Yak

It's a bit focussed on the discipline side of things, but I really rate this resource from the Boys' Development Project (a local charity who might be involved with the course hpsaucey mentioned)? Boys under Five

I think sweeps take between 24 - 48 hrs to take effect, so perhaps your latest sweep is still working its way through your system (I'm sure there's a better technical expression than that!)? I had 3rd sweep (1st totally unsuccessful, second partially successful) at 41+1 and it was very thorough - I was 2cm dilated and 75% effaced. 2 days later (41+3) had a 4th sweep, and labour started pretty much immediately after that. The waiting was pretty dire though, and like you I was quite keen to have the baby at home. He popped out quick enough once labour had started! I can only imagine how hard it is with 2 other children to look after on top of everything else! Very best of luckx

Seconding the suggestion of the Chumleigh Gardens almshouses in the middle of Burgess Park if you want a quirky setting and to give money back to the Community. Or the Garden Museum - lovely lovely setting! For something a bit more funky I would definitely investigate SLG; it's an amazing space, just hop across the road from the registry office. Nearby there is also the Crypt in St Giles church. We had a brilliant joint birthday party a few years ago - I think max be about 70 tho? And also not sure if there would be room for a full sit down reception.. Further afield there is also that island on the Thames you can hire out... details here Happy hunting!

Cornelia, please come along to the family room drinks! It is ever so friendly and relaxed. Some people know each other in *real life* , plenty of people don't but it doesn't matter at all by the end of the night. You would be very welcome.

Hurrah! Not sure if I can make the 5th yet, but I say go for it. Thanks for organising us, Audrey!

Agree, Battersea Zoo would be great place to go - not too overwhelming or far to go, and much cheaper than London zoo. For our little one's 1st, we decided against presents for him & had a lovely family photoshoot instead. We needed some better pics than my rubbish blurry camera phone attempts!

We've just spent the morning at Battersea Children's Zoo. It was great!

How's it going, minimac? Just wanted to offer sympathy really. Not sure what teeth my 13m is cutting, but they are sure as heck playing havoc with his sleep. Twice this week we've resorted to giving him a nap at 7am! Like your little one he is in ft child care & he cuts back on his sleep there anyway. We did have some success a couple of weeks ago with super early bedtimes, i.e. around 6.15. As illogical as it sounds, it might help alter the sleep cycle... Good luck!

I think the evaporation point of alcohol is around 78oC. So as long as it's.properly boiling when you cook it, and you give it time for it to evaporate, then I reckon that must be ok. The yaklet was on coq au vin at 7 months if that puts your mind at rest at all!

I would definitely try a few out, as I think it depends on your body/boob shape, as well as your baby's shape and length. I managed a couple of times using the bjorn, but had much greater success with the beco gemini. I bf once while getting off a train at Euston, then on a bus all the way home without anyone being any the wiser!

Poor minisailor! Is the sudden change in temperature contributing to the woe? The Yaklet sleeps the sleep of the just normally but both last night and the night before was clearly upset by it. He coped better last night, praps because he'd adjusted to it. I err towards the benign neglect style of parenting and figure that babies manage to sleep in hot weather round the world. I'm never convinced how accurate those thermometers are which is why I don't use one :-) Hope tonight is better all round for everyone.

We did a "job swap" for 3 months and it was absolutely brilliant - at the end of my mat leave Mr Y became a SAHD for 3 months while I went back to work full time. It was great both for our relationship, but also our relationships with the Yaklet (indiviudally and collectively, if that makes any sense at all). I could go on at length about it but I'd bore you all to tears! Glad you have had a bit of a cathartic day, Ole.

This is shocking - not my area of law but in principle isn't this an unfair contract term? Might be worth asking CAB / OFT. The two nurseries we were on waiting lists for didn't charge, but they are sure start/ charity run. I would be tempted to name and shame, so at least there's transparency for other parents thinking of applying.

Have sent you a pm, Simone.

Join forces with us and get a 3 bedroom villa / cottage in the Channel Islands :-)

Any experiences or recommendations to share? We're thinking of going for a week just before school summer hols start. We'll probably be 2 adults and a 15 month old son. I can't do more than a couple of days in a hotel, so ideally we'd want a small cottage or similar. Thanks in advance oh knowledgeable ones!

The Nappy Lady aaages ago posted a really useful chart on which shops were good for which babies - I'll see if I can dig it out. I found green baby and H&M good for my long baby. Edited to say - thread here http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,563113,563113#msg-563113

Sally is great - she managed to revamp my wardrobe (which mostly dated from the last millennium!) with the things listed above, and some other bits and pieces, & it really does work marvels. Also second the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser - I'm pretty clueless about make up but it really works for me. Patterned scarves also great because baby sick doesn't show up:)

As it's a special occasion, I would tend to go for Crooked Well over Ganapati. It's been a while since I went to Ganapati but from memory it is a wee bit on the snug side and you are quite close to other diners which might put Sillyman off. If you want to kick back and celebrate 17 years you might want something a little more relaxed! Enjoy your date night wherever you spend it:-)

The power of music. Love it!

The thing which REALLY bugged me about most travel cot is how hideously heavy and unwieldy they are. If you're using it once a month, and your parents have storage space, is it worth getting a cheap second hand cot to keep there? That's what we do, and then we use a little life pop up travel cot for other trips away. It is like a little tent and is beautifully light and compact. I'm not sure it will last til our one is 3, but there is still plenty of room for him at present and he is a long and quite chunky 1 year old.

Thicko question, (and sorry to hijack this thread) but I'm assuming we need to make arrangements to have the MMR, rather than waiting for the health visitor / surgery to contact us? Given that my nearly 1 year old hasn't had his 8 month check my HVs are not known for being proactive. Hope all went well today for you and your little one, awilliams123.

We have a similar issue in that I am chief bridesmaid for my best friends wedding in a couple of weeks, and will be leaving our then 1 year old with grandparents for the weekend. I've just finished bf but even still the logistics trying to sort out child care have been occupying my mind pretty much constantly since we knew it was going to be a no babies / children wedding. Brinding your nanny with you, if you can afford it, sounds like a good option.

I must be doing something really thick as I'm increasingly finding it a struggle to make the harness fit round my 11 month old. He is very long, quite chunky & wears real nappies but surely he can't be outgrowing it already?!? I think I've got the straps on the longest setting but maybe I'm missing a trick. I do use a lambskin as well but that isn't too thick. Has anyone else experienced this? Nothing really helpful came up on google so I'm going straight to the experts...

What a lovely idea. We got our (nhs) midwife some flowers and chocs to share among the team. I think so long as the flowers are kept in water til you hand them over they should survive.