ClaireClaire

I'm sure others will know more But it's advised to not give cows' milk while child is sick (with tummy bug? with general virus? with antibiotics? not sure) If you do, they can subsequently develop an intolerance to cows' milk. I don't know if it would necessarily result in all the vomiting, but I suppose it's possible any help? Cx

Like others, I struggle to get a same-day appointment with DMC Crystal Palace Road. I start calling at 8am and keep hitting redial, and by the time I get through all appointments are gone. When I tell the staff that the patient is a 2yo child, it makes no difference. Tough luck for me. Today I had a very sick child who had to see a doctor pronto so I was taking no chances. Husband took a half-day's annual leave so that I could go down to the surgery myself for 8am to make an appointment. (Otherwise I would have to take sick child with me, not an option, too sick.) I arrived at 7.45am and there were already 2 people waiting. By 7.55 there were FOURTEEN people waiting. The staff opened the doors at 8am promptly and began to deal with us (not answering the phones). I got a 9am appointment (phew). By the time I was leaving at 8.05, another 3 people had arrived to make appointments. So this is why we can't get appointments by phoning at 8am!!! Anyway, I thought I would share this info for others. Personally, I think I'm going to try to switch practice because this is ridiculous. Claire

Hello people, My sister-in-law has just had a baby in Korea and I would like to send her a gift... I am thinking baby books in English via Amazon, but wondering which Amazon should I use? .com or .co.uk? I'm guessing shipping charges might be less from the US, but will they have to pay import tax when parcel arrives in Korea? Grateful for any advice from those of you with experience in such matters! Thanks Claire

Yes, I second the recommendation for the car park at the top of Crystal Palace park (nearish to CP train station) Also in Sydenham all around the Lawrie Park area is excellent - quiet roads with lots of other L plates moving at 5mph!!

hello people, I wondered if anyone here could give me some ideas. It's my grandmother's 100th birthday in a couple of weeks and I've love my kids to make a card for her. Kids are aged 5 and 2. But what to put on the card??? All I can think of so far is: - "Happy 100th birthday", where the kids paint the words or glue stuff in to make the words - A collage-picture of a cake with 100 candles (how do I do that?? matches with the tips taken off?) - A collage-picture of 100 of something else - 100 balloons? 100 flowers? 100 glasses of champagne? Any better ideas? She lives in her own home in rural Ireland and is still fit as a fiddle, and a keen gardener. Claire

So funny :-)

Hi rahrahrah, It sounds like you're using some variation of the controlled crying technique, and I thought I'd share the version that's worked for me. The version I use comes from Richard Ferber's book called "Solve your child's sleep problems", which I cannot recommend highly enough. Basically, the first step is to identify what's disturbing your child's sleep. In my case (and it's very common in babies the age you mention), it was a sleep association problem. For example, the baby might need her dummy to get back to sleep, so you have umpteen wakings between 11pm and 5am where you have to go and put the dummy back in. Or baby needs to be rocked to sleep, or cuddled, or nursed, or have her tummy patted, or whatever. So the first step is to identify if you have a sleep association problem, and decide whether you are in a position to try to break that sleep association. (BTW If baby still needs night feeds, then obviously CC is not appropriate.) Choose a time when you have a stretch of at least 3-4 days when you can concentrate on sleep training. So not when you're just about to take a trip or have a houseguest etc. Also, make sure to choose a time when baby is not ill or teething etc. If you start the training when you're concerned baby is ill or teething, you are likely to change your mind half-way through and not follow through with the procedure. Your objective is to remove the thing that is causing the problem (e.g. dummy, rocking, etc), and LET BABY FALL ASLEEP without it. What you're really doing with the CC technique is standing back respectfully and allowing your baby to learn this new skill. So, on the big night, you and hubby should both be there and both committed to the training. If you're not both committed yet, don't start, because you will probably just cave in and then end up feeling like "controlled crying doesn't work" -- whereas, done properly, it does work. On the first night: Put baby in her cot. Make sure to remove whatever sleep association you're trying to break E.g. put her down without the dummy, or without all the ritual rocking/patting/singing etc. Just put her down, say good night, and leave the room. Baby will start crying. Wait 1 minute, then go in and give her a pat. Don't pick her up, DO NOT under any circumstances reintroduce the association you are trying to break, i.e. the dummy/rocking/patting. Just reassure her briefly that you are there, you love her etc. Remember that your purpose there is to reassure her, NOT to stop her crying. She will probably start crying again as soon as you turn to leave: that is ok. Just leave the room anyway. Next wait 3 mins before going in and repeating the brief reassurance. Next wait 5 mins. Next wait 10 mins. Next wait 15 mins. Continue to go in at 15 min intervals until she falls asleep. It actually doesn't matter what intervals you choose, as long as they increase and then plateau. So in the example above, I've suggested 1 / 3 / 5/ 10 / 15 / 15 / 15; but you could also do: 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 10 / 10. On the second night, increase the intervals slightly compared to whatever you've done previously. So if you did 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 15 on the first night, you could do 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 20 / 20 on the second night. Again, whatever is manageable for you. On the third night, if your child is still crying, increase the intervals again. And so on. If you have diagnosed the sleep problem correctly, you should see a huge improvement certainly within a week, and more likely within just a few days. There are a number of reasons why this technique works. Firstly, it's manageable for the parent: not only do you reassure your child that you're still there, but you reassure yourself that your child is ok. The cold turkey method of "put child in cot and leave it there until it falls asleep" doesn't work because most parents, understandably, cannot follow through with that. Secondly, by repeatedly going in and not changing your stance, you're providing important data to your child. You're teaching your child that yes, mummy is here and mummy is looking after you, but mummy is not going to take you out of the cot (or stroke your tummy or give you the dummy). With the cold turkey method, the child actually doesn't have that data, because the whole time, they're thinking: "Where's mummy?" So in that case they cry until they exhaust themselves. But with this technique, they cry until they realise that mummy's behaviour isn't going to change, and they may as well just go to sleep. It really is an active training technique. We did this for the first time when our first child was 6m and her having a dummy at night had become a problem. On the first night, she cried for 1.5 hours. (We had mentally prepared for 3-4 hours). On the second night she cried for 45 mins. On the third night she went straight to sleep without a murmur. We've also done it numerous times with our second child. (We go through cycles of letting him sleep with us while he's sick, and then getting him back in his own bed after he's well again, so we've done CC with him numerous times, and I can assure you that each time it works like a charm!!) Sorry for this long post but I thought it might help you rahrah, or if not you then some other poor person suffering from sleep deprivation and wondering about controlled crying! GOOD LUCK and if you have any questions about CC then feel free to pm me Claire

