reneet

I did waterbabies with my very young (3months at the time), he is now a year and we are still doing it. He loves it. I am neither recommending or not recommending waterbabies. Its about more than twice the price swim school (Janet and her group at ED charge) and honestly after watching some of their sessions I dont really see much difference other than the whole underwater thing. Initially it was very helpful as it helped me really bond with him it was something fun and personal between the two of us, something singing groups and other groups cannot really achieve (I am trying to explain something and not sure how to put it). Anyway after much babbling and talking alot of nonsense I would say go for the local pools, he is big enough not to need a hydro pool and if worried get him a wet suit and save the extra money.

Funny enough just read a bad review on netmums from a parent who was not happy with their meals.

I think its important to read the reports and understand where the school is failing and if it applys to you or not. I.e if attendance is an issue but you know you will make your child attend then its less of an issue for you. I am not saying that it does not matter but that its something you can deal with.

Absolutely adore Rocca, very family friendly.

Nothing tops The lion, the witch and the wardrobe, was at Kensington gardens and my daughter loved it. I was pretty impressed as well.

LondoMix: The reason people have someone else take care of their child(ren) is mainly because they have to go to work. One does not employ a gardner because they have to go to work therefore it is not the same. Childcare should be tax deductible, it does not make sense that it is not. Personally I do not pay tax for my childcare (I still pay alot of money for it), hence I can afford to have my child in a nursery 5 days a week. This is because my employer offers childcare as a benefit. Maybe more employers should do this. Although does not make much difference as childcare is still extremely costly. Back to the tax deductible logic food and clothing, one does not py direct income and NI tax for like a nanny so do not count.

I have spaced out my children such that only one will need fulltime childcare at any one time. This is not by choice but necessity, childcare is too expensive and I have been arguing for ages with people that it should be tax deductible. It does not make sense to pay tax for a nanny, NI maybe but income tax is ridiculous, it means double taxation which is against the tax principle hence employees are tax deductible. I even asked once if I could start a dummy campany and employ myself and my nanny as employees of the company and get my company contract me to the organisation I am working for so that the nanny becomes tax deductible. I pay ?1100 a month for fulltime nursery for one child. Ill have to pay some money for my daughter to be picked up from school when she starts, My husband and I have opted to tug team on this so one goes late and leaves late and another goes very early and leaves early to pick her up. Shaggy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Child care costs did not prevent me fom returning > to work but definitely preventing me from having a > second child.

JAGs sports club, Dulwich School, the mag, the house on dulwich park (I forget the name)

Thanks for the suggestion went for Biscuts in a london bus with olympic theme and a pink bag (not olympic themed)

Hello, any suggestions for a present for a french 9 year old who lives in france. A 2nd cousins daughter that we have never met before. Something British and interesting. Is an Olympic T-Shirt exciting? Something I can get in ED.

I will say this and ran off (please don't look for me and throw things at me). Why should the government 'PAY' you for taking care of your OWN children? Should their happiness, laughter and 'warm fuzzy feeling' be enough payment? Being the devils advocate here.

Convex: I know what you mean, it has taken all I've got, not to.

I think it totally depends on the type of person you are. I had my first child elsewhere, moved here and was not able to make any friends. When I got pregnant again I joined the baby group on EDF, I went to a few meetings but there were so many mums and I really did not feel I connected with anyone. I then went for an Intensive NCT class run by Tess in ED and it was fantastic. The class was good although but the support I later got from my fellow NCT class members was invaluable. I have ranted with this ladies, cried with them and got completely drunk with them. We really suuported each other, gave each other tips that have worked on our babies, groups and classes that we have attended and were good. We all had very different style of doing things but we have supported each other in whatever they were doing. Have been very candid and frank with each other as well. I am that kind of person who will happily chat to people in public but it takes me a while to make a connection and be very comfortable with people to ask their numbers and emails and addresses and ask to meet again and so forth. NCT took care of all that for us. Tess gave us a list of everyones address, telephone number and email. She arranged our first 5 meet ups for us, with each meetup with a pre-determined organiser who had to book a venue and remind others. I have meet some wonderful people whom if not through NCT I would never have met, or I would have met but never would have got close to as I would not really have invited myself to their house or invited them to mine on my own accord or even asked for their number. (It has taken me a year to get the number of a mum I know). I think, it depends on the type of person you are, and the type of NCT group you end up with. My advise is if you want NCT just for the social aspect, go for the one closest to you. And if you are good at meeting people and getting close to them, then there are alot of groups in ED that you can go to, including the season baby groups on EDF.

Sorry for hijacking, but what do full time parents do at term time. Especially if child has after school activities, that she needs taking to. My daughter is starting school in September and I am going back to work as well. Hubby and I were to split drop offs and pick ups but realised that this will make him very late for work. Her school has no breakfast club.Then another complication is hubby is traveling abit more with his job now meaning I will be alone to handle it all on short notice. Grand parents live far so not an option. Friends have told me that I can use other parents, but since I don't know then yet what options do I have from september.

