babies and bumps mixed thread -May babies are coming!

[cantbelieveImquittingcoffee]

Here's the new thread, for bumps and babies before we all graduate together!

ODog I have a ring sling as well as a few other baby carriers but I've never been confident about putting a newborn in it. I mostly use it for DD2 as she gets bigger. How secure is it?

Ah thanks ice. I'm over it now after a glass of wine but it was very dispiriting!

I think maybe I need to start watching out for over stimulation now that DD is getting more alert and interested in the world - any tips from you second timers on how to spot it and get them to nap before they tip over into grizzliness??

cant I'm super impressed that you were able to breastfeed in the sling. I did briefly entertain the idea of trying that with DD but I'm now thinking I might leave that for my next child! Seems quite advanced.

I did breastfeed on the tube today though. Didn't think I'd ever be brave enough to do that in a million years, but in the end DD left me no choice - it was either that or let her scream the whole carriage down!

x-post with ODog on sling feeding! Good to know that it is seen as an advanced skill, think I'll definitely be shelving it for now.

I was overestimating what DS could do. Newborns and babies of a month or so really aren't capable of staying awake for long spells. And it's easier to get an alert baby to sleep than an overly tired one. Err on the side of caution. One phrase I heard banded about was 'sleep begets sleep' and actually with experience I found that the more I let my newbie sleep, the more he would sleep and settle easier.i tried to keep him awake so he'd be tired but it was actually counterproductive.

Found attached chart as I searched for Elizabeth Pantley (sleep guidance) I read her book with DS first time around and it made a lot of sense but don't be bogged down with facts and figures, just see what works. I'd say an hour after getting up, it's time to nap! Get the pram, the bouncy chair, a boob, a dummy, a sling, the car, the hairdryer/hoofer and get them back to sleep!!

But don't obsess over it. I did first time, it was my every waking thought, counting hours, calculating, hypothesising, worrying. My new baby boy sleeps when he sleeps and is very content, he sleeps loooooads during the day as often we are out doing toddler things so he snoozes in sling/pram/car.

Sorry, that was a very long, possibly unhelpful, ramble! Sitting here with a baby that won't sleep anywhere off my skin

Thanks for your support everyone it's good to know I'm not alone.

We've had a difficult few days. DD has gone from napping 2-3 hours at a stretch during the day to not sleeping at all or only sleeping lightly for an hour and waking up at the slightest thing. She's now chronically overtired and grumpy and nothing is working to get her to sleep! She's still fussing at the breast when feeding too so we've had a very grumpy and unsettled few days.

ice that is hugely helpful, thank you!! DD stays awake much longer than that sometimes, I think I need to keep an eye on it. It does often lead to her becoming quite unsettled.

In the first few weeks I didn't need to help her get to sleep, she just did it herself but now she is more interested in the world I can see it becoming a bit more of a challenge. Although will try not to obsess as you suggest, think that's important too.

frozen I'm sorry to hear that. Sometimes it can feel like two steps forward, one step back (or on bad days, one step forward and two steps back!) Is your DP helping out with some shifts so you can get some sleep? I find sleep deprivation makes it all seem much worse.

The RS took a few practise goes and a few pointers from more experienced baby wearers but I feel quite confident with DD in it now and so much cooler than the stretchy. I was used to having DS in it but only from about 5/6months so had only used it for hip carries and not front carries.

For those with babies struggling to switch off, have you downloaded the wonder weeks app? There's a huge development leap around the 1 month mark. I've certainly noticed it with DD who now needs more than just feeding to drop off.

Hey everyone!

So glad you are all here. Yesterday baby didn't sleep all day. Every time I put him down he woke up in 15mins. A really strong startle reflex!! By the end of the day I was so fed up I had to fight back tears. Not sure if it is a silent reflux. Doctor has prescribed ranitidine for dark green poos so hopefully it will help settle him as well.

Odog looked at that app but saw it has bad reviews. Do you think it helps?

We don't have a routine at all. Does anyone else? Baby was 6 weeks yesterday. Can't believe how fast the time is going. Developmental check tomorrow!

I lived and died by WW with DS. It doesn't really give you any coping strategies but it gives you a reason as to why they are cranky. Whether it's true or not I can't vouch for but I like to have a 'reason' as to why my child is driving me to wine.

Routine at 6 weeks is very rare. I didn't have any semblence of a routine until DS started weaning. Even then, and now, it's loose and flexible. I have seen too many people tied to the house and restricted by their routine. Of course they work perfectly for some but I think that's more down to the natural personality of the baby rather than anything the parents have done.

Definitely lots of steps back at the moment 29! She screamed from 10pm- 2 am last night and nothing we did could console her . DH was great last night. I feel bad as he has work but he had to calm us both down. I was in floods of tears and had to leave the room. She was then straining for a poo from 4:30 - 11 am and she's still screaming and pulling off the breast every time I try and feed her. Very close to giving up breastfeeding right now.

I'll have a look at the app odog DD is 4 weeks today so I hope this is all down to to a growth spurt. She's definitely taking more of an interest in things, focusing on things and smiling now.

army we have no routine at all here!

Sorry to hear about your bad night/days frozen and army. We had a dreadful night partly thanks to DP being an arsehole and I saw every single hour from 11pm to 5am and have been awake since then. I've been in tears countless times today including again just now, DP has finally left for work after spending the morning here (I would have had more chance of sleep if he'd gone in early) though he did give me a chance for a longer-than-usual shower and a bit of time without my beautiful sleepless little girl in my arms/on my boob. Was feeling like we had made such PROGRESS the past few nights (down to one night feed and a cuddle the night before last!) and then last night took us about 10 steps back! Mind you she's crashed out in her sleepyhead now and has been for the past hour and a half and I'm stupid and not taking the opportunity to sleep. Hoping the rain clears up a bit so we can get out of the house this afternoon otherwise I'm liable to sit here crying for the rest of the day and buy some cake milk and other bits and pieces we need.
Hope everyone else is having a better day than me!!

