December 2012: 8 hour sleeps and chubby chops all round

[WillYouDoTheBunnyHop]

New thread for us ladies

Can't remember who asked about laughs/giggles - we've had one good one of each and that's it. I can't get her to do it again - she'll grin at the tricks but not laugh.

honey I think they all list to one side at this stage and beyond. Takes a long time to get strong and stable. I could worry that dd often avoids eye contact but I know in reality it's just because she's tired or finding something else more interesting. She seems to be quite a calm serious little soul, much like dd1 was.

No real routine here either. Bedtime is approximately the same each night and she's ready for a nap about 1.5 hours after getting up - if its a school day this is usually quite short car/wheels/car as she doesn't tend to stay asleep in the car seat in the house. If its a weekend or Easter hols! A walk in the pram will get her to sleep for a couple of hours. We have some success with naps in the cot but only if she's knackered and only stays asleep there for 30 mins. Fear not, the routine will come in due course.

Nearly at the end of a very busy, very stressful week. ( I hid from the kids and ate 2 cream eggs today)!

We use naty nappies and can go a full night without changing. But we do get the odd poo up the back. I find a nappy wrap helps contain those.

I put A in his crib this evening, while I got a VERY stroppy (screaming and growling) DD into bed. He's still there. We don't normally get him down in the evening.

I think he'll wake up in about half an hour, when the bonjela wears off, but hope it's the sign of a good night to come (I need one!)

Oh dear beasty that doesn't sound like fun. Dd2 was in floods this morning as she slept in so the rest of us were downstairs when she woke up and she was wailing 'you left me behind' - bless her crazy little self! Hope you get a good night, you def deserve it!

Weighing into the nappy discussion we use pampers as the fit seems good. We have poo up the back sometimes but generally when he's very windy so there's been some force! Don't think we need to move up - tabs still cross over on his tummy. Are they supposed to or are they suppose to do up at the sides?

honey talking of force, when we were in the departure lounge in singapore on the way to Australia, Z did a poo that included such forceful wind that it made his clothes puff out momentarily on his back. It was a real up-the-back poo and he did it the second we were called to board so we had to take him on the plane like that and change him as soon as we could get to the plane loo.

Grr I'm so frustrated. My husband doesn't get that it's possible for me to feel overwhelmed and frustrated looking after a baby 24 hours a day, and simultaneously not want to go back to work the minute my 6 months is up. Whenever I say anything he counters with "well you're the one who wants to be off work till July". That's not the point! I want the here and now to be better! I am looking forward to going back to work as I do feel unfulfilled at home and the fact that I know I'm definitely going to have to go back has sort of given me a bit of a mental block about getting too comfortable at home, but at the same time this is the only time Z gets me for a block of time. It's not just about what I want - I want him to have me there for these few months.

Seconds i don't know if this helps but i know exactly what you mean. You've just explained exactly how i feel, I hope your ok i just wanted you to know your not the only person who feels that way and no my DP doesn't get it either.

I kind of feel like that too sometimes. DH doesn't not understand but he doesn't really understand either iykwim. His support is a bit 'oh poor you' hug, glass of wine/bar of chocolate rather than any meaningful support.

To make up for last nights amazing sleep I have been up for 2 hours now. T woke for a feed, fine, took a good feed lying down for about 40 mins, fine, put her back in her cot (a bit presumptuous as she would normally be with me for longer) didn't settle, picked her up to wind her where she was sick on me then wouldn't suckle to resettle just cried and was sick on me loads and repeat. Think she must have had trapped wind as she was really quite distressed which is not like her. She is now suckling but only sitting up. She won't entertain the idea of lying down so I can nap.

I can hear the birds waking up - normally a nice sound but in this case reminds me ill be getting up soon (sob)
I

Up 11, 1, 2.30, 4 and now, yawn! He's really hungry, big feeds each time and goes straight back to sleep, so I shouldn't complain!

We've had feeds at 1.30, 4.30 and now, with cot in between. So that the cot issue seems to be sorted, but very that the 4 month sleep regression has yet to hit us, in a fortnight or so..

