on_the_hill

I used a cocoon from the beginning and it was fine. However for the first 3 months my baby was in a sling as I found it easier while doing school runs. However if buggy was necessary, the cocoon was fine. Good luck!

Hi Fidgestsmum, Cannot offer much advice, watching with interest as we need similar childcare, moving off from au pair help, and trying to figure it out too.

Thank you all for the replies. I ended up not making it, as difficult to cater for children at different ages. Will try JAGS one of these weekends.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion. We are looking for drop in sessions, rather than classes. Not sure if that exists as an option. Checked Jaggs and Crystal palace and they are lessons.

Hi, Looking for activities with the kids, and they are keen to go to do some trampolining. Are there any places like this in London? Thanks!

Unfortunately we would not recommend Marvin. We've had a very mixed experience with him. He started off brilliantly, very polite and helpful, offering us suggestions about materials and design. We were due to start on a Friday and on Wednesday he e-mailed, not even called, letting us know our project had to be postponed because one of his men had had an accident. He had no idea when he could do the work. This we could understand, but after a few days of hearing nothing we started to chase for a new date for our project. After a few emails and calls he wrote to us with a tentatively date, 8 weeks after the original start date. By this point we have a bath, toilets, basins and doors laying around in our house, but even with this we were OK, but in that very e-mail with the new date, he announced he was to charge ?500 for protecting our floors and he was not to held responsible for any damages while moving materials in and out of the house. He offered to make good if there were any damages, but we were to pay for this. Even to this we replied offering to split the difference for protecting floors, since we felt it was unfair to spring into us this very last minute bill, plus it seem rather a lot. We also accepted his offer to charge us for making good of their own damages to our house when moving materials, but we suggested to set a cap on these repair costs, and anything over this he should take responsibility for. We heard nothing back. It has been 3 weeks since then. Just completely rude and unprofessional.

Hi supergolden88, I've has the same, I've been wondering. I had my BB over 6 months ago and the itchiness hasn't gone away. I loved the effect of the BB while it lasted, but wouldn't do it again. I suffer from asthma and I think the fumes were not very good for me as I had asthma and was sneezing for days after having the BB. It could have been something else, but wouldn't risk it, plus the itchiness is still there. If you find something to stop it please let me know!

Hello, Does anyone know if Melody's music is still in business? I've tried both of them for the last couple of days but not been able to get hold of them. Thank you.

Mmmh sounds great, very tempting. Do you know if you can do highlights and Brazilian blow dry at the same time? If not which one should be done first and how long do you need to wait in between. Thank you ladies, great advice here!

Really pleased to hear you are getting the help you need, so good of you to persevere! Glad the thread has been useful, I am ever so grateful to all the people who came here to give advice when I needed it.

Hi Amydown, We went to see Katy Fisher to her place in Croydon and it was easy to get to by car, not sure what it would be like by public transport. Her consultation room is upstairs, which I know is tricky to do when recovering from a c-section, but going to the hospital and waiting could also be as wearing. Very best luck getting things sorted.

Pickle, sorry to hear your little girl may be tongue tie. Hopefully you'll get it all sorted on Sunday. Katie was very supportive and professional with us, hang in there, you're doing all you can!

Unfortunately we have an appointment tomorrow at 10:30, so cannot make it this time. Hope to join you on the next one. Have fun!

Hi Viper, sorry for late reply. Yes we are normally around on Thursday mornings.

Congratulations Annie456 on the birth of Benjamin, welcome to the world! I cannot do afternoons in general as have another boy who is at school, but will join next meet up that happens before school pick up. Hope everyone doing well x

Hi Kapaxiana, Sounds like a good idea, we are not around tomorrow, so maybe next week.

We are not out and about yet, but will probably be around for the outing after next. Annie enjoy the rest of the pregnancy sleeping as much as you can! Best of luck for the birth xx

Thanks Annamarie! We are still getting settled so not up for outings yet, but if you still have 3 weeks to go maybe in a couple of weeks we would be around for coffee if you haven't had your baby yet. Sarah x

Congratulations QueenMab!! And a fantastic welcome to Sidney. It was lovely talking to you the other day and would love to meet you and Sidney once we are all ready for it.

Just wanted to thank everyone again as all the info here has proved very valuable to me. I asked for local BF help before my baby was born and it has all been extremely useful now that he is here. We did have problems with BF and got in touch with Katie Fisher who diagnosed and treated tongue tie. Just wanted to say that the whole consultation + procedure + post-op checks were ?120, so if you can afford it and do not want to wait for Kings clinic she does it at her home in Croydon. She works at Kings, so she can do it through the NHS there as well, but you need some referral procedure. I have also been in touch with Jill Dye who has been amazing. She has been emailing me while on holiday and has been very supportive. I also wanted to add a link to another thread in the forum which I found very informative and moving, where someone has written all her experiences and difficulties with BF http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,570543,570543#msg-570543 Thanks again and if anyone needs any more info please feel free to send me a PM. I cannot promise to answer straight away but will do as soon as I can.

Hi Viper, I hope you got on OK at the tongue tie clinic. Baby S had his done on Sunday.

Hope you managed to meet up. It's been lovely to meet some of you and your babies. Just wanted to let you know baby Samuel arrived on Thursday, we are mainly home at the moment, not very mobile yet but looking forward to meeting again once we are up for outings again. Sarah xx

Congratulations Kapaxiana! Looking forward to meeting Rebecca tomorrow. 12 pm good for me too. RachelG- sorry not aware of playgroups in the area yet, maybe someone will have some info tomorrow? See you all on Tuesday, S x

Hi Clare, Congratulations on the birth of your little boy! We plan things through the forum, so if you follow it you will get the messages. Audrey suggested meeting next week on Tuesday. I am free from 11am till 3pm so happy to meet for coffee or lunch. How does it fit with everyone else? Sarah

Sorry Annamarie, cannot do tomorrow as have electrician working at home. Still up for Thursday if other takers still there. Sarah