November 2012 - They WERE sleeping, what happened?

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1688444-November-2012-Forget-50-books-in-2013-well-have-50-threads

We also use Pampers Stay Dry here, day and night. Still use them for DD1 too. We did try her on active fit but they leaked.

Which reminds me. We'e going to do the toilet training from Easter weekend onwards. She's stopping the nursery at the end of this month as we can't afford it now my salary is inexistent. Seems like a good time to do it. She'll be two in two weeks! Can't believe it. Time to stop counting her age in months. It's gone so fast.

sweetpea I would rather be happy and a bit squashed in, than move to a less nice place for a few months for the sake of an extra room. If you think you'll be happy sharing rooms with ds for that bit longer I would stay put. Plus moving house is a bitch.

My hair is coming out in handfuls too I keep finding strands all over L.

L loves her jumperoo which we got off ebay new for £60. She is still a bit small but I put a pillow underneath. I've posted a video on the fb page.

Pikz we don't dream feed but L doesn't go to bed till 10!

Mummapanda wow congrats! No chance of being pg here !!

morning! am at everyone who has sleeping babies. S wakes every 3 -4 hours for feed like clockwork, mor like every 2 hours in the latter half of the night. That was fine until a few nights ago, because she guzzled then was easy to settle - just passed out. Now she's fussing / whinging / crying and pissing about on the nip. Am currently dealing with it by taking her into bed with me about 4am when I'm too tired and letting her pass out on the boob . Any thoughts most welcome.

Fatima how big / old is your LO? S is avg size for 17 weeks and I have her in pampers size 3 baby dry - they are at their limit after 10 hours. think DD pees a lot

Pea belated birthday ! sounds like a lovely day.

For anyone who has time - how do you entertain LO? S is four months now and I really lack imagination. we do playmat / tummy time / songs / music and dancing / stories ..... and still that only seems to fill an hour?! any creative suggestions gratefully received.

sweetpea he'll be fine sleeping in your room until 15 months but be prepared for lots of rod for your own back comments from people in RL. You might be pleased that he learns to walk and crawl in a relatively enclosed space all oone level with no stairs. You'll find it easier to keep an eye on him. I think it best to wait until you can afford it. He can potentially stay in the cot until he starts climbing out of it, so up to two or three years old, so take your time, unless you'e planning on baby number two.

rooty not particularly creative but LO is quite happy in her bouncer watching me do whatever I am doing. Other than that she goes in her playpen. Lots of chatter and songs and television

pr rod for your own back comments are ten a penny round here. Feeding on demand, cuddling him too much, not letting him stay with grandparents overnight etc etc I am sure this will be no different!

Am glad that none of you seem to think that it is an unrealistic idea.

rooty sounds like you are doing the same as us. O is a bit younger than your LO at 14 weeks but his favourite thing at the moment is holding things and putting them in his mouth, so at the moment I am letting him experiment with different textures.

I've just had the HV out who has told me that at almost 18 weeks a baby does not need fed during the night and that I should start weaning.

I'm not sure what to think. He will be 18 weeks on wed and does still feed at night. A good night would be one feed and a bad could be 3. She said this is not acceptable and that he needs a full nights sleep for developmental reasons and that obviously I need it for sanity reasons! She has said I need to nip it in the bud and either stop feeding him overnight or to wean him as that would help. She was very insistent. I said that I felt personally there were good reasons to wait til 6months but she said the WHO advise from 17 weeks. I don't know what to do. We left it that I will try and offer more during the day this week and see if that helps fill him up more but she has suggested we go cold turkey and I refuse to feed him at night.

I need all opinions and advise possible. I don't feel he is ready to wean as he is still young. He is a big big baby, 19lbs! But he only ever takes one side at feeds so I don't feel he is super hungry. She said of course he isn't he is feeding all night! Help!

Also as an aside I see the Scotland meet is arranged for next week. FB says wed the 12th but next wed is the 13th so is it tues or wed??

I second bedtime routine. LO has been in one since 6 week and it seems to work unless shes ill or going through a growth spur.

