May Babies

[GeorginaA]

Have we got enough that I can officially open this thread yet?

How are your little ones doing prufrock, twiglett, snowbird?

I think mine is going down with jaundice. Dh isn't convinced, but it's either that or he's got a lovely tan sigh. I remember all the stress associated with that last time with ds1... hoping ds2 doesn't get it as badly.

He's still being a very sicky baby, about a couple of teaspoons a few hours after each feed (which is odd - I'd have thought if it was a reflux type thing it would happen immediately after the feed?) Midwife seems to think it'll settle after the milk comes in but if not then we'll look at some sort of baby gaviscon. Poor little mite, can't be comfortable for him... and we're sure getting through a lot of laundry!

Feel so bloody knackered at the moment, fed up of bits leaking and being sore, and it's only day 2! How long is it before you start feeling human again? Please tell me that it's sooner than the 2 week paternity leave dh gets!!

hi all, Egypt- I tried the Medela electric pump and really didn't get on with it, but i do IGHLY reccomend the Avensis hand pump, I found it alot more effective.
Has anyone got any advice for helping a bunged up baby with her first ever cold feel better? (or very bunged up mum come to that ) Word to the wise, if you plan to go to a BBQ and the host calls and says their dd has a bit of a runny nose and you think "oh well I'll risk it, I'm sure my babies immune system is all conquering" don't listen to yourself YOUR BABY WILL CATCH IT!!!!
I called the nurse at my local surgery and she said she didn't think Carvol capsuals would do any harm, but research on the web said not to use on a baby under 3 months. She wasn't really very helpful actualy, and as I've never dealt with a sick baby before, i could do with some tips.
Libb, am just about to mail you but see above post and let me know if you still want to meet, other wise don't worry we'll reschedual. We will meet up eventualy!

I wish I could say how brilliant I find the Avensis hand pump but I can't express at all and nothing will work for me. Is it just practice? Am working towards goal of august 9th - our first wedding anniv - would be good to have a night out just the two of us. [martyred sniff emoticon].

for a blocked nose put a drip either of water or breast milk up nostril. baby snuffs it up and makes face like this and sniffles clear... for a while.

cat, sounds awful but all that i read suggested the best thing to do for a cold was to do nothing! i saw somewhere that said decongestants could make it worse, but cant see the harm in them breathing something to clear the airways. i have a pyramid menthol thing from boots that sends out menthol smells - mmmmmmm, used as a decongestant. i used it for me when preg, but sure it said was ok for babies. shall find it for you on boots website.

got on with the aventisis pump - WHILST breastfeeding. it shot out like never before! thing the trick is to express whilst feeding, alhtough q tricky, it obviously helps with the let down. either that or express both breasts simultaneously with a handpump and the electric!!!! should be fun

oh bum, not recmd for children under 3 months. here it is anyway. q expensive and you have to buy refills, but nice when stuffy.

vaporiser

Cat82, thanks for your e-mail and text. You poor bears, it can't be much fun when you are both suffering! would you rather leave it until another time? I am not bothered by your colds but you may appreciate using her nap times to rest and take time out for yourself. Besides my visit to the bank manager may not make me the happiest bunny to be around . . . . it is that bad! I also need to find out if DP gets the car back from its MOT (more bad news that I won't bore you all with) tonight and so I will text or e-mail you, the car makes going into Cambridge far more pleasant so maybe you won't mind if we do it when I can concentrate on meeting you rather than stressing about bank managers! I will text you or call you tonight.

DS has been sleeping like the dead today and like a muggins I have been letting him as I have been trying to get some adult stuff sorted for a change! no doubt he will choose our appointment tomorrow to catch up and be the devil incarnate.

DP wants to enter DS into a baby/toddler comp that the local paper is doing for free (selling point is that you get the opportunity to buy the photos they take and I had been thinking about doing some anyway) but during the night he managed to scratch his nose! his nails look quite harmless but clearly they could put a bolshy, pished drag queen in a cat fight to shame! such a pity as he is sporting today's surfer dude look very well!

