April 2011 - Food Glorious Food, Sleep Glorious Sleep <subtle key change> They're our babies, we'll obsess if we want to!

[fraktious]

Thread 4 - that's one a month!

Hello April ladies

Another one here who never gets around to posting, though I often have a quick read to catch up.

Cycle - are you exclusively BF still? The Gaviscon is quite easy to give in a bottle of milk but if you are still only BF then I think you can give it in a small amount of expressed milk or boiled water in a bottle, after the feed. If you're avoiding bottle then I guess a little cup, though that would be rather tricky. Hope you're ok too.

Star, I am right there with you. Having a hellish time with nights at the moment. C is waking up around 3am/4am and is just awake, not hungry, cold, hot, dirty, wet..... even if I hold him till he falls asleep and then put him down he wakes straight away and starts crying. I am at a loss about what to do. I introduced a dream feed, which worked brilliantly for three days but then didn't (though I don't want to stop it now in case it makes matters worse). I don't have any advice really but wanted you to know you're not alone. I am going to try keeping C up a little later and see if that helps. He is normally ready to fall into his cot by half six, which is rather early. The other thing I have heard is good is to get some meat in the diet around tea time.

Darn it. He's awake. Gotta go.

Hi All :)

Moley sorry, no advice but hope you feel better soon.

Ali where are you going on holiday? We're off to North Yorkshire tomorrow for a few days for our anniversary and to show M where we got married. I've booked afternoon tea there for Monday and I'm far more excited by going away then I should be :o

Jo we've had the same problem with M waking and crying as soon as we put her back in her cot, quite often we've assumed it's teething related and given her calpol. Last night I wondered if the sheet might be cold and waking her up. We put a fleece blanket on top of the sheet when she wanted resettling about 9.15pm and she then slept til 6 - my boob wasn't too chuffed but another feed and slept again til 8.15. Unfortunately she seems to think as she slept so well she doesn't need much in the way of naps. We went swimming this morning and she had about 20 minutes in the car seat. She's had another half hour since but if she doesn't have another soon we're going to have a grim old bathtime :(

Fizz was laughing mightily at bobby :) which in turn made M smile too.

Fizz - I have just fully snorted like a pig reading all that. DS1 and 2 were playing on the floor and looked at me and then at each other with a 'WTF is wrong with Mummy' look, it was brilliant
Did you mean 'hair like a burst cushion' or was that code for something else?

chilli - we're going to Pembrokeshire, with a couple of days in Swansea on the way. My GPs used to live there (swansea) so I'm showing DH and the boys around :)
We are meeting up with MIL and great-MIL in pembrokeshire - separate accommodation though so it will be fine.

Jo and Star - T does the long wake up sometimes, and it is a total killer.

Fizz, 'toss on your face' has me in stitches. Best typo ever. I love your phone, it makes me laugh.

Cycle keep an eye out for the Gaviscon making H constipated, it's a common side effect. Turns poo turns to plasticine. It's a pain to make up too isn't it. I don't know if I ever got it right as S only took it for a few days. If it does make H constipated, there's plenty of other meds to try. S is on Ranitidine and Domperidone and it's made a huge difference. Hope the Gaviscon's helping him.

Hi moley! No advice but hope you feel better soon, sounds horrid.

Waves to Jo as well. How's C's reflux going? Has weaning helped things?

Yes hair like a burst cushion, In my eighties nightie, with toss toast on my face! Only in my world, but I am glad I've made people smile today!! I'm on the netbook now so any typos are from my banana fingers this time!

My hair is no longer like a burst cushion as I had it cut today!

We had out first solid poo today! B wasn't impressed at all! But a Q for you all. It's been 4 days since he had brocolli, but it was evident in his poo that he'd had it. How long does stuff take to get through their system?

ARRGGH. JUST GO TO BLOODY SLEEP!!! It's 2 and half hours to bedtime yet :( Think it might be an early one.

With no (solid) tea.

Hello!

cycle gaviscon doesn't have to be a problem. We spent the first weekend and the first whole box trying different ways of getting it into F. In the end we discovered he'll take it from a weaning spoon when made up with water (pre-boiled) or BM. We also vary the dosage day to.day. Sometimes he seems to need more, sometimes less. He has 2 sachets before great the mo. It's been a resounding success here.

We do have playdough poo too, which distressed him for a couple of days before he got used to it. But it did make cloth nappies easier!

That's supposed to say 2 sachets before bed

How are you today chilli? The not sleeping thing is tough isn't it?

No idea about digestion times fizz.

