Claire29

Sorry don't know too much about the area's but having moved from east dulwich to "surbibia!" last year having a car is essential, well for me it is having 3 kids. Would you consider taking driving lessons before you move, been able to drive opens up so many opportunities, and would make life so much easier and enjoyable for when you are home with little un. That way you wont end up feeling so claustraphobic in the area. Good luck with the move!

We had them too, middle son who was around 3 fell out after sneaking up the top, luckily nothing broken! But then decided to seperate them as it was just too tempting for the younger one to climb up the ladder. I will be putting my youngest into a toddler bed in a couple of weeks from a cot, which I know he will love (the freedom!) but at least I haven't got the worry of him falling far, as if we still had the bunk beds he would be up the ladder like a rocket!

We have found mixed response with them, my eldest was 6 when he got one and loved it, used it at the airport using his feet to push himself along at quite a speed, and he also loved the fact he could put all his junk.....sorry toys in it for the flight. Our 3 year old at the time liked the idea but wouldn't sit on it, so we had to carry and since then he still hasn't taken to it so I don't bother bringing for him anymore when we go away, as one more thing for us to end up carrying!

If it's the medicine my youngest has recently for infected excezma, begining with a F and it's pink, it's awful tasting and having tried nothing could disguise the taste. It sounds cruel but it's a 2 person job for us him taking it, I normally have him on my lap cuddeling him, then my husband gets the syringe ready, and then I place my arms over his arms so that he can't move them and husband gives the medicine. It is traumatic and not the nicest thing in the world to do, but i think it's more important if they need the medicine for them to take it than not, and as he's only 2 1/2 he doesn't do reasoning so can't even explain to him why he needs it....... it get's easier as they get older and the bribery of chocolate works! Good luck!

Wow I'm so glad I've got 3 boys and don't have these issues! Had never really thought about the deep meanings of the stories as I tend to think they are children for such a short time, let them enjoy it! My boys love Horrid Henry (books).....not sure if he's a great role model!

WorkingMummy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > And that is totally sane. Your children will turn > out every bit as healthy as the children of we > food label scanners and probably with a slightly > more relaxed mum. :-) :) lets hope so

I wish I could say I check the label of all the foods I buy but shock horror I don't!!! I've got 3 boys, I work 3 days a week, I don't have a cleaner so life is quite full on, if I had more free time perhaps I would stress over what they eat, but I'm quite relaxed in that as long as they are getting some protein (chicken or fish fingers, frozen ones!) enough vegtables, fruit, carbs etc each day, well thats good enough for me. In an ideal world I would love to bake cakes and treats every day for the family......but I dont so they eat jam tarts, cookies,crisps all of which are full of things I probably wouldn't want to know about BUT they eat these in moderation , same as when I was a kid, it hasn't done me any harm, I'm 33 and I've only got 1 filling!! PS They eat honey nut cheerios most days but have been known to eat coco pops when I've got the variety packs!!! (hold my head in shame now :))

Hi I used Tinies, which is an agency based in Bromley, but they cover South East London (I'm based in Sidcup now which is where I've got my nanny for) The reason I used the agency was because we were moving to an area where I didn't know anyone so couldn't rely on recommendation, plus we were leaving a really good nanny behind in dulwich so I wanted someone good. The first nanny they sent to me to interview was perfect, we just clicked, and we are happy with her 5 months on. It is an expensive option (4 weeks nanny pay)was the fee we had to pay, but after having a couple of bad nannies, before our good one in dulwich, I wanted to find someone I could trust.

I have 3 boys and to say it's noisy and caotic sometimes would be an understatement, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I didn't plan to have 3, but I'm very happy I did because I hope when the boys are older they stay close. I'm close to my siblings so for me personally I would have felt really guilty not having more than one, knowing how fun it can be to have brothers and sisters to play with (or fight with!).

If your little un likes watching tv, maybe a portable DVD player? we are going away in a few weeks and I'm getting a small portable dvd player in the hope of keeping 22month old happy on the plane watching fireman sam dvd, before his 2 older brothers get their hands on it and want to watch their fave things which are Spiderman and Top Gear!!

Hi Carbonara Yes have researched schools other than grammar and there is a really good state school, Hurstmere, within distance (hopefully!) of where we will live. I will only think about the grammar one's if kids pass 11+, which if they do, great, if they don't more than happy to send them to the other school. My family are based out this way too so that has been a big pull to the area, apart from getting more for money.

sillywoman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Claire29 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > We moved in the last 6 weeks to Sidcup, in a > > rented house buying a house in Bexley. . . . > It's > > surbubia but I'm really enjoying it, it's > > peaceful, I'm only 15 min drive to Bluweater, > > train into charing cross takes 25 minutes. For > us > > the main reason was bigger house, bigger > garden, > > and decent secondary schools, for in the > future. > > It's surprising how quickly you adapt. > > I would just like to say that whilst I completely > understand about how expensive & small property is > in ED & how small our gardens are comparative to > places further afield, we do actually have > excellent primary schools here in ED & we have > very good - better than decent - secondary schools > 'for in the future' too. > > Hoists bosom protectively & dons hard hat. Hi, Yes I know the primary schools are good, I took my eldest out of Heber and turned down a place for his brother for September, I've seen first hand how good they are, so wasn't an easy decision. Re secondary schools, having seen how great the demand is for primary schools in the area I think in a few years it will be the same for secondary and even having a good boys school, the new one opp Peckham Rye, living close doesn't guarentee a place. Also I know a lot of people are against grammar schools, which bexley has, but if any of my boys are bright enough to get a place I'd be more than happy for them to go to a school that will keep them on their toes so to speak! I can't afford to send them private, and if they were academic enough for grammar I'd be happy for that. Also there is a good boys school over this way too. Having grown up in Camberwell I do know what schools are like in London, and like any parent I want the best for my kids, I think everyone has different opinions for the types of schools they want for kids. As long as the kids are happy = happy parents :)

We moved in the last 6 weeks to Sidcup, in a rented house buying a house in Bexley. Since moving it's been a bit strange as have been coming back to dulwich every day as eldest was still at school, now he has changed school. It's lovely for him now having a school that has a playing field and large playground, also kids play out more on streets, no stressing over parking, as most houses have off street parking, having a big garden and finally getting a trampoline which they love. It's surbubia but I'm really enjoying it, it's peaceful, I'm only 15 min drive to Bluweater, train into charing cross takes 25 minutes. For us the main reason was bigger house, bigger garden, and decent secondary schools, for in the future. It's surprising how quickly you adapt.

Hi, My 19 month old son still has 3 bottle's of full fat cows milk, one in the morning, one after sleep in day and one before bed. He eat's well but given the chance he would have more milk, as soon as he see's the fridge door open he makes a bee line for it! He wasn't brestfed so I switched from formula to cow's milk when he was around 1. I did it gradually and I think from memory mixed some cow's milk with formula so he got used to the taste and his body got used to it. If your son is eating well otherwise I wouldn't worry too much, I've tried putting milk in a cup with a lid for him, which he wont take so will just carry on letting him have milk until he grow's out of it.

Godstone Farm? Adventure playground peckham park? greenwich park - playground is nice for the little ones, Danson Park (Bexley just off A2) has a good playground with one of those zip wire things that kids can hold onto and swing on. Must try and see you before I move! x