March 2012 - Brewed to Perfection!

[TroubleAndFyfe]

Hello all, come and add your babies to the list and let's see what adventures they bring!

No trouble, Trouble! I appreciate hearing your thoughts :) You've asked and answered some of the same questions I have. Do you have the Baby Led Weaning book? I was thinking of ordering that. I also saw a "Weaning Made Easy" book that looks like it covers a couple methods, and I'm wondering if I should get that also for some balance. And I'm interested to hear about this DVD, too, broody.

My thoughts are leaning towards BLW, although I'd like to be able to feed mushy stuff too. (And could they just lick it off their fingers in addition to a spoon if they wanted?) I should probably read some. Basically, BLW seems ultimately easier -- they eat what you eat, when you eat. And I'm all for easier :) No one has suggested early weaning here, but we are also at a bit of a disconnect as our HV has left and they haven't hired a new one. We've been told to contact the GP about the next set of shots, and I have no idea when they'll get a new HV for us.

And, oh, my, the screeching is really getting to me! I feel like I'm spending all day trying to keep Tessa from screeching. Someone commented that she was especially vocal, which was nice when it was "ooo" and "aah", but this sound is maddening! I do hope she gets over it soon. She does at least appear to be starting to modulate it -- the same sound but at a slightly lower volume at times. (She's doing it right now, and the volume just went through the roof...better hit post!)

Yes mad, they could just lick it off their fingers too it dies sound so much easier, that way you don't have to take food out with you or think about where/when you're going to feed them, they just get three meals a day with you. I have the baby led weaning book, not sure who it's by, small thin white book with a picture of a baby on the front. I'll dig it out and have a read. Saw kiki and Ivy today, Ivy's a little sweetheart!

The DVD we were lent from the HV was a copy so I've not got any idea who it was by or whether it's just a Leicester NHS thing. Maybe ask your HVs or docs or local sure start centre if they have anything available?

Oh yes the vocal range of my 17 week old is also growing but all sounds only come in one volume - loud!! It is like she wants to outdo herself, particularly in the squeals department when she gets higher and higher every time. Apparently, according to the doc and two HVs, she will be an early talker. Sounds about right

She does sometimes have comical timing with giggles...the other day, on our walk, a 7/8 yr old boy came shimmying and skipping towards us singing "I'm sexy and I know it" and then stopped in front of us and said "I am though innit? I am sexy!" before shimmying on past us, followed by two friends of the same age. Poppy happened to giggle and squeal at that exact point which actually made me laugh out loud! (followed by omg she will not watch MTV or know what sexy is at 16, let alone 7!!!)

Oh, I remembered what I wanted to ask, trouble - how do you brush the baby's tooth? I assume there are baby tooth brushes and baby tooth paste? Somebody gives advice on this, I hope. I hope we get an HV again soon... I did just get a message that we can go to a baby clinic and see another HV for weighing and stuff next month, but I don't think they'll be "ours".

We got the car back, for less than we originally paid for it, but DH thinks this is a signal that it might be time to look for a new one. I kinda feel like we just put a bunch of money into it, so I'd want it to continue to work. He's going to take a long drive next weekend with it, so if it goes well then maybe he'll feel better about it. At least we now have 50-mile towing from the AA if something does go wrong.

And I can't believe I start work again on Monday :( I have no idea how I'm going to do it -- at least I don't actually have to go anywhere, except for scattered meetings, so the fact that I can still barely pump 10mls at once doesn't matter too much. But getting work done with DD screaming nearby is going to be tough. I had been planning to get the kitchen set up as a home office but haven't done it yet. I asked the Prof who runs the weekly informal seminars if I could bring DD to them, and he said sure, so we'll see how that goes. If it goes well, maybe by the time the academic year and the more formal seminars start, she might be welcome at those too. Otherwise DH will need to entertain her.

And Tessa has just started another growth spurt, I think... Is there a 4-month one? She's really upped her feeding frequency, sometimes hungry every hour!

Mad- yes, baby toothbrushes & toothpaste- but you need to check the floride levels in the toothpaste and get advice on which one to use for your area depending on levels of floride in the water locally. I guess you must have to wait 'til the teeth have come right through, otherwise the gums are too sore to brush?

