Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

CM Club: Kitting out new house - need some help / idea's / links to websites..........

30 replies

looneytune · 18/09/2006 10:35

Morning

Hoping to move next month and I am planning ahead what I am going to do with the layout etc. Can anyone help with these questions:

  1. The new conservatory will become the play room so our lounge is our lounge Will Ofsted have a problem with the fact it's glass? (modern double glazed so I wouldn't have thought dangerous?). Is there anything I need to consider? Luckily it's north facing and the garden is shady.

  2. Anyone able to recommend where I can buy nice but not too expensive wooden kitchen items for playhouse? (it's got a new big summerhouse which I'm planning to turn into big playhouse so getting rid of the plastic ones)

  3. I have LOADS of dressing up items and they are currently squashed into a fairly big plastic box. I'd love to have something to hang them all up on, especially something that has a shelve or something for all the hats as we have loads of those too. Any ideas?

  4. At mealtimes, I want us all to sit round the same table as in my current house, there's no room so the 3? yr olds have a little ELC table and the 1 yr olds use the highchair with me sat on a chair next to them. So, if I get the dining table I want, I'm just a little worried my current highchair will cause problems spacewise as it's quite chunky as it does all sorts. What sort of age can children start using the booster seats and can anyone recommend one as I've never used them before?

Any advice would be very much appreciated

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
looneytune · 19/09/2006 15:47

mumtoall - great website link, found some FAB dressing up trolleys, just the sort of thing I'm looking for HOWEVER, I had no idea they were about £150

Anyone got any cheaper idea's?

OP posts:
alibubbles · 19/09/2006 10:38

OOh, I love the wooden chocolate! What a great site, big spend coming up!

limitedsdotcom · 18/09/2006 22:47

She sure is lovely, thanks TP! hehe! If anyone is looking for storage furniture for toys - our little boy has this IKEA storage thingy with bins in, and it's brilliant, a fraction of price of other manufacturers (good old IKEA) and he loves putting everything into the right bins! IKEA Trofast range and the tubs are here : IKEA clear tubs for storage unit I'd rather have lots of these, than closed boxes, simply because the children get to enjoy getting the toys they want and putting them away! See you soon, TP!

Katymac · 18/09/2006 20:57

Hiya (I'm here)

Nothing special for a consevatory (except for extremes of temperature)

Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 20:00

Cheers TP, that's one of the sites I was after Will have a look!

OP posts:
ThePrisoner · 18/09/2006 19:13

I've done it before, and I'll do it again ... and plug this company - the lady who runs it is lovely! (No, it's not me).

ThePrisoner · 18/09/2006 19:10

I've done it before, and I'll do it again ... and plug this company - the lady who runs it is lovely! (No, it's not me).

Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 19:05

Alibubbles, well done on the report - not finished reading yet but looks fab!!!

As for the conservatory, do you have to do anything special or not? Hope not as it seems totally safe to me!

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 19:04

Thanks mumtoall, I'll check out that website!

As for mc, I know what you mean about people not understanding unless they've been through it. You get the same old things being said over and over and something my boss said on the phone to me when I was at home just did it for me. She sooo had no idea.

I must say that when I had tonsillitis bad a few months ago, the parents were really understanding and actually expected me to eventually end up off ill. They didn't have to pay as I don't charge for my illness but it really helped that I did't feel presurised into working!! (the only one that did make me end up working a day earlier than I wanted to was actually the mum that doesn't work but had a hair appointment)

Anyway, rant over, must go and clean!!

OP posts:
alibubbles · 18/09/2006 18:53

I use my conservatory and I got an outstanding!

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 18:00

LoveMyGirls and looneytune

I don't think that parents always remember how they feel when that are ill and that we fell the same when we are ill an we still have their children.

I don't charge for when i'm ill so time off means bills don't get paid.

After it I was not too bad and did just want to get on. It has suprised me that other Babies or pregnant mums has not really affected me.

I think you have to have been through a mc to understand how it feels. would not wish it on anyone nut untill you have had one i don't think people understand the void.

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 17:53

Hi, Looneytune
Hope you have had a good day
A web address to try
www.nesarnold.co.uk
Will try to get some more for you.

Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 17:42

Thought so.

[shouts] KATYMAC, WHERE ARE YOU???!!!

OP posts:
mumlove · 18/09/2006 17:38

doesn't Katymac have a conservatory?

Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 14:56

Anyone else use a conservatory as a play room? Just want reassurance that this is ok to do.

There was a thread some months ago about wooden kitchen bits, sure Peckarollover got some? Anyway, can't find the thread with website ideas so if anyone else can help, that would be great

OP posts:
Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 13:34

mumtoall - i haven't seen those catalogues - how do i get hold of one?

OP posts:
Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 13:19

Oh that is awful The parents shouldn't have wanted you to have them and insisted you didn't!! When I had mine, I had a total of a month off work (2 weeks bed rest trying to prevent it and 2 weeks after the operation). I don't know how on earth you managed to work that soon after Parents (not all) can be really annoying and selfish at times can't they!

OP posts:
LoveMyGirls · 18/09/2006 12:43

mumtoall - you only had 1 days off after having a mc?! if i was sending my children to you i wouldnt have let them come and would still have paid you! thats awful!

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 11:06

Have you tried the catalogs like nes anold, consultiam and other like that. as they are where schools buy things from.

am going now be back tonight have a good day

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 11:04

Same as me I've taken 3 days sick from younger children when i had a misscarriage but only took the actual day with the school children.
And their parents take days off if they have colds.

Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 11:04

BTW, thanks for the hat idea - problem is most of them are plastic hats like bob the builder, police, fireman etc.

Our local toddler group has a thing on wheels with a mirror on one side, a rail for hanging outfits and a space at the bottom to lay the hats on. It's perfect but nobody there knows where it's from

OP posts:
Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 10:57

Tell me about it. And before anyone jumps on me, I have only had 2 weeks and 1 day holiday since I started childminding 15 months ago. My contract states 4 weeks unpaid leave a year and they were lucky I only took 1 day off in the first year (the ones I think I might have a problem with) and this summer I took 2 weeks so I am entitled to this time off - just end up worrying and feeling bad because they've used all theirs up!

Rant over

OP posts:
mumtoall · 18/09/2006 10:56

Ment to say we have french doors in lounge ofsted were fine as in corner of each window is a safety mark.

hope it helps

mumtoall · 18/09/2006 10:54

sorry must have posted at the same time.
parents!!!!!
WE HAVE A LIFE. BILLS TO PAY AND THINGS TO DO APART FROM LOOK AFTER THEIR CHILDREN FOR NEXT TO NOTHING.

i do wish that our job had higher recognition for everyone.

Original poster
looneytune · 18/09/2006 10:54

Right, off to get that Argos catalogue. Got 15 mins before have to wake baby up and get others from nursery!

Bye for now and thanks for the advice

Anyone else help with the others questions?

OP posts: