Belle77

next year I am going back to work part time but to a bit of a weird job - which will involve one/two evening (5-7.30) meetings a week, one or two (shorter) day time meetings a week, and some written work which I'll usually be able to do in the evenings. On the days of the evening meetings the job will provide a flat for me to stay in the buildings where the meetings take place in central london (where I can also store a cot and toys etc all year) - so I would have loved baby belle to be taken care of in the flat while the meeting is going on then I would get up in time to put him to bed instead of travelling across London late at night and meaning we spend the least time apart. Do I just need a babysitter? will tax credits go towards that as the job is really poorly paid or do I have to use a nanny or registered childminder to get help with the costs? how should I go about finding someone to help in central london? or would I be better off trying to find someone locally and asking them to travel to town with me in case I also need them to help me during the day time in the week? sorry for all the questions - any advice would be gratefully received... baby belle will be 7 1/2 months in January when the job starts.

Hope DMR doesn't mind me borrowing part of her post but just don't want it to go unnoticed on the thread below... A group of Albany mums, past and present, have set up a group in Facebook called "Albany Mums". This was created so we could keep each other informed about what is going on with the Albany Midwives, to give our support to them if so we wish and to support and inform of the choices available to all the Albany "mums to be" that are affected by this situation. Please if you had a baby with the Albany or you were supposed to have one sign up to this group and please inform of this group to all the "Albany Mums" you might know. We'd be so grateful if anyone who reads it could spread the news about the facebook group in their small groups/at the school gates/one o'clock clubs.

you can, before 12 months. details should be on the back of her original short birth certificate I think. B

sneezy was 19 days late. but he came out happy, healthy and naturally even though I had turned into fret monster! you are totally right, sonny will come our when he's ready. feeling for you though! x

Thanks both. Pickle was your son tall? Do you think the bamboozles would be ok on a tall baby?

Dear All (and especially Molly if you're there), I have rather stupidly bought 2 full sets of birth to potty nappies - no idea why! pregnancy thing - one set of one life and one set of tots bots bamboozles. Can't see myself using both as frankly just starting one set is proving daunting enough... Going to ebay one set but can't decide which set to get rid of. Sneezy is REALLY tall at the moment so I know neither set is particularly recommended but I can't afford a 3rd set or face the hassle of ebaying both of the existing ones to buy a third so does anyone have a view between the 2 of which ones to keep? B

If I wasn't breastfeeding I could hit the bottle now...

Hola, Sneezy is now 13 weeks and every week since he was born people have been telling me that he is presently at "the best age". I just smile as I've nothing to compare it to. Has anyone spotted any other "best ages"?! as I am keen not to miss them... B P.S. only half joking with this - would love to know whether there is any particular time you've enjoyed most with your children, realise it will be different for every child but would love to know what's coming as a first time mum...

Thank you for the tips. We had a candlelit bath tonight (not trying to give him a complex, light in the bathroom is presently broken!) and it helped a great deal. B x

sorry, me again! My mum has just mentioned to me a car hire service where they drop the car off to you and pick it up at the end of your hire... Can this be right? Does anyone know where these car fairies live and whether or not they charge a million pounds?! Alternatively, anyone just know the cheapest hire company? B x

hello, About this time of day - I start to long for someone to hand my beautiful 10 week old to. He doesn't nap for more than a few min at a time in the day and goes to bed about 10 pm. The reality of single motherhood is I haven't got anyone. Are there any good toys that might distract him for that long? Also, if so, would anyone like to sell theirs?! M'aidez, Belle