Sanne Panne

Sorry to repeat what I said in another thread on here, again I have zero vested interest here: Gymboree Herne Hill is doing a summer arts/theatre class near Herne Hill station. Mondays 2:30-4pm drop off for 3-5 or 3-6 year olds. Hoping that even zoo/aquarium won't be THAT packed as the summer is longer than a random half term break, pretty please?

The Nappy Lady Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Another one; tucking them in & kissing them when > they are fast asleep as you go to bed yourself. Yes and moving their stuffed animals off the prime position on the pillow at the same time :)

Gymboree Herne Hill does a drop off arts/theatre summer programme on Mondays 2:30-4pm. I think they have a sponsor ad on the forum, otherwise Google them at "herne hill gymboree". I know they have spaces (and no I have nothing to do with the organisers, my daughter just started the programme today and it was not too busy).

What a beautiful name, congratulations, well done and wishing you a great recovery!!!

Hearing my 2-3yo use words from my native language sometimes (instead of English with an accent that I envy but that is sometimes a bit alienating to a non-British mum!). And explaining her "the logic of the world we live in" during our time together at bedtime.

Clare, get a "houdini stop" or similar chest strap / chest clip off eBay in the US. They're not allowed in the EU because you should be able to release a child with a single click but I think it's more dangerous to have an unbuckled child than to have to release your child with 2 clicks rather than 1 in case of an accident.

Thanks for the warning Molly, the belt being technically "on" is clearly not a guarantee that it's on properly, thanks for that. Will make some threats. Or get one of those things that keep the lap and chest bit loosely together. Thankfully our daughter isn't the escape artist type and she'll drive us nuts in many ways but not usually with this kind of thing... but yes there's a first time for everything!

Agree about weight being the actual limit (although I'm sure the seats can handle a certain percentage more than it says on the box) with age just being a rough reference point. Same with clothes right? I still don't get why they put ages in clothes labels here rather than centimeters (length of child) like they do back home. Anyway... I ordered the Rodi (a model that does have a somewhat reclined position as well) and along with it a highly rated little battery operated alarm that sounds when the seatbelt is undone - you install it without messing with the functionality or ease of use of the seatbelt. (it's permanently on, you don't need to put it on each time you put the child in the seat). Let's see how it goes!

It's very good. But it depends a bit on your baby. Our first loved sitting in (and leaning back in) bouncers until she was over a year old. Our second was only happy in one between 1-6 months old and then just wanted to sit more upright, get onto the sofa etc. We've used a couple of different bouncers (Chicco, Bjorn) and did like the Bjorn one best (although it can be a bit scary if you have a toddler "lovingly" bouncing the baby as the seat really does bounce when you push it a bit!). It's also a bit heavy for carrying the baby from one room to another in (not allowed anyway but you, ok I, DO sometimes do it). So yes, great for not-too-restless babies who don't need to be moved from room to room all the time.

Another question is whether the 5 point harness in the toddler seat is strong enough for a child over 18 kilos. It has only been tested up till that weight.

Oh help I don't know what to do. Has anyone else had to decide whether to keep their 3 year old in a toddler seat or move him/her up to a booster seat with side protection and what was the decision?

Fuschia Wrote: > Can you get a second hand toddler seat from a > reliable source? I'm usually the one who buys a shiny new one and then sells it on in very good state. Ends up costing more than buying second hand but not ridiculously much more. Still collecting opinions but this is definitely an option.

Looking for the most cost effective and safe car seat scenario for my daughters. Current set-up: Maxi Cosi Cabriofix (rear facing up to 13 kilos) for my 12.5 month old who probably weighs her age in kilos - she's relatively tall too (probably 80th percentile) so she's starting to outgrow the seat. Legs are bent when seated but she's not complaining yet. Maxi Cosi Tobi (forward facing 9-18 kilos) for my exactly 3 years old (this week) who is pretty chunky (about 17 kilos) but still fits in her seat. Thoughts: I don't want to have two toddler seats, too expensive to buy a new one. I'm considering selling the Cabriofix, moving the little one into the Tobi and buying a child seat (Maxi Cosi Rodi XR or AirProtect) for the big one. We don't drive much and only locally so I'm not worried about motorway accidents but I still want to be safe of course. I can keep the kids as they are for another month but when the little one has her next growth spurt she's done with the Cabriofix. --> What would you do? Thanks so much for any thoughts/experiences/advice you can share.

I usually manage to remove formula, contact lens fluid (don't ask), mud, chewed-on baby biscuits and other similar stains quite easily with a plain moist kitchen sponge (the green side of a yellow/green mild scourer type) and some fairy. Then wipe down with a wet cloth and allow to dry.

Another vote for Camilla Judge

We're going to Ofsted-register our nanny. Can we do this on her behalf or should she take the lead? I know one cannot request one's own CRB check but I'm not sure how to initiate Ofsted registration. If I understand the site well, she has to "own" the application. And is it correct that a nanny registers with the voluntary part of the Childcare Register in the capacity of a home carer? Or did I misread that? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience...

Yes long grass is attractive. Worth acting soon as they're not in your house. They're not likely to spend a lot of time indoors in summer though I think (but I'm not sure).

If you own as a leaseholder, call your management company. If you rent, call your landlord. If you're a freeholder, call Rentokil ;) Rat in garden doesn't mean rat in house but have the under-floorboard area checked for droppings. (you'll have heard them if they're in your building though)

I can't believe religion still exists, seriously. The hypocrisy that makes people attend church for a year or two before their eldest goes to school is probably worse but unfortunately more understandable. But all this doesn't necessarily mean that a school that makes an effort to motivate children to pursue education can't extend their premises. As an ex resident of the uphill bit of Barry Road I agree that they should probably build a drive through drop off area in the proposed extension zone and build a floor on top of the existing school building to show the children why God is responsible for the awesome geometry of a snowflake. Sorry. Bad taste and so on. Just want to say that you don't need to be "for" a school system to allow it to use local funds to extend provided the school doesn't take away non-faith allocations (and/or a disproportionate amount of funds) from the area. If x kids in St Anthony's means x fewer places for non faith kids in the ED area it becomes a different story altogether. (sorry not 100% informed on the school allocation business).

Well bedroom drawers are where most people's jewellery is kept so a 50 second burglary, although obviously suspicious, could still be a "lucky" shot. Change your locks (nobody who takes advantage of keys in that way is NOT going to also cut a copy) and put up a cam or two...

Thanks I put a post up looking for a nanny who's free in summer. Thought about it after I submitted this post. Why didn't I think of it before? :)

flowermum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Free activities or classes? > Tumbletots is on at red post hill on Thursday > mornings. You can bring a baby there (I do - > either in a sling or sitting watching from the > side in her pram) Yes I do the same. Baby now seems to want to participate :)

Tumble tots is indeed nice for physical / climbing / balance confidence and skills and they apparently do also have a 3+ class. We're doing 2-3 at the moment but would love to move on to gymnastics as well.

Our nanny is considering going away for 3 weeks in August. I can cover one of those weeks myself but am wondering if anyone knows if there are nurseries in East/West/North Dulwich or Herne Hill that have spare spots in summer (or that offer some kind of summer care for families in similar situations). Our daughters will have just turned 1 and 3 then. Any advice welcome!

I flew it twice but on a different route (Los Angeles - Seoul) and they were great. You don't get that sense of indulgence but otherwise it ticks all the boxes.