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Any gina ford mums with advice about routine for toddler and new baby?

23 replies

roberj · 28/07/2006 12:46

Just discovered i'm preganant and currently have 15 month old DD who is on gina ford routine. I'm worried that when new baby comes it will completely upset her routine and also interfere with trying to get baby on it too. Anyone else have expereince of this??

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Twiglett · 28/07/2006 12:49

I wouldn't worry about it

new babies change the dynamics of every family and they settle back into a new and different style of life

the only way to maintain status quo is not to change anything

I think you'll manage .. everything will be fine

and congratulations

LaDiDaDi · 28/07/2006 13:06

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I've no experience of your situation but I think that this thread may turn out a little more contentious than you planned .

Ponka · 28/07/2006 13:37

Don't know about Gina Ford routine's really but I think every toddler is on some sort of routine and, like Twiglett says, the best thing to do is to try and stick to it as much as possible. I've just had a 2nd baby and DS was about 22 months at the time. It was inevitable that we veered from his normal routine just a little but you know what, he quite liked it that way! He got to stay up a little later than he was used to sometimes and had some extra treats. I think he felt like he was being spoilt/pampered a little. It's best to put some extra treats and love in their way at that time anyway so they don't feel like the new baby is getting all of the love/ attention.

I'd just let things happen for a while until you find your feet and then, if Gina Ford is reaaly what you want to do, try to go into it when you feel more settled.

Congratulations! Try not to worry. Just enjoy them!

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PetitFilou1 · 28/07/2006 13:42

It is tricky - you have to be more flexible with the routine for no2 but I found I could keep my older one in his routine (not GF but similar). Try and err on the side of your toddler as she will be more difficult to handle if she's out of her routine that your new baby who won't have one to start with! Congratulations......

happybebe · 28/07/2006 13:52

my DD is 15 months at present, my new babe is 5 weeks, both on GF routine with great success...but it doesnt work for everyone that way....

i have both up at 7am, dd1 is happy to play til half seven whilst i feed DD2 then i put DD2 in play pen whilst DD1 has her breakfast. Sometimes i sit on the couch and feed DD2 whilst reading a book to DD1 with the other hand! it is possible lol. DD2 at 5 weeks gets tired about an hour and a half after being up so although it is earlier than routine time i pop her down and then just get her up at next waking time which is 10 o clock. DD1 doesnt have a nap in the morning now so whilst DD2 is sleeping that is our time to play and make sure she doesnt feel left out. DD2 is then up again about 10ish and has a feed whilst DD2 potters about with her toys or watches her baby einstein DVD. i then lie he ron play mat and encourage DD1 to hold toys over DD2 so she can watch them. I top and tail DD2 about 10.45 ish which helps kep her awake and encourage DD1 to help, by giving her some cotton wool and letting her wash DD2s belly and put the tac on her. she also puts the dirty nappy in the bin for me. DD2 then goes down about 11 sometimes 11.30 (again not exact routine times) and at 11.30 i give DD1 lunch and we have an hour to play before she goes to bed at 12.30. Both get up at 2.30 and i read a book to DD1 whilst she drinks her juice and i feed DD2. at about 3.30 DD2 is ready for a nap so i go to the park, that way i can play with DD1 whilst DD2 sleeps. We head home for 4.45, DD1 has her dinner as i get DD2 up at 5pm and give her a feed sitting at the table with DD1. at 5.30 DD2 has her bath, again DD1 helps. sometimes i put DD1 into the bath after DD2 has been all dried off and laid in play pen...other times my DH does her about 6.30ish when DD2 goes to bed.

The main thing to remember is that newborns are really sleepy and will very rarely be able to stay awake as long as the book suggests thats why it say baby can stay awake for up to two hours meaning earlier is fine, but no later. so if your babe gets tired at say 8am instead of 8.30 as the book say for newborn routine, just pop her down then and dont worry that she is getting extra sleep...she will need it.also newborns as you knwo can take donkeys to feed, dont worry if you go over the routine times...just adjust it accordingly.

with a toddler, it helps to get them a little doll that they can copy you with and make sure you try to fit in as much one to one time as you can. also try to stick to the same boundaries etc that you had before...and that her routine always comes before that of your newborn. reason being you can deal with a newborn that wakes in the night but it will be hard if your toddler starts that as well!

work toward the routine very gradually, as you know from DD1 it takes time and patience. I dont know how you feel about dummies but i use one with DD2 to make sure she is happy inplay pen whilst i sort DD1 out...dont like to hear her cry.

Most importantly be relaxed about it...dont stress if your newborn is nowhere near the routine, he.she will be eventually, just concentrate on keeping your toddler happy with what she has known all her life...her routine. its such a big change to them having another baby.

HTH xxx

morningpaper · 28/07/2006 13:56

Lots of people think that routines are The Devil's Work.

And with respect to Happybebe, if you are breastfeeding then trying to get your newborn into a routine is likely to Fuck It Up.

And Congratulations!

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:04

also with respect morning paper i know some mums who are following the routine through GFs site that are breast feeding and doing fine. do think however personally that the routine is perhaps easier with bottle feeding as you know how much they have had etc. each to their own

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:05

oh that doesnt mean i think OP should bottle feed personally Breast is best of course

beckybrastraps · 28/07/2006 14:05

My MIL breastfed three children very happily on a 4-hourly feed routine. Made it more tricky for me to convince her of the merits of feeding on demand though.

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:08

to be honest when i first used GFs routine and had such success with it, it really angered me that people seemed so down on it...but gradually i cant see why as it doesnt always work for every baby, and have seen some mothers get into a right state over it all OP just for the record iwould like to add if you get like that just drop the routine...you can always try it again when babe is older. i didnt start DD1 on it till she was three months as i didnt have the book till then and she went into the routine fine.

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:08

can* see why lol

morningpaper · 28/07/2006 14:08

A trendy emphasis on 4-hourly feeding routines in the 1960s is undoubtedly the main reason that a large number of us were formula-fed.

beckybrastraps · 28/07/2006 14:09

But not my dh!

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:10

funnily enough GF agrees with that theory...4 hourly doesnt always work..not enough stimulation so lack of milk production.

morningpaper · 28/07/2006 14:11

Does she put that in writing in public or just in her secret website where you have to pay £40 to join?

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:13

in writing morningpaper in her book on page 40 lol...please dont start a fight...i am too tired today!

morningpaper · 28/07/2006 14:14

Unfortunately I've used it to light my barbecue

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:17

and you never saved me a drumstick??

morningpaper · 28/07/2006 14:20

You can have it after your nap

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:26

ta!

roberj · 28/07/2006 14:29

happybebe thank you so much for your detailed advice, that is exactly the sort of information i was needing! And thank you too to everyone else, i suppose the main thing is just to enjoy them both, whether the routines work or not.

OP posts:
happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:33

aw glad you found it useful and yes the main thing is to enjoy them as much as possible...before we know it they are stroop toddlers like dd1 lol

happybebe · 28/07/2006 14:33

cant type lol *stroppy

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