Post-grad Brookers, over here! We will Brook No Argument that all Mini-Brookers sleep 12 hours a night and behave angelically during the day

[TooImmatureTurtleDoves]

Over here!

*spitting

Oh not sure on code end of week I think :£

Does your DH think it's OTT because of the price? Part of me thinks that your DD won't even realise that it's expensive and therefore she won't start expecting regular expensive pressies if you give her this, as far as she knows it could cost 50p! On the other hand I guess if you're trying to teach her the difference between expensive and cheap, then it would be a bad idea...

Don't listen to me! I have NO idea how I'm going to figure out this parenting marlarkey!?!

The vouchers are free as they are from nectar/topcashback, I think it is cool full stop, it is my personal preference to go expensive as dolls are darn creepy if you don't choose well and the quality is much better. Dd has no idea on prices lol

Purple do you know what GF's tale on weaning is? I was just curious because generally her contented baby book gets a reception but then quite a few people seem to go with the potty training book, so I just wondered where the weaning book came on the spectrum?

Not sure what AK did to earn an MBE? Perhaps the queen uses her recipe books when cooking her family dinners?

I also have borrowed a couple of Gill Rapley BLW books to inwardly digest.

On the doll thing I agree that they can't tell re the price - I sometimes try to explain to DS that he can't have stuff all the time because it costs money so he is starting to learn that money exists and things aren't just in plentiful supply all the time. But as to how much things cost he'd never have a scale on that I don't think. So I'd I choose to buy him a more expensive version of something for my own reasons (quality / appearance etc) that's really my choice I suppose isn't it. And I totally agree that lots of dolls are a bit weird looking. Definitely worth choosing carefully. We spent more on getting DS a non-plastic tea set. Now he wouldn't have cared what it was made of but I just decide that I was fed up of flimsy plastic stuff and wanted something a bit more natural ish.

Take not tale

Not had a night like that in a long time, I really feel for those of you who are up through the night on a regular basis. DD is full of cold Poor little thing has been awake all night coughing, sneezing, spluttering and snotting. We've raised the top of her crib and also tried Calpol which she refused to swallow. She's in a right sorry state. She's barely slept and neither have I. She was also disturbing DS all night so he's already playing up this morning.

I'm thinking of using that code to order the Maclaren Techno XT. Thanks for that Purple. Oh and good luck for the BF group today

Oooh good luck today Purple with the bf group, and Scarlet with getting everyone through the day unscathed! My ds1 has been playing up this morning but no disturbed night to blame it on! Thankfully he's at pre school now until 3:30 but getting back to back time outs before 9am is good going by anyone's standards

Off to an exercise class now - eeeeeeek

M was a nightmare last night. My longest stretch of sleep was about an hour and a half, and she kept doing that horrible thing where she falls asleep within about 30 seconds of being attached to the boob, so I put her down again and go back to bed, and 10 or 15 minutes later, just as I had dropped into an exhausted sleep, she starts to cry again. And repeat. I was so tired and grumpy I kicked the dog off the bed because he was trying to lie down where I wanted to put my feet - I mean literally kicked him and shoved him with my feet until he moved, rather than sitting up and telling him to get down in a proper disciplinary way.

Pomme, how did you get on introducing a dummy for A? Did her sleep improves?

Biscuits, go you with the exercise class! I have spent the last month or more resolving to do the Shred DVD and not doing it My excuse during the day is that M won't stay contented on her mat/in her Jumperoo for long enough to let me do it, and then at night when DH is home we're too busy doing dinner, bath and bed, and then I need to wait until my dinner goes down, and then I'm too tired.

Hello, Purple, lovely to hear from you! Sounds like little H is doing really well. M can sit up unaided for very short periods but usually when I try to get her to sit she tries to stand up instead and falls over backwards. Or she just goes rigid and won't bend in the middle because she wants to stand instead. No crawling here - tummy time usually winds up with M lying on her tummy, head raised, with arms and legs flailing in the air an inch above the carpet.

sleep improve, not improves.

Hmmmm exercise class not really a goer. The lady had said it was fine to bring DS and there was a little side room he could sit in the pram in. Which was fine for the first 25 mins or so. He had actually been asleep in the car and I was hoping I could do The Transfer but no joy. But he sat happily for 25 mins then got tired / bored and just grumbled and wouldn't be put down so I ended up leaving .

