Bellenden Belle

Sadly not EPB - they work for babes apparently as it resembles sounds in the womb. A large glass of wine and woman's hour on I player works for me.

It depends on the child I guess but for me, the most fun I could have, ever, was a big West End show. But that doesn't come cheaply!

Yes they work. Just download an app - about 1.99 and you can choose a whole range of sounds.

I have two babysitters. One, a wonderful teenager who lives next door gets ?5. But I only ever use her when I am going local, when my little one is sound asleep on arrival and I'm home between 11 and midnight. If I need someone to put him to bed, am going anywhere that isn't within walking distance and there's a chance I might be home after midnight I use a CRB checked experienced childminder and pay ?8 an hour. So different needs/ expectation and levels of risk matching differences in pay.

How old are peoples kids when they go on trips out? Three? Or younger?

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has replied, pm'd me or approached me. Talking to the nursery, they have assured me they were five staff down (through holiday and sickness) on the day I was particularly concerned and that this was an exceptional situation. They have also assured the ratio will remain 8:1, even with the increased numbers of children. I also spoke to Southwark who assured me that such changes would be closely monitored - particularly if a capital grant was being made by the local authority. But mostly, I guess, talking to other parents and hearing about other nursery environments, I have concluded that at the moment ours is quite a standard nursery and I am unlikely to find much different, or indeed better, elsewhere. I guess I find that knowledge reassuring, and must simply learn to deal with my parental anxiety!!!!

Thank you all so much for your replies. Really interesting and useful points. My main concern is that I think my son could benefit from more individual attention - particularly as he already has speech delay. And I guess we all choose our nurseries carefully and to then find the goalposts shifting so that the level of care is not the same as one's initial impression is very difficult. I think I need to make some very firm enquiries as Saffron suggested, and look at other settings. SJ - 1:4 ratio? Amazing...

The nursery my son attends has suddenly decided to expand. This is to accommodate 2/3 year olds in return for a local authority capital grant. It happened without consultation with existing parents (despite being a community nursery) and with no information on staff/child ratios. A number of times I have dropped my son off and been rather perturbed by the staff/ ratio - and the fact there is not even a key worker present to greet him. Before I start looking for a new setting, I am wondering whether my expectations are too high. and what other settings for two/ three years olds are like. Apparently legislation states 1:13 is acceptable but most nurseries choose 1:8. I wonder if there is such a thing as a calm environment for a toddler, where they do get individual attention.

Minecraft (which I had never heard of until this thread)was featured on the Today programme at around 8.15am this morning. Worth a listen if you are interested - there was all kinds of evidence demonstrating educational outcomes and even improved vocabulary amongst children.

If Picturehouse did agree to pay a living wage I would make a conscious decision to choose them above others. I would actively go there instead of, say, the Curzon, their closest brand rival. Instead of always discussing boycotting, perhaps we could talk about giving cinema-goers a postive ethical choice. Picturehouse could seize an opportunity to be a leader in the industry and make a stand, and receive well-deserved plaudits as a result. Just as they have with other areas of work like their autism-friendly shows. What an amazing marketing opportunity - to launch a new cinema and say that not only are we bringing new jobs to the area, but that those jobs are paid at a living wage. Suddenly a small opening could become newsworthy. And they could say they were doing that directly in response to listening to what's important for their customers.

Bic Basher Wrote: > Similar to Innocent Juice, which kept it's > management team after being acquired by Coca-Cola. > The branding like Picturehouse works so well that > people believe it's an independent. Precisely, but its branding is entirely disingenuous. It trades on being a quality product and charges a premium for doing so, attracting a much sought-after demographic of customer who won't just buy a cinema ticket but are likely to have the disposable income to also spend on all the profit-making add-ons (coffee anyone?). Its "philosophy" talks about tailoring its programme for each area, providing clubs for groups such as the elderly and young parents, and delivering education work - but if you won't pay a living wage to your employees, it undermines all other "community" initiatives.

Also - can we just establish that Picturehouse is hardly an independent - it was bought two years ago for 47 million by Cineworld http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/picturehouse-reeled-in-by-cineworld-in-47m-deal-8389607.html

Yep it worked for us. But in the early days it involved lots of other cues as well - rocking of the pram, white noise, pacifier, walking round the block etc. It didn't come immediately but it did get easier so that friends would be absolutely amazed at how he would go down and then gently nod off - but I think that was past twelve weeks. His granny used to put him into the garden in his pram - think he rather liked watching and listening to the birds before dozing off. We never did cry it out in case you're wondering. But we did make sure he was actually tired - whether that be from lying under his rainforest gym, or bouncing about, or an actual activity. Even in the very beginning we made sure there was some activity (that could be as simple as changing his nappy) after feeding. BUT - if I had my time again, I think I would have cuddled him to sleep more and worried about the routine less. But then, hindsight is a marvellous thing.

