more posts tomorrow but if nobody else can, let's postpone it till March x

hallo, I haven't logges on for ages but have the 13th in my diary - are we still meeing up tomorrow???

I wouldn't know anything about schools so you are probably right - I base my very layman observation on LL, nurseries I have visited and many toddler groups I go to

I have come across the 'white middle class issue' recently while visiting a couple of nurseries in ED - staff showing us around mentioned 'white middle class parents' with disgust in their voice. It made us visitors - about 20 white mums in their 30s - feel quite uncomfortable. I understand the need to for equality but it is hard to get it in an area predominantly of white middle class isnt it?

I can also come on the 13th, I am glad the post has regained enthusiasm, see you then :)

at least I managed to wean him off the boob with no hassle - good luck Lorraine ;-) thanks Mellors - there are no beaker tantrums (yet?), now he only stares at me and keeps making a sign for milk while pushing the beaker full of milk away. we will persevere this time though!

I remember reading somewhere that we should wean babies off the bottle around 12 months, and try to give them milk in a beaker instead. We tried a few times when our son was 12 months but he refused to drink from a beaker, and always looks at me as if he was saying: the beaker is for water, not for milk you silly woman. We gave in and have carried on with the bottle, mainly because we didn't want to break this nighttime routine - bath, bottle and sleep. However he is 18 months and I really feel we should stop. He hasn't touched the beaker with milk since Fri which means he hasn't had any milk before the bed since Fri. Should I give in again and get back to the bottle - at least I will ensure he gets his milk... But on the other hand - is the milk still that crucial at 18 months? How much milk should he have now? He drinks 10oz from the bottle. any advice appreciated Mums and Dads! thanks

I only suggested the 20th as a few people couldn't do the 13th on the December post. But I am easy, so maybe we could have a vote for the 13th and 20th?

I am starting a new post as a discussion on the next meeting, started on 'UPDATED: 12th Dec night out - sign up here!' is already three pages long and will carry on for a bit. So what everyone thinks about Feb 20th?

how about the 20th then? I will start a new post re this

I have just tried to find out 'family swim with toddlers' timetable at the wavelenghts in deptford and it is the worst website i have seen for ages. no practical info at all. Does anyone know when is best to take a toddler there tomorrow or on Sunday? many thanks

hi, can anyone explain how the gecko is different from cameleon (apart from price?)? gecko is the older model I think but they look the same to me. cheers

I will come next Fri, working tomorrow (if I can get there!)

I don't know much about the areas you mentioned but there are lots of activities at the Rye Oak Childrens Centre on Whorlton Rd SE15 which is less than 10min on the 366 bus from honor oak (going down forest hill rd)

Latchmere is good for the 'beach' and waves machine (although I have been a few times and only seem the waves once), the only issue is that the water is pretty cold and it feels quite chilly there if you are just sitting or standiong in one place watching your toddler. Or maybe I have just got used to the nice warm water at peckham pulse...

no list, just turn up anytime between 10-12, I have never seen anyone being refused entry as there is a lot of space. there are drinks, fruit and biscuits for the little ones around 10.45 and coffee/tea for mums anytime