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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To eat dinner with hairdryer on ?

41 replies

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 19:08

As its the only way I can eat without ds screaming wih colic :(

As soon as I turn it off he starts to stir and gets worked up again. No point to this thread really, just tired.

OP posts:

BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM · 31/01/2013 19:11

YANBU, I once knew somebody who would put the baby in the pram, in the bathroom (door open), and turn the vacuum cleaner on in the hall while she had some lunch (it was a flat so everything in close proximity).

It was the only thing that settled her DD for a while and DD was safe while Mum was able to eat!

daffsarecomingup · 31/01/2013 19:11

if it works for you, and it is safe (within sight, but not within DS's reach, clearly!) then no problem.
so sorry to hear that you are struggling. how old is DS?

CaffeineAndKeyboards · 31/01/2013 19:11

It does end. It did for us, after burning out two hair dryers.

Now at 15 months old he's scared of the hair dryer. One can never really win!

If it works it works.

ilovepowerhoop · 31/01/2013 19:13

can you record the sound rather than use the actual hairdryer and then you wont burn out your motor

Arithmeticulous · 31/01/2013 19:15

I'd try something that you won't want to use in the morning - extractor fan instead.

I think you can download a white noise app didn't have those in my day

Primrose123 · 31/01/2013 19:15

How about white noise on the radio?

Or google it - I'm sure I've seen an audio file of a hair dryer specifically to help babies sleep.

Original poster

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 19:15

Yes he's safe, I'm in bedroom with him asleep (well, pretending to be) in his moses basket.

He's 5 weeks. He's a good baby generally, mostly content except in evenings when he gets very upset and it goes on for ages.

Thank you for telling me it'll pass.

OP posts:

Original poster

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 19:17

He knows the difference between apps and the real deal ! Ha

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Primrose123 · 31/01/2013 19:17

Something like this...

leobear · 31/01/2013 19:20

I'm doing exactly the same thing with my 6 week old DD, but using a radio tuned into static, turned up high! Cheaper than burning out hairdryers - which I did with DD1! Give it a try, it may work.

Original poster

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 19:25

I don't own a radio :( and,y hairdryer is very expensive. Definitely need to buy a cheapy one.

Just played that to him primrose, he didn't buy it :) I think it's got to be really loud to relax him, thank you though.

I'm losing my patience, put him to breast and he just pulls on and off argh

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Original poster

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 19:27

DP is out having drinks and a lovely dinner with work while I'm eating a shitty ready meal with hairdryer blowing. His life has just continued as normal, with addition of a lovely son. Mine has completely changed

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BillComptonstrousers · 31/01/2013 19:28

We used a white noise app on the iPhone for weeks to get my DD sleep.

leobear · 31/01/2013 19:59

It gets better, OP, I promise! You do get your life back. At least, I did with DD1, until I decided to have DD2! It feels as though these days will go on forever, but they slip away. By the way, I found infacol worked with DD1, think I'll try it with DD2 as well. Have you tried swaddling as well?

Original poster

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 20:04

Thanks Leo. Swaddled him half an hour ago as he was v upset and he's calmed a bit after a little feed. Currently in my arms fighting sleep! But relaxed none the less

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fieldfare · 31/01/2013 20:10

These might be daft suggestions but have the things you're eating got a lot of spices in? These can sometimes irritate bf babies, also a cup of fennel tea for you can help with them digesting milk. Also, a tiger hold over your arm is good for stretching their tummy out and getting wind up.

Other than that, I used to put dd in front of the washing machine in her bouncy chair with the radio on too and leave her to it for 5 minutes breather. It does get easier, promise.

I hope you're planning a bit of you time too, where you hand dh the baby and do something purely for you.

Shenanagins · 31/01/2013 20:18

Oh do what you need to do to get through it. Hairdryer worked for my ds who had reflux. I also took to standing outside the door where i could still hear him but just not as bad in order to get some sanity.

but trust me on this it does get easier.

TarkaTheOtter · 31/01/2013 20:22

Just buy a cheap fm plug in radio rather than a new hair dryer and find a part of the spectrum that has no radio station in your area (87.5 works here). I still use it to help my nearly one year old sleep as it drowns out any noise we make downstairs.
It has so many advantages over the hair dryer - it won't burn out, not a fire risk if left unattended, adjustable volume etc and if you get a plug in one it doesn't need batteries like most of the white noise gadgets on the market.

TarkaTheOtter · 31/01/2013 20:24

Ps. It will pass! Particularly this frustrating colicky phase where you can't seem to do anything to help.

GirlOutNumbered · 31/01/2013 20:27

Hello. I gave up dairy and the colic passed within a couple of weeks. I am still dairy free now, but it's worth it for good nights sleep.

marriedinwhite · 31/01/2013 20:30

It will pass. Silly question, but are you getting enough rest in the day time. With hindsight (mine are 14 and 18 now) when I look back I think in the early evenings my milk supplies were low and nothing seemed to work until they sucked themselves silly and exhausted all evening and then after two hours sleep at 2am my boobs were filling up again. That feed got them through to a good sleep and by morning I was totally full again, they had a good slurp and were happy until late afternoon when supplies were running low again.

Is tough - growth spurt - catching up - making extra supplies, etc..

TheApprentice · 31/01/2013 20:33

H there, I had to click on this thread when I saw this title - I remember this so well. Its just awful!! But DS1 is 6 years old now, and it all seems a distant dream! Colic is terrible.

I don't know if you can beg, borrow or steal one of those electric baby swings - we bought one with money we were given after ds was born (they are quite pricey) and it was a life-saver for us. It was the ONLY way we could get him to sleep at night! DH would put him in it at bedtime (I would be sleeping by then) and once he'd fallen asleep he would lift him and put him in his basket. Mind you , it would only work if we put it on the fastest speed.......

MamaBear17 · 31/01/2013 20:33

My dd was lactose sensitive and that was the cause of her colic. I failed at bf - couldnt produce milk so was told to 'top up' with formula. Tried like hell to get bf established but ended up exclusively ff from about 4 weeks. Colic had started at about 4 days. Colief drops made a huge amount of difference to her though - we discovered them at about 9 weeks and within a week she was almost like a different baby. You could try reducing the dairy that you consume and see if it makes a difference? You can use colief when bf but it requires expressing some milk and can be a bit of a faff. It does get better, and when it does it becomes brilliant. I spent many a meal walking up and down with dd in a baby sling and taking little tiny bites of cold food! I feel your pain xx

NotSoNervous · 31/01/2013 20:44

YANBU

Tumble dryer works wonders for my DD not my electricity bill though desperate times call for desperate measures

Original poster

MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve · 31/01/2013 20:49

Thank you all so much for suggestions, made me teary.

I eat hardly any dairy and definitely nothing spicy at all at the moment. Plus if it was something to do with his gut being upset, surely he would be colicky all day? He's v content during the day. I've read newborns do get fussy at night, maybe overstimulated by then?

I do try to nap when he naps so think I am making enough milk. He feeds on demand and seems happy and full up.

He's just like a different baby at night.

Will definitely buy a cheap radio off amazon, thank you

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