Wishing you lots of luck going back to work- and I'll be watching with interest, because I'm really not sure how it's going to work out when my Maternity Allowance runs out (in December). Are you going to be looking after Tessa at home & working, or will DH/ someone else look after her while you work? I'm freelance and do a number of things usually, but am going to have to focus on things I can do based at home initially at least, and the hope is that DP (who is also freelance, but has a p/t office job too) can juggle things a bit if and when I need to go to meetings etc. My friend I met at a pregnancy yoga class worked from home full time (with the baby there) when her dd was about a month old (she's an editor) and it's been really hard, but she seems to have pulled it off, despite colic & early teething. She gets the laptop going at the 5am feed! I know there are some things (i.e. emails/ updating my website etc) that I can do during the day without too much problem, but more concentrated stuff I'll have to wait 'til she's asleep- so mainly evenings and a bit during nap time- that's usually when I sort out the house/ eat etc- so no idea if I'll manage... it will also be interesting to see how your meetings go. I feel Ivy's quite easy going and could go along to less formal ones, too. Anyway, blah blah, but I really hope it works out! Enjoy your last weekend & I hope things get sorted with the car. XX

PS- really nice to see TroubleANDFyfe, too, and talk teeth! X

Yes, we use a baby toothbrush and paste! You need to start brushing daily as soon as the tooth erupts from the gum (even when it is 1mm!) as plaque will attack straight away!

mad - yes we were told to start introducing the toothbrush and paste as soon as the tooth erupts. Just the tiniest smear of paste though to get the taste of it.

Four month growth spurt - yes defo!! Can't remember who asked that but yes it defo exists. Our dd was grouchy, constipated, pulling off during feeding for a scream, wanting to be picked up but then not, teething didn't help, still not sleeping during the day, awake every hour during the night, made out like she was hungry then lost interest after a few sucks....oh it drove me mad last week! Pinnacle was Wednesday when I was meeting my NCT friends at the pub - she was full of smiles as soon as we got there, ordered my drink and lunch, went to feed her and boom, off she went screamed the place down so much I had to leave after two sips of my coke and before my food arrived. The waitress was lovely and put my fish finger sandwich and chips in containers and wrapped them up so I could take them home! I cried some tears on that journey home I don't mind telling you!

Grrrr I officially hate sleep regression!!!!!!

dd went to bed at 930pm tonight and woke at 11, 1130, 12.15 and 1.15. Driving me maaaaaaaaad!!

Anyone else up and annoyed?

Oh Broody, you have my sympathies. LO's sleep has been all over the shop lately. First we had a mega growth spurt, meaning night time feeding frenzies a-go-go and she didn't seem to get herself back to her old self from that. Then at the weekend we tried to unswaddle. We just went cold turkey on Friday night and it was a huge mistake! She was up every 10 to 15 minutes from 2 until 6 and before that she'd only slept a solid 3 hours. It was miserable! She's now swaddled with one arm out. We'll then do 2 arms in a few days and then hopefully swaddle free by next weekend.

Aren't babies funny- you think you've got them sussed and then they'll just change again, keeping you on your toes.

We got a cuski in the post today that I'm going to wear during the day and then try and get her to use as a comforter, so she can self settle at night without me having to go and give her cuddles and rocking. We'll see how it works...anything is worth a shot, I figure.

Good luck tonight! I hope she lets you get some kip!

Omg she's getting worse!!! Last night it was 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 1, 2.30, 3 - when DH got up and took her downstairs to sleep on his chest - then just before 6 because DH had to get up and ready for work. I fed her at 6 til 7 (she was feeding on and off with sleeping) and she went back to sleep for half an hour on me.

We saw the hv yday and we discussed this horrific nightmare.... I can't believe she said she'd never heard of four month sleep regression!! She thinks instead DD could be hungry so suggested maybe weaning early (defo no, thanks!) or giving a formula feed just before bedtime. Even though I'd rather not, we did give her a ff ..... But it made no difference anyway, as the times above show!

Any advice?!

