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

That's how I do it sometimes Hawthers if I remember. Or like this afternoon where I've suddenly just thought 'bugger, he's waking up and I haven't even boiled the kettle and we need to go out as soon as he's had his milk. Carton it is again then'

Yes a big container would be better wouldn't it Scream. No idea on what though. Bottles are expensive to use for that aren't they. How many bottles can you sterilise at once / what sort of steriliser are you using?

scream I put 8oz in a baby bottle which does 2 bottles. I then refill it a couple more times before resterilizing it as I figue it gets no spit etc in it and boiling water will kill anything else! I do need to find something bigger to store it in so if I do find something i'll let you know as its annoying.

I know what you mean about seeing everyone, its odd but in a good way

scream I put in a vacuum flask at the beginning of the day and left the lid off. It was a while ago but I remember it worked fine, but there are loads of great ideas here. It's a case of finding what works for you.

DD was on prescription formula otherwise I feel I may have relied on cartons overnight and when out and about!

I use a thermos. I just refill it again with boiling water throughout the day. I use cartons sometimes when out but try not to that often because of the price.

Not had chance to read the thread fully or look properly on FB yet. I know once I start I'll never end up doing anything else.

And I've already failed my FB policy of close friends and family only already I'm just too nosey

Hello everyone!

I've been at my parents' house for a long weekend. Lots of seeing extended family. It was really good, actually. And fortunately DS woke up on the Friday morning and straight away I could tell that he was better. He was cheerful and smily most of the time, but his sleeping is a bit rubbish at the moment - up numerous times for big feeds. Is there some sort of 6 month sleep regression / hungry baby thing?

Anyway, got home to find the house is a tip. Thanks DH.

Feel like I'm a bit behind, but am no brooking for poorly, spotty, pooing, sleepless babies to all improve pronto!

Ooh, and the fb group thing - I can't decide if it's a good idea or not to join... I've got used to everyone being anonymous on this thread and can't imagine noseying into everyone's real lives, though I'd love to see the baby pics!

if i ever joined the fb group it'd take you all hours to get through my photos. have uploaded loads over 3 years for the gps!

I have gone a bit mad taking photos. I am trying to restrain myself from uploading the whole lot onto FB. The thing is, all photos of M are adorable, even the ones where she's a blur except for one tiny little perfect foot. [PSB emoticon] What is the etiquette with naked baby pics? Are you not supposed to put them on FB?

Pet, welcome back! Glad you had a lovely time with your family and that DS is feeling better. Grr at DH leaving the house in a tip! not that I do this, ever Don't know about the sleep thing - M's sleep went to pot at 4.5 months and has never really recovered. Some nights are better than others, though.

How lovely you all are! All the DC are just beautiful.

Meant to say Jaggy when I said Val McDermid, I didn't mean exactly the same. I meant a more attractive version, and younger obviously. I hope you weren't offended. Obviously I know now you look nothing like anyway.

Welcome back Pet! Glad DS is feeling better, but how annoying about the house and the state of untidyness :(

I've done some Face-stalking of photos this afternoon (and done no work!), but think I'll save some for the night feeds :)

Reminds me - a couple of nights ago, I woke up to the sound of Bach coming down the baby monitor (as you do). Iz had managed to turn the mobile on. I went in, turned it off and fed her. Same thing happened a bit later. However, I later realised that to turn it on to the extent she did, you actually have to flip a switch! She's bashed the musical buttons before (with both her feet and hands), but to switch a switch?! Typically she's not demonstrated this clever behaviour when I've been watching, only while I've been sleeping!

I've also managed to inhale a bar of chocolate today. . We're on a health kick for DH's sake, but he's away.... oops.. :(

just curious...so can someone explain how the secret squirrel fb group works? you can join but not add friends - then still share photos?

I'm sure this was explained earlier

it made me laugh scarlet, because I'd seen Val on tv fairly recently!

All the pictures of everyone's DC are just soooooooooo cute!

Dream I love your wedding pics as well. I was looking at the pics of you, looking stunning on your wedding day in 2010, having no idea that by 2012 you would have THREE delicious kiddies!! Did you ever imagine that possibility?!

DD was up 5 times last night, hungry every time. :( Bloody growth spurts, I hope she starts crawling after this one!

p.s. WOW! Go Iz!!

Ooooo and thanks for the formula advice. I've just received the 6 new tommee tippee bottles I ordered a couple of days ago (it's too annoying trying to shake up formula in the Dr Brown's bottles I have at the mo). So my plan is to fill 2 8oz Dr Browns bottles with cooled boiled water, and just keep them as the water bottles in the fridge. As I finish one I'll just replenish it straight away with more boiled water and probably only sterilise occasionally since the bottles won't be used for milk anymore. That way I can keep the tt bottles for milk. 6 bottles should get me through a day right?

6 is plenty Scream, sounds like a good plan.

Sounds great ff advice, even an incompetent like me could manage that :)

Not had time for proper fb ing yet, was up til 4am with one or another of mine, mostly DD and B. Really struggling to keep DDs temp below 39 and so hard to get Calpol in her. She isn't eating, not even yoghurt/ ice cream. Not drinking. It's worrying.

