millie42

Oh bless. Why don't you ask the nursery who her "best friends" are and invite them over for a weekend play date. I am sure most mums would love having the opportunity for their children to play with friends for an hour at the weekend. Similarily - presume she will be in pre-school soon and are sure there will be loads of playdate and party invites then! Good luck! Before you know she will have loads of friends so try not to worry. M

Hello there. We often stay in France using holiday-rentals.co.uk. Its a really great site for second home owners so the houses are really lovely and really reasonably priced. For a short hop we have often stayed near Le Touquet in Northern France which has been perfect while my children are really small as its about 40 mins drive from the EuroTunnel. Great beeches and bays and a real old fashioned seatside holiday! Here is a link to the house we stayed in last time. http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412373 I would recommend taking a look at the site as there are some really beautiful properties. Good luck

Yes - there were also new joiners at my son's nursery last week so its probably worthwhile trying to find out if he can join for the final term. My son loves it and good preparation for "big" school. M

Hello there I had a similar issue when my son got too big for the usual playschemes. I ended up enrolling him in swimming and gym classes for a couple of days a week at the Beckenham Spa. After 3 they can do the classes on their own so I was able to have a bit of free time wiith my younger baby. Also the softplay at the Spa was great as they just got on with it and ended up playing with the other children if we ever went on our own. It was a godsend during the winter months. My 4 year old is at nursery in the morning but we are always usually around one of the parks with bikes and scooters on Monday or Tuesday afternoons if you fancy joining us. M

So jealous as back at work tomorrow. Baby Felix loves footie too! I shall think of you all having fun while I am stuck in the office. M

I should have thought you would be safe. I often leave my P+T alone and have had no problems - but then again its usually full of toys, half eaten biscuits and general child detritus so maybe that keeps the buggy nappers at bay! Seriously, I am sure you will be fine although I know its a worry as P+Ts are not cheap. M

Hope you all had fun. If the weather hold - maybe we can try and arrange something similar for next week. I have a my 18 month old and 4 year old boys on Monday and Tuesday so looking for some adult company on those days to try and preerve my sanity. Curly Karen - hope you are still up for Monday and you managed to avoid throttling "good for nothing"!. M

There is a fantastic cake making/decorations shop in Bromley - Chatterton Road (Bromley South) - may be a bit closer than Putney. I have been using it it for all my baking for years. Michelle

Hello there On Mondays and Tuesdays I will have two boys to entertain (4 years and 18 months ) and already feel my pulse soaring!. Would be great if there were others with similar ages to meet up with. Michelle

Also there is a large language school in Beckenham that friends have recommended

Hello all I would really welcome any guidance people can offer on the best agencies to use, what to look out for and any questions we should be asking. We are total novices so would welcome any information anyone may have. Thanks Michelle

Would really welcome any guidance people can offer on the best agencies to use, what to look out for and any questions we should be asking. We are total novices so would welcome any information anyone may have. Thanks Michelle

Darlin That will be great - hope to see you there. HelenGV - hope you can also make it. BTW - I have long red hair and a blonde toddler called Felix. M

Darlin/Helen GV Great. What about either Mon or Tues next week? For me it better if its mornings as my older son is at pre-school so I can focus on toddler stuff. Maybe if Tuesday we could go to the St Saviour toddler group? M

We live in HOP and there are loads of clubs in the area for little ones You should try the Ackroyd Community Centre which runs toddler groups and toy library on Mon,Wed,Thurs and Fri mornings.They also have a baby gym on the first monday of each month. There is BABBA Latte on Wed mornings at Honor Oak Pub and singing classes at Crofton Park and Forest Hill. There is also a very sweet toddler group on tuesday moring at St Saviours Church and there is great club on Friday mornings at Normanton Road church. The oneO'clock club in the Rye is also a short walk away (albeit strenuous walk back) How old is your little one. I have a 15 month old and are always around on Mon and Tuesday if you fancy meeting up locally. Good luck Michelle

Anyone recommend a good company for hiring bouncy castles/slides for a boys 4th birthday party or alternatively other good ideas for entertainment? Many thanks in advance. Michelel

Me too. Michelle

I can come too - Michelle

I have always used MAM bottles and think they are great esp as they have the orthodontic teats which my two really preferred to all the others that we tried. Sorry no idea where to source them in ED as I have always bought mine from Mothercare! Apologies - that was not much help was it? M

Both of my children have eczema to varying degrees. With the older oner it was so bad we were referred to St Thomas' Paediatric Dermatology Dept and have used numerous lotions and potions on the skin, in the bath and laundry - many on prescription and many OTC. Also fitted water softener, used humidifiers, had non-dairy diet etc..... None of them really worked except Fucidic Acid which is an antisceptic steroid cream that I am reluctant to use for long. When my second son was born he was covered in it and I was terrified it was going to develop in to a problem like his brother. However the only think that has ever worked is Johnson and Johnson cream (the one with aloe vera) in the green packaging. Its weird! I bought it for myself and tried it on them and it works and totally clears up any eczema they get. They still get it but when it gets inflamed and itchy I use it and it calms it down and eventually it does. I also apply pure aloe vera oil to supplement this in bad flare ups! I am sure J+J have NOT stumbled across a mystery cure but it may be worth trying it on a small patch. It maybe that there is something in it that just works for my two but worth trying and you can always use it on yourself. I use it all the time on my skin and it really works for me so I guess it makes sense that it might work for them. I think the answer is to try everything you can and I am sure you will evetually stumble on something that works for you. Good luck

Hello there K - and another baby - gawd no - heavens above! Sorry been tied up with kids who have had colds and chest infections and by the time the little blighters were waking from their afternoon naps it was dark! Happy to meet up on Mon am for a few hours while M is at school or you can pop around to ours for a cuppa. Hope you are well. M

Leanne/Ludoscotts Hello there - I would be very keen to also join in on one of your Monday meets sometimes. Do you meet in the mornings or afternoons? Mornings esp good for me as my other son is at pre-school. My other son is 14 months. I promise I can come laden with chocolate! M

Hi Claire I am just recovering from swine flu - had it for three weeks and felt absolutely dreadful. By far the worst illness I ever had. I was offered Tamiflu but declined and if i had been pregnant would not have as well. I spoke to a number of doctor friends who also agreed. Has there been rigorous clinical testing on pregnant women? When your pregnant you cant even take most cough medicines due to the lack of testing - so I personally cant believe they could have persuaded a group of pregnant women to agree to be guinea pigs for anti-viral testing. I know I am a cynic.... If I was you I would try and avoid high risk places and keep your immunity up with good food. Incidentally my OH and two kids did not get it and I think I probably did as I was run down.

Can I come too? Both dates are fine for me at the moment. Michelle

My second son seems to have had cold and blocked nose since he was born. The thing that works for us is putting vicks on the bottom of his feet while he is asleep. Its an old remedy and no idea how it works but it really does. He seems to then sneeze all the gunk (eeuk!) up the following morning. Know it sounds truely disgusting! Good luck