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

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did the last half a year go??!

DS's tommy is not ready for yogourt yet! I just had a vomitplosion all over him, me, the furniture and the carpet. All clear now but how annoying, my mum has left this afternoon and DH is on night shift so by myself with the mess. It would have been easier if it would have happened yesterday.

This brand of yogourt (mine in fact) will be put on hold. I'll go down to the supermarket tomorrow and see if I find a baby friendly brand. Any suggestion?

GF your mei tai looks great (and so do you and LO) :) I like Yeo Valley organic greek yogurt as it has more fat than other yoghurt. plus leftovers that DD doesn't finish tastes great with honey and almonds.

imagining BG practicing laughing in front of mirror

Period started when DD was 3 months old. so of those who haven't yet

...and DD is trying very hard to crawl, and today managed to push herself to standing then promptly sat down and nearly hit her head. Luckily I was with her so no tears as managed to catch her in time.

Great photo GF, very impressive mei tai!

I had what i thought was a period when DD was nine weeks but never had one again so assume it was just the end of lochia. I had a pregnancy test a couple of weeks ago just to make sure which came out negative... so I am just accepting that my periods haven't started properly yet and yes, I am still BFing...

Stoof that's great about your contract being extended covering another post.

I'm watching "Supernanny" just to get an idea of what to do when DD gets older and then off to bed for an early night I hope!

GF I echo Abs very impressive and the wraps not bad either

I've just done a milk audit: 80oz in the freezer and 21oz in the fridge. My plan is to get to 94oz in the freezer (as that's 14oz x 7) which will be weeks worth of days. I type knowing full well, but I will still panic and next aim for 7 days of 25oz . You never know......

Enjoy the period free time, I feel cheated.

We're off to buy some 3-6months vests tomorrow as she seems a bit short for her ones. That's probably more to with the bumbgenius nappies than her. I do think though she is the weight of 3-6months, even though she's not in that weight category yet.

Also there's a old Spanish days fiesta festival all weekend, so off to check out the markets.

Quick post - was in the understairs cupboard getting the hoover out and found my old yoga mat. Discovered that DS loves rolling around on it as it has a bit of traction, it's not slippery at all he's really getting places. This is probably obvious but I hadn't thought of it.

Very jealous of period-free people. I had one and promptly had a Mirena coil fitted as last time it stopped them. But this time it hasn't! Grr.

Can't remember who asked but my DDs don't share a room. I don't know the secret to good sleeping, but I do think a bedtime routine helps them go to sleep. Ours isn't rocket science: bath, story, milk, bed. But it works, they both go to sleep within a few minutes with no need for company or crying. It also means that wherever we are in the world, as soon as we do the bath, they know the cues and seem to start winding down, so will (usually) do the same even if we aren't at home.

We have had times with DD1 when she has struggled to go to sleep on her own and we haven't fought it, just said we'll stay in the doorway for a few minutes as long as you don't talk to us and try to sleep (and sit with a book). After a couple of nights, we move to the top of the stairs and do something a bit noisy so she knows we're there, then we can stop. I think we've been through that twice, but it's not been arduous and we have knocked it in less than a week.

I'm going to try yogurt today with DD2 as she is six months - well, it's a well known brand of fromage frais with fruit puree in it. She's been getting constipated so I'm hoping the extra liquid in that will help. I'm hoping we don't have a GF moment!

I have a routine with my DD that's similar to yours watercress, and she does wind down, goes to sleep no problem, no crying, happy to be put down but she wakes up bang on 10 o'clock for her feed, then bang on 2am and 5am... she is like clockwork! I have no problem getting her back to sleep, I just can't keep her asleep through the night!!! I don't know if I should refuse her the night time feed at 5? Any ideas? She is five months today.

Abs Sorry no help, but I've also been wondering if a different tactic is required for in the night feeds. I do remember reading somewhere that they might not have the capacity until they weight 16lbs, but then I know of plenty of babies are sleep through before they weigh this amount.

