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!

Hi all,

Sorry to those suffering with lack of sleep. Star have you tried Bach's Rescue Remedy? I think it would be ok with BF (though better check). I used to use it alot when I was stress about work and found it helpful. It might be a natural way to feel more relaxed if you can't sleep. Just an idea....

We're doing ok here. C goes down around seven and usually just wakes up once for a feed at around 3am then starts his day around seven. Hope it lasts! We're off to France this week so I expect his routine will fall apart again but once we're back and he's settled I am thinking of moving him into his own room. He'll be seven months real age. Here's a (potentially really stupid) question. Do people use baby monitors when they sleep in a different room? We use one in the evening when he's upstairs but I wouldn't think we'd need one for moving him to his room - he won't actually be any further away than his is now (house is postage stamp) . The baby monitor makes more noise then he does in the room, so it wouldn't help us get more sleep. What's the 'right thing', wise MNetters?

We also have poo face, gazes into distance, flares nostrils, and we also get a huge smile when he's finished. Haha.

So cute that you are getting laughs Aussie, we have loads of smiles and squeaks but not a proper laugh yet. Also WOW at 8oz feed. C is around 14lbs and I consider it a success if he takes 4oz in one sitting. I am so envious. We also have major pet interest, C can't take his eyes off our dalmation. He's the ideal baby entertainment - black, white and HUGE.

Buck are you treating the reflux with Gaviscon? If so it might be worth trying something like Omeprazole instead. That's what I use and according to my paediatrican it's by far the most effective acid blocker. It made a huge difference to us. Gaviscon does have some impact on acid but it's better for making the milk stay down, I believe. Give me a shout if you want to talk about it.

Right, my boy has been napping upstairs for two hours. I might go and see if he's ready to get up. Poor chap is a bit snotty so maybe that explains mega nap.

Wow, we're at 16lbs at 22 weeks. What a chunker

We get full belly laughs about once a day at the moment, but for totally random reasons

We use a baby monitor in our tiny flat Jo. I find it's better as it means I go and deal with him before he goes supernova. If he goes supernova it's way harder to get him down again.

Star - i feel so dense, rescue remedy is so definitely the way to go, there is even a night time version. i heavily relied on both when DS2 was ill & i was stressed. can't believe i forgot about it!

Well i have the monitor plugged in in DD's room but tbh i rarely use the parent unit. Maybe sometimes downstairs. I find i turn it on in the morning to tell if it's her making noise or one of the boys in their room and yes it helps to get to them sooner before they really kick off.
Tip; turn the volume quite low down so you don't hear every shuffle or snuffle though :)

I really want to get DD into some sort of nap routine now school has started again, thinking 1 morning & 1 after lunch would suit nicely thanks very much! She has done that today but in my bed. Won't sleep in her cot during the day. i suppose it doesn't really matter for a while yet though.

Jo glad you said C only takes 4oz at a time too as S only manages that, maybe 5 at a push. I wonder if them having reflux has anything to do with only wanting small amounts at a time?

Some baby monitors you can set to only come on when the baby makes a noise and set the sensitivity super low so you don't hear every breath. Have you got a setting like that on your monitor? The BT ones have it and it means no noise at all unless they're making a noise.

Star I'll join you on the insomniac couch. Last night I went to bed early to try and catch up on some lost sleep - I went out Saturday night and wasn't in bed until gone midnight - and I couldn't get to sleep. Hoping it was a one off though.

Well Bs "nap this morning lasted 25 minutes, I've just wrestled him to sleep again, hopefully this one will be more meaningful!

we have the BT150 monitor, and use it anytime B is in his room and we aren't. Our house isn't huge but if I'm downstairs I can't hear him at all. I turned down the sensitivity a few weeks ago so we only hear B on approach to mach 1 :o but if he gets to super nova we sre stuffed. Although I found at the weekend blowing on his face whilst in supernova brings it back down to mach 3!! We use the lullabyes on the monitor too. Great for when they wake in the night, put it on remotley and the drift off again!

B now has 7ozs of BM first thing (Anytime between 5 and 8) and 4 7oz bottles about every 3 hours through the day. He was 14 lbs 7ozs 2 weeks ago. Friends DS who was born 3 days after B and 2 ozs heavier is 17lbs 1ozs. He's a chunk!! It's really hard to not compare them, who does what first etc.

I have a shocking headache, paracetamol hasn't touched it. I'm considering breaking out some of my SPD codiene I stashed away for emergencies!!

Oh, I forgot to say we also use the nightlight on our monitor. It's fab!

Fizz the codiene is the good stuff isn't it? Dh took some the other day and it knocked him out for the evening!

We don't have a monitor and I'm always surprised at how little noise S needs to make for us to hear, even when we're downstairs and he's upstairs.