Don't suppose 30 or so mins of exercise will be enough for DH to tell the difference will it......

It was a good class though so I might look into it again once DS is in some sort of childcare. Until then I'm going to look and see if there is a buggy class, or of any local leisure centres do anything with a crèche at times I can go (ie when DS1 is at preschool).

Right I'm off for a shower and then a cup of tea and a biscuit

Gap are having a sale for their VIP () members from today until Sunday. 30% off all full-priced stuff, but 40% off if you buy 4 or more items. They're not actually bothering to check codes, you just say you're a VIP member and they'll give you the discount, if anyone's interested? I've just spent a fortune buying a winter wardrobe for DD I love baby Gap stuff though!

Go Biscuits! Very impressive effort. Hope you find a better class with a crèche. Too I'm waiting until we get back from hol to start the Shred again, that way if it kills my milk supply again it won't matter because DD is already mixed feeding and almost 6 months. Would love to tag team again if you're also Shredding at the start of Oct?

On my way to the baby music class near my Mum's house. Slightly afraid... [doesn't generally like strangers' children emoticon]

i love baby gap stuff too, but I'm not buying anything for DS2 unless really necessary. I've got DS1's stuff down and there's so much! he still fits into a few 3-6 things but have sorted the next size too due to his general hugeness.

The group this morning was lovely! Just 4 of us ATM. I am gutted though as it clashes with my uni lectures which start next week so it will be DH going and meeting people! I was given a leaflet about other things going on though and I am going to join the toy library. £2 to join and then you can borrow up to 3 toys a fortnight!:)

Well pretty much yes too. Its because I've stopped feeding to sleep though really. I feed her, wake her up a bit, play with her a bit then put her down for both naps and night time. I use the dummy, some singing and comforters in the cot.

Its a bit noisy and yuk for 5-10 mins at naptimes and up to 30 mins at bedtime. Im there the whole time (sometimes pottering around) and I sing louder when she cries.

For the first three nights - bang, amazing, one wake up all night. LAst night was a bit worse, wake up at 11pm then awake 3-4 then up at 6 (normal get up time). Hoping that was a one off rather than the first three being flukes!!

Next I need to get her to take milk from a beaker or bottle! She starts nursery start Oct one day a week so I need to have some stuff sorted for then or both her and the staff will have a proper crap time!

Her first full day though I'm not going to work - my mum's taking me on a spa day! God I love my mum!

Sounds good about the group wants - hope dh networks well on your behalf!

biscuits - I think lots of gyms have creches?? Two of my good friends are memebers at a local gym with a creche and a little soft play. They do gym things and me and my dds meet them afterwards in the soft play :)

The toy library sounds fab Wants! How many lectures will you have? Admiring you studying with a little 'un!

Purple, lovely to see you! Glad to hear H is doing so well :) Hurrah for teeth too. Iz has been teething for ages but nothing to show for it yet, bar some big teeth-about-to-break-through bumps on her gums. Your BF group sounds exciting!

Too, the BF group I go to is mainly for social reasons! I was having a few problems when I started going, and their advice was good - plus it's run by the same organisation who came out to give me oen to one help when I was struggling. We now just go to chat and play with all the toys .

Hurrah on M's fabulous cot sleeping, but I guess the lack of sleeping elsewhere must be tricky! Iz is brilliant at napping in my arms, or in the sling, but always wakes up if transferred - and doesn't like falling asleep in the cot! I have got her to have a 30 min nap in there for the last two afternoons though, hurrah! (still room for improvement though). Baby steps.. :) I'm wondering if it's to do with body heat/smell (like during the early days!), so keep trying the wrapping in a blanket tactic! So odd as she'll go down awake at night.. but I suppose it's good that she realises the difference between sleeping at night and in the day.

Biscuits, well done for the exercise class effort! I'd be too afraid to try. Especially with a baby!

Scream, hope the baby music class is fun! You can always just gaze at A and ignore the other children I'm sure...

Scarlet, hope DD feels better soon :(

Went for a Very Long Walk earlier, and spotted a sign up in our local church for a baby and toddler group - £1.50 a week. Would that be more of a toddler group, or might there be little ish babies there too? Could always go next week and try it out I suppose!