We use pampers new baby and never had a leak. her nappy in the morning is very full and heavy but have remained dry to touch.

liliana me too!!! hair is everywhere . I have long hair too. only started a week ago. Actually bought some drain unblocker for the bathroom in case my hair blocks the bath!

stuntnun thank you for the discount code!!! funny, we were in mothercare yesterday about to buy the jumperoo but they didnt have the rainforest one in stock. Thank god for that! catch up on thread today and now ordered online with discount code. You've saved us £17.... :D

Izzy I am shocked at that advice!

I am no expert but weaning has nothing to do with size of baby and everything to do with gut maturity.

I have also heard of weaning affecting night sleep in a negative way - certainly not helping babies sleep through!

Are there any other concerns with your LO or is it just the night wakings? O is 14 weeks and I don't think he will be anywhere near to sleeping through in a months time.

Izzy I have no answers but will be very interested to hear opinions as I too have a big boy who eats a lot overnight.

As he is only 14.5 weeks think I'm going to try a dream feed to start with and then look at the aptamil baby porridge at17 weeks as he is on that formula and it has the milk mixed in so you just mix with the 70degree water and wait to cool a bit.

Izzy I would go with what you feel is best. LO is only 4 months old, why shouldn't he wake up hungry overnight? Depending on what you call a night, F wakes up 3 times still - but if she's hungry then what can you do? There's no way I'd leave her screaming because the HV says I should, that's bonkers. Plus fwiw, F has never, ever, wanted the 2nd boob. I keep being told to offer it, so I do, but if I can get her to latch, she gags about 3 seconds later. It has nothing to do with how often I feed her at night, but everything to do with the fact that she's full after that feed [blood boiling emoticon needed here]

Izzy oh dear, in which case I'm in trouble - DD is 18 weeks on Friday and still waking up regularly in the night (she is EBF): typically feed at 7.30 for bed at 8, then up about half 11 / 12, 4, 7..... feeds and goes back to sleep each time. I wouldn't say she seems enormously hungry but she is hungry, and I think still too small to take the gamble that she's not? she hasn't been weighed for a few weeks but has been around 50th percentile since birth.

What are we supposed to do? let them cry until they learn they won't get the comfort they seem to need? I don't think I'm happy with that , my gut is just to keep bumbling along roughly following her lead, within reason.

Yes Tommy is ebf and feeds at 11, 1, 4 and 6. This has been the pattern for all but 1 of my babies and I reckon I've another 8 months of night feeds yet

I'm a bit of a velcro mum when they are little but the other 3 are fiercely independent so all studies can kiss my arse

Garden really shocked at what the doctor told your friend!!

Izzy I think that sounds like bad advice from your HV. The WHO advises weaning from 6 months for a reason surely?!

It is hard to know what do for the best with all the conflicting advise that comes from doctors and HV's and well meaning family and friends! As mums I think we all have a gut feeling about what is best for our babies, I say go with that

It's my eldest son's birthday today. 11 years old, where does the time go?

It will be fine so long as you can put up with the noise of Oscar at night Sweetpea, my DS1 is a very noisy sleeper so we were glad when he went into his own room at six months. Also bear in mind that if he starts climbing out of the cot you will need to move him into a bed.

Izzy as in all things baby the best idea is to follow your instinct. If you don't feel your baby is ready to wean yet then don't wean! Health visitors were quite resistant to the weaning at 24 weeks guideline because it was handed down from above with no consultation so from their point of view one day they were saying 16 weeks then the next day they were saying 24 weeks without really knowing why such a drastic change had been made. Weaning is also prone to the "it didn't harm me / my other baby so it won't harm this baby". Which is true of course, both my older boys were weaned at 16 weeks and it didn't seem to do them any harm. But on a worldwide basis the official WHO advice is 24 weeks. My HV advised weaning at 24 weeks but said that if I wanted to start weaning earlier then there was a list of foods to avoid until six months old.

I'm not so sure about night weaning, I would prefer to be baby-led in that unless you think he's feeding for comfort or to get back to sleep rather than from hunger. IME babies just suddenly sleep through the night and you hardly know it's happening until night feeds become the exception rather than the rule.

