November 05 Babies

[Rodeo]

A new thread for us and our little 2, 3 and very nearly 4 month olds, where is the time going??!!

im guessing candi is from the uk-did you have your baby at the portland?

Diege - with going out - in America I just went out regardless of what time it was, and then kept track of how much he slept and woke him up earlier if he'd slept longer. Here though I've been going for a walk with him in the stroller at 9am to coincide with his nap, and go shopping in the evenings when he's asleep, and today I'm going to try going out in the afternoon with him and since he hardly slept at lunchtime at all today, it might be a good thing if he falls asleep

Hi all,

just a quickie, in the middle of half term chaos, got J cross legged on my lap and the older pair are playing with the train set.

Welcome candimom

Well dp got back yesterday, we were all v. pleased to have him back!

Jess had her first suck on an orange quarter yesterday and loved it! So I'm thinking about giving her a little taster of something soon Maybe when she gets to the 5-month mark. She's good at taking calpol of a spoon so she's starting to be ready I think, not sure if I could hold out til 6 months!

Talking of the bf-ing, I'm starting to feel mauled, is anyone else feeling like this?? I think it may just be because I've been on my own last weekend and she's wanting to be fed still at night. Also her suction is really strong so much so that I don't really like the sensation of bfing I'm sure I'll carry on, probably just hit a bit of a low I think.

Re: Private schools, we're very lucky with our local schools (Primary and Secondary) Dp teaches at Repton, our local private school and he say's it's lovely, but would be reluctant to send the kids there as we'd have to sacrifice other things, and he finds the children from families who have to save to send their children there never really 'fit' in. Although he has said that if poss he would like to send them at the Sixth Form stage as many of his friends did this and it made quite a difference to their A-Level results and uni places....won't be worrying about it for a while anyway

Bit of a me post sorry, I've only skimmed everyones news, I'll hopefully catch up later

Hmmmm, quite long too!

My goodness you lot can chat

Slightly embarrased to answer the 'routine' question at the moment as what routine we had seems to have gone out of the window - a combination of our first half-term/Ash needing MUCH more feeding/birthday week in our house/various other random reasons that I might think of later! All I can say is that we wake up around 7/8am, Tessa is in bed by 7.30pm, Ash by about 9.30pm and somewhere inbetween stuff gets done (or not ) We do usually manage to get out most days though.

Got Ash weighed today - 15ibs 15oz at 15 weeks!! Not bad! Decided they didn't need to know that we had started on the mashed potato. They are a pretty sensible lot here but probably have to tow the '6 month' line.

LOL at the lovebite Busy. I've had a few this time as Ash is quite an 'active' feeder, flailing around, wriggling etc. Occasionally he has let go and then just launched himself at my boob again, latching on to whatever he hits first

Karma - didn't mean to ignore your question about signing, just can't keep stuff in my head for long!
We started at about 7 months and got our first sign back at about 10 months and it was SO exciting. Once the penny dropped she just flew with it and had 50-60 signs in total. It was brilliant for helping to understand her basic needs but we also loved the insight it gave into her world (signing 'bird' to me during an early morning feed when she heard the dawn chorus is one that stands out) I can be quite evangelical about it as it was such an amazing and fun thing to do and I'm really look8ing forward tp doing ikt again. Think Tex did it too so there are a few of us about if you have any questions. Which book did you get BTW?

Ok, just heard an explosion, back later!

Hi all
I posted a couple of times on the antenatal thread and am just getting back to finding time to read how you all have been doing. My big issue is still sleep - I am BFding on demand and DD (born 16 Nov)is still in our room and wakes every 2-3 hrs for a feed. She sleeps 7-7 otherwise. Any advice is welcome - are you all getting a full nights sleep??

Oh yes, welcome Candimom. Told you nothing much sticks in my head for long, was it 6 months of 'baby brain' Tex?

Mamman - No! Will post later but NEED to sort out poo now

Karma, I meant to reply about signing too and forgot. We signed with Tobes and it was brilliant. Tessasmum is no right about the insight into the children's minds. Tobes would sign 'milk' when he needed comforting. He'd fall down or bump his head and then look at me with big puppy eyes and open and close his little fist. So sweet. We've already started with Rosie which is a bit early, but I mentioned it to Tobes and he was excited to try. He's been great at using the signs with her and I think she can understand some of them already like 'milk' and 'more'. It will obviously be a while before she can sign back but I look forward to that day. I think it'll be great not only for me and DH but also for Tobes. He's even been making up signs like putting his finger in his mouth for 'dummy' and then trying to teach them to Rosie. So cute.

Hi Mamman, good to hear from you. We've been very lucky this time around and Rosie was sleeping through the night until she caught the tummy bug that's been going around. Was not the same with Tobes though. He was still waking at least every three hours at this age. I guess it's just different for different babies. How are you coping? Hope it's going well.

