November 2012 - Summertime, and the babies are sleeping (mostly with a few notable exceptions)

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1800961-November-2012-Is-is-too-early-for-birthday-plans

That's as opposed to buying a seat that can face either way Pidj. Is there any way you can try it in your car before you buy so you can see how much leg room there is?

Sophia wot VQ said. :)

Bath wise, no point in using a seat here. It would meet with a full blown meltdown! We have a bath mat, and a small amount of water. He's fine with this, and throws himself around the bath . He can then chose to splash sitting up, or splash lying down! Either way he splashes! He hasn't yet bumped his head, or got in to trouble, but as I can concentrate solely on him, I think this will be okay. If I had other little ones, not so sure...!

Shoes - no shoes here. I did try some soft ones that we were given but didn't like what they did to his feet. Will just wait til he is walking I think.

Pidj I'm not sure about the car seat. I know that the group 0/1 have to be put forward facing at some point, I think it is 13kg, the same as the top weight for the group 0 seats. Don't quote me! It doesn't actually say anything about that on the information does it!

I do know a friend of mine made a mistake in thinking she had got one that could be rear facing for longer, but turned out it could only be rear facing the same length of time as a standard group 0.

I'm struggling to carry O in his car seat now. But he's still got plenty of room above his head yet. His legs are dangling over the edge, but that's okay!

Can I please join the fully fledged bad mothers club tonight? I cried before, so please be gentle on me!

O generally plays at the back of the living/dining room. This is where all his toys are kept. With the hot weather, we have needed the patio doors open, as there are only two very small windows in the whole room, and not enough to keep the room cool. I've been using half of the baby jail as a make shift barrier. It is sturdy, and the way I have put it means that it won't topple over.

When at home, DP is generally sat at the dining room table, so someone is close to O while he plays.

But tonight, both me and DP were sat on the sofa, I was talking to DS1 on the phone (he's at a sleepover) and DP was watching TV. O was playing happily at the back of the room. The table does block the view, so you can't always see him completely. But you can usually tell where he is and what he is doing.

DP said to me 'O is very quiet, what is he doing?'. I looked up only to see him outside, sat at the edge of the grass pulling clumps out, with a look of pure glee on his face.

He had managed to move the gate, and escape.

Fuck fuck fuck. I mean, anything could have happened? He could have got in to real trouble.

I was mega upset. :( Still am. God knows how I am going to stop him from getting in to stuff, it feels like I can not take my eyes off him for a moment.

Evening all.

Sophia very glad to hear things went ok, but even more glad you're now resting! Make the most of it.

Pass F just sits unaided in the bath. Or lies on her back and goes beserk kicking and splashing. She used to perch upright on a plastic recliner thing too, and was utterly horrified by the prospect of reclining.

I love Enid Blyton. Still have all the books, with numbers in (yes, I catalogued my books at the tender age of 7....). Dsd enjoys reading, but hasn't really got the attention span for much, so am reserving the Roald Dahl/Narnia type books for F.

Chasing I'm another one who's ree-diculously excited about your impending move. The childrens centre sounds fab, and it's brilliant that they're able to offer you so much support.

SIL has been round all afternoon/evening - which would normally be fine, but my day today began at 4am and she has been a bit of a pain of late. She's been totally blanking DH, and only stayed for an hour at the christening. Anyhoo, it's all come out today. She was pissed off, as assumed she would get asked to be a godparent for F. DSD has no fewer than 12 godparents which I think takes the piss and me and DH agreed that F would have 2, our best friends (who happen to be married). But SIL was not content with being "just" and aunty it would appear. Luckily, I think DH managed to smooth the waters before I came home, and all is ok. I suspect he may have used the remains of the manky quiche fish to deal her a hefty .

Bedtime another nightmare. These teeth had better hurry up and appear pronto.

Det no use beating yourself up. O's a wee bugger, and a mischievous one at that (I mean this in the nicest way!). Just see this as a gentle reminder that he can do the seemingly impossible, and learn for next time. No injuries sustained other than to the lawn so don't dwell on the what-ifs xx

You just made me cry again BP! I just don't know how best to keep him safe, when it seems that nothing is safe!! It doesn't matter where I put his toys either, as he just migrates to the other end of the room. I thought about using the gate to divide the room, but you have to screw it to the wall, and it doesn't fit.

And to be honest, the back of the room is the place he can get up to the least mischief - other than the doors obviously!

