sbain

Hi, You may have already been referred but if not ask about portage/kids. They run a developmental play session (DPS) for chidren with special needs on a Friday afternoon from 1PM to 3PM (it is invitation only though). My son used to attend and it is wonderful, both for the children and the parent (a great way to meet other parents who have children with special needs). Our developmental paed made the referral but I think it can be any health worker (health visitor/phsio etc).

I wonder if The Lanes have almost had an adverse effect on the surgery. In that lots of women who are planning to have children register with them. This leads to them having a lot of young families on their books, patients who by and large use a docor a LOT more than your average patient. Which in turn leads to problems getting appointments etc.

I've left DMC for 106 Medical Centre for exactly this reason. The GPs when you see them are great but getting an appt is impossible. For someone with a job and two young kids it was just ridiculous. So far my experience of 106 has been great - easy to get appointments and a lovely doctor (you even get to see the same doctor more than once which was impossible at DMC). One thing to note when I was still with DMC and was told that I couldn't pre-book my son's routine vacinations until the were overdue by nearly two months (setting his whole vacination schedule back) I complained to the medical ombudsman - suddenly an appointment became available. I still left as the service was just too bad.

Check out http://smithandfamily.co.uk/ - they can be a little bit pricey but for a special occasion their hotels are fab.

Hi, I am that forumite and would second Bellenden Belle's recommendation. Jenn is great with my son and gave us good workable strategies to use to help him. Sbain

I get low salt (I think the Kallo ones) at SMBS on Lordship Lane.

Hi, For the lazy Mummy option :-). My son also has a CMPI and I have used Ms Cupcake in Brixton (near the market)http://www.mscupcake.co.uk/ . The cakes are super sweet to my palate but my one year old son, his 3 year old brother and their friends definitely approved.

There were lovely ones for sale at Northcross road market a couple of Saturdays ago. Although I'm not sure if they are there every weekend - I bet they will be for the ED Cristmas Cracker this weekend

Currntly on hold with then as I have been for 25mins now - I really really need to change doctors which is a shame as I like the actual doctors at DMC and they know our history.

My son went with his Dad at about 10:30ish they were all done by 11:15, so not too bad really.

How about venturing into London? THe Science Museum basement is fab - my two love it. The natural history museum is also great. The Tate Britain do a thing called Liminal every weekend from 11AM for children and then you can take the tate to tate boat and head to the tate modern to run around (although it seems the little play area at the modern has disappeared). Locally there is also Little Kickers at Jags sports hall - although for his age group trampolining might be better. I know my now 3 year old found it a bit overwhelming at that age. And Dulwich lesiure centre hae family swims at the weekend (I can't remember the time now) - I love swimming as for my two at least it seems to really tire them out. 17 months is probably a little young but I'm thinking of taking my 3 year old to the kids club at the Brixton ritzy on Saturday mornings this winter - followed by pizza at the Brixton market. My 16 month old will come too but probably won't enjpy as much as his brother.

You can use a sports top bottle to squirt at the area while she pees.

Hi All, We're looking for shutters for a newly installed windows - but really need them in before christmas (we're having guests for christmas so want to have some window coverings.) Does anyone know if the lead time is shorter for any of the companys mentioned? I have tried John Lewis but they tell me that there is no way that they can get them in before Christmas. I've just requested quotes from Bromley Blinds (seemed to link to Hillary's - is that right?), shuttersup and the new england company and affordable blinds - just wondering if anyone knew who might be quickest (and not cost an absolute arm and a leg). S

Hi Uptime, How about the horniman museum? Not exactly a softplay but there is the gardens (including the sound garden) and the park across the road if the weather is good and you cal head into the museum if the weather is not so good. My "high energy" 3 year old likes it (not as much as soft play) but he likes it. Another option for good weather is Dulwich woods - although given that when he was younger my high energy child liked to run off so I often found the woods a bit scary!

We took my ten month old and 3 year old to see "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs" in Brixton the weekend before last - the kids club showing. It was great - they were perfectly happy for my ten-month old to come along and it was really cheap. Doen together with a trip to Brixton Market for lunch made a lovely daturday morning.

