January 2013 - part 3 - where we have to stop them rolling off the changing mats!

[octanegirl]

Ok, here we go with the new thread - we got to exactly 1000! Hope everyone enjoyed this balmy day. I got Felix out loads in the buggy :)

Oh birdies I'm so sorry. I'm breastfeeding and although we haven't tried the bottle of formula last thing, I have started doing dream feeds and am a total convert! I have heard that formula doesn't necessarily make them sleep better than breastmilk (I read about the isis project on mn) but some people do it just to have the extra sleep for themselves so DP/DH can give the bottle.

With us, the last feed is 6/7ish and then Molly takes a while to settle, but is usually asleep by 8/9. I go and get her at 10.30pm and she doesn't open her eyes or anything but when I shove the boob near her she magically opens her mouth and glugs it down. She's been going until at least 5.30 then, and sometimes until past 7. It must be so difficult dealing with the intense sleep deprivation again

birdies we just had a few nights like that, I think it could be a growth spurt as dd seemed extra hungry and now she is suddenly getting too big for her 0-3 clothes. touch wood last night was back to normal (ie she woke at 2 and 5 only). then she woke for the day at just after 7, but after I fed her dp got up with her and I went back to sleep till 10 so I feel like a new woman today

Maybe I won't try formula again, as it would just be in the hopes of a longer sleep! I'm willing to try anything though so will have another go at the dreamfeed. I'm back to being forgetful and tearful which is totally not like me. And knowing its sleep deprivation doesn't stop me feeling like shit! Oh well.

I just checked the wonder weeks app and it says 18 days until the end of the 4th leap. bunty does that mean I've got another 18 days of this or doesn't it work like that?

Birdies You're not alone, its normal here for a feed at 6.30pm, then 10.30pm, then 1am, 3am, 5am. DS1 was never like this, he was just like Angies baby is.

Birdies it might just be luck of the draw cos sometimes il give dexter a bottle at ten and he sleeps eeps til six or i boob feed at ten and he sleeps till six so it probably isnt the formula doing it.

Hes in a right mood everyones out at the bbq drinking and eating and im stuck indoors with him attached cos else he will moan, plus i think its too hot for him

Thanks all, seaside was lovely tho windy!

Birdies we give a bottle of formula at night but I don't think it makes a difference to the length of his sleep. Benefit for me is that I can go to bed beforehand, DP gives the dream feed and resettles him so I have a longer period of sleep before next waking.

Anyone using the jumperoo? We just got it up, v exciting. LO is enjoying it but I'm worried he is still too young, head occasionally slumps? And is it just supposed to be tiptoes touching the ground or ball of foot?

Meringue we got the jumperoo this week and LO is loving it - was a bit bemused to begin with and he's still a bit small but we just put a pillow or roll a blanket up so he can reach properly - I've heard it's better to have them with the feet flat to discourage tip toe walking later on (if that makes sense) if anyone is thinking of getting one (highly recommend although would like them to be cheaper) the cheapest we could find was £75 from mothercare as they have price match at the moment! Same as a bumbo (£29 with the tray also normally £39.99)

Hi all hope everyone having a good day!

Centre parcs sounds good am of the hols.

Dcs a nightmare this evening! Dd1 kept getting up so we closed her stairgate (she had lots of warnings) then the rest of us had to dodge the missiles coming down the stairs Bedtime used to be quiet and relaxing before i got pg but everything started to fall apart as i was so il and depressed dp took over. Things are easier now i'm longer pg but dd1 is still not happy about any time where she has to be left while i have Ivy with me (school drop off also a total nightmare). Am now trying to work out an evening routine that would work for our new circumstances. As dp on nights i am.gen on my own so its all a bit stresful! Doesn't help Ivy was up more than usual.last night and ended up in our bed using me as a dummy

want a jumperoo Put Ivy on her tummy yesterday, she did a little push up pushed out her feet against my knee then bloody moved forward! Dcs all wildly excited, Ivy only interested in reaching her butterfly toy. Thank god she can't roll over yet!

