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

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did the last half a year go??!

Hi Stangirl, oh you shouldn't feel dispirited at your LO's progress! They are all different, and progress at different rates. My DD for instance has no interest in eating at all. I manage to persuade her to eat a few baby spoonfuls of whatever we're having and that is really it. She is nowhere near what she 'should' be eating for 8 months. But I'm being as chilled about it as I can; she'll get there in her own time (I hope).

bc I am feeling very broody too. But also havn't started periods yet. My cousin said that all her BF friends started around the year mark (all still feeding too) so I'm assuming that's when they will return! On a very scientific sample of about five!

Re the night feeds - have you tried giving him a bottle of expressed milk instead of BF when he wakes? I was sure that my DD was waking at night to feed for the comfort rather than the hunger (or she wasn't hungry for every feed - she was feeding as much as every hour). Now she has one bottle of expressed milk per night, and does wake less... but not only once per night, yet . The other times it's for dummy resettles. Blimmin dummy. No energy to tackle that one, yet, thoug.

Ah gotta go. Post not finished. Will finish later hopefully

stangirl my DD isn't crawling yet, so your is more advanced than mine. She crawls backwards and rocks on all fours, but hasn't mastered forwards yet. And to be honest, I'm quite relieved!

IC I have no sleep secrets. I'm just lucky! I do think there's something in letting them settle themselves though - both my DDs were put in their cots awake from an early age and I think it helps them to go to sleep on their own and so if they wake during the night then they know what to do. But it's much easier when they are on bottles to do that - and I'm such a lousy breastfeeder (only managed it for three weeks with both of my girls) that it just kind of happened for me.

My DD2 also does that excited nose breathing thing. I find it very cute. Less so when DD1 copies her!

Good luck to those of you thinking about TTC. I'm so done it's not even funny. I simply couldn't endure another pregnancy - if I'd had the pregnancy with DD1 that I had with DD2, I wouldn't have had another one. Seriously. But then DD1's birth was so traumatic, it took DD2's to get over it. And DD2's was hardly plain sailing!

stoof I'm kind of jealous of your tailored skirt. May I ask how your boils are (it was you wasn't it?)?

....

I feel really despondent this morning. Lost count of how many times DD woke last night. Mostly dummy resettles, straight back to sleep, but I am so, so tired. Took her into bed and fed her at 5.30 when she thought it was morning, and got another hour's sleep out of her (hooray!). She won't eat breakfast, or she won't eat baby cereals anyway. Yet whenever DH gives her breakfast, at the weekends, apparently she gobbles it down. She is knawing on some toast (post nap) but most of it goes on the floor, so that is not really 'eating'. Why won't my baby eat?! I am really trying not to stress about it but I am starting to worry when everyone else's baby seems to eat for England (or Germany, France, Spain, and so on and so forth...).

I thought she didn't like my home-cooked food but I have tried her on food from jars twice, and she wouldn't eat that either.

Sleep deprivation is horrible isn't it! I was in such a good mood yesterday .

Oh poor you scones... don't worry! I think it's really important not to show any emotion when feeding them as they pick up on our anxieties. This sounds really strange but my DD started refusing food from her weaning spoon so I gave her a real spoon and because that's what I was using she really took to it! Every time she decides she doesn't want to eat I look for other ways of presenting it to her. It's frustrating though because some times I spend ages making food and she just turns her head away... so the dogs have it instead!

Hello Mawbroon long time no hear... I like you am not a regular although I do read everything and drop in when I can!

I too am broody but no signs of periods here either! We are going to Paris in a few weeks time where DD was conceived so maybe it will happen then!

DP is coming home this Friday after nearly six weeks away! Hooray! I am having waxing, pedicure and haircut today so will hopefully make me look a bit better as I feel like crap!

Watercress and Stangirl my DD has no intention of crawling yet. She sits and plays for hours and has learned to stretch and reach any toy that strays... she can crawl backwards but doesn't really like being on her tummy. I am enjoying the peace and quiet!

Ah, scones, that's rotten.
Maybe it's time to go cold turkey with the dummy - accept a few nights of hell, but after that, hopefully....??
Agree about the weaning being stressful if LO won't eat. Lots of advice available on the weaning forum, if you haven't tried there already.

Good stuff on the imminent return of your DP, Abs!

Ah, stangirl, sounds like your LO's going great guns!! No crawling here, either. It's hard not to feel down when your DC's development seems to lag behind in some areas, but they all get things sorted at different rates,no?!