Hi, My son will be starting in St. Anthony's nursery afternoon sessions in Septmber 2013. I was hoping to contact some parents whose children will be doing likewise so that the kids could meet up before starting school. If anyone is interested please let me know. sbain

Hi - we flew with our bugaboo bee and it did get damaged - however the airlines handling company did eventually replace the damaged chassis (although I had a damaged buggy for about 2 months before I got the replacement). If it does get damaged my advice would be to report it immediately (we did although it meant hanging around the baggage hall for a bit) and take the reference number and then follow up on it relentlessly and they should eventually replace it for you.

On a slight tangent - I had a similar problem with my nearly 3 year old son which we tackled by telling him that he could have a cartoon in the morning if he slept all night in his own bed. . (He loves TV and I'm not massively keen on him having too much screen time). Now the problem has resolved itself and he sleeps most nights in his own bed if not sick etc (I just wish his younger brother did - but I guess one problem at a time). But he still watches a cartoon every morning - it seems that the reward contines long after the problem is resolved. So my question is how do I now stop the cartoon when he sleeping all night in his own bed?

HI, My 9.5 month old is on Neocate and seems like he will be for the forseeable future anyway. My older son moved onto follow-on milk when he was 6 months old whereas the younger one effectively moved from being breastfed to Neocate at about 6 months. I know that the normal follow-on milk has more iron than infant formula so I'm trying to make sure the little one gets a decent amount of meat in his diet - he's a total carnivore anyway so its not much of a problem. As far as I know that is the only difference between the 6m+ milk and infant formula - Is that right? He also is on reflux meds - how was the decision made to come off them for you? I hate the idea of medicating him unneccessarily but equally hate the idea of him being in pain from reflux again? SBain

I am back about a month and a half after #2. I work a 4-day week so nearly full time. I have the added complication that my second child has many many medical appointments so I am trying to juggle which appts our wonderful nanny can take him to and which really require my presence. So I am really struggling with that as tbh I want to go to everything - which at the moment is OK but in the long term may not be doable while also holding down a job. Thus far the company I work for have been amazing - allowing me to take as much time off as I need and never making any comment when I inform them of yet another appointment. Hopefully this won't change. The thing that I think is key is childcare - when I first went back to work after having my first child - the nanny I hired and my son just didn't gel - she also struggled understandably with the very long hours (7:30AM - 7PM 4 days a week). I found the period that we employed her very stressful and difficult. However after she left we luckily found the wonderful nanny who still looks after my boys and she is great - they love her - she is endlessly cheerful and great fun.. This makes my life so much easier as I am confident that the kids are happy and well looked after.

Hi, I work at a bulge bracket American investment bank and get 6 months on full pay. I thought this was relatively standard in the city (seems to be what most of my immediate circle got). Although it would seem fairly generous from what others on this thread get. S.

Hi, Not sure if the classes are still on but when I was on maternity leave with my now two year old - we went to waterbabies at the topnotch helath club by London bridge. Really easy to get to on public transport from ED - as its literally a 3 minute walk from LB station. My son now does swimming classes (not waterbabies) at dulwich baths which he seems to love. I think they take younger babies as well. S.

Hi - yes Franklins the shop on Lordship lane (Sorry that wasn't very clear).

We had the smae issue with our maclaren - the thing is I just can't adjust crotch strap (it looks as if it should be adjustable - so I might just be being incompetent). But if anyone knows the knack and could pass it on that would be great.

Hi - my nearly two year old loves franklins fish cakes served with frozen peas and has done since he was about 12 months old (which I give him almost entirely guilt free - surely that is a healthy meal). It's my go-to meal when I have forgotten to plan anything - 20 mins in the oven and done. He also loves baked beans with some cheddar cheese grated on top - I buy the reduced sugar and salt version to assuage the guilt (still not super healthy but not that bad). I also keep homemade fish fingers and chicken fingers in the freezer - slices of fish\chicken dipped in egg then flour then breadcrumbs. So although literally chicken nuggets I know exactly what has gone into them - served with veggies - he loves them. The final super easy meal that he really likes is tuna and bean salad - 1 tin of chickpeas, 1 tin of giant white beans, 1 tin of red kidney beans, 2 tins of tuna (in spring water rather than brine to keep down the salt content) lots of chopped parsley, olive oil and lemon juice served in a pita bread. All i have to do is open the tins and mix. I serve this a lot even when people are over - it looks like you have made an effort when really it takes 5 mins to make. Sbain