Due June 2005, Thread 4

[Scraggyaggy]

Happy New Year everyone!

Following Katzguk's suggestion I've started up the new thread - hope no-one minds.

Well, I did absolutely nothing for New Year. I have the cold from hell so I was in bed by 9pm. I was very disappointed as we were supposed to be going to a party but I decided not to go as I wouldn't have enjoyed myself and then I'd have made dp miserable too. So, I celebrated by having a lemsip topup at 12 o'clock! (One for the books!) Hope you all had a nice time.

Have been reading your threads about what to buy and what not to buy. I started buying after Christmas as I want to start really enjoying this pregnancy now. Dp is incredibly worried that something will go wrong and we are tempting fate but I don't want to be walking on egg shells for the next 5 months .... yup 5 months already!!! Scary stuff!

Anyway, we have bought a Graco travel system as I have spent hours in the shops clipping and unclipping and puttin them up and down and I found Graco to be lightweight and really simple to use. Then I trawled the internet on boxing day and found that Toys'r'Us was doing some good deals.

Cot is going to be an Ikea special. They are so cheap, I just don't think you can argue and we are big fans of Ikea. However, if anyone has any experiences of this then let me know. We aren't bothering with the moses basket.

I've got a 2-way baby carrier from e-bay, which is still new apparently, although I haven't received it yet so I'll hold bck on judgement.

And then the mumsnet wanted and for sale boards are fantastic. I've got a bottle warmer and a travel cot through mumsnet. I'd reommend that anyone here use them.

There are three things which I need help with though:

• steriliser; microwave or electric??? Any opinions?
• breast pump; is there one which is comfortable and easy to use? I don't want to spend a fortune and then not be able to use it.
• baby monitor; I definitely want one. Am planning on sitting in the garden over the summer, and baby might not want to be moved. Should I get a normal one? A digital one? Has anyone used an under mattress sensor type one? Need big help with this one.

Have bought myself some books on motherhood and new babies too. Am such a planner, I need to be having a good read now so I can put all the theory to practice in 5 months time!

Hope you are all well and not being sick any more! x

Just a reminder - can everyone sign up on the spa and London meet up threads so we can make arrangements? We need to agree a date for the spa do in Sheffield and we need numbers for lunch in London. x

I think the stress of travel systems is because there are so many possible variations, you can't really know in advance which one is going to be right for you, yet you sort of have to buy something and they're so bloody expensive!

I am almost tempted to say sod it, get a car seat and a Baby Bjorn (okay actually borrow my cousin's now her baby is too heavy) and not buy anything else til after the baby comes, when I have a better idea of what is what. Trouble is, I know my mum will want some type of wheeled device (or "pram" as she calls it) to take the baby out for a walk in the afternoons.

I fully support the 'walk in the afternoon' programme, particularly as it's proven to help [some?] babies sleep better. So maybe "just" a car seat, a baby sling and a pram .. and oh hell, that's a travel system by another name, arrrghhh.

Well, am not going to stress it until I have seen my cousin, my friend with a 4 month old and my oldest sister-in-law and their travel systems in action.

What the world needs is a reasonably-priced, completely modular system where you can buy only those components you require at the time you require them.

i would second whats been said here about pram/travel systems. Another big deciding factor is whether the car seat will fit in your car, the bebecar one won't fit in our micra. We went to an indepedent baby shop and treid out hundreds of pram/pushchairs. they let us put them in the boot to see fi they would fit, another deciding factor.

My personal reasons for finally settling on the mamas and papas one was that the pushchair can face you so on long walk with my toddler we can chat. it fitted in the car and it felt nice to push!!! it very like the mothercare 2 in 1 convertible pram aswell. plus my parents were buying so money was not a problem!!

Hi Everyone,

Its great reading all this excellent advice - thanks to you all. I'm like Charleypops and panicking over the huge list of things I seem to need. Scraggy & Lipstick, I like your advice about an hour in a department store followed by a cuppa and a big piece of cake. I might try that very soon. It is all so daunting. I had my heart set on a travel system, only to be told by a close friend (also expecting) that she thought these were a terrible idea and a waste of money. Back to square one then .

I'm also a bit stressed as we are having a new kitchen delivered next friday and my DH is running round like a nutter, stripping tiles and panicking about replastering work. Our kitchen looks like a bombsite!! I've also been out this week looking at new beds. I sleep on a futon, which is fantastic until you are pgt, now I might as well be sleeping on a wooden board. So, poor DH has been dragged round every bed shop in m'cr. He only complained half the time......

Thanks again for all the advice guys.......

Jonah, just cause your friend doesn't want a travel system, doesn't mean you can't have one if it suits you.

I forgot to mention MIL paid for our Jane system, otherwise I would have been loathe to part with all that cash!!!

Yes, I agree, Jonah. There's no right or wrong about travel systems, if it seems the best thing for you, that's your decision! I will say, my cousin has told me today she's not wild about hers either, so I am reserving judgement for the moment, until I've had a chance to view the various infants and their travel kit in my immediate family.

