JessM

I'm looking at booking my almost-1-year-old into some sort of active classes next term. Does anyone have any advice or comments about Tumble Tots, Gymboree or similar? Cheers

I'm considering getting a bike trailer for the kids (1&3) to cycle around locally. Anyone got any experience of doing this? All suggestions gratefully received!

Hi all, does anyone have any wise words for us about putting a bike shed in our front garden? We are (just) inside the Dulwich Estate and I note from their website you are supposed to apply for permission. Does anyone have experience of getting this permission, or of being denied it? Or perhaps you put one in anyway without applying? I'd be really keen to know what the reality of the situation is! Thanks

Lots of people actually. Well done to all the students for doing so well!

Thanks for all the advice and tips! Now as soon as these pesky summer holidays are over and I get some Time To Myself I will hit the shops reinvigorated!

If you're going to have it alternating between houses, kit each house out fully (high-chair, cot etc). We didn't do this as our share was only a short-term arrangement but it was a bloody nightmare sorting out moving the spare kit from theirs to ours!

Don't expect to hear if you got a place or not until about June. I applied really early for both Heber and Goodrich last year and got no info ever from Heber. Goodrich only contacted me with the offer after the half term hol in June and that was after me ringing loads of times. Very annoying, makes it rather hard to plan ahead!

Where do you get clothes for 30-something Mums on the High Street? Too old and fat for TopShop, H&M, Mango, Zara,... but not in the Evans league just yet. The likes of Jigsaw are A) too expensive and B) not practical for the life of a mum who has to sit on the floor and deal with the spills of toddlers! No fine-knit fabrics for me! Dry clean only? F Off!! Gap is OK but a bit limited. Realised the other day that almost everything I own is White Stuff because they are in East Dulwich but I'm starting to look like a walking advert! My mum moans that there isn't a retailer that caters for the 60+ age group, I tell her it's the same for me. Where is our equivalent of Mary Portas?!

We've done Eurocamp twice now, it was great. Re the difference between Eurocamp and Keycamp, I think it's just the branding. They share the Kids' Clubs (which our kids loved) and the tents looked the same from the outside. They are both owned by the same company.

I'm getting a Christiania bike, which is a trike with a big box on the front for kids, but then I have 3 (kids that is) so might be a bit much for your needs. We used to take our eldest on the back of the bike but once he got past 2.1/2 he felt too big. I'd try before you buy in case you find this with yours. It was probably that our bike/seat combo was wrong, I've seen plenty of people managing with bgger kids than that so it must be possible. Our child seat was a Hamax one that mounted on long metal poles to the adult seat post. Once he got big it was too bouncy and got in the way of the back wheel going over the ever-present speed bumps. (he loved it though!!)

I wonder how the VTech people sleep at night! I'm not plastic snob but their toys are just irritating beyond belief! ELC happyLand stuff on the other hand is great IMO Just cos a toy "talks" doesn't mean it's educational!

I took my son's dummy away at 8 months. He had a "comfort object" (monkey comforter from JoJo's) already, which might have helped. Our daughter had her dummy until she was 2: her speech is a bit unclear (she's 3 now) and when her key worker at nursery suggested it might be from having a dummy so long, I threw my son's out as soon as we got home and went cold turkey! He whinged for a few days on going to sleep but it was overall very easy. By the time he was 8 months he was quite mobile so could get his hands to his mouth reliably and grab the comforter or wriggle into a better position, I think if I'd taken it much earlier it might have been harder for him as he had so much less control over himself. Now he does cry a bit when I put him down to sleep but only for a few mins and then he's off. I think the crying isn't a sign of unhappiness, it's just him winding down somehow. I'd say if you want to get rid, just do it. I now wish we'd taken it from our daughter earlier (speech affected or not) because it's so much less hassle without one! I dreaded it with both of them but it was way easier with a baby than a toddler. With her, even when she wasn't feeding in the night I'd be back in there replacing her dummy several times, with him this isn't an issue. I found a stray dummy in a cupboard the other day (3 months on from taking them away) and gave it to him to see what he'd do. He gave it a cursory chew and then not a second glance! I think dummies can be a very helpful thing for a young baby whose only comfort in life is to suck, but once they are older they don't need it so if you take it away soon enough they don't miss it. If you leave it too long it's a psychological prop, but with a baby rather than a toddler they are so much more adaptable. Good luck whatever you decide.