Oh, she's crying

And she's 39.5 again, argh!!!!!!! :( :(

((((hugs)))) Dream. I assume your DH has looked in her ears and throat? DS is only ever like that with tonsillitis. I think he's had it about 6 times now. We can usually manage the temp when it's a virus but tonsillitis just seems to floor him every time.

No time to catch up properly until later, but just wanted to say re the FB thing. If any of you who are now FB friends with me change your minds about it all please just delete me.

I've still not had chance to look at you all properly but I have seen some gorgeous DC pics. And the weddings all look fab!

Oh no Dream have you tried giving calpol and nurofen together? Although if she won't take it that won't help much . She's just at that worst age I guess for taking medicine - aware and opinionated enough to know she doesn't want it but probably not able to be bribed or for you to explain that it will make her feel better. I found it so much easier to give DS the yucky ABs this time because he understood that he HAD to take them to make his throat better and he could be bribed with a chocolate button. But it was a nightmare when he was 2 . I don't know what to suggest . Do you do it via syringe or spoon?

Oooo Scream I haven't had a nose at wedding pictures! There's a plan for later It's amazing to think what an effect children can have on your life in such a short space of time - especially Dream's gorgeous three!

Hope DD picks up soon Dream, and starts eating again soon.

I need to call on your collective wisdom again brookers. Iz has woken lots over the last couple of nights, but with slightly different cries, and I've realised she's been bashing her head on the bars, through rolling over or spinning.

I was going to get some of the air wrap stuff to help with her escaping limbs, but I guess that won't help much. Cot bumpers aren't recommended now though, are they? Or are there some safe ones, or some that are safe now she's older?

She's still asleep so I should be napping, but can't get back to sleep.. grr!

Dream ds1 was the same with tonsillitis that we couldn't get his temp down - first time I couldn't get his temp down with calpol and first time he'd had tonsillitis.

Really hope all your littlies are better soon

Ds2 seems determined to bf whilst pushing my boob away with his hand at the moment. This has been going on for a few weeks and makes it jolly sore. If I hold his hand to stop him pushing he'll pull his head back while he's feeding to achieve the same effect. With 4 top teeth it bloody hurts if he isn't feeding 'properly'. It's making me want to give up entirely bf but then I think I shouldn't while he's sleeping so badly as sometimes he'll feed overnight.

musical - not sure if I told the brookers my mental plan of buying the same travel cot we used out in Italy?? Well, we did and it's great. No bashing, no dummies escaping, she can see out, no need for bumpers... It's a bit odd having your baby sleep in a travel cot maybe but it is helping over here!

It's a full size travel cot though, not one of the little ones (we had one of those already and she HATED it).

I always find nurofen much more effective dream. Brooking for you!

Urgh. 4th night feed (so far). Too I didn't realise M's sleep had been bad for so long! I blooming well hope this phase doesn't go on much longer or I will cry. Copiously.

Turns out DH was very cross cos he'd spent the weekend cleaning windows and that sort of thing. He is aware of dirt which I can happily ignore, and I get twitchy about mess which doesn't bother him. Would be a great combo if we spent all our time doing housework, but as we don't, we just end up frustrated. :(

Quick nappy question: how often do people change wet ones? Inaim for every 3-4 hours during the day, but not for 12 hours some nights. So could I leave them longer during the day? Jaggy I presume your little poo-machine makes that question irrelevant!

Biscuits hope E is having a better night. And that things are improving in Dream's household.

Off to attempt The Transfer...

Sorry, wrote the above at 4am but the site was down and it's only just posted. Dream hope DD feels better soon.

Chaos here this morning, ended up texting a neighbour for help in desperation with floppy, panting, medicine refusing DD and screaming babies x2. Offering a spoon then trying a syringe. She's coughing, choking, gagging, screaming and writhing, took 2 of us to get about 4 ml Calpol down her. With a syringe. Dh didn't get a good look at her tonsils/ears yesterday, so took her to the GP, chest infection and ear infection diagnosed. I'd managed to give 5ml nurofen 2 hours before the GP and her temp was still 38.7 :( . How I'll get the antibiotics down I don't know. B also still ill. Thank goodness S a happy pooer but still, he's bloody high maintenance and up 2 hourly as usual.

pet, I'm going for 3-4 hourly usually too. wouldn't do longer for S of the sensitive skin but would for B. Irrelevant for me atm, s had 8 dirty nappies since midnight. I only got to bed at 4 mind, was up with DD or B til then (& S, but he'd have a nsppy, feed and back to sleep thank god). Oh, and S up at 6 of course. Tired and worried here.

And very me me me me me!

pomme, my friends child sleeps in a travel cot, has since birth and he's 2 in December. She just never got a cot for him, he's happy in his. You can get great mattresses for travel cots, ventilated and with all the extras you could want (cool max layers etc) from the cotmattresscompany online. ours were quite cheap for A decent mattress too. Not full size cot though, the squarer ones.

Oh dream

You poor poor thing And your poor DCs .

When I hoped S would be easier I wasn't really thinking that it would happen by default because B and DD would be harder .

You have my full sympathy for the ABs I can remember having to take DS round to the in-laws to get ABs down him on occasions. Is there any chance she could be bribed to take them? Or maybe bribed / mixed in with a yogurt once she's got the temp down and is a bit more herself? How is she doing now? When do you have to battle the calpol / nurofen again?