monniemae

Awful news. Claire is indeed a legend. Her skill, expertise and most importantly warmth and compassion were what helped me get through those early, tongue-tied weeks of hell. She is also funny. I hope Kings can be persuaded to renew their breastfeeding support. Well done for going to the protest x

I had a similarly frustrating experience with the Gardens and felt I'd been treated v badly - in my case I moved temporarily from one end of Nunhead Lane to the other, before moving back again - literally 3/4months - and was removed from their list. Despite being told of course that's fine.. I may be cynical but I was also experiencing a complicated medical period and felt sceptical as to their reasons for removing me. I suspect it may also be because you haven't been for two years; I believe GP surgeries are now able to remove you from their list if you dont' use them and/or confirm the registration for two years. I moved to Nnhead Surgery which is brilliant but a bit far for you maybe. Sorry I can't help more..

How annoying!Could you call a couple of local nurseries and see if they'd let you put a sign up on the door requesting its return?

My daughter is at stepping stones montessori on Kitto Road, which is about 4mins walk from nunhead station. The fees vary depending on age/number of days, we pay ?700 pcm for a three day week. There is generally a 6-12m waiting list though. Banana Moon near nunhead station is also supposed to be good and I think it's slightly cheaper.

Hello, my GP was happy to refer my then-baby to St Thomas' allergy department (he said we could go to kings or st thomas, but the latter is a national leading centre) - according to the NICE guidelines. At that point she had had two serious reactions to milk and egg. After the first incident we were advised to take her to A&E if anything happened again so we did the second time. We were also prescribed antihistamine. Crucially, my daughetr was considered high risk for allergies as she also had eczema and relatives with serious food allergies. The allergy clinic can help with instant (IgE) reactions but less with delayed reactions so GPs can be reluctant to refer if there wasn't an instant or clear reaction eg hives, breathing issues etc. However I'd recommend speaking to a different GP, and taking photos/videos of any reactions and of course going to A&E if it's an instant reaction. Allergy UK are very helpful and were able to advise me after my daughter's blood tests revealed various allergies. http://www.allergyuk.org/

Really bad timing - day three of weaning 18mo and she lost her newly favourite rabbit somewhere in Dulwich today... either the park, or between pickwick road and the park, or possibly up lordship lane. If anyone sees one OR if anyone has one they could sell/wait to be replaced next week I'd be so grateful... It's this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jellycat-Bedtime-Bunny-Soft-Toy/dp/B00BQFWOO8

Totally agree.

Suggesting people lose the sibling priority if they move is a tad unfair, say, on renters who often have no choice about moving. There are a myriad of reasons a homeowner might move too: divorce, job loss etc.

Has anyone use a carpet repair company to fix a damaged carpet? Ours is pretty new but has been scratched/shredded by a kitten in the corner by the bedroom door, an D there are also massive coffee stains. Our friend who was staying in the room is going to get it fixed, but I just wondered if anyone has any experience or local recommendations? We could get the whole thing relaid at vast expense or get someone in to replace the damaged section and try to remove the coffee stains. Would appreciate any advice (family link: we were going to move the toddler in there!)

Ps I also love that should we choose, she can stay with the nursery till school at almost 5. If we had gone down nanny route and later had a baby we would be yanking her out of the nanny's care while I was on mat leave with no guarantee of returning her to the same nanny.

In an ideal world, I would have preferred to put my 12month old in the care of a nanny / nannyshare with another child of similar age and perhaps an older sibling. However we got a place at a montesori nursery, which we had to confirm a few months before starting and at that point, knowing I felt good about that particular nursery, we went for it rather than wait and try and find a comparably great childminder/nanny. The same week I was contacted about a nanny share by a friend and if we hadn't already paid our deposit we would have snapped her hand off. Actually though, a lot of my anxieties about nursery have been soothed, ie chaos, noise etc. My daughter is in a baby room with a maximum of 9 babies and a minimum of 3 carers. It is incredibly calm. I would expect a room full of nine toddlers to be chaotic but it's lovely, very quiet, the kids are looked after very much how I would like to be at home, and it's structured (or left unstructured) much how a day might be at home.... some story time, some messy play, some free tottering, singing, lunch etc. The negatives are from a work perspective - yes it would be easier to have a nanny who might still take her if she was poorly, or not fine me if I get stuck on a train... Oh and they can get her to sleep. MIRACLE WORKERS

I'm with Queens Rd Partnership - I moved out of the Nunhead Surgery practice and was really sad to leave as they are fab. However I've found Queens Rd Partnership great too. It's a bigger practice, and a bit more run down, but myself and my baby have had great care including referrals on to specialist clinics. The doctor who specialises in young babies (Dr Sayyah) is particularly great ime. I did see the midwife once but she will only see you if you are having your baby in Lewisham hospital or at home in Lewisham borough - I was already booked into Kings and had to travel there for appointments. If you are booked at St Thomas I think you can go to the Waldron Centre for appointments. Hope this helps

Could it be that you've misheard? The government provides 15hrs free (termtime only) for children aged 3+, or 2+ if from a low income household. Unless you mean another scheme I'm unaware of. All families are eligible to apply for other help though, for example childcare vouchers which are a salary sacrifice scheme from your employer. there is good info about help with childcare here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-costs Generally nurseries do have a waiting list of several months but I know many people with babies the same age as mine who were able to secure places at much shorter notice at a range of nurseries. Whereabouts do you live?