I don't think there is any harm in going along to a Chattertime session. As you will see from this thread, I started down this road when my son was 23 months. Five months on, I'm really pleased I started when I did because my son still has difficulties but I feel we're getting lots of support and early intervention really is important. Also, the sessions are really enjoyable and all the tips and strategies given to parents are helpful, whether your son ends up having difficulties or not. The Bessemer Grange sessions aren't as good so if you can make the Rye oak sessions on a Thursday morning I would - craft activities, stories, songs and snacks. And a fantastic therapy team.

Just to add that Steve has looked at both a tumble dryer and a washing machine for me on two separate occasions. Superb service - even liaised with an electrican for me over some dodgy wiring - I just can't recommend him enough.

http://www.camberwellchoirschool.org.uk/ I've only attended the baby class here but it seems very well organised with good progression routes. Might be worth giving them a ring to find out more.

Polka Children's Theatre in Wimbledon has a dressing up box. Probably not a whole afternoon's activity but if you combined it with a show it would be a fun day out.

I absolutely agree with the previous two posters. Inappropriate and not in keeping with the ethos of this room.

I can't recommend this hotel enough. Delcious food, great staff, hugely child friendly yet still managed to feel like a grown up holiday too! http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1574391-d288931-Reviews-Ammos_Hotel-Agii_Apostoli_Chania_Town_Chania_Prefecture_Crete.html

Twenty pounds a head? Sounds very reasonable to me. What didn't you like out of interest? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Dearest one was if I remember ?29.00. Bill for > four came to ?80.00. > Food was ok but dont think I would go back. I > wish them well though.

Actually I was at Vauxhall City farm yesterday and they have some available. It's such a terrific resource this seems like a great way to support the charity.

Whilst I am clearly not the best person to give career advice I would absolutely agree with Sillywoman's statement below. I have negotiated upwards before (including in my current role) - the trick is to get them to want you. And Sillywoman - your comment about going back to my old job is a fair point. I am thinking about it - my role no longer exists there due to a restructure, but they have approached me and asked me to return in a freelance capacity. If I can find a small job that can offer a little bit of security alongside freelance work, I may have a solution. sillywoman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Apply Otta. If you get interviewed/offered you can > tell them you need and extra 3K to make it work. > They'll say yes or no. If 'yes' then it's a > win-win. If 'no' then you've lost nothing but the > hope for that particular job, and you never know > they might come back to you in future if things > change. Take the chance - g'waan . . .

I am only speaking from experience here - others will no doubt manage their workload better than me. For a year after my little one was born I worked a fairly untaxing job. I was good at it, I worked very relaxed hours and days and whilst nothing challenged me, it paid feel. That guilt of 'I should/ could be doing more' nagged away at me. So I moved. Convinced an employer I could do five days work in four days and took a job at a very ambitious high profile charity. Worst move ever. I feel I am not doing justice to either home or work, I miss my kid having pretty much given up pick ups and drop offs and today, his birthday, I'm on my way to a trustee meeting. It's a miserable existence. If you can afford to not push yourself then take that option. Life is too short.

I started one of the recent threads about Speech and Language Therapy and have been meaning to post about Jennifer Warwick ever since. A forumite sent me her details and I booked an assessment for my son with her. She works in the NHS but lives in East Dulwich and so is happy to see children privately in their homes in this area. She was absolutely lovely. Very flexible - for example my little one was napping at our pre-arranged time and she was really accommodating and came half an hour later. I think it was really helpful for my little one to be seen in his own home as well - it put him immediately at ease. Jenn took lots of time to talk to us about our concerns and give us strategies for helping Baby Belle. She also didn't push any further sessions on us - suggesting books we could read and encouraging us to see what progress we could make as a family before further intervention. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. Her email is [email protected] and you can find some more information about her on the page below: http://about.me/jennifer_warwick

Ivydale children's centre is busy and has a lovely singalong at the end. Baby belle and I are currently doing cookery classes at Dog Kennel Hill childrens centre. There are still spaces.