The Nappy Lady

Sudocrem is evil stuff, I've heard of a few Mum's having a very bad day clearing it up after their little one got hold of it, you are not alone Saffron. Looking back I realise (though don't really understand how it's possible), that whilst being truly delighted with the arrival of our 2nd little girl, I was really not very nice to live with for the first couple of years of her life. I think all my energy was going into looking after her and her sister, and coping with the lack of sleep, and my poor old hubby got all the back lash. Thankfully humour has returned to our lives now, and as others have said, in large doses now we have a cheeky 'almost 3' year old, and a '7 going on 17' year old to entertain us. I shall enjoy the 'honeymoon' until the next lot of angst starts when we really do hit the teenage years (eek). :-S

Does she expect you to pay her only when your child is with her, or at all times - i.e. when she is on holiday or when you are on holiday? Ask her how many holidays she takes a year, and when (as this will have a knock on effect on you and your ability to work). Does she put the children down to nap in a cot, or in the buggy? Are there regular play groups she goes to? (Others have picked up on this anyway). Does she have to do a school run in the morning or afternoon to drop off/pick up other children....AND would she be open to doing this for you later when yours are in nursery or school. If so, will the daily rate change at that point - I think it's normal to charge less for an after school pick up than a whole day. If picking up from a morning nursery session at midday then you will probably still pay the full daily rate. What are her normal hours - i.e. 8am to 6pm. What is situation if you are ever late - does she charge a penalty for this? Would she be open to you doing the odd early drop off or late pick up by prior arrangement if there was a good reason for it (I've managed a day at the Sanctuary a couple of times with a later pick up thanks to my lovely childminder)! Hope this helps. Good to ask all these questions, but I think it often comes down to 'gut instinct' as to who feels right for you, unless there are answers that are outright deal breakers. M x

Buggie Hang in there, I think most babies are very into solids at first as so 'exciting' to be allowed to put stuff in their mouths. Then the novelty wears off & it can all get very stressful. Keep chanting 'under 1 it's just for fun' & keep giving her the milk & offering solids, stay chilled about it & try to sit with her & eat yourself at the same time - remember babies learn by copying. We all tend to sit & feed them or watch them eat which I'm sure puts them off! Lovely to see you the other day. Hugs, M X

Glad the club will be rebuilt. Wonder if we will end up paying fir entry, as at Crystal Palace. I see a big pile of new turf next to the new playground ready to be laid which bodes well....

OMG gwod that is freaky! Non-Newtonian liquid - there you go - great stuff! They have it at toddler group sometimes, definitely OK around little ones & truly hard to resist playing with.

From Real Nappies for London: Hi We are trying to raise awareness of real nappies in nurseries and we need your help.? We know that nappy laundry services work really well in nurseries.? The nurseries reduce their disposable nappy waste, the parents usually get free nappies and the toddlers tend to make the transition from nappies to pants earlier and more easily.? In toddler room, if there are fewer children in nappies the key workers can spend less time changing nappies and more time playing with the children. ? ?If you think your child?s nursery may be interested in starting to use a nappy laundry service please let us know.? In our experience private nurseries have more incentive to switch as they tend to be directly responsible for clinical waste costs. ? We have a letter to send nursery heads outlining the benefits.? What we need from you is the name of the head of the nursery and contact details, including phone numbers and email addresses if possible. ? Many thanks in advance. ? Kind regards Hilary ? PS Have you checked out Action for Happiness yet? ? ? Hilary Vick Real Nappies for London Co-ordinator LCRN - RNfL 28 Charles Square LONDON N1 6HT ?? T???? 020 7324 4709 F???? 020 7324 4700 [email protected] W?? www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk???? ? ?? ?Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary ?

Beckenham Spa Soft Play - little rascals would be good, though indoor. Peckham Rye adventure playground (think they put up a bouncy castle too). One of the City Farms? The Golden Hinde near London Bridge Hire St Faiths on Red Post Hill, put bouncy castle out in the garden, do pizzas & pay ice cream van to stop by after (ask if birthday boy/girl can be in van & help serve the ice creams!!) Lots of websites have great party game suggestions which you can tie in with a theme if need be. Have a good one!

Hmmm NunheadKat & Ruth Baldock - me thinks you need to do a buggy exchange - if only for trial purposes!!

If you haven't discovered it already... Mix together water & Cornflour in equal measure (ish, need not be too exact) in a big bowl & let your children dig in. The mix creates a strange substance, neither solid nor liquid but somewhere in-between. You can lift a lump up & mould it in your hands then watch it turn to liquid & run out if your hands. Most bizarre, the children love it. It sounds messy but actually washes off clothes & children very easily. I often have it in the garden when the paddling pool is out as a good combo. The Science Museum people told be the proper name for it - a non nemonic substance I think....something like that - goldfish memory has struck again! Any other top tips for fun play sessions?

Agree re Scarlet Peacock & I have a John Lewis machine - about ?200 and it is great.

Lol Moos, I am still doing the helping finish the food thing even with a nearly 3 year old....well I was til the mega diet started 2 weeks ago. Breaks my heart putting good fishfingers in the dog!!

Mine is improving very slowly with a lot of exercise & a very low fat diet. However I don't think it ever goes completely unless you are very, very lucky (& maybe have your babies young). A surgeon told a friend of mine, once the skin has stretched nothing but surgery will get rid of it totally. :-( But agree kids make it all worth it! I still wear a bikini on holiday & show my 'marks of motherhood' with pride!!

