EmmaCC

I'm also going back to work after having my second and sympathise totally with the shock at the huge cost of childcare. To me it seems unfair that the government aren't encorouging middle income mums to go back to work. It makes me think that the powers that be only want v low income mums (who can get tax credits to help with childcare) or v high earners back at work which really annoys me. Most of the really important jobs women do are what I would count as middle income earners- nurses, teachers etc... Rant over- my children are going into nursery 3 days and then the 4th day will be covered by a mixture of my husband and grandparents (asking the grandparents who like yours are well into their 60s does make me feel slighlty guilty but once a month doesn't seem to be taking the piss too much).my mum is even travelling down from yorkshire to do her one day a month!! I would agree with the suggestion of looking at cheaper nurseries. With my first I paid top, top money thinking the more expensive the nursery the better it was- I was v wrong and am much happier with a cheaper one based just outside east Dul - it's saving me ?40 a day woth the 2 of them in there. Also nit sure of your age gap but in jan my eldest will start getting the 15 hour government grant which at our nursery equates to 11 hours a week free all year round. Changing nursery may not be an option for you as you ate happy with your current one but it is true that ED nurseries are taking the p*** as they know the demand is there and think everyone living here is rolling in money! It's hard financially to go back to work with 2 but personally I'm thinking long term- like you I'm at an important stage in my career- if I continue then my earnings etc should rise steadily plus, in all honesty I need to go back for my own sanity!! Good look with whatever you decide to do....

I'm looking for something similar to the Herne for a children's party. Need a room for games for the children and preferably somewhere the adults can have a drink or two.. the Herne is booked for the date I need so looking for another similar option? Thanks in advance...

I've heard that the Palmerston are fine about children being in there in the evening, but you might want to double check!

I bet in 10 years time new mothers are being told that formula is nutritionally better for their children!?! I think there is SOME truth in the argument that breastfed babies generally develop well etc due to the fact that "generally" it is middle class mothers who breasfeed.. they are the same mothers who go on to read to their child every night and feed them healthy food.. I'm sure if I searched hard enough I could find an article on the internet now saying forumla is best! By the way..I breastfed my first (now nearly 3 and CONSTANTLY ill even though breastfed for 8 months) and am still breastfeeding my second but for god's sake, discussions like this make me really angry...bringing up children is really HARD work, whether you're breastfeeding or not...can't we stop bashing each other over the heads on this subject and give each other a pat on the back for all the hard work we're doing and for the individual choices we make for our own lives!!!

I had a successful VBAC there in January and found the consultants and midwifes to be brilliant.. so supportive of my decision to go for it and amazingly encorouging to keep going through the labour... good luck!

Thanks everyone.. I think it would be very bad press for a nursery to decide not to offer some kind of dicounted rate by joining the scheme. Most parents would be reluctant to chose a nursery where there would be no difference in fees once child reaches 3 yet down the road there is a nursery offering a substantial discount! Out of interest, does anyone know of any of the private nurseries who haven't signed up and don't offer a discount? just wondering how common it is in this area...I don't want to name my nursery at the moment as it woulod be unfair as I'm still waiting for their decision!

Do the expensive nurseries lose out financially by signing up for the grant? I'm presuming that they do as the LA pay a fixed payment to each provider regardless of what each nursery charges per day? I'm trying to think why our nursery might not sign up to it..It's annoying as I wouldn't have put my daughter there if I'd have thought this would be the case.. with 2 children to put in childcare now, we really need this grant! I didn't check at the time I just presumed al nurseries signed up and when she started there as it seemed so far away, also they were a new nursery at the time, so they didn't seem to have a set policy on it...

I am aware that from the term after children are 3, they are entitled to the 15 hour government grant. With a private nursery, my understanding is that they don't give you 15 hours free but usually reduce their fees to reflect the grant? Can a nursery refuse to reduce their fees, as I suspect mine are going to? I'm still waiting for a definitive answer from them but would like to know other people's experiences with this. Thanks in advance

Hi, I was at Dulwich park cafe with my daughter today and parked her scooter outside the cafe.. at some point someone has picked up our scooter and left their own pink scooter. It's the micro lite scooter that everyone has but ours does have some different stickers on which are the letters of my daughters name. They are an L and a C in black and gold. Would love to swop the scooters back if anyone has it then please get in touch 07872 927325 and I'll bring yours back.. Thanks v much

My baby boy Rudy arrived on 9th jan. I'm not around this week as have family staying but would love to meet up next week...

On Sunday we went to Claridges for lunch to celebrate my father- in-laws 70th. I'm 9 months pregnant and have a 2 year old toddler. My 5 year old nephew was also there. They were amazingly child friendly (and attentive/ considerate to me!!)... lunch lasted over 4 hours so we tested their patience but they couldn't have been more accomodating. Though we were in the main restaurant they had given us a table off to the side so felt like we had an area to ourselves and the children could therefore have a wander. They spent the last hour going up and down the stairs in the main hotel..maybe some of the guests didn't appreciate that but they enjoyed themselves. Was bloody expensive but mainly due to alcohol consumed! The 3 course set lunch is ?30 each which isn't too bad considering prices at places like the Palmerston- definately worth it as a really nice treat!

