snowboarder

You could look at the new phil and teds dot - http://philandteds.com/nz/products/push/dot - not sure when out though...

Really? I found them pretty mediocre and lacking in any kind of tempo and energy. My 2 yr old's attention span waned when it seemed to take both coaches to set up every drill and the 3 drinks breaks they had in a session. He enjoyed it when he actually got a turn on the exercises but given the size of the class he didn't seem to get enough tries to keep him interested (cue running off and hiding behind curtain/going for a scoot). Maybe they have improved!! Tried to feedback to Bernie but didn't seem interested - I think they have a fairly easy recruitment in ED.

I've always wondered what the original front garden perimeter wall/fence was - the houses seem so uniform but walking along the streets there is now such a hitch pitch of hedges and wall styles. The streets around bellenden where there is a standard low wall and railings look great. I kind of expect the original treatment was a low wall in stock brick and a hedge?

Marks and Spencer?

Hi - we had our wedding reception at the Garden Museum - following a service in ed, london bus up to a boat trip on the thames and wander across the bridge. It was lovely, and we had some funky lighting so it looked great and drinks in the garden. I think then (argh 5 yrs ago) you couldn't have it until after museum hrs so 5/6pm maybe - hence all the fun beforehand! I liked it as somewhere not too 'weddingy' but special and lovely, and all our guests loved that they just got cabs home without having to stay anywhere. There is a travel lodge type place across the road too I think though for guests who have to travel.

SO many choices. The leather exchange on Leathermarket st used to be good for gastro pub type food. There's the Garrison on Bermondsey st too. Lunchtime or evening? The Southwark Tavern on corner of Borough Market used to do quite nice food but I wouldn't bother in the evenings - too busy. A few other places on Bermondsey St including the fab Jose and Pizarro spanish places.

Skoda octavia estate here too for family with a 3 and 1 yr old - enormous boot and if you get the vrs quite a bit of oomph. And parking sensors - important!! Only complaint would be with 2 car seats in the back there's not much room for a passenger in the middle - but this could be common to most non 3 seater width cars.

Ah JB I will pm you later this evening :-)

As a story of encouragement I remember 6m with my younger son as being really the worst time!! He had no reflux issues but was cosleeping with me and would wake loads in the evening and night - I remember specifically as we went on a weeks holiday with my parents and most nights having gone to bed after 7ish feed he would wake during dinner around 9ish, then 11ish when I went to bed, and then throughout the night - I just fed him back to sleep each time. At 7m we changed tack rather and stopped feeding to sleep and put him in his own room and he improved dramatically. Naps were chaotic at 6m - usually 3 and for at least 45m but mostly on the move. The new 'regime' at 7m also (to help with meal times and weaning partly too) meant moving to 2 naps - longer and better. I think 6m was def a 'crunch' time for us - he was too alert and wakeful for all the tactics that had helped as a younger baby but not ready not to feed to sleep etc. I do kid of think it takes both of you to change things (with older son I continued as above and he continued to constantly wake) but only you will know when that time is right. Good luck - I remember the tiredness v well.

Ok the Snowboarding family has sadly recently left ED in search of more space. It has suddenly hit me that whilst we have not gone far I know no one and there are very few places like the edf for meeting other mums. I think there are quite a few 'exiles' out there especially in the home counties and I wondered whether there was anyone our way and if they wanted to meet up? We are between Orpington and Sevenoaks....any friends out there who are up for setting up a north kent branch of the edf?!? Or if you live anywhere else and want to find others maybe post here too? (Hope can still stay here and chat in the family room though!!)

Hi - we had a slightly different poo issue in that small snowboarder genuinely seemed troubled by using the potty for poo and liked to stand up to do them - result was panic and crying and holding them in and absolute hysterics when it once came out in his pants, BUT seemed to get over it by an intensive session of reading 'everybody poos' and 'poo goes to poo land'. Both seemed to go down v well - 3m later and he asked for 'everybody poos' as a bedtime story last night and we still talk about poo being a somewhat troublesome character who wants to join his family in the toilet(!) and who can sometimes make your tummy hurt by not coming out when he should (as in poo goes to pooland). Seriously thought potty training was one of the low points of motherhood so far!! Emotionally as well as physically!!

kapaxiana Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thank you for your replies, she is 11months and > although he does drink water/juice from any beaker > she refuses to drink milk from them. I've bought > different ones to try but once she realises its > milk she throws the cup :-/ Hmmm quite high risk to try the doidy cup then!!

