crystal7

I got my 18 month old some gorgeous Pediped trainer type shoes from Biff. They've got some lovely stuff including a range of Camper (I resisted this time!). I find it difficult to get nice boys shoes, they seem to be mostly brown and clumpy. Shoe shopping for a girl is much easier, although having so much choice brings its own problems...

I found the crawling stage hard, especially in the winter. Both of mine crawled for ages too. Like Saila I just let them crawl pretty much anywhere, obvs not in crowded cafes etc but as long as it 's dry and they've got thick trousers on it's fine. They got dirty but it wore them out and they were happy. Goose Green playground has a smaller climbing frame at one end and both of mine liked to cruise around that, it also has a little slide. Myatts Fields is great too as covered in that safe surface stuff. Peckham Pulse soft play keeps them busy and lots of the museums in town have space for crawlers. Waterproof trousers may be useful at this time of year...

In a word- hard! Especially so since I returned to work after baby 2. The kids are in different settings so that's x2 pick ups and drop offs mostly done by me. The.beginning and end of the day is really fraught. I feel constantly pressured trying to keep up with full time colleagues on work days and trying to be supermum on my days off (ha!). I work 3 days per week which I know is Lucky. I actually enjoy the job but the rushing around in the mornings and evenings makes it more stressful than it needs to be. I wouldn't want to work full time, would miss the kids (4 and 1.5) and the thought of not working is scary but I do think part time is hard. I work most evenings. My eldest starts school in Sept and that will complicate things further!

Love Rocca! The staff are so friendly and food is gorgeous. Haven't been with the children yet, after reading this I definitely will.

Same as Otta and Strafer Jack. I found the NHS classes at Dulwich Hospital were great in terms of information, I especially liked the breastfeeding one. I met some fantastic friends through the EDF, my first child is 4 and we are still close.

I take the same route as cazbee since the new Blackfriars station has opened. Fairly fast and only a few steps at the end. Have fun!

Urgh tantrums are a new trick for my 17 month old, short lived but I'm sure he'll develop stamina. 4 year old hasn't yet grown out of them?? She even says 'that's not fair!'...

Ah congratulations! Lovely news! Enjoying it.

We've just got back and it was fab, bit late though I suppose...

The Worst Witch series are great first chapter books as are Daisy and the Trouble With...Winnie the Witch is a fave with my daughter. I agree though: there aren't enough books with important female characters...

This is heartening to read fuchsia! My 4 year old is incredibly fussy and I regularly loose the will to live trying to get her to try new things. Like pebbles and snowboarder I just serve her something I know she'll eat and encourage her to try something of ours. She only likes butter in sandwiches, won't eat any kind of pasta sauce, potatoes, pizza, baked beans, unprocessed meat urgh I could go on! Embarrassing at friends' houses (does she like meatballs? Uh can she have toast?!) She eats lunch and tea at nursery and the staff tell me she will eat the pasta/Cous Cous and rice without sauce, always eats fruit and yoghurt for pudding and tea is usually something with bread or toast, I think shes more likely to try things there too. I'm loathe to make her a packed lunch when she starts reception in September as school meals are now free in Southwark! We'll see... Great to hear from parents of other fussy ones, so easy to feel like a failure! Like you an I love all food, very little I don't like.

I was a thumb sucker well into double figures too and my teeth are fine. Both my children (4 and 1) suck theirs and the dentist didn't seem bothered. Now worried I'm going to have to stop them at some point. Argh!!

I was told that too etta166, the bigger the blister the higher the level of immunity. No idea if it's true, my daughter had a really nasty pus filled blister for ages after having her BCG and 3 years on has a visible mark, son had no reaction at all.

The nursery on the corner of Barry Rd and Goodrich Rd doesn't look open yet? No sign outside, windows covered?? Unless its not that huge house on the left as you head up Goodrich...

I'm with Oimissus, my 4 year old daughter has had 2 haircuts in her life!

Love Peckham Rye Park but agree the playground could do with updating. Some more baby swings would be good too, there are always queues! My 4 year old never wants spend very long there.

John Lewis are great for tiny bottoms!

We had one for my daughter's 4th birthday last weekend and would recommend! The kids run around for 45 minutes so are keen sit and eat in the upstairs room, no need to provide much entertainment or clear up. The staff are really friendly too.

Argh I forgot it was tonight, let's organise another soon...

Ann happy memories! I never really noticed any crying but as BST says lots of rocking/slinging in the aisles. Great thing to do, make the most of it when baby's small and immobile, past 6 months mine just wanted to crawl all over the place sigh.

Took it out of the buggy to put toddler in and left it by the picnic benches. It's a black canvas bag with Local Greens written on it. It's got various kids snacks, gloves, tissues etc plus my sunglasses. Please let me know if you've seen it. I'm giving the kids tea at the moment and OH isn't back until late so can't go and look. Can't believe I've done this!

Agree with oimissus, we always go if we're there but it's small and doesn't take long to do everything.

Help! Bought my Bee plus from the forum in fab condition. All of a sudden the handle bar won't stay on the position it's put in. The flip button things on the side only fasten loosely now and as you push it retracts to its smallest/shortest position, not very comfortable and useless for buggy board! Hope I've made myself clear?! Anyone experienced similar?? Thanks!

2nd bst's suggestion. I had mastitis when my 2nd was tiny and took probiotics from Health Matters to avoid thrush. Can't remember what exactly they were but asked the lady in there for advice. Sorry you're going through this it really is the most horrible thing.

Yep this place is great.