The photo shop next soup and dragon is very good did my 4 month baby there. Could also try the do it yourself at sainburys.

We are 9months now but 6m was terrible. Fed every couple of hrs or an hour so woke up loads. 2 day naps morning 1hr afternoon 2 hrs. Now at 9m wakes up twice at night goes down at 7pm wake up for feed at 11 or 12 then at 3 or 4. Used to it now and hoping he will be sleeping through the night by the time I go back to work.

The frustrating bit for me was the amount of food wasted, and how frustrated he got when trying to hold/eat something and all he did was drop it. I also found the idea of feeding them milk before solids counter productive. Yes I did read the book and the whole thing did not work for us. S was a hungry baby and by the time he was 6 months he was feeding every 1-2 hours and that included night. I was sleep deprived and depressed. Long story short spoon feeding worked for us, he loves and enjoys his meals. As I said he is now eating finger foods fine and I believe its because he is now ready to. I have nothing against those doing 'BLW' from the start, if it works for you then great. It just seems to me as the new big thing and additional supermum bench marking. Most mum (whom I know ) who do 'BLW' make one feel less of a mum because one choose to spoon feed. One even asked me how I control his potions and truth is I don't, he does. When he has had enough to eat he will not have any more. I don't try to give him more, and thats it. So if BLW is all about they eating as much/or as little as they want, then its not restricted to finger food is it.

When people are reading research and quoting them are they considering: 1) Who did the research? 2) Why they did the research? 3)Who funded the research? 4) Where was it published? 5) Was it peer reviewed and by who? 6) What was the sample? 7) What was the control? 8) What was the bias and/or skew? My 2 cents: Just because the research paper is out there does not make it good or correct research especially in medicine. Immunisation is not all about you and your child, its about the community and those children out there who are weak and cannot be immunised (childreen on chemo and those with HIV), they need protection and the best protection we can give them is preventing outbreaks by immunising the healthy children. Use whatever scheduling you want but immunise them before they start mixing actively with other children and becoming a danger.

Havent watched the film yet. I would however love my child to play out. We live in a cul du sac which should make it easy, but while people drive at 20mph I am scared to let her out on her own. Have been discussing with some friends to petition so that the road is 10mph or even better 5mph but apparently since it is still apublic road this is not possible even though it is not a through road at all.

There is usually drinks organised on the forumn. Not sure when the last one was, but its usually evenings kids free. Would love to meet up sometimes.

Commernder in Chief - Only had one season but I loved it. Anyone wants to swap the wire for house. I have season 1 to 7 House. Anyone wants to swap anything interesting?

6 months is the Official NHS guidelines, I have a bee in my bonnet abour HVs who do not follow guidelines and give people whatever advise they deem fit. What happened to evidence based medicine? From personal experience weaning from 6 months is much easier, most people I know who started before have struggled with weaning. Its dangerous to start before 4 months but there are sometimes when its is advisable to start then, usually with Drs advice. I know about humgry babies, my 2nd was 9lbs+ at birth and was in the top percentile for ages, I was breast feeding and it was hard, I was drained and tired. The HV wanted me to put him on formula, then early solids but I completely refused, found a HV who agreed with me and with her support I managed to breastfeed exclusively for the 1st 6months and then start solids after. S took to solids well, I could not do BLW (don't agree with the term), I found it too frustrating, now at 9 months I am introducing finger foods and he is doing well, picked it up faster than he would have done at 6 months, pincer grip is better and I can definately offer more now. He is a brilliant eater loves his food and always wolfs it all up. Bottomline - Its much easier to start at 6 months, more food can be offered at this stage and you can choose which method you want to start with, no method is wrong and it all depends on your child.

i buy my washing powder, dish washer tablets and olive oil in sales, usually buy one get one free or 1/2 price sales. I buy alot meaning I never buy them at normal price. Sainburys recently had persil at half price and finish dishwasher tablets as well so thats me done for the year. :)

My daughter does Piano on Barry Road. I do not have to sit with her. She is 4 but will probably take on a 2nd instrument when she is 6. I basically drop her off and come bck after the lesson. Initially I stayed to learn the teaching method so that I can encourage the same at home during her practice sessions. I now stay just when I need to know her progress. Her lessons at the moment are only 15 minutes although she slightly losses concentration after 10.

I never ask to see a specific doctor. Last week I was at the surgery and asked for an appointment for my 8 month old but the receptionist told me that they don't have any advance appointments. So how come some people can get appointments and others cannot? She told me to call next day at 8am which I did and was lucky enough this time to get an appointment most of the time I am not.