That sounds odd to me. BCG in London are normally done at BCG clinics - rather than at GP surgery - which may be why they said they cant do it. Ours was at the Waldron Centre but you should be able to get details of where the BCG clinics are held from your surgery or health visiting team. I suppose at 7 the HV team may no longer have responsibility for your son but I would check with them anyway.

I would try a tula... I have a connecta which I've used from 5m, Manduca are great but she is already bit big for them at a year whereas Tula by all accounts are fabulously comfy and supportive plus work for a big toddler too

I only have one child, a girl, who is so typically "a boy" that however she is dressed/introduced to people they continue to talk to her as a boy. It's been quite eye opening in terms of how much projection is involved with gendering our children. However I had read Cordelia Fine's "Delusions of Gender" before having children so am inclined to think much of this is overstated anyway, particularly any kind of claim for biological determinism. Delusions of Gender is written by a neuroscientist, she examines many of the claims made for male/female brains etc and I highly recommend it - at least read it alongside Bidulph etc so you can decide for yourself where the differences lie. Also recommend Pink Brain Blue Brain by Lise Elliot. My little girl is incredibly loud, active, ferocious, tough etc. People remark on what a typical boy she is ALL THE TIME. If I ever bother to say "yes... actually she's a girl" then the change in tone is notable - suddenly "she's so gentle" while she thwacks the cat, or "so pretty" as she launches herself headfirst off a slide. As a boy "she's so brave/tough/etc". I don't think this one anecdotal experience proves anything but I do see how easily I might have ascribed her behaviour / personality to her sex had she been more typically "girly" or born a boy. Hope I haven't offended anyone! Just genuinely interested / passionate about this subject. Also - a friend, also on the forum, attended the "Raising Boys" course at Rosendale Children's Centre and found it invaluable with suggestions for reaching her sterotypically boyish 3yr old. Will ask her to post details x

I've heard good things about St Marys too. I've just started my 11mo old in the baby room at Stepping Stones Montessori on Kitto road, which I really like - obviously I have no experience of the older room but tbh it was the older room that really appealed to me when I looked round (I like the baby room, it's very calm, but if I'd gone for nanny or childminder I would still definitely have wanted her to go to the nursery from 2 or 3). Feel free to ask any Qs about it if you want more detail. I also looked round Playhouse Community Nursery at the moonshot centre in new cross which is v highly recommended. I had some gushing personal recommendations for it. It seemed lovely, lots of activities etc. However for us the baby room at Stepping Stones won out as it's calmer. hth

My 11mo has just started 3 days a week and until she started settling in she was still feeding through the night and two or 3 times in day. She also doesn't really drink milk at nursery (a bit occasionally from a grippy cup) but seems to be doing fine. It's also coincided with her suddenly sleeping through the night *hallelujah* so I was really worried she was going to starve but nope, seems absolutely fine... Have been feeding her as normal on non-nursery days

Think it's ?50 for upstairs at the old nuns head? Or ?25 ph (min 2hrs) for telegraph hill playclub

we have f&b "strong white" in lots of pur house - it's a v v light grey, sandier in the southfacing areas and cooler blue-grey in the darker areas. Also like "cornforth" which we have in one bedroom; it's a bit darker/more obviously grey but still v light, and warm.

We went 25th september for a week a couple of years ago and it was wonderful; gorgeous weather. Definitely a good time to go, not too scorching but hot enough for lazy beach days, pool etc.

Would she be someone to speak to re a transfer from co-sleeping to own room/cot? We have a baby who refuses to sleep unless next to mum with boob in mouth... A very, very strong-willed baby, prone to hysterical screaming/sobbing at the mere mention of changing her sleep arrangements... Can't really afford ?200 but might be up for trying the cheaper one-off chat at ?75 if anyone can reassure me it'll be worth it! (of course it will be worth it but am really just looking for encouragement from people who overcame similar)

Just to add, the snip for us was great, NOT the instant miracle cure-all it is for some people, but without doubt the only reason I am still feeding my 7mo. And enjoying it! In our case Katie explained the baby has a v high vaulted palate which was likely to affect latch even if tie snipped, until she was 3-4m old and her skull had grown/changed shape. Straight away after the snip my baby was feeding much more efficiently - for the first time I could see her gulping milk. My own discomfort lessened slightly but it took a bit of retraining her re latch etc. Thrush we finally knocked on the head, much to my sceptical surprise, with probiotic tablets (see Dr Jack Newman on probiotics for dosage etc). Hope this helps and keep going. A friend with similar problems used nipple shields and some bottles to get her through & beyond the snip - I know experts recommend as a last resort but whatever works for you and helps if you want to continue xx

Hello, we saw Katie Fisher privately and for reasons of cost & feeling like I couldn't manage much longer, I opted for Katie snipping the tie at home. I called her on a friday and saw her on a tuesday - I remember thinking "just make it to tuesday.." In fact there was a mix up (she'd booked me in as a consultation and I fed the baby so she couldn't then snip) so I was referred to the Kings / NHS clinic - it took about a week I think? I saw Clare on the wednesday and snip was following tuesday. But Katie's advice helped me manage the next few days. I had the same concerns as you and Katie's office is tiny and definitely doesn't have a "medical" feel, but she is also excellent by all accounts. And everything is clean etc. I would definitely interrogate her about the specifics as I iniderstand posterior tt is harder to snip. A friend had her baby's PTT snipped in their own home by Ann Dobson and was happy.

Not much comfort given the huge stress they've caused you but sounds like you have good grounds for appeal at boyh schools.