EmmaCC

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.

James - I'm afraid that your comments don't placate my anger at what YOUR coalition government has done... as a liberal you should be appalled at the cuts that your own party is supporting just to get a slice of power. You actually visited me whilst on your campaign trail - I told you that I was a labour voter but was disenchanted by the current government and I also said there was no way in hell that I would ever vote tory but that I would consider a vote for your party. I then asked you lots of questions on the lib dems policies for working families - including whether you would safeguard child benefit - you didn't know the answer to any of my questions which was off putting enough...you then assured me that you would send me a letter outlining how the lib dems would support families where both parents went out to work - you didn't bother! I for one am sooo pleased that I didn't vote for your party just so that you could join up with the tory party! I'm sorry to be harsh but I think you've got a cheek coming on this forum trying to defend these kind of actions! You can say that statistically the richest 15% of families don't need CB and put that way it sounds reasonable BUT earning 44K plus when you live in London with massive housing costs and with no help for childcare costs, I can assure you there is little left at the end of the month even on that salary... I actually agree - cut child benefit for the millionaires - but for people earning over ?44K - what a joke!

Thanks so much for all the replies - they make very interesting reading! We've decided to focus our search on the Horniman side of FH and Honor Oak in a bid to get a bit more space but stay within reach of ED...finding a 3 bed house to rent in these areas is proving difficult at the moment but hopefully we'll find something soon. Thanks again, Emma

I went for the first time on Saturday between 12.30 and 1.30. This session has one lane and the rest is general swim. I didn't think that sounded ideal for a few gentler lengths carrying my watermelon but the grandparents were babysitting number one so had to take advantage! I actually really enjoyed it - didn't venture into the fast lane for obvious reasons but found that myself and a few other swimmers kind of made our own slower lane next to that lane and the families/general swimmers stayed over to the other side...It wasn't as busy as I had feared it would be either... I'm about 28 weeks pregnant so not of whale like size just yet though there were times when I was a little nervous that the bump was going to get a kick...I would recommend that if you can make it then go for a session where the whole pool is dedicated to lane swimmers and then you can opt for the slow/middle lane... I'm going to try one of the evening lane swims this week but sure the best time to get a peaceful swim would be in the mddle of the day as it will be less busy - so if you're already off on maternity leave then that could be the best option.. Oh and the pool temperature was fine - I'm a wimp when it comes to cold pools and it wasn't exactly like getting into a warm bath but I dind't think it was any colder than the main pool at peckham and once I'd started swimming it was plenty warm enough (still not sure I'd take my toddler though - a bit too cool to be standing around!)

I know this is a bit of a random one but always enjoy reading the advice on here so here goes...just wondered if anyone could offer a view on our moving dilemma.. I'm 6 months pregnant with our 2nd baby (No1 is 2 years). We currently rent a 2 bed garden flat in central East Dulwich. We are looking to move (renting again) before the next baby is born, to a 3 bed house - we need more space than we've got in our current flat and a third room so my mum etc can come and stay - all the relatives live miles away and am really hoping for their help when number 2 arrives (so 3rd bedroom not for the newborn really as he/she will be in with us and then hopefully in with my daughter) We have been looking for a couple of months now and we constantly seem to be faced with the same dilemma - for our budget we have the choice of a small 3 bed house in East Dul with small garden or a bigger 3/4 bed house in say the Catford side of forest hill with a larger garden. I'll be on maternity leave for 6 months from Jan so spending far more time at the home than usual so where we live for the next year or so is an important decision...albiet I accept not as important as if we were buying the house... I suppose my question to people (especially those who have had 2!) is - would you go for more space in a (dare I say it less desirable area, no offence to FH intended!) OR would you stick with central ED where we are at the moment, with loads going on and sacrifice space? I've lived in ED for the last 5 years and have to admit the thought of moving v far is scary... A friend suggested to me that you don't need a big garden anyway when the children are that young as they're not eactly old enough to want a game of football and to be honest we have a fairly big garden where we are now but we only seem to use the front part where the eating area etc is...We plan to rent for about 18 months to 2 years.. unless we win the lottery before then and can afford to buy! I'd be interested to hear any views people have... many thanks in advance...

I can make the 9th too if that's good for others?

Have to say that due to baby coming 5 weeks early, we hadn't washed ANY of the clothes we'd bought for her! She was in the special care baby unit at Kings and I explained this to the nurses there who thought I was mad to worry about that and told me it wasn't necessary to wash it at all! This advice relating to a baby who was ill at that point means I can't believe it can be that bad if you don't wash anythiny...saying that, am pregnant with 2nd one now and am sure I will wash everything just to be sure!