I'm guessing nearly all of the babies are eating real food now? Wow, how brilliant. A word of warning, banana's come out in poo as black stringy bits. Don't worry, that is normal!

Baby I has taken to eating with complete joy and gusto. As soon as he see's food or his highchair, he does very excited windmill arms, he flaps so much you think he might take off.

He had a fig yesterday (fresh, not dried) which he thought was bloody heaven. I cut it into quarters and he gummed and sucked at it like a pro. I bought some strawberries and blueberries today. I think he'll find the blueberries a challenge, but they'll help with the fine motor skills - or send him into a rage!

Oh, and have a fab holiday Ali. I hope you get a chance to relax, even if it's just a little bit.

ILTMIMI R has not had solid food yet. She will be 24 weeks tomorrow. F was just over 5 months when he stole a banana. R seems a little less ready as she has only just started sitting in F's old highchair. Although my MIL gave me a lecture on the phone about how R should be "eating three meals a day and sleeping from 7pm till 7am by now, as I only have a bairn 2 weeks and I have them sleeping through". She's a foster carer of babies and sees it as her way or the highway when it comes to childcare and can be very formulaic, which is her weakness not my maternal deficiency. She made me feel quite bad when I had F even to the point of editing how I affectionately referred to him ("you mustn't call him your little monkey pup"). I have no time for that now and I'm strengthening my "thank you for your advice but as their Mum I'm choosing to do X". I'm thinking I might try her on some solid food tomorrow but then I'm judging it on a daily basis just now.

Pasta & veg for F, poptarts for mummy!

Gosh Arch, I'd have given your MIL law a smack!

Thanks for the Gaviscon advice. I've decided to just give when I think it's needed and H is happy to have it spooned. I've upped his fruit intake to combat plasticine poo after the tips and, so far, the couple of times I've used it it's been like magic. From top of lungs screaming to contentment in a couple of minutes. Shocking!

Eugh, am so going down with a cold

Unfortunately P's chicken pox are multiplying at a rate. .

If I get a chance tomorrow i'll take a couple of photos and put them on FB.

Her head and back are the worst. I counted about 50 just on her head/neck including quite a few around her eyes. I can tell they're itching as she keeps rubbing at her face. Luckily she still fits into some of her 3-6m sleepsuits with the fold-over scrathmitts attached so she's been wearing those to bed.

I went to the pharmacy today to ask if there was anthing else I could give her orally as the Piriton is for 1year+. I'm using the Virasoothe Gel on the spots but can't put it on her face as she'll rub it. I was told there was nothing. I've been giving her Calpol but I'm wondering if a GP would just say to give the Piriton anyway as I know the guidelines always err on the side of caution.
Maybe I should start a thread in AIBU and ask.

P is taking it all in her stride so far and bearing up well but you can't help but feel sorry for her when she's obviously irritated.

DS OTOH is being a right little PITA. Had several tantrums,timeouts at bedtime last night because I couldn't do it as I was feeding/comforting P. He also pissed all over his Aqua Doodle mat yesterday morning . You can't fault his logic I suppose. I can just imagine his little brain whirling away:
"hmm, my water pen is empty, mummy is in the other room cuddling P again. Shall I go and fill it up by myself in the downstairs loo sink like mummy showed me last time or shall I use my willy and make wee wee patterns all over it? Yes, I think I'll use my willy"
"MUMMY, MUUUUMMMMYYYY, i'M DOING A WEE WEE ON MINE MAT MUMMY"

Maybe I could get DS an exhibition space at the Tate Modern. It was quite an impressive display in a new untried medium. I fear I may have ruined the final effect due to my liberal spraying of Dettol onto the said mat.

Any title suggestions for his exhibition ladies?

Fizz Please carry on using your new phone. It reminded me of the damn you autocorrect website here DH got me a book containing the best quotes for my birthday. You should definately send them your "toss crumbs"

GGF - I have just roared at that. I think our sons would get on

Well we're on holiday and have just had the most amazing night's sleep! All asleep by 9pm, and then only 2 wake ups from T, DS1 slept all night.
DH and I have decided that when we get home we're going to knock some walls down upstairs and make one huge bedroom for us all to share like we are here

How are the chicken pox today GGF? Poor little P :(

Ali Glad the holidaying is going well. It must be all the fresh air tiring the them out!

We had (another) awful night here. It started well with a decent stretch of sleep from 7pm - 12.30am but she woke another twice after that, including one wake up that lasted from 4 - 5.45am.

