Bonfire2010

Hi - does anyone happen to have the phone number for the Bellenden Scout Hut, or know who to contact to book it? I have emailed them but no response. Thanks

Hope to see you there Caz!

Not sure if anyone is in SE15 or SE5, but I have just come back from a good pregnancy yoga class at Gaia Studio just near Bellenden Road. I went to a class at Kings in my first pregnancy but found it focussed on relaxation more than building any strength up (and I am just about the most unfit person you could meet). However the session this morning was very good, with some focus on strength, breathing and the pelvic floor, with some relaxation at the end. Think I will go again.

Thanks bluesuperted, I think you are right. I was in two minds as there will be the extra warmth from the both of us. I'll probably just see how it goes with layering and go from there.

So now I have a sling question! I have the Manduca, any opinions on whether it's worth buying a cover for it for the winter, or will just wearing it under my coat and putting a hat on the baby suffice?

Hi Katiesa I got my pen in Sainsbury's and I have also seen them in Mothercare by the tills of you need one quickly.

I diligently ironed on loads of labels when my son started nursery, but they didn't seem to last very long before partly or completely coming off. Also, they grow out of clothes so quickly, and I used to forget to iron them on new purchases. Now I use a laundry pen and keep it by front door in case I need to write his name on anything as we rush out of the door in the morning. It's quicker and cheaper than the labels, lasts longer and can be used on clothes, bottles etc, plus any toys or books that he decides he simply cannot leave the house without at that precise moment. I also read someone on here saying only to write the surname on if you intend to pass clothes on to siblings, so I do that now that I have another boy on the way.

Thanks all - it sounds like a common dilemma! I do need to get a new buggy at some point as the one I am using at the moment is on it's last legs. I think what I am going to do is wait for a bit and use my sling for the newborn, whilst keeping going with trying to wean my toddler off the buggy and onto his scooter/more walking. If this looks like it will work I'll buy a new single buggy (probably the City Mini GT as it had an adjustable handlebar and seemed nice to push), and try the buggy board option again. I was able to use the sling with my toddler until he was about 9 months-ish so that may work if his new brother is similar. If it doesn't work then I'll look into the in-line option again - I guess worst case is that I'll end up with a second seat I can use for toys, shopping etc. A friend of mine in Australia has recommended her in-line which is called a Strider Plus. She thinks it is fab and uses it for 2 toddlers, but I don't think it's available here so I am going to research similar options here.

Hi Wanhope Yes, am also thinking of using the sling again and then maybe just getting a regular single buggy that my eldest can use. If it's one that is suitable from birth I could use it in the daytime for the baby when the older one is at nursery. Then (hopefully!) in 6 months when the baby can sit up a bit, my eldest will have grown out of the buggy, or at least be willing to give the buggy board a go. Sorry, rambling stream of conciousness there as am changing my mind every 10 mins!

Hi - anyone in this group having their 2nd baby and know what buggy they are getting (or already have 2/know anyone with 2 and have any recommendations)? I have posted a new thread in the main discussion area but thought I would also ask here. I thought I had it down to a couple of options, but went and had a look today and none are going to work so am now completely confused!

I am looking at pushchairs for my new baby (due December) and my toddler who will just have turned 3. I was intending to get either the Babyjogger City Select or the City Mini GT with a buggy board. However, we went and had a look today and the Select felt a bit like I was pushing a sled as it seemed quite long. I did like the GT but my son didn't like the buggy board. I don't think I'll use a double for too long as my son walks a lot, but he does get tired, especially after nursery, so a seat option for him would be good. Also, I don't drive so I have to factor in the walk to and from nursery 3 days a week. I had a look at the Phil & Ted's buggies (Navigator and Dot) and they looked quite good, but I have read some reviews which say the baby grows out of the reclining seat quite quickly. So, I am now completely confused and don't know what to do. I would really appreciate any opinions, espeically if you have children of the same sorts of ages and have a buggy you have thought is great (or not so good...) Thanks x

Thanks nunheadmum, will look into the Bouncy Castle idea.

Hello All Congratulations everyone! I'm due with my second on Christmas Day and would love to join this group! I have actually been wanting to join for a while, but I lost a baby last New Year and would have been due around now and have been feeling really cautious about doing too much baby 'stuff' this time around. Then when we had our first scan there were some possible problems so I had to have a CVS but, after 2 nerve wracking weeks, all the results came back clear. I have got my 2nd scan at Kings on Tuesday and am getting nervous again, but I am already the size of a house so it's time for me to start getting positive! I already know I am having a boy. He'll be my second as I have a nearly 3 year old who has decided that his new little brother will be called 'Sheep' (not sure where that's come from!). How is everybody else doing name-wise? Me and my husband can't agree on any yet... I didn't do NCT first time around as we were in the middle of moving but I do wish we had as everyone always seems to have a nice group of friends form their classes. I did go to their 'Early Days' course (it was run at Goose Green Centre when I did it) and would recommend it as I met some other local mums and it really helped with just getting out of the house in the first few months. I have emailed the NCT about their refresher courses but haven't had a response yet. I also emailed a lady on here who runs second time parents courses but no reply yet either - I will chase up. Bluedark - as Wanhope says, if you are not tied to the Gardens in particular then maybe look around. I was with DMC Crystal Palace Road the first time around and had the Lanes midwives who were lovely. The home visits are great and the after care was amazing. That said, they weren't there for the actual labour and I had the Kings midwives who, although I didn't have the relationship with them, were great as well. This time around I am at DMC Chadwick Road and am with the East Midwives. I've had one appointment so far and they seems very nice, and have another in a few weeks. On othe practicalities, has anyone bought their pushchair yet? I am thinking of the Babyjogger - either the Select or the City Mini with buggy board. We're trying to get my son out of his buggy at the moment, but I am thinking ahead to the walk to nursery in December/Jan. I'd love to have a meet up as well so will keep an eye on this thread.