Sorry to be a bit me me me feeling pretty crap at the mo. I don't want my dcs to be unhappy but no longer sure how to make them happy :(

Aw Apples, so sorry you're having a tough night. I honestly don't know how you manage with four, it must take so much practice!

Ivy sounds incredibly cute and clever! Our LO has just figured out how to get mobile - on his back! He shuffles like a crab and has a big bald spot from sliding his head along the floor. Am trying to do lots of tummy time with him now to help him realise there is a better way!

Apples sorry to hear you are having a tough day, weekends are so draining! and it must be so hard trying to juggle everyone/thing.

Not sure if it would work for you but my DD1 loves having DD2 in her bed for bedtime story, she reads a book and then I read one. Then I say I will be back after putting Lois to bed and she is usually soundo in 5 mins.

Had busy weekend here, birthday party and friends over for dinner yest and today DD1 had drama, then we went out with a friend for lunch. Mil took DD1 for a while late afternoon and I had a sneaky nap with DD2

DH went away today until Thursday and is then only home for couple of days before he is off for another 2 weeks, home for a day and off again on stag trip . Praying for a miracle in the sleep department.

Lois has a jumperoo, she likes it but not really worked it out yet. Also got the bumbo and the other baby toys down from the loft yest. sure I never bought all of them

Trying to convince DH to bring me back a pushchair from his next trip it's cheaper but he's not giving into my pushchair addiction easily this time around.

Thanks guys :) lost i might try that as i am certain its an attention/jealousy problem. Dp suggested putting Ivy down first then i have more time/less pressure as Ivy gets quite cranky in the evening but ww3 would break out and i would be stuck again. Its easy for him he just winds them up then goes to bed whilst i deal with the crap!

When i had ds1 i honestly thought that anyone with 4 dcs must know exactly what they are doing...how wrong i was! I just feel like i am buggering it all up on a much grander scale now!

meringue Ivy has a huge bald spot too! Not sure what she is doing but theres lots if her hair in her crib. Think she will end up as bald as all the rest!

Ps lost i am no longer allowed to even look at pushchairs as dp seems to think 7 in 10 years is excessive! :)

7 in 10? I'm only on 3 in 3 years but I'm
Eyeing up contenders for the 4th as we speak.

I have trouble on Tuesday nights when I have to do bedtime alone. DS1 is easy, it's Dan who gets wound up too easily and more often than not he ends up crying for a bit when I focus on stories with DS1. I'm not beaten yet though!

Daniels jumper was forty-odd quid secondhand and so far he absolutely loves it. He's nowhere near touching the floor so I hollowed Buntys lead and stuck a cushion under his feet. He looks very cute in it especially as he's worked out the noises and lights go when he jigs around. Great big grins

Mum was telling me about a new top notch pushchair with a phone charger, sat nave and a twisty button that opens and closes it dead easy... Not even used the pushchair part of this pram yet so im just mentioning it for you pramoholics

I want a Bumbo think thats my next purchase dont like the idea of a massive highchair so this might be a good compromise.

Dexters taken to sticking his tongue out a LOT not sure i want that habit to go on for long! Still no rolling going on here... Wish he would hurry up and do it so i can be entertained.

Wow bernie that's cheap for a jumperoo. meringue my DDs head still slumps a bit so I'm not using the jumperoo just yet. Although now I feel like a mean mummy seeing as everyone else is using theirs so I may try it again.

We used this as an alternative to a bumbo as could be used for longer I think.

www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Infant-Stage-Super-Seat/dp/B000YZAG7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367828903&sr=8-1&keywords=Baby+seat

Sorry you're having a rough time apples.

I got a few hours sleep last night but still 4 feeds in the night. And I woke up to be totally deaf in one ear. Then got worried and couldn't sleep! It's cos I used ear drops yesterday and then ear plugs in the night. Bollocks.

pascha when you said 'jumper' I actually thought you meant you'd spent £40 on a knitted jumper for Dan. And my first thought was "ooh what's this, I might want one"!

