These babies are going to be calm, easy and sleepy at all the right times, and we're brooking no argument about it!

[Biscuitsandtea]

In here ladies - the other thread was getting full up so I thought I'd better start a new one.....

Will do some links to / from this thread but in the meantime please make yourselves at home

What a tough night it was last night - so many mini brookers up!

Dream I am joining the lottery win campaign for you. You definitely deserve some universe-compensation! How tricky with the weaning. I suppose it's almost as if you have to start again? But then you've got concerns about them getting protein etc. V tricky indeed.

I think Scarlet speaks a lot of sense (as ever) in that a referral night just help to get back on an even keel. There are so so many things hitting you from all directions and for me, I think it would just make me feel reassured that someone could look at it as a whole and help me decide which thing to concentrate on first iyswim?

Weaning wise, if they are not dealing with lumps at the moment, would it be worth trying the stage 2 type EK pouches? That way they have meat etc in them so are a bit more substantial than just fruit and veg (and of course a diet of fruit and veg probably does nothing to help with their bottom ends! ). I know those pouches are a little thicker but they might be ok with it? Or if that was too much, perhaps try making it more runny using vegetable or meat stock made with baby stock cubes? That might help it to not taste more watery?

Also, I forget if you said, would they perhaps chomp on a stick of cheese or anything? Ds2 does a nice line in literally sucking cheese or toast etc to death and that might be different to actually trying to get them to swallow lumps? Mind you I suppose if they suck off little lumps you might come unstuck there

Scream I am brooking no argument that little A will have recovered her sunny disposition today! If that is a tooth causing it then I am hoping it shows itself soon. Ds2 had an awful day the day before I noticed those first two little teeth breaking the surface and I had no idea what was wrong with him. I hadn't even considered teething as it was so early but he was just inconsolable for a whole day the poor wee thing. Totally hit me from left field and then the next day I had a quick feel and those first two teeth could just about be seen / felt at the front. Did you say you'd tried nurofen? Did you do calpol too? Poor both of you

And Jaggy poor you too! It's so frustrating when you end up lying awake when the baby is asleep isn't it! Feels like such a waste . Can you perhaps catch a little nap or lie in today? How is ds2 doing with the bottle? Have you started his bottle training yet?

I'm not sure if R is sleeping worse, or if it's just feeling worse because i have to get out of bed! It's 1.5 hours in the car to PILs house, will try to nap on the way.

it won't be too relaxing when we're there as my DN who is a similar age to DS1 will be there too. she is...quite a handful shall we say. DS1 is older by nearly 4 months but is a bit scared of her, especially because she wants to cuddle him. she loves DS1 so will be awfy excited.

this is the first time DS1 has actually woken up to find his brother in the same room. i was asking him if it was nice to have him there and he said. "yes mummy, R was doing a poo when he was in his bed!" thanks DS1...

oh, he's had 3 or maybe 4 bottle practices. first ones disastrous, managed to drink last one. not sure if it's down to practice or the fact i tried variflow teat!

Sorry to hear about poorly babies and terrible nights.

Yup, here as well. TeenyMunx was up most of the day and night yesterday, I am shattered.

Can't believe he is 6 weeks old tomorrow!

How's A scream? Totally know what you mean, through my boys hours and hours and hours of crying in the first 4 months I felt like the worlds worst mother. She won't remember it you will

Your night sounds really tough jaggy can't think of much worse than a pil visit to top it off... Hope the car nap works out. As an experienced asthmatic, do you still use a spacer? If so, do you clean it after every use or just once a day or two ?

From your silence on the topic, did E sleep through thenbiscuits?!

Could try cheese for s not b as not done dairy challenge yet and I'm not ready just in case he's worse now! I'm worried he'd suck a bit off and choke again though, the banana was so soft and ripe, and I'd split it down into the three strips iykwim...

Hello munx! Is is terrible that if i had to put one of mine ob eBay to make my life easier its a no-brainer?! Disclaimer- I don't have a favourite, just a difficult one

I have to confess that he did sleep through until about 5:20 Dream

However, I am pretty sure this puts me on catering duties for all the sleep deprived brookers. What do y'all want?

