Mellors

?8/9 an hour net for a sole charge nanny is the going rate around these parts as far as I am aware.

Dear Claire - lazy layabout that I am, I insist that my husband takes his grubby shirts to the dry cleaners, but I think he will baulk at the cost of individually dry cleaning lots of little terry squares lolol. I am not sure I have the patience to peg out loads of mini washable wipes on the line ;) I tend just to shove them back in new lotion (using your recipe - the chemist next to the Post Office on Peckham Rye does the lavender oil chap as chips) straight from the washer. Maybe I will empty out my piggy bank and splash out on some new ones! xx

For a live out nanny on roughly a 10 hour day (8am - 6pm say) I pay c. ?100 - it will be more if you are in a nanny share as the rate is higher than for sole charge.

I clean mines teeth before their milk, hence I was keen to get them off the bottle and onto the beaker. I have no idea what its done to their teeth though as the little beasts refuse to let the dentist look in their mouths whenever I take them!

I am a washable wipe fan too, thanks Molly! I do have a question about them though....being a fowl and grubby mother, mine are all now grey for loads of washing. Is there anything you can do to "whiten" them up again? Bleach? Claire - I find anything with fleece on top provides a barrier against the babies bum. Fleece liners are great (you can make your own from choppped up old fleeces or buy them online), and any poo just flicks off them, or you can give them a quick rinse ina flushing loo. I now use Itti Bittis and Blueberries as well (on Pickle's advice). The Itti's are my favourite as they are so slimline, and the triple bamboo layer seems to keep baby dry (althoguh I do use aliner for poo. They aren't absorbent enough for me at night though, even with the booster, so I use a Blueberry with an additional pad in, which keeps her toasty and dry. I have loads of Tots Bots coloured and plain size 1 and 2, waterproof wraps to go ever them and some Little Lamb nappies from my first baby. They are well worn, but loads of use in them. If anyone is interested in taking them give me a shout.

Ha ha! My daughter also does the sign for "milk" furiously whist shouting at me and throwing the beaker away (despite knowing its full of milk). I'm afraid she has just had to learn its my way or the highway..... Sometimes I wonder if baby signing is a good thing lol.

I've just been through this with my second (now 16 months) No 1 swapped from bottle to beaker at 12 months and didn't seem to notice. No 2 however, was horrified when I took her bottle away, and threw the beaker out of the cot in disgust every time. We now seem to have cracked it though - basically I just persevered (in fact I just got rid of all the bottles so I couldn't give in). I think at this age its not really so important (she is eating 3 meals a day with lots of milk, yoghurt cheese etc so getting plenty of calcium elsewhere, and drinks plenty of water during the day so won't be dehydrated). After about 2 weeks of beaker throwing tantrums she clearly realised we weren't going back, so has now gone back to happily glugging the lot, the naughty little Madam! I can't remember what age they stop bothering with milk much at all - I give her a full beaker morning and night, but my 3 year old only has one at night and doesn't often drink much of that? natural weaning I suppose Persevere - chuck 'em out and be done with it ;)

That could be people who lived nearby when they applied and then moved though (or fiddled the system (surely not with a catholic God looking on!)). Or maybe they're just lazy lol?

My new business venture is brewing Molly.....working from home. I'll defo be in touch as I have ideas I'd like to bounce off you (and see you in the park). Its a bit of a relief actually. I have little in common these days with people who have no kids and think life is all about working 20 hours a day in the office!

I went back to work Monday, Wednesday, Friday as too was in a job where I couldn't leave it for four days on the trot (city law). It didn't work at all - I ended up working all 5 days effectively (and some weekends), and none of us knew whether we were coming or going. I offered my boss a four day week instead, but they didn't fancy it because of tight budgets, so no money to pay me for an extra day (and frankly they were getting it free anyway so had no incentive to change). I then then offered 3 days over 4 (i.e. short hours on four days int he office), and also a possible job share. All were rejected. I resigned, and I finish on 1st March. Not the most cheery, but you do have my sympathy!

I don't know about ther September intake, but I do know somebody who lives off Forest Hill Rd (not far from the FHT) who didn't get in there last year despite being actively involve in the church and attending weekly both before and after baby was born.

I am a routine follower (vaguely) and my children are worn out by 7pm (age 1 and 3) so they go to bed, even on holiday. We tend to all eat a lovely long continental style lunch together instead, and then we all stay in in the evenings. I suppose the alternative would be to get a babysitter, but after a busy day en famille I usually just want to chill and go to bed. My life has changed massively in this respect since children (no more Ibiza raving for a wee while), but thats fine by me, thats what its all about. Nothing worse than screaming overtired children in a grown up restaurant at night IMO.

