January 2013 Part Two: Coos and smiles but not always so much sleep...

[SpringFlowers]

Our first thread has almost finished so I thought we'd need a new one!

[Birdies]

You're having a laugh bunty?!

I just checked my app though and it says 6 days to the next leap - does that mean it hasn't even started yet?! She's 15 weeks but I guess 14 weeks based on due date.

[Birdies]

One more question for anyone expressing and bottle feeding - I'm going to a hen do in a few weeks (shock horror, I NEVER go out these days!). Anyways, I'm going to need to express and bottle feed.

Does anyone have any tips on how I should do this? Eg should I express and introduce a bottle now or just say a week before? And should I just express before a feed and bottle feed straight away? How on earth do I know how much she will need for the evening? I feel a bit daunted by it, easier staying in and not going!

[Hormonalhell]

Wuxi Charlie seems to have outgrown colic. He's 12 weeks and weighs 13lb 9. Still gets wind but doesn't scream for hours like he was a couple of weeks back

Just been to hosp today as they worried about his head circumference. Seems ok at mo and they happy thank god!

[Angielka]

birdies if I were you I'd express a bit now and give it a go. Maybe you'll be lucky and the bottle will be accepted, but I have a friend whose son point blank refused to take one. If you have no problems, then no need to keep doing it, but if a bit of encouragement is needed you still have time to do it once every few days until the hen night (how exciting, I've forgotten what it's like to have a social life ).

DD1 went through shocking sleep regression, but around 5 months. I'm praying to the sleep Gods that we are let off this time, as Molly slept 9-7 last night and I never want that to end!

Pox still confined to one DD so far... we are working our way through her puzzle collection. How I'm going to keep this up day after day I'm not quite sure...

[BuntyCollocks]

birdies yeah, it goes by due date - and had been unnervingly accurate so far !

I'd also start expressing and see how you go with a bottle just now.

[BuntyCollocks]

Oh, and have a fab time at the hen do!

Touch wood, dd is in a FAR better mood today. She went down from 9 to 12:30 and is now playing happily on her mat.

I had asked in the sleep topic for tips on later in the day naps and putting her down as she doesn't like to nap from now until bedtime and is an overtired bugger then - the advice was to wake her an hour into what is usually her big nap.

Had to do that yesterday anyway and that did not end well!

I think I will be persevering with putting her down every 90 min to 2 hours and giving ewan a bash.

Question - what has been your most successful setting on ewan? I've been putting on the womb noise but she doesn't seem arsed.

Also, loud or quiet? Light or no light?

[lollipoppi]

Bad bad day here! DD was up last night until 11.45am, woke twice in the night and woke DS up at 5am which is when my day started.

DD had a snooze at lunch so I thought it would be a good idea to finish painting her room .......... I dropped the ENTIRE tub of paint off the top of the ladder, it bounced off the (cream carpeted) floor, and splashed all the way through my (cream carpeted) hallway and up the walls
The paint is bright turquoise
No amount of scrubbing is removing it, I'm going to need new carpets, I have shed a few tears!!!

[mrsbugsywugsy]

we have Ewan on loud, with the light, and any setting but the lullaby ( mostly because it annoys me)

[Meringue33]

Birdies we tried an Avent but he wouldn't take it at first, he now takes a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature slow flow bottle. It may be easier for someone other than you to give it. Some people recommend expressing first thing am, others at around 9.30pm. I find I can only do it when warm and relaxed watching film on sofa. Not sure how much you'd need for a whole night. One feed of formula is 150ml at this age but ebm is I think supposed to be more filling so may need less?

Bunty oh dear. I suppose it makes sense, he does often have a long three hour nap in middle of day. Never pleased to be woken though! Perhaps will give it a go. We have Ewan but I'm not sure it as ever really been effective... DP likes to put it on for the dream feed if LO is awake and has been cranky and fussing.

[Meringue33]

Oh no Lolli sorry to hear that! Is it just emulsion? Should come off with water if not yet dry? So stressful, I really feel for you. Hate DIY!

[Birdies]

lolli that's awful!

I love the Ewan lullaby, I find it quite relaxing! I put that on during bedtime routine and then press his front left foot for sleep and during the night (to drown out the noise of me moving about). Have him on loud and no light. She can't even see him hanging off cot, I think he's more for me!!

Does anyone else get random beeping noises from him though? I thought that was when battery low but I ignore them and batteries keep going?

[Birdies]

Ps thanks for expressing advice, I'll give it a go at the weekend

[BuntyCollocks]

There's an expressed milk calculator on Kellymom, but it's generally about an ounce an hour they need. I'd leave that and maybe an extra ounce in case. So, if you'll miss two feeds, I'd leave 2 x 3 ounce bottles, and maybe a couple with just an ounce in just in case - they shouldn't be needed, though. I found that a bottle makes them less able to eat to appetite, hence why I wouldn't just do a four ounce bottle off the bat.

Saying that, the medela bottle is excellent for that, as dd will refuse once she's had enough.

[glorious]

oh lolli that's dreadful!

[BuntyCollocks]

Oh, lolli how crap!

[lollipoppi]

I may have to do a runner before DP gets home !!!

[Angielka]

oh lolli you poor thing!

[Lora1982]

Birdies my ewan beeps randomly i thought it was faulty so i emailed their site and she sent me a brand new one, didnt even have to send the other back. Be warned though because i went to the site im now the proud owner of a position on the backorder waiting list for a ewan snuggly.

Ive put my first reuseable nappy on!!!! Wish me luck. Mum says the first ones will leak. Rude. Surely its just a case of putting it on right. Anyone else having a go at using them? I remember someone saying they had them

[Angielka]

We've got reuseables Lora, and since Molly is 12 weeks today and down to one poonami a day, we're going to start on them this weekend. DD1 used them from 3 months. Takes some getting used to, but I love them! Good luck - which ones do you have?

[glorious]

We've tried out lots of reusables and settled on little lambs. Just waiting for the delivery of the bulk of our stash. We actually find we have far fewer leaks in them but perhaps it's beginner's luck!

[Meringue33]

I have Little Lambs too... Was just thinking today I feel about confident enough to start using them... Then realised I only have Size 1 & 2s and he is nearly ready for Size 3. What a waste. Maybe we can use them on a second baby :(

[Lora1982]

Im not sure on the make to be honest. I got given about 15 and i got some free from the council...first one leaked :-D i blame my mum for saying it would. Put a disposable one on for the night and il try again tomorrow. Its just a good job he has hundreds of outfits, its one way of getting him to wear thrm all

[mrsbugsywugsy]

urghh, dd has gone back to waking every two hours for food at night. could this be a growth spurt/wonder week? she is 16 weeks, 11 since her due date.

[Birdies]

mrsbugsy yes I think there's a wonder week at 11, enjoy!

Much the same here, though I'm letting her lie awake for a while and self settle in the early hours rather than automatically feed. I feel really tired. Tempted to see if some formula last thing will help her go longer. Anyone tried this and it's worked?

[Pascha]

Good morning everybody

I am sitting here on the sofa in my kitchen with fresh coffee and a pain au chocolat to hand, DH and DS1 are out at rugby for the morning and Daniel is fast asleep in the swing. The washing machine is on, I have a line of laundry outside, kitchen is tidy from breakfast, cats asleep in the living room. All is peaceful and quiet and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself

We are having a bit of difficulty with Dan in the evenings. He's going down at around 7.30-8pm without fuss but wakes after his first sleep cycle 30-45 minutes later and needs resettling which can take up to half an hour of screaming. How do we get him to settle properly the first time?