snowboarder

Re packing in the car - 2 wheelers are obv much easier than 3 as they can at least pack flat as you can actually turn the handlebars. I'm not sure really if you would ever bother folding them even if you could...

Hi - my 5 year old has a 'grit' stunt scooter - I think this one - http://www.skates.co.uk/scooters/gritfluxx2scooter-team-yellow.html - it seems pretty sturdy. He also liked the stunt microscooter - http://www.micro-scooters.co.uk/scooters-model-mx-stunt/micro-mx-trixx-scooter-black.html but he the yellow of the grit one won him over! There is a tiny little shop in west wickham which is great for information and has a good selection of scooters. The key thing they said to us was that basically if a scooter folds, it has an inherent weakness at the point it folds, so avoid if you're going to be doing more than cruising the streets. We take our little boy to the skate park at the cyclopark on a sunday morning for their under 8's session and he loves it.

We had the baby nest too and I loved it. My little boy fitted in it until he was about 7/8m (and he was a sturdy baby!). Really transportable too so no need for a travel cot for a while.

We're off to Sandy Balls for the second time in Oct, but if you prefer more simple 'proper' camping check out the sites on Cool Camping - some lovely options - http://www.coolcamping.co.uk/search?q=uk

Power rangers? My 5 year old is into anything super hero related - dressing up, figures, bat mobiles etc. also generally any kind of vehicle. He also likes little non fiction books on knights and castles....and also is currently into making rainbow loom bands like all the girls! Oh - if he likes building things they do some sort of junior meccano which my eldest likes. Or books? We're just getting into more 'big boy' paperbacks rather than always reading picture books - a nice thing to enjoy with them.

Yes - as above we bought a couple of super cheap light car seats for travelling - the cost of buying them was cheaper than hiring just for one trip so I'm not especially precious about them!

The P&T navigator def has a disclaimer in the instruction booklet about running - dunno about the bob - I would just check especially if you're doing park runs etc.

Hi - I think you need to be careful with running buggies - phil and teds (and I think the bob you mention) aren't actually officially running buggies - I know p&t have a disclaimer on there prams (apart from one specific running pram) to say they are not made for running with. If your husband wants to properly run with your baby you need a specific fixed front wheel pram like the bob ironman, or babyjogger fit - I think! Obviously people DO run with other prams - I ran with a mountain buggy urban and it was fine- but I didn't go far or v fast. You need to make sure the front wheel is locked, as they can wobble and get trapped. I think quite often if you are a serious runner you would have an additional running pram, as all the things that make them great for running with are not great for around town (small fol, maneuverability etc.) You can often get them quite cheap on ebay I think....

I think the ergo wins over babybjorn hands down....have a look at the info on a website called 'slumberoo' and hopefully bluesuperted who knows about these things should be along soon to tell you why!!

We started our elder son at presch 3 mornings a week 8 weeks after his younger brother arrived (basically as soon as he turned 2!). It was fine, by 8 wks we had all got used to the new baby, older son enjoyed the time out and our 'free' mornings were lovely. Pick up and drop off were a bit of a pain but we had an awesome cleaner who came 2 mornings a week who looked after the (sleeping) baby for me whilst I dropped off. It worked for all of us especially as they both got older - def recommend and don't overthink it too much :-)

For a double? The mountain buggy duet or nipper 360 if you could get it through your door. My baby hated the p&t explorer cocoon and grew out of it really fast - the MB was so easy to push and comfy for both children, really narrow (something crazy like the width of a regular p&t), and just great. But I do like the p&t style once you have slightly older children - always thought the micralite twofold looked good - so a main buggy for the younger child and somewhere for the preschooler to hop in and out. The only downside to the mountain buggy I thought was it was big when folded and super heavy to lift in and out of the car. I tried to City select and didn't get on with the weight distribution and getting it up kerbs. I'm sure there are more options out there now though - I'm out of touch!

Convex - my two are 5 and 3 and I'm over the buggy thing now - we only have an emergency maclaren left and now I buy sandals and handbags again :-)

If you are going to kiddicare in Croydon you could easily drop in at baby nest and there's a mothercare round there too. I tried a couple of different doubles (with a 22m age gap) - my favourite was the mountain buggy duet for when I needed a double full time - so easy to push and super narrow (ok on buses). For when the older one was in the buggy less I preferred the Phil and teds style - easy to jump in and out.

We have a trunki boostapak for our 5 year old and it works well. Not sure for the 2.5 yr old though - last year we just bought a couple of super cheap light car seats and used them as less expensive than hiring them - but a faff to carry them.

The kids camelbak ones are good - don't leak and are easily opened and closed by the small user! http://m.simplyhike.co.uk/products/Camelbak/KidsEddyBottleTritan400ml-Sea.aspx?gclid=CjgKEAjwn-WcBRD61NHM-uqDrm4SJADrP4tPhq2s6kn3UYCLjwJxZhd5xMlgPcV5arKBYH-TwtElC_D_BwE

I also like these - nice and low - http://kidsdreambeds.co.uk/portfolio/dream_bunk_bed. We have a v cheap set from a bunk bed world type place in our kids spare room and I struggle to change the sheets/make the bed on the top bunk - and think they're just standard height! Also v rickety. My absolute fave bunk beds (not that I'm obsessed) are these - http://babyology.com.au/furniture/a-modern-low-to-the-ground-bunk-bed-weve-found-it.html - only available in Australia....huh! We're probably going to end up with ikea after all this...:-)

Any idea how much they are Trish?

I like these - http://shop.bobokids.co.uk/furniture/bunk-and-high-beds/bunk-bed-147cm - they're not too high and you can get in a range of colours, which is appealing! Not cheap though....

We just went to Bells and they were helpful...but kind of good to get ideas first. I quite like looking on houzz.com...

We had a laundry cupboard similar to the one above in our old house in our kitchen side return extension (not that tidy I may add, but with the stacked washer and dryer) and it worked well. But I do love our utility room in our current house with a sink and some extra cupboards. Also I am very untidy - quite often things get taken off the kids downstairs - chucked in the utility room, washed and dried and they go straight back on without ever making it upstairs.... (should I admit this?!?)

I do leave mine only to pay for petrol if I have to - pay at pump is almost always not working for some reason! - but I do almost anything to avoid getting petrol when with them if I can. What I can't work out how to do is lock the car without putting the alarm on - so they have to sit like statues or the alarm goes off when they move!!

Yes - my eldest had these at 18m, and he had tiny feet - must have been about a 4 - so either they changed the sizing or he was in the smallest they do....I'll try and look them out!

My boys both had croc snow boots when they were little - much lighter than wellies and these ones http://www.crocs.co.uk/crocs-kids-crocband-ii-5-gust-boot/12905,en_GB,pd.html?cid=485&cgid=boys-footwear-boots have a velcro tightening strap. Not cheap though...maybe on ebay?

We're here!! Quite toasty in the tent last night, rain has stopped and kids are doing art in the kitchen hut, wellies, shorts and fleeces. All a bit cold and muddy but we're having fun so far! One weird thing - the children spent the whole night rolling off their air beds...found one halfway across the room!

We have quartz too - I love it - it's an off white with just a tiny hint of a sparkle, and really lightens up the room. We have a big u-shaped kitchen and part of it looks into the family living space - we have a seating area there which works great for kids tea time etc. And we have a wine fridge and hot water tap - essentials!!