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!

amey I am totally fed up today too, I would love a routine for baby small but he will not nap for more than half an hour at a time and by the end of the day he is so cranky and tired and very hardwork all afternoon. I am doing his bottles roughly at 7, 10, 12 ( small bottle so he'll supposedly sleep over lunchtime!) 2.00 another small bottle, 4.00 and bed, then whatever he needs in the night usually one at 11 and then 2/3 ish. He takes 5oz a feed normally although the recommended dose is 7oz 5 times a day he never drinks 7oz and the hv said it was just a guideline and that those amounts of feeds were fine. She also said feed him more often in the day and then he'll sleep through the night but I tried that and he's not hungry!
funch I'd love to know how you get baby funch to nap in her cot for that long lunchtime nap, please share tips! I have to walk or drive baby small about and even then he still wakes up after half an hour.

Thanks small glad its not just me! Its driving me bonkers! If I didn't have 2 of them I wouldn't mind taking him out for 2 hours in buggy just to get some peace but I need him to sleep in cot sometimes. Had both of them screaming for a short while today I felt like joining in! I'm tempted to buy ' the baby whisperer solves all your problems' for kindle but I'm guessing it will just gather dust with all the other books I have! X

I'm afraid I have no suggestions amey - we have no routine and he mostly only naps for half an hour at a time, although this varies. I can imagine it's hard with 2, I hope you are ok. And you too small.

Speaking of naps, little man has hardly slept today, and was so tired he screamed and screamed while hubby was getting his dressed for bed, then he picked him up and fell straight to sleep, and is now asleep on me! Poor baby.

I managed to drive in the snow, quite proud! I have WW in the morning so I hope no more falls!

Another rubbish night for us last night, I'm starting to really think she may be teething already. She's super dribbly, very red cheeked, blowing lots of raspberries all the time (heard something about the vibrations are soothing??) and now we've got these horrendous unsettled nights combined with general grumpiness. Desperate for tonight to be better!

Sexy Heff remains on extended leave :( She made a brief appearance just before I got coil fitted but that's still causing me "ishoos" so sex is still off the cards. I'd love for things to return to normal soon though.

How did your session go mrsn?

amey I really sympathise with how you're feeling, its so hard to split yourself between them and still feel like you're giving them the best of you. I usually feel more guilty for DD2 as she seems to just get carted around after DD1 and plonked in various seats, mats, slings etc. But then if I do try to focus on her then I feel bad for DD1. This parenting thing is bloody hard isn't it!!

amey baby chilli naps every 2 hours for half an hour - his routine not mine! If he doesn't I get a screaming monster at bedtime so I try to plan car trips etc around his naps. When we're at home I tend to rock or feed him to sleep so no low maintenance tips from me I'm afraid. He's also going through a stage where he just will not nap in his cot, which has been fun... Any of you that have more than one child have my undying respect, I don't know how you cope!
We've just had a catastrophic transfer failure which from past experience means I'll be up here trying to get him to sleep gone 9 It's almost as if he's cluster feeding again like a newborn - has anyone else had this? I wouldn't mind if I knew there would be a long stretch of sleep after but sadly that's not the case.

heff I have been wondering if little man is teething too - same red cheeks, drooly, chewing things and grumpy! It's just so hard to know for sure isn't it, until one of the little buggers pops up!! My session was fine thanks, I didn't really want to go but I'm glad I did - she's helping me make sense of things in my crazy head! I hope you are doing ok on not much sleep

On the routine subject, a friend pointed me in the direction of this site - www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-feeding-schedules/ - which seems to be fitting DS quite well (except he wouldn't nap for more than 30 mins today either, hence I have been in my PJs all day ). I can't guarantee it is going to work, but it can't hurt to give it a go? I really feel for you amey, trying to juggle the two.

My attempts at implementing a pre-bedtime bath today resulted in a soaking wet living room rug as I didn't realise that DS now fills his baby bath and I forgot that he is now a mega splasher (and why the hell was I doing it in the living room anyway?!). I will now be heading to Mothercare to get a bath support! He can sit up now, but is a bit unpredictable - every time I tried to let him go, he kept trying to turn over and drown himself . At least he is now asleep and smelling lovely (which is rare, given that he is Mr Vomity).