We had an ok night. Down fine at 7:15 woke at 7:40 but dp settled him easily. First feed 12:30 then 3:45 up at 6:45 with dd. straight down into cot after feeds so back to normal really. And he's found his ears

Morning nap in progress in cot although the thumb keeps going back in and the other hand keeps playing with his ear

aw spotty I did that! was given 5 quid to stop aged 7. I still play with my ear though

2 hourly still and the 5 am windy poos causing merry hell. asleep now though. I think this baby will respond well to weaning - I think his calorie input output is more than his little tummy can hold. they say breast milk is digested in 2 hours I guess!

bil coming to stay with ff 6week old (who sleeps through - at mo lol ) so dh in with me and determined to do some sleep training ie not feed at 2 hour wake up. yeah right we'll see.

oh seconds that is very frustrating. they have no idea

Lol at the inflation of the clothes seconds.
We've had lots of poo out the legs issues with nappies but I don't think we need to move up a size.

clarella G is still little - stick to your guns on the feeding in the night

Major poosplosion! Out the nappy, vest, baby grow onto my quilt cover and through to the quilt! DS got hosed off in the bath. My quilt has been rinsed and is drying in the garden (not sure if it has been saved as DH washed it).

Biggest poo in the world !!!!!

Seconds - I hear you! I'm often alternating between feeling frustrated with the long days and how relentless looking after small people can be, and awareness that this is a really special time that I want to make the most of. I think it's completely normal to value different elements of your life too.

Clarella - I agree, if G needs feeding at night then feed him. I know some people would disagree but I reckon any sort of sleep training now will just lead to frustration all round.

I think someone mentioned a couple of days ago about their LO suddenly getting very upset for no apparent reason. N started it yesterday - sat in his bouncer quite happily then started shouting in a really distressed way. Thought at first he was in pain (teeth again maybe?) but was fine and smiling the second he was picked up. Unfortunately it carried on into the night - would put him down in his crib and he'd very quickly start shouting and giving me the most indignant look. Ended up co-sleeping all night as a result.

Think he might be having a bit of a developmental leap and therefore just needs reassurance - he seems to be making concerted efforts to role now, whereas I think it was just fluke really when he did it before.

Roll not role!

seconds it is tough, I went back to work when DC1 was 4 months, and worked full time after my first 2 lots of mat leave. You feel pulled in both directions but don't think about it as Z just having you in a block for these 6 months, you will be just as significant in his life when you're back at work. I get frustrated with my DH when he counters with anything if I'm having a moan (not that you were) I just want someone to listen!

Thanks for all the nappy advice, they are a bit tight on the waist and legs so I will give the next size up a try. He's currently wearing Crawler (6-11kg), the next size up is walker! You can't get pampers here so I use Huggies, they don't feel very stretchy on the waist though.

I think separation anxiety may be setting in. DS is going through a particularly screamy phase at the mo, if anyone other than me tries to soothe him it just gets worse and worse.

dh really doesn't get it. he doesn't get that the reason we have a happy daytime baby who's learning lots of stuff and really coming out of himself is because he keeps up the calories at night. I offer feeds all day but he'll only feed if nec.

we're really progressing with a good bedtime - ie 7 - too which to my mind is the main thing I might be able to go out like yoga or somat and dh can do a 9pm ebm if needed

ispy we just had our 2nd ever roll, it was still a fluke here, but after I put him back on his front he tried again but tired himself out before he managed it. He's now sleeping on my chest. He's not even really trying back to front rolling, I've worked our when he pulls his hips up and ends up on his side he's not trying to roll he is trying to suck his toes!

Sorry to hear unexplained shouting. It's worst when you don't know what's up with them!

oh no isthat!

Ispy - babies really are very weird. we do get that from time to time.

I have finally realised there's an app

oh no to the pooexplosion!

Hang on, is it not normal for them to start screaming for no apparent reason and refuse to be put down? If that isn't normal then mine is faulty...

Glad to hear that babies are adjusting to cots and hope everyone's feeling refreshed today.

That's a great one Isthat . I am seriously impressed. I'm expecting a poosplosion later as this is day 3 without poo

I cannot wait for weaning (not yet though), J is a nightmare to give milk to. He wants to do it himself so every bottle goes in out in out as he pulls your hands to move the bottle. I think baby-led weaning will be the way forward as I imagine he'd want to hold the spoon too