Mellors

Have you tried the stick on bowls snowboarder? I loved them with "the Phantom Food Flinger" as No 2 is called.

I'm up for it with my two.

I've now started calling it her "fanny fanackers" cause it made me laugh so much in this thread :)) She'll probably be confused for life, poor girl.

Yes to the "hamster pouches"! My 18 month old (who was fully BLW) doesn't do it now, so I think they must just grow out of it. When she did used to do it she would eventually just spit it out (usually to be found somewhere bizarre much later), she never choked.

I seem to remember being asked if we'd like a hydrotherapy pool that the children could use as well.... *sees pigs in sky out of window*

Tuppence!

Au pairs can't have sole charge for children under 2. I think you need a live in nanny. V expensive though.

I had both mine in from a couple of weeks old.

I copied in my letter which made exactly this point to Tessa Jowell at the time the changes were made to Leapers. I got no substantive response....

I did get a reply from the Children's Centre Manager. The criteria are: 1. identification of a specific need or level of support. This can either be by a professional or the parent themself making the referral. 2. Families that live within the Children's Centre "reach" area. I have a copy of the map, which basically covers an area encompassing Peckham as far as Peckham Rye Station, Nunhead as far as Nunhead Station, and the SE22 bit to the side of Peckham Rye (The Gardens etc). I have now been given a place on one of the sessions having been on the waiting list. There were only 5 children there. What a shocking waste of resources.

Peckham Pulse creche from 6 months. Beckenham Spa has a great creche from 3 months. I think ESPH on Lordship Lane has creche facilities on a couple of mornings? I'm not sure what the arrangements will be when ED leisure centre re-opens, but it used to have a creche from 6 months.

Unless you fall outside catchment for all your local schools and end up getting sent miles away as happened last year ;)

Re Dulwich Van Hire James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Spartacus, > Apologies for not posting a response. > I've been told they are going to colocate with the > garage place and be scaled back to 8 vans. > > I'll chase enforcement officers to double check > their understanding. If your correct the > propreitors have not been fully frank with > officers. James - this is correct, they are now operating in Barry's and the parking issue is still ongoing. This has been a problem for months now - any word from the enforcement officers please?

The seats are side by side, but I sometimes only have one in after the nursery drop off, and I haven't found a problem with it. You're welcome to come round for a look/play if it helps. Drop me a PM?

That is one of the other main benefits of BLW as well - you can take them out to eat anywhere without having schlep about jars/pots of food and get them heated up. Just get them a sarnie and a banana and leave them to it. I still can't believe I took my hand blender on a holiday hiking in Norway when No 1 was 7 months old. Bonkers.

I went down the Annabel Karmel pureeing organic route for No 1, who to this day (age 3 1/2) would still happily be spoonfed everything, the lazy little boy. I simply couldn't be @rsed with baby no 2, so she was BLW by default. She got a stick on bowl (highly recommended or it jst goes on the floor) of whatever we were having, and left to her own devices. She eats like a gannet now (although mostly still with her hands at 18 months). She goes mental if you try and spoonfeed her, and always has. Chalk and cheese the pair of them. Totally depends on the child I think from my experience. The only thing I would say if you go down the BLW route is that it can take them a worrying amoutn of time to get to grips with it - I think my daughter was about 8 months before she really got into eating anything significant. Remember the old adage though "Until they're 1 its just for fun". They don't need food for nutritional reasons, as milk still supplies it all - its just to get them used to a broad range of textures and flavours.

I now have new-washer envy, despite mine (a boring old Hotpoint) being only 4 years old. I did manage to get a nappy liner stuck down the sump pipe the other day which nearly broke it. Maybe I shold try harder so I can have a new Miele ;)

We still do the 1 - 3pm nap for the younger one as well. Older one has now grown out of his, but has always been a good napper. When they were tiny I used to have a rule of never letting the babies sleep after 4.30pm no matter what, so we could still get them down at 6.30/7pm. It does limit you in some ways, as said above, e.g. eating out at night with them, but I'll take the trade off of having my evenings (and nights) to myself any day.

I can also vouch for it being there - and an awful one it was too. I nearly did the same as you when I got in a tussle with a pushy 63 bus driver on one of my bike rides in last week. PM me if there is anything I can do, and you have my every sympathy - the roads are an absolute disgrace and a hazard for cyclists at the moment.

I am a bit scared to say this as I don;t want to appear to be showing off, but mine both sleep very well (now 3 and 1 1/2 but have slept through 12 hours from about 3/4 months). I need my sleep, and couldn't sleep with them snuffling about in the room, so had them in their own rooms in their cots after the first week or two (with monitor on). I know thats not the advice these days, but needs must! When I was breastfeeding them I would go into their rooms, get them out of their cot with the lights off/low (no talking/distractions), feed them and plonk them back in bed. I am strict with evening routine. Dinner at 5 - 5.30pm, then we wind down with a long bath, lights low, PJs on, sometimes a bit of Night Garden and stories (for the older one). Milk to take to bed or a last breastfeed, then they go to bed at 6.30 - 7pm. I just say "Night night, I love you", final kiss, then lights off, door shut and thats it. If they do wake up (which is hardly ever) I just talk/pat them to let them know I am there and get them settled again (I never get them out of cot/bed). I suspect its just down to the individual child though - I know parents with, say, 2 who sleep brilliantly and one which is a nightmare.

I've asked for a copy of the criteria, so will update when I receive them.

Right, I have just fired off a three page letter to Alastair Bruce (Children's Centre Manager), cc Director of Children's Services at Southwark Council and Tessa Jowell MP. If anyone would like a copy please PM me. I don't think we should give up without a fight!

I am so upset by this. I had to take my two (both of whom have been more or less every week since they were born) to say goodbye to Jean and Jas yesterday as we haven't got a place. This is despite handing in the form on the first day we were given them. Jean has said she is so upset by it she is thinking of quitting before the September term anyway. A playgroup that has run brilliantly for the last 8 years has been ruined by beaurocracy. I am going to write to: Alastair Bruce Rye Oak Children's Centre Worlton Rd London SE15 3PD and Family Information Service Southwark Council 15 Spa Road London SE16 3QW Maybe if we all write something will get done?

Gambados has a Pancake Day special on tomorrow - #5 for pancake making and soft play at 11am. Yum!!!

Copleston isn't on due to half term, but Leapers is at Rye Oak - Tues and Weds 9am - 11.30 am then 1pm till 3.30pm.