Oh, and you can't fix a stair gate to the doors as there are windows next to each side, with low walls to the bottom, so nothing to fix the top of the gate to.

Not those jims but they are awesome. I can't remember the brand - SIL bought them. They are in the video I put on Facebook of p squealing when I go under her high chair.

That must have been shit scary det. I can understand your upset. Your boy is like the littlest hobo. But without the hobo part. Or being a dog. Do you remember the song? That's what I mean.

My doc told me to stop carrying p in the car seat. Told me I would do my back in. I now leave the seat in the car unless I am using the quinny buzz wheels.

Well done stunt! You'll be papering the new house with your certificates!

Night night sophia!

Detective What bplp said. F managed to turn the hot tap on himself in the bath today when i got distracted talking to DH. I don't think it got as hot as it could be before i v quickly turned it off but he did have a bit of a red mark on his leg when he went to bed. That's my guilt trip for the day. Plus he's fallen off the bed (cough - twice) after i fell asleep feeding him and he rolled off when he woke up. O's fine and that's all that matters. Should really do that crawl round the house test to see what else he might get up to/into...

And congrats stunt

Should really be snoozing here, Dh clearing up the carnage of having both at home today.

Congratulations Stunt! Very well deserved.

Det please don't blame yourself. Your O is exceptionally active and erm, spirited for his age. I don't think any of us would have expected our 8 month old to escape in that situation. But it is a lesson learned and you know you won't let it happen again.

Please feel free to ignore the rest of this post, it is just self pitying nonsense, but I think I am PMTing at the moment...

I bloody hate being single. Really hate it. I'm craving that closeness with someone, just having someone put their arm around me. And it feels like I have been single for a lot longer than 2 months as I haven't been in a close, loving relationship for erm...years

But I know it isn't sensible to be even thinking about that kind of thing right now. Plus, a single mother on benefits with a ton of emotional baggage and MH problems following an abusive relationship is hardly what men are looking for is it?

detective it might réassure you, or not, to know that DD1 was and is a master at breaking through any childproofing. Within a month of being at the CM she had cracked all the babyproofing in her house, including the stair gates, despite not walking. When she found one she couldn't doshe would sit there til she worked it out.

At home is the same thîg. I have locks on the cupboards holding cleaning products, shecan get in but it makes a noise so I get therein time. As for the stair gate in front of the loo door (litter tray) she worked it out within minutes, by then she was 18 months. One of the reasons we moved to a house with stairs is that she worked out stairgates and was crawling up our (tiled, steep, metal lined, stairs in our old house) well before she could walk. It is a nightmare. She is slightly more trustworthy now, but LO has been shown how to open one of the lcks on the kitchen cleaning cupboard. But it makes a noise...

So don't stress, they are clever little escapees, and it's hard to keep your wits about you when you've got a bolter. Might be worth thinking about reins already. I tried that too late with dd1 and she was having none of it. With LO the minute she stands I'm going to get her used to reins.

Hello hello! So much to catch up on and I am definitely going to forget some of you, but here goes.

Lovely hair pass - where did you go?

Stunt great news on the quals. I have a BA. I had the option to switch to a BSc midway through my degree and in hindsight wish I had. DP is forever whinging that a BA isn't as highly regarded as a BSc says the man who hasn't used either of his degrees for the past 10 years

No advice PP sorry, other than I am going to be keeping M in her rear facing cabriofix for as long as possible. Despite DP's claims "she'll be happier in the forward facing one" - happier, maybe. Safer? No. And I bought a car with a rear sun roof to keep her happy, she doesn't need to be able to see forwards too.

On a similar car note, subject to me getting a certain job, does anyone have a 3 door car? I am thinking of buying a new shaped corsa as a run around for work as there is a fantastic deal on at the moment. I worked out that the savings in tax, insurance and fuel economy against my current car would totally outweigh the monthly repayments. Problem is the deal is only applicable to the 3door model. DP is happy to keep the estate car as the family car/his work truck so M would rarely be in the wee car. Anyway, thoughts on a 3 doors and babies?

Chasing I am DELIGHTED there is such a safe and wonderful future on the horizon!

Bath seats: M prefers the shower. But when she's in the bath she just sits in the bath. We have an ikea alligator shaped bath mat which gets rid of the slippy factor. Can't remember who asked about baby shampoo? Johnsons is pure evil and caused all manor of reactions with M. We stick with porridge oats and occasionally a very diluted splash of some organic baby wash. Can't remember the brand, will have a look if anyone's interested. The oaty wash works wonders for her though.

