Crokes

Thank you massively for all the lovely, helpful and thoughtful responses and PMs/offers (EDF family room rocks!). Problem solved and very pleased to report our baby arrived yesterday morning, at home in the pool.

Convex, great thinking, thank you (didn't think of it that way round!) That would work too. We've got a generic liner from the midwife now (as a back-up as it's ?50 and will be quite loose).

Hello lovely family roomers (posting here as well as in the classifieds as I think this gets more traffic) Embarrassingly we have got the wrong size liner for our birth pool in a box. If anyone has a liner for sale for a REGULAR size birth pool in a box then please message me asap and I'll call to arrange purchase/immediate collection! Thanks!

It's also worth looking at the Industrial Design degrees at Brunel, Loughborough and I think Newcastle(?). Further afield yes but all have great reputations for product design graduates and no need for the foundation degree first (at least there didn't used to be with those courses at Brunel and Loughborough). Obviously involves specialising slightly earlier (but then I guess that's one year less in education) The one I did gave all students the option to come out with either a BA or BSc AND my peers have gone on to do a massive variety of creative vocations. Good luck to him!

Agree with recommendation for Amott Road Preschool. It runs 9.15am - 12.15pm. Worth calling to get on their waiting list (no charge for being on the waiting list either). They have a facebook page if you want more info/contact details (type in Amott Road Pre-school into Facebook search).

I don't venture out to the shops/London too often and find online shopping normally is well priced or cheaper - even more so by using cashback sites for each purchase eg. my fav is Topcashback http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/louise_z Once registered, you start at this website and click through to the website you want to buy something from. Each purchase earns a small percentage that soon adds up and is easily paid into your bank account as cash when you request it. (I use this website for buying most things - it often has discount codes you can use too. The downside is that not all websites are listed).

Hello fellow-family room users I am currently speaking to medical professionals about this (and will continue to), but would welcome hearing others experiences as I am in a real dilemma. I am pregnant (in the 3rd trimester) but have been suffering with bad asthma since an attack about 10 days ago (I'm normally happy to manage my asthma as I've had it since I was a child and have regular reviews). I'm on antibiotics to counter a chest infection and taking preventative (seretide) and ventolin inhalers. I can get through the day (by not doing too much and using my inhaler regularly) but struggle through the night and 1st thing in the morning (very wheezy, difficult to talk). The baby appears to be fine - loads of strong movement. It has been recommended that I take oral steroids but I am reluctant to do this; although I know I need to get the asthma back on track asap I've also been told/read that it's not ideal for the baby/ there's potential for premature labour (which I really don't want, as I was hoping for a more positive birth experience 2nd time round). Has anyone else taken oral steriods (e.g. prednisone) or had asthma attacks whilst in the later stages of pregnancy? PM me if you'd prefer. Thanks in advance.

Check out non-breastfeeding dresses too - v neck styles can work well. A friend inspired me after she bought a trendy v-neck dress from Warehouse for a wedding and was able to breast-feed in it. I found a lovely crossover/v-neck dress in H&M that was ideal for breastfeeding discreetly too - both were not to expensive and easily wearable again.

Brilliant - thanks for the recommendations... like the made one but not sure on timings/customer service reviews, so it looks like we're off to ikea!

Not sure if this if the right place to ask but as our family is due to expand soonish, we're looking for something to give us flexibility with sleeping arrangements/guests. We're looking to buy a sofa bed or chair bed (suitable for one person) and would really appreciate some recommendations (if there are any!). We'd rather not go for a futon... is there anything comfortable to sleep on that doesn't cost the earth and is still space-saving?! Thanks in advance.

If the distance suits you then try calling Barbara Rexstrew at JAGS, Tel: +44 (0) 208 693 1181. They have a room you can hire for parties or they hire out the Green Dale building on Green Dale (we hired this one recently for a kids party. Would definitely recommend, it was ideal, well priced, even has some parking).

I'm pretty sure that Bookstart at the albrighton centre finished for Christmas either last week or tomorrow.

There's a thread here that might help: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,545342,545356#msg-545356 It is for an older baby but it explains about the BRAT group of foods which are good if getting over a stomach bug (and yes rice is one of those. Can't remember when babies can eat proper/adult rice but if it's not a problem or he/she is used to it then ignore that!). Hope your little one is ok.

Thanks paulc, we heard it go by too, so it's good to know why it was going past. Toddler thought it was brilliant (even though we could only hear it!) .

For local definitely check out Tommy's on Rye lane. An impressive range if you're just starting out and want to stay local. There's a small selection in Mothercare further down Rye Lane in Peckham too. Catch the 37 to Rye Lane if you'd rather not walk. There's also a few brands in Soup Dragon on Lordship Lane (but probably not the wide selection you're looking for). Good luck!