Sounds teethy to me heff - hope it doesn't impact too badly tonight (calpol / nuerofen at the ready??)

Dinner time I guess...

Well stitch is asleep, only one long nap from 12-2pm today so she is knackered. Hoping it will be a good night,but she is teething again so.I do not have high expectations.

Amey have you got a sling or stretchy wrap? It was the only way I survived in the early days with two.

A good night to all I hope.

Spoke too soon, transfer fail, feeding again!

Hi Amey, on routines (don't laugh at this) - I had an app on my phone and you logged everything that baby did and then see if there is a pattern forming. I noticed that H would generally get grumpy after an hour and half and based nap times on that. I also saw if I fed and put him down to bed earlier he would sleep for longer stretches. As he's got older he has fallen into his own routine, which is helped by me seeing it all on an app. IYSWIM.

I noticed as well that he is much better at napping/sleeping when I wake him at a set time every morning. He is at his worst when left to just wake up when he likes.

I have two, there was an amazing time where they were both having a long afternoon nap together - BLISS! Alas, baby H only sleeps for 45 mins at a time now, but I just have learned to accept that as his routine.

Hope this helps and isn't just a rambling mess.

girl I use an app too although i haven't actually got anything from it, it just reminds me when he last fed and from which boob!! and how long he has slept. Might have to start looking for patterns

tea I have this bath seat for babylump which is fab. Tried loads with dd1 then sil recommended it when I had dd2 and its definitely made baths much easier. at doing it in the living room though!

Glad it went well mrsn when's your next one? Really hope it helps xx

Sat watching Fight Club with my sisters tonight, DH hates films so he's gone for a walk and early bed. DDs asleep, crossing every possible limb I can that tonight babylump behaves herself and is nice to me again!

Baby buzzy appears to be having a growth spurt :( his feeds today have been looong and my nipples are getting sore.

We had a good night last night, only one feed at 11 then 4 then back down til 8.

tea we have a fab bath chair for baby buzzy, it was 8.99 or something from Argos.

We are feeding just now and have been for what feels like forever....

Reassurance needed, ladies, please: had a lovely hot bath this evening with a bath bomb in it (that DD1 gave me for Christmas and had been very keen that I use and was excited u was going to use it tonight ). As soon as I got out, and I mean within minutes of me getting my pj's on, Missmarbles woke for a feed, about 11ish. I gave my boobs a wipe with a damp towel before feeding her, but the bath bomb was really oily. It won't have done her any harm will it, sucking from my skin, I mean? My boobs didn't spend that l long under the water as I was soaking because sadly our bath isn't that long, so they aren't as oily as my legs seem to be.

I hate having these mad panics. My head knows its probably fine but for some reason I need the reassurance. On the plus side, my skin is beautifully soft and I smell lovely

Hopefully she'll do a long stretch from now, but I can hear her twisting...

Stitch up for a fart and a feed, but gone down again nicely (crosses fingers).

Mentioned my secret sleep weapon on a thread earlier, so thought I would share it with you. lullaby video used to help me with dd2 when she did very early or middle of the night waking and refused to go back to sleep. Used to stick her in her bouncy chair wrapped up, lights off me under a duvet (or I hold her on my lap now as it's on my PlayBook downloaded). Between 10-30 mins later she would be all sleepy and either fall asleep in her chair on feed to sleep. I used it with dd1 too. Still works now when she is teething and having a meltdown due to me giving her pain relief to calm her down.

Phone decided to temporarily die on me last night so no one got to witness what a truly awful night (2 hrs sleep for me!) it was . Randomly back working again now - and I've backed up all the photos of babybrain off it.

So far so good. Second feed at 12.30 after first at 8.30. DP gave a bottle for bedtime which babybrain took 3.5oz from before wailing for breast. Huge step forward .

amey babybrain doesn't really have a nap routine at all. He basically naps after being awake for 2.5 hours, but it could be anything from 15 mins to 2.5 hours long - his record so far .

marbles I'm sure missmarbles would have let you know if there was a problem. They seem pretty sensitive about these things and it is just a one off. I had the impression it's more that the taste might make them refuse to feed rather than it might hurt them, but I'm sure someone wiser than me can clarify.