I have just had an almighty hissy fit at DP. I had to complete an online maths exam for a possible job (complete career change from teaching but well paid and great hours). My word it was hard, and I am good at maths! Anyway, I asked him for 20 minutes peace albeit I didn't specify what for and the bugger took it upon himself to interrupt no less than 12 times . He has tactfully disappeared to go fishing now....

Sophia how could I forget!? Sending lots of virtual wine and chocolate and speedy recovery wishes your way xoxox

chasing as you say you haven't been in a loving relationship for years. You will find someone who will love you for what you are, and O too. Give yourself time to settle into your new place, enjoy your independence, find yourself, if you will. And the more confidence you have in yourself the stronger your abusive wanker radar will be, andcunts like your ex will run. But the nice guys will be beating each other off with sticks to be with you. Trust me.

As a child I put the safety clip of the stairgate (you know the wee metal bit that locks it into place?) through my head. I was 3. And dancing on the yellow pages books in a pretend stage thing whilst on the phone to my cousin. The doctors superglued my head back together and to this day I have a massive scar on my hairline

sophia I hope your recovery goes well. I am still a little jealous of bedrest and even more so of anti-inflammatories. I'm not allowed to take even a nurofen ever again in my life, and each month with AF pains I'd chew my right arm off to have one. Lots of and enjoy that pedi next week. Rest.

Fuck me (not literally please) I passed it! That was quick!!

FC for an interview now!

Yay mm1

Bravo MM. And of course, how could I forget, to stunt too. Champers all round, methinks

Phew, evening all! Gosh you've chatted since last night. I'm sad to say we lost Ernest the little bird this morning :( I have been saying he doesn't seem quite right and I wonder if his parents realised this and decided to chuck him out of his nest. I hope we made him comfortable anyway :( Poor little mite. Made for a depressing day hence my abscence, haven't even read anything on here today.

I love Julia donaldson as an author too, and there's a heap of children's books i want to get for E but he isn't much interested atm still. Hadn't heard of the book people so thankyou for mentioning those vq they look ace. I love all the books mentioned actually, Roald Dahl is brilliant, as is Dr Seuss and Enid Blyton.

Glad it went well sophia, make sure you rest won't you :)

Glad to read of some good nights amongst the bad ones, belated and hugs for the bad nights though :(

VQ I had funny kicking feelings too the other day. And I am very fat again, sadly I do not think i'm pregnant, more just, fat. :(

pr dd1 sounds brilliant. If e is half as funny i'll be happy :)

chasing a brill nap from o then, good stuff! Also, you will find someone to share your life with, you have so many lovely qualities :) I think you're a very easy person to love, i mean, lookit how much we all love you ok so it's not the same

det o is a clever one methinks, I love reading what he gets up to!

Thanks for the heads up on the baby event gt

pass e has a bath seat. The dreambaby deluxe bath seat iirc, it's really good. E doesn't crawl enough to need protection on his toes either so no help there sorry

CONGRATULATIONS!!! stunt on passing both of your exams. You have done brilliantly, well done :)

det things like that happen sometimes - as long as you learn from your mistake I don't think you deserve any bad mummy awards, sorry!

I actually think I might need to get a stairgate now! I don't think he'll make it to the stairs, I want the stairgate for the lounge, because for example if E ever made it to the hall and someone knocked on the door the dogs would cause a ruckus and I wouldn't want him to get hurt.

Missed stunt news! Massive congratulations!!!

oh brill mm well done :)

kyz I whinge about dd1 but she has bags of personality and is hilarious. I hope I don't sound like one of those parents who justify all bad behaviour by saying well, she's spirited. Bt with other people she's angelic except that time she bit another kid at creche but they did say he deserved it

I need to figure out something to do in the evenings. That's when I feel the most fucking depressed lonely. But I can't actually leave the flat due to the - hopefully - sleeping infant. I don't trust anyone enough to look after O and I don't want him waking in the night without me there.

Oh moan, moan, moan. Shut up Chasing. Some people have real problems, not your self indulgent shite.

I think I should go to bed.

MM ouch and well done! Good for you lass xx

Congrats mm! Hair was done at Toni and guy. Told the girl last time I didn't like the cut. She was a bit nervous this time. It was my fault last time - I did say that. She felt bad though.

Hia kyz. Poor wee birdy sausage. You did the best you could and you will have made his few days much more comfortable.