alieh

Personally, I loved the Ergo for that age and even now (my son is two and 35 lbs, so very big).

I got a bumper supply of really cheap sticks from eBay and they worked a treat for us! They also came with a bunch of cheap pregnancy tests, which can come in handy if you're addicted to peeing on a stick. This is the kind of thing I bought: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40-OVULATION-TEST-20-ULTRA-10-mIU-PREGNANCY-TESTS-PRIV-/370095944255?pt=UK_Health_HealthCare_RL&hash=item562b6ff23f You can try the sticks for a few months, along with noticing the other signs and after a couple of cycles you will probably be aware enough of the other signs that you can stop bothering with the sticks.

I'm not available that weekend either, but keen in principle. Is a Thursday or another school night out of the question? Or I could do Friday 17th? Or this Sat (4th)? Obviously won't be able to choose a date that works for everyone, so if 11th/12th has more momentum stick with that!

Yes, the baby cinema trips ended for me once my son was about 8 months. Just too hard to keep him entertained and still that long, even at that age! Now, age 2, I'm lucky if he sits through one episode of Charlie and Lola while I drink a cup of tea. Glad to see people are interested in this. Let's hope they can make a go of it!

I second Molly's suggestion re: salt dough decorations. I made these with my 2 year old and they came out really well! He liked it because it was just like playdough. We baked them and left them for a few days and then painted them with regular craft paint, which was messy but good fun. I'm going to varnish them and put on some nice ribbon to hang.

Sorry, that link didn't work. Will try again: http://www.peckhamplex.com/contact

Good idea! I started a new thread instead. Here's the link: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,579271

Just passing on a message from the Peckham Plex that they will be starting a parent & baby screening in January. Saves having to trek on the 37 bus to the Ritzy! For those who don't know the Peckham Plex, it is just across from Peckham Rye station, less than 10 minutes on the bus from most parts of ED (63, 363, 12, 197, 37, P13 buses all stop right out front). The screenings will be held on Thursdays at 11.30am, the price of the tickets is ?5.99 which includes coffee & cake. They also have facilites such as pram park, baby changing and bottle warming facilities. Adults must be accompanied by a baby under 1 year old. They are trying to gather names of interested parents, so do email via the Peckham Plex website if you want to add your name to their customer list: [www.peckhamplex.com] They'll need to have a decent attendance to ensure that they can keep this up, so the more people who show interest the better. I want them to have so much demand that they agree to introduce a second screening on Monday or Tuesday once I'm off on maternity leave in March :) The baby cinema was definitely my favourite part about my last maternity leave!

Just to update that I emailed the Peckham Plex and Mae is right...they are launching a parent/baby screening in January. Here are the details: "We are currently collecting names of interested parents, we hope to have sufficient numbers when we launch in January to make these screenings a viable option for us. It will be held on Thursdays at 11.30am, the price of the tickets are ?5.99 which includes coffee & cake. We also have facilites such as pram park, baby changing and bottle warming facilities. Adults must be accompanied by a baby under 1 year old. Once established we will of course review the time, day and number of screenings and will rely on customer feedback to tell us what they want." You can email via the Peckham Plex website if you want to add your name to their customer list: http://www.peckhamplex.com/contact Unfortunately it doesn't help with my Monday/Tuesday problem, but maybe if there is enough demand they'll introduce a second day!

Asquith Peckham Rye was going to be my recommendation too. We liked it but ended up finding a childminder we liked better in the end. But nursery-wise it seemed really good.

You've already had lots of advice, but just to say that the difference between your baby now and in March will be huge. It is a long time in the life of a now-8 month old! You have lots of time to gradually adjust your feeding schedule - at 8 months I was still feeding very regularly through the day (and still in the night), but at 12 months when my son started at the childminder we were down to just a morning and bedtime feed. This happened quite naturally, with a bit of prodding (more vigorous encouragement required to drop the night feeds, but we got there!). I would start by gradually breaking the boob to sleep association by putting him down more and more awake - the No Cry Sleep Solution book has lots of tips on this if you like the gradual approach. And like littleEDfamily says, the Baby Whisperer Forums (much better than books) are great, with lots of mums who have been through it helping you step by step. Once you know that he can fall asleep indendently, you can work on cutting out the night feeds (i.e. by getting someone else to resettle with patting or cuddles instead of milk). My son is quiet too, but he has adjusted well to his childminder (there are 5-6 kids there, so not quite as big as most nurseries but still pretty loud and chaotic!). If your son doesn't already have a comforter (like a soft toy or blanket or something) you could start now getting him used to something. You can tuck it in your bra while feeding so it smells like you and he assoicates it with milky cuddles, and then always put it down with him when he goes to sleep. It will make a big difference for him to be able to take this with him when he starts at nursery. On days when my son is feeling more shy or fragile he still likes to get his soft toy first thing when he gets to the childminder (we have two identical ones - one at home, one there - so we don't have to cart it back and forth).

