bluesuperted

No personal experience I'm afraid but you could try posting in a couple of Facebook groups, the South East London Attachment Parenting group and the Attachment Childcare UK group - lots of people with similar ideals on both groups, the former is local and the latter UK but specific to childcare. Hth and good luck.

Bumpy we are doing a version of Joe's juice fast and loving it. Would definitely be worth considering as we have replaced the vast majority of our breakfasts and lunches with veggie juices after seeing the film. We have varied, healthy, protein-filled dinner. But the breakfast and lunch thing doesn't feel a chore as we only had something barely decent anyway as always rushing and so feel way more satiated and well fed having juice instead. My husband and I both feel loads better and have noticeably less cravings post kids bedtime for biscuits, snacks and cakes (for me these bad habits have been exacerbated by years of pregnancy and breastfeeding). It's been a revelation! Husband suffered very badly from reflux and it's all but gone. We think there may be gluten issues at least for him but not totally sure. Anyway highly recommend the film and website! As an aside I've lost nearly a stone (not the reason why I wanted to do it but a nice side effect) and apart from the physical juicing routine it's felt effortless.

I had already been trawling the hundreds of mumsnet threads when this one popped up - I was tossing up between the Merrell Ellenwood (too long I think as I'm short and out of stock at a decent price everywhere in small sizes) and some of the Seasalt range. I ended up going for the Seasalt Northstar, excited that it won't drown me, although it hasn't arrived yet. I also loved the Janelle in coal but that definitely looks more suitable for taller women. Anyway some sizes are in the sale but if not then I thought I'd share this code, which gives 10% off and free p&p: RED10PP I also like the Didriksons range but they were a bit too pricey.

Just saw this article from the Australian press which supports much of what myself and some previous posters have said: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/why-kids-are-better-off-without-homework/story-fni0cwl5-1227032684827?nk=6c14a922c22168503aa9a80d2d2b017b Some of the key points include: Increased primary school homework linked to decreased national student achievement, no academic benefit, a 'direct relationship between time on homework and increased anxiety, depression, anger, and other mood disturbances among students', and increased family conflict...

We just booked Portugal flights for next year (summer holidays) as couldn't risk paying the prices they were when I looked at Europe flights in spring of this year. I used skyscanner and fiddled with dates as accommodation people were flexible this early on. We have paid ?800 including luggage for 4x full flights. Still feels like a lot but am pleased it's booked and haven't seen anything cheaper since - although am scared that more will come online in October at a cheaper price point, but just didn't want to risk being over a barrel once accomm deposit is paid for next month.

Pippa21 totally agree with you. Will be boycotting all homework (and letting the teacher know) when the time comes. A love of reading and family time will be my priorities for the time I get at home with my son. My husband is a primary school teacher and in full agreement with this plan, find it very telling that so many teachers feel homework is not necessary for such young ages. Sincerely hope there is no homework when my just 4yo starts reception tomorrow!

Also I totally agree with Vanessa's point 1 - linked to checking for tongue tie. The constant boob stage does pass and is exhausting so feeding and watering your wife will be a key duty for weeks to come!

Sorry also have only had chance to skim read but I suspect tongue tie too - highly recommend Katie Fisher lactation consultant who has helped several friends immensely. You sound like you're doing a great job. Sorry it's so hard for you all!

There is Coram Fields which is not quite as far as Regents Park. I haven't been but have heard it's a fantastic space and lots going on (eg the nearby/related Calthorpe Project which sounds fab).

Meant to ask you about this yesterday Laurac! I love the old school audio Winnie the Pooh read by Peter Dennis... It's magical, makes me sob every time it gets to the end...

This is fantastic thank you! Some great ideas. I'm really excited about this next stage of reading together :)

We do ERF, have a Golf and I squish in very regularly! I'm also not huge but not as slim as I once was! Not massively comfortable or at a elegant getting in and out but it's fine really. Glad you saw the other thread, definitely worth speaking to Margaret she knows everything and may even be worth a call to her prior to your trip to seek out a car.

Resurrecting this thread if anyone can help further! We are thinking that we need to move towards chapter books for our nearly 4yo's bedtime stories. He still enjoys picture books (and even his sister's baby board books that he has heard a zillion times) but he also loves more in-depth stories these days and really loves his bedtime reading with daddy. The Claude books look great, would appreciate some more suggestions. Anything nice and gender-neutral would be great too.

Signed and shared on A Mighty Girl (excellent) FB page...

We didn't bother with them much with our firstborn and not at all with our second - having tried both ways I would never use them again, our daughter learnt to safely climb the stairs up and down very quickly and we only just had a mild tumble this week as think she was being extra daring and tripped, she was fine - she's 16 months but has been independently climbing up and down with reducing levels of supervision since 7/8 months or younger. With my eldest I think we had one from crawling at 5 months to about 14 months. Obviously it means a bit of extra watching to begin with but have found it's paid dividends in safety awareness of second child and of course has not complicated 3yo firstborn's need to access the upstairs and downstairs areas with ease all day everyday (toilet, accessing clothes and toys etc, he's very independent). Highly recommend not bothering!

