KatsuQueen

Hi we did this, if I recall correctly we ordered the wheel from the Bugaboo website. You have to buy a pair, but it wasn't extortionate (don't know how much you paid for the 2nd hand bugaboo though) In our case it was still much better value than buying another buggy. We fitted it ourselves; OK mrkatsu did it, but not too much swearing involved so must have been ok. Sorry not much help, excuse typos etc am on phone in the Norfolk wilds.

Hi, be prepared to open your milk cartons at Heathrow to taste them. Security made us open half of all our carry-on food and milk and taste them, it was a nightmare. Especially the milk cartons because then we had to try and pour them into our sterilised bottles. Ended up wasting quite a lot of milk, so take more than you think you will need. Also agree with poster who suggested a sling. We took our buggy up to the airline door, but only got it back on the luggage carousel. So it would have been very difficult without the sling, carrying all our other bits and pieces as well. On our way home from a long haul flight our airline "lost" our buggy (it was offloaded in Dubai when we were in transit) but luckily we had a sling during the long traipse up and down Heathrow making reports etc. Sorry if I am making it sound awful, it wasn't and 7 months is a nice age to fly. They are not too mobile so don;t want to climb out of the skycot, crawl along the floor and so on. (PS have you booked a skycot? Otherwise you will be carrying her for 7 hours.)

sex hahahha! As if... OK, on a more serious note though, I would suspect that there are lots of us in the same boat. But, I did see something on TV (I think This Morning) about it. One tip was to decide between you and your partner - how often do you want to have sex. Once a week? Twice a week? Once every 3 months? Then if you decide once a week, make an appointment (how romantic, I know!) and cometh the time, apply yourself!! The thinking is that a sex life (like everything else) is a habit. For many people, you kind of forget how nice it is, not just the act itself, but the intimacy etc. Another tip was to sleep naked together every night. Just so you get back to the feeling of each other's bodies... Aagghh have posted under my normal forum name, wow I am sure I will regret this :)

Hi I spoke to Sodexo and they confirmed over the phone that both their paper and e-vouchers (the online ones) do expire. However, they will get in touch before the expiry date and as long as your reply to their email they will renew the vouchers. The man I spoke to made it sound quite straightforward and the expiry date was just an administrative thing to satisfy HMRC.

Hi, I am in a childcare voucher scheme at work and get "e-vouchers". While I was on maternity leave I saved up the voucher amount and I'm not sure if they expire or not. The scheme is through Sodexo and on their website they talk about a 12-15 month expiry date. But surely that only applies to paper vouchers? I assume that the paper vouchers have an expiry date printed on them. If the money is already in my Sodexo "account" then surely it is not going to expire if I don;t spend it? I'm thinking that the only problem would be if I change employer but I'm not planning on this any time soon. Eventually I will need it for nursery, after-school club etc but that might be in a year's time or so. Does anyone know?

I have the same gap and it is hard. Especially as I sent my older one to nursery for 2 days a week so I could have a break, and he would sleep for up to TWO hours at nursery. Completely refused to sleep at home, and wanted my attention all the time because of jealousy issues. What really helped was my husband forcing me to go to bed everynight at 8:30 for a couple of months. Basically gave up any kind of "normal" adult social life!

Hi Ellie, yes they did look kind of "lost" and tiny in the seat, but it was perfectly fine. Yep they were in "bearsuit" from birth so started off flat and then then gradually raised up. The main reason we didn't buy a cocoon was this exact reason - someone, can't remember who, mentioned that they only last a few months. And I thought the bearsuits were supercute!

Hi, we have an old Bee and never had a cocoon. Why can't you use a Bee without a cocoon? Both of my kids were winter babies and I just used to put them in "all-in-ones" to keep them warm when we went out. You know, those cute furry bearsuits etc.

I really like this place. Adventurer, I think I know what you mean but I personally hate all that "TGIF" pally with the customers business. I just want to sit, drink coffee and eat cake. Must admit I winced when I read that you would like to see a black face, or some Europeans and American staff. Uh Oh have I just fed a troll??!!

hi, I'm surprised to hear this as I haven;t had any problems with Caroline getting back to me (usually after a few days). I usually contacted her by email. This might be a better way of contacting her as I would often get replies late at night. Please PM me if you need her email address.