Can't believe teenymunx is 6 weeks already! Blimey!

Ah yes I had forgotten the dairy thing for B Dream . I also totally see what you mean about being frightened they'd get a lump off but in a way cheese might be a bit harder so less likely to break off? Still a risk though. I'm trying to think of other protein rich things they might be ok with. But coming up blank! Stage 2 pouches are all I can think of as the smoothest meaty food

I was going to say stage 2 pouches too biscuits - they are thicker but really pretty smooth - much more than homemade.

I think an overpureed spag bol would be my first port of call too dream - hope they have some. There's iron in lots of veg though - broccoli especially I think?? Lentils??

How come whenever I am, ahem, just about on time for the doctors, they are running bang to schedule. Today when I am here in plenty of time they are running more than 30 minutes late! Gah!

Spinach is irony too isn't it? Both ds's love the popeye pasta sauce from the annabel karmel book. I just purée it for ds2 and give it to ds1 as it is.

luckily (for me) I'm also a very mild asthmatic, dream. i have no idea how often, if at all my spacer was cleaned in the 80s I didn't have to use one once it was all under control.

i never clean my inhalers properly as recommended in the instructions so i may be a bad person to ask. Did the spacers come with a wee leaflet? i seem to remember my peak flow thingy had one. i probably ignored instructions for that too, mind you. i might have been more careful for a baby but after every use sounds like a mega faff!

PIL are ok, will probably get faces because we haven't given neglected second born any food yet though. they will prob be convinced that's why he's not sleeping and i will have to restrain my eye rolling. considering he'll only have one or two meals at first I'm not expecting a difference.

i wanted to do the room move before food rather than all at once, think we'll just start food at the weekend. got a busy week this week.

Food does definitely not = sleep.

I spend all day feeding bottomless pit A solids and all night bfeeding her .

Docs reckon folliciltis (sp?) for dd1 and have given me an antibiotic cream. Hopefully that will do it.

dream - I now keep thinking that dd1 and your dd need to play together!

It's totally me on catering duty. I've been treated to 7.15 all week but didn't want to mention it as I thought you might all throw me off the thread. I have however brought a full tea urn, sausage sandwiches and some rather delicious puff pastry apple concoctions from AK that I baked yesterday. Please help yourself and don't hate me too much, it has been 9 long months to get this much sleep

dream have you thought about offering something less soft so would be less likely to slide back and gag them? Apple could work for knawing and sucking or protein wise fish fingers or a meat ball? Sounds odd but f spits out blended spaghetti bol but will happily chew on a meat ball. I know he's older but he has always been like this

dream I know what you mean, DD is being super grumpy at the moment. But I like the idea of buy one get me free.

I am delighted to hear of sleepy mini Brookers, give me hope for the future!

DD has CMPI so we weaned dairy free, I'll have a think -dream but she was a nightmare, the lumps thing too. It was one step forward and two back for a while bt it did get better. I'll have a scan for the recipies that worked for us.

You're forgiven Hawthers if you tell me where I can find the recipe for puff pastry apple deliciousness

Aw man I really want some cake now!!!

pomme does that mean DD1 didn't have chicken pox then after all, or is this latest thing on top of the chicken pox?

Oh and I've been in Sainsburys this morning to see if I could get some more Milton washing machine stuff and was told that they have not fully sold out .

So, if I get this Napisan stuff instead, does it go in the drawer or in with the wash? I couldn't make it out from the instructions. Also I was reading on another forum that it damages material, have any of you found this?

Annabel karmel standard weaning book has a section baking for toddlers in the back. It's the recipe called apple flowers and they're bloody lovely.

Sorry to hear about the horrendous nights :(

Dream, I think Scarlet's right - a paed referral can't hurt. You've been through such a tough time, and now with these weaning problems... some extra support and help can only be a good thing?