Oops, "Tessasmum is SO right...' Yep, definitely six months of baby brain. At least!

Also find b/f tiring these days even though I have been topping up for a few weeks now. The more top up I give him the hungrier he seems so not sure of what I should be doing. We are now topping up 4 times a day (3oz morning and 3oz evening with 2 top ups of 2oz inbetween) and not sure how much top up is actually recommended. Thinking for upping each top up another ounce, any suggestions?
Can anyone fill me in on rusks? When and how? Z is 12 weeks on Saturday.

Beartime - I said the same as you when Z was born. Exact same words. We probably share a lot of similar opinions too.

Thanks for any advice. No mum here so best shoot off x

chacha-sounds fine to me, like i said before if hes hungry he'll take it, it he isnt, he'll leave it or sick it back up.....breastfeeding will probably come to an end the more you top up though as you'll be reducing the whole supply and demand thing....

TESSA- BIG HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO YOU FOR TOMMORROW!!!!
I expect your mummy will be too occupied to come online, much as I will be so im saying it now!

mamman-No, im lucky in that respect, my ds1 went from 7-7 from 8 weeks and now at 12 weeks ds2 is going from 8-7/8, I thought i wouldnt be as lucky second time around, especially as ds1 was bottlefed and this ones breastfed, but it seems its made no difference and hes going right through with no feeds either-i think its more in the genes than anything else... lazy father, lazy babies lol

ps-tessasmum- alfie is quite an active feding too and is always wiggling/kicking legs around etc and scratching so i bought a breastfeeding necklace which he holds whilst he feeds and this has helped alot.......

ps chacha- when alex was little i tried giving him rusks-found the big ones were too big so either broke in half or i think they do mini ones now too, he never got on with them as he didnt like them but i started giving him those cow+gate finger biscuits(6month+) at 4 months/16weeks as they were much easier to hold and he used to really enjoy sucking on those. hth
I love rusks though!

maman - yes, my two are going through the night.

They go down at 6ish and sleep till 11/12ish when I wake them if they don't wake, have a feed and back to sleep till 7 - 7:30am. No, they did not do it themselves, they needed some help!

They were waking up two or three times a night, but never taking more than an ounce or two, clearly not hungry, so I just decided on a date to move out of their room (or should I say my room!), start a new routine and just did it.

When they woke in the night I counted to 10, slowly before going to them. Most of the time they had gone back to sleep before I got to 10, but it is hard to hear your babies cry.

If the crying was insistent I used the 'pat/sush' technique, but never giving them eye contact. The 'pat/sush' lasts for about 20/30 seconds and then I leave the room and count to 20, slowly. And the whole thing just repeats, but each time I count for longer, 20, 30, and so on.

By the second/third night they were hardly waking at all.

Anyway, I'm sure this will all go out of the window once they start teething..............................

I don't suggest you use my method, I think every mum needs to do what they think is right for their baby. And some babies just naturally go through the night, but I knew I would have a long, long, wait with two.

Tessasmum - Hope Tessa has a great 3rd B'Day tomorrow - have fun
By the way I've only just seen your photo's and she's absolutely beautiful as is Ash, you must be very proud.

Right off to sort out Thomas, speak to you tomorrow. Beks

Hi again
Thanks Tex - I am tired and need to see some progress to keep me going - also have 2yold so dont get those lovely sleeps in the day I remember from first time round

Busy - genes - now you tell me - my folks say I was a nightmare baby - crying all the time!

Goldenoldie - thanks for the help. DS didnt sleep through till 12 mo and I just dont think I could take that this time round so am looking for a method rather than going with the flow as before. DH is away on business for 10 days so I might try something then.

Gosh - you are talking about weaning - dont they grow up fast - where has the last 3 months gone???

Rodeo - Repton = isn't that where Roald Dahl went and got beaten??!! Might be imagining it though I'm also getting mauled - Caleb seems to be sucking strongly too. And one weird thing - at the 6pm feed he keeps popping off and crying - anyone else have that? Could it be low milk supply - i end up changing sides about 6 times to keep him sucking! He sleeps thru though, but it seems like the whole time he is struggling.

And another thing I'm wondering... with bfing - is he likely to wake up in the night between 4 months and 6 months because of needing solids, or will the supply and demand thing mean that he will build the supply up enough at his normal feeds?

Mamman - Hi, I don't think I was there yet when up posted, but my advice would be don't feed on demand, . Feed full feeds (25-35mins) every 4 hrs in the day starting at 6/7am and keep him awake lots, and then he should get the food he needs in the day, and be tired enough to sleep at night Also it might be disturbing him with you in the same room. Not that I have realms of experience or anything, cos I'm a firsttimer

Do any of you go out in the evening with the baby after his final bedtime and then put him in his cot when you get back - and does it work? I'm just wondering if now that he sleeps 7-7 I am imprisoned in the house forever, or can I sometimes go out and transfer him without him staying awake for ages and messing everything up? And at what age do they become not able to sleep around noise etc. at night?

