How to stay awake during night feeds part 6 - all welcome to join us!

[funchum8am]

Hi everyone, cannot believe we have exchanged over 5000 messages!

mrsn when we shared our locations on here a while back, heff, goat and I all turned out to live near Uxbridge so we met up having met on here. It is lovely, if you are ever down south let us know!

macaroons sounds like we are in the same boat I officially return to work on 15 Feb but that is actually the Friday before half term so only have that day and then another week off before full time return hits. I am lucky that DH is being a SAHD til 1st July so no drop offs, pick ups or worries about the childminder ringing me because babyfunch is ill etc, and she is in great hands with him, much as I have been critical of him til we talked it over recently. However I am worried about being at work on no sleep - I will get in a lot of trouble if I lose my rag with a pupil or indeed a member of my team (one of whom is a pain). I will have to perfect the art of letting some things go (eg uniform issues in the corridor as opposed to in my lessons - I spend a lot of time arguing with pupils about these and intend to stop save for the very worst!) and dealing with others by just reporting bad behaviour to heads of year rather than dealing with it myself. I am head of faculty so will focus just on what happens in lessons in my faculty rather than working quite so hard on having the best corridor behaviour in the school in my area - it is great having that but takes a lot of time, energy and conflict so it will just have to go n the back burner until I am getting proper sleep again. At this rate dd will be in year 7 by then herself and can help me!

Marbles fingers crossed everyone is on the mend now, and you can have some rest! You poor thing, what a week.

Goat yay for sleepage! Could kid send a message to BabyTea please? Roll on the weekend - I'm not sure how, but I'm putting DH on duty as I haven't had more than 2 hours consecutive sleep for quite a while now.

DS is being particularly demanding during the day too - he's at that point where he only just sit unaided, so he is very unsteady, but he wants to be up and not lying down, so I have to be entertaining him (or at least holding him up) ALL the time! Exhausting.

How long did it take MissMarbles to learn to pick stuff up off the tray and eat it, marbles? DS is not picking anything up (although today he almost looked as if he was going to... And then he didn't) and I try and close his hand around stuff so he can hold it, but he gets cross that I am trying to move his arm and also can't seem to aim the food in his mouth (although he is good with non-food items!). He just seems to want me to hold the stuff for him, and I kid you not, he threw a tantrum today when I stopped doing so to try and encourage him to get involved. I want him to develop these fine motor skills but he just won't play ball! am i just being impatient?
I do like the Annabel Karmel book but it does seem spectacularly unhelpful when you want tips on finger food.

Wishing a good recovery for your bro amey and hope you get somewhere with the speech therapist.

Heff that is really irritating about the wellies

Lovely to hear about all the babies starting swimming! DS absolutely loves it now, been going about 4 months. He grins like a maniac as we go round the pool, and he is finally learning to kick now! The two towel tip is very good, and make sure you are both wearing clothes which are easy to put back on - DS is so knackered at the end of his lesson, he screams until he is back in his buggy so he can sleep, so speed is of the essence when changing!

Damnit DS is awake and screaming... Off I go

How old does baby larle need to be before we can start swimming?
Breast feeding support group were fine about the topping up with formula, the woman running the group has also given me a plan to try and get back to EBF.
Think baby larle having a growth spurt as fed for 2 hours at lunch, none stop, and was still hungry afterwards!
Fingers crossed we have another 6 hour stretch tonight, going to try some baby massage later, if baby larle is in the mood!
Anyone any opinions on books for routine? I've got gina ford, miriam stobbard and the EASY method (can't remember author) but all contradict each other!

Really quick one for now but will come back later and namecheck hopefully.

Last night was terrible, awake from 2:30 til 5:30 and up for the day at 7 And she wouldn't nap properly this morning either but kept waking for feeds. I felt about as bad as I have since she arrived when DH went to work but grabbed a couple of catnaps between feeds and felt ok by lunchtime. She napped beautifully over lunch and this evening and DH is giving her a bottle now (still doing ok there!) then bed and hopefully a better night!

smicha I am going swimming asap!

goat really glad to hear you got a good night! Does Kid do peer coaching?

heff thanks for the offer but amazingly Amazon are getting a new one to me tomorrow! Have to say their customer service has been brilliant (if it actually arrives that is!) So the day when we start formula looks like being next week sometime....I am sooo excited about not having to stress about expressing every drop she is going to have via bottle (ie can have a night on the vino!)

Evening all.

Just doing bedtime feed, then going to play with DD1 in the Wii for a little while. DH still poorly Hopefully we will all sleep like logs and be bright and refreshed in the morning < begging hopeful face>

Tea, she worked it out quite quickly but had had complete mummy-feeding-me-with-a-spoon refusal prior to that. She obviously doesn't take a lot in but she is noticeably getting better each meal, with the pick ip, in and gnaw routine. She has a proper paddy if I try to help though That said, Tea, little Tea was prem right? DD1 didn't do any finger foods for aaaaaggess, and was happy for me to spoon feed her for a long time. Funnily enough, I was talking to my friend today and her little bit is 8 1/2 months and isn't that interested in finger food, or a drinking cup, but us happy to let his mum give him it, so they're all different.