S is currently having some no nappy time on his (waterproof) mat. After the 3rd pee I stopped mopping them up and will just mop the floor after! >lazy mum<

Oh and in other news, we can't find Sophie the Giraffe, Dun Dun Dun

I sometimes find myself humming the BT150 lullaby no 1 as it's S's "it's sleepytime, now go the f to sleep" music

Maybe if I can't sleep tonight I should try playing it to myself...Star do you have the BT150?

I'm off out in a bit. H will be staying in with daddy. It's my sister's birthday today and mine tomorrow, DP's on Wednesday. I'm going for a curry with my sister and her husband and am planning a pint with it! Mmmmmmm

I'm now waiting for DP to get home with the present as he picked it up for me. He's got about five minutes before I'm due to leave. Why is it that clients think tradesmen have nothing to do with their evenings

I can beat you on the pee Dairy, this morning H half rolled so he was facing me and peed all over my pyjamas. Lovely!

Oh, I should clarify, I do have the monitor on during the day too. Anytime C is sleeping away from me. Thanks for the tips. We have a crappy Tommy Tippee one that doesn't do anything clever and makes an annoying buzzing noise. It might be ok with the vol turned low. I'll give it a go.

Caramel, I think the small feeds are defo because of reflux. I wondered about spacing out feeds more, so that he took bigger ones less often, but was advised against it as it can be more stressful for reflux babies if they get very hungry. C does 5oz during the night and if he's on really good form. Usually it's between 3 and 4. He gets around 20oz per day, which is apparently fine and I have stopped stressing about it because he has baby chub and is tracking on the, admittedly small, 9th centile.

Buck I had another thought, which if you are really struggling you could consider. It might be worth trying to cut out dairy, as it could be a cow's milk protein intolerance. Depends how desperate you are, as that's clearly a massive fag if you are BF. All I had to do was introduce a new formula but that and the omeprazole are the two things that made the most difference for me with the screaming and arching.

Beetle good luck with the hunt for Sophie.

Alas no. I did consider getting P's lullaby seahorse out the other night but thought better of it. Things aren't that bad yet!

So far none of the things I've tried to induce sleep (Horlicks, herbal pills, reading, glass of wine, counting sheep etc) have worked. Tonight I'm putting my faith in Paul McKenna. I'll try your blackboard trick Aussie and look into getting some of the nighttime rescue remedy tomorrow. Something out there must work at some point!

We have a monitor on at night even though P's cot is only the other side of the wall from us. Our monitor is only basic though so we can't hear her breathing. I might turn it down a little bit though because I've found we're getting disturbed by her sleeping sounds and not just the sound of her waking.

I seem to have an over tired baby tonight, not sure why as she's had three naps today. Just feeding her up in the hope that she'll go down for a good snooze.

X posts, Cycle. Happy birthday and enjoy the curry and pint. Lovely.

X posts. Happy birthday for tomorrow Cycle. Sounds like an expensive time of the year for your family - lots of pressure to buy!!

hello!

F's first full day with cm was ok. He refused the bottle, but she got some milk into him by cup & spoon. He was really happy when I collected him, he hugged me & clung on like nothing before. It was really nice to feel missed/needed.

He's now conked out on me after 3 feeds since we got home.

Star - veggie conjecture came from DH's poor sleep when he hasn't had his protein supplement - the lack of tryptophan means he can't drop off. That's also why the warm milk thing is supposed to work.

Jo, I think it's just teething and his routine being all over the place at the mo. I really don't want to have to cut out dairy, it's one of my main sources of protein!

Happy birthday cycle, enjoy your night off!

And we've got the bt250. We have it on when he's asleep in his room - we keep the door shut to keep mischievous cat out (she wouldn't harm him so much as wake him up trying to climb on something/play with the mobile).

I should turn it down really. Maybe he'd fall asleep himself again sometimes.

Happy birthday Cycle and sister!

T has worked out that if he grips my arm really hard I will either let out a yell or pull some kind of gurning face. Both of these are the most hilarious thing apparently, he literally roars with laughter! but ouch!

Do you reckon Sophie the giraffe has walked back to the plains of Africa??!!

Just to carry on your weeks of birthdays Cycle, it is DS's 3rd birthday on Thursday. I made two batches of fairy cakes to take with him to pre school tomorrow and my attempt at icing them is shocking Ah well, the kids won't judge me ..... Will they?!

I actually feel a bit nervous about ds returning to pre school tomorrow. He loves it there, but the 6 week break just seems so long for him. I'm sure he'll be fine ........

3 feeds since he's been home Buck? That's impressive! It's lovely to be able to make them feel so happy secure isn't it?

No monitor in our room. I'm a light sleeper and I hear I before he gets to meltdown. Unlike dh who can sleep through a bloody earthquake

I have a feeling someone asked me ages ago about when we stopped the dream feed. with ds1 it stopped at 8 months because that was when he became ill. With ds2 I think it was sometime around a year old. But to be honest, I don't really remember. He had been sleeping through for a few months and I think we just tried not doing it one night, and it was ok. There wasn't anything scientific about when we stopped.