Ditto above here. My three year old still tips up cups with no straw/spout (deliberately). As with all these things it depends on the child!!

Re sizes - Z is a 7f in clarks and birkenstock 24 is perfect on him. They look SO cute....:-)

There was a big chat about this a while ago...here... It's so tricky isn't it. We are about to try out a third option - moving out of ED but still within commuter distance into town for husband's work. Basically we wanted more space but couldn't afford it here (currently live just off lordship lane). We are lucky that my parents live equidistant to new place and here so have always had their support. Also we will be moving just in time for primary applications for next year - so won't be disrupting any school plans. I'll let you know how it goes...!

We were stuck at home waiting for a courier (8-6 slot - ow - arrived at 6.45). Could use the garden though - it got completely covered in sand and water. Hard work staying at home isn't it?

Convex Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How did you adjust it? > My son (6mo) stands and tips forward. I don't > think he would actually fall out, but you never > know. You adjust the depth of the seat ad the position/depth of the foot rest. I'm sure there are diagrams online. My 15m old absolutely cannot stand. Should keep most houdinis in - but if the child is tiny/agile maybe not!

Convex Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How have you tried so many prams!!! Ha! Have a 3 yr old and 1 yr old so tried a few singles and doubles!! Prams are the new handbags, right?!?

I've never bothered with the harness on the tripp trapp - I was told if you have it set up properly they really shouldn't be able to escape! When mine did at about 12m I just adjusted it and now he's trapped again :-)

The seat unit in the micralite isn't that big though - toddlers always look a bit cramped in it, and it's terrible for tipping up once the child gets out. It also didn't fit in our (megane) boot and I kicked the wheels when I walked - am not a fan even though agree they look cool, AND they are bringing out a tandem version in the autumn!!

Tripp trapps are great. I agree they may not be as suitable if your baby is quite small and not sitting well at 6m - my youngest has been in his since about 8m and no cushions (cleaning? why?!?) and has always been fine. No, they wouldn't reach a breakfast counter just standard table height - we have a phil and teds 'me too' clipped onto our island unit in the kitchen. The ikea basic is great - especially with the infant inflatable insert - means they sit upright and no gaps for things to fall down. I think there was a baby bjorn highchair which looked great too - and folded. Basically any of the padded ones are a faff to clean. I don't understand the ones that recline - why would you want to recline a child at the table?!? And I have always found ones with buggy like shoulder 3 point harnesses really restrictive in terms of the baby sitting up properly.

The thing is lightweight strollers like the maclaren quest etc that are easy to fold down and sling in the car boot/on trains etc are not light and easy to push. Of all my buggies(!) the maclaren is the least easy to handle (can't push one handed even with my 1 yr old in it), no storage and tips up with bags on the handles. But it's great for the boot and the nursery run from the car etc. There is the ever popular babyjogger city mini but it's as heavy in weight terms as the bee. Easier to fold and probably more space for a toddler, and nice to push though. For your budget you would have to look at second hand...

My 15m old is currently just in a long sleeved bodysuit and his winter sleeping bag - seems cosy and no feet/legs to get in a muddle with. I just put some trackies/leggings on him to pad around in in the morning. I'm not sure you can get feet bottoms in bigger sizes? I do find the 'long john' style pjs (do they do these for girls?!?) better generally as closer fitting and snuggly. And cute. (ps - again obv using the boys versions but do find jojo pj's expensive, crap, shapeless, not wash well etc...)

It doesn't just seem to be the GP's who are busy - I just tried to make an appointment for my 15m old baby to have some injections - first spare nurses appt is not until June 6th....what?!? 3 weeks?!?

Does anyone doing WW have the energy to meet up and tell me how to do it - I get the putting in points malarky but what do you do when you cook from scratch your own recipes? I am a fairly haphazard cook and tend to use what I can find and eat ???? size portions - how do you work out the points? Is it a complete faff? I can't do the wednesday morning meets with 2 boys one of whom still sleeps at that time.... I am painfully aware that as original author of this thread am still to report any good news...