Dec 08 Ladies - Waiting for BabyLady & the usual grumpy tots with stinky bots

[DeidreBarlow]

Hope this is ok...

Hello all! Work crazily and stressfully busy so haven't had time to MN - damn it! - and feel like I haven't caught up for ever. By the time I do the Dec 08 babies will be starting university. And you'll have adopted my Dutch identical twin spotted by Veggie instead.

Anyway just popped in to wave before I go and try and sleep. DD has been very tricky since I got back - despite my hopes that she'd forget about BFing it was pretty much the first thing she asked for when she saw me. So she's sort of feeding, but not getting a lot I think, and now won't feed to sleep either. It took us an hour to get her to sleep tonight - most of it howling . Aghh! I guess we need to teach her a new bedtime routine. Advice please! How do you get your little ones to sleep - right at the sleepy bit I mean, not the bath/book bit? (DD gets feral when she is tired, so I rarely can just read her a calming book, and she hates baths anyway..)

Hello Kiwi!
Good to have you back. I'm a bit ill with a bad cold so in front of the computer most of the day (hence my hogging of the board tonight)
I never had that feeding to sleep thing as ds was only BF until 5 months. We did the supernanny thing ie went back and first time when he cried made sure he was ok etc, 2nd time left it longer and didn't talk then the third time left him longer etc but I think he settled himself by then and that was when he was really young.If it was now ie: (when we first put him in big boy bed at 17 months) we did the CC thing and it worked a treat. No good if you're too soft though. For bedtime routine, I usually give him dinner around 6pm and then bath at 630 and a cup of milk while he watches a bit of telly or a story (these days more often telly (I heart you Sky channel 623&614 )then bed at 7pm and he usually protests when we put him to bed for about 5 mins or so then gets back in and falls asleep. Last two nights he's been waking a couple of times before we go to bed and after we gel him, check he's alright, nappy, give him some water, we then leave him and he usually cries for only 5 mins or so. Occasionally he'll cry longer and I'll go back in but I don't talk to him at all - just put him back into bed. A lot of times though we've skipped bath etc or been out later but he usually just crashes out in the car and then goes to bed. I don't think there's harm in CC at this age - just check that she is ok in all lother areas - I sometimes use medised or calpol night if he is really badly teething and hasn't eaten well also. it works a treat to relax and comfort them.
I think it sounds like your dd is used to the boobing to bed, and just needs to learn to self settle. I'm no sleep guru though - but that's how things have worked here. Hope it calms down soon for you x

Hi Kiwi, sorry you are under the cosh at work. I think Rubes has given good advice and don't have anything helpful to add (wish I did). Hope it improves. We use a Sleep Sheep as I have mentioned before, and another bunny thing that plays a tinkly tune - for no other reason than it signifies to DD that it is 'night' and just all a bit Pavlovian.

Sybs, that sounds rotten - is that they teacher you had to tackle? Poor you and poor Lucy.

Spot - great that you have got ABs for little T. Hope they kick in asap. Maybe tonight?

You are dead right, Beans, we are marvellous. And how I hate those 'burns right through the clothes' poos...Wow, is your DH really that keen that you have to fend him off for a week? I am jealous! Mind you, I look like Humpty right now. GLad the coil has settled though. I am letting DP get on with the buggy business, but you have all reassured me, though it was him that needed the reassuring!

Effie, how amazing for you all to have access to a car now. Hurrah!

DP was speechless at DD's hair for a full five minutes. He says my punishment should be getting my Mum to cut MY hair with blunt kitchen scissors when I go up there tomorrow. Pooh! I am off to Vidal Sassoon in Knightsbridge next Tuesday, thank you very much!

Rubes, after saying Boden for pyjamas I was looking at the catalogue which popped through my letterbox yesterday. They have some nice velvet slippers as well.

RIght, off to London early in the morn and then weebling off up to Mum's until Sat morn. Will be reading on phone. Big love to all.

Hello. Kiwi - good to see you! DD1 is RUBBISH at going to sleep (apart from last night!) at night, so have cut her afternoon sleep right down. I put her down at 1.00 and get her up at 2, regardless of when she's gone to sleep. It means she's exhausted by bedtime! Even then, she will often hang on til about 8.30 before dropping off.

