catgirl

Does anyone know of any local pools that have a more relaxed adult/child ratio policy than 1:1? Our 3 are 6, 3 and baby and we'd like to be able to take them swimming without having to rope in another adult. What about the jelly babies sessions at Peckham or the small pool at beckenham? Both older children would be able to touch the floor so surely we'd be ok there with just 2 adults? Or happy to pay to join a private health club which are usually less strict but don't know of any locally? Thanks

I Woukdnt worry yet, 21 months is still young. My daughter Only said very few words at that age and I was worried as loads of her friends were talking really well. Then suddenly around her second birthday she started talking really well, literally from a few words and grunts to long sentences within a couple of weeks. Have several other friends who experienced similar, one friends son didn't start talking properly until 2.5 but when he did start he caught up with his peers within weeks.

Just to add to the debate: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6718276.ece

There are bee hives in the allotments on the corner of friern and underhill. Was it near there?

I've also done this with al 3 children. Put on very little weight in pregnancy but put more on afterwards despite breastfeeding. (due to lack of excercise and v bad eating habits.) Like Pickle I've done weight watchers every time, it works for me. I go to the meetings, don't stay for te talk just go and get weighed and for me that's enough incentive to stick to it. I go to a morning meeting so I'm not trying to fit it in with everything else in the evening. Several people go with babies or toddlers in tow.

As Peppa says, think the best tactic is to settle the bBy after toddler in bed so you're not dealing with the stress of the other child as well. Once the baby is settling fairly reliably and you know what works, you can then swap round and put the baby down first. With my second, once he was settling ok at 7ish, I used to get them bathed and into pjs together. Then have #1 downstairs watching a bit of tv (her only tv of the day so she was glued to it!) while I settled the baby and then nice calm story and bedtime with the eldest.

Addison Lee stopped doing child seats, most annoying! Have used a taxi company that advertised on here and they provided seats and turned up on time, good service etc. I think called dulwich airport cars. Sorry don't have details but google or search on here.

Our changing table is an old wooden dresser from habitat. Lots of storage inside and we have a changing mat on the top which can be stored down the side if you want it out of view. We then have a shelf above with nappies etc on which you could hide in lidless boxes. So is a normal looking bit of furniture rather than looking like baby stuff

Well this is the problem when people choose not to immunise their children. Usually babies and also children who cant have the jabs for medical reasons rely on herd immunity to keep them safe from these diseases. Consequently they are put at risk when low take up of immunisations mean that these diseases start doing the rounds again.

I've never noticed a loft at Bromley south but not really looked. Not too many stairs there though,can't you carry the buggy up the stairs? That's what I always do at stations. Maybe try phoning them to ask about lift if you really need one?

At which schools does everyone get free meals? Certainly at Goodrich they're not free (unless you qualify for free school meals due to low income which surely nobody would begrudge?)

You're probably thinking of Mrs Tinks. Website with details is tinksfood.com. Highly recommended!

Ours the same on Friern. Noticed it about 4am when I was up with the baby.

Crystal Palace do swimming lessons every day - the lessons for 3 to 5 year olds run at various times through the day and are pretty good and reasonably priced.

Some to add......... Where the wild things are by Maurice Sendak No Matter what by Debi Gilori Cuddly Duddley by Jez Alborough Any of the Maisy books by Lucy Cousins The Little Red train books by Benedict Blathwayt And second the Julia Donaldson / Axel Schiffler, Judith Kerr, Nick Sharratt, John Birmingham Going on a bear hunt makes me want to top myself, I just can't stand it!

Email southwark - in fact you've reminded me that I meant to email them about the same thing. Mind you, last time I emailed them was to ask for more frequent rubbish collections there after visiting on a sunday to find all bins full and rubbish all over the place. 4 days later, I got a reply saying 'thank - you - I've asked for the bins to be emptied which should be in the next 2 - 3 days'. I replied again to say - you're missing the point, they will have been emptied by now anywyay (surely?) - my email was asking for more frequent collections / checks on an ongoing basis. I heard nothing back.

Crystal Palace do loads of different classes that run pretty much all day, every day.

They run sessions at Wavelengths and clear the pool for 20 mins inbetween each one. They should tell you when you go in if there's not much time left before the end of the session but obviously don't. The session times seem to change from timem to time and certainly different in the holidays from normal weekends so best to call before you go and check!

crystal palace also do baby swimming lessons

I don't have personal experience of this but just an idea - assuming your 5 year old is at school and 3 year old not, why don't you give your younger child a main meal at lunchtime consisting of things you know she'll eat and then you can be more experimental at tea time. This means she'll still get offered a range of food regularly but less stress for you when she refuses if you know she's already had a decent meal that day. And your more adventuous child will be at school so oblivious to the fact that her sister is getting the 'preferred' choices every day for lunch. Obviously this only works if you're at home too or if the 3 year old has a nanny or childminder who will prepare food you request.

I've had this problem on the new design 63's as well. You can fit a maclaren through but not anything with wider wheels. Hence we do have an old maclaren which I now always use for bus journeys. I had a nice driver though who let me on through th eother doors! Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Actually makes me wonder how a wheelchair user would manage - assume they'd have to go through middle doors as no way you could get a wheelchair past that pole? If they make buses too narrow for wheelchair / buggy access then they need to allow you to get on a different way. In fact I might email London transport about it. Obviously I realise that unlike a wheelchair it is possible to fold a buggy and walk it past but as you say, if you're on your own with a baby who can't sit or walk themselves then it's pretty impossible to hold the baby safely and fold the buggy at the same time!

Jamma is this your child? http://www.thelocal.se/20232/20090623/ No offence meant and apologies for highjacking the thread.

Can anyone reccommend any good drop in playgroups on monday or friday morning locally? My son is just 2. Also - he loves music and singing but I can't seem to find a music group that just does plain old singing of traditional songs and nursery rhymes. Would very much appreciate any recommendations of music / singing groups too please.

We've done Eurocamp several times in France with the children at various ages. Staying in a mobile home means you get a bathroom and toilet if you don't fancy 'proper' camping. All the campsites have fab swimming pools and playgrounds etc.(last years had a bouncy castle!)and loads of other chilcdren around to play with. Also lovely outdoor living and the sites all have shops with fresh bread, croissants etc in the morning and restaurants and take aways too. We tend to go for the smaller sites but there's loads of choice depending on your preferences. In fact, last couple of times we've picked sites from the Eurocamp brochure and then booked a chalet / mobile home direct with the campsite as it's cheaper and we've found the EC reps to be pretty rubbish so not worth paying the extra for. We've done the Dordogne which was a long drive but feasible in a day with an early ferry and few stops (easier if children still in nappies!) and also Loire which was obviously very easy in a day. The Castels chain of campsites in France are all great - Eurocamp go to most of these and there is at least one very good one in the Vendee as well as Loire.

Yes, the first time we went you could use the pub toilets but that agreement came to an end after a couple of months so there was no facility!