September 2012 - They're on the move

[WhereAreMyShoes]

Hello everyone. Hope you all find us safe.
Welcome to any newcomers too.

DD just tried to brush her hair with a hairbrush. Very clever!

Dd is ff whereare so I know she is definitely getting enough throughout the day. She's a light sleeper so any slightest noise wakes her up but I don't think it's that. She did four full nights sleep after the cc putting her down and now she's great at going down but then started waking up throughout the night. She's so, so restless throughout the night. Honestly now I'm realising how spoilt I was with ds. Even though he had colic at the start and screamed night and day, he slept all night every night from six months. I'm in unfamiliar territory here and really don't have a clue what to do for the best.

Me either ballroom. She's up there now crying. I'm shit at cc though. I've already been up and comfort fed her. She's got 8 minutes till I go up and she's calmed down a bit but when I go in I don't know what to do with her. She just screams even more.

Ds is sleeping through it. The same as you, I am so spoilt with him. He was sick a couple of times today and has been feeling off but still went straight to sleep no problem.

I'm never doing this again!
I can't wait for the days when we all have a lie in on the weekends.

And I have no idea how to convince her to sleep all night.
I've put a blackout blind up today so hopefully it gives me an extra hour in bed tomorrow.

Have you thought of trying CIO whereare. I know on here it's a 'bad' subject to bring up but just wondered. When I had my sisters wee girl that week she went to bed and we left her to it. If you went in she cried more and got hysterical. So I left her to do it. Now for naps here she crys going down but by the time I leave and close door over she is quiet.

Oh all the talk of holidays and flights being booked is making me very

I am completely burnt today, the sun has been shining for past two days, my face, shoulders, chest and arms are bright red. I was worrying about Herbie getting the sun I completely forgot about me. So I'm burnt and feeling very stiff. :(

I'm thinking of stopping Herbies night feeds. But I've been so exhausted this past 2 weeks its just easier to get up, heat a bottle. So I give in straight away otherwise id be up hours.

Away to clean bottles and then hitting the bed. I'll catch up properly tomorrow x

Will catch up on the post properly later, at the shop now, just wondering if you got any foam mats for your baby? We were thinking of getting one till we saw this website saying they are toxic. toxicfoammats.com/ skip hop is apparently one of the better one (lower level of toxic, less than 2mg) but am thinking whether to get it... Or get a fabric one instead

I am so glad it is not just me with a baby who still isn't sleeping through. The HV tut tutted at me when she asked if I still gave him boob when he woke and I said yes. She said that she would send me a leaflet called The Solihull Method- basically that old method of patting them and creeping away, returning after 5 minutes, and then slowly leaving longer intervals between returning to them. Yes, that's all well and good, but I have work/ toddler to deal with, so it's not ideal. I don't know what the answer is, but sleep deprivation is wearing me out. Plus, Thomas is relentless with his tantrums. Aaaaarghhhhhhhhhhhh. And relax .

Hope you all have a pleasant Bank Holiday xx

Yes shoeprincess, the constant tiredness is turning into exhaustion and is slowly grinding me down. I have little patience, and rarely enjoy anything. I'm just bumbling along waiting for it to get better.
Although it feels like a bit of a waste of life, I know it'll get better in time.
HV's wind me up. There's no point spouting wisdom and methods to me when I am managing a job, the house, a spirited toddler and a sleepless baby. I think in reality we're all doing just fine. Thank you
Advise is much more appreciated from parents who are in the same boat as me and are offering a little ray of light. Not ordering us to stick to theirs rules. that's why I never go to clinic

Penguin, I took your advice and tried to leave her longer between going in. It worked quite well, although still took her ages to go to sleep, she stayed in bed till gone 1am. That's a definite improvement.

Macaroons, we had a foam alphabet jigsaw mat when ds was a baby as we had laminate flooring at the time.
I wasn't aware of any toxins, and would use it again.
He didn't tend to pull it up as all his toys etc were on it so didn't put it in his mouth.
I think the real issue was that one of our dogs (the jealous one) weed all over it, so it got binned!