Alas I can't see either mum volunteering to pay for the travel system though - that is the downside of this being grandchild number 9 or 10, depending on whether my bro does adopt the little brother of the girl he adopted this time last year.

Yeah, dd was MIL's first grandchild (she has other step grandchildren) hence the huge gift.

Jonah - I don't understand how a travel system can be a waste of time / money. We didn't go for anything expensive and found it to be very cost effective. I priced up a manageable car seat / carrier and a buggy separately and found it to be a litle more expensive if anything. Remember that this is just one person's opinion, maybe she only tried one model? I'd ask about a bit more before making a decision.

I think choosing the travel system is the most complicated and time consuming of all the equipment decisions you have to make.

i think its just best to get a sling-only joking

When a friend of mine was looking to buy a ludicrously expensive travel system for her ds before I knew I was pregnant, I suggested she use a plastic bag instead - with airholes in the top, I am not a complete monster

Someone said "gee, you're going to be a great parent, aren't you?". Must remind him about that at some point.

I have been thinking about the Bugaboo frog - I love it! AS far as I can tell you get a lie flat carrycot bit and the pushchair as part of the main package - about £500-550. - BUT - I am pretty sure you don't get a car seat with it like a travel system - one of the Maxi-Cosi ones fits the chasis I think. - I don't know if there is any way the carry cot bit can fit in a car as way of transporting a baby - does anyone know?

I don't think it can Megi.

I have a question!!!! HOw do Mums with 2 get around?? My dd will be 2 when the next one is born and I think too little for a buggy board. I was thinking sling and buggy, really don't want to go down double buggy hell route, but think I may have to at some stage. Any thoughts??? Otherwise I will just stay at home, or drive to the corner shop

HI!

Thanks for all your advice.

Went to a huge Mothercare today, (first time I'd ever been in one and felt like a fish out of water). The assistant there had never heard of a Jane, Bugaboo or lie flat car seat. Had a quick look at what they had anyway, but again, the ones I kind of liked were getting on for the sort of money I'd be paying for what I think I would prefer, so thanks for the John Lewis/ huge dept store/cup of tea and cake suggestion, I'll do that at the weekend.

Megi - I also love the idea of a Frog - I think it will be a good all-terrain pushchair that will be easy to maneuver in shops. Unfortunately, I don't think the carrycot bit can be used as a car seat, so I imagine that will take up a lot of room in the car. I'm not sure if it's as cosy as a Jane for winter. I know they're hugely popular in Holland where they are made. I'm going to have a go with one soon and compare it to the Jane so I'll report back here.

There is a brand new Jane (Slalom) coming out this year, but so far is only available in Italy (where it's made) and I'm trying to find out more about these. Again, I'll report back.

Mamas and Papas do the only other lie flat car seat/carrier that I have come across so far and these can be fitted onto the Freestyler travel system. Problem with this for me is that it doesn't appear to be both rear and forward facing.

Ooh it's a can of worms!!

Hi all, I'm a bit down. Spent the day in UCH waiting to get looked at for a bit of bleeding. This is exactly what happened with dd so I just wanted them to let me hear the baby' s heartbeat and let me go. This took 6 hours as they were hugely busy - not complaining about the wait but after hearing it they wanted me to have alot of tests and that was another wait for a doctor. In the end I was getting too stressed with it all and I discharged myself saying I'd come back for the tests if it happened again. DH was looking after dd at home and I just couldn't wait on my own any longer. Fingers crossed it doesn't develop into anything more serious but I don't 'feel' that it will.
On the 'what to buy' front I can't comment on the travel systems as we had a seperate buggy and car seat which worked v well for us.
I second Lipstick on the Baby Bjorn sling - we'll have to buy this time round, borrowed with dd. Lipstick, I'm hoping my dd will do the buggy board as she'll be 3 and a little bitt by then. It's going to be such a different world with 2 .

Big hugs welshie. x

Sorry to read about your nightmare day Welshmum, it sounds stressful and horrible, not to mention lonely having to do it all on your own (although easier than waiting all that time with a bored toddler). Hope you've been able to put your feet up and chill out a bit for the rest of the day. Have you got a midwife's appointment coming up soon?

Would also agree with everyone who mentioned the Baby Bjorn sling. I think that's what I'll be using for the new baby, rather than getting a double buggy. My DH used the BB sling loads with DS (was definitely a babe magnet!!!).

I think I'm starting to feel some movement now (unless it's wind ). With DS I was about 20 weeks before I felt anything so I'm hesitant to say it's definitely the baby. It's quite low down - is that where everyone else is feeling it?

Have eaten nearly all my Christmas chocolate now but I made the mistake of trying Suzy Wong's famous brownie recipe I copied off here today - they are bloody lovely although not great diet food I imagine. Oh well. Baby likes them .

Hope you are all ok. Sorry for waffling on!

Morning everyone ~waves~

Welshie, what a horrid thing to happen. You must be 18, 19 weeks now? I'm sure you know the best thing to do is take it as easy as possible (easier said than done I know), no rushing around, lots of time with feet on sofa and leftover Christmas chocs/pud/cake/mince pies etc.
Lots of love, keep us posted when you can.

