verds

Anyone know where I can print something out while the library's shut? Does the Grove Vale one have internet/printers? Thanks

Thanks! I think the biggest thing is getting the car seat to Gatwick on the train. We'll have to travel light!

Wise people of the forum, I'm doing a domestic flight where I'll need a booster and forward-facing car seat at the other end. Hiring one is as expensive as car hire! So I'm hoping to take both, but just realised how heavy they'll be... Has anyone used a car seat bag and does that help make it easier? I need a genius solution!

Upstairs at The Castle pub is good. I had my little girl's party there and the lady who runs it is lovely - it was so reasonable to hire and she let us decorate it the night before. There's a little stage and a kitchen/oven, plus the traditional boozer downstairs in case parents want to stay nearby.

Nicola Watson from Child Sleep Solutions is great - she sorted out my wakey baby at about that age.

I tried highlights with Carly last week - she's great, and she doesn't mind working around inquisitive children!

My little girl is about to turn four and has a scooter which is on its last legs... so I'm thinking of replacing it. How old are they when they stop using the Mini Micro? I was going to get her a bike, but I'm concerned we may need the easiest mode of transport when she goes to school in September in case we get allocated one miles away and have to bus it!

I'm with you on this, Working Mummy. I dressed my two girls in blue/black/anything but pink - so much so that the baby still gets referred to as 'He'. And when my eldest turned 3, she decided to wear nothing but pink and has asked me many times why I don't wear any 'princess dresses'. She loves the new Disney princess, Sofia the First, and that touches on another pet hate of mine: royalty! I agree that sexism starts young and it makes me furious, but I learned my feminist ways from my mum more than from culture so I do have some hope for them. But now she wants a Barbie and that opens up a whole can of worms for me.

I left it late last year and found the same thing! But Oak Tree had places and it's lovely. It was perfect for when my little girl turned 3 and was waiting for a place at a school nursery.

Aw, this makes me want to go there! Love the Cyclades trip that mum2besoon mentioned, but I also love Western Crete. Chania is a beautiful Venetian-style port with loads of great food and there are lots of great beach resorts round there.

Yes, I went to look around and I thought it was great. I like the lady who runs it, Grace - and it's not too pricey!

Oaktree on Tell Grove is nice - does am and pm sessions

It's free to join and you can do pay as you go - think they're having some kind of offer on the monthly packages at the moment too

No, it's free to join and you just use it when you need it

I have of course lost the price list, but I think it's about 8 quid an hour for a desk and one child, and siblings are half price And for a fiver an hour you can leave them and go shopping. Woop!

I've been looking for ad-hoc childcare and I've come across this place in Brixton, which seems really nice: http://www.treehouseworkandplay.com/about.html They have desk space and also a creche, and they're not too pricey. I got as far as looking round and joining up, but haven't actually been organised enough to take the children there yet...

I was with The Lanes for my first but didn't have a great time so for my second I just signed up with the midwives at Kings and they were amazing. I hadn't met the midwife who was there for my labour, but I figure you have enough time to get acquainted in those hours!

Lansinoh manual - best pump ever. You can have mine if you'd like to try it. I only used it a few times. Had one with my first baby though, and it did a lot of expressing.

Heber nursery definitely shut today. I had promised a trip there on the sledge - not fair!

Home shop next to Wetherspoons on Forest Hill is doing a roaring trade at 15 quid each or 25 for 2. Extortionate, but I must admit I was reeled in by a pink one...

Thanks, that's very helpful. I have tried to cut down on the milk and offer solids instead, but we're going through an early waking stage, so I'm scared to give less milk in case it encourages her to wake up hungry. I think more solids would help solve it though.

Wise people of the forum... My first baby ate like an actual horse, so I have no idea what to do with my second one who's a bit of a picker. She's about to turn one, and I would normally switch to cow's milk soon, but some days she doesn't fancy eating solids and seems to need the milk. I'm assuming formula has loads of extra stuff that makes up for the lack of real food, so should I leave the cow's milk for now? She's been bottle-fed since 10 months and tends to go for one more bottle than I'd expect at this age...

Haaaa, love it. Nice work, LocalTeacher. I hope you're not really a teacher - I wouldn't want my long-haired children picking up your disgraceful apostrophe crimes.

My first baby fed constantly at 17 weeks - I think it's a growth spurt, which lasted about a week. She'd spend four hours feeding every evening, so get comfy. My second has always been a rubbish sleeper, so I didn't notice the difference!

Can you tell us your opening hours, please? Sounds good!