claralou

Hi there Does anyone know if Treehouse Brixton (flexible childcare / workspace solution for freelancers etc) has closed down? I'm assuming so as website not working, phone no not working, & no replies from posts to their Facebook/Twitter accounts. Does anyone know if there's anything else similar anywhere in the area? Anywhere at all?! Thanks

Anyone know anywhere local to get baby's first shoes bronzed? Recommendations appreciated, many thanks in advance. Claire

Do you know anyone who might be free to help me tomorrow afternoon with my two children (daughter 3 years and baby boy 4 months)? Short notice I know, but hoping someone might be free for a couple of hours and up for a bit of extra cash. Monday afternoons are a bit of an activities marathon, with ballet then swimming for the 3 year old. The baby usually just gets dragged along all afternoon in a sling, but because he's a bit poorly (just a low level fever after immunisations), and because ballet and swimming changing rooms are both crazy-hot like saunas, I want to avoid dragging the baby along if I can. So I'm looking for someone to watch him in our home, or walk him round in the pram (SE5 near Knatchbull Rd), while I drop off my daughter at ballet from 1.00-1.30 and then pick up again from 2.00-2.30. We live literally 2 minutes away from where the ballet is, so I would never be far away. I'd then like this person to come with us in the car to Camberwell Leisure Centre and to stay with the baby in the cafe area while I help get my daughter ready for swimming 3.30-4.00 and then again while I help her get dressed afterwards 4.30-4.45. Since there's minimal time in sole charge of the baby (and he's likely to be asleep in the pram for some/most of that time anyway), and since I will always be less than 5 minutes away, I'm open to considering mature, reliable teenagers/students with some babysitting experience, as well as more experienced nannies/childminders. I will pay an hourly rate for the whole afternoon (i.e. 1pm-5pm), rate dependent on level of experience. Please PM me with details of your experience and include a phone number. I will call anyone interested this evening / tomorrow morning to make a plan. Thanks.

thanks for this reply fl0wer - am getting on the case now!

I'd really welcome any recommendations / experiences with finding mothers help support for a new (2nd) baby. I have a 3 year old and will have our 2nd baby in March and am just thinking ahead to getting a bit of help. Ideally I'd like to find someone to introduce into our family in Jan, so there is time for my 3 year old to get used to them before the baby comes. How have people gone about advertising - on here / gumtree / elsewhere / word of mouth? What's the going rate (i.e. for an extra pair of hands alongside me, rather than sole charge; mixture of childcare & household help)? Any tips in terms of selecting i.e. interviews, references, trial period, contract etc? Do I need to worry about anything like NI, tax etc (like with nannies) or is it cash in hand like babysitting? Thanks in advance for any insights!

Thanks - didn't know about JAGS so will look this up now and maybe try in the new year. Many thanks for the reply.

Hi, i can't join you tmrw but will try to make the next one! Have a good evening x

Does anyone know of any pregnancy aquaerobics sessions in the area? I did a lovely class with pregnancy #1 in Brixton pool, with a midwife who did aquaerobics on the side, but she's no longer around. Any other ideas appreciated, thanks! Would travel elsewhere within London too.

I'm also thinking of trying to find someone like this. Which forum on here should you post in to try to find someone like this?

Hi, just seen this, looks like I missed your first meet-up. I've got a 3 year old daughter and baby due mid-March. Would love to join you for the next meet-up. Claire

Advice would be muchly appreciated on the following... I have tickets for Carnival at the Unicorn for my 2.5 year old. I know the guidance said age 4-7 but I have taken her to plenty kids theatre things for 3+ and 4+ and she has enjoyed them. Sitting still and maintaining attention isn't a problem. However I just saw some pics on the website and it looks a bit scary (the skeleton). Has anyone seen it and would you say it is scary or am I worrying unnecessarily? Any thoughts either way much appreciated, thanks in advance.