But for bedtime, I tend to do the telly and story thing, then pop her into bed, where she lies there playing and alternately screaming. I go in a few times just to check she's ok, which she usually is. She eventually goes to sleep. But I do have to ignore her for ages. Thing is, I figure once she's in her cot, she's safe, so the screaming is rage at being left/missing out, rather than pain. Think she can't come to any harm, so I tend to just leave her. Don't have a monitor for her any more! Just for the newbie! Makes it easier to ignore her. Obviously, if it goes off richter scale, then I go in!

Rubes - are you feeling any better?

I am taking DD2 to the doctor in a couple of weeks as she always lies looking to her right and that side of her head is really flat now. It looks a bit odd. And on the left, it seems to bulge out a bit. Plus she's not so good at straightening her right arm. So am going to see if they'll refer me for physio for her. Poor little bird. I know heads tend to sort themselves out in the next year or so, but I do just want to get it sorted out!

PS After bedtime of 6pm yesterday, DD1 slept til 7.45 this morning!!! She must have been knackered. Still up a couple of times in night with a cough, but nothing major.

Also, DD2 up a couple of times for dummy to be replaced, but didn't need to feed her til 6am. I'm going to my parents' house next weekend and they've got a fairly large place, so think will try weaning DD2 of dummy while I'm there as she won't wake DD1 if she's screaming. Will do cold turkey - is that the best method??!

3rd (promise to shut up after this one!) post in a row!

But meant to say a big thanks to Summer and Lady for sponsoring me - you lovely things! Thank you so very much. Will do you proud - I hope!

xx

beans Are you sure you want to wean her off the dummy? DD quickly passed the stage where she needed the dummy replacing. It was irksome at the time but the longterm benefits of it helping her settle to sleep have far outweighed the earlier inconvenience. I hated dummies before I had DD, now I LOVE them .

That said on holiday I saw a mum in a cafe say 'shh' to her daughter, 'mummy's talking' and pop her dummy in so she could talk to her friend uninterrupted! Not what a dummy is for me thinks.

kiwi We have a wind up star which plays a nice tune, her comforter and a dummy to signal bedtime. I think any routine or object, book, TV that helps her calm down and feel sleepy is the way to go.

Have a lovely trip to London and your mums ladyT.

Well after my recent post about what works in this house last night was disasterous. DD's blocked nose and all the congestion seemed to kick off just after dinner again and she was really really unsettled until about 130am but her crying woke ds up and then he wouldn't settle. Thought he might have been hungry as he'd had Gel and was still getting up crying, and he hadn't eaten hardly a thing during the day due to teeth so gave him milk which he gulped down then kept waking every time dd cried (which was often) But after replacing batteries in the sheep (sounded like a wounded animal instead of whales or trickling stream) and just leaving him, he went back off to sleep. DD fell asleep about 2am in the end (in our bed ) and woke at 8am with various stirings through the night. She seems ok in the daytime but gets all blocked up and upset in the night DS didn't wake until 8 either thankfully, but is really struggling to settle for a nap as I speak.

Lady I love Boden - but have only ever looked at their kids stuff and was just in there looking at a lovely little cord baby girls dress! I will have a look at the adults range of pj's. Hope you have a nice time at your Mums - you really need the rest before next week. I went into both Csections knackered and wished I didn't!

Hi Beans thanks - yeah I'm slightly better and I'm drugged up on congestion stuff which see's me through a few hours until it wears off and I need more! Lets get together when we are all better? I don't mind coming to you either.
Hi Spot - you were saying about next Tues but I have to take dd for her jabs that day -would any other suit you and I'll have a look and see if it works? Sybs? Beans?

I could do week after next - DD1 starts nursery on 5th, so am thinking maybe 4th, 7th or 8th?

Rubes - thanks for your donation too!
x

PS Re dummy - yup, am sitting here listening to monitor as DD2 screaming each time dummy comes out. Drives me insane - have been upstairs about 8 times to put it back in so far and she's just not sleeping! Think it might be easier just not having it! Plus she sleeps with her hand over the dummy, as if she'd like to suck her thumb or something.

Ho hum.

jolly yes it was the second set of shoes. They will double up if I ever have to play Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
That's so funny about the dummy!! How rude!

