Jo'sEnglish

Just to say my little boy went through a pushchair hating stage at about that age for a couple of months but now he is 25 months he is fine. So it could just be stage :)

We flew Singapore Air to Australia/NZ last year with an almost 2 year old (although I did have my partner to help!) We stopped off in Singapore on the way there and back but I think with a stop in the airport for a few hours it would be ok straight through. Singapore airport is amazingly baby friendly. There are stroller/baggage trolley things you can use, a swimming pool on a rooftop to burn off some energy (wear him out before the next stage!), a butterfly garden and a play area. It's very quick and easy to get between terminals too. The airline was excellent too. Their bassinets seem to have a slightly higher weight limit than some others so all though he was a bit long for it he did manage to sleep there for quite a few hours. We did the night flight thing too and it seemed to work in that he did sleep some of the time so only had to entertain him for less then half of most flights, and he loved the food so that took up some time too. We could also play a bit on the floor in front of the seats. The staff were all really helpful and friendly, and they did seem to give extra attention to people on their own with kids. We got whole rows of bulkhead seats to ourselves for most of the flights (only one we didn't). All the people with kids get seated together so you don't feel like you are disturbing others (although other babies crying did wake my son up a few times!). Overall, it went as well as we could have hoped and I will definitely try and fly again with Singapore airlines as I was really impressed about the service with kids, and I think having a nice airport in Singapore makes a big difference.

miga Wrote: > > can anyone tell me the rough boundaries of the > corbett estate; i see it used a lot but very > elastically. i thought it was "the other side" (by > which i presume is meant the south side). It's the south side of the south circular. I think the centre is around Abbotshall playing fields and then the roads around there (with Scottish names!). Not sure of exact boundaries... When I say 'the other side' of Catford I mean the West side (west of the A21, sorry it makes sense in my mind!!!)where it always seems a lot more hectic. I saw some lovely flats around Blythe Vale when I was looking but just couldn't face Catford being the closet place to go to the shops and how busy the south circular is there. Although Blythe Hill fields are lovely so maybe close the there would be ok.

fromthedarkside - couldn't agree more! I live in the same area. I wouldn't like to live over the other side of Catford but the Hither Green side is nice, if a bit too quiet for some. There is a lovely park (Mountsfield) and some good shops along Hither Green Lane. There are lovely places on the Corbett Estate too. I agree about all the changes being positive, that is what we've felt since we've moved here. They are investing a lot into Catford now, there is a new monthly market, a pop-up supper club, they are re-doing the Broadway and they are finally developing the Catford Dogs site. I think in a few years it will be very different so if you are looking for a wise investment and don't mind the disruption for a while then it might be worth considering. But where we are we can largely ignore Catford anyway and just hang out in Hither Green! Yes, the Lee side of Hither Green is a bit smarter, as is Ladywell but you will get a lot less for your money, and we are in easy walking distance of all those places, easy bus trips to Blackheath, Greenwich, Forest Hill and good train links to London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross.

I think the tough thing is if you have to rent in London for any period of time. We have pretty much one income (I'm a self-employed freelancer but mostly stay at home Mum) and we don't earn anywhere near ?40k but we were lucky enough to spend a couple of years in Australia earning 2 incomes and with higher interest rates and saved enough for about a 25% deposit on a flat here. We started out renting and now we pay about two thirds of what we did in rent on our mortgage. We had to move a bit further out (to Hither Green funnily enough Mick Mac!) but we have a flat with 2 double bedrooms and a massive back garden and wasn't much over ?200k. That was a couple of years ago though, people are starting to catch on to the fact this is a nice area and still relatively cheap and prices are really increasing! Anyway, my point is that it would have been impossible to save anything living and renting in London. When we moved here our rent was eating into our savings so we had to move before it got eroded away. And we do live a fairly frugal lifestyle but I just don't see how unless you earn heaps of money you can save while living in London.

