FESH spa and creche: Is anyone thinking of the children yet?

[SkiHorseWonAWean]

New Fred. Apologies for dullness of title - we need curly for witticisms.

There will always be a pocket of mush for your LO Cossie....just sometimes you may struggle to find it or forget it's there when Wham! it hits you again.

Scrapes wound for ideas....have you tried warming the sheet with a hot-water bottle???

Gah wound round

cos Rastus wouldn't sleep in his moses basket until we turned him on his side - he has always had a prob sleeping on his back for whatever reason. He has slept on his front from about 3 weeks old

Stay aries - some might say you've queue jumped, but what the hell? I think with all the contraception and getting our menfolk "done" around here all the ickle sperms are heading your way. Or something.

That's how it works, Ski, deffo.

cossie We had this problem big time with Bonnie. I really do sympathise. They have spent 9 months really close to our bodies, with the warmth, movement and noises, and sleeping on your chest is the closest thing to this they can find.

With Bonnie we eventually found that gradual steps was the best method to get her off me. I'd let her fall asleep on me, then put her into the basket next to me on the bed but keep my arm against her body / gently rubbing her chest. We had the basket on the bed for weeks.

Then I moved it next to the bed but so I could still reach her to reassure her with my hand or rock the basket - I learnt to 'sleep' with my arm out of bed jiggling the basket. She also wanted a dummy and this eventually gave her some sense of calm.

Clyde is not like this, which is a bit of a surprise. I had even bought a special rocking moses basket stand in preparation, which we haven't even needed. It's now leaning against the wall so you are welcome to it if you think it might help.

I'm sure I've got loads of other tips on this and will post more if I remember.

We just ended up co-sleeping - t'was the only way I got some sleep. We're happy with that but obv doesn't work for all.

You could try putting a hot water bottle in the moses basket to warm it. Remove it before putting Artie in!! It just means it's warm for him like you are. You could also sleep one night with one of his sheets around you then pop that in so it smells of you.

Comma wouldn't be put down even for a moment for weeks so co-sleeping was the only way of getting some sleep. But we have a very big bed so it's easy to do. I carried him everywhere (still do) in a sling as he wouldn't go down in a pram. It drove me to the end of distraction but to be fair to him he was just used to being cuddled and warm and didn't understand not being held.

Despite the dire warnings from my mum, and people saying, "he has to learn", he's starting now to go in a bouncy chair for up to 20 minutes and a swing for an hour or so when he's asleep. He sleeps really well at night and he's away from us in our huge bed so doesn't need our warmth or cuddles anymore so I would now use the carrycot only I find it easier to feed him in our bed.

I still carry him in the sling rather than using the pram because I prefer it and find it easier to use. He loves it which is a bonus but will happily go in the pram now, too.

I don't know if that helps but it's just what worked for us. I personally think the only time doing the holding them all the time thing is a problem is if it's a problem for the parents as it can be so tiring. The babies need that reassurance if they're that kind of child and I don't worry about spoiling them - more allowing them a slow transition from womb to the world and they do make it in their own time.

But it doesn't work for everyone. :)

Tight swaddling worked for me Cos. I think it is also quite nice that they lie to sleep on mummy

Plz to tell about swaddling and recommended said blankets.

I await your wisdom.....

I just used cellular blankets from mothercare, no fancy smancy swaddling blankets.

Oh yes, that's it! Swaddling vey important! Have them swaddled when holding on you, then they don't notice so much when you put them down as they are still warm and wrapped.

silver I am a bit of a swaddling blanket nut, though I agree anything will do. I just like the lovely fine blankets that you can get. Also Clyde was a summer baby so this even more important. Depending on temp, I vary between this, this, and this.

cos Another thing - I did feel a lot of the holding on the chest was to do with ease of breathing when upright, so raising the head of the basket or cot is advantageous. A couple of folded up towels on the stand will lift the basket nicely.

my little houdini escaped every single swaddle I put her in last night. Time to buy a Woombie, I think.

I didn't buy a "swaddle" - I just used whatever was lying around. [cheap bastard/bad parent emoticon]

When he screams like a nutter it's sometimes the thing to make him settle - also if he's over-tired and is refusing to sleep, then swaddling will get him off. However, he hates having his arms restricted and sometimes it'll make him even more furious!

He was snuffling this morning at 3:30 after his feed so I rubbed a little Vicks on the straps of his sleeping bag.

Cossie - jailbait has finally agreed that we can use the sleeping bag you bought Bear. Thank you - it's sooooo cute and a wonderful fit now. I do understand where jailbait was coming from - when we first brought him home he was far too small for the bag and we were both paranoid about him wriggling down it but it's all good now.

Am very pleased to hear that your frozen heart has melted (didn't doubt it for a moment anyway! ) - loved your photos - that is the poshest chair I've ever seen! Also, your house. Pls to describe location of dust balls? House too perfect.

oh i never bought an actual swaddle blanket. Just use normal ones. Squeaks wants her arms out, but unless she's zonked she ends up battering her own face all night, so we try to keep her contained. Think a straight jacket would be better.

I swaddled until the Houdini phase. I heard that once they start trying to escape the swaddle then best not to swaddle them at all. Mini Cokie also liked white noise to get him off to sleep. Now, Moo will berate me here for another hairdryer reference but the hairdryer worked a trick. I guess it was hearing it every day in wombular which was a familiar sound. I also placed him in front of the washing machine (when it was on) in his Doo Moo seat and that would send him off to sleep too. The tricks we all use hey?

FP I like your swaddles!

my problem is that Squeaks will go to sleep very easily. It's the waking herself up after the first few hours that is a problem. She is such a wriggler. I might try putting her down swaddled from the armpits down tonight. She is never swaddled for daytime naps. Thanks for advice Okie.

thanks for sleeping suggestions, will try them out.

we have been co sleeping, but I don't get much rest as I am paranoid - our bed isn't v big so not much room. He'll happily sleep away from me in the day, just not at night - have a feeing its a warmth thing so wil try hwb.

ski cleaning lady! I adore her.

Clyde didn't like his arms in the swaddle either. He's in sleeping bags full time now. Like you ski we were nervous when trying Bonnie in sleeping bags as she was so little at the start. No such problems with Arnold Sylvester Clyde!

cos You are totally describing my experience with Bonnie. I was so nervous with the co-sleeping I simply wouldn't let myself go to sleep. It will get better. Promise.

P.S. I have a cleaning lady but my house doesn't look like that.

Bear doesn't like his arms being swaddled - however, he uses them to keep himself awake - so when we're desperate enough to swaddle - we're desperate enough to straight-jacket him!

cossie 'tis all normal I think. I still have feelings of "I will stay awake to make sure he's still breathing" - but so many of the FESHes successfully co-sleep and cunty's stuck 2 fingers up to the 'stablishment.

Oh yes, Rastus sleeps on his front, next to me. Under the duvet.

W00t! I have an interview tomorrow with the Benelux general manager of the mostimportantcompanyinmyfield (techie stuff)! Truth be told, I don't want the job... but I've not had an interview in 10 years and have completely lost my bottle.

Now, general rule is "tits oot" right?

cunty If he wakes up in the night do you dip his dummy in whisky to get him off again?

What is this 'wake during the night' of which you speak?

Good luck with your interview. Do try and remember to put both your tits back in your bra won't you? I've just been to the post office with one out of its holder. Had a jumper on, I should add...

Bra? Am now having suit dilemma as do not fit in to any. :( Sooooo... billowing maternity dress, jodhpurs or jeans?

maternity dress and jeans with low slung belt?