Congratulations Debbie, that's fantastic news...well done!! Emma

As long as you are 100% happy with your babysitter then I would say go!!! I just don't believe this rubbish that people say about emotional damage to the baby. At that age the baby will be happy so long as all it's needs are being looked after by a suitable cater who they know. It sounds like a brilliant opportunity to spend some quality time with your husband too and don't feel guilty about wanting that.. Sometimes people think the only important thing at this stage is the baby but surely a healthy relationship with your husband is really important too- in the days of young children these kind of opportunities to have quality time together don't happen too often. I really believe that a happy relationship between mum and dad is a massive benefit to baby. Personally I think taking baby would be more problematic than you think and lead to no one enjoying themselves! I left my daughter when she was 14 months to go skiing with husband for 4 days. Daughter was looked after by grandparents bur had a fantastic time.. believe me, they would have told me had she been upset at all! I have to say that I missed her LOTS but had a great time with hubbie and the reunion with my daughter was so lovely that I will treasure that memory for a long time! Good luck with your decision!

I also asked at Lloyds pharmacy on Northcross road but they said there's about a 5 day wait for delivery at the moment. I got the one from the chemist in herne hill this afternoon- no wait at all so if you want one urgently then I would go there. Good luck

Thanks v much everyone. I hired one from the chemist in herne hill- ?25 which is probably too expensive but was getting into a panic- 1st baby was 5 weeks early so with only 2 weeks to go until due date for this one, am expecting this one any day!! Did get a free bag of nappies worth ?10 with it!

Hi, am sure there have been threads on this before but having problems finding them using this iPhone. Can anyone recommend anywhere local I can rent one of these? Due any time now!!

I'm not going to make it either as not feeling great. Hope to see some of you after Xmas- maybe we could do a weekday if it's easier...

Hi, I can also make this Saturday...not been since the first meeting but would love to catch up with those I met before and everyone else...

Another recommendation for Amy... had a pregnancy massage with her last week and it was amazing! Was so gutted that had to cancel this weeks due to the snow!

Thanks so much for the info...I can't wait to raise it with my employer and see what he says. I work as a solicitor in a small but national law firm and will be interesting to see whether the partners at my practice feel they are breaking the law if they don't agree to it. It's going to be an interesting conversation...my boss employs mainly women in their 20s and 30s and I have often felt annoyed at the lack of any kind of maternity policy other than the statutory...I actually get on very well with him but he's notoriously tight so I know he'll be fuming at the thought of this!

I remember reading a thread on this issue before and just wondered what other peoples experience had been.. I'm about to go on maternity leave and currently pay ?243 out via a salary sacrifice scheme which goes towards my daughter's nuresery fees. I think there was some suggestion on a previous thread that if (like me) you are only going to be paid SMP then your employers have to continue making the ?243 contribution for you each month. Maybe I am mis-remembering this as it seems too good to be true but I have a meeting with HR next week about my maternity leave and if it's right then I'd like to be able to argue the point... I think my boss will have a heart attack at the suggestion of it! Would love to hear any thoughts on this...

Thank you all so, so much for your posts and PMs...eventually had the test on Friday and it was a false alarm so all good! I really appreciated all the advice and reassurance though - it made the wait much easier xx

I know this is a long shot but my husband has lost his blackberry last night somewhere in ED.. he thinks it fell out of his pocket whilst cycling. It's got loads of photos of our baby on it so would love to get it back.. know it's unlikely anyone will have found it but thought it ws worth a try...Thanks

December 6th - Uptime (first) - Surpise December 11th - cazbee - Blue! December 15th GP - don't know what flavour ! December 20th - Vanessa3 (no 2) - Surprise January 5th - Emma CC no.2 - surprise January 15th Candj (no.3!) - Blue January 15th - Lou (no 2) - Surprise January 17th - Littlebelka (no 2) - pink January 24th Penny - Don't know. January 25th sylviamaria - don't know January 26th Vickster (no. 2) - Pink January 26th CLH (no. 2!) - Pink February 5th - Kirsten - Blue February 18th KathG - Blue January 22nd Fmay (no.2) - Pink Unfortunately I can't make this Saturday but hope to make the next one!

Hi, I'm 28 weeeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and just had a call from midwifes at Kings to say that the results of a blood test taken a couple of days show that my blood sugar levels are higher than they should be - therefore I need to have further tests to see if I have gestational diabetes. Feel a bit panicked by this call and more by the fact that they can't do the tests to confirm this until 29th October. I'm told that they're really busy and as my levels were only just over then I'm not an urgent case - fair enough... but it still won't stop me worrying for the next 2 weeks! It's also annoying as am going to Kings tomorrow to see the same midwife who phoned me to have the anti d injection - I asked if she could fit me in for the other test tomorrow but she said no. Perhaps I'm worrying about nothing here but anyone got any advice - should I try to push for the test sooner or is there anything I can do in the next couple of weeks to minimise the problem?? Thanks in advance for any advice.