Newsflash ..... They just said that on tomorrow's One Show they will be announcing who the contestants will be on this years Strictly. I am literally peeing my pants in anticipation!

ILTMIMI there is a spoiler on the Telly Addicts topic if your bladder can't hold out!

Dancing the rhumba, will GlaikitFizzog and her partner Bradley Cooper take to the floor!

Happy Birthday Cycle and family! Enjoy your beer!

Right, I'm off to the telly addict topic.

I am currently scoffing Heston's salted caramel popcorn ice cream from Waitrose. It is blood lovely, I adore the whole sweet and salted combo.

My bladder can't take it, I just a trailer for Strictly, I starts 10th Sept

ILike I just saw your FB status and am now trying to contain my excitement, I've done a little jig in my seat every time I've seen the trailer

Happy Birthday Cycle !!

Star have you any idea if your iron levels are high enough? I was thinking of you earlier as I took my iron supplement as when my iron levels drop I usually get a bout of insomnia (because feeling crap just isn't enough on it's own apparently!).

Buck I'm glad the first day with CM went well and the cuddles at pick up sound lovely!

S has slept loads today, well when compared with his usual lack of naps. He had 90mins this morning and a good hour or so in the afternoon. Shame both times it was on me so not only could I get nothing done I had a very dead arm by the time he woke up. The sleep also seemed to put him in a good mood to try the sippy cup. He still doesn't seem keen on the drinking part so I might need to up the temp of the milk but he is now picking it up, putting it in his mouth and tipping it (ok so he doesn't always get the spout exactly in his mouth and a lot ends up on him/the chair/me/the floor but it's an improvement when compared with the flat out bottle refusuals!).

Still no Sophie...

Whoop happy birthdaycycle

We have an angelcare with breathing mat --cos I is paranoid like that?and it?s a sound activated monitor. I did dissuade DH from the one with video feed! Even though he?s in the next room in the evening we have thick, hurricane proof walls. I turn the parent unit off when we go into bed, but leave the mat on, however when I?ve forgotten it?s not been a problem IYSWIM. But then I suppose he?s there so would disturb us anyway.

ILTMI as long as it?s brightly coloured and stuffed with norty stuff they?ll love it.

Incidentally....5324 out of 7000, have about 24 hours left to write....

Sooooophieeeee, Sooooooooophieeeeeeeee.... nope, she's not here. Sorry.

I've finally just sat down after getting everything sorted (F fed, bathed & in bed (another 2 long feeds), nappies washed & hung, bottles washed & sterilised, F's bag packed for tomorrow, my bag packed for tomorrow & dinner eaten). What did I do before F?!

Re vits/minerals - I've started taking my leftover pg vitamins again. Hoping they help give me extra energy. (although putting the computer away and going to bed might help)

I think I've got 4 hours of yr10 tomorrow, oh the joys...

Do you know what Dairy, I have no idea. I was really anaemic after giving birth (7.6) and was taking iron supplements. I had my iron Hb levels checked at my 8 week check but never got told the results. I assumed they must have been ok otherwise the doctors would have called me back. Hmmm....
If I can't sleep tonight, I am going to make a GP appointment so will ask then.

Good work on all the post work feeding Buck! I can't believe how organised you sound. I'm actually a little bit frightened. I'm going to have to be that organised when I go back to work aren't I?! Gulp!

We already had the first wake up of the night and a massive feed. Hopefully that will help her settle for a little bit. Much cooler here tonight too thank goodness, so hopefully that will help us both sleep .

Yay for Strictly, will head over to TA thread later too. I really admire people who can dance, especially as I have no co-ordination whatsoever.

ILTMI, I'm sure your DS will slot right back in at pre-school, especially with it being his birthday too (your cakes sound fine, the more icing the better as far as my most 3yo's are concerned). Will your DS be with the same carers as before or is he moving up to a different class?
My DS is very excited about starting in his new pre-reception class tomorrow. He'll also be going along with the class tomorrow to the leisure centre 5 mins walk away for his first parent-free swimming lesson. (I've had to name-tag everything, but I draw the line at pants, if DS can't remember which pants are his then he'll just have to go commando). I'm tempted to go along and watch the lesson in secret but it wouldn't be that easy with baby P in tow and I don't want DS to see me and get distracted so will resist the urge. Don't want to look like a helicopter either.

Happy Birthday Cycle

My Baby monitor is gathering dust, although it might get some use when I put P in her own room, for now I put her upstairs usually between 10.30/midnight when she falls asleep downstairs after her last feed. She then sleeps through until 7 or 8ish. I've tried to settle her earlier a couple of times but she wakes up around 1am so for now I'm happy to take her up later if it means I don't have to get up after i've finally fallen into bed.

we're at 100 posts already, don't think this one will even last the month

Happy birthday cycle