August 05 babies - all smiley and bright-eyed!

[Miaou]

A new thread for the August 05 crew - link to the old thread

[pookey]

I know it sat night I should get a life but when does your ds4 go to sleep? They all go to bed really early how cool. Does DS3 sleep through and still have naps and how old is he?

[Miaou]

Cor, really chatty on here today! You can tell the babies are getting older when we can find the time/energy to post more often!

I lol at the riverdancing - that's just what ds was like this evening!! After he has had his early evening feed, I take his nappy off but do his vest up again, and leave him on the changing mat on the floor so he can have a little kickabout. He is incredibly active at that time! He stays down there until he wees, then I take him for his bath. He never seems to tire of nappy-free time - he was down there for 45 minutes tonight and only started grizzling because he had a wet bottom!

ds is also finding his hands very useful atm - he likes swiping, chewing on them (he is teething already ), and clasping them together a la Burns in the Simpsons: "Excellent...." Doesn't seem to look at them yet though.

I'm still doing a night feed, around 4.30 - 5.30am (ds is 13 weeks now) - anyone else?

[pookey]

I used to put DS on a mat on our bed for nakey time but we were spending too much money getting the duvet cleaned - now on the floor!

Poor DS has been very upset today with teething, reflux, or croup whatever it is thats wrong with him! basically calpol should sort it out hopefully

Dropped dream feed as not working still doing one middle of night and then around 6:30 also 13 weeks. Prob is he is not feeding well at his "7:00 feed" (usually starts before then). Can't get him to drop mid night feed and dummy no longer helps.

Are people reducing naptimes?

[Miaou]

I just let ds nap as and when he wants, pookey. Although I have older children they get the bus to and from school so he doesn't have to "fit in" with other schedules.

If your ds wees like a water fountain, why not try putting him in just a vest on a changemat - although you still have to watch for a puddle, it stops it shooting everywhere!

[moschops]

well ds finally gave in last night....so at 9pm i carried him into the bedroom, gave him a bottle and he slept through till 7am!!!

i managed to get him onto a three hour feeding routine (daytime) which helped me feel like the day had some structure but he's gone way off that in the last few days and his intake has dropped a little.

i'm desperately trying to get my house cleaned (lol, won't get very far sat on Mumsnet!)but i seem to have the abilty to leave just as big a trail of destruction behind me as i do the one i clear up! god help me when ds is big enough to create a moving mess!

[dazedandconfusedmum]

Afternoon all!!

DS4 is basically sleeping through now

He will have his last bottle anytime from 8.30pm - 10pm, depending on when he is due, and he will go through till any time from 5.30am earliest to 7am. In my house 5.30 isn't early as they all tend to start getting up any time from 6am (sounds early but at least they are all in bed by 6.30pm.

I find the hardest thing is that if one of the older boys wakes first, they come in my room and it disturbs DS4 which isn't helping!! I have decorated his room this weekend and put up his cotbed so am going to start putting him in his own room.

Pookey - you seem to be having a bit of a nightmare all round If it is any consolation, my DS1 was a nightmare as a baby and NEVER stopped screaming. I was told it was colic, wind, reflux everything but the ACTUAL problem. He was in and out of hospital and they always sent him home a few days after being dmitted saying there was nothing wrong. When he was almost a year old (and still creating all day, not napping and waking in the night too) he went to the doctors and the referred him to the hosp yet again.

It turned out he had a problem with his bowels and he was "bowel withholding" basically he wouldn't go for a poo. They say it is normally a toddler problem and they normally do it intensionally because they are frightened of going, but my son had been doing it from as early as 3 months old and no-one had picked up on it. It did eventually get sorted out and he is a V Happy boy now.

Don't rule anything out, and if they find the actual problem sooner rather than later it will be better for you and him allround.

I have always let all of mine nap whenever they want as babies and if I have to go to school/nursery then I just try and lift them and pray they don't wake!!

Anyway, enough of my rambling... I hope you are all having a good day (I hope yours is getting better Pookey)

[dazedandconfusedmum]

I have just noticed most of us have Ds's!! How many are in and around London, maybe we could all meet up and introduce them all to eachother!!