Agree with jolly, beans, seems quite early to be worrying about weaning off the dummy. I guess if it's annoying to have to get up to her to put it back in it might be worth thinking about though. I don't know though, as neither of mine have had a dummy, DS wasn't interested and hence not really thought about it with DD.#

Re the sleep we are quite lucky in that DS goes to sleep on his own quite happily at the moment. There were phases where he would cry and play like Beans says though, and we did the same, left him to it unless he got really furious. There are occasions when he cries now, but if we leave him for 5 mins he usually shuts up.

Good night last night! DD asleep at 9:45, and woke at 3! Back down at 3:30 and woke again at 7. Hurrah, do that every night please. Didn't sleep the best though as my boobs were killing.

effie hurrah for the car and test!

Sybil nice to hear from you, sorry to hear DD is having probs at school though.

Hi kiwi nice to hear from you!

Gotta go DD waking up I think

rubes have you tried propping up moses basket or whatever DD sleeps in to help with the congestion? Not sure whether it helped when DD had a cold but worth a try? Also I put DD to sleep on her side but in such a position that I could tell she would roll onto her back if she did roll off her side, and that seemed to help. Am sure that is not recommended as a sleeping position though so maybe you shouldn't try that - as you know DS always slept on his front though so the fact DD will sleep on her back at all is a massive relief!

Summer - it's been propped up from day dot because of the wind etc.
Oh dear God, ds will not nap at all today he's screaming and screaming - not sure what's going on.... dh just said it sounds like a children's ward in here, as dd had kicked off for a bit too who was it that was having the toddler nap probs?
Beans I think any of those days would work for me. How bout you Spot?

Beans the head will be fine but doesn't hurt to see the GP anyway. My SIL was really weird about head shape and used to feel my boys heads to see if they were flat. She was always bitching to us about neighbours kids who had slightly flat heads like it was some retardation. I'm telling you this because while she clearly has an issue about the appearance of other peoples children, she doesn't seem concerned about her own. She just sent DH photos of her boys & her DS2 who is a Jan 09 baby is wearing girls clothes. I don't just mean a little bit feminine I mean hot pink tights with purple polka dots, pink hair clips with flowers to hold his hair back and pink & white shirts with flicked out girl sleeves. Im fairly confident that thats a bit wrong.

Effie so exciting about the car, when will you be driving.

Lady how are you feeling after your rest yesterday. Enjoy london & your mum.

JB & DB how are you today.

Spot & Beans how was last night.

DS2 continue with his 3-5am antics but the protests were slightly less angry so I think he will.slowly improve, it just won't happen overnight with him I think. He has quite a strong will I think, which isn't such a bad thing.

Thanks Veggie. I know they do end up working themselves out and once her hair grows a bit, you won't notice, but I just want to make sure it's not affecting her muscles as she is much less willing to straighten her right arm than her left. Plus when I have her sitting up in her bumbo, or lying on her front supporting herself with her arms, she can only seem to turn to right, not to left at all - although she can when she lies on her back. Does that make sense?

That is v odd about the girls' clothes. But must admit, have been sniggering a bit about it - why would you do that??! I can understand you want to recycle clothes and have your son wearing daughters' old clothes, but that's a bit excessive - I'd think jeans or something! Does he had an older sister?

Rubes - it was me having issues with daytime sleep. What I do now is put DD1 down at 1pm and get her up at 2pm regardless if she sleeps or not. That's because of nighttime issues as well, though. ie she won't go to sleep in the evenings! But cutting back her daytime nap has really helped - AND she now goes to sleep within 15 mins of daytime nap, which is great. Or maybe it's just because she's under the weather at the moment!

DD2 finally went to sleep about half an hour ago, without her dummy. So, guess it's not essential....!!

PS Veg - thanks for asking re last night. Was better. Both DDs out for the count by 6.05! And both slept til 7.30ish. But had to get up twice for dummy-insertion, once for feeding for DD2 and once for coughing issues for DD1. Don't feel too bad today, though.

Oh and final 3rd post and I'm out thing - Went for a walk with DDs today - DD2 in bugaboo and DD1 pushing her pushchair. V sweet.