Is it me or are the days I was once so excited about slowing down? and looking around at the house and garden I was clearly far too optimistic about my time out plan when at work!

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Twiglett, from 9 through to 2/3, then 5 and then 7 seem to be usual hours for us give or take a bit - sleeps like a diamond inbetween but these seem to be his favourite wake up times at the moment. I also assume (and hope!) that his being awake in the early evening is natural. He also doesn't say much but seems to be checking stuff out if you see what I mean! today we went commando for the first time to give him a short break from nappies, we had 2 doses of pee and 1 poo on the towel!

We usually give him a bath, followed by a feed at approx. 6.30-7.00 every night as it seems to chill him out. His feed can be very drawn out though and so it can go on until 9.30/10pm. he seems to crash after that.

I only have DS so would not be the best person to advise you with two - hope you get some answers and find what works for you and DS's routine.

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Twiglett, you have as much right as all of us, we all have our own issues so to speak! how is DS now? it must be strange for him coping with little one! By the way he looks like an prince in the photo album you posted - I was quite smitten by both of your darlings. xx

Feel free to mouth off... it's what the rest of us are doing

I have a deal with dh.

My night time responsibilities: feeding ds2
His night time responsiblities: seeing to any calls from ds1 & resettling ds2 if for some reason a full feed doesn't conk him out.

Most nights he gets away scott free, but very occasionally he gets far less sleep than me ... all swings and roundabouts... evens out in the end!

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wow twig! thats brill!

Great news twiglett
Well, poor dd was very snuffly and sneezy last night. Every time we put her down she started struggling to breath but you know what, she was making less of a fuss than I was. She just laid there obviously uncomfortable, but not being really brave. Where as I was laying in bed moaning to dp about how sick i was feeling i think he got more fed up with me than getting up to see to her!
Haven't tried the water up the nose thing yet, but I think i will soon, she definatly making up for not crying last night, today!
Anyone have any other tips?

sorry that should have read being really brave not NOT being really brave

I'm having a really good day today! bounce Feeling so much more positive about life as a result. Can I make a list without sounding too smug and horrid? I think I've had my fair share of crappy days recently to get away with it!!

• HV persuaded the doctor's surgery to make me an exception for Infanrix. So ds2 is having his shots on the NHS on the 12th July ("saving" us £120 doing it privately).
• I've been really disciplined about doing a few chores in odd minutes of the day this week, and the house is starting to look a bit more hygenic and pleasant to be in.
• ds2 has really settled down sleep-wise, he's like a different baby. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but getting regular day naps, and only waking twice in the night (only once for food, the other time is 6am I switch the white noise machine on while I'm half asleep and he then drops off until around 7am).
• ds2 is smiling and cooing, generally being much more interesting.
• ds1 has been a joy to be with today. No angel, but normal 3 year old behaviour rather than evil psycho child from hell.

I'm going to have such a bad afternoon now I've said that, aren't I?!

thats good new georgina. i'm very much in awe of all of you whose little ones sleep so much at night.....how do you do it? what white noise thing have you got georgina? must check that out.

feeding dd about 3 times in the night on a good night, 11/12 ish, 2/3 ish and 5/6ish - thats a very good night. only trouble is she sometimes finds it hard to go back to sleep after feeds, expecially the last one, think it has something to do with it being light actualy. our bedroom doesnt have blackout curtains, her room does, but of course she's not in there! stoooopid. mentioned getting bo blinds for our room and dh rolled his eyes, as if to say. 'not MORE buying'. HE doesnt have to get up to feed in the night. in FACT he now sleeps through me doing that AND her cries and sleepy sounds.

upside is, am going out friday night with girls from work. v v nervous about leaving her, but if dont drop dh in the deep end now, never will. hence am expressing like mad to make sure he has enough.

someone asked me if we were still going to a wedding? yes, in 2 weeks' time. Devon, which will be a hell of a drive. we're making a w/e of iit and staying over 2 nights. pleeeeeease be quiet in the b&b baby!

Egypt, I kind of "cheat" with my definition of night as we give the last feed at 10/10.30 before we go to sleep - if it doesn't interrupt our sleep, I don't count it as a night feed, iyswim!