That's weird, our HV said not to even attempt weaning til 6 months as it can cause stomach problems and illnesses, and has even been linked to stomach cancer!! To say she scared the panties off me would be an understatement!!

Right just had the weigh in and since we've been in here Ella has gained........builds suspense......drum roll............ 400g that's in 3 days! She was 4.06kg or 8lbs 13 when we came in and she's now 4.4kg or 9lbs 11.

I'm so over the moon I can't begin to even put it into words. Just feel absolute relief as it pretty much means there isn't a medical reason for her lack of weight gain. We're seeing the speech therapist this afternoon not for speech obviously but to check her feeding to make sure the mouth works properly if that makes sense. We've still got to stay in but I'm actually pleased about that as it means they aren't just turfing us out now she's gained weight and they're putting a long term plan in place for us. Besides I've not eaten all my chocolate yet and I'll have to share it with DH if we go home

Thanks thanks thanks to you all, you've been such a support whilst we've been going through this slaps face before I get too emotional

composes oneself in other news...I agree with bedtime routine. DD1 has had the same bedtime routine since about 3 months old. Bath, pj's, quiet time, stories, lights out. Oh and I swear by grobags. DD1 had one right up till she went in her big girls bed when she was 2. I know not all babies get on with them but DD1 loved them and E so far has been fine too. I only used to use them for night time sleep and it used to send out a clear signal is was night time as opposed to just nap time.

And re night time nappy we use pampers baby dry and not had any issues.

Right, I've sneaked off for a quick celebratory cuppa whilst E sleeps so better head back. Hope you all have fabulous days! Xx gets teary and slaps oneself again

Izzy forgot to add, your baby will give you signs when they are read for solids, interest in food when you are eatong etc and they are npt content after any feed. All babies are different and some are hungry before 6 mpnths, but you WILL know when they are ready. That is shocking advice from a so called professional. Roll on VQ becoming a HV. She'll then be HVVQ

Eliza I just did an actual little dance of joy for you! That's such good news for you all!

izzy it's really hard to know what is correct. Nhs guidelines in this country contradict those in another. In france, nz and the usa they see night wakings as a reason to wean. He's a big baby and if he's hungry 18 weeks is still acceptable to be feeding him at least once overnight. Food may help fill him up but it will not add to his calorie intake. Ignoring guidelines do you think it would help? Is he ready in your eyes?!

mm same issue with of the receptionists at our drs!! Complain.

pp sorry for probably coming across a total arse about your post.

vq good night!! Well done j!!

sophia I think you're right about routines.

Happy this morning whatever was be heading my chickens seems to have stopped thank you electric fencing and there was a correct number of chickens this morning and I didn't have to clean up a massacre. detective did you get the jumperoo?

Attachment parenting I couldn't do in its extreme, but I think it's basic principles are sound and what we all do I'm sure!! As vq said I'm going back to work therefore it's healthy for his sake to be away from me at times. How did the lady manage vq? A girl I worked with found the same and her lo just fed constantly all night from her, she said to make up for it?!

Beautiful day here!!!

eliza absolutely fantastic news. I'm so chuffed for you all x

I have never heard of a link to stomach cancer

W're advised to start at 17 weeks here with fruit and veg puree. I was going to start last week but not during flu. LO will be 20 weeks this Friday and I absolutely intend to puree those damn carrots by then. Tough she's got jabs on Thursday...

I doubt it will do anything to her sleep patterns (but I am happy with her sleep anyway) and I very much doubt my paed would be advising it if there was risk of damage of anything like cancer.

The main reason I think is that people when they wean don't know what to start with and give inappropriate food. So to eliminate that risk they say six months as weaning is rarely NECESSARY before then. By six months the gut can handle a lot more foods including wheat and gluten and well cooked eggs and dairy, and the diet starts to need to be supplemented with further nutrition, so it is easier to wean then. All we will be giving until six months will be fruit and veg, and as far as fruit is concerned only apples bananas and pears.

eliza x post!! Fab fab news!!