FEB 2010 Teeth, nosh and smelly bums - it's all go, six months on!!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did the last half a year go??!

Aaarrrggghhhh!!!

This time last week ds was sleeping much better, settling in minutes and gobbling up my home cooked delights. Please can I have that baby back. Someone has swapped him for a little boy who wakes every 20 minutes or so during the evening, resists settling and won't eat much. Mealtimes are accompanied by a moaning noise and sort of protesting. I do not have a clue what is going on. Does anyone have any ideas? I thought it was teething but he will bf fine, and surely he would find that painful? He pulls his ear a bit so maybe an ear infection? The rest of the family have had coughs/colds for the last week and I had a 4 day long migraine over bank holiday weekend. I spent Tuesday being sick too which reminded me why I don't want to be pregnant ever again! Plus over the weekend we had to look after dp's 90 year old nan as MIL and FIL decided to book a last minute holiday and take the rest of their family with them. Erm thanks for that.....

This has been my first me, me, me post and my god it does help to offload. Thanks for listening everyone!

Chinook that sounds truly awful from start to finish. Have a virtual hug.

IC your night sounds crap too. I might decide that a baby/toddler that has a dummy in the cot (and not anywhere else) is preferable to the lack of sleep we are currently enduring. I really don't want a toddler with a dummy, but at this rate I might have driven us all off a cliff (in the midlands? not too much danger there then) before he reaches toddlerhood!!

Just been to the supermarket cos a) I got to listen to nice music in the car (not nursery rhymes) and b) I got to potter round not worrying that DS2 would scream and DS1 would wee through the seat onto the food and floor below!! I live an exciting life!!

I hope last night wasn't too back for all of you. He woke up at 2.05m and went back to sleep at 2.45 after a bottle so I'm not complaining especially as I now know why he eats during the night.

Nearly the weekend

Have a good day

Bad luck, chinook - what is it about babies that one week they're little angels and a day or two later transformed into little monsters?!! Thank goodness for the good days, we'd all go mad.

Thanks for the sympathy for the bad night, everyone. Your positive thoughts must have done the trick because there was progress last night.

Basically, DD slept for 4 hours first stretch (an improvement) then managed to resettle herself on all subsequent awakenings without any intervention from me. It took a little while, but each time there was less grumbling (although a fair bit of fidgeting). In the end I only fed her once and she unlatched herself and self-settled shortly after. There is hope! The same approach tonight, it may be better, hopefully no worse, but it's so often one step forward, half a step back isn't it??!

Once again DD refused the lovely pureed broccoli, peas and pear DH made for her (which she enjoyed hugely when out of a pouch..!!) - she really is letting the side down when it comes to our attempts to be green(ish), eco-friendly parents!!

The change from little angel to little monster does not stop when they get to being toddlers... Found dd1 actually sitting on dd2 today, playing horses... dd2 was not crying so I am assuming dd1 did not put her full weight on the baby (I hope) but I was quite shocked because normally dd1 is very sweet with the baby and even uses a special gentle voice when talking to her.

watercress is your dd okay with milk now? \i am struggling to get dd2 to take her bottles at the moment... I am quite keen on her to have enough fluid because she has a shockingly heavy cold and is teething (and is surprisingly cheerful despite this). She is 'interactive' in deciding what he does and does not like.

ic sounds like you are doing really well if your LO is starting to settle herself!

stoof hope you are feeling better.

Everyone else, hope you are getting on well, too.

chinook that does sound terrible, hope this week is going better. Wonder if your LO's just going through the fallout from the bad week that you had.

Our LO turned up her nose our my lovely chickpea burgers, but did enjoy the homemade paprika potato wedges, so all even on that front. She's got her favourite tonight, toast.

Well we have (almost - 2days to go) made it to 6 months and at the risk of sounding insensitive, she has never had formula. Not bad I think, considering I've been working two months already. On the down side, she has not doubled her birth weight, she weighed in at 12lb 12oz (5.8kg) this morning. I've been trying to not feel like I've failed her, even though they're happy with her, she's happy (providing it's not nap time) and she's relatively mobile (which I'm assuming is keeping the weight off).