^^ yes to Saffron's point, so true. Second reading Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt re cortisol in newborn/infant. Fascinating and important book.

We have loved our BabyBay, still using it as a bed extension/souped up bed guard for my daughter who co-sleeps with us from 11pm-ish when we go to bed (16m).

Edited as posted on the paint thread instead of co-sleeper one!

There are some great mumsnet threads on this. We went for F&B greys - but often chose a blue-ish tint. Colour matched at Whites in HOP, great place. We have: Borrowed Light - v pale blue grey, gorgeous Skylight - blue/grey, not as pretty as BL Strong white - beige grey, which we mixed in a bathroom with... Skimming stone - slightly darker beige grey Blackened - v pale purpley-grey - have this on its own and teamed with blackened. Calluna - pink/purple grey We thought about using Cornforth White which is similar ish to blackened and also liked Elephants Breath (darker beige grey than Skimming Stone) but was too dark for our hallway. We also have Railings in our kitchen which is v dark, almost black/navy grey dependent on the light, love it! Highly recommend searching Houzz app for these paint colour names to get ideas.

No I definitely wasn't suggesting that ladywotlunches - I actually think we were talking at cross purposes as I thought your post referenced the wider MP/VIP/establishment child abuse scandal and cover up - which I think we need to hear a lot about because it's been hidden for so long whereas now I think I misunderstood and you were talking about lurid details of the Savile/Harris/Clifford crimes? I agree we don't need to know the sordid ins and outs of these abusers' activities. But I do think we need to hear more about the wider cover up, it's heinous and those responsible (many) may well continue to escape proper justice. In Belgium when this happened in the 90s I think people were protesting and there was visible anger and desire to call people to account, whereas I think people are not quite hearing how grave the situation is for some reason. Hopefully I'm wrong and pressure will build from many angles, so this investigation can be rigorous and transparent rather than whitewash.

I was referring to the OP feeling 'fed up' with the coverage - I feel sick about the content, sick at the hypocrisy of the media outlets who are now finally starting to report on things which have been known for years (eg Jimmy Savile etc) and covered up by many - but not fed up to be hearing these stories, even though it's hard to take and makes me angry each time I come into contact with the story. I hadn't really taken away the glamourising/salacious coverage although I'm sure it exists (as I said I mainly consume news in written format these days). I do agree that the coverage may be incredibly painful, triggering and unhelpful for other victims (especially re victim blaming that often follows). Hope that clarifies what I meant.

This is the opposite of how I feel. I don't have the TV news on in front of my two as I think they can sense the negative vibes/serious affect of the newsreaders in general even if they don't understand the words (age 3.5 and 1). I instead get my news from the written word. But I actually am so frustrated that the coverage, marginally 'better late than never' is not galvanising people into action, it's so incredibly outrageous, just bloody awful. I can't stand the thought of these crimes, committed on the youngest and most vulnerable, the members of society we should have been protecting, hideous things happening to kids without families who could keep them safe, while I was growing up in relative paradise in terms of childhood. I hate the heinous cover up and the whitewash/planned cover up of the cover up about to start... The investigation is to be overseen by that Butler-Sloss woman who has connections to past cover-ups/inadequate inquiries and has conflicts of interest, including links to her brother and the lost files I believe!? The whole thing sickens me to my core and I think people are so desensitised they can't process or even hear the enormity and vileness of what has happened and still happens. I feel so so angry and I just hope justice, whatever that could possibly look like, is served and that wholesale change can occur in the way we look at and treat society's most vulnerable and most powerless. I'm not holding my breath though, very sadly.

Oh yes and my husband occasionally FRONT carries our substantial almost 4yo in our Manduca - not far but even so, it's an amazing bit of kit to last that long. The one thing I literally couldn't do without!

Hello! Totally agree with Snowboarder, Ergo is a different (much better!) beast to Bjorn. Ergo is a proper soft structured carrier and will carry weight on your hips and back, not focused around your neck. Also Ergo has baby in proper froggy position, not held up by crotch. Much kinder for mum/dad and baby and will last far longer. Even better would be a Manduca, similar to an Ergo but even comfier and longer lasting. I am like a stuck record to regular EDF readers but I carried my nearly 4yo til he was nearly 2.5yo in a Manduca and I was very pregnant and I'm now carrying my 15 month old in one and have never put her in a buggy cos frankly it's just much easier to stick her in the sling! This review is old but a great comparison of Ergo with Manduca: http://extraordinarybabyshoppe.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/product-comparison-ergo-vs-manduca.html?m=1 I used an Ergo for 10m and loved it but for me and most friends who've tried both Manduca is superior, more adjustable and better body length for toddler plus newborn insert is integrated and better/less bulky than Ergo. It is pricier but the resale on them is really good. Baby Bjorns on the other hand sell for a lot less - like ?10 - as many people don't get on with them or can't use them for years in the same way.

I love the look of this co-operative board game, am planning on getting it for my son this year but it's 5+ so should be fab for a six year old. Not specifically literacy but a lovely concept and no 'winning' if you see what I mean! Peaceable Kingdom Cooperative Board Game - Count Your Chickens! by Peaceable Kingdom http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004HVKAAS/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_qevRtb1Z9GMC6