There seem to be a lit of different rumours circulating. Renata, would be great to get a clear & definitive answer on this. Also, I'm pretty appalled by the 7 week or so overrun on the playground works. I've never seen more than 2 workmen on sight, and they seem to be mostly doing very little when they are there. The Phrase 'rocket needed up their bum' springs to mind I'm afraid!

I'd make it all about being a 'big boy' now. Get him involved in choosing duvet covers etc. Pick a normal size single bed but lower to ground one if possible & standard single duvet, but put it across the bed with ends tucked well under mattress. We had a stair gate on the door but only used if we needed to reinforce the message. Use reward charts to big up the nights he stays put etc & if he does play up be tough & consistent - straight back to room, no discussion, no negotiation - just "it's bedtime darling" & tuck him back up & walk away. He will soon learn. I'd ditch the sleeping bags as I think too potentially dangerous on stairs, though I know they cope - only needs to go wrong once.... Xxx

Maybe try a beaker instead? Depends how much of a rush you are in, but may be the answer. My 2 would never accept bottles. My first went to a Childminder at 9 months old 4 days a week. She had a big breast feed morning & night & used a Tommee Tippee cup during the day for milk & water, plus she was taking a fair amount if solids by then. The good thing about this was I never had the battle others have of getting them to give up the bottle. Not sure if it's Tommee Tipee but one company do beakers with replaceable spouts of different toughness according to babies age & I have found them very good indeed. Will post a link if I can find them.

P.S. I think the Baby Jogger would be a good alternative but I don't think it does the newborn pram/parent facing thing.

Helena Im a dog owner & Mum of two & I walk a lot off road. My advice is to get a 3 wheeler with big wheels. Use a Ergo sling if you are up to it post birth & while baby is little & even in back carry mode when over 6 months if you are fit or not going far (I love mine now youngest is nearly 3 & will mostly walk, but I can sling her on my back to get her home if she gets tired). In hindsight I should have got a Mountain Buggy in the first place with the pram option (facing you) for first few months, then you have that option too - I didn't research enough - I reckon they are best bet for Mums like us. Otherwise, something similar but less expensive. Worth looking on EBay - Mountain Buggys are very well made so even 2nd or 3rd hand should be in fab condition. Oh & take the Mclaren as your back up/in the car/going on buses buggy/going on holiday buggy. Hope this helps. PM me if you like, I've had A LOT of Buggys including a Bugaboo, 3 wheeler, Stokke, Micralite, Zap....and the Mountain Buggy has been by far the best all rounder.

With long or curly hair I would recommend always putting conditioner on in the bath after washing & combing through there & then. This is by far the kindest & gentlest way to deal with tangles & with least damage to hair. Then use the sprays as suggested already on dry hair. Good luck!

Goose Green Playground? Nunhead Cemetary (good for adventuring down overgrow paths & puddle jumping) New cafe & play place at Burgess Park ? Oh - do you know about Bellingham Soft Play - Rascals? I like it a lot. 5 Randalstown Rd if you need to Google.

Well - check out www.rearfacing.co.uk Personally even if you upgrade I'd stick with rear facing - especially on those fast French autoroutes. Our youngest is now 2 & 3/4 and still happily rear facing & it does make me happy to know she's as safe as possible especially on motorway journeys. Hope this helps. Xx

Ohhh yes please - I've got a mix of old & new so it doesn't matter. Can u PM me with contact number & address? Thank you. Xx

Hmmm, I think it's good if they learn an instrument you can play, or learn with them. My hubby is learning guitar at home so he & O play together now & it's really working well. We are also on day 85 of the 100 consecutive days of practice that school is running - so she will hopefully earn her medal soon. What this has really shown us is how important daily practice is - both in terms of her improvement but also the mindset - music practice is like tooth brushing, just something you do every day no matter what. I really couldn't commit to going to Suzuki violin lessons with her with a newborn (then toddler - even worse) that is partly what put me off - that & the potential screeching! Loving guitar though & see it as something that can be fun in the future for her & friends. Re recorder - I'm glad she is learning to read music. I think the key is to find 4 or more children to share a lesson - this is what Margaret dies to make it affordable. Def worth speaking to her if you are really keen to start before Year 3 - when they all get the option to learn. O is year 2 & has just started her lessons. Good luck - I know it's hard as there is almost too much choice.

Agree with Pickle, my eldest is learning guitar, harmonica & recorder at Ivydale. I wanted her to learn clarinet & was advised to wait until her 'big teeth' are all in place, so hence the recorder lessons instead for now. However, my daughter is nagging & nagging/begging to do guitar(I think mostly because her friends are doing it). They do seem to push Suziki Violin in a big way though, no idea why.....Pickle, do you know?

LOL Moos - you mean actually let the little darlings move my neatly arranged alphabet (shock, horror)??!!! I have loads of certain letters, so I'm offering those up in exchange for ones I'm missing, but yes, generally speaking I think more than 1 of each letter is good. ;-)

Hire is ?55 per hour, for the hall, kitchen and garden, and I have a contact name of Dawn on 020 7733 7896 or email [email protected]. They have 25 trestle tables and 180 chairs available to use if you need them! Hope you get sorted.