We used to live behind Lucas Gardens (in Camberwell near Southwark Town Hall, junction Vestry Road/Peckham Road) and although it is small, there is good play equipment and grass. Also shade which is welcome with kids on a sunny day. Even though we now live very close to Dulwich Park the kids still often ask to go to "Lucas's." It's not really a full day type of thing and no cafe but lovely for an hour or two with a picnic

SOunds similar to what I had with my 3rd. Then one night out he wooshed in about an hour and 20 mins! We had planned a homebirth and all was fine, although I made my husband sort the pool out before calling the midwife so she almost missed it. By far the best of my labours as the active/tiring bit was so short I bounced back much more quickly. Hopefully all this is just setting you up for a nice straightforward and quick finish. Good luck! (when it starts for real call the midwife early on!!)

We sent our kids to their one on Greendale and that one is great. (my son went from about 10 months until he went to school and my daughter is still there.) The owner, Krish, is really nice and really wants to make the nursery experience as good as possible for the kids and families, and the staff are all fab. Obviously the Upland Rd one might be different, but they do seem to really know what they're doing.

Name and Shame! Where was it? More fool them, I'm guessing you won't be going back there! I haven't been to Green and Blue since a waitress there rolled her eyes and said "for fuck's sake" when she saw the mess my daughter and another baby made with their snacks. (She didn't realise I was there, I was behind my buggy putting something in the underneath!) We used to go every week as well. Someone at Le Chandelier once sent a friend of mine to the loo to breastfeed. I've never been there since either.

My son (luckily) is into books and reading, and I love to read to him. He's just finishing his reception year at school, and I'm anitcipating many a long rainy hour in the summer holidays... (well let's hope not, but just in case! What should we read? Most of the books we have now are those large-format A4 size ones of things by John Burningham, Julia Donaldson etc. We love them and willl prob keep reading them for a while, but what should we move on to? "chapter books?" What do people mean when they refer to these? Can anyone give me suggestions of particular titles or authors to go for? He's always loved animals and is recently expressing an interest in superheroes, knights and all that boy stuff but a good story is a good story, so all suggestions gratefully received!

great idea Please do include screenings for mums & their babies, I loved the one at the Ritzy when I had my 1st at home, but too much of a mare to get to now I'm pushed for time and on no.3! kids' matinees at the weekend - classics too not just latest stuff good luck

Center Parcs is great, provided your 2-year-old isn't terrified of swimming! We have been several times in the past few years, our kids are now 8mths, 2y10moths and 4y9mths. We usually book at least one creche session for the kids and go to the spa ourselves, and there are loads of other sessions you can go to with the kids like painting and stuff, you have to pay for them though. There are a few of the sporty things suitable for little ones too, like balance bike riding, swimming lessons. Plus you can take it in turns to look after the kids while one of you pops off to the gym or whatever. It's self catering but there are loads of cafes and restaurants that are all really family friendly with play areas, crayons etc. You can also book a babysitter if you want to go out in the eve or there is a takeaway place too. Weather not guaranteed though! Have fun wherever you go!

thanks I will check! fingers crossed you get a morning as you want too

Hope you don't mind me asking, when did you get offered the place? I applied for one for my daughter and haven't heard anything at all. ALso applied to Goodrich and nothing from them either. Can't get anyone at either school to tell me how the process works or on what timetable, it's very frustrating! Any insight or info would be great

My only experience of them is trying to get an emergency appointment and/or register when we first moved here. I struggled down the narrow corridor thing with my buggy to find the door locked (it was lunchtime). I then rang the number displayed outside the building to find out their opening hours but there was no answer and no ansafone message so I went to DMC instead! I'm experiencing the same problems with DMC though I must say.

sounds v interesting

sounds v interesting

don't forget to remind him that Father Christmas will only bring presents if he is a good boy!