Scream, I hope DD is somewhat sunnier today. I know what you mean about feeling like the worst mother in the world. This too will pass, whatever it is (hopefully a tooth?) and you'll see your sunny happy DD again :)

Biscuits, that's always the way re doctors- at least, that's what I've found!

Gave Iz her first proper taste of banana yesterday - put a few chunks in front of her. Think a little went in, a lot went everywhere, and some went into her mouth and came out again. Tongue thrust definitely gone, and she definitely had fun! Amazed at how messy it gets - thank goodness for coverall bibs and lovley wipeable high chairs. Not too fussed about ensuring she gets lots of food in, but it means she's stopped scooting over to me or DH and trying to nick our food during dinner time - so even if all she does is make a mess, at least it keeps her occupied!

Busy day today as I have MIL and SIL and friend (?) round for afternoon/dinner as a birthday get together for SIL. Cake has been made and is cooling on the side. Sickly Dairy Milk buttercream is made... so just needs sandwiching together and then I can look like a supermum .

Which reminds me... as I was concocting said cake, with DD in the sling (was in a bouncy chair, but protested), the cat decided to bring a pigeon in. Dead, thankfully, but had to play hunt the cat/pigeon with a bemused DD attached... and then had to wrestle said pigeon off of cat. Not good.

...wrote this about an hour ago before I got summoned elsewhere, so no doubt I'll cross lots of posts, sorry...

Thanks for the support ladies. The world is a brighter better place in the morning!

In the end DD cried from 1.30 to 5, by which time I was a wreck. She then slept fitfully for a bit, waking several more times before getting up properly around 8.30. She's still fretful and exhausted now, poor thing. She won't let me check on the progress of the tooth either.

It is DH's turn to have her tonight, which doesn't distress me quite as much as last time

I didn't try calpol on top of the ibuprofen, I felt guilty enough using ibuprofen when she doesn't have a temperature! She's been gnawing away on my fingers though, apparently teethers are no longer sufficient. Bongella appears to have achieved sweet FA.

Hats off to all No Brookers who've already survived several teeth (esp poor little E) and a medal to Musical for Iz's ongoing teething!

Also No Brooking for all those having bad nights, incl the amazing Dream, Munx, Jaggy and everyone else my sleep-deprived brain can't think to name check right now. I think the good stories from Biscuits and Hawthers just give me hope that life won't always be like this!

Fluffy is the infacol still helping? I hope you had a better night!

V impressed with the cake-making and cat/pigeon wrestling Musical!

Straw poll: Does teething qualify as a low-carb diet exemption pass? I'm craving pizza and chocolate in the worst way...!

Scream, sorry your night was so rubbish. Iz prefers fingers to teethers too - and bonjela. My fingers are really suffering. Have you tried letting her gnaw on ice cubes (especially if you have one of those mesh feeders?). It's the best thing for Iz at the moment!

Dairy milk buttercream very sweet but very nice. May just have cleaned the bowl. . May be feeling rather full of sugar now...

And yes. Teething does qualify as exemption pass for diet. As does lack of sleep :P

You know those baby dolls you get that close their eyes as you put them down? I'm sure Iz is the opposite! Yesterday I tried six times during the afternoon to put her down - she fell asleep in my arms, but as soon as she went down into cot, onto bed, bouncy chair, beanbag or blanket, her eyes opened and she started doing excited leg kicking! Aaah! Asleep in my arms now, but three attempts to put her down have already failed. Maybe the current teething bout is making her sleep very lightly... hmm.

Yes yes musical, s just the same, soooo frustrating!!

On top of a bad night I'm now sat in the car with DD asleep having just got back from having her head glued in A&E... She's lost loads of weight and gone a bit unsteady, was balancing along a wide kerb crossing the bridge over the river, I let go while I manoeuvred the buggy round a bollard and she fell and whacked her head, presumably on the metal.bridge edge :( . Oh the guilt!! She was so brave in A&E too. I made Dh meet us there . Was a nurse he worked with when he worked there years ago who greeted us by shouting 'what have you done to your child MrDream!!' :)

NB, she did have blood everywhere , looked worse than it was!