I thought this was an oddly titled thread as we did have a baby in Forest Hill, in our dining room to be precise. Nor sure whether I would recommend it as it is of course more risky that a hospital birth (despite any trendy arguments to the opposite) and ours was a rather spurious reason in that we did not like the look of Kings (one of the best antenatal hospitals in the country). We had less of a problem with Lewisham as it was nice and new and shiny (another shallow reason) at the time, and as we were squating in Blythe Hill at the time (renting a room, not that different from a squat) we had the twin benefits of the advantage of a walk back from the maternity ward, and similarly down to wet the baby's head in the Blythe. Well on the latter the father did anyway (and numerous other places)

I am sure that most places are 'fine' to have a baby in, as that in itself opens a lot of doors. I hear from one dad how nice it is to be recognised (well at least the baby) when you go to the Dartmouth Arms on a lunch time day off. No doubt lots of already good advice on NCT (take with a pinch of salt, "its all about choices, as long as you follow the ones we give you") and generally think that mum's have a better community life if they stay primarily at home with the offspring.

Now if BD had his choice he's move to an even posher place than Horniman Heights. He was stunned by the young attractive mothers on a visit to Golders Park (off Hampstead Heath) a few years ago with his offspring.

BD - Welcome to my world

PS - if you haven't guessed they were all central European nannies, not young mothers, but it took a time for the penny to drop

BD, now where was I?

The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything