Clare11

I've almost been hit a few times on East Dulwich Grove at the crossing outside the church. Even with a pram, people are loathe to stop. Now I just step out when they're a good distance away. Usually works best on cars that look like they'd have decent brakes. I always give them plenty of space to slow and stop. Even had a police car not 'see' me once as I was propped at the kerb waiting for someone to stop. The crossing at Goose Green is dicey. I find a stern stare right at the driver can help too.

thanks for the feedback everyone, I only ask as a nursery we have signed up to, offered two 2 hour sessions for free...and another provider required three 3 hour sessions, to be paid for. Just wanted to gauge what was 'normal'.

How normal is it to have a to pay for a 'settling in' period at nursery or a childminder?

Walked into our bathroom to find a two and a half inch slug sleeping on the wall this morning. Straight down the toilet he went. Apparently a joy of living in a basement flat. Outdoors I don't mind, indoors is awful.

My husband has taken to cutting a lot of our baby friends. He works in a local salon as well. Happy to come to your home, let me know if you'd like his number.

Thank you all for your suggestions! I do try and give him a dream feed, but I think the waking is more habit for him than anything else, and annoyingly it doesn't happen every night, but probably 5 out of 7 each week, depending on how knackered he is. I will try and make it daily routine though and see if it really does work a 'dream'! With the soothing method, he is in our room and so can see us easily from his cot. I have tried the method of patting him etc, but he just cries so woefully that I can't stand it, hence my husband escorting him out of the room. It is literally out of sight, out of mind. We did leave him one night and just came in and out from the other room to soothe him but he cried for almost 3 hours and then was in such a state, he vomited everywhere. The soothing effect had worn off for all of us by then. KateW - Yes, I was told by the health visitor it could go on for a few years, but I don't mind that so much in terms of breastfeeding, it's just the 3am feed that's the killer. Especially as I'm back working full time!

My son is 13 months and although he goes to bed easily, he still wakes at night and the only thing that will settle him is a boob. He won't accept a bottle and I don't actually think he's hungry, but the comfort of a breastfeed is the only thing to guarantee us a night's peace. He usually falls asleep fairly promptly, and can be put back in his cot, but it's the broken sleep that's starting to grate. I'm very happy to keep breastfeeding for as long as he needs it generally. I'm hoping it to end organically when he grows out of it, BUT coaxing him back to sleep at night with it is starting to turn me into a complete zombie. We have tried leaving him when he wakes, he just cries until he is inconsolable. We've tried offering him water as a bland option, and he doesn't want that. I've tried hiding under the covers! Or my husband takes him and sleeps on the lounge, which does settle him, but obviously isn't a practical option for my poor husband. I'm just wondering if there are any tricks I don't know about. He usually has a feed at bedtime, and is still awake when he's put down, so he's not being fed to sleep, but the 3am feed is something I'd like to drop. He usually ends up in with us after 5am anyway, so is happy to be in our bed generally, which I don't think helps. He does sleep in our room, but we don't have an option on that at the moment... Id appreciate any help, ideas and or to hear if this isn't that unusual.

Thank you everyone, there's lots of leads on here for me to look into. Hopefully I can find something that suits what we need.

thank you all, that's great advice. I know there's lots of recommendations out there, I'll definitely make a short list and visit in person. great tips, thank you.

SO apart from one PM I've received, no one can recommend a local nursery? Well that's very worrying.

Dear ED mums and dads, I'm starting to look into nurseries for my son, who is 12 months old. I know, I didn't book him in when he was conceived, but it's only now I'm at a point where it would work for us financially. Nevertheless, he's been with a childminder thus far, and unfortunately (for us) this arrangement ends at the end of August. So, nurseries nearby, can anyone recommend one? Or not recommend one? I really am not sure where to start. I want my son to have a routine of things to do during the day and more importantly, have a good environment for socialising with other kids. Outdoor play space is a big plus too. I've emailed Oak Tree Nursery on One Tree Hill, but apart from that, I'm wanting to look into others as well. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi Colin, what is your background etc in taking over the project. Are you the new owner? Conservationist? Just out of interest.

There were no baby changing facilities yesterday when this happened. I had to change boy on a big chair downstairs, despite a huge area to easily put changing facilities in. Sometimes I think cafes etc forget that it's 'coffee mums' that keep them ticking over. It was also quite empty when we were there so you'd think they'd be trying to NOT put parents off with this food rule.

They should really take a food order for the baby at the same time as for the mum/carer to make it clear. Having a ramp out the front makes it seem baby and pram friendly but do they have formula on offer? They don't have fruit, or individual bags of raisins etc on offer, just one brand of baby food. It was quite a shock to hear a couple of rice cakes wasn't allowed. I was quite stunned when this happened. And yes, I was with pincushionqueen at the cafe in question.

They don't last very long. Maybe I'm not changing them often enough..poor boy feel asleep the other day and woke up wet through, and his cot. are the microfiber inserts the ones that go in the pocket? I have those and don't overwash them, I do extra rinse, but have used non bio on them. Thanks for your advice. I think they fit his shape, but tend to leak around the legs.

I bought a kit of bum genius version 4 nappies before my son was born with the best of intentions. I used them once he was born (8 pounds) and they leaked. I'm sure I fitted them properly etc and used a disposable liner as well. Because of the leaks, I gave up. Now he's a year old, I am trying to use them again but despite fitting them as tightly as I'm comfortable having them, they still leak.. Can anyone give me some suggestions. I've always washed them as per the instructions to maintain their waterproof outers.. Would be a shame not to get the use out of them. Thanks.

Sounds the same as ecomodo. A website for borrowing, lending and renting items to others.

All births come with risk. I had a successful home birth with my son. My first child. I think if you don't go into labour being open to the situation changing, whether for the better or worse, that's the problem, not women wanting to have a home birth. It's very empowering to take birth out of a medicated setting, but ultimately the choice is with the parents where they want to give birth and where they are most comfortable.

Oh. Could you send me some details Pickle. My son is 5 months and this is my first experience with playgroups. Obviously it sounds pricey now. And there wasn't tea or cakes. There's just so much out there, sometimes it's hard to know what's a good deal.

Well every week she said there would be an activity like making play doh or something. Are you saying its a rip off?

Hello everyone, I just wanted to pass on some details of a new playgroup I went to on Thursday with my son. It's in Forest Hill, on Sunderland road at the Friends House and runs from 1-3 for only ?8, and is run by a really lovely lady with lots of childcare and play-learning experience. I've been looking for an 'old school' playgroup for a while, just somewhere where my son and I just can play and explore different toys and experiences that we don't have at home. It's called Marmalade Time and has only been running three weeks!

Hello everyone, I have a little boy and am looking to come along to this group. As he's a summer baby. Can you give me the details of the next catch up etc? Need some things to get me out of the house! thanks, Clare

Hello, I'm a new mum with a 3 week old and I'm looking for things to get me out of the house. Are there any local tea groups, baby massage classes, or things like that about? I can't seem to find any direct listings on here. If you know of any, please pass on details if you can. Would be nice to have a routine again, which now includes baby as well as me. thanks.

To the person who knocked my motorbike over tonight, I suggest you get your eyes tested.

scooters??? OH those really annoying things that zip in and out of traffic? 850cc? Well I wouldn't like to see someone in their work clothes come off on of those! Mind you, the scooters in Rome were virtually family size.