Bellenden Belle

Used the cocoon from birth here too. I don't think you would necesarilly put the carrycot on the ground when getting in and out of the car - you'd simply put him in the car seat, and fold the pram and then do the same in reverse. In fact one of the plus sides of the cocoon is that you simply fold it as part of the pram - you don't detach it at all. I had big babies though.

Sessions get released every week, about two weeks ahead, around midweek. And places go fast!!!! Good luck! berbel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bellenden belle this is fantastic. They all seem > booked up at the moment but I will check the > website constantly. Thank you

I can't advise on boards but I have a son of a similar age and we have just discovered House of Vans. It's in Waterloo, entirely free, and gives lessons for five year olds plus. It provides all boards and pads for the lesson. A great way to learn techniques and if you already start to go to the next stage. http://houseofvanslondon.com

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for your thoughts and suggestions and opinions. All really useful - particularly the fact that there were such varying opinions. My partner has now spoken to his mum and said that we would be happier with two nights. If I feel differently nearer the time or if the trial sleepovers go really well then I may up it to three nights. But I'm going to try and not feel pressurized into anything. I don't think my milk supply is likely to disappear after two nights? Does that happen? I had a couple of nights away when breastfeeding no.1 and don't remember any problems - I guess there's always a chance Mister will decide against boob after such a break, but at 13 months I'd be okay with that (though ideally I'd like to continue).

Sue, Melange is reasonably priced for artisan chocolates. Think it's about a pound a truffle. I was always happy buying from there for pressies (including pressies to myself!) and there's lots of delicious chocolate to nibble as they wrap your box. Lovely owner too.

Advice and opinions sought. My youngest will be 13 months in August. A wedding in Ireland is happening and granny has offered to look after both my 13-month old and his older brother. The older one is very confident and happy with granny as she has looked after him for three years. She has hardly spent any time with the baby and has little interest in doing so. We were thrilled when she suggested two nights. She's now come back and said she Wants to take them on holiday and so needs them both for four nights. For me, this feels too much. Her retort is that I was happy with two nights away, so what's the difference? I have offered ways for her to spend weekly time with both children but she's declined. Instead she is having him overnight twice before the four days in August. Am I worrying unnecessarily? Or am I right that four nights for a baby (still partially breastfed) is too young

Has anyone got a boys Roman centurion dressing up outfit for a 4 / 5 year old I could borrow? I booked a Nimble arts workshop for this afternoon and didn't realise my son needed to dress up. I could collect this morning if you were about? Many thanks.

Agree with Seabag - awful cafe and the Brakes van pulling up outside gave a pretty good indication of the quality of their wares. I think I once said it was all coat and no knickers.

Actually to be fair to Uncleglen I actually thought the same, I don't think there was any untoward suggestion. I think the first person to ask is your daughter - does she have a particular friend that she would like to arrange a day out with? I'm guessing you might live in a different area to your ex-partner which might be why you are looking for friends outside of your daughter's school - in which case how about contacting an organisation like Gingerbread which arranges events for single parents or having a look on Meetup - I think they have groups doing family-friendly activities.

Our water bills plummeted when we got a metre. We are a couple with two kids living in a three bed house. I think this may be a reflection of how little we bathe our children.

Lochie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you like American literature then you might > like Curtis Sittenfeld - her books are real page > turners - I especially loved American Wife and > Sisterland. This, a hundred times over. Absolutely love Sittenfeld (new one out in May this year - I'm counting) and yes, those two are particularly good.

Peter Swanson - The Kind worth killing. Great American escapism - very much in a league with Gone Girl and not as domestic as Girl on the Train which left me feeling a bit grubby, I think partly due to its London/ suburbs setting.

http://www.barbarahouseman.com Barbara is an extraordinary drama and speech coach. She taught me as a child and I have never ever forgotten her. As you'll see from her website she has gone on to rather dizzy heights but she lives in East Dulwich and may still take students. Just to add that if your daughter is interested in pursuing drama in the future then experience of participatory/ group work will be far more beneficial than qualifications. Choose carefully - avoid places that shout show business and performance. Theatre Peckham is worth considering....

Sara Longmuir is not local. And she's not cheap.... But she's bloody effective! And I say that as someone who used a Dulwich recommended hypnotherapist with no effect at one point. Sara 07941 015 866 [email protected] www.saralongmuir.co.uk 27 Grange Gardens, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 5QD

I love the Bee. I don't drive so have spent my life on buses, trains and even escalators to get to the tube and the bee has been perfect all the way. It's also easy to collapse and throw in a car. And my bee saw my first one all the way through from birth til he was three and no longer in need of a Pram - the only second pram I've had was a Nipper which we use for country walks and which was an EBay bargain.

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Just wanted to give another shout out for The Bear at the Albany. Absolutely lovely production - very funny and touching too. Also children's theatre is so expensive so I think it's wonderful that Albany tickets are quite reasonable - 10 pounds for adults and 8 for children. The layout is also a really good introduction for children - They can sit with their parents or there is lots of floor space and mats at the front which is a great way for them to be up close to the action (and the very gentle audience interaction moments). Go! And make it your New Years resolution to support this terrific venue!

Just to say that you can rent a connecta from the south London sling library - nine pounds for three weeks and yes, it's a great sling in hot weather and travelling.

Pound shops often have boxed craft activities - I find them great as I am not at all creative in that kind of way so need a bit of direction. But I don't really have a very crafty boy either and so it's a success if I get 20 minutes of activity out of it. I see little girls on playdates getting really stuck into craft - I figure it's either something they like or not. Baking is a good alternative activity - and decorating cakes is just a more yummy form of crafting, right?

Hope this thread might help! http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1271050,1271379#msg-1271379

A tipple might be appreciated. Dubonnet was apparently the Queen Mother's favourite!

Huge thank you to everyone for all your advice and support. It's so helpful to know I'm not the only one. A mum told me that a doctor had told her it was likely to be because she was dehydrated or not drinking enough water. This sounded like the simplest solution in th world so for the past two days I've been drinking and drinking. And it's made the most enormous difference.

Has anyone else experienced this? 5am like clockwork my little one wakes and seems in tremendous discomfort with wind. Legs draw up, lots of straining, this continues on and off until about 8/9am when he finally manages a proper poo. It was significantly worse when we introduced a bottle of formula as a dream feed - we have tried two brands now. We have stopped this now. But it seems to be happening even now when I have returned to solely breastfeeding. He feeds at 6.30pm, 11pm, 2am. Any ideas? We have no similar symptoms during the day. He was very colicky in the early days but that settled apart from this 5am stirring? Could this be a dairy / lactose intolerance issue?

I would just like to add that one can establish a routine without 'crying it out'. At seven weeks I thought my second would never sleep before 10pm/11pm each night and it was indeed exhausting. Thirteen weeks tomorrow, he now goes down within 20 minutes and around seven o'clock. We think being consistent was the key. Endless nights of repeating and repeating the shush/ pat method from The Baby Whisperer (also patiently taught to me by lovely Buggie from here when I had my first. It is hard to know what the long-term effects of crying it out and raised cortisol levels are. Ultimately I think it is important for mums to do whatever it takes that supports them - a relaxed mum must be good for a child. So I wouldn't judge anyone for letting their child cry. But it's worth exploring the gentler methods first snd above all giving yourself time - lots of people turn a corner at the 12 week point. I found the No Cry Sleep Solution another useful book.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/18/lidl-to-pay-9000-staff-the-full-living-wage Lidl is the first UK supermarket to commit to a living wage.