[suzi2]

dazedandconfusedmum - How long did it take your DS to go when he was holding it all in? My DS poos about once a week (max!) and is thoroughly miserable for a few days beforehand. Screams and screams, is inconsolable and doesn't sleep/eat well. Hes not constipated but has awful wind too. A day after it passes he's a different baby.

Hello everyone else. I rarely get posting on here - more of a lurker . DS is 14wks now and has 2 emotions. Happy and upset! He flips from one extreme to the other very easily too!

Tummy time isn't getting much better. Although he's getting a wee bit stronger. We went to a baby swimming class on Tuesday and he screamed a lot, but went completely crazy when he was on his tummy in the water! All the other babies were lifting their heads right up but he was just thrashing about and kept dunking his face in! I felt awful .

Anyway, as usual, I am paranoid about his development. All the other babies on the other antenatal club I use seem so advanced. Does anyone know what the normal milestones are? For example, he hasn't rolled over yet (either way) but can easily pick up toys and put them in his mouth. Anyone have any links to good sites that won't scare me to thinking he's not developing right???

[dazedandconfusedmum]

Evening Everyone

Ds1 only went about once a week aswell. He wasn't constipated (he was given massively high hospital doses of both Lactulose and Senna for a couple of years) Neither worked because all they do is soften the poo, not actually MAKE you go. (sorry to everyone who is totally grossed out by the toilet talk but it's kind of important). He used to try desperately not to go which resulted in not so nice "accidents" letting out just a bit at a time and never actually going properly. He too used to be miserable and was a different child once he had been properly. He never slept well, never ate properly right from a baby which eventually resulted in a form of "food phobia". He used to fill himself up on milk and pure apple juice, which I gave him to keep his stools loose. I didn't notice some of this happening until it had already happened and it was too late to stop it so I am very conscious of keeping an eye on what they are doing re food and drink.

He used to suffer with terrible wind too. He would pull the strangest faces trying not to go and end up passing wind instead, which stank coz he wasn't "clearing himself out" properly.

On a good note, I was referred to a fantastic Paediatrician who sorted him right out literally within weeks and we have never looked back since.

If your DS that isn't going often is the 14 week old, then I suggest you try and give him some boiled water. Are you bottle feeding? Sometimes they don't poo as much when they are bottle fed, DS4 is 13 weeks (today)! and he only goes about every other day.

Massaging his tummy very gently in a clockwise direction with a little bit of baby oil can help (must be clockwise, something to do with their digestive tract/tubes). Also, lay him on his back and lift one leg, bend his knee and push it up to his tummy. Then rotate out to the side in a circular movement and back down. Repeat with the other leg and do this several times. It is hard to explain writing it down but I hope that makes sense. Apparently it helps to get everything "moving" and these excersises are easy to do and harmless. Give it a try a couple of times a day and let me know how you get on

Hopefully if you get on top of it now, it will sort itself out quickly before he weans.

[pookey]

D&C - DS used to have a problem in his night feeds where he would stay awake for a couple of hours crying and straining to poo but thats calmed now. he does really loud farts - I was breastfeeding in JL dahling(john Lewis) and i swear the other breastfeeding mum thought they were coming from me . Today has been bad routinewise but DP was singing to him and he got some real laughs mixed in with the usual breathy noises!

A london meetup would be nice but the problem is london is so big! I think its already finalised and booked (I'd be way to shy to go to something so big anyway) but is anyone here going to the christmas do that people are making funny badges for?

Suzi - I was going to get my what to expect book but it is in DS room and he is asleep. I have just discovered instead that the nutty sears family book has a nice chapter on development though not as clear as the expect book:

The third month is all about hands (as the recent messages testify) they open up and start grabbing, fingering their mouths, briefly holding items etc etc

Visual development improves and they start tracking objects.

baby begins to talk more and draw out vowel sounds also begins to adjust tone to yours.

Some babies can roll (mine can't), scoot and wiggle (mine can when nakey on a changing mat) so don't leave unattended on high surfaces.