Larle, we had our last baby massage class this morning. Missmarbles loved it. She gurgled through the whole thing and had a full body massage whereas most of the others had given up by then - LOL

*boy! My friend's little boy! Not bit!

Cool, thanks marbles, I will try to chill - he's 6.5 mo corrected now, 8.5 actual. I guess it is the subconcious pressure of all my friends (with babies at his corrected age) doing proper BLW and we just feel so different I had lunch with a friend yesterday who is a bit militant about BLW and there I was spoon feeding from a jar (although DS wouldn't eat that either! Dunno why though, I finished it and it was yum )

Bit of a shitty afternoon here DD's behaviour is getting worse. She had a full on melt down when I bought DS downstairs because he woke up from nap & she wanted me to carry her downstairs (never been like this before :( ) shes using a really bizarre loud voice when she is speaking - I know this sounds awful but its so irritating, roll on 26th feb when we see speech therapist, although DH is worried that's too long so we might look into his work private healthcare. I really really want it to just be an uncomplicated phase feel like I've just got DS sorted on bottles n now I've got problems with DD. its just one thing after another.

Need wine tonight!! X

Sorry for whinging post!

Evening all. Baby small is in bed and I am lying on mine thinking about getting into it- my parents is exhausting, lovely hit exhausting! Loving all the swimming chat I'd love to take baby small but not sure when the next water babies class is, need to investigate.
I've got annabel karmels book too and am going to start in the next few weeks and then when he's 6 months do a bit of baby led too.
Anyone got nice weekends planned?

feeding again, although doesn't really qualify as first feed since bed time one was only 30 mins ago. Think she jnew i wanted to spend time with DD1. She has definitely started using me as a dummy though. Up to now, they have always been full on feeds; now, sometimes at night she is latching on and falling straight to sleep, so clearly doesn't need to be awake. Sleep training to start maybe? I've bought dummies today

Kid is in his cot for the first time at night - could everyone please cross fingers that he stays there?!
tea you made me laugh finishing baby tea's jar! Bliss says don't do blw with prems so next weekend we will be venturing into the exciting world of pear or carrot purée... If you have any tips please pass them along! You too marbles (and I will do a sleep dance for you both tonight if you do one for us!)
funch I will ask Kid how much he charges for peer coaching! Probably in the region of MILLLLLKKKKK!!
amey they don't give you a break do they?! Hope you get things sorted soon for you all.
Went to a music class today. Unfortunately teacher off tune and off beat. may change classes soon!

Right, babyfunch in bed and dinner eaten.

missmarbles we have the 'mummy is my dummy' issue too. I have just had some success with dummies this week but I haven't learned the rules about when she wants it and when it is a huge, screamworthy affront to even offer

goat you tell Kid we are willing to pay through the nose for some sleep!!

mrsn DH and I bickered last night about sleep amongst other things. All ok now but I am a bit . We never used to bicker really, certainly not this often. I am sure it is normal when you are both knackered.

amey you have my respect and sympathy, it sounds really hard but I am sure dd1 will be fine in the long run. Having a new sibling is bound to provoke a reaction of some kind, I am dreading all this if we have another child but I am an eldest and DB's arrival hasn't left me scarred the fact he is now a doctor and way more impressive than me is another matter

goat I have everything crossed for cot success which is actually bloody painful after buggyfit

Sorry, another wingy post here!

Had another yacky evening - hubby and I's rowing came to a head. Ended up phoning my mum in tears and had a really good chat. I think my depression has definitely resurfaced and isn't helping matters however, my mum is also a long term depression sufferer and she is also struggling at the moment. I have an awful feeling it's because little man and I live so far away. Which makes me feel even more poo. I'm really needing a drs appointment next week! After I spoke to my mum me and hubby talked and had a cuddle. I'm struggling to see how to fix things at the moment but I don't want to lose him so we have to.

So all in all feeling pretty crappy. I did go to that group this morning which little man and I both enjoyed! He was such a good boy, and one of my friends who I met on the bus to work (don't ask!) was there with her twins which was lovely.

Sorry about DD amey - hope things improve. And I hope your brother is doing ok.

I'm definitely going to try BLW so any tips appreciated.

Swimmers - any recommendations on wetsuits? And what do you put underneath? Thanks.

Ok both girls finally asleep...for now!

Relatively good night last night, although slightly earlier start than I would have chosen myself. Just waiting for dinner now, totally ravenous but trying to keep to my New Years promise not to snack. Joined a slimming group today, just an informal group but hopefully weekly weigh ins will give me something to stick to.

We had a toilet training milestone today, dry all day and for the first time she actually asked to go to the toilet for a wee when we were out. I was ridiculously happy with her for that, it actually made my day, which shows just how much my standards and expectations have changed since having kids I guess!