We've just got back from a visit to my Nan's house (where my mum also lives)
We spent ages in the garden with ds running up and down, while wearing his granny's sun lotion, and me sat bfing dd under a parasol eating homemade biscuits. Was lovely. Now ds is fast asleep in bed and dd 'talking' to the dogs through the back door.
Maybe the tiredness hasn't completely taken over my life!

I'm shit at cc too whereare. Can do the straight to beds no problem but not during the night. Last night was hell. Ds isn't well and woke dd up. Took me hours to get her back off (which of course like your ds he's snoozing away). Brought her into my bed - wanted to play, put her back in hers, screamed, took her back into mine tried a dummy (she has never taken a dummy but was clutching at straws), eventually fed her even though that's the one habit I don't want to get into, still wanted to play. Cracked up and put her back into her bedroom to cry it out a bit. She wasn't screaming, just gurning a bit and got off to sleep eventually. My problem is I'm not consistent and I know it. Then ds woke us all up 6ish after boking over his bedsheets. Argghh! We all have full-on colds so can see another restless night ahead.

shoeprincess this is why I started cc too because my hv gave off to me for cuddling her to sleep (she was unsettled with moving, suddenly staying weekends away). My hv was a bit nicer about it though and told me she has a four year that she regrets not getting into a routine as she's up a lot during the night and she couldn't tell me off for doing it as she did the same thing.

The highlight of my day today was ds with a severe nosebleed after retching so hard, freaking out because he hates blood and dd thinking the lovely red stuff splashing on the ground looks like great fun to play with. With my macabre sense of humour it did make me grin. After it was all over and done with mind, at the time no.

macaroons I have a foam mat, the alphabet one. Herbie has started to chew at it so I've put it away for now. Usually he takes it apart and puts his feet through the z. It's very cute.

Herbie's two bottom teeth are almost through. The right one a bit more than the left. His gums are huge and he has two massive bulges. Can't wait until he has teeth but I'm dreading it as I know he will bite me loads.

ballroom hope everyone gets better soon in your house.

We had to do cc, well it wasn't my choice I was sort of held back and wasn't allowed to go near him, but thank god it was done like that as Herbie usually goes down great. Shame I'm still up loads :(

Penguin - good luck with the teething, dd has been showing signs of teething for literally months now, but nothing yet!

Ballroom - there's a lot of colds going around atm, hope you all get better soon. I sympathise with the sleeping issues - I'm always just looking for a quick fix, anything to keep my sleep deprivation to a minimum!

Hello everyone, may l join you? My ds2 (3rd dc) was born in September (was due in November but had to come 7 weeks early). He is sitting up well but not on the move yet. I really sympathise with those having sleep issues. My LO is up (and bfing) between every 1 and 3 hours at night. I am just trying some of the techniques in the No Cry Sleep Solution and keeping my fingers crossed that something works.

Shoes, I know what you mean about sleep deprivation - a few months ago, dd's sleep was even more crap than usual - she would sleep for prob about 20 mins at a time. I was exhausted & just found the days so difficult to get through. I was irritated & terrified I was just going to crack. I'm not trying to be patronising btw - luckily I only have the one DC & don't work so I appreciate you are finding things pretty impossibly hard atm. I really hope things get easier for you.

I really hope my HV doesn't ask me how dd is sleeping though - waking up hourly for feeds isn't exactly something to be proud of!

We're trying again with the cot tonight - hope its going to be better than Friday night, which was utter hell.

I have a question for all you ladies - for the last couple of weeks, some of dd's nappies have been extremely smelly - really strong smell of ammonia. It's not all the time & not every day either, but enough to be a bit concerned IYSWIM. When it first started, she did have a couple of nappies where her pee was quite yellowy, but now it is clear, just smelly sometimes. She's in cloth nappies if that helps. Any ideas? Was thinking of taking her to the Gp tomorrow. I can't believe it's anything like dehydration because she's feeding very regularly on the boob ;1-2 hrs). Just a bit weird

Hi daisy - My LO was early too, only by 4 weeks though. Which techniques have you tried? I've got the book & want to try the PPO just as soon as I've got dd settled in her own cot instead of my bed

Hi forgetful we have introduced a little teddy as a comforter, try and use the same words on each taransfer, also (think these were from HV) try to sooth with hand on chest and put a thin sheet over sleeping bag to make him feel secure. Also trying to get him to nap more in day and put him down earlier based on his cues (hard to do a calm bedtime routine with 3 kids!). Need to tackle the bfing too but just can?t face it yet.