Hello, Another happy customer here Busybee has just visited me for waxing and eyebrow threading, and can definitely recommend her! Such a nice lady -- brought everything she needed, no fuss or mess, and worked around my 2 kids. Hoping to try the Dermalogica facial next time! Claire

Hi Becca, I have sent you a PM asking for some more info thanks Claire

Just reading this through quickly so maybe will come back later with some more coherent thoughts I agree with what someone else has said about using humour to deflect the negative comments I have a couple of personal anecdotes I can pm to you if interested - let me know. I also agree with others who say that it would be better to not involve the school -- it is just my personal view but I think people should try to handle things themselves, and while it can be a bit daunting at first, it could give him a huge confidence boost to know that he had been able to deal with it himself. Good luck Claire

Hello Just to add to this to say I had my daughter vaccinated against cp at 2.5y We had 1 jab at the Victoria MediCentre - cost around ?80 at the time, it was easy and effective. I chose to do it because I was pregnant at the time and had not had cp myself previously... I hoped that by vaccinating my toddler, I would be less likely to come down with cp myself. (Which unfortunately was not the case, it still got me!) Unfortunately I still have cp scars over 2 years later.... assuming my kids have the same type of skin as me, I would prefer for them to be vaccinated rather than develop cp and risk them having ugly scars for life! Just my personal preference. Claire

There is an Oxfam furniture store in Streatham, if this helps. https://www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/content/furniture.html Another option is to ring Shelter (0344 515 1540 for South London office) and ask if they know of anywhere more local. (I also donated some furniture to what I thought was a local charity a couple of years ago, but they turned out to be bogus! Hmph. Can't remember the name otherwise I would post it here.) Claire

Tommy - yes. Also, I think the distances published in the booklet are based only on the first round of offers of a school place. But then there is a lot of movement subsequent to that via people being on waiting lists. And as far as I know the effective catchment distances (aka furthest distance offered figures) are never recompiled. (Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone?) So for example, for Heber this year, the last child to be offered a place based on the distance to school criterion was 317m, but we went on the waiting list and got a place at Heber after 8 weeks and we live 325m away. As far as I'm aware, the booklet that will be published in September will say something like "furthest distance offered for a non-sibling place was 317m" You can also get last year's booklet if you want to get an idea of what the effective catchment distances were for the year prior to that. Claire

Thanks very much Now I am worried about why I haven't got my letter! I got a place after being on waiting list Heber seemed a little confused about it, although I have confirmation from Southwark, and Southwark have also emailed Heber to confirm this, so it should all be clear, and yet we still don't know which class we will be in, and now haven't got this letter confirming start dates etc. Grr. I hope I don't have any awkward situations in September when we start. I assume the school office is closed now for holidays, so nothing I can do but wait until it reopens on the 5th. Anyways, see you all in September, all being well!