Feel a bit that my current thing was about worrying about work. Sorry for having ranted about it so much. Completely ignoring it for the mo (decided I don't have to decide now, and should stop worrying and start enjoying everything!). I have a training day next Friday though, which should be fun (it normally is), and means DH will have his first full day alone with Iz! Must double check she'll still drink from a bottle at some point...

As part of our money saving tactics I've decided that all (most) treats must be homemade and not bought! Trying to decide what to bake this afternoon.. :)

Oh, and Too, Iz does the shouting as well! She only cries if she's really really upset (and I normally come running ) - like if she's hurt herself or something. The rest of it's shouting! I suppose it's good as we know she's not really really upset, she's just unhappy with something. Different shouts for different things too - actually quite amusing!

Aw Scarlet hope DD feels better soon and you get a good night's sleep tonight. I love my Maclaren so I think you should go for it!

Purple if DD hasn't got a doll and really wants one I'd probably get it now rather than waiting another 4 months. I loved my dolls, especially when my baby cousin was born and I could pretend I had a baby too (I was 3). Maybe you could get her a little buggy (or other accessory) for the doll at Christmas?

My dog just did a lovely thing. DS was asleep upstairs (with the monitor on) and I was vacuuming downstairs. The dog is scared of the vacuum cleaner so was hiding. Then suddenly I looked up to see her standing there whining. I turned off the vacuum cleaner and heard DS crying - the dog had come to tell me! Obviously I need to keep a closer eye on the monitor next time...

Ah pet how sweet of your dog. Now you don't have to worry if DS falls down a well! remembers Lassie and Littlest Hobo fondly :)
musical I have 3 hrs of lectures on a Thursday until Christmas and then the occasional 1 hr meeting until my dissertation hand in in May! This is my 5 th and final year of study- yay!

Oh, my dog does that too, Pet! It's like Nana in Peter Pan. He also disapproves of us bathing M and tries to lick her dry if he can reach, and he would lick her dirty bum if I let him (boak! Dogs are disgusting sometimes). This morning he was standing next to me patiently letting M grab at his nose and collar, and before I realised it he had licked her gently on her open mouth. Oh well. Hygiene, what hygiene? [lax mother emoticon]

Pomme, when you don't feed A to sleep, do you play with her if she wakes in the night too? And did you start off putting her down or did DH do it? Mind you, M's not eating much of anything apart from milk, still, because she really just plays with the food and almost nothing goes in. So maybe she needs the food? Not at night, though - she can't be taking in more than a few mouthfuls, really, because she falls asleep again so quickly.

Please could people tell me stories about how their DC slept badly at 6 months but grew out of it and slept marvellously shortly afterwards? And if you did/didn't do anything what was it? I don't know what to do. I know Dream has it worse, but right now I feel a bit pathetic.

i think ds1 was fairly rubbish at 6 months. it all just got better gradually with me doing feck all. still fed him when he woke and DH and I fed/cuddled him to sleep for as long as he seemed to want it for naps and bedtime.

he gradually just did more sleeping through, it was most nights by about 10 months. teething molars screws it all up anyway

not sure how it's all going to work with ds2!

I like that story, Jaggy, because I am lazy and the thought of just carrying on doing what I'm doing appeals.

Latest weaning update: avocado and banana smushed and smeared all over M and the baby walker (still don't have a highchair), and attempt at spoon-feeding avocado puree greeted by lots of spitting from M. Some of it must have gone in, but an awful lot more got spat over the tray and dribbled down her front. I was kind of hoping to get a decent amount of food into her to see if she slept better, but it's not working. [grumpy tired emoticon]

I feed to sleep in the night too!! I'm not insane

Just for naps and bedtime I'm trying to avoid it.

Also loving the dog story pet and brooking for dd's cold scarlet.

I don't envy you the avocado walker clear up too!

Sorry third post - too - I do totally emphasize. Its soooo crap not getting any sleep. I've only had three good nights out of the last four but I feel like a different person to the one I've been for six months. I've done stuff and all sorts :)

So...in summary I am trying to break feed to sleep(but not in the middle of the night) and have started with a dummy at cot time. I am having a bit more sleep since I started doing this. It may also be totally coincidental though?

Not sure about lots of food = sleep. A has been eating mountains of food since 24 weeks (3 proper meals a day practically) and still slept badly...