I wouldn't recommend chlorine-based bleach. One of my cats is obsessed with chlorine (can't get her off me when I've been the pool!) and I googled it once and apparently attraction to chlorine (and therefore bleach)is common. Agree with keeping the litter tray spotless, and perhaps even trying an extra one put in the spot where he has been weeing? Feliway well worth a try to calm him down, and probably get him checked by a vet if no improvement to check for cystitis. They can also give you a thing called Calmex which helps to get them back into balance. We had a problem with a cat coming into our house and stealing food recently and was stressing my cats out (even though he was friendly enough!) we solved by changing the cat flap to a electronic one. Just mentioning it in case you have a normal cat flap and it does become a problem that they try to get in. I also think shutting them away from a back door/cat flap or covering it up at night might help. We also just chased the cat away every time we saw it. Not sure what else you can do? Hope he is feeling back to normal soon :(

The new glass mill leisure centre in Lewisham seems to have parent and toddler sessions in the teaching pool most lunchtimes. You can park across the road in the mothercare car park.

I used cloth for birth. I didn't have a drier when I first used them but do now, but almost never use it, and even then it is only for the thicker bamboo ones that take ages to dry, never the fast drying ones so if you only have those it should be fine. Agree that this time of year is the trickiest when it's not sunny and the heating isn't on. I used muslins for the first few months, cheap, you can fold them to fit and they dry super fast. But I recognise not everyone can be bothered with the folding. I wouldn't spend a heap of money on a new set of nappies before the baby is here, better to get a few different ones to try out and work out what works on your baby. Not all nappies work on every baby, they are all built differently. Getting a few second hand is always a good idea. And agree with the others that washing every 2 days, never really have a smelly nappy bucket but sometimes when it is hot I put a few drops of lavender or tea tree oil in to keep whiffs at bay. I use them when out and about too. I just stick the dirty ones in a wet bag, and flush any pooey paper liners (always use paper liners when out for this reason). Reasons I used them were because I hate the idea of all that plastic and chemicals around my baby's bum, didn't like the idea of sending all this waste to landfill, they are heaps cuter and they save you money!

I just took a bottle of milk through in one of those bottle chiller thingys. Security nowhere minded, although I think Heathrow made me taste it. I asked the airline and they said they should have milk on board but they preferred you to bring your own. It depends how long you need it to stay cold for and how warm you want it. I just took it out of the chiller bag a while before I needed it so it was room temp before he had it (but he's not too fussy as long as it is not too cold).

Does anyone have any recommendations for phonics stuff for younger toddlers? My 21 month old loves letters, he finds them everywhere! He knows all of them but some he knows the phonic sound and some the letter (eg, he'll say 'ah, bee, cee, duh, etc). This is because I try and say the sound, but his Dad often forgets and says the name of the letter. Also a combination of watching Alphablocks and Let's Squiggle letters! Do you think it matters at this age that he's a bit muddled up or should I just wait til he's older and starts nursery school and see what they do? He doesn't go to nursery now. At the moment he just loves practising them so much that I don't want to do discourage him by trying to correct him and worry about confusing him!

Agree with a lot Bellenden Belle says, and also love theimaginationtree.com My 21 month old also loves his treasure basket (search on the imagination tree website) and is currently a bit obsessed with playdoh, drawing and looking at books. We also have a cupboard with Tupperware, wooden spoons, etc that he can help himself too. Also, peg puzzles and shape sorters, and starting to get into Duplo. But mostly when the weather is nice he is happiest pottering in the garden looking at flowers, drawing with outdoor chalk, going on his trike and helping water plants.

Yes, my son (20 months) is exactly the same and has been for a while. If Dad is around he only wants him, I regularly get pushed out of the room and the door closed in my face! If Dad is there I'm not allowed to change a nappy, wash his hands, do anything (yes, it does have it's up side!!) If Dad isn't there he is fine though and very loving. Other people regularly comment on how much he loves his Mum... Our theory is he just sees his Dad less so he is just filling up on Daddy time while he is there. But yes, it can be frustrating...