Hi all, virtually everyones babes seems to be sleeping through. Seth seems very hungry at the moment, feeds well during the day goes to bed at 7 and lats few nights has been waking up 9-30 - 10pm absolutely hysterical with hunger nothing else will pacify him ( when normally it would!!) Didn't really want to wean yet as was hoping to hold out a few more weeks but feels i'm going to have to give him a little bit of something as I don't want to introduce another formula feed yet unless it would be better to give formula at bedtime and again at 10 and continue with bf rest of the time?

Any advice gratefully received

DD staying overnight with granny tonight so should get a bit of a laze in bed tomorrow!!( heres hoping)xxx

hi all.
sorry still haven't had time to read back, so don't think I'm rude for not addressing any qeustions/ big news.

After no results from the advice I'd been given (and sorry tex..I just couldn't do what you suggested..I have bad memories of changing a nappy and suddenly poo came out, and i thought..'it's easier to catch it than clean up everything' ..lol...)
I gave him some white grape juice 1/6 with water.
he was surprised and didn't quite like it, which allieved my fears he'd get a taste for it and expect it again, but he took quite a lot and an hour later i had a very, very dirty nappy to contend with.
Then we took a bath together and he filled another nappy a few minutes after getting dressed

aaaaand..

happy birthday to tessa...
chacha..i'm surprised you haven't found breastfeeding tiring so far, but well done for sticking with it!..I don't know as I didn't do it but I'd imagine top ups would make the baby more satisfied, not want more. Are you using a dummy? perhaps it's comfort suckling he wants?

and ..pnd..my mum had it majorly, although my sister was in s.c.b.u for four weeks and they were running a pub and restaurant at the time which they could never take their minds from.
she once got to the point that she put our cats on a leash outside, sent me and my bro to my grans, styed in a hotelk with the baby for two weeks, and called in pest control to spray the house for fear of fleas, though there were none.

knowing this, and having studyed psychology I am being very aware of and looking for the signs in myself, but I can't help think being diagnosed with such a thing can just become like a self fulfilling prophecy..

don't mean to offend but if I explin at length what I mean it would take forver to read...

as for sleping routines I have basically let oskar lead a dictatorship, and it has been fine..it's different for different people and babies though, so I reckon you should take any advice that propogates a particular method with a pinch of salt.

sorry, as I was posting others did too..
beartime..for me I will go anywhere with o , we often take him out at 8pm or so in his pram and he sleeps through getting his coat on , the whole time we are out etc, we have never been precious with noise..he has to be used to it as we live near a busy london A road, but also since he was born I have had radio on at home ll day everyday and he sleeps through it.
I'd say babies will sleep when they want to..never mind what you do to them or what is going on, so if you are comfortable with giving a feed then setting out it doesn't matter what the time is..
babies don't have watches after all..teehee

thanks BoB - I'm sure my baby has a watch though - its quite funny how he wakes up on the dot for the end of his nap, and cries on the dot for feeding etc. Reason why I'm asking is tonight I went out with him to see DH in hospital, and he went to sleep but then woke up and started crying at various noises which he wouldn't do at home. So had to take him home and put him in bed b4 he would go back to sleep - didn't even go back to sleep in the car! And when I put him in bed he was laughing at me!

yes happy birthday tessa. am now intrigued about signing. does it take alot of time though, do you need to be thoroughly committed to it to see any results?

BEKSMUM and TEX - sorry to hear you've been feeling overwhelmed. i can see how it happens - I have also been feeling quite a bit less motivated recently, not quite the blues or depression but a bit less interested in going out - it all feels too much hassle some days so i sit in my jamas, sighing a bit and wishing i could just be free to go out spontaneously and without planning. but i am also quite tired. went to a mothers group today and it helped quite alot with my and finn's mood. i got loads of fresh air and HE slept the right amount in his pram. it was a hassle getting out though, had to employ the help of a new mum i have met who kind of cajoled me off the sofa.

mamman - my baby (Finn) is all over the show - my fault as i'm not always consistent. he has breast milk at 7.30 pm, goes to bed about 8-8.30 sometimes wakes at 4.30am, and sometimes doesn't - just sleeps through until 7 a.m..

