March 2013 - time to wrap them all up in tinsel

[StormyBrid]

Old thread here.

worse we're like Plonky on the timings - we keep mealtimes and milktimes separate. I spotted something in Evil Baby Whisperer that suggested around this age milk should be at the time you'd give a snack. Thinking about it, that's pretty much what we do - milk at the crack of dawn, 11am, 3pm and bedtime, food at 9am, 1pm and 5pm. It seems to work, and Fartypants is definitely in the process of reducing milk herself. Those middle two feeds, she's having about four ounces now.

How is the worselet on mush? Does she show any preferences? If we were sticking with baby led weaning we'd be getting absolutely nowhere. Savoury mushes, she'll try a mouthful then get distracted by the cat. Fruit mushes, she practically inhales. For a reduced stress option, can I suggest getting yourself to Asda? They've a hell of a range of cheap fruity mushes, and then at least you're not having to throw away purees you've spent hours lovingly creating.

Incidentally, six month old Molly may love her porridge, but all that means is that Molly's a total weirdo - porridge is vile. It's weetabix all the way round here, with mashed banana in.

eco hang in there, it does get better. How long until 37 weeks for you?

I am thanking my heathen gods we don't have crawling yet. Nappy changes with rolling are bad enough. Especially when it's a particularly horrific one.

That is a pretty comprehensive list, ladies, thank you. I wouldn't actually choose to conceive number two right now, would just welcome an accident because it bypasses the discussion. Mentioned that to the man this morning, saw the look in his face, and had to point out that while I'd take his views into consideration, abort or otherwise is my decision (if we get that far). Also told him I'd like to start trying next year. He may not be enthusiastic but at least he's fully aware of what I'm going to try to talk him into.

Thank goodness gerry. Had visions of you
trying to be 7st or sthg. 2 st loss so far is fab.

That's a good list ladies!!! Don't think I could
cope with two at the mo.,still sorry you're sad
though stormy. I really do want another but
cannot imagine how I will manage. DS just
did a major nap fight- first time we've missed
morning nap and I know he needs it. He's
been grumpy on and off this week- wonder if
we are wonder weeking a bit late. Feel like a
failure for not getting him to nap!!! How would
I do 2 non nappers??!

to all

I honestly can't imagine two close together and by the time there's a school age type gap I won't be a spring chicken and dh will prob rule it out (he was at his self imposed limit this time) so don't see us having another. Loving the one we have though even if he is a snot monster and I have just had a call from nursery to tell me he's banged his head on the table. (He's fine but it's policy they inform).

Hold on another year, Shattered, and two non-nappers won't be an issue. I think they've mostly given up napping by age three. Often younger.

It's the idea of siblings that's really important to me. I'm well aware the baby stage isn't my favourite (and I still well remember thinking buggered if I'm ever going through this hell again), but they grow up, and get better at things like eating and sleeping so you don't have to be glued to them permanently, and then siblings become playmates. It's great at my sister's in the school holidays, because the kids go out after breakfast and don't come back until teatime (except for the occasional foraging expedition). That's the sort of parenting I like the sound of .

Also still thinking of thirty years down the line. The man'll be in his seventies if he hasn't dropped dead of malnutrition by then, I've a fifty fifty chance of getting what my mother has. I can't put DD through that alone. It's too damned hard. Maybe I'd think differently if I didn't have siblings myself. We certainly fought enough growing up, but we're unusually close now, and it's great, it's like having permanent allies.

Anyway, I'm rambling. We went to a baby group again today! And I spoke to not one but two other mothers! One of them even invited us round next week so our daughters can play! (She's the one I know vaguely from antenatal classes.) I feel like a right proper civilised grown up person. It's weird.

Ooh very grown up Stormy! I've yet to brave a baby/toddler group, and doubt I will until I'm next upduffed/on maternity leave. Which won't be til DS is getting his free nursery hours, so another 2 years probably.

There is no doubt we'll have at least one more. Possibly two if I lose my mind at some point. Our family just doesn't feel complete at this stage, and I have too many things that cost a lot/we got little use out of, so I neeeeeed another simply to justify the cost.

Pud hope the knock on the head is not too bad. I had to sign an accident form at nursery last week when DS fell on his face and bashed his lip. Nice to know they take these things seriously. Made me a bit shame-faced over banging his head on a door the day before though!

Two more, Plonky? Now that is brave. I say this as the youngest of three. Not that my parents were planning on three, but when my brother was six months old a condom went AWOL and reappeared in my mother's gusset the next day, and nine months later I turned up. We used to drive my mother demented. She was forever threatening to run away if we didn't give her some peace. (If I were her I'd have taken it one step further and gone and hidden behind the shed for a quiet cigarette. Would've scared the hell out of us .) Three can get hectic.

Mind you, if finances were no issue I could probably cope with three, so long as I had a good two or three years between each of them. But unless the man's entire extended family dies in a horrible accident and leaves their combined wealth to him, we're always going to have money worries (bloody rent), and I'm always going to be mindful of the possibility of ending up as a single mother on benefits, and I don't think stretching to three in that scenario would be ideal.

Stormy my crystal ball sees you with three, and it never lies . I really really really would love to see you write though. You'd be so good at it. Seriously. Perhaps one day you will, and when you're famous you can think back nostalgically to that annoying nag worse

Having a quiet half hour here as the worselet is actually asleep! Yay, get me, perfect parent or what. Ok so I had to do the pram thing to get to this state of nirvana, but we'll gloss over that. Not quite the day I had planned, as I kept the tiddler off nursery due to a croupy cold, so we've been home alone, kind of, give or take a yard full of builders, the gate men, and my parents...who arrived just as the gate men dug a bl**dy great trench across the drive so that they couldn't actually get in. My friend couldn't actually get out either, which was amusing. Or not. Depending on who's point of view you take.

Food wise, post tummy bug we are back on track and dd has despite her cough demonstrated herself to be a proper little weaner. Not a pig weaner mind. DH has told me I'm not allowed to say she is backward in her eating, as obviously, being his child, she is not backward in anything. So there you have it. She is an excellent eater! Today to be fair she has been, as I think we've covered all main food groups and it is still early. She even ate one of my home made meat balls! I was pleased although they are delicious

Eco I have hope for you on the sleep front - dd's sleeping through again. I think the weeks of trauma were teeth/wonder week related. Ecobaby is a little younger I think (?) so give it a few weeks and she'll probably be back on track too.

Hi all,
I've been lurking since forever and thought I'd come out of the shadows to reassure any of you thinking of number 2 (or 3) that it's honestly doable! DS1 is 3years and DS2 is 10months today .
Going from 0 to 1 baby was much more of a shock to the system than going from 1 to 2. And that's even with a baby who NEVER sleeps and is very clingy! It is full on at times, I've had plenty of pantry moments, they drive me demented but they're just starting to play together (or a version of playing), and it is very sweet. So much so that number 3 is a distinct possibility...once I persuade DH and our bank account. As