Tbf pascha despite my ongoing pram envy Ivy is still using the infinity pram i bought for ds2. Has managed 7 years and 3 babies. i just have buggy envy. My latest is a joie brisk for buses and any smal spaces we might visit and dp was still a bit about that! i do not lurk in the pushchair forums at all :)

Dd1 has apologised for last nights epic tantrum and dss are actually tidying their room so hopibg for a better day today. Plan to try losts idea later and see if we can get our evenings back on track. I think it will get easier as Ivy gets older

Apples hope you're feeling a bit better this morning. I am in awe of you having 4 dc to cope with and am sure you're doing a fantastic job :)

Birdies how's your ear now? Hopefully your dd is coming to the end of a growth spurt and will give you a break soon.

We went to DP's parents yesterday and was dreading it after his mum made me cry last time . I managed to just smile, nod and ignore most of her comments ("How long have you been using a pacifier? Didn't you know they delay a child's speech?" ). I'm probably way over sensitive as well as far as she's concerned. We are going on holiday with them for a WEEK next month - AGH!

Enjoy Center Parcs those that are going!

Pardon?! Hehe. Still totally deaf, but thanks for asking tugs. I've just put more drops in but can't hear a thing out of that ear. Think I definitely need it syringed, have been putting it off but no choice now.

Can't believe you're going on hols with them, what a lovely DP you must be to agree to that! Can you prepare some suitable replies to her nasty comments? You know, something polite but firm that will stop her in her tracks? Trouble for me is I always think of the perfect reply when it's too late.

I meant to say thanks to whoever recommended using two nappies at night. Why have I not done this before?! It worked a treat and meant she at least went straight back to sleep after each feed.

One more quick question on feeding - has anyone found the feeds are getting longer as time goes on? Used to have 5 min feeds but now more like 10-15. Have assumed she's just growing and needs more milk in one go?

apple I'm another one in awe of you having 4. Hope things pick up soon.

We're going to invest in a jumperoo at the end of the month. I think she'll like it, she gets frustrated if she's not sitting/standing up. She's discovered her legs now too, and is usually too busy playing with her knees to eat.

She slept from 9 last night until 8 this morning, straight through. But unfortunately, I couldn't get back to sleep after DH came to bed so I was up most of the night.

birdies N takes forever to feed. Especially if we're at someone else's house, or have someone here. So we have people come over to see her and they only get to look at the back of her head while she's like a limpet on my boob.

Really sorry about your bad day apples hope the night was better...

I got the bumbo out yesterday too! Molly was all happy in it to begin with, smiling at us all, then realised she couldn't really move (loves waving her little legs about) and started trying to get out by making herself all straight, pushing her bum forward and getting very frustrated. We took her out before she could do herself any damage... DD1 then realised she could still fit in it and used it as a seat for herself in the garden . At least it's getting some use!

Oh birdies I'm the same, only ever think of a reply after the event, v annoying! They booked (and paid for) the holiday before DD was born and MIL's only started being super critical and annoying since then, otherwise I'd have made up some excuse why we couldn't go. I just need to toughen up a bit and not put up with any bitchy comments.
Hope the ear drops do the trick soon :)

tugs I have an equally interesting MIL... it's soooo difficult biting your tongue. At the end of the day, your baby is your baby and you and DP get to choose how to be parents. Nod and smile, and ignore... A few prepared responses to the things you know she'll criticise are useful, but I tend to waste way too much time over analysing things and would probably do better to let things go a bit more often. At least you get a free holiday!

apples I think you're amazing and I'm sorry it's tough at the moment

[shouts] sorry about the ear birdies

tugs that sounds tricky. I agree, have some stock lines prepared. You might want the good old smile and nod but if not for example I know there are some benefits to dunmies, e.g. I think lower SIDS risk. You could look them up

birdies dd still has epic feeds, up to 45 minutes. she doesn't come off the boob voluntarily, she will stay on there having the odd suck every few minutes till I take her off. I still worry if my milk supply is quite low and she isn't totally full, although she is putting weight on well.

tugs dd has a dummy, it is supposed to lower the risk of SIDS and is better for their teeth than sucking their thumb. plus you can take the dummy away when they get too old for it. so if you have a sucky baby you might as well use one, IMO.