I also meant to say that I think you have more chance of getting a place if you are happy to do afternoons, as lots of people only want mornings. It has no bearing on whether you get a school place.

Not state - we are at Puddleducks (now in Nunhead near Ivydale). As you get your 12.5 hours for free even in a private nursery once they are three its free now anyway, and doing a couple of longer days suited me more than going back and forward for short sessions 5 days a week. You could try Goose Green, DKH, Rye Oak for state (or Dulwich Wood which I loved but is a drive away)? Or any of the private ones?

We go "up those jolly trotters" to bed (no idea what this is, my Mum used to call the stairs that when I was little). I am northern, and am quite often picked up on how to "say things properly Mummy!" by my 3 year old. I relish teaching him things like "eeeeh, by gum!" .....

I am slightly further away than you and was offered a place at Goodrich to start this January in the afternoons (1 - 3.30pm I think). This would have been the term after his 3rd birthday. As it happens he is happily settled elsewhere, and afternoons dont suit us so I turned it down. Have heard nothing from Heber (which is actually my nearest, but I think harder to get in to).

One thing I have always had to do was have a shower and get dressed first thing. I just feel awful if I am not ready for the day, and the 5 mins in the shower makes me human. The test for me, particularly with with No 2 and a demanding toddler as well, was "will the baby die/anything bad happen to it if I quickly do XYZ?". Normally the answer is no, so I just got on with it. She got quite used to sitting in her bouncy chair/bumbo/cot/baby walker etc etc. No 2 also learn to love TV whilst I was breastfeeding baby etc. Bad Mummy! You just have to do what you have to do to get through it in a relatively sane manner. I also think its really, realy important to have a tiny bit of me time for yourself every week - I know its hard and we all feel guilty but the world really won't end if you give the baby to OH and let him deal with it whilst you go round the corner for a cofee and the paper on a Saturday morning. The joy of no nappy bag! I used to swim - 45 mins of utter peace and quiet. Heaven.

The food thing is REALLY annoying. I bought a few plastic sheets like the ones they draw on from Morrisons for 99p each. Stick one under the chair at the beginning of the day, then chuck it in the washer at the end. I don't think my kitchen floor will ever recover from stuck on banana though. My daughter is going through a phase of pushing me away like I am the world's worst mother when there is anyone else around e.g. daddy, but the minute I try and leave her with somebody so I cna escape e.g. at the creche going mental and being the clingiest baby in the world like only mummy will do. Why?! Who'd have 'em?!

Just in case you are missing one, I spotted a fleece blue hat with ear muffs (or ear muffins as my son calls his) on Upland Rd at about 3.30pm this afternoon (corner of Hindmans) - I put it on top of the roadside post. I'd say it was for a 2 year old boy or so? I also spotted a mitten shaped like a brown bear outside the electrical shop on North Cross (next to the chippy). I put it on the wall. Hope they get reunited with their owners, I know how annoying it is to keep losing things - my children have endless odd gloves *sigh*. Maybe others could post on this thread if they lose/find things?

You're lucky if it works like this in your area. I also decided to have a home birth with No 1 about 6 months into my pregnancy, and there were no available midwives at all (Kennington/St Thomas's), hence I ended up with hospital and a nightmare.

Another vote for Coppleston - starts at 10am but very flexible (never gets too busy as its a big hall), and you can park anywhere round there. I reckon it would be perfect for M - we should be there when I finish work at the end of Feb, as I am going to swap my Leapers to a Wednesday morning. What happens on a Monday morning (just with little 'un?)?

30 mins by bike...

I did a deal on my fees, and you pay monthly in advance before the birth, so at least its all done with and you have forgotten about it afterwards. She actually told me she makes practically no money out of it (rich husband), but does it for her love of midwifery services. She is a wonderful woman.

Yes, I use it a lot for my daughter (from 3 months, and she is now 16 months). The "ladies" are so lovely. I do try to book in advance - 3 days if you're not a memember, 12 days if you are. A big thumbs up from me - see you in the pool lol! PS If you go a couple of times a week or more then its worth joining you and baby as members - day membership for you both combined works out at about ?40 a month, and you get swimming, creche, soft play, classes, Crystal Palace 1 o'clock club etc for free. Plus you get the advance booking thing.

I am in central ED and had my second baby at the Birth Centre in Tooting (after a horric first experience at St Thomas's). I cannot recommend them highly enough - they were just marvellous, worth every penny. It took us about 20 mins I seem to think at 11pm on a Frioday night to get there - loads better than the trip to St Thomas. If you fancy it, they are just as set up for you to labour at home though, and in fact thats what I would do if there is a next time. they can always take you to Kings if it gets tricky. Caroline Flint (who owns the Birth Centre) was my NCT teacher 1st time round, and I just adore her. The after care is second to none as well. Do PM me if you want more info.