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Thank you for the advice everyone, much appreciated! Saffron - we use the aquafresh milk teeth for age 0-2, thanks for the tip. I hadn't even considered that. We've got a dentist check up in just over a wks time so I'll see what they suggest too. Pugwash - I'm so pleased your granddaughter had a successful tonsillectomy that's great to hear it's done wonders for her eating. I'm sure it'd make a real difference to my son too as part of his eating problems are around anxiety that the food is 'too big' to swallow. The spray is sounding like a good option for us, think I'll try that first. Thanks again!

My almost 3yr old is a bit of a picky eater and is suffering with repeated bouts of tonsilitis and mouth ulcers so I'd like to give his system a boost with some form of probiotic/multivitamin but not really sure where to start. There are so many on the market! Can anyone recommend anything. Maybe some drops or something that can go straight into his mouth as he definitely won't eat a chewable multivitamin and would probably spit out anything I mix with milk/squash. Thanks!

Thanks for your replies Tanza and carebear, really appreciated!

Thanks Crokes I'll check out those links, good to know things are improving for you too! Gives me hope! X

Thanks redjam I must admit to losing my rag over this probably more than I should, it's bloody hard when he spends all day talking about food and asking for food, for such a fussy eater he's obsessed with the stuff. Thats a really good suggestion re not labelling him as the fussy one though (which tbh we've already done) I'll make a conscious effort to amend that! Thanks for giving me some hope!!

Thanks, yeah I keep offering and I've tried the mini pizzas, homemade sauce etc and getting him to help and again he was trying these before he started getting I'll all the time now he just cries and doesn't eat it. So 5 nights out of 7 he'll go without dinner (and I'll let him have pizza the other 2 nights so I feel like dinner isn't always fraught). Thanks we'll persevere!!

Just wondering whether anyone can offer some advice. I have a 2.5yr old v fussy eater. He's always been funny with food, doesn't like anything soft (like sandwiches) or wet like shepherds pie, porridge, pasta etc. Survived on a limited diet which included sausages, pizza, toast, chicken nuggets, dry cereal, Ella's fruit pouches etc (yes I know how awful that sounds). Last Oct I started following the 3 day nanny approach to eating - offering X for dinner followed by yoghurt (which he likes) no matter what he ate and making no fuss, it seemed to be helping he actually tried fish fingers, ate a bit if sweet corn, licked the spoon with lasagne on etc (though he didn't seem to actually enjoy the new tastes). Was feeling hopeful then he got a bad bout of tonsillitis and would only eat bacon and dry cereal. Even when he was better he wouldn't try anything again. He's since had tonsillitis (and been on antibiotics) 4 times in 6 months and barely wants to eat anything. Won't even touch chicken nuggets or sasuages. Mostly just the awful cheap pizzas from co-op, yoghurt and toast. I'm letting him have the bear claws with hidden veg and Ella's pouches to get fruit into him and putting courgette and beetroot in cakes. I'm kinda at my wits end with it all. Just hoping someone can say 'I've been there he'll grow out of it' or offer any other pearls of wisdom! Oh for the record my 3.5yr old eats a very varied diet. But while he sits and enjoys the shepherds pie, fish cakes etc the younger one just cries for 'food' (toast).

Thank you all so much for your replies, advice and experiences. Well still no joy but I'm going to persevere maybe with the distraction technique and getting her used to 'playing' with the bottle as she's now getting the hang of grabbing things. Fingers crossed, though the CFS is at the end of this month so I'm not too optimistic we'll crack it by then...

Thanks for your replies! Yes we've tried the NUK latex. I would say it was the most successful, as she put up with it in her mouth without screaming for the longest time. But she still won't suck, just chews until she's really fed up then screams the house down until she's breastfed. I'll see if I can get other half to have more of a try as I'm trying everyday and getting nowhere. Possibly as she knows the real thing is right there. Fingers crossed we get there in the end!

Can anyone share some tips or tricks for getting a baby to take a bottle? I have a stubborn 3month old bottle refuser. Tried different bottle types, expressing/formula, different people offering the bottle and we are getting nowhere! I love breastfeeding but I've got tickets to the Chelsea Flower show (never been before, always wanted to go) and I've got to crack the bottle by then as babies aren't allowed... Thanks in advance!