Yes I'm also trying the comforter thing - dd just flings it out of the way atm but perseverance is key! Good tip about the sheet. Good luck too!

Well, tonight didn't seem any better than the previous nights. It took her ages to get to sleep and I could hear ds in his room telling her to shush, bless him.

I ended up doing all the washing up and cleaning the kitchen because I can't hear her from there.
As soon as I get anywhere near the cot with her she screams. None of this grumbling business, proper ear piercing screams. She's such a madam.

But, she went to sleep and on coming to bed, after taking my clothes off on the landing she stirred when I came in so I turned off the light on my phone and quickly lay down on the bed. Like a plank.
She made a tiny noise then went back to sleep
The last two nights when I've come up she's been asleep on her front. This was the same with ds, as soon as he started sleeping on his front he slept all night. And still does. Maybe this is where we turn a corner and she'll miraculously stay asleep till 9am.

Welcome Daisy, I hope you get some sleep. I've tried dummies, a little teddy, a muslin. She just chucks them all out. And when they hit the floor I think it's her jumped out!

Bless Herbie and his zeddy feet.

Ballroom, that sounds like a thoroughly shitty day. I will now wind my neck in and count my blessings that I've not had to clear up puke or blood. Here, have a head rub.

Forgetful, if the HV asks, don't feel like you have to defend yourself to her for feeding on demand. They're 'advice' is so bloody fickle, just do what you're doing. If she raises and eyebrow, stick your middle finger up. Of course, I'd never do that coz I'm a fucking wimp

Stinky nappies. The smell of ammonia says stale wee to me. Are you using baby wipes or water? I have no idea if cloth nappies make a difference as I've never used them but I do find if I've not had a chance to get a good wipe on the previous bum change it can make them smell a bit ammonia-y totally a word

Haha shoes Get me on a bad day & I would totally stick a finger up

Hmmm I use wipes, maybe ill be extra careful to ensure I wipe properly & see if that makes a difference. Thanks!

Forgetful- ammonia smelling nappies is usually a sign of teething.

Ooh thanks shoe, hadnt thought of that. Hopefully that means her teeth might finally be near!

Oh sorry Forgetful Teething it is. Didn't mean to sound rude.

Dd slept in her cot till half 3 last night. Then woke about 8 after a few feeds back to sleep.
This is progress. And I like it.

Hi all,

We too have a wakeful baby. Lola slept through the night from about 6 weeks, then it all went pear-shaped at about 4 months. I worry about her waking her sisters up, as they are all at school now. I'm afraid to say that as soon as she wakes up, I collect her from her room, breastfeed her in my bed, and we co-sleep from then. I need to break the habit though, I did the same with DD3, and we have only just managed to get her to stay in her own room (she's 6!). I also want to wean her off the boob soon, maybe by the end of July.

Lola and I had a great time in Northern Ireland with my sister and little niece and nephew. We nearly missed the flight, due to the M6 being closed, that was a bit stressful (as was the queue through security), but we made it fine. It was a mission getting everything we needed into one bag though!

Forgetfulmog- thank you. I thought it would be tricky finding a name we liked after three other DDs and seven first names between them. However, really early in my pregnancy, DH suggested Lola, and it stuck from then on. It would have felt weird if she'd have turned out to be a boy!

No worries wherearemyshoes, didn't think you sounded rude at all .

Oh lots and lots to catch up on. So will read when I'm home. We have wifi in the bar so just thought I'd check in. Both kids where great on flight and so far it's a super holiday. Helps that grandma is here of course. Ds ear infection is better and the sun has been shining