Too tired to cook?

With a new baby, the last thing you'll have time to do is shop for groceries and other essentials, let alone cook. Fortunately, many supermarkets now deliver. Even better, take advantage of the following traiteur and delicatessen, who will prepare delicious, ready-cooked meals for delivery. We all know that Tesco will bring round your groceries - if you can snag a delivery slot - but who else will lug those heavy bags home for you? Several branches of Waitrose and Marks and Spencer will do home deliveries and with Sainsbury's To You (0800 636 262) you build a homeshopping catalogue, and orders can be phoned, faxed or e-mailed to the nearest store.

The Food Ferry

(020 7498 0827) www.foodferry.com Quality home-delivery service; you choose from a catalogue of more than 2,400 supermarket and deli-style items, or surf them up on the website. First order gets free delivery.

Food Glorious Food

SW8 (020 7582 9947) Specialises in "emergency rescue packs" of ready-made meals for the first weeks of motherhood, all freshly made-toorder and labelled with cooking instructions. Eight main-course meals, £95. Will deliver.

Ady's Catering

(020 7794 4580) Party caterer, who can fill the freezer before - or after - the baby arrives and will deliver.

Nappy Express

(020 8361 4040) Specialises in baby foods (plenty of them organic) and can also deliver nappies and household goods - from cleaning liquids to drinks.

All extracts are taken from Harden's London Baby Book 2002/3.