DD1 fell over twice and grazed her knee. I gave her a hug and said "oh no! A disaster! You've got a sore knee!" and threw my hands in the air at the disaster. 2nd time she fell over, she had a hug, then stood up and pointed at her knee and said "nor see", then threw her hands in the air and said "Saster!". Was about the sweetest thing I've seen for ages! Then we carried on walking and she stopped to come to the front of her pushchair and have a chat with naked dolly and Sheepy who were in it. All v quiet, then she went "'kay?" and nodded, then set off again. Brought tears to my eyes with gorgeousness! Sorry, I am soppy limpid wetty, but I loved it!

beans Maybe she is trying to hold it in! Without wanted to sound like a pro-dummy activist... apparently it is better for a baby to have a dummy than a thumb because the dummy can be removed before it starts causing teeth problems. A thumb is there for life! I do sympathise with how annoying it is when you are on your way up the stairs for the tenth time though.

Thanks veggie, not too bad. Only one vomit today . DD does a lovely impression 'mummy bleugh, mummy bleugh'. That is really strange about the photo. My friend has a cousin who dresses her daughter in boys clothes. I'm all for unisex clothing, look at Topsy and Tim they are usually dressed the same, but there are extremes.

summer Fingers crossed for another night like that!

sybs Summer reminded me I forgot to say hello and wish you luck with the school problem. Hope things are improving.

A few ladies seem to be awol, zoe, WG, I thought of more earlier . Are people on holiday do we think?

Oh that is so sweet Beans! DS loves to push things but there's no way I'm letting him push a toy pushchair (unless I was Vag's sister whats up with that Vag? I'm really weirded out by that....) He always just wants to push the real one but the P&T's is a bit heavy!! So cute her little self diagnosed disaster and checking on her sheep!
ds finally went to sleep I think. I just left him.... He used to hardly protest at all - I think it's a bit about dd being awake and downstairs as well and perhaps he feels like he's missing out - don't know but I'm just going to continue putting him down like normal. DD has a dummy very occasionally but to be hones she doesn't go for it much so think I'll not bother as I had the problems with ds that you are having with re-insertion! When I've given her one now, she always spits it out after about 5 minutes anyway.
I don't think it's a bad idea at all to wean her off it.

crossed with you Jolly! Sounds like I'm trying to say the exact opposite - didn't mean it to sound like that Jolly!! Do whatever works Beans - I'm just very anti dummy but still both mine have had them.

Don't worry rubes! It is good for beans to hear views from all sides of the dummy debate. I can't believe I'm such an advocate of them, I suppose it all boils down to the individual child and what works for them. If rubes DS was my child I'd probably of weaned him off the dummy same as rubes and viceversa she might have kept it with my DD. All swings and roundabouts as my mother says.

Very sweet about DD and her pushchair and sore knee beans .

It is all a bit confusing. I just think it's easier to wean them off now, when they dont' really have a memory, than in a few months, when they'll miss it more, IYSWIM?

Anyway, off for long walk to sandpit with pushchair! Big love.
x

Oh good Jolly. Jolly good Yes - same feeling here Beans. ds still asleep
How far is the sandpit?

Beans the head will be fine but doesn't hurt to see the GP anyway. My SIL was really weird about head shape and used to feel my boys heads to see if they were flat. She was always bitching to us about neighbours kids who had slightly flat heads like it was some retardation. I'm telling you this because while she clearly has an issue about the appearance of other peoples children, she doesn't seem concerned about her own. She just sent DH photos of her boys & her DS2 who is a Jan 09 baby is wearing girls clothes. I don't just mean a little bit feminine I mean hot pink tights with purple polka dots, pink hair clips with flowers to hold his hair back and pink & white shirts with flicked out girl sleeves. Im fairly confident that thats a bit wrong.

Effie so exciting about the car, when will you be driving.

Lady how are you feeling after your rest yesterday. Enjoy london & your mum.

JB & DB how are you today.

Spot & Beans how was last night.

DS2 continue with his 3-5am antics but the protests were slightly less angry so I think he will.slowly improve, it just won't happen overnight with him I think. He has quite a strong will I think, which isn't such a bad thing.

Oops meant to send this earlier but must have forgot

You did send it, Veggie!

Sandpit was about a 25min walk - so I guess about 2k? At speed with double buggy. Feel better for it. Think I'll do that whenever the sun's out!