Broody- I think it is just a (very tiring) phase as they readjust their sleep patterns. Ivy wasn't quite so extreme, but definitely went through a stage of waking a lot more often at night, and I remember Trouble went through a few nights similarly. Ivy still sometimes wakes a few times and doesn't cry, but is snuffling around in her basket, and we do use a dummy which gets her back to sleep. I know that's not for everyone, but I think in Ivy's case she's not necessarily hungry, just awake. Is she feeding more during the day, too? (Growth spurt?) And sleeping in the day? I've heard that if they don't sleep much in the day time, it can make them more irritable at night. I think sleep deprivation is the hardest thing- can you just plan an easy week so you can catch up a bit during the daytime? Hope it doesn't last long. X

poor you broody! It happened to us and we're now through it, sleep went back to normal again recently, gradually. I know it's hard right now but this too shall pass, I don't think there's any kind of magic solution, sorry your HV have you such bad advice! I don't know if it'll make you feel better but he now sleeps 1-2 hours in the afternoon too which he didn't do before so it's better than it was before the regression.
How long are you up for each time? With Fyfe I was lucky as he'd only be awake for 10 mins each time.

Oh, broody, sorry to hear all your troubles, but I must say it made me feel better as Tessa is acting like this too. She's only JUST started to sleep a couple hours at the start of the night again. We used to get almost 6, and I was thrilled last night to get 3! Then she wakes every hour for more. And feeds every hour or hour and a half during the day. Gah! No advice, but it does look like we're on the upswing after about 2.5 weeks of this, so there is hope that it can end...

at your HV. How can she not have heard of it, when she's seen hundreds (thousands?) of babies and just with our small group we've all experienced it? I wonder if they just push weaning and then think no more... Good for you for standing your ground on that.

Well, back to work is working so far (although I really need to put in another hour tonight as I stopped early to watch Olympics ). DH is home as well, working on his thesis, and on Monday he looked after Tessa for most of the morning, with me just popping in for feeds. By 2pm Tessa figured out that I was leaving her when I put her down and would have no more! She cried whenever I set her anywhere or gave her to DH. So I got on my sling and put her in. But then she insisted I stand (by crying when I sat). After unsuccessfully trying to type and bounce standing, I remembered my birthing ball! I sat on that and bounced, and she was happy. It's a little low for the table, and bouncy typing isn't exactly easy, but it seemed to work. We did that again several times today and she fell asleep after a little while. If this continues to be a solution I may go look for a larger one I think we bought the small or medium back when I was pregnant. Tomorrow is our first meeting 2 hours in the afternoon, and DH will come in with me and look after Tessa. I hope that goes well. Your friend's story is encouraging, kiki. From one month, wow!

Enjoying the Olympics -- I've managed to catch nearly all the gymnastics coverage and a lot of the equestrian. Very impressed that the 37 year-old Mum made vault finals! It's a bit bittersweet, maybe even more so than normal as I come back from barely even walking for 4 months, to see the gymnasts doing things I can't do anymore and so many more things I never could do... (My level of gymnastics was those little connecting moves they do in between their flips :) ) But I still enjoy it.

I really do think most people go through the dreaded 4 month regression and they all come out the other end too!
My little baby is 5 months old tomorrow

I can never remember exactly how old Ivy is any more, Trouble! I guess coming up to 5 months, then!

Well done for getting started with work, Mad! Don't know if it would work for you, but sometimes I put Ivy in her bouncer & rock it with my feet while I'm on the computer. From 6 months they can use those bouncers that hang in the door, as well- I remember my sister loved hers! I'm hoping that will keep Ivy entertained, soon. I'm finding a similar thing that Ivy wants to be held a lot more at the moment- I think it's partially the teething, but also she's in a funny in-between stage where she can sit for short periods, but not enough to sit on her own and play- and she seems to get a bit bored playing under her activity arch so much, which she used to love. I'm being given a bumbo, which I hope will allow her to sit and play with things in a way that's more interesting for her (if she fits with the brace straps). I don't mind holding her a lot, but dp has been away for a week, and I just don't seem to get much else done until the evenings.. Just really need to start working a bit, too- although I won't start technically 'til December, being freelance I need to have plenty of things lined up for then so the money starts rolling in straight away, otherwise it will take several months before I earn anything, which will be a disaster financially. Anyway, hope you're OK over there on your ball today, mad!

kiki he was born on the 1st so not too hard to work out!
Just had him weighed, 16lb13 now. Still on the 50th centile so they are happy with him.

kiki at my mums yday, I put Poppy in a bumbo and she loved it!! She did get tired quickly but was quite happy in there with trusty Sophie the giraffe, her black and white noisy book and zebra rattle think it'll really help with her sitting development.

I was warned by NCT about those door bouncers as they can apparently be quite harsh on their little spines and hips - shame as I thought it'd be a good alternative to play mat and bouncer

You can use door bouncers for 10 mibs at a time, just not recommended for any longer periods. Fyfe's now ready for his but we have no architraves to hang it on! We set up his highchair yesterday though and he sat in it for the whole of dinner time which was great!

