Sept 08 - Our LO's are nearly 2, and they're hiding to do a poo (is it time for potty training, not until it stops this raining)

[ninja]

I started it!! (I'm going away to London with just DD1 tomorrow so I want to know where you all are when we get back.

3 toddler free days!!

Hi ladies

Just checking back in. Now that I'm jobless again, i should have more time to keep up.

Check to see what Calpol it is because they do a sugar free one and a 'normal' one. Some of the generic ones are pretty vile as well.

But tbh, it's probably more a control thing with N than the actual taste of the medicine.

I've just had a thought, you can get paracetamol melts now - I'm guessing they're paracetmaol in lozenge form.

I have no idea what age they are for though. It may be worth having a conversation with a Pharmacist and asking about the dosage levels and what is acceptable for a 2yo - irrespective of what the product box says.

Me again

They also do Calpol in sachets. If you give it to N to suck out he may not associate it with medicine at all.

I'll shut up now!

ILTMIMI

i never realized there were lozenges/melts...i think N will respond better to these. You have possibly saved my week. I really love you. (I'm not even kidding right now).

sending sister to boots.

eandz I think you are exactly right...poor N has been in such discomfort for so long with his reflux that he must associate meds with feeling bad IYSWIM??? That being said, some children never take meds well (I am thinking of my brother here!!)

Have you tried putting the calpol on a spoon with yoghurt or mousse??? That worked really well for me when Toby had to have ABs when he was only 6 months old.

Would also second the advice about trying a spoon if you havent already....I have never given my 2 meds in a syringe as IME it makes it more likely that they throw it back up as sometimes the meds hit the back of the throat and trigger the gag reflex.

Really glad to hear N's reflux is getting better...you have had a really hard time of it, havent you? xxxx

Well, ds1's first morning at school done and he enjoyed it!!!!! I have a migraine and feel sick to my stomach BUT he seems fine

Toby is on penecillin, nurofen and calpol. sigh. He hates the ABs but we shovel it in and then give him the pain meds - which he likes the taste of! - straight after.

Thanks all for the thoughts...I really appreciate it x

SCD RESULTS: I think the right one went too carrie Just need to get rid of Gavin and ann now!

to mel Are you good jobless or bad jobless?

I love those calpol sachets, I used to take them if I had a sore throat when I was pg and now they're may preferred form of taking paracetamol
Would second the spoon thing too, maybe sneak one in when you're feeding him a yoghurt if you do that at all? Or mix it into a yoghurt?!

Still no parents...glad I ate with the kids at 12!

Poor eandz and little n. Does sound like having to have meds all his life has made him develop an intense dislike to the syringe method.

We struggle to give DS medicine in the middle of the night and so that's when the syringe comes out (along with the 2-person restraining method), but during the day he absoultely loves quaffing anything out of a medicine bottle.

Glad to hear DS1 enjoyed his first morning at school bec. Hope Toby's on the mend too.

Since wowing us all with his sleeping through for three nights on the trot, DS has since regressed to waking a couple of times a night and asking for his nana, who is usually asleep downstairs. And each time she's gone to him, so now its a habit. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. Othewise, since putting DS in with the childminder one day a week my mum has become part of the household again, including cooking for us most nights and when she doesn't she makes sure something has been defrosted and is ready to cook when we're home from work. This can't last.

6 issues of the Radio Times for £1 includes the xmas edition.

eandz I missed you on FB, have sent a request!

carrie Staying up late is my biggest failure. Sometimes I don't go to sleep until 1am , which is almost insane with work and the children. Although the last three nights I have been asleep well before midnight so I might have cracked it at last.

I went to see an infant school with DS today and I do not like the headteacher, I think that's a reason to avoid it .

Better go, got lots to do before the small people wake up.

meglet i missed you too!

as far as the yogurt idea (it's wonderful) except N is allergic to red fruits, hates sweet things and only eats three foods: shredded carrots, chicken wings and pringles. (still) and on occasion he might lick some smoked salmon. He refuses juice, and only takes formula (still on that special formula). (i know, i know, he needs to be weaned fully, i get that i suck, but we've even paid professionals to help us out, and now we're none the better.)

i really was waiting until N could talk a whole lot more by now so we could discuss the pros/cons of living like this. it's not happening!

but you know, when he's not sick he's such a marvelous fun little person. he takes my breath away every time he smiles/does something--anything. he slaps my mil, and even tells her to 'die' once in a while.

