darlin'

HI I would be really happy to make some cakes to contribute to someone else's sale, but can't actually organise or host a sale myself at the moment (young toddler and big pregnant belly!) If that's any use to anyone let me know. Sounds like a great cause and a really good idea x

Oh dear I feel guilty now reading all these responses! I was clearly a bit more lazy and didn't really bring my baby around to every room with me etc. She seemed so content just lying in her baby gym or bouncy chair that I would often put on music for her and go off and busy myself around the house without any worries! Oops! It is totally true that in the early days they seem to have a sixth sense about when you are trying to shower or eat some food and always choose that particular moment to scream! I second the advice about getting easy to eat snacks stored up and would definitely say to register with an online grocery asap- something I put off for far too long and couldn't work out what had taken me so long when I finally did it. It's great! I would also recommend the TinyLove Symphony in Motion mobile as an absolute life-saver! It was a gift from friends who said it had captivated their baby and they were right! As early as 3 or 4 weeks I would lie baby in her cot (the only thing she used her cot for at this stage!) and turn on the lovely music, and she would coo and gurgle away for up to 40 mins or even more! A great chunk of time for doing something for yourself and baby is happy too. Good luck- I am sure you will get on brilliantly and it really does fade into distant memories all too soon! Try and enjoy it

Hi Michelle Great idea! I am busy Monday but Tuesday at the St Saviours playgroup sounds good. Do you know what road it is on and what time etc? Look forward to meeting you (and anyone else who is local!) there. You won't be able to miss me as I am just a tad pregnant! Iv'e just seen that Bishberro's post says it is on Brockley Rise at 10am- sorry for not reading through carefully enough before

Oh thank you so much everyone! This is really, really helpful and I will follow up all of these links. I don't know why I haven't been able to find any of this out myself- clearly I have poor investigative skills! Michelle- thanks I would really like that. She is 16 months so it sounds like a good match! If anyone else lives locally and wants to meet too that would be great.

Hi all! We have recently moved to the Forest Hill/ Honor Oak area and I am finding it really hard to get any information about what's on for Mums and babies/toddlers around here. I have tried the Lewisham website and can't find any helpful Surestart programme like on Southwark's page. I have also tried posting on SE23.com but to no avail- doesn't seem to like me! So, since it's not a million miles away from ED, I'm just hoping that someone here may know of a few activities I could take my toddler to in this area? I am going a little bit spare being at home so much and there are only so many times I can take her to see those bloomin' fish at the Horniman! (not dissing it really- love the place- but...you know) Thanks So much in advance x

Hi I'm in the same position, trying to decide and agree that it is very difficult! There's a very good Q&A page about it on Mumsnet where a doctor answers people's questions and that has swayed me more towards having it. http://www.mumsnet.com/onlinechats/david-salisbury Apparently in some countries such as Canada they are offering pregnant women a special vaccine without the mercury and I wish they were offering the same here, then it wouldn't even take a moment to decide. Does make you slightly wary to know other countries recognise it isn't safe and are offering an alternative. Then again, a friend of mine who works at Tommys says that pregnant women are amongst those being admitted to ICU and are suffering the very worst (along with young children). There is also a very thorough and helpful discussion on SE23.com about it. http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2466

Thanks everyone! Some great ideas. I probably should have mentioned that she is only 15 months, but even so, a lot of these things could be tried out! The TV is already my main fall-back, but it fails to hold her attention for long. How annoying! Loving the "walk around the block with a torch" idea and am going to store that gem for when she is a bit bigger. x

Hello! Just wondering if any of you wiser mums have any tips for how to entertain a young toddler through the agony of the so-called "witching hours" of around 4-6 pm?? Have only recently discovered how awful this time of day can be, especially now in the winter when popping to the park before tea really isn't an option! I am starting to go ever so slightly mad with all the whinging and the moaning and would welcome any suggestions (though my toddler is probably a bit young for fun arts and crafts, sadly!) Thanks so much!

For letting my friend look after my baby sometimes and then looking after hers in return. Seems like someone at least had a little bit of sense about that whole crazy Ofsted plan (finally!) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8303366.stm]Ed Balls overthrows Ofsted's plans

All of the above are good suggestions and just to add something you can try now the heating is on. If my little one is congested I dampen a hand-towel, drop on a few drops of Olbas Oil or something similar, then roll it up and put it on the radiator in her room. It works very well (maybe because her room is small!)

I bought a "Close Baby" stretchy material wrap from John Lewis, totally on a whim one day when my baby was little and was crying in her buggy. It was brilliant and she loved being it- never cried once. Think you can use it lots of different ways, from birth to at least 1. You could certainly get a feel for it by trying it on in the shop.

Thank you very much! I shall it out tomorrow. The numbers I have been trying so far keep on getting me through to private homes...embarrassing! x

Hello all Just hoping someone on here may have a direct contact number for the Oakwood Midwives? I have tried searching for it but with no success! Thanks very much in advance

Lenk said: Cyclists - if someone cuts you up, punching their side window fairly hard usually wakes them up. It might mean you get chased about a mile through Southwark by an irate Australian as happened to me once, but it was quite fun in retrospect. Just wanted to share that a friend of mine got cut uo by a white van man so she swore at him (not even window punching or wing-mirror breaking!) and he chased her for a long time until eventually, up a side street, he deliberately knocked her off her bike and left her in the gutter. She suffered a serious leg injury as a result. The police didn't even follow it up. Really don't advise you do it!

I wish I was as good a parent as I was before I had children!