We have the same bed routine each day, but she doesn't just go off. We've had a few nights of her going to sleep in the cot, but it took over an hour. Just needing some mild intervention.

Day time naps are something else I think she's got too used to movement as well, especially since she's out a lot in the day. She usually has a big little cry each time.

Mine are the same as watercress... Dd2 put herself into a well known routine at a few days old (repeat herself ) and only ever wanted feeding once a night at 3 and dropped that at 6 weeks old. I guess some babies just like their sleep...

I figure that since I'm not very good at sleeping through the night, I can't expect LO to either. DH slept through the night at 6 weeks, apparently I was two years, so I wonder who she takes after.

Thank you for the new thread IC!

Abs my DD is like yours, she goes down no problem but then wakes at 1, 5, 6, 7 then 8 when I give in and get up (I know 8 is late but I just can't seem to get out of bed before then ). In fact her 1am waking is getting earlier and earlier, tonight it was just gone midnight so it was only four hours since her last feed. Now I'm wondering if she's hungry. I've always thought that my BM is enough for her, but if she's waking earlier and earlier - should I give solids and if so what ?!

Sorry not to answer to everyones' posts. Is late, I've hosted a dinner party with DP tired and hungover from going out last night (very frowned upon by me) and he's gone to bed leaving the clearing up to me. He might have done it tomorrow but we have guests and I can't bear coming down to a dirty kitchen .

Thank you for the new thread IC!

Abs my DD is like yours, she goes down no problem but then wakes at 1, 5, 6, 7 then 8 when I give in and get up (I know 8 is late but I just can't seem to get out of bed before then ). In fact her 1am waking is getting earlier and earlier, tonight it was just gone midnight so it was only four hours since her last feed. Now I'm wondering if she's hungry. I've always thought that my BM is enough for her, but if she's waking earlier and earlier - should I give solids and if so what ?!

Sorry not to answer to everyones' posts. Is late, I've hosted a dinner party with DP tired and hungover from going out last night (very frowned upon by me) and he's gone to bed leaving the clearing up to me. He might have done it tomorrow but we have guests and I can't bear coming down to a dirty kitchen .

Whoops.

A bit more time today as DS is content on the yoga mat! It's lovely and grippy and machine washable for the sicky bits too, thanks Bear what a fab idea, he's much less frustrated as he can get some purchace!

Fizi and CC, DS just started sleeping longer than 4 hours of his own accord in the last couple of weeks. He's just turned 6 months and about 17lb. With hindsight I think it was the 4 month growth spurt/ sleep regression tied with lots more moving about activity meaning he just needed the calories. It's amazing now he sometimes sleeps 7 or 8 hours in the last 10 days or so, not guaranteed though! Hugs cause it's hard, hard work. It ill pass. Your BM is the most calorific food you can give so as long as wet/dirty nappies continue they're getting what they need foodwise.

We started solids yesterday with avocado and carrot, he fed himself with the spoon and was shockingly efficient, more today :) No dirty nappies since though, wondering what lovely surprises will be on store

I don't know how people cope without slings and baby carriers, mine have been a godsend and the pushchair is only really used by Granny now. www.slingguide.co.uk has some helpful info.

Have a lovely Sunday

I have no advice on getting them to drop night feeds as my DDs just stretched out sleeping in between and dropped them of their own accord. The 6am one took a long while to go for DD2 but eventually it did. Sleep deprivation is the hardest thing about babies - hang in there and it will get better. Really.

I'm not sure about the 16lb thing as both my DDs were well under that when they started sleeping through. I thought there was a theory about babies doubling their birthweight and then being able to sleep through. Or is that when you wean them? Oh dear. Suffice to say, this didn't apply for my two.

Remember that formula fed babies do tend to sleep longer stretches than breast fed, mainly because it is less digestible and heavier in their tummies, and both my DDs have been on formula since three weeks old (because my BM dried up, which i was very sad about).

It will happen. It will. I promise.

Hugs.