We have two white noise machines (yes, a bit excessive I know but they do different things) - scroll down to Sound Enrichment Device which has a half hour cut out or continuous and has lots of different white noises (we use the heartbeat as that's the one that seems to get ds2 sleepiest!) and Slumber Bear - has a 5 minute cut off (way too short) but does reactivate on "hearing" a cry or by hitting it!

Libb good idea the commando thing, did you do it all night? I am desparate to avoid nappy rash as I have to prove cloth nappies to be a success story to various sceptical friends. (believe it's not to do with nappy type anyway but y'know). To this end also curious to know how often everyone else changes nappies... may seem like an obvious thing but actually realiise nobody ever told me, I just do it as and when... But never sure abiout overnight, seems a long time to stay wet...

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spots - apparently what causes nappy rash isn't necessarily being wet - it's when a chemical in urine meets a chemical in poo (I forget which chemicals are involved, probably ammonia for one, not sure about the other) - hence why you should change the nappy as soon as they do a poo.

I use pampers on dd2 as I did with dd1 and I seem to be changing them quite often, dd2 and I have had quite a few conversations about the price of nappies, lol

She doesn't like being in a wet nappy, seems to wee all the time as even after a short while nappy seems to be quite sodden. dd1 on the other hand as a baby you could have left her in the same nappy all day and she didn't bat an eyelid, obviously didn't do that of course.

Because dd2 is now going to bed quite early usually betwen 9.30-10.30pm by the time she gets up for her bottle in the middle of the night the nappy is quite wet, so I do a really quick change.

Oh and I did go out tonight. Had a good time and had 2 drinks only stayed out for 2 hours, we're jsut home now. Mother in law had an easy time as dd2 went to sleep about 9pm and hasn't stirred since. So I'm off to bed now to get some sleep before she gets up for her bottle.

thanks for the links georgina. have ordered the sounds enrichment device. finger crossed.

not such a good night last night. she wants feeding every blinking hour or hour and half. AGAIN. she absolutely screams the place down at the slightest thing at the mo. evenings are absolute hell. as soon as dh gets home grotbag time starts. doesnt let up til she's asleep around 11pm. then wakes for a feed an hour or so later. dh left me in tears this morning. i am just so tired. so why am i not asleep ??? she is now, typical! shall get my head down on settee and watch some daytime tv.

we're using a mix of pampers and huggies at the mo. huggies prefer. seem to be softer and stretchier round the belly. must be changing every 3-4 hours i suppose. usually after feeds and then once in the night, about the 2am feed as the one after she's gotten too wet, AND its light outside and she just stays awake after all the fiddling.

Spots- I use Pampers which dd seems to get on with quite well. During the day I change when she wakes up after naps etc and also in the middle of feeds, if she looses intrest and i don't think she's had enough. Wet nappies really don't seem to bother her at all and at the moment poo nappies seem a pretty regular once or twice a day in the daytime, so I change her before putting her down at 7.00, and if she wakes up for 11.00 feed i chage her again then. If i'm dream feeding her i tend to leave it unless there is a noticable pong! She then wakes up for a 4-5.00am feed but can be a bit difficult to settle after that one and as she gets up at 7.00, i leave it as i want to keep that feed as settled as possible. I think if she was waking more in the night I'd probably change her more often, but she seems to get more distressed by nappy changes than having a wet nappy!
I've stuck to this routine for about 3 weeks now and she's never had nappy rash.
Dp and i are actualy in cloth nappy discussions at the moment, I prefer the disposable and he prefers the cloth, but we've been advised by a freind to steer clear of them until dd is weaned and the poos are harder, other wise it gets messy.
Anybody else using cloth?
Hope everyone's okay!

is it too long for a baby to sleep for 4 hours in the day? dd has just done this and is still asleep. she hasnt been asleep this long since she was a newborn. i just wonder as i'm thinking its going to rob her of nightime sleep.......that would NOT be good!!
how long do your babies sleep for in day? really not keen to wake - but baby whisperer says should!