With development I think all our babies probably do somethings early and other things late. DS did twice roll on his side by fluke when stretching on his play mat weeks and weeks ago but hasn't done it again. Maybe yours has rolled on his side when you weren't looking!

I interrupted typing this to have a delish dinner cooked by DP so someone may have provided a link already...

[dazedandconfusedmum]

Pookey - I was thinking more of a V small Aug Babies meet up???

Re: Development. I let mine do want they want, when they are ready!! I don't look at any books and don't care if my friends tell their baby did this or that a month earlier than mine!!

My DS1,2,3 are all "normal" and all reached the major milestones at completely different times, yet they all passed their 8 month check and 18 month check with flying colours!!

[pookey]

Hi yes I totally agree with you in principal but I feel so guiltily pleased when he does something new . An aug mum meet up would be fun I havent joined any groups (applied waiting to hear) and none of my friends have babies - anyone else in the london area?

[dazedandconfusedmum]

I know what you mean, I still get excited when he does something new. I was in hysterics the other day, DS4 was on his playmat and he rolled onto his side and was looking in the mirror attachment (total fluke and hasn't done it since). I have yelled (literally) to DH who was in the garage doing "man things" for him to come and look. There we all were me, DH, DS1 & DS2 all looking at him like he was doing something amazing!!! Then I burst into laughter and said to my DH "how sad are we, this is our 4th baby (and his 7th) and there we are still getting all excited because he accidentally rolled on his side to look in a mirror" How sad are we??!!!!

I reckon I am going to be a nightmare with him because he is my last baby, I already goo over him and go all mumsy and silly, and I was never like that with all the other DS's.

[suzi2]

Thanks DCM & pookey. I also agree in principle! it's just that some people make me paranoid (namely my mum!). She's sure that we were all walking and talking by now...

DCM - he's exclusively breastfed. His farts really stink too! They don't smell like breastfed babies should. I'll give the leg cycling & tummy rubbing a try - thanks.

[pookey]

You should buy your mum that book on being a modern grandma! Would love to buy it for my mum but she would take it the wrong way!

[suzi2]

lol - my mum would really take that the wrong way! That's another issue. She keeps lifting my DS when he's tired and trying to go to sleep saying "I'll rock him" and the likes. Or every goo he makes my mum thinks he wants to play and starts playing. When I KNOW he clearly needs sleep and needs to wind down... It's not doing our routine any favours!

Anyone else have similar problems? If I say anything she takes it really personally...

[pookey]

My mum's not tooooo bad her thing is that DS permanently needs winding! Poor DS spends the whole time on her lap being patted on the back. Mum is going to look after him one afternoon a week once I go back to work that will be the real test.

DP is quite annoying sometimes - he gets really funny ideas in his head and often encourages me to give a bottle when I would prefer to BF - reckons DS is too lasy to BF - which may be true he does like tiny snacks in the morning. Routine always goes out the window at the weekend. but I kind of dread a whole week of routine anyway ...

[dazedandconfusedmum]

My Mum is FANTASTIC!!! I would lend her out to you but she is too tired after working 40 hours a week and spending every spare minute with my 4 boys. My Dad is Great too!! He works Mon-Wed so spends all day Thurs and most of Fri with me helping me out. i am very lucky and have often said that if I didn't have all the help I get from my parents I probably would have stopped at 2 babies. (So I can blame them for my 3rd and accidentally falling with the 4th then)!!! Only Joking

My mum would see the funny side of me buying her the "Granny" book and probably bash me with it!!

My Mum and Dad have never picked up any of the boys as babies without asking if it is ok first. i normally say yes, why are you asking me? and my mum always says that she never like s to do anything without checking first incase I was putting him down for a sleep or letting him cry for a bit. She has been like that right from the first baby, so as I said before, I am very lucky.

Pookey - I went back to work one day a week after DS1 (for my own sanity, he screamed all day and night) and my mum & dad used to look after him. It was great coz I didn't have to worry wether he was ok or happy as I knew my mum was perfectly capable and I could ring whenever I wanted to see if he was ok.

It did me and him the world of good and I increased my days gradually up to two and then three until I had DS2, when I then gave up work alltogether.