Oh scones, hope you are feeling better. The best advice I ever heard about babies who refuse to eat is to stop giving jars and purees and go on to "real" food. They may continue to refuse it for a while, but they will eventually eat it and it will be the stuff you want them to be on in the end. And it means that it's not so frustrating as them refusing something you have slaved over/paid good money for that nobody else will eat. It will sort itself out. In the meantime, why not give little bits of whatever you are having to eat? If it's from your plate, it may seem more tempting... Or try yogurts and breadsticks - I've yet to come across a child who will refuse either!

As for the sleep, it's really hard, isn't it? If it were me, I'd be dropping the dummy, but I know that's not for everyone. Hope it gets better for you.

Abs enjoy your DP being back - sound like you are going to with all the beautifying you are planning?!

scones poor you on the sleeping front. I'm probably going to be crucified but have you try giving your DD some calpol before putting her down for the night? I did that for my DS when I suspected he may have teething pains and was very unsettle and night and it made a difference. No advice on the food but if your DH has more success can it be because he's not as worried as you are? As Abs said, our LO feel our stress level.

stan your DD is doing great, they are all different. Some may do more stuff now but in a few years time, yours may do more. As long as she's an happy baby. And to be fair, I would be glad if mine wasn't crawling, I'll be more rested!

Abs have a great time in Paris. I'm soo on the pampering.

I've been signed off sick until the end of the week with a chest infection and asthma crisis. As DS will still go to nursery, I may be able to colour my hair (this was bought 3 months ago ), repair some trousers and sew some buttons and name tags. Obviously, I'll also put my feet up and rest

I'm not broody as yet as I have decided that I'll start nagging talking to DH in February 2011. Hopefully by that time, my diabetes will be back to normality.

Quick post to share things I have found keep DS eating for longer.

Giving him food to hold while I spoon puree in (finger of toast, steamed veg stick, organix carrot puff thing, rice cake - but not to put too much in front of him at once, just one or two items).

Sitting him in front of the laptop or telly with an 'in the night garden' DVD on.

Giving him plastic stacking cups to bang together while I spoon stuff in.

Getting DH to feed him!

Bringing the spon to his mouth from below and sort og tickkling his lower lip with it - often he opens wide for that but not always.

Not overloading the spoon (think mamaloco put me right on this one because I used to)

Making funny noises or singing along with songs on youtube.

DD comes on and off food, just try to let her get on with it. Fruit very rarely fails though (but sometimes have to change the fruit). Melon is a favourite atm, gone right off orange.

DD stood yesterday, only for 10 secs. I think she was more surprised than us. Looks like she went to start crawling pushed too hard and stood up instead.

Stangirl I reiterate, I'll take the sleeping over mobility anyday.

Think this new development thing is going to throw sleep for a little while. She's been a milk monster and it's hard to tell whether it's comfort or not.

It weird after those two months of her being so difficult to feed, I'd assumed she'd never use me for comfort. It's nice (if slightly inconvenient). It would also appear I'm her favourite (which I'm ashamed to say I love) another thing I didn't think would happen. Glad I've kept up BF. At times though, I have to hide as if she see's me say when DH is feeding her, she will stop and then cry if I go away again.

pampering . I shaved my legs the other day, does that count , oh and they got moisturized this morning because I'm wearing a dress,

ps it's sunny and high 20's atm

Right back to post more in between cooking supper.

IC Thank you for the tip of putting him down still awake. Last night I did that, I gave him a long, leisurely feed and when I put him down I made sure he woke up and I zipped him into his sleeping bag and he fell straight back to sleep. He woke for a grimble around 9 and DH sat with him. I thought he was going to start really crying but he didn't. It took a while, and I think DH took his laptop in there and just sat there but eventually he dropped off. Then he woke just the once - around 3.45 and I gave him a feed and then he slept until 6.20.

He had 2 good one hour naps today and went down nicely at 7 (again, I woke him up to zip him in) so fingers crossed.

CC Excellent about the standing and well done for continuing expressing and BFing.

Oh bugger the food's ready I will have to come back yet again...

Thank you for all the good wishes...well I have had my hair cut, my bikini line and legs waxed, a relaxing facial and a pedicure... I feel FANTASTIC! I have to say that waxing really doesn't hurt much compared to giving birth!

Really hoping that my DD sleeps through til her feed at 2. She had a really good nap today and went down easily at 6.30. I just don't know what wakes her up! Last night she woke up SCREAMING at 10.30, so I stuck her in bed with me on the boob until 7.40 this morning ... I'm still trying to come up with a routine that takes in two dog walks and now the time change. The day is suddenly really short!

Fingers crossed you have another good night BC and obviously everyone else with sleep issues too.

Hope you feel better GF, it sounds like you have week planned...