It's my son's 3rd birthday in November and I am looking for ideas as to what to do party-wise. It will be too cold for anything outdoors, but our flat is too small to host a party (plus I will be 8 months pregnant by then). If anyone has any ideas on what to do/places to hire (for not too much money) I would be really grateful. I don't have a creative bone in my body so any ideas for entertainment that would be good too! Thanks x

Thanks all. I've managed to get an appointment to see Russell so hopefully I'll start to feel better soon as I've been in agony.

If anyone can recommend a local therapist who has experience of dealing with SPD/PPGP please can you let me know. Many thanks x

We'd only moved into our flat a few weeks before I had my son so hadn't met too many of our neighbours. When my water broke there was meconium present so an ambulance was called. As I was being helped out of the house by two ambulance men and my midwife, our upstairs neigbour appeared. As I gasped 'I'm...in...labour' he turned to my husband and said 'Oooh - you're the new couple aren't you, now you must come up for drinks soon - when would be good for you both?'...time and place..!

Hi - We live on the close at the moment, also in a top floor 2-bed,and are very happy here. Some of the points that KT mentions as negatives are still valid, however: Although the kitchens are small (which is the main negative for me) the trade off is that the rest of the flat is spacious. We are split over two floors which makes the flat seem quite big plus there is a large attic space which is great for storage. Some of the other owners have reconfigured their kitchen/living room area into open plan which makes for a very spacious and airy feel. If you are used to using gas (as I was) it can seem a bit of a pain to only have electric but I don't even think about it now. We had storage heaters when we moved in but had them removed and replaced with no problems. A lot of our neighbours have done the same. The postman has access to the individual blocks so there is no issue with not getting post (in our experience at least). There can be some train noise, but to be honest we don't really notice it now. There are occasional overnight works on the tracks which can be a bit of a pain, but these are not frequent and we are given notice well in advance. Apart from this the Close is actually very quiet. For me, the main positives are: Space - the flats do feel very spacious. Plus the storage is good which is not always the case in apartments. Most of the flats are owner-occupied so the residents care about the development and taking care of it. There are resident commitees that liaise with our management agent and any problems are generally sorted out quickly. We also have a new forum for the Close which one of the residents has set up. Our neighbours - the Close is very friendly. The gardens - we have a lot of communal garden space and a wood! The grounds are well maintained and we are looking at ways we can best utilise the wood area for the residents. Proximity to stations and amenities. Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill are nearby, as are Bellenden Road, Lordship Lane and Sainsbury's. We are also a few minutes walk from Lettsom Gardens. Parking - all the flats have allocated parking, plus there is plenty of visitor parking if you have people over or are having a delivery. As KT says, there are over 100 flats on the Close so maybe this is why there are generally a few available for rent?

I also tried Crystal Clear but had a mild reaction the mask that was put on afterwards and spent two hours in the salon with a fan on my face as they tried to cool my skin down. My skin flaked quite badly for about a week afterwards but then was actually quite smooth and clear - but not worth going through all that discomfort for.

We recently had our son vaccinated for Chicken Pox at the South London Travel Centre http://southlondontravelcentre.com/ and all was fine.

Wow! Thanks for all of the suggestions - that's much appreciated. fapl: we actually went to the Cutty Sark last weekend and it was ?12 per adult (kids under 5 were free), so no, not cheap!. I think it would have been great for older kids, but was a bit wasted on a 2 year old - although he did love runing around on the deck and pretending to be a pirate! I would take him back when he's a bit older and able to appreciate it all. If you (or anyone else) goes it's worth knowing that there is a buggy park on the bottom floor near the cafe. We weren't told this and ending up lugging the stroller up and down the stairs - along with numerous other parents.

We've decided we can't really go on a holiday this year for one reason or another, so we've decided to spend our two weeks off taking our son (who will be 2 years, 9 months) out on day trips in and around London. We've thought of London Zoo, the Transport Museum, Natural History/Science museums and Leeds Castle but I would love some recommendations for other places to visit. Any ideas welcome -thanks x

Done

Anyone aware of any problems getting to Peckham / Camberwell earlier today? Have heard that police closed all roads into the area but can't find anything online.

Thanks Houseoflego!