curiousgeorge11

Godstone Farm is great - also, check out the National Trust - there are some great places in London as well as few which should be easily accessible by train. Box Hill is amazing.

Hi, Sorry to gatecrash this thread, but I am currently considering a trip to London zoo via tube. Does anyone know if this is possible with a buggy (Step-free) at London Bridge and Baker St? Thanks, and sorry Dibden!

Hi again, I just wanted to say once again thank you to everyone for your advice, opinions and experiences. We have had a successful week in removing the dummy from our lives, with surprisingly little resistance. I also now realise how much my little one loves to sleep on his own in his cot during the day! He goes down with little to no fuss whereas me trying to sleep next to him or with him on me had recently become difficult - I think it is just not physically as comfortable for him, in a addition to him being so aware of his surroundings, and therefore needing quiet and darkness. I don't want to weigh in too much on the controlled crying debate, but will say that from my experience with both my first and second baby, how happy they were when they were able to have long uninterrupted stretches of sleep. My first continued to need to be fed throughout the night until over a year, whereas this baby has been perfectly happy with sleeping long stretches from the beginning. We have had odd nights here and there where he clearly needed to be fed at night and of course I am more than happy to oblige, but I also feel comfortable in knowing when he simply needed comfort or some help in getting back to sleep. Parenting is the most difficult job there is, and despite the abundance of instruction manuals, rarely does one work perfectly! Thanks again to everyone, and here is to happy, sleeping babies!!! Kate

Thank you to everyone for your replies, they are very helpful and comforting! For those whose children found the dummies themselves, at approximately what age were they able to start doing that? We've been doing ok do far today without but it is the night time I'm worried about.... Thank you again! Kate

Hello forumites, I'm looking for a bit of help with dummy (soother/pacifier whatever you want to call it) help. My son is 4 months old and hooked on his dummy. He needs it to go to sleep, and starting at about 3 am needs it pretty much hourly to get back to sleep. I don't have a problem with him using a dummy to fall asleep at 7pm as that happens quickly and easily, and I don't mind him having it during the day for comfort, but the constant up and down at night is slowly sapping me of much needed energy. So my question, do I have to go all or nothing with the dummy? I'm not opposed to crying it out, but don't want to be getting him to cry it out at one point in the night if it won't take because he still uses it at other times. I should add that I am feeling pressed for time to sort this as my sons (my oldest son is 22 months) will be sharing a room starting next week due to visitors over the summer. Any help/advice/experiences is much appreciated! Thank you! Kate

Hi Foxtrot, This is the thread from 2012 - if you check you'll find a thread for autumn 2014. All the best

I wanted to post a recommendation for Dulwich Childcare and Paula, as she was a big help to me with Childcare when my second child was born early. Not having any family in the UK, I was quite concerned as to what I would do should such a situation arise. I rang Dulwich Childcare and spoke to Paula in early February, and she put together an emergency Childcare plan for my toddler, that covered all possible Childcare needs (weekends, middle of the night etc...). I then had the opportunity to meet my emergency nanny, and have her look after my son. Lo and behold, my second child was born 24 hours before my mum arrived earlier this month, and the Childcare plan worked brilliantly. Our emergency nanny showed up very early in the morning, my son was happy to be left with her, and my husband and I were able to go into hospital without concern for the well being of our toddler. From being very stressed about what I would do should labour start early, to having it happen, Paula was a huge help, and I can't recommend her or her agency highly enough.

Hi there, I am in the exact same boat! I'm due in late March, my mum is coming over in mid-March, but I'm really worried about going the baby coming early. I've asked a friend, but also just called Dulwich Child Care and am going to register with them, as well have the named person do some babysitting in advance so if she needs to be with my son during waking hours, she won't be a total stranger. There are very few times I find it hard to be away from friends and family, but this is definitely one of them! All the best.

Fantastic, look forward to meeting people next week! X

Hi, So sorry, I posted on this before fully intending it to make it to a meet up and then became caught up in life. Are there any more pub quizzes/meet ups planned? I'd love to meet up with other mums, especially as my maternity leave is hopefully going to start in 5 weeks or so, and my son will still be in part or full time nursery. Thanks and take care, Kate

Hi there, I'm a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) at a Southwark Primary School and I would highly recommend the drop in sessions if you have any concerns. I would say the worst that can happen is they recommend further support (which would be daunting I can imagine) and best case they say all is well. Early identification and intervention is the best support anyone can give to a child, and can possibly prevent much lengthier treatment in the future. Although there may be a high turnover of therapists, I have yet to meet one (and I've worked with about 10 so far) whom has not been lovely, with the children's best interests at heart. All the best and good luck.

Hi, so sorry just saw this! Will definitely do my best to make the next one! Kate x

Hi there, I just posted in the spring babies club, but also would love a meet up. I'm due in early April and my son is currently 15 months old. I can't make Sat but hope to make the next one! Kate

Hi there, I'm due with my second in early April (my son is currently 15 months old) and would love to meet up. I know it's quite busy in the run up to Xmas so maybe early in the New Year? Kate

Hi Sandra, I know the Monday at 11 at Bread of Life is still ongoing - not sure about any others? Do people still think.they will go tomorrow? I was expecting my mum tomorrow, turns out she arrives Tues, am going to try and make it but been working on cot napping with Charlie so will see! X