No wonder you feel so good Abs, of Paris, but hope it does it trick and you have a great time.

I do not understand why there're some good nights and for what seems no reasons some bad ones? DS normally only wakes up once during the night around 4am but last night I've been up 4 times.

He's now crawling while whinging. He whinges everytimes he crawls like if he wants me to know that he doesn't not want to do it but will much prefer walk.

Right, sorry - good morning Didn't get back online last night, we are watching the box set of the Sopranos and we watched another ep with dinner and then went straight to bed at 9.30.

AbsB - Stoppit! I am so jealous. The spa treatments sound just the ticket. I hope you have a lovely reunion and a fab time in Paris.

GF - No, have pondered that one myself but I've come to the conclusion that there is no rhyme or reason. There are things you can do to guarantee a bad night (not enough daytime naps, waiting until they are overtired etc) but I don't think there's anything you can do to guarantee a good one. I find it best to blame bad nights on "a developmental leap" and that way you feel better because it means progess in other areas.

CC High 20s and a sundress?

scones Yes, sleep deprivation is horrible. It colours everything and makes you feel negative about every aspect of your life, even your beautiful baby. I always end up rowing with DH after a bad night. I hope you had a better night last night. Thank you for the tip about expressed milk. I will try it if things get bad consistently again.

Stangirl As the others said, they all do things at their own pace and that is what's normal for them. My DS only started to crawl about a week ago but he's fast too and also goes for - phones, wires, DVD/Sky box, remotes, shoes (so he can lick the soles) and anything paper (to eat).

We had a second good night!

He woke once around 1 and I went into his room and fed him and fell asleep myself sitting up for about an hour and a half (going by what time I thought it was when I got up and what time it was when I went back to bed but it seemed like about 5 mins to me).

Yesterday he pulled himself to standing for the first time and is doing it all the time now.

Seeing my mum today and going to baby gym.

I should be resting... So this morning I have cleaned up my sewing stuff (this include climbing on a chair to reach the top of the wardrobe), change the bedding in our bed, cook some veg for DS meal, put the shopping away, prepare my DH dinner, deal with the laundry. I'm now knackered and comfortably seated on the sofa. I may even sleep

BC glad that you had a good night and enjoyed baby gym

CC sundress?! How lucky

GF stop doing the housework and SIT DOWN!! Or better still, have a nap. Is your DS at nursery? I too would be torn between getting things done at home that I couldn't usually, and having a rest. But you need rest to get well, so rest up! Hope you feel better soon.

I am feeling a lot better today . Thanks for your kind words everyone. Today I dont' mind so much that she doesn't eat. She refused fish pie for lunch, even when I cannily (I thought) hid some under some yoghurt, which she loves. If babies can survive on yoghurt and rice cakes then she'll be ok . I tell myself that if we were doing BLW, she probably wouldn't be eating much by this stage anyway. I am offering her 'real' food - it's usually whatever we had for dinner last night, but mashed a bit with a fork. I wonder what she'll think tomorrow of tonight's tuna pie... (I can guess ).

Thanks for the feeding time distraction tips bc. Distraction occasionally works, but only for a few spoonfuls (and we're talking weaning spoons here) and then the mouth clamps shut again. She is just not interested. It will come in time. I will not still be BF her when she goes to school (I hope ).

Abs you must be so thrilled that your DP is due back after six weeks. My goodness, you deserve a medal for coping with your DD and two dogs on your own for that time. I am at DH for continuing to play hockey every Saturday as it's one more day that I do the childcare, plus one less day that we spend together as a family. (And I always told my mum off for being cross with my stepdad for going to football every other weekend. Well, now I know why, and I take it back!!) I would have packed up and gone to my mum's for sure. Bloody good for you. I hope you have an excellent time in Paris. Are you taking DD?

CC sunny... high 20s.... new dress... just stop it!!

As for sleeping.... Last night was better with only two wake-ups. But she has decided that 5am is the new 7am . A quick BF gets another hour's sleep, but I'm worried that she'll like it and continue to wake up for it. But I can't start the day at 5am! I just can't . I don't know how some of you do it.

Oh yeah - and spoke to my boss yesterday and he reckons I am going to be made redundant . Spoke to HR and they spouted the HR line of 'we'll try to find you something blah blah blah' but I'm not holding out much hope as I'm well aware there isn't anything. So I may well be out of a job. And there is nothing in my contract re redundancy, so my skinflint company will just pay me statutory which is capped at £380 per week. So I'll get the grand total of £760. It is better than nothing. But I would rather, much rather, have had a job (yes, the very job I hate and don't want to go back to, that one ).