Good luck tonight everyone :)

P.s goat I recorded 'Up' last night, waiting for my sister to get home at the weekend and will finally get round to watching it.

goat I think the AK book (if you have it) will see you right - it was recommended by our neonatal outreach nurse. I was determined not to use baby rice, but then learnt that pear purée is really runny and for the first week or so, he was getting tummy ache after eating, so I "watered down" the purée with baby rice for a bit. We are two months in and he is enjoying puree mixtures now (so we are on the 7-9 month section of the book), but he doesnt seem to like meat much, and gets pissed off if I try and do lumps (I put some tiny chunks of steamed carrot and parsnip in some veg purée, and he spat out all the carrot bits ). Finger-food-wise, he's had toast, steamed parsnip and carrot, and sticks of pear and mango - but only if I hold them of course!!
Looking forward to hearing kid's likes and dislikes!

MrsN I think it depends on the policy of the pool/swim school - some are happy with just swim nappies which you can buy in boots/the supermarket, but some insist on a "two part system" which means a pair of neoprene short things over either a swim nappy, or an inner wrap - [[http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/splash_about_happy_nappy.asp?item=Splash%20About%20Happy%20Nappy this page from the
Nappy Lady explains it better]]

The same company also make wetsuits - we have the BabyWrap one. You probably don't need a wetsuit for a nice warm baby pool (i.e. 32 degrees) but probably a good idea for a "normal" temp pool.

Yay for DD1 Heff!

Well done on potty training success heff. Hopefully your car is safe now

mrsn I am so sorry you are having such a time of it. Do you live far from family because of DH's job? I am far from my family but because of my job; DH moved here for me too so I am not in a position to complain! Get down to the GP and be really kind to yourself.

mrsn it was a waterbabies type class I was at with ds so I just left the car seat in the changing room with our clothes as I figured it was unlikely there would be many people in the changing room as we were the only group in the pool. As for wetsuit, I got a wrap one from a company called two bare feet.

On the fighting with dh front, hang in there...we are going through a tough time too, which is not helped by the fact ds has started screaming after two minutes of being with daddy! DH gets upset/cross, ds doesn't get to bond with dh, and I get to spend 100% of the day with ds. It's tiring for me and a bit of a strain on us. I understand it is quite normal for babies to do this, but that doesn't make it any easier for either of us

Marbles, I am also becoming a human dummy and think I need to find a way to put a stop to it!

Well, here's hoping last night's 8hours weren't as a result of the swimming and this is how it's going to be tonight

Im checking in for the night. DS woke up when he got carried up to bed. He has hardly napped today so I am hoping for a nice long stretch of sleep tonight. Only small problem is his 'before bed' feed wad pathetic meaning possibly going to be back up again in an hour or two :(

We bought a wrap wetsuit for DS from that company just mentioned. It came within 2 days. We may take J swimming this weekend and see how he likes it. I'm slightly concerned re a loose BF poo nappy leaking tho!

Oh dear... Think the sleep dance I did was from my antipodean book and has this had the opposite effect...
Mind you, Kid insisted on bed at 5. Tried to wake him but he was not having any. What was that about?
mrsn and smicha sorry that it is tough with DHs. Having a baby changes everything, I guess, so as funch says hang in there and be kind to yourself, turning one's world upside down takes time and gentleness!
Feed done. Eyes pingy wide. This may take some time...

First feed was at 10 (2 1/2 hour stretch) Hoping for longer. Interestingly she did briefly wake, give a moan, rearrange her blanket (), then settle down again. Can't believe it is so late again. DH has surfaced so spent some time with him. Typically s he was in bed most of afternoon he's not ready for bed now. I'm knackered now though and it's taken me well over an hour to get to bed, faffing with one thing and another!! Likely see you all in less than two hours but, in the nicest possible way, I hope not

Second feed here.

Amey just remember it is a phase that will pass, your dd will settle in to having to share you, it just takes time.

Heff. Well done to your dd (and you), once they start asking they can usually hold it a little longer so less accidents.

Oh MrsN and Smicha, it is hard going when you are sleep deprived, the baby is all mummy and your DH just doesn't get it. It gets easier, they start sleeping and daddy becomes playmat/frame and they climb all over him giving you abreak. Dd2 cries when DH gets home if he hands her to me whilst he goes to the toilet, in some small.way he then gets why it is hard to get things done in the day when she is hanging off your leg :)

Sending sleepy vibes to everyone, hope you all get the best possible night's sleep.

Second feed here, we appear to be waking hourly. Fun. TGI the weekend! Lie in time in a few hours

sorry to hear I am not alone

Aargh baby small has been awake since 1 and will not go back to sleep and doesn't even look tired
Also annoyed with DH as he didnt do his feed as he was watching a film so I did it and he promised to do the middle of the night one but where is he now????? Asleep that's where. Bloody useless.
Sorry there we go rant over!
mrsn hope your gp can help it sounds like you are having a tough time. Hope getting it out on here helps too