Thank you! I too was expecting a letter, but haven't got it yet :-(

We used this - floaties http://www.amazon.co.uk/Floaties-Baby-Swim-Seat-11Kgs/dp/B002P4RWY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312375935&sr=8-1 and were happy with it Baby was 5m at the time, but is supposed to be good up to 1 year I was trying to sell mine last year - can't remember if I managed it in the end or possibly still in loft in a box somewhere I can have a look if you would like to borrow/buy

Hi, Any other parents who were at the introduction meeting on 14th July for new students joining Heber Primary this fall The teachers mentioned the start date for new students joining reception in September - but I didn't write it down! Anyone else who was there - could you remind me? Was it 7th September for kids who had not been at the nursery previously, and 14th September for kids who had been at nursery? Thanks v much Claire

Use one of those green coils. Light it before you go to bed and it slowly burns through the night, is pretty effective. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifesystems-Mosquito-Smoke-Coils-Green/dp/B000LN7CSE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312367977&sr=8-1 This is what we use in the tropics. Haven't seen them around here, but I'd try the independent corner shops or pound stores.

I agree with the above That said, if you are concerned, I think there is nothing wrong with approaching them in a friendly way and asking if everything is ok. As a second step, you could say that the noise bothers you a bit and could they keep it down. If, after those actions, there is no change and you are still concerned, perhaps at that point it would be appropriate to tell them that you are not comfortable hearing the children cry so much and drop a hint at social services.

Hi, I recommend: A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif - a Sydenham author who was shortlisted for the Booker 2008 Also, some older ones in case you missed them when they came out - all easy reads but still engaging We Need to talk about Kevin, Lionel Shriver What was Lost, Catherine O'Flynn The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney Notes from a Scandal, Zoe Heller If you like Harry Potter type fantasy, don't forget the Bartimaeus books by Jonathon Stroud Quite a girly book but by no means chick-lit is I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith Enjoy your holiday! Claire

I agree!! Well, that's what I did... I went in, though I left the door open And then the lady came along and said, "Excuse me, our clothes are in here...!" Anyway, we had a tense discussion during which I said it wasn't on and she said I was "rather unkind". I suggested we share the cubicle, which she did, very unwillingly. She had twins actually, and she seemed to think that this gave her a right to the large cubicle?! IMO, if she had 2 baby twins, I wouldn't have minded - it's a tough situation, and you do what you have to do to survive, right? But her children were around 3yo. I pointed out to her that I also have two children, and one of them takes up both of my hands as I have to hold him all the time unless I can contain him in a safe place. I said I realised it was inconvenient for her, but actually all of us with 2 children are in a similar situation. I did speak to the people on reception and they said they would see about possibly putting a notice up. Anyway, thanks for your opinion. I know it is a silly little issue really, but got me quite annoyed! C

Hi, what do people think about the practice of reserving changing cubicles in the pool changing areas by putting your kids' clothes in them? I take my 4yo swimming at Beckenham Spa and it gets very busy at class changeover times. Most of the cubicles are tiny and it's hard to fit parent + child in there, far less parent + 2 children. There are also 4 large cubicles which are perfectly set up for parent(s) + child + toddler, with a changing table and a sort of high-chair thing which helps immobilise the baby/toddler while you are helping the other one get dressed. Of course, the large cubicles are very much in demand. And so the solution some people use is to put their kids' stuff in there ahead of time, in order to reserve it for themselves to use at their leisure. I find it a rather unfair, and wondered if I was alone in this? I struggle to get my daughter changed, while also trying to keep an eye on my 2yo who of course is in perpetual motion. But I would never dream of trying to "reserve" the large cubicles as other people do. I just expect to take what is available when my daughter comes out and is ready to get changed. I had a minor altercation with another mum over this, and it has left me wondering whether I am being unreasonable? Not really a serious problem, of course, but just thought I would get opinions from others!! Claire

Seems to be available on Amazon.co.uk in French or English http://www.amazon.co.uk/Petit-Prince-aquarelles-lauteur-Junior/dp/2070612759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309523365&sr=8-1

Clare, your situation sounds similar to mine. I was also a regular runner and gym-goer pre-baby, and also had 2 c-sections. After 2nd baby, I dutifully waited my 6 weeks and then promptly started running again. I did a 10K when baby was 3 months and a marathon when he was 10 months. I ran evenings and weekends, and for the marathon training I allowed myself the luxury of a babysitter for a couple of hours a week so I could fit in some daytime runs. I know it's not for everyone, but running/fitness is like a drug for me: absolutely keeps me sane and I go loopy without it. So my suggestion would be, if you like running: (a) sign up for a challenging but doable race and (b) plan childcare around your runs/exercise as a priority. It really is not easy juggling it all, especially with bf and irregular sleep schedules/deprivation. And if you make exercise a priority, other things might have to suffer. In my case, my husband had to make his own dinner every evening after work and I didn't see the hairdresser (cringe!) for about 8 months, but there you go! Good luck! Claire

Snowboarder, we were told by Southwark that we are 325m from Heber. CitizenED, I will send you a PM. Claire