After a spate of him waking at 4.30 (and feeling like death) i began giving him a formula feed at 11pm/12am to see him through (like golden), and then i couldn't bear to wake him one night so i stopped doing it. i think the 12 am formula feed really helps

Diege well done with the weight loss! tried my pre-prego jeans on today and now okay to do up when standing, and a bit of squeeze when sitting down, but downright uncomfortable when sitting on floor with baby.

constipation remedy probably interesting to watch, but not for me - too dangerous!

well desperate to cathc up on sleep, night night Jen

Evening all

Mamman, I remember you! What did you call your dd? Jess isn't sleeping through yet, We did have a period of it a while ago but she's still waking to be b-fed in the night. I do feed her lying down though (I'm a lazy cow!) so I suspect she's doing it for a snuggle.

Hi Bob, my mum had bad PND too and used to pinch me and throw me in my cot while suffering with it, such a terrible thing to go through, she had electric shock therapy to try and get rid of it. She had to carry her name and address round in her pocket because she would forget who and where she was all the time I couldn't have had a better mum though, I love her loads. I don't think it has affected me at all

Glad Oskar's had a clearout BTW!

Beartime - Oh dear! Not sure about the Roald Dahl thing! Not really sure about the waking at 4 monthseither, although J did go through a period of sleeping through and is now waking again, but you can't really tell if this is just a phase or coincidence or a need for a little something foodwise. Babies are just funny buggers, I think we can all agree on that

Did get a little jar of organic apple puree though while shopping today! Keep getting it out of the cupboard and looking at it, in it's cute little jar, ahhhhh! I'm such a saddo! Think Jess is about 19 weeks??! Nova may be able to clarify that for me

Tex/Tessa, those babysigning tales are so lovely! I wasn't poohpoohing it before - I know it is really beneficial, just my track record of sticking at things!

Happy Birthday Tessa Have a great day at the aquarium

Right I'm off to bed. Taking them all to Twinlakes tomorrow in Melton Mowbray (think it's a kind of a playpark with animals and rides? Not sure - I'll find out tomorrow!)

Oh something else happened earlier, while going roundthe supermarket, we saw a little boy with a large lump on his forehead and a dark birthmark over his nose. Bella looked at him for a bit and went a bit quiet, and then the boy approached her when she and Joe were on a ride-on tractor on the other side of the tills. She came back to us and when we got in the car she started to cry. At home she wouldn't talk to us, but through tears she managed to say she was crying because of the way the boy looked I think she was sad for him as well as being shocked at the way he looked. I told her that he was just the same as us and probably had looked that way since he was a baby. I asked her how she would feel if Jessie was born like that and she agreed that we'd love her the same (if not more) and be v. protective of her (and punch, kick, strangle etc. anyone who hurt her!) she went to bed feeling a lot better but I thought for ages (and still am!)about if I'd said the right thing, things I should have expressed better etc

God sorry that's really long but just shows that you can be plunged into, (what's the word???) you know, trying to make your child aware and respectful of different kinds of people....

Joe on the otherhand didn't bat an eyelid

ugggh, dont you just hate blowing up balloons, major headspin...f*ing things....

Right, I will try and answer the sleep thing!
Ash started to sleep through at about 8 weeks (Tessa started at 13 weeks-only know because we were in the Isle of Man visiting my brother and SiL and their 6 kids at the time, think they wore her out!!) but the last 2 weeks or so he has been waking up, initially once, then twice and on Sunday night 4 times With him I think its because he's ready for more than milk so he's getting a little mashed potato and I've got my fingers crossed.
Both were bf on demand.
How big is your DD? It might be that her tummy can't cope with more than 2-3 hours worth at a time. Also, does she 'stock up' in the evening? Don't know how you would make her do this but my 2 have both done it on their own.

I wrote this earlier on and now see that your on No2 so forgive me if I'm trying to teach you to suck eggs
Can see that you would want her to sleep a bit more and maybe others advice is better than what I was going to say, which was give it a bit longer and maybe she will sort herself out - on your past experience maybe she won't!
I get VERY nostalgic for the times when I could sleep when the baby slept, 2 is d**n hard work isn't it?

JenJam - signing isn't that much work and a lot of fun. It helps to be consistant but it becomes 2nd nature very quickly and I still find myself signing at times - you always sign as you speak so it doesn't take any extra time apart from learning a few signs every now and again. I had done some before with work but DH hadn't and he took to it really well, he's as keen as me to do it again too.
Tex - lovely to hear Toby getting so involved, I'm fascinated to see how much Tessa remembers when we get going. We have talked about it a bit and she has been asking me what the sign for a few things are. Her picture is in the new English version of the Joseph Garcia book (proud Mummy moment) so we started talking about it when we got our free copy sometime in the Autumn.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, I will pass them on in the morning. But also

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALEX

Hope you have a lovely day too Busy

Have just written cards/wrapped pressies and left a bike covered in '3 Today' balloons (DH did that bit!) in the living room. Am feeling just a little bit sad that my first baby is actually 3, and not a baby at all any more (as she will clearly tell me). Where has the past 3 years gone

Night night all