(he learned to hit and scream 'die' from watching a cartoon called kids vs kat)

Hello everyone, i'm still here lurking in the back round

I'm glad your ds had a great first day at school bec

Its nice to see some old names again, i often think about you all.

EandZ my dd was never good at taking meds, i had to hold her down and force it in, but now she takes it from the spoon, she will only have the calprofen tho.

I'm sorry ttc has been tough for a few of you, hopefully it wont be long until you all get a bfp.

F is a little monkey, he is into everything, i can't take my eyes off him for 1 min. heres just an example of whats he is like, my fil brought round his lap top for my dh to look at, he left it open in the kitchen for all of 5 mins, we found it with no keys left on it, he picked them all off

I have been doing the cambridge diet and have lost 2 stone!

I want to start ttc in the next couple of months, i just need to convince dh

eandz Please dont day that about yourself...you do not suck, ok? N has had a really rough time with his reflux (and you too!) and it will take time for things to get better. I would imagine that the little guy associates food=pain

Both my dc have what I consider to be a very limited diet...toby eats virtually no meat or fish unless I can sneak it into his mashed potato. Milk makes him sick. He loves veg and fruit though so I am trying not to stress too much about it. DS1 is back on packed lunches this week and therefore will take to school;

water
bread and butter
digestive biscuit

The dinnerladies will think I am the worst mother in the world but its all he will eat. He has never eaten a proper sandwich in his life!!!!! Does not eat fruit but has started to eat veg again (well, peas!) and will eat pasta and rice which Toby completely refuses.

I keep telling myself its a phase and it will pass and I think it will evetually.

Hope N feels better soon.

Toby looks very pasty but was running round at MILs so hopefully is on the mend. I have to go back to the walk in centre on tursday to get this other 5 days worth of ABs any of you ever had to do that???? Most odd.

eandz, back now from a whole day in and out running errands, adn just put diego to bed and logged in here.

You've been so brave and caring with a DS that needed very special care. Don't beat yourself about it. I second ILTMIMI advice to try with a spoon. You may even try to let DS hold it himself. Calpol is very sweet, and Diego used to love it. Perhaps if you change the context in which you administer the medication he will be able to dissociate it from the 5 times a day he used to have meds squirted down him, and begin to forget it.

Thinking of you.

Oh Eandz you sound like you've had a really tough time. On fb you always sound so upbeat. (Btw, it's imoscarsmum here)

I agree with others that N must associate being ill and uncomfortable with the syringe, so I would try to find another way to get medicine in.
Melts sound like a way forward.
Embarrassingly C loves calpol and will suck it from the syringe.

I assume Noah feeds himself? If you feel like trying him with new foods, have you tried putting foods in front of him for his meal and letting him get on with it and if he refuses, then that's his choice (strict mummy icon here!) but don't offer him anything else. We still do that with C now - it's not a cruel way we do it but she just knows that this is what is for her breakfast or tea and if she doesn't eat it, she goes hungry.

Although I think perhaps for Noah that is one to try when he is a little older. For now, poor little man, he probably also associates food with throwing up. Now he's off the meds, things may get a bit easier.

Do you take him to any toddler groups or would you even consider a nursery one day a week to give yourself a break? It's not a crime to want some time for yourself and he could mix with other kids. You are not a bad mummy, you have definately had a very tough time so be kind to yourself.

ooh and thanks ILTMIMI gonna get the Radio Times offer.

My boobs are sore. i hate that as it's probably due to af getting ready to appear but my mind is playing tricks on me. Grrrr.

Hi everyone,

I got the satchets like ILTMIMI said and have tried them with N. He's not a happy camper. We tried the spoon, and he managed to get it all in my bra. So dh came in, held N down and got the syringe out. This fever just isn't going anywhere.

Husbands family is Muslim, so tomorrow is Eid. I hope he feels better tonight.

Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it.

And as far as FB -- I don't ever post anything to deep on it. N does go to a few toddler groups. I think this is where he got sick from!!! :(

you all have no idea how important to me you are.

bec I'm so glad to hear your DS1 enjoyed school!

eandz when my DD needed an inhaler, the very lovely doctor said the best thing was for me to sit on the floor with my legs out in a V, lie DD down with her head in my crotch (I can sort of clamp her head with my thighs!) and her arms spread out under my knees to pin them down. Hope that makes sense. Basically its a case of what you're trying to give them is so important and helpful that the ends justify the means.