[Eulalia]

Hi - remember me from the antenatal threads? Hope everyone is doing well. Just wanted to ask a question about routines - how many of your babies are in a routine, sleeping through etc.

ds is 15 weeks and I still don't know what he will do day-day except he generally sleeps 10pmish - 8ish but still waking for a feed anywhere between 2-4am. He is doing fine, although a bit on the small side. Going to start cloth nappies soon - 3rd time they will be used! as they did ds and dd... waiting for my new bathroom to be finished. However only using 3/4 disposables a day as he is typical b/fed baby and may only poo once every 3 days.

Anyway rambling on.... thanks for info if you have time

PS Anyone heard from twiga - I skimmed through this thread but didn't see her name?

[Miaou]

Hiya Eulalia - nice to see you around here again. Twiga is about, just not posted on this new thread as yet. There is a link to the old one at the bottom of this one, she posted on there recently.

My ds certainly isn't in a routine as such - like you, I vaguely know when he will sleep, and that when he wakes up in the morning he will go back for a nap an hour after he wakes, for about an hour ... but he can wake anytime between 8am and 11am! I'm not worrying about it really, it has its advantages in that if I decide to go out for the day I'm not upsetting his routine because he doesn't have one!

[Twiga]

Just a very quick post - need to feed dd - will post again later. Eulalia, hi been trying to reply to your emails for ages, computer's been playing up although dh fixed that over the weekend, so hoping to finish my email to you later when dd asleep - all well though!

[pookey]

Hi eualia

DS is kind of on Gina Ford but I dropped the dream feed at 10:00 because it just seemed to remind him to eat every three hours. Last night he went to sleep at 6:30 after his bath and bottle woke at 3:30 had a huge BF then woke at 6:40. Unfortunately this morning has been awful he has been crying more or less all morning and having lots of mini feeds, crying now actually so better go ....

[kate100]

Hi all, Eulalia. DS2 has sort of got himself in a routine. he wakes between 7 and 8 and then has a short sleep, then he catnaps through the day, except for the afternoon, when I out him to bed and he sleeps for an hour or 2, then bed time at about half seven and sleeps all night. HOw this has happened I'm not really sure, but I do feel lucky!!

My mum is great too, she wouldn't dream of doing anything with my boys unless she had asked, she's always said they are my kids and she would do as I asked. MIL took a bit more convincing, but she's the same now too. If you feel she's interfering say so, it may upset in the short term but will save an awful lot of hassle later.

DS2 is very unhappy today, I'm sure his teeth are bothering, even ds1 has noticed, he walked into my mum's and said, 'Ben is very grumpy Nanny', oh dear.

[Azure]

Hi all. I can't say that DS2 is in a routine, but in the last few days has only woken up once in the night between 8pm-ish and 6am-ish. We've been trying to introduce a bottle but he is having none of it, even when DH tries. I think I'll try a different formula to see if that is the problem. I joined a gym yesterday in a desparate attempt to get into shape - first time in 5 years. The creche seems to get really booked up, though.

I'm on for a London August babies meet-up if convenient.

[suzi2]

Hmmm... I think my mum may be getting the hint that I perhaps know DS better than she does . She's very helpful though - I must sound so unappreciative! She's been a star - walking the floor with DS for 4/5 hours at a time in the early weeks while I had a sleep!

We have a bit of a pattern. We go upstairs about 8/8:30 and get DS ready for bed. He then gets 6/7 oz expressed milk and we put him down when he's a wee bit settled. He generally takes 15 mins or so to fall asleep - we just leave him to it. Wakes once in the night (usually!) - anywhere between 2 + 5. Then finally gets up at about 8am.

During the day is less structured. but generally, he needs a nap after being awake for 1-1.5 hrs. And needs a lot of encouragement to have one! Usually bouncer chair and a bit of music and we take toys away and ignore him. He grumbles and squirms a lot! But then nods off. It's the daytime naps that my mum seems to life him a lot!

Would like to get him to go to sleep earlier, but don't want to miss out on my sleep. Besides, he goes swimming on Tues at 7pm so we wouldn't put him down before that.