It was only 7oz gain this month, which puts her back on the 2nd percentile. Just telling myself it's to even out her 1lb gain the month before.

Relatively good night last night, had 3x 3hr gaps between feeds, with an additional waking at 3, but was promptly put back to sleep.

Hope you are all well
CC

My DS is 7 months today, time goes so quickly...

We had a very good night (go and touch wood) he went to bed at 7pm woke up at 4am for about 5mn and slept until 7am, hope you all mangee to get some rest last night too. For us I think it may be linked to moving the bedtime routine forward by 30mn as it permited DS to eat all his diner and desert. So no empty stomac

For those of you using reusable nappies, do you find that now that your LO poos have chnage the nappies are harder to wash? DS poos are solidish but sticky and often there still some left on the nappies and washing machine after a 60C cycle. I think I'm going to try using paper liner and see how it goes.

CC well done on the BF side

Good work CC on the BF. Can't have been easy!

at the sleeping through GF. I've given up on any hope of DD sleeping through for a while. Well at least till she's a year old what with the reverse cycle she's decided to do. Well done on the reusable nappies front btw, I toyed with the idea for a bit but gave up - spirit is willing and all that. DD loves pooping in her highchair while being fed, which mean poos which are flattened out and adhers completely to the nappy....

Good effort, CC!

GF, we're using fleece liners and rinse the excess poo off those in the bidet (!) - seems to do the trick.

At last! A homemade creation finds favour with DD - red lentils cooked up with carrot plus garam masala, ginger and a tiny dash of lemon (she's had citrus at various times already and seems fine with it). Whoop whoop! Just as well, I was starting to worry she was going to need jars of babyfood when it's all got added salt or sugar here....

Last night was pretty good. I fed DD twice (which on reflection was probably once too many times... I'm still experimenting with what's best) and the other three times she woke up, she self-settled pretty quickly, thankfully. Better sleep all round. As a result, she was awake for the day at 06.15, ahem. If that continues, I may shuffle bedtime gradually back a bit again, but we'll see how it goes.

We now have a cot! That will be the next bit of nighttime excitement at Casa IC...

rainbow don't be at DS sleeping, it happens once every months, which is actually very annoying as I know he can do it!

Your lentil dish sounds nice IC . DS today ate some mousse au chocolat and loved it. Tomorrow it'll be chicken curry.

too tired to type, sending out good sleep vibes regardless

Hey everyone, hope you've all had a good weekend. It's so long since I've been on (well, a week), I can't remember what everyone has said, sorry. I've been staying at my mum's while DP does a charity bike ride to Paris and have had my sister cracking the whip (in the nicest possible way) to encourage me to knuckle down to the wedding planning. I feel we've got somewhere. But there is still a LOT to do. And less than four weeks to go . Actually, I can't even muster up the energy to worry about it. I'm so blimmin' tired. Hats off to all of you that are working . I can barely function at all.

Very little improvement on the eating front here, DD is clearly taking a little bit in as she has solid bits in her nappies (nice) but she is hardly an enthusiastic eater. Much prefers mummy. And mummy is too tired most of the time to properly make sure she's hungry before offering food, or even to make any in fact. And still too scared to try finger foods. And I have to go home tomorrow and I'll be on my own again I want to stay with my mummy!!

Out to lunch at a lovely, much-reviewed restuarant for DP's lunch tomorrow,, I hope I'm awake enough to enjoy it.

Sending good sleeping vibes to all!

Good luck with the wedding planning, fizi - my wedding was a relatively thrown-together affair, but still knackering to organise. I send you energetic vibes (don't know where I'm getting them from, though...)

And to you too, CC. Although I suspect you have a good deal more energy than me overall!!

DD went straight down with no fuss at all last night - 3rd day lucky! She resettled herself a couple of times, I fed her at around 02.00 and then again at 05.45 - couldn't stop her fussing any other way. Unfortunately, I left the second feed too late for her to be able to settle herself back to sleep, so we were up for the day (DD having been awake since about 05.00... groo...)