Hi, not expecting a spring baby but I have a some maternity dresses (worn but still in good condition) that I was going to bring down to the charity shop. Free. Size M or 12/14. They are work-type clothes, two quite smart black dresses and one raw-silk skirt (also black). For autumn/ winter. Please PM if you would like them!

Thanks!

HI, does anyone know if the soft play at Peckham Pulse is open now? Thanks.

dg2 and clareC, I agree! - but have a horrible suspicion that even if that ever happened, nanny and nursery costs would just go up. It's just what the market will bear and there is a tipping point where mothers will say, well that makes it just about worth it for me to go back to work. And nannies' rates will always be at that tipping point. (Not explaining myself really well) What I mean is, say currently 30% (totally made up number) of mothers earn enough to pay for childcare. If full tax breaks were introduced, then still only 30% of women would earn enough because nannies' wages / nursery charges would just go up.

Hi I started a thread about nanny costs for 2 a little while ago, see here http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,845987,847584#msg-847584 In the end we have opted for a nanny with her own child, it works like a nanny share but without the complication of another family's holidays, requirements etc. And it will always be at our home, which is great. PM me if you have any more questions!

And just to add another complication, I am actually Hakka but we never spoke Hakka at home because my mother (cantonese) can't speak Hakka!

Hi, just wondered if there were any parents from SE Asia around? I am Chinese from Brunei and lately have been thinking thay it would be nice to make contact with other similar parents. I'm really interested in what you are doing with your kids regarding language. Minikatsu speaks English 100% of the time but lately has been showing interest in speaking Chinese, after a visit home earlier this year. My Mandarin is utterly rubbish, as is my Cantonese and at home we were brought up speaking a mish-mash of English, Hokkien, Cantonese and Malay. My Malay (written and spoken) is actually much much better than my Chinese! My husband and I lived with my parents for a few years so he is quite used to this, but language-wise it's all a bit of a mess. Would appreciate any thoughts?

Yes, I know what you mean! I was really keen to find a nursery where my son would eat a freshly cooked lunch; and also eat communally with the other children i.e. all of them eating the same thing. In case you are wondering, he is at Little Jungle and very happy there, it is fab.

Ellie, just to add a different perspective to gillandjoe's post, specifically her last paragraph: "I hate to say it, but I think if you can find a way to make it through without a night nanny you will be so proud of yourself and you will look back on the first weeks as this precious, private time as a family where you really tested your strength. Saying that, my exhaustion pushed me to mild PND and it was really really hard for a while but I am so proud of myself, my partner and my amazing baby!" My husband and I also did it all "on our own" without any real help; although our sleep problems were nowhere as difficult as yours. Looking back, I think we were stupid and tortured ourselves for no good reason. At the time, we wanted it to be "our journey". Second time round, we asked for help, lots of help from friends and family. Shamelessly. We didn't even care how incovenient it was for them, my reasoning was - well, they can always say no. So if you think you need a night nanny, get one. I know the money issue is hard, and I hope you can find a way if you need to. Just imagine if you were having a conversation with YOUR daughter in the future, and she was going through what you are going through now - what would you say? Best of luck and if you need some company/moral support to get you through the long long days, please PM me! Maybe we can meet up. Edited to say - no offence meant to gillandjoe, just adding different viewpoint.

Hi, just searched for this thread and just wondered if anyone had any updates on the companies mentioned? (not sure when this thread was active)

Thanks mrslotte and emma; I still can;t believe he has to wear a "uniform"..but he's just a little baby!!

Hi just to reinforce what others have said about getting a block of sleep if possible, it really helps. In the early days, I used to go to bed at 8 while my husband was on duty till midnight.

Hi minikatsu has a place in Goose Green nursery in September, hooray. We didn't receive any info with our acceptance letter and I meant to call the office with some questions but embarrassingly have been too unorganised. And now the school is closed, oops. So to any GG parents, do I have to buy a uniform for nursery? Or just a school jumper? And where can I get one, I assume the uniform shop on Grove Vale? And can he just wear his "normal" shoes? Any other tips greatly appreciated!

Hello have sent PM

GillandJoe, I wasn't getting at you, hope you didn't take it the wrong way. Just wondering if you knew something I didn't, maybe some subsidies/tax breaks that hadn't been widely publicised... I live in hope!