I was also going to suggest the thing of putting a bowl of food in front of N, with a spoon, and walking away and letting him get on with it. Lots of us here have been discussing how little our DCs eat, I found that so encouraging that I wasn't the only one. DS now gets his dinner in one of those tiny ikea snack bowls. Giving him a little means he's not overwhelmed and is more likely to eat it, and an empty bowl means both of us are happier, and he gets to have a yoghurt after which he enjoys. He's prob only eating the equivalent of 3 large mouthfuls, but seeing an empty bowl feels like such progress.

Parents eventually arrived yesterday, as did my brother, and dad and bro half built the playhouse! DS keeps saying 'needs a door needs a door' and nearly wore my poor bro down. I think door is first job today! Then DS said 'need garage for car' so now dad's talking about getting a dog kennel and adapting it!!

eandz Can you put the pain meds in Ns formula???? I know I used to put colic meds in Tobys but nut sure if you can do it with calpol???? Might be worth checking out? Then if he has a bottle morning and night he would be getting 2 lots of pain meds??? Sorry I am not being more help!

DS1 has gone off to school quite happily today but its only half a day again so I am going to pick him up at noon. Full day tomorrow (home for lunch) then proper full day staying for sandwiches on thurs!!!

Looked at the pre school but wasnt too impressed tbh...its VERY small. Only one small room and a toilet and a small outdoor play area.

Am looking at another tomorrow.

Feel a bit rough today...what are the bets I am getting tobys tonsilitis??

Eandz My ds had a major problem with any meds so if he needs paracetamol we get him the dissolvable ones which we put in his drinks.

Eandz My ds had a major problem with any meds so if he needs paracetamol we get him the dissolvable ones which we put in his drinks.

EandZ hello and welcome back. Mn is great for support isn't it? Luckily we don't have to give ds2 medicine very often but when we do it is a 2 man, pin him down job. And we do find the syringe easier as with the spoon it just goes everywhere. I fiund with ds1 that it does get better as they get older as they will accept choc buttons as a bribe. Fingers crossed once N has got over this fever he won't need any medicine for ages and will start to get over his understandable fear.
As for food I would start to offer him other things too, just introducing new foods very slowly.

I found it very helpful to know ds2 wasn't the only one not eating much. It's obviously normal phase. I think it's prob related to molars coming too.

We've had a bit of improvement on the tantrums too this week.

hi guys :)

so N's fever doesn't seem like it's going to end anytime soon. we tried mixing it with his formula but he's caught on so won't drink the formula if it doesn't taste like it usually does. we've been doing the '1 2 3 not it' every time the bell rings indicating the next dose.

foodwise: Noah only eats chicken wings from the pizza hut box, we thought it was a phase-- but now have understood it is a way of life. I've made a plastic version with pizza logo on all sides so i have to put his food into it for him to eat. He now accepts all sorts of differently flavored chicken wings, but nothing else except little wings can be in that box. not even pieces of chicken or other forms of chicken/meat. (He gives the death stare)

as for a bowl with food in it: he wants rice and chicken in it but won't ever eat it. We go through this motion at least once a day, i put in a piece of chicken, some rice and he sits down. he watches. then without taking a single bite he'll say 'mama' and motion for his pizza hut box with his chicken wings.

with N there is a time and a place for everything. He'll eat Pringles only in his pram. So when he wants pringles, he'll climb into it and do the sign for crisps (we've been doing sign language/makaton stuff) and he'll scream 'mama' until I've come to see whats up.

okay, this is starting to sound crazy. do i need to just start a thread?

Eandz it may need a thread from people who have experience of the sorts of things you are going through with N, however feel free to keep on posting here if it helps.
I'll give you my opinion but not sure it'll help!

IMO, it sounds like N has got you and DH well-trained. Don't beat yourself up - they are skilled professionals at manipulation!
If this were me, I would explain to him that you are going to do things a bit differently from now on, and with lots of love and praise, sit at the table and put the food you would like him to eat in front of him, and eat the same thing with him.
When you've finished or he has refused it, then simply clear the table, give him lots of praise and love but then give him no more foods unless it's a small snack like fruit and these must be eaten at the table. No matter how much he screams or demands. It's a tough one and I wouldn't judge if it's not for you.
He will eventually get hungry enough, so it goes.

As for pringles in the pushchair - fold the pushchair away or hide it in a room with the door shut, then he can't see it.

If you want to break these habits you can but it'll be tough - and no one is being critical of you - you have had it tough.

Oh and don't try it till he's fully better.

Just a final thought - is he filling up on formula and so won't eat food?

I have no idea if any of this helps, but please keep posting and it will all be OK in the end!