Scones :(

GF Hope your chest is better. I hate when my asthma is up.

Sleep has gone to pot, but it normally does when she does new things. Annoying thing is that there's usually a gap between when we first does it, to then doing it again. She's now up at 5 (well DH is not me) having been going through to 6 and has a extra feed at 12. This is what kills me as it's every 2 hrs from 10pm-2am. I feel like I'm chasing my tail for the rest of the night. Also not going to sleep in the first place until 7:30 vs 6pm

She still has a poorly voice as well.

She is well cute though, since she's been awake when I get in, we sit on the sofa eating my dinner. Our landlord gave us some baby toys and she's been thoroughly enjoying the newness. One of them is those stackable cups, so she's been discovering the joy of knocking things over.

Scones chin up. Sending you a hug.

CC as you got asthma, do you think your DD will? I'm just curious as everybody, even my GP is predicting me that DS will have asthma especially as he's wheezy and already using an inhaler to help. I'm full of admiration for you and all the others still BF and feeding at night I've been lucky DS stopped feeding at night at 4 months.

I normally put DS down to bed, give him his bottle and then stay until he falls asleep holding my hand. Today, I left him still awake and there's been a few whinges but he seems to have settle himself down all by himself!! I'm probably counting my chickens (let's find a piece of wood)

Have your LO injured themselves while crawling? DS has a 'sock' burn on his big toe which I guess is linked to his caterpillar crawling. I'll from now put shoes on him when he goes to nursery it'll also help him not standing on the tip of his toes.

Oh cups are a big favourite here too CC!
Scones so sorry about your job... that is crap!
Yes, so thrilled about DP coming home although he is off again next Wednesday! I've told him he should think about retraining as a plumber or an electrician as he is missing out on his DD growing up! He's basically touring until Christmas...

I'm taking my mum to Paris as well, as DP will be working all day and late into the night. I just thought it would be nice for DD to have breakfast with her dad. I'm also hoping DD might like to sleep with grandma to give her parents some 'grown up' time!

The dogs have been a challenge arseholes during DP's absence. They have rolled in shit nearly every day so I've had to wash them nearly every morning! Thinking of incorporating dog wash into my daily routine, ridiculous! I've threatened a holiday at Battersea dogs home if they don't improve

Anyone watching 'Madmen'? I'm thinking of starting next week....

GF I assuming nothing (hoping she has her fathers constitution), but she hasn't had any bad colds yet and I think the research suggests that if they get hit hard with those, chances are more likely asthma will develop. (That's probably more to do with if you have asthma you get hit hard with colds and not the other way around)

I think they key thing is just know what symptoms, maybe keep a record of wheezing. It's hard because they can't diagnose it for a few years.

I think I read that you pass the fact that they will probably have allergens, what allergies they will have is not pre-determined and doesn't necessarily link to what you have. Also you have different asthma triggers.

Sorry it's just wait and see, but hope both your chests clear soon.

We didn't have crawling injuries as she learnt to pull herself to standing at pretty much the same time, (which caused a lot of bruises)

thanks for the BF comments as well. I'm still in a wall with expressing, but I'll hopefully get over that soon enough.

Abs (and all the others) I couldn't imagine not having DH. I couldn't work for one, or rest when I get home. I'm full of admiration (and sympathy).

Have a wonderful time, Abs!

Aw, scones, that's really crap news. So sorry to hear your company doesn't know a good thing when it's right in front of them.... I hope you find something else ASAP.

GF - give yourself a rest, for heaven's sake!!! Get well soon.

CC I read in one of my baby books about babies sometimes getting hoarse voices. I think the general conclusion was it's just one of those things and nothing to worry about.

Still no crawling here, but DD pulled herself out of her play donut yesterday (didn't hurt herself) so that's another place I can't safely leave her.

Mind you, she's just cut another tooth - her fifth in six weeks and another one looks like it'll be through within the next few days. I think it's all the Greek yoghurt we're giving her, loads of extra calcium driving the teeth development

Luckily, the teeth haven't caused her too much gyp so far. We've only had a couple of nights where she was restless because of (I surmise) gum tenderness. Otherwise, her sleep hasn't been too bad lately. In fact the night before last, she had the best night since she was born, only waking once between 19.00 and 06.00

Glad to hear you've had some better nights, bc - hope I haven't jinxed things by saying so!!

A new sundress, how lovely CC! It's chilly here in the mornings, but the afternoons are still in the mid twenties at times. Just as well, given the necessary pram naps. What the hell am I going to do when DD grows out of the pram? I really hope she'll sleep in the buggy (the cot would be even better, but I'm trying to be realistic...)