November 2012 - Will the Easter Bunny visit our babies?

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1707618-November-2012-The-thread-where-it-all-starts-to-get-easier-Pretty-please

Brilliant summary pass :)

Just had 5 hours sleep from N which is fab. Just about to attempt a transfer .....

2 hours and I'm back!

Oh for a self setting baby.

At least transfer went ok. Fingers crossed this is the same as i really need a couple more hours

Crap all sleep here. Think g is coming down with something, poor little man,

Contra, sorry you are having such a hard time. As Luis said it really will get better - hang in there. Do you have a sling / baby carrier? That is my line of last resort with g when he is being demanding and I need to do something with dd / the house (or eat).

Taking of eat, eating is a priority. I forgot that a bit in the early days, focusing instead on the needs of the 2 kids. No good at all. The mor run down you get the less you can look after your baby.

Don't rely on your dp to tell you to eat (or use not eating to try to show him you are finding it hard). Eating is too important - and so are you. Your dp probably won't even notice what you are eating (or otherwise). Keep eating but just make sure you tell him directly that you are struggling and what you need. Bear in mind he might be struggling too even if he doesn't have it as hard as you. Mine can't function on bad sleep at all (so I prefer him to sleep so he can then help in other ways). Don't try to do everything, just focus on survival (and a place on next week's show), and even though you are shattered do get out to some baby grps. Seeing other parents with massive bags under their eyes helps! Also just sleep whenever you get the chance.

Luis - is J using Makaton? Dd is also 2.5 and not talking (though she is also not walking - just high speed crawling like a pocket rocket). She signs too - but more demands than stories! We get the odd word attempt but nothing as sophisticated as 'ice'. She says 'duck' brilliantly .

J has been awake from 4.15 to 5 and this is first waking. He was really hard to settle and has been coughing a lot but has done really well. I wake with coughing as with the girls it usually results in vomit.

Today I have been moaning about my girls incessant talking. After the above posts I will turn that to gratitude.

I will post about baby proofing in daytime but best way is have a toddler visit for a couple of hours.

thanks bryz I good advice some of which I think I would give someone else but not think of for myself! ...especially re eating.
my dh also needs his sleep but is offering to help - when dd woke at 12 I asked him to settle her as I thought she wanted boob for comfort (not for me). he says he would do early feeds in the morning but I think its too much and also bf is easier at that time.
pr the trolls were on feminism but also posting in pregnancy asking for advice as a drug using mother to be ...sick stuff!
so...5! could set a watch by her ...least when clocks go forward it will be 6! thought that earlier hope it will work out like that! and she would go down earlier too! hoping this is early sleep regression? think I was a lucky one before ...
I also feel like I'm coming down with a cold ...feel v hot at 21 degrees ...dh couldn't find paracetamol I took calpol! ...had 6 years plus from a time when I think I had a sore throat and decided to take it ...I really need to find some tablets.
just realised this time 15 weeks ago she was almost here (and I knew that too)

Back to sleep. Fed quick. Awesome.

detecive defo fridge locks I will post a picture on fb of the consequences........

luis has a good point, they all go for different stuff. DS1 loves switches and would go in every cupboard and drawer, he tested the rinse aid under the sink despite having a cupboard lock on it, and he would bypass the staircase, squeeze through the banisters and off up the stairs. But the girls never really did that so I didn't really make any changes for them.

I don't want a stair gate on my lovely new staircase in the new house and as we will have a proper hallway rather than stairs to lounge and I can bypass the hall and go kitchen to lounge I might just get away with it. O will just have to learn.

Hello all. Just popping back to say a quick hi. We are all very well. H is still not sleeping very well but is getting better. We are on 2 or 3 wakings at the mo. He's rolling and is starting to use his hands to swipe at things. I'm loving being his mother but not looking forward to weaning at all, we are going to start at exactly 6 months during the easter holidays. We are looking at nurseries today. Hopefully we'll be able to make a decision and put our name down for one. I'm still reading but finding it impossible to keep up with you guys!! Sorry to hear about all the bad stuff that's been going on!!

I slept an hour since 1 am. Can't blame a child.

Oh dear pr could you get a daytime nap?

Hi Thechick Dd isn't interested in weaning so I'm going to wait a few more weeks too.. I tried her on some puréed fruit and her face was like I was administering poison
She isn't rolling over or anything either..just happy to lie there smiling though
Glad all is well with H , DD sleeps from 8pm til 3-5am ish so not too bad.