Still, apart from the early rising aspect, it was another improvement in terms of the number of wake-ups and how widely they were spaced. I'm resigning myself to 2 night feeds for the time being (still a vast improvement) and figure it's a waiting game now - she knows how to self-settle, hopefully in time she'll naturally drop one then both those feeds.

I've realised my expressed milk doesn't freeze well - it tastes foul once it's thawed. Bit inconvenient. It'll only keep for one day in the fridge, too. So for the moment I'm hand-pumping to make DD her morning porridge, which must be quite a sight (expressing directly into her bowl!!) - quite satisfying, though

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Hellooooo all . Good weekends? I've been busy with the ILs over for lunch yesterday, a night out drinking and dancing, and hosting a gathering for my antenatal group this afternoon (15 adults, 14 children all under four years in age). I'm cream crackered! And it's my DD1's first day at pre-school tomorrow - she's very excited, bless her.

CC you've done so well with the BF, well done. Don't worry about the weight gain - it's a range and someone has to be at the top and someone at the bottom. It's really nothing to worry about. Your LO is healthy and happy, and that's the main thing.

fizi good luck with the wedding planning. It'll all be over in a few weeks - are you going on honeymoon?

DD2 is eating masses - the tagine went down well, as did the salmon, sweet potato and broccoli. She also ate much of my roast dinner yesterday (I gave her tiny bits on my fork and she was so excited), and managed half a breadstick all on her own today after she had had her dinner and we were waiting for DD1 to finish her dinner.

Right, to bed...

Sounds like we are not the only ones struggling tiredness-wise today. Second night of 4 hours' sleep in 3 nights and I'm back to 'crying tired'. Did have two hours off to go shopping today but didn't buy anything as I'm definitely a size 13 at the mo (if only someone would make clothes in that size!!). I feel like I need a couple of hours a week to 'reset' and 'refuel' at the mo. Luckily, DH is happy to oblige and appreciates my efforts which mske it necessary. Think I'd be heading to the doc without it as I do sometimes feel like I'm reaching my limits in coping etc.. Presume I'm not alone here?

I've just been watching DS2 sleeping. He was breathing very irregularly. I know this can be normal with babies. Anyone know when this changes and how long it is normal for babies to hold their breath for in their sleep? I've had the consultant's letter through that he has sent to the GP. He has underestimated my intelligence in understanding what he has written between the lines about basically just being a fussy mother (having done no investigations yet...). I would rather DS2 had nothing wrong, clearly, but if there is a problem on the oxygen SATs monitoring night, I will expect an apology from the man in person. I'm really not making it up!!

Fizi good luck with wedding planning. Sure everyone who knows you will be amazed how much you have managed to plan, not thining about anything you haven't managed to plan.

IC My milk didn't freeze well either - very disappointing to throw it all out.

CC . I think you've done a great job with the BFing and agree that there has to be some little ones at the smaller end. Feel great about what you've achieved, not worried about her size.

morning all!

DS starts most days somewhere between 4.45 and 5.30? but as he generally sleeps from 7pm until then, i really shouldn't complain (still have vivid of recollection of DD's early sleep, or erm, lack of!)

Am now on 3rd week of anti-biotics to try and clear the boils? given me co-amoxiclav this time, which i've had previously but this time they've made me feel really sick, very dizzy and incredibly flat and down? at least, i think it's them - i stopped taking them after a couple of days and feel a whole lot better (though still very boily!)

bethy not sure when the breathing becomes more regular - i wonder though if it's around 6 months, cos of the advice to keep them in your room til then??

IC sounds like you're getting there with the sleeping? (touch wood, etc etc!)