Happy sleeping to you all.

It will be fine marbles (thinks about the guinea pig bedding dd2 has consumed today from the floor ).

Up again, more farting and feeding plus dd1 woke for a wee too so dh had to get stitch which sent her into meltdown when she discovered he couldn't provide milk.

She has gone down again, but crying out in sleep so don't know how long that will last.

Up crying, writhing and sucking for comfort, wish there was a fart hoover that would get all the wind out for them. Her cold and cough isn't helping things either, very snuffly.

Maybe it was the dandelion hay bedding that did it

amey babyfunch only started with the long nap last week when I started getting up at 7 every day. I am fairly sure that is why that routine emerged though it didn't happen today, but that's because we were out all day. Because she is often up incredibly early with DH I was then having her back in bed when he went to work and dozing for as long as I could get her to put up with, so I has no morning routine, but now getting up at 7 she always sleeps again about 8 and several times I had to wake hee up at gone 10! so actually though it is hard getting up at 7 I am actually getting more sleep as I can nap at 8 when she does.

She sleeps in her cot or Moses basket (which is downstairs for naps) and has never needed rocking etc...I am afraid I don't knwo why but when she is going to sleep you can't stop her! But he flip side. is there is no stopping her being awake when she wants either. Only thing that makes her sleepy is feeding. Not sure that helps!

I went to bed at 8.30 and DH did bottle at 11 after a bit of a battle but she took a whole 5oz and slept til 1.45 so I have had some decent sleep Asleep on me now but transfers always fail after this time so I am glad I had an early night. I should do it more often, just can't normally drop off that early. Unfortunately the busy day and poor naps led to her falling asleep for he night at 5pm so could be an early start!

amey Heff girl and anyone else with 2or more DC, I don't know how you do it! Think if we have another it will be once babyfunch is school age! Off to the gp about reflux tomorrow and will be requesting the Pill too!

First feed here, he has been asleep since about 9 but I didn't go to sleep until about half 10. Alarm is set for half 7 so I hope it's the only feed!

heff thanks, it's same time next week. They are weekly which is good, it's in town which is a bit of a pain but never mind. I hope you are having a much better night! xx

marbles I am sure little one is totally fine! I think she would definitely tell you if it tasted funny

I am wondering what the snow is like!!

We get up at 7 every day too and I try and put him down when I see sleepy cues but it still makes a difference. I would just so love him to have at least one nap that was longer than 30 mins.
marbles I wouldn't worry yourself I'm sure it's absolutely fine. She would have refused your boob if she could taste anything weird so there probably wasn't even enough on there to taste let alone have any sort of effect. It's crazy how the silliest things make you panic though
Hope you are having a better night tonight brain
I've put baby small down awake and am camping outside the nursery, he's not crying just groaning and I am crossing fingers he goes off to sleep. DH did it earlier and it worked a treat so I'm hoping for the same result!

Didnt work!!!

Evening all!
First day on our own today as dh back at work. Of managed Jo get dressed and leave the house, quite impressed with myself!
Talking about daytime naps, baby larle naps for no longer than 10 mins at a time during the day so by 3pm he is generally cranky and windy. Tried to give his evening feed later tonight in the hope that he would sleep from about half 10, no luck, he fed for 2 and a half hours so I've had 3 hours sleep before having to wake him for next feed. No point trying to transfer either as it always fails at this time of night.
I really need more sleep!
marbles I'm a panicer too so know exactly how you feel!
heff I was thinking of getting coil, would you recommend it? Don't really want to use hormonal contraception

Thanks everyone I'm normally very laid back do it frustrates me when I have a random irrational panic but I blindly have them from time to time.

Just been up about an hour with Missmarbles for third (hopefully last feed). Rather to chatty but transfer ok. That said she does keep shouting/squirming a bit. If she just goes to 7.30....