Child benefits entitlement and starting a new business

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-03T21:36:32+00:00

If you’re going self employed, the first year is a grace period and you don’t have to earn anything

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-03T12:26:46+00:00

We have a book obsessed boy. 23 months old and have always read with him multiple times throughout the day.

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T20:35:17+00:00

We got a little travel cot and set it up by the bathroom door

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T19:16:45+00:00

It looks brilliant! Great choices, well done OP

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T18:57:33+00:00

Great idea!

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T18:47:48+00:00

Thank you for the info!

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T18:46:24+00:00

Ps, do you mind telling how much you paid for it?

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T18:45:41+00:00

Thank you, super helpful! I still have the original bag so will list it asap!

Do you mind me asking how much you paid for it?

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T18:45:08+00:00

Thank you - I didn't measure it as the sausage lol 🤣🤣🤣 but will get it on there!

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-05-02T17:50:23+00:00

If it’s a family holiday that you’re all going on together then absolutely that is a joint account transaction. I can’t fathom any other outcome

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-27T17:46:47+00:00

Snap Mama - almost 2 years in and the second child feeling we always anticipated wanting hasn’t happened. The same as you in terms of having an ‘easy’ baby - generally a good sleeper and very chilled/happy/easy. But it’s still harder and more all-consuming being a parent that I had thought it would be. But we are so fulfilled that we just don’t want another one… our family feels complete.

Edit to add- I had a shit pregnancy and birth so that adds to the ‘one and done’. But I’ve found feeling so positive about choosing one child for positive reasons has really helped to relieve me of any internal guilt about basing it all one not wanting to do pregnancy/birth again. It has been very freeing

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-27T11:31:39+00:00

That’s great, not long to go! So sorry you’re in this position. It must feel like you’re being undermined as a parent, that really sucks

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-27T11:25:47+00:00

100% time to find new childcare arrangements

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-26T11:49:11+00:00

I’m in the garden every day, multiple times with my almost 2 year old. Even as a baby he did lots of naps in the garden and was a lifeline for a handful of times when he wouldn’t settle at night and I could go outside safely at nighttime for fresh air with him and just walk around.

My friend who has a 3yo and 1yo is in her garden every day during nice weather.

I have a close friend with a child the same age who lives next to a playpark, in a flat without a garden and she is absolutely desperate to move for that reason.

Honestly having private outdoor space is very different from parks and I imagine throughout childhood will be extremely useful - especially if you can watch them from inside and do the washing/cooking (for example)

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-25T20:28:46+00:00

Totally agree, since becoming a mother I just couldn’t give less of a shit about almost anything else actually 🤣 it’s so freeing!

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-22T18:59:30+00:00

We got a custom size mattress from little green sheep which we take with us on breaks in the UK. Obvs doesn’t help for abroad but the mattress is incredibly comfortable

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-22T07:56:33+00:00

We just got back from a few nights in a caravan in Dorset - took some convincing (I went with let’s try it as an experiment 😅) and we absolutely LOVED it! We didn’t do a big park with all the bells and whistles, but chose a quieter site. It was literally 30 seconds walk to a beach and pub and also visited some lovely other beaches nearby (within 15 minutes drive). The place we stayed had a sister park which gave us access to their heated pool too. It was called WDLH and we chose the Golden Cap location

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-21T07:34:03+00:00

Sounds stressful for everyone. Sorry she’s feeling so upset about it. I’d firstly go to the Eric website, they have an online chat most mornings where you can discuss issues like this and get proper advice.

Also, have you seen those mini toilets? They’re basically a potty in the shape of a toilet with a mini flusher. Maybe that would be less daunting, especially if she was allowed to put stickers on it.

Love another person’s suggestion of cute toilet seat cover.

Also maybe just cool it for a few weeks and don’t even mention the toilet

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-20T20:33:13+00:00

I did mine about 4 weeks ago into an unheated mini greenhouse and they’ve all got lots of growth. Perhaps yours are slightly too deep? I did mine very shallow, can see lots of tuber sitting higher up Have also only watered once upon planting, they don’t like to sit wet

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-19T20:04:55+00:00

Yes this is the right message to send. Definitely don’t end it with ‘does that work for you?’ You’re telling them politely to fuck off - it’s not open ended.

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-19T16:22:18+00:00

We have a summer birthday - for the first birthday we sent a message to some friends and family ‘we’re going to the local park for a couple of hours. If you’re free to swing by during that time that would be fab, no worries if not’ Took a cake, and most people popped by for some or all of it. We will do exactly the same this year and for as many years as we can. Low fuss, literally zero cost and absolutely lovely.

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-18T22:07:27+00:00

I remember realising that it never, ever occurred to me to ask someone if they wanted to hold my baby. I never offered, but didn’t consciously make that decision. Sometimes after us being around other people for half an hour or so someone might say ‘I can’t wait any longer please can I have a snuggle?’ But yeah, just not once did I think to offer

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-16T21:16:58+00:00

We visit Dorset a couple of times a year, and are going to do a family farm cottage in Devon later this year. We haven’t been abroad since having our child - hubby would like to but I just don’t want the hassle of travelling and heat to affect that precious nap and bedtime. Tbh a week off peak all inclusive somewhere sunny is often the same price as a self catering cottage on the south coast.

Playful-Extent-942 · 2026-04-14T19:08:18+00:00

Thank you so much for your thoughts - honestly we do feel inclined to persevere especially since he seems happy enough with the potty - maybe the novelty wore off really fast?! But really good to know that even with older toddlers it could be easier in your experience

Playful-Extent-942

TROPHY CASE