CC second the votes for smaller babies etc - small but perfectly formed and roughly developing as she should? no worries! and well done on the BF

WC what a busy cosmic twin! no wonder i've been feeling so knackered - STOP IT!! :o

DS currently trying to yank plugs out of their sockets, so best go (never had any problems with DD like that!)

hoping the post might bring me news of some interviews today - applied for two jobs last week (both part time, but if added together would make up the full time one i need?)

have a good day y'all x

"crying tired" bethy - yep, that's a spot-on description, I know exactly how you feel.

Oh, stoof, those boils!! You poor thing.

watercress, I'm starting to think you're Supermum!! Keep the baby recipes coming...

CC remember: size isn't everything(!) - hey, being tiny didn't do Kylie any harm, now?!

Last night was OK. No fuss at bedtime again, then wake-ups at 00.45, 04.30 and 05.45. This time I fed DD after leaving her for a few mins each time to see if she'd resettle. As a result, she went back to sleep more quickly and we all got more sleep. She was up at 06.45, which is bearable.

I worry a little that giving the feeds will encourage further wake-ups, but the fact that she will allow me to put her down and then goes back to sleep quickly (compared to last week when the opposite was true) suggests it's now a case of hoping she'll drop the feeds without extra training in due course. I think the first put-down awake is crucial and it's had a magical effect on the number of wake-ups already. Some people complain about 3, but after living with a minimum of 5 for so long, it feels pretty good to me.

chinook, bearcrumble and mums of other ropey sleepers, any updates?

Hello??

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I am very of your sleep improvements IC. Well done. We seem to have gone backwards a bit. I don't feed ds to sleep at nap time or bed time any more, but he always fusses and fights it for a minute or two. He did nod off 2 nights ago really peacefully but still woke up after 45 minutes. He still wakes really frequently in the evening then only 2 or 3 times after that, once he is in bed with me. I really don't understand why he wakes every 30 or 45 mins in the evening when he can settle himself at other times. He sleeps in his cot for naps and at bedtime then I co sleep from midnightish so I can get some sleep.

I think we have some fairly advanced babies on this thread. Being mobile so young is quite rare I think. I am delighted that ds isn't showing the slightest sign of wanting to crawl. He was desperate to sit up by himself and now he can do that he loves to just sit and inspect things. He can concentrate for ages and has already got more enjoyment out of our baby toys than dd ever did.

Weaning is hit and miss and I have reverted to BLW which he seems much happier with. He doesn't seem to eat anything much at all when I make him a proper meal, but will graze quite happily the rest of the day.

wc that's quite an ante natal group you have there. Mine only had 5 in and that seems a lot to cater for when we get together. And lots of noise!

Dd starts school next week and I am starting to get the wobbles about it. It will be such a big change to not have her here all day every day. Her teacher is coming round on Thursday to do a home visit so I have started tidying up in preparation. Having a school age daughter and being a school gates mum is making me feel very old

It is a bit quiet here isn't it DD was pretty tired today having only slept from 10.30-11.30am this morning. She fell asleep unusually quickly while feeding at 7pm and has been awake nearly every 30 mins ever since for a short feed to top her up. Very unlike her usual 2-3 hour gaps, so I think there has to be a correlation between hunger, "shallow" feeds and waking up....

afternoon all,

Thanks for the congrats and reassurance. I had always thought that if I got to 6months, I'd be very proud of myself. In the end, I just kind of felt indifferent and that it was what I was supposed to have done. Talk about being hard on yourself.

Sleep, we seem to wake every two hours, (or less), but she doesn't feed every time so I'm hoping that maybe she'll start to drop this over time.

She's def. not to the frustrated part of trying to crawl. Still hasn't work out the arms, but now shes on her feet instead of knees. Some arm movement is starting to appear and she does slowly start move across the room.

I'm glad we strap her into the bouncy chair as this morning she sat bolt upright and would have encountered the floor with her face otherwise.

Much kudos to all the people that find time to host, very impressive.

Weaning is still going well. We've not had constipation issues (actually a bit of the reverse). I think that's because she is offered a cup of water with her meals which often is shinier than her food so we hide it and offer her it every now and than instead. I'd say she swallows a couple of mouthfuls half the time. She surprised by eating a whole strawberry by herself, we had been tag teaming and when we cleaned up, we couldn't find it anywhere (not even a trace). Today is fajitas (well the fillings and a bit of wrap next to it). Carrot was swallowed but broccoli still gets some weird looks.