Yes, I though door bouncers were OK for short periods as long as they're fitted correctly- the one thing the physio at the antenatal classes said to completely avoid are baby walkers- apparently there are hundreds of accidents with them every year, and they have to walk on their toes, which puts the wrong sort of pressure on the feet & doesn't really help them learn to walk. There wouldn't be the room in my house, anyway!

Can't wait to try out the bumbo- really hope she fits! Think we're getting an Ikea Antelop high chair- I've had lots of recommendations for it.

Phew, made it through a week of work! I didn't do the most useful work today, but I put in the hours... I am SO going to take a nap this weekend. If DD lets me. :)

DH left for the weekend this morning -- first time with me and Tessa alone! I keep reminding myself there are single mums and I see kiki above, you've been alone for a week, so I should be able to manage this.

Does anyone else's LO like to cover their face? Tessa has started pulling anything she can on her face. I've taken all but a cellular blanket away from her sleeping areas, as I keep finding them over her head. She puts it on her face, then kicks and waves her arms like she can't get it off. But I'm not sure that she isn't playing a game and trying to get me to take it off. Today she pulled a muslin over her face while playing on the floor, and I didn't take it off for her. She left it on for about 15 minutes until the kicking finally slid it off the top of her head. But it disturbs me, as I worry she'll place something that can suffocate her there :( I'm not sure if she's really incapable of removing them or not.

Well done mad! How's it going on your own? I have a friend whose baby likes to cover her face. I guess it's just important to control what they have access to, cellular blankets and Muslins only I suppose?

Evening all how are we?

I met with my NCT friends today and we all had a collective emotional outburst. Turns out we are all feeling the pressure of mummyhood but we all thought that everyone else was coping fantastically so have never spoken up....until one of the girls piped up that's she's really feeling crap. Well, that opened the floodgates! We all spoke about our true feelings and how we question ourselves constantly and feel helpless on several occasions throughout any given week. It was such a relief to know that we are all going through the same and to have it confirmed that we don't need to pretend we are supermum, superwife, super self, super daughter, super sister etc. The NCT fee literally paid itself today as we'd have never met each other and opened up had we not signed up to those classes. I'm truly delighted to have realised I've got such lovely friends (bit of sick in mouth reading that slushy stuff back though haha!!)

Hello all I'm not a regular on this thread though I did pop on a few months back! Just after a bit of advice DD2 is not a very good sleeper ( yawn) she's ebf and is totally addicted to boob for comfort for example She will usually go down after a mammoth suck at 8 ish till 10 then till 12 but then I have three hours of her on off on off every half an hour its exhausting! I've tried co sleeping which makes me uneasy and guilty as I never would have dreamt of bringing DD1 in my bed (I've kicked DH out and removed the duvet and pillows but stil....) she also decides at random times of the day she needs a little suck and cuddle which is lovely mostly but if I'm out with DD1 in tow can be a challenge for example today we went to a farm park and I tried to feed her before we set off but she wouldn't feed as soon as we got in the car she kicked up a fuss we pulled over and I tried again she just kept pulling off when the milk came and looking about smiling then going on again but was not happy when I put her in seat to set back off. She then fell asleep with my finger in her mouth! DD1 never had a dummy but sucked her thumb from 9 week I'm not against dummys but don't want to force her as so far she just looks at me on a confused way and spits it out! She is also a bottle refuser but that's another story..... I bf DD1 for 9 months and loved it but feeling like its creating a need in DD2 given she needs to sleep with boob in her mouth! Sorry for the long post but I wondered if anyone else is experiencing this? Also she's not been great weight wise started off 25 th gradually dropped to just under 9 th by 16 week DD1 tracked the 50th and occasionally jumped to 75th.

She's very active though rolls the full length of the room has done for a few weeks and is starting to push up onto her hands !

Hi law. Welcome
To me, everything you've described is a typical four month old - sleep regression and separation anxiety. Could she also be teething? My DD is pretty much the exact same as you've described and is being tormented by the teething demons too and so things are tough going. She also is a real tinker for using my boobs as a comfort and she isn't doing great weight wise either. Will yours nap during the day? Mine won't, even though it's obvious she's shattered and needs it. So infuriating!!