I have a phone meeting with work at 10, it's already almost 8. Once the mtg is over will be time to go get DD1... I might try and get an hour but busy with LO right now I can't work out what her problem is. Only thing I can think of is teething but it seems so early compared to DD1 and she never noticed her teething anyway ( take hope people, teething isn't always a nightmare)

Morning fuckers.

Am busy reading all the night stuff. LO still doing well with one wake up.

Seem to have a chilled out boy today!

Babyproofing - we have stairgates for dd, plus a lock on the cupboard with cleaning stuff in, bookcases screwed to the wall and stuff we really care about up high. We keep some of our stuff low though to try to teach her she isn't allowed everything she can reach. Seems to work well for us, but she is incredibly gentle and well behaved for a toddler. I am often shocked when others come over as they always seem so boisterous! I second vq's idea of inviting a toddler round as a babyproofing consultant - but only when you're feeling strong and after a good night's sleep.

Sorry you are feeling so poorly contra. Prob partly explains why you have had a rough few days. I always find life really hard the day or 2 before bug symptoms kick in. Glad the advice was useful. Reading back I was worried it sounded a little heavy handed. But it is easy to forget to apply what you would tell others to yourself. Another reason I find our quiche so great - there is always a reminder that we are all awesome and we're not alone in finding it bloody hard sometimes!

up again ... can barely keep my eyes open so hope that she goes down now after this for a long spell and I have no deliveries!

thanks again bry ... not that colds etc are ever convenient but feels like the worst time ...was going out with a friend on Thursday night and wanted to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine...dh to put dd to bed..
looks like I will have to have just the one in case I need to boob her all night/ early morn. and dh is away all weekend Fri-mon on a stag do

J had a good night. Just one waking but lots of coughing. He seems ok and has laughed after, but when he woke up it was clearly sore.

I have the joyous company of DD2 again today as I cannot get her to nursery due to no car. My parents are away so they cannot take her either. She is so very challenging bless her.

Donna babies are so different aren't they. I would love to be getting big chunks of sleep, but hey, he'll do it in his own time. Can you believe they are 23 weeks. Time is going by way too quickly.

trolls are back again in most active posting pictures of mumsnetters then making jokes about them.

I have had no internet over night.

I have, however, been awake for 45-60 minutes every hour since midnight.

Guess who turned 4 months today?

I have a job interview at 9:30

Oh no pp that is no good at all. Good luck with the interview.

Good luck PP

I need to find some big fuck off cage to surround aga. Most un child friendly thing ever.

Baby proofing:

We have stair gates top and bottom, and the top gate also turns to fix to the wall so we can shag in peace.

We also have a gate to the kitchen. The younger DD is not allowed in on her own but my elder one can.

The drawer and cupboard locks, washing machine and fridge clips were still in their wrappers, so they got donated to charity some time ago. All toxic kitchen and bathroom things are kept in a high cupboard. Stuff that would just make them throw up are kept in lower cupboards. They do not have access anyway. They cannot get to washer or dryer.

Blind cords cut

Bookcases etc fixed to wall, especially in bedrooms.

A lot of wires can be tucked in-between wall and carpet. No wires in bedrooms until kid is sensible. Plug sockets have safety inserts in, although some think this makes them more dangerous.

We need to get the TV fixed to the cabinet.

We should vacuum more, and will when J is crawling.

Front and back doors and gates are always locked.

We keep things out of reach whenever possible. I am very fussy with visitors and hot drinks.

Each time I put J on the floor I lay down and look around to make sure there is nothing missed, like under sofa, that he could potentially get to.

No fire guard, but I bought one for both grandparents homes and insist it is used. Both have stone hearths that would hurt if baby fell on them.

MIL is dreadful for baby proofing. She thinks nothing needs doing and will make no effort to put her silly flowers and stone bits up off the hearth, and on assorted sharp cornered tables. I hate going there as I cannot take my eyes off them for a second. I will now move stuff, and push tables to the side of the room so the kids have a bit of space. My DH nearly died when I first did that. MILs face was a picture. We now go camping nearby and visit for short periods as it was too stressful. I was taking them out all the time so they could breathe without fear of breaking something.

The toilet is a hazard people often forget. Do not have a toilet brush. Once you have caught your toddler chewing it, you will remember my words.

I think toddler reins are essential. So bite me.

Do not have anything too near the cot, so if they do climb out and fall, they cannot get caught on the way down.

Be aware of plants in garden and house, and their potential toxicity.

You can buy soft helmets for small people. I am not allowed to buy one, but would happily do so.

Thankfully these small people grow and develop slowly, so our world can be adapted gently. Always try to be one step ahead of them, and regularly check their reach.

Or just get a play pen and keep the little sod in it until they are 3. After that, sit in it yourself.