Hi everyone, so glad we are all pitching in here!

After all my advice and confidence - this morning I could have wept at a toddler group from exhaustion and frustration and guilt - no sleep last night from baby and a toddler who is very good but still a toddler and reallllllly pushing my buttons starting at 6am after a long night. I got snappy with him and ended up with huge mothers guilt. That mixed with being shattered made me feel like shit

Can I echo everything ODog said in her last post - sometimes a reason (real or otherwise) keeps you sane. That's why you hear folk chirping out "he's teething...." to explain red eyed shrieking babies!

Try to hold onto the fact that every day is different. Do today what you can do and that's good enough, just get through doing your best, tomorrow is a different day and a different battle.

It's too early to hope for patterns or routine yet. Just guddle on ladies

And a massive yes to sleep deprivation making everything unbearable!!

Icecapped I also in mummy guilt hell. DS went to pre school howling this morning and I left because I was crying too and didn't have the energy to deal with it

Hope I can make it up to him when I pick him up. Just feel bone aching tired with both of them and then feel guilty as I fought so he'd to have them :(

The early months of a new baby are very much one step forward, 4 steps back. There's a lot of change going on and this is obviously unsettling. Try to be patient and forgiving with yourselves - and stock up on loads of food & drink that helps you feel better! I think it all begins to settle down somewhere around the 10 week mark, though there are regressions over the next 20 years...

Like ODog I find the Wonder Weeks concept very useful for relieving stress about why the baby might be difficult. If there's the possibility of a Leap then it helps me feel calmer about it all, more able to go with the flow. I don't know if it's all correct, but there certainly seem to be some behaviours that happen around the same age for each of my children. Parenting is a hell of a lot of guess work - and paranoia that you're getting it wrong - so the WWs seem to take a little bit of the second-guessing out of the equation.

I think there must have been something in the air last night, or something about the phase of the moon. We also had a bad night. I've been snapping at the other two a lot today. :/

ODog I just watched a YouTube video about putting a newborn into the ring sling. It looks very complicated! I'm going to try it now, though, because BabyGrouch will not settle in her bed and I have stuff to do.

Ok thanks second and third timers, my purchasing finger is poised ready to buy Wonder Weeks for the kindle - just going to try and sleep a bit first (if babyCan't doesn't wake up first that is...)

Another one poised to buy WW over here. I think I'm actually in shock by how much DD has changed in the past few days!! Just a week ago all I had to do was pop her in the pram and go for a walk and she'd be out like a light. Today she gazed intently at the inside of the pram like it was the most fascinating thing in the world, for a full hour, without dropping off...!

frozen have you tried a dummy yet? The dummy completely saved my bacon today when DD had an overtired meltdown on the tube (despite all my efforts to get her to nap before it reached that point...) I've vowed never again to leave the house without it! Sorry if you've already tried with no luck.

I find sleep in general to be 1 step forward and two steps back well into toddlerhood. 2yo DS goes through blissful tines of STTN in his own bed and then will go back to waking 2/3+ times and bring in with us most of the night. These are very early days...

grouchy I was also wondering about the moon phases! So many of us with unsettled babies and toddlers. Maybe it's the weather!

Anyone else feeling like a milk cow? My current perfume is Eau du Lait (or something more correctly French), with an overtone of vomit. Ah, the glamour of being a mother.

It's been so long since I've posted. I've been overwhelmed with visitors and breastfeeding. DS had his tongue tie cut over a week ago but continued to lose weigh so I now feel like we're feeding constantly (and I'm pretty worried about it!).

It's nice to hear how everyone is getting along.

Yep, me too grouchy - although DD smells more of milk than I do, as she has worn as much of it as she has drunk today! Not content with keeping me awake all last night she has also weed on me, sicked on me, and screamed half of the day today. DP is home from work now and she is gurgling contentedly in the carrycot (probably for all of 20 seconds though...)
Am definitely pouring myself a small glass oftonight and anyone who tried to stop me will face the consequences...

Yes I smell like slightly sour milk, it's not too bad. It's just a baby smell.

I have an uncontrollable sprayer (you know who you are, Mrs right boob) so when DS pulls off with my fast let down....its get to it with the muslin or hit a child in the face. Mostly the newborn (good for eye infections) and once the toddler (not great for toddlers prone to tantrumming!!)

Over share??? Nah, we've all shared labour stories

And a big hell yeah to whoever said they're stuck between normal and maternity clothes, fed up with my clothes riding up over my flabby tummy grrrrr.

Argh I have a fast let down too and poor DD either gags or it goes everywhere so yes I do smell of off milk! It's worse in hot weather.

Sorry to hear about feeding problems parsnip. Make sure you get bf support if you need/want it.

I've noticed the same 29 my DD has changed so much in a week and is definitely noticing the world around her more and no longer automatically sleeps in the pram! How are you finding it with baby on the tube? I want to make a tube journey soon but terrified! Do you take the pram or a sling?

We have tried a dummy with varying success. She is currently lying peacefully with it now but as soon as a she nods off and drops it she wakes back up again!

icedefinitely with you on the clothes! Still in my maternity clothes but they're too big but my normal clothes are too small! I'm despairing that I'll ever fit into them again and wondering if I should buy a size bigger.

Yes to feeling like like a cow and smelling of milk too!