I've used them since birth with my son. I use them at night too (well boosted), and when out and about (top them in a wet bag, any poo can be flushed. Many places don't have nappy bins so would end up carrying dirty nappies anyway). He's not in nursery but I did visit a couple when we were thinking about it and they were fine with the idea. Grandparents very supportive, would have been more unhappy if we used disposables! They were used to terry nappies and pins so think the modern ones are great! I wash every 2 days, I do have a tumble dryer but hate to use it. I find I only need it at those times when it is rainy but warm (so you can't hang them out but don't need the radiators on). I have a few different types for different uses (Tots Bots Bamboozle stretchies with a motherease wrap are my most reliable) I thoroughly recommend www.thenappylady.co.uk for advice, she has a questionnaire you can fill in about your circumstances and she will advise you what would suit you. But really, they aren't that hard and I think everything is new and different when you have a baby, I certainly didn't find them a hassle at all (having said that a supportive partner who is happy to put washes on and sort nappies in the early day really helped!)

Hi, I'm in Hither Green! My son isn't in childcare but we did check out Zoom and Park nurseries and I liked them (almost signed up to Park but had a change of plan...). I think they might have long waiting lists though. There is an American lady on Hither Green Lane that I often see around at playgrounds, etc that I think does childminding? Sorry, that is a bit vague! Have you tried posting on the Hither Green forum though? I feel you would get more response... http://www.hithergreen.org.uk/forum/ Jo

clothes are always good I think. Clothes in Oz are rubbish...

I don't really have any suggestions and (luckily) don't have a biter (at the moment!) or experience with nurseries but I do have a 17 month old and have to say that some of the things suggested here seem to be a aimed at older kids? My 17 month old doesn't know the word sorry or what it means for example! And I'm not sure how you could 'explain' to him why he has been removed? That being said, I suppose just taking him away from the situation is a good idea? And a firm 'no'? Agreed, if it was me I would maybe have a chat, find out how long he was removed for and maybe come up with a plan for if it happens again?

wow, that does sound good! Maybe it is worth the trek to Brixton...

Would also be interested in the pricing.... There is a similar place in Putney http://www.third-door.com/ Something like this would be perfect for me, but both a bit too far west, if anyone knows of anything like this more south-east I would be very interested?!

Is Lee (SE12) too far? They have a fab cafe that have lots of options for kids parties (lots of crafty stuff): http://www.rhubarbandcustardcafe.com/?page_id=8

Just as a (perhaps irrelevant) aside, I have taught many Chinese students from the 'one child' policy era (in their late teens/early twenties) and many of them were bought up very closely with cousins due to being only children, and would actually often refer to their cousins as their brothers/sisters. Also, most of them say that if they had kids they would like more than one (I don't think it is the same everywhere, but nowadays if 2 only children have children they can have 2). Anyway, just thought it was interesting from a generation of only children!

Yes, my son did this about the same age but just grew out of it. I would do the same, just say 'No' and put him down. It was around the time lots of teeth were coming through so I would often give him a teether as well. He's 16 months now and hasn't done it for a few months so I think it was just a stage.

I don't think they have a website but they are on twitter : The phone number is 07572 449 421 according to the leaflet I have.

I did pregnancy pilates at Dulwich therapy rooms, with a lady called Luisa who was very good. I think they have a few classes there?

I'm doing my second ever Christmas dinner this year, and the last one I did I was horribly sick on Christmas day :( This is also my first one I'm doing as a Mum so very excited but currently not at all organised. My top tips are: - make lots of lists (I'm obsessive!) - prepare as much as you can in advance - make a running order for the day's cooking. This is very important, you need to work out when things need to be in the oven, etc in advance or it's too confusing. - Get lots of easy things in for boxing day and for light meals Christmas evening. I'm ordering a turkey and other meats from Manor Meats on the Chiltonian Estate, SE12. They are the trade shop for the butcher Alleyns of Mayfair and have wonderful meat at trade prices, well worth a trip (you can phone an order in and just collect).

Aquatots run classes at Lewisham hospital on a Sunday. I think you can start up to 18 months...