I think if you do a search for 'Doctor' or 'surgery' on the forum you'll get a fair few reviews of many of the GP practices round here. I've only got experience of Melbourne Grove which I would say is fine. Nothing to rave about but equally nothing has bothered me enough to change surgery. Biggest issue is that it can be a nightmare to get through on the phone to get an appt. I don't often get to see the same doctor, they seem to have a lot of locums but I've never had a problem with their care for me or my 3 children. Not sure that's much of a recommendation though! I have heard/read a lot of good things about the Gardens, they might be worth a look if conveniently located for you.

Fab, thanks rachel4, sounds like just what we need!

Has anyone used a buggy board with the mountain buggy duet? How was it and which one did you go for? I'm trying to figure out what combination will work best for my 3yo, 2yo and newborn. Happy to sling the newborn for a bit but would like an alternative as I've always ended up with bad back ache having the others in the sling for long walks. Thanks!

I'd definitely recommend my cleaner, Dora, who works for Andrea Professional Cleaning Service. She's my lifesaver. You can contact Andrea on 07793504145.

Yeah I think it depends on your circumstances as to what's going to suit you best. My first was only 15months when the second arrived so we went for a double and preferring a side-by-side style, went for a mountain buggy duet as it's nice and narrow - the only side by side we could get through the front door. Even now my eldest (now 3) is horrifically lazy and loves to nap at times so I'm glad to have the double. I know others who got on very well with just a buggy board and sling as their eldest was happy to walk/board and on occasions they would swap and the baby could go in the sling. Also, depending whether your eldest is at nursery/playgroup you might not want a double if you are only pushing one around the majority of the time.

I can't say I've been through the exact same scenario as you but I gave up my job as a lawyer in the city after having my first child (now 3yrs old) and have been a SAHM since then. I've got a 2yr old, 3yr old and due with my third in the next couple of wks. I was in the fortunate position where my husbands wages would cover us and fed up with my long working hours when I resigned so it wasn't a huge deliberation for me. Of course there have been times when I've missed work. I can miss talking to adults about things other than my kids. It can be hard when i feel like I lost a bit of 'me', when I feel my brain has turned to mush and the kids drive me up the wall. But I wouldn't change it for the world, I feel lucky that I've been able to spend this time with the kids before they start school. For me it definitely beats being at work and in a few years time when they are all at school I'll go back to work and reclaim that little bit of me. Good luck, hope it all goes well, whatever decision you make! X

I thought the British Red Cross baby and child first aid course was great. Very thorough. It was held in Croydon though so perhaps not local enough for you. I often see posts for local first aid courses on the Facebook East Dulwich mums group. Maybe check those out... You might get a few more recommendations if you post in the family discussion group too...

I've always taken my two toddlers to a local barbers but decided to give Little Clipper a try recently after a friend recommended it. Must say I'll be sticking with the barbers in the future as I also found the customer service pretty poor. E.g being ignored by the staff when I entered until they finished chatting, then the hairdresser having very little patience with my boys who admittedly both wiggle and get upset when having their haircut - I did warn the hairdresser but her tutting and the impatient way in which she spoke to the boys (telling them to "stop it now") gave me the impression she was happy to see the back of us. It was also more expensive than the barbers. Maybe she was having a bad day but the response above to the OP makes me think she probably was happy to see the back of us - don't worry we won't be back!

I bought my nephew one of the Roald Dahl revolting recipes cookbooks - I haven't used it myself but I've been told he has enjoyed cooking from it and his mum said there are some good recipes (but also some stupid ones)

I really recommend Dr Sheriff at Dulwich Oaks dental (on Dog Kennel Hill), kind, patient lady

Thanks DiD!

Hi, what time does the event usually finish? Thinking to come at 5:30 and not sure if that's too late? Thanks!

As an alternative to toys you could also get some biscuit cutters and do some gingerbread men/shapes. With the dough making, rolling, cutting and decorating (and eating!) it can keep kids entertained for quite a while.

Welcome to SE22! My kids are only 2 and 3 so I've not taken them out trick or treating yet but we have had many trick or treaters come to our door on the years we've been here. We mainly get groups of young school children coming early evening with their parents then the odd older child/teenager later in the eve. We usually put lit Jack o lanterns out the front of the house but forgot one year and it was the only year that we've had no trick or treaters. So I'm guessing that the trick or treaters only go to those houses with decorations and lanterns. Hope that helps!

Another recommendation for Andy and Richard who did some painting and patched up a hole in our ceiling where an extractor fan had been removed. Very tidy work.