Fri 14th Jan sounds good to me!

Oh wait - this is different than the one I'm thinking of. I've been to the one across from Sainsburys in the Albrighton Centre maybe? But I've also been to the ones at the Peckham Library and at Rye Oak, and they've all been good.

This was one of my favourite groups when on maternity leave. They have the most gorgeous books and toys. They lay them out in themes - so a little animal area, with toys and books about animals; trains, music, etc., etc. At the LL estate one there is tons of space (or there was when it was in the Albrighton (sp?) Centre) with mats, so crawlers and toddlers can explore. For older kids there is a craft area where they make something related to whatever the theme that week is. And, yes, you can get a Southwark library card and borrow the books while there. At the end there is a group story related to the theme and singing. The people who run it are very friendly and will chat with everyone there, even when they're busy. I went lots of times on my own and never felt uncomfortable. In my opinion Book Start and Whippersnappers are the best groups going!

That's great news! I checked their website before I posted this thread but didn't notice anything obvious. Now I just have to hope it's on a Mon/Tues :)

I should have asked this same question! I have been going back and forth between 2 and 3 days, and finally settled on 2 (both for money reasons and a general feeling/guilt that he should be home with me if I'm there?!). But remembering how knackering it was with a newborn, I might be wishing I'd gone for 3.

I will try to get in touch with them and see what they think!

We could reschedule for post holiday craziness in January, once our bumps are all more imminent? Does that work for others? I'm up for coffee on a weekend, or a playdate on Friday afternoons but from now until Xmas is looking pretty hairy! Alie

We always end up at John Barnett on Lordship Lane, and have gotten Clarks each time because they seem to be the only brand that do different widths and my son has very "strong" (read fat) feet. We got him a pair of "cruisers" at a similar age - they are just like regular shoes but with a much softer sole. They would stand up to some walking outside, but not loads of stamping in puddles or snow.

I would try switching nappy brands too. In my son's case, Huggies were a real problem but Pampers were fine (others have found the reverse). Also, don't think anyone suggested oats in the bath yet? This made a huge difference for us. Put a cup of porridge oats in a muslin or sock, tie to close, and squish under running water until bath is cloudy. This always helps us get past a flare up of excema or nappy rash. Agree that the Weleda cream is lovely! And also agree that if none of this works, it could well be thrush.

Maybe I am the only one, but I am planning my maternity leave around being able to go to the baby cinema! I have now confirmed that I'm going to send my toddler to our childminder on Mondays and Tuesdays but the Big Scream in Clapham and Brixton are Thurs/Fri. Wondering if anyone has already looked into organising a Parent & Baby screening at the Peckham Plex (easy bus ride from most parts of E.D.)? Would there be demand for this do you think? There are sessions on Mon/Tues at other cinemas around London, but I remember how daunting it seemed to trek very far with a new baby! (Title edited in case people don't know about the Big Scream!)

There is a walk in clinic near Peckham Rye station - I think it is pretty new. My Mum (from Canada) went there when she was here and was expecting to pay something, but they never mentioned payment so not sure how that works. But anyone can just walk in 8 am-8 pm 7 days/week. This is it: http://peckhamgpwalkin.co.uk/

No doesn't work! How odd. Maybe it's just from work (a sign that I should stop checking the EDF from work??). Thanks for letting me know that it is just me for some reason.

Hi Amy! I've tried to get to your website a number of times and it never works for me. Am I doing something wrong, or is the site down?

I think 1 tsp of washing up liquid in the normal detergent drawer, and a 1/2 cup of laundry bleach in the "bleach drawer" bit. That was my interpretation anyway.