If anyone is still having problems with their bee wheels jiggling then this might be of help. I contacted bugaboo customer service and was told that they have a 'washer service set' to correct this (they call it the 'shimmying' problem). It took a few weeks to arrive (and I was surprised at how simple the washers are too) but it has worked a treat! To get the washer set I had to email the following information to [email protected] : - Name: - Address: - Phone Number : - Type of Stroller: - Serial Number (located on the middle bar of chassis): - Date of Purchase (month/year): - Place of Purchase: - Replacement Item Needed (color needed, if applicable) - Explanation of Problem: - Photo(s) of Damage: - Valid Proof of Purchase (receipt) or credit card statement showing purchase - we MUST have this or we will NOT be able to process a warranty claim. - Photo of Serial Number and Production Date: **The serial number and production date for the Frog and Cameleon can be found on a sticker on the center metal bar of the chassis. It is the bar where the under seat bag attaches. For the Bee, it is on a black and silver sticker on the black plastic part of the chassis, directly under the seat, above the U-shaped piece that surrounds the brake pedal.

As per other posts, yes it fits in parent facing mode but (unless I'm doing it wrong!) it doesn't cover the basket area behind the seat (so anything in it either gets wet or if empty the basket collects rain) - I keep a plastic bag handy to cover the back of the basket). Would be interested to know if the generic mothercare one would solve this?

Hi Has anyone heard any news on this? We've been told that in the last month or so Southwark has relaxed their view on the 'double dormer' (apologies if incorrect terminology) and agrees with other London boroughs that it falls within permitted development (assuming other criteria is satisfied). Is this just hearsay or does anyone have any recent experience they can share? Many thanks. (edited for typo)

This is going to be too late for Camberwellbeauty but if anyone else is interested the playground appears to be open with no mention of safety checks due to happen. We've just come back and lots of children were having a great time in it. There is one corner that is roped off whilst work is completed there.

Hi Sophie Lots and lots of sympathy and hope it improves very soon. Easier said than done but if you can avoid work tomorrow morning, then do, as rest will really make a difference to you. I found the la leche league pages to be massively helpful and full of tips, hopefully a few of them will work for you: http://www.llli.org/nb/nbbreastproblems.html The articles with tips I found useful: http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr06p68.html http://www.llli.org/nb/nbmarapr07p76.html Take care and hang in there, Crokes

If it's for your kettle then just use a cheap fizzy drink like lemonade (anything with citric acid in it will work) and unlike vinegar, won't leave a funny smell. Put enough in the kettle to cover the limescale area and boil the kettle (if the kettle is quite full then make sure it doesn't overboil). Leave the kettle and fizzy drink to work it's magic! (can help to reboil a few times and if you have lots of limescale then you might need to replace the fizzy drink). Empty when you're happy with the result and rinse out a few times with water before using. Did ours last week and left it most of the day (reboiled 4 or 5 times), kettle looks like new inside now.

Whilst it's hot in the labour ward, (on my husband's recommendation) would take a jumper especially if the weather continues to be cold. You don't know what time you will be leaving to come home and it's pretty cold out this time of year. Also doubles as a makeshift pillow/cushion when not wearing it. Good luck to you both!

Annie, I also had this problem with the new model - went back to the shop I bought it from for advice and was told that this will occasionally happen when in rear-facing mode. Not entirely helpful (I guess it's a bit of a design flaw) but have now worked out that there's a bit of precision involved to avoid the seat falling out when folding - (I hope this makes sense) the stage after you close the seat up is crucial; (stand at the side of the bee when doing the next bit helps) when moving the folded seat part back towards the handle make sure that the folded seat is in line with the diagonal sides of the handle (sorry, not sure if this is the best way to describe it!). If the folded seat goes to it's furthest point beyond the diagonal side of the handle, the whole seat unit will fall/drop out when you fold the whole pushchair. Return to stand behind the pushchair handle and use the handle button/switches to fold the pushchair as normal. Sandy - Not sure if your model is in rear-facing mode, but if so, then similar to above suggestion, the stage after you close the seat up is crucial; (stand at the side of the bee when doing the next bit helps) when moving the folded seat part back towards the handle make sure that the folded seat goes to it's furthest point beyond the diagonal side of the handle, to remove the seat unit either lift the seat unit up (the catches that hold the seat unit in place are vertical in relatin to the floor/ground, so lift the folded seat unit straight up) or alternatively try folding the pushchair and the whole seat unit will fall/drop out (this probably isn't the best way unless you're on a soft surface!). Hope this helps.

Can't help on the British Gas side of things but echo the recommendations for a Miele washing machine (had a repair man out once and he gave me lots of useful tips and reassurance that we'd made a good choice). I spent ages deliberating which machine to buy and found this site extremely helpful (written by a washing machine repair man!): http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/buying-washing-machines.html Hope you get a solution soon!

Any information on 'when' this is intended to happen? (have been to check the notices and there's no indication of timing).