Ah too many questions all at once!
Madly - you need to look at your tax credit statement. It breaks down your award in childcare element (part of working tax credit); working tax credit; and child tax credit. It lists the family element individually too, it's like £548 or something like that.
Madly - Sorry it was £70 from here: https://www.babys-mart.co.uk/itemdetl.php/itemprcd/Britax_Baby-Safe_SHR-SO This one's pink. I see no reason why it shouldn't be available in other colours elsewhere for a similar price.
Molly - it's not really just about household income, it's a balance of income and childcare and whatnot. Our current tax credits are based on last year's income which was half mat leave and about £28k plus the £6k we are paying in childcare. We get about £4k CTC which is a mix of normal CTC, family element that everyone gets and childcare element. This current year due to bonuses and pay rises and having a full year both working full time we'll be getting an astonishing £40k or thereabouts so possibly will go over the boundary and not get anything next year or might be just under it, not sure til I sit down and do some sums. Next year we'll be getting more like £26k because of my mat leave but will be paying about £2k childcare. I have NO idea what our tax credit situation will be like!
All this said someone in another thread has said the sure start grant is going so need to look into whether or not that's the case and if so when. Bloody typical! This government is full of b******s.
Gilz - nursery Qs...hmm... We really had no idea when we looked at ours. It was just opening, still unopened when we visited, and the only one in the area so we didn't really have much choice anyway, but it is excellent. We asked things like how to they maintain continuity with our choice of parenting so things like dummies/bottles/nappies/potty training etc. Byron's veggie and has real nappies so we wanted to make sure both those things would be supported. I asked about the activities they do, making sure there is appropriate sciencey stuff as well as other toys. You can ask about trips or walks they do - Byron used to go to the park a lot even in baby room. You'll want to see all the facilities, what's available outdoors and indoors; see all the rooms not just the baby ones. Make sure they are Ofsted registered (required to qualify for all government childcare things and much better for peace of mind!) - you can check their Ofsted report online, just google it. I am a nuts lefty so I asked about gender stereotyping. They're not great but as good as any I think. Meet some of the staff if you can; see the babies in there if you can. Erm...you'll probably find things pop into your head. It's hard going before you've had the baby though as you don't yet know how you will be parenting.
MS has hit the road! I love my family so so so much. OH and I are talking about moving back in 2 or 3 years. We made the decision no more babies until then. 
I'm excited about the idea of coming back here!
I hope you guys can still go for your scan 
I now have ANOTHER chest infection and more antibiotics BUT on a plus note I have a flu jab booked for Thursday AM 
Also bought a few bits for Charlie and test drove the Britax B Smart 3 at Mothercare found the buggy and car seat on a online deal for 235.00 so DH is going to speak with MIL tomorrow and get her ok before we order 
more than ive ever experienced so far!. baby does have one or two quiet days, but on the whole im pretty much aware of him fidgeting down low thru out the day, anyone elses like this??, the real hard tummy blows seem to be in the bath tub.
But I rarely used our other pram with the car seat attached and don't mind using the same seat as Byron had.
and sad 
Ladies alreayd with child tax credits have a check, if you get more than the family element you qualify. I thought all our extra was childcare element which is working tax credit which I'm not sure qualifies but it turns out it's mostly child tax credit. More miscellaneous money! That's our interest rates rising mortgage covered during my mat leave. Ladies without babies check you tax credits after the baby is born. You can apply from 11 weeks before EDD to 3 months after baby is born.