Back to the normal week then isn't it. Personally I'm so glad everything is back to normal and operating again, although dp is back at work which I don't like. He didn't have any extra time off apart from the bank holidays, but it felt like he has been around so much more. Fortunately he has 6 days holiday left to take before Feb when it all starts again, so he will have a nice week off in the next 3 weeks

Hope you're all well and those who went back to work, hope it wasn't too grim

Good morning,

Welshmum hope you're feeling happier today...I too had some bleeding with ds, and was told it was cervical erosion (where the walls of the cervix are thin and can bleed from the increased blood flow) it doesn't hurt and is not a problem - just bloody scary when it happens!!Apparently is very common yet no-one really mentions it to you - hopefully it was something like this - but your MW should get the notes from the hospital and be able to tell you what they thought it was.

Scraggy, I didn't breastfeed (naughty mummy!) so I don't know if the breast pump would fit the micro steriliser - it may tell you on the box - if not ask someone to open the box for you to read the instructions, that should deffo say how to clean/sterilise the equip.

Lipstick our ds will be just about 3 when this one comes and we're planning to go down the sling and buggyboard route for when I'm out and about on my own, otherwise we have a selection of buggies so that they could each be in one whilst dh/mil/mum are there too. But I have seen clips in the blooming marvelous and PHP catalogues that enable you to clip two single buggies together as and when necessary if that's of interest.

For those caught up in the great indecision process of chosing your pram/buggy/travel system for the first time there is a web site that enables you to hire prams et al and so you can try before you buy if you like...chariots on hire they don't have all prams but they have a good variety and it may help you decide what you do/don't want from your babe's transport p.s. they also hire doubles so I was thinking of using this if I felt ds wasn't coping with the buggyboard thing and see how I get on. HTH

I'd better go and do some work now yeraend deadlines won't wait, catch you all later, x

Hi all, thanks for your thoughts - appreciated. I'm feeling ok. Anyone else finding it hard to get enough rest though? I can't remember the last time I had an uninterrupted 8 hours kip as dd has had a really horrid barking cough for about 10 days now and I always wake up - mummy alert - you know how it is, then I find I can't get back to sleep for a couple of hours. Hey ho.

I'm afraid to say (but not really) I am having no trouble sleeping Welshie.

My dd came down with a cold last night and was coughing late at night and at about 5 in the morning, for about 10 minutes then she was quiet/asleep. It's difficult. I don't really know what to do when they cough, dp doesn't recommend the cough mixtures as a remedy, so that only leaves having a drink of water. If I get up in the night and go and see to her there isn't much I can do and once I'm there dd will just want me to stay and play; not a routine I want to encourage at midnight or 5am!! Am I being mean? tbh I genuinely don't know what to do when she coughs in the night. Tonight if it hapens again I may get up and give her a drink or warm water. Anyone else got any tips that don't involve cough medicine?

4th of January and I have already sorted out most of my resolutions, they were all practical, I obviously have too much time on my hands!

Also struggling to get enough rest Welshmum. It takes me ages to drop off because I can't get comfortable (was a tummy sleeper but now I feel like I'm squashing the baby), then I'm up three times in the night for a wee. Add a fidgety DH (still suffering from his bad back) and a little boy who wakes up occasionally too, and it means I'm permanently exhausted.

Back at work today. Sigh. Was really hard taking DS to nursery, I've really enjoyed being with him so much over the holidays. He didn't seem bothered though!

Lipstickmum, have you done all your resolutions already? Very impressive. I haven't even decided what mine are yet!!!

The 'Due in September' thread has started!!! Time really is moving on quickly .

Morning all! And happy late new year!
It's been a long time since I've been here, but I have just try to read back and keep it up.
We were away for two weeks, and even though we've been back for a couple of days, all the routines are off, and it is increadibly difficult to get the simplest things done, like getting DD to daycare and get to my desk before 10 AM! So I totally agree with you welshie. I am finding impossible to take it easy! I am OK, but mostly feel guilty that I am not nourishing and enjoying #2 as well as #1....
It is funny to see verybody in buying mode! I started making a list this wek too! I won't need much, since is #2, but will need a car seta as I gave DD's away (was already a hand me down when she used...). I am thorn between getting a "royal" britax chair, that can be taken out of the car, but will be used for a very long time... or shell some money and get a carrier car seat that would fit my stroller. With DD I drove her everywhere, since I didn't have maternity leave and she was a winter baby. Do you think I'll still nedd a chair that I take it in and out of the car?

Yeah Mrs W, I'm on the case with my resolutions already, am I a real swot ??
They were all financial. Also, some were really simple like; phone up and find out why I haven't heard anything from the Tax Credit people for about 6 months after submitting my year end form. I called them and it turns out I may need to repay them some money which is why my payments stopped -sodding typical!!!
I didn't put "achieve world peace" or anything equally grand on my list, I only put things down that I think I can cope with (although I am doing my best to contribute to a peaceful world )

Did anyone else make any resolutions?? I think I may need to make some more!!!