I don't know how many more of them I can take. I'm feeling more positive this morning but in the midst of it all last night, I did hiss at DH that I wasn't sure I'd have had children if I'd known it would be like this . I feel awful for saying (and even thinking) it. I do think that she is going to be an only child for quite some time though! Sorry that you're having similar problems JoEW and Chilli - it's a killer, so I feel for you.

P is constantly rolling over from back to front now but hasn't mastered the other direction yet. She also looks like she's trying her hardest to get crawling so I'm hoping that it's all developmental and she'll grow out of it. If not, I think we might have to have a think about some sleep training in a few weeks. I don't think that I'm being the best mum that I can while my mood is being so negatively effected by such disturbed sleep.

Weaning has tentatively started here. P doesn't look at all convinced by the orange gloop that we've offered her so far. I fear it might take her some time to get going!

[hgrin] sitting here watch my son in his insatiable play nest. hippie the girraffe is obviously under hid bum as he keep squeaking her by thrusting himself up and down. he thinks it'd hilarious!

Dh has the sausages on for brekkie and f1 was recorded at ridiculous o'clock is on sky+.

Yesterday was a day of getting stuff done but getting nothing done. poor b didn't feta any solid food [hblush] overtime ee went to feed him he was sleeping. Must try harder¡ he's gas porridge and toast today.

Inflatable and sophie

I was wondering what an insatiable nest was! Gas porridge sounds interesting too!

I love your new phone Fizz!

Fizz your posts are like reading my students coursework (between the dodgy handwriting, yoof slang and odd local phrasing).

Star, sleep sympathy - F's up EVERY 2 hrs at the mo. It's brutal. But DH is becoming more helpful. He's obviously tired, but can't be that hungry. It could be the perpetual teething. We're going to try DH giving him formula before bathtime, so he still gets boob before bed.

Fingers crossed.

4 days till half term!

Star, you must be exhausted. Don't be upset, we've all said things like that at some point I reckon. I know I have.

I feel like sh*t today. Full of cold and really low. I'm hoping I'll perk up as I'm getting bored of being so pathetic. Moan over, hope everyone's ok and I too love the gas porridge.

Ok serious question here I hope the phone doesn't feck it up. what would an intolerance show as when weaning? B has had toast twice fo breakfast and both days at round 2pm he's been sick which isn't like him at all. would a gluten intolerance show like this so early on or am I being paranoid?

P's spots are still multiplying, they're on her legs and arms now so hopefully she won't get too many more. I've put some pictures on FB that I took this morning. Thanks for All the Get Well Wishes for her

fizz Sorry no idea about gluten intolerance, but it could be. I'd say go with your gut, (if you'll pardon the pun). Why don't you buy some gluten free bread and see if he keeps it down.

Ali Enjoy your holiday, glad DS's antics made you . Luckily he's been better over the weekend, but I did get DH to take him out for most of today so I could stay in and have a quiet day with P. He's been swimming, to the park. and then to my DM for lunch, biscuit making and bathtime. At least one of my children should sleep well tonight.

Star Hope the nights improve for you

Hi all,

Star, really don't feel bad, it is SO hard when you can't sleep. A couple of people have asked me when I'm having baby number two and all I can think is 'I cannot imagine doing this again'. I love him so much but the eight months of broken sleep are killer. Thanks for all the tips, everyone, I also think it might be teething related. No sign of a tooth yet.

Caramel, the reflux is pretty sorted now (thank god). I'm not sure weaning has made much of a difference. I think the two things that worked were the Omeprazole and changing to Aptamil Pepti. Weaning is a slow process here, quite often he's just not bothered with food. The only time he really goes for it is tea time. I always offer breakfast but he usually just clamps his mouth shut and turns away. I'm taking it very slow and not pushing him as I really don't want to create negative associations with eating. He barely has the amount of milk he's supposed to but he looks healthy and chubby so I think he's getting all he needs. Maybe he's just not that hungry! How are things with S?

Gsy, hope P is better soon. Poor little mite, she has so many spots. Loved the Aqua Doodle story!

Ilike, love the image of excited flapping. C also does that and it makes me laugh. He does it in his cot when I come in to get him up.

Cycle, glad the Gaviscon is working. Hope you feel better soon too. Lemon and honey, is my advice. Mmmmm.

Ali enjoy your hols.

We're off to swimming this afternoon. I love it! C spends the entire half hour with a look of utter bemusement on his face. Hopefully he loves it too. Then I need to get him weighed as we have a follow up appointment from neonatal this week and I think they will expect me to have some clue about this. I am such a slummy mummy.