I did read somewhere, that even though frozen milk smells rank that some babies will still drink it and there's nothing wrong per se with it. I didn't look it up further as it doesn't apply. Think it was on the netmums? expressing forum.

her bald patch is nearly gone now

fizi I'm oddly very excited about your wedding plans, is there a honeymoon?

chinook is it normal for teachers to do home visits? I've never heard of this before

*IC and all the others that had prems how are your LO's doing re. weight and are there any issues from being prem?

Off to bed, but yes, CC and Chinook, it is normal for some teachers to do home visits (we're actaully just a very nosey breed!!) and also normal for others not to. Flush the loo before they come (in case they've come to you via 6 others and get desperate) and make a bit of space in the lounge. Other than that, don't worry cos, again as a breed, we are so busy that we don't have time to clean our own houses and therefore don't judge others on theirs!!

p.s. I've been in the gym for the third time in a week. have I lost any weight? Nope! (and yes I know it's early days really!)

well you nosey parkers , plus well done on the gym (and yes you know it's far too early).

I think my weight is back to pre-pregnancy, but since my scales read different amounts in different places, I'm not 100% sure. I take the lowest reading right

LO has got some persistent nappy rash, by which I mean the exact same markings three days running. We've taken to as much naked time as possible (but not bed). Any ideas? The normal application of sudocrem isn't working.

1st day at school and juggling the school run and the baby care is not really good for my "me" time which seems to disappear . And then I only do the afternoon, when DH will on site and I have to do the morning as well, I will have to create time . May be CC can help me change the laws of physic?

IC congrats on the sleeping. My monster definitely doesn't need night feeds anymore, she is eating plenty, both purees and finger foods (she loves feeding herself now I really can't deal with the mess but I brace myself as I don't want her having issues later. God! she is a messy eater
For those doing BLW only, how do you dare going out to restaurant or freinds with all that mess?

She is not waking at night but keeps moving all the time. Can a baby be somnanbule? she complain and cry in her sleep, sometime seating up, most of the time she is crawling and bumping her head on the cot. So I am still up 2 till 5 or 6 times to put her back (and the dummy in, she only has it in the cot though).
She goes in seconds so I shouldn't complain too much, but I am tired. You have to had to that the snoring (I could kill ) and DD1 who peed in bed last night .

For the crawling, yes, 6 months or even 7 is quite early. DD2 is definitely the earliest mover I have met so far in RL. Even the pead. was impressed, she kept playing with her "look she can do that!" I know it IS my baby after all . For her defence there is a lot of nannies around the expat community, and most mums are clueless about their baby schedule. I have even been praised for how quickly I can undress and change a nappy .

I can't remember everything which has been said by whom, so congrats and good luck to all who need it.

Bethylou are your DSs doing better? One of my little cousin stopped breathing during the night, I can't exactely remember when it stopped, but is now a stroppy but healthy teenager. He was on a "alarmed' matress as a baby, he was much better around 9 months, but he still had some check-ups as a toddler.

It's a day at home for DS and I as he was sent home from nursery yesterday. The nursery policy is any children who haas a temperature above 38C is sent home. DS had 38.1C What a coincidence But to be fair, he was shattered and not really himself at 3pm when we picked him up. He slept for 1 1/2 hour which is really unlike him.

But this morning he is fine, he woke up a few time during the night but just for a few minutes which gave the possibility to give him his calpol or ibuprofen.

I'm soo please my boss is cool about me taking annual leave without notice.

Yesterday, DS did his first steps!! DH was holding him and DS was walking to me!! Very proud and also very scared that he is not going to crawl and walk as soon as he can!

We received our stair gates and a new car seat (Britax Evolva) so DS is not going to be squashed in his carrycot.

I hope sleeping wasn't too bad for most of you.