FWIW I think that getting them to go to sleep on their own is the key. They will sort out the waking for feeds as and when they are ready.

But I'm no expert.

Oh thanks Watercress for your words of wisdom and encouragement. I'm sure it will get better. In fact last night it wasn't bad at all. We went to friends for dinner and she slept in her pram from 7pm to 11.30pm. Took her home and fed her and then she didn't wake until 4.30am!!! And then slept til 6.15.... which is pretty good for her! The sad part is that I had insomnia, and lay awake from 4.30 onwards, I just couldn't get back to sleep... WHY oh WHY!!!! That really is sod's law, isn't it?

I'm a bit today because I thought I'd found a really brilliant nanny to look after DD two mornings a week from October... she sounded PERFECT. Anyway, I wrote her an email asking the important question about whether or not she likes dogs (important for us as we have two who are part of the family) and she just replied to say she was uncomfortable around dogs - Aaagh! What a shame!

Oh meant to say... Fizi how many weeks is your DD? I have no experience but what SunnyMummy and Watercress say makes sense... Here is wishing you a decent night's sleep... and to all you other sleep deprived mums too! Hugs all round

Funnily enough, I've been working on getting LO to sleep on her own for the last week. Only one failure so far.

She did used to go down on her own, but I think during her massive fussy stage combined with teething and general four month crap, we indulged her for a bit too long.

Next thing I'm working on is the night time ones. I'm normally too tired to attempt to put her back in her cot so just dump her down in the middle of the bed. Now that she's going to sleep on her own (admittedly with frequent turnings over and dummy replacements atm, but getting less and less) maybe she won't do that weird waking up after 10 mins that she had been doing.

Sorry about your nanny woes abs

We've just got a bread machine and are watching it with excitement for the first time. We really need a babysitter for a real night out.

She grabbed a piece of nectarine of DH today as he walked past, figured who am I to stand in the way. She then proceeded to munch quite happily on it. We'll continue to only offer her stuff as and when it's easy to. Think I felt under pressure (from ILs naturally) to try, but apart from mashed up carrot its always been finger food when it happens to be out. Once 6 months hit, then we'll aim to offer her food once a day. Inflatable IKEA cushion on order.

Enough ramblings from me, lets see how tonight goes

ps the yoga mat is a great idea, been meaning to get one anyway so will get onto that pronto

Wow! a lot of people are back on the new thread, nice to hear from you all.

GF nice mei tai and nice baby.
How is Guernesey? Is it bigger or smaller than Jersey. I can't remember. Thinking about the future as we can't go back to france this year, but it is on our list for visites while at my dad's. Not sure if we have to wait till DD1 is older though or not. Is there anything else to "see" than V. Hugo?

Can't remember all that have been said, and no I don't know how to answer and paste.... Not very bright!

DH now has what the girls had so I know it is definitely some kind of viral rash but which one? I can rule out chicken pox, hand foot and mouth, and roseola as DD1 already had them. Apparently MMR doesn't insure a full protection so it can still be measles or rubeola... grr
I had it all so I am protected lucky me

I have to go as DD1 being better is now bouncing of the walls waiting for her sister to get better... why do they keep up so quick? (I need time to rest after an illness!

pick up os quick

Abs that's such a shame about the nanny

Thanks for your compliments on the mei tai and DS.

I have to thank the creator of the door bouncer as it permits me to have a 10 mn break from DS being in my arms or me been seated on the floor to support him while he seats or wants to roll or crawl. He is so determined to do things that I wonder what the future will be once he can do those thinks (ie. seating, crawling, stand up and walk...)

mamaloco Guernsey is smaller than Jersey. You can visit the local museum, the castle, some of the German fortifications and if you enjoy walking there are dozens of walks either along the flat coast, the cliff coast, or on the quiet lanes in the inside... (I use to work at the visitor centre, can you notice it? ) plus the beaches if you just want to enjoy the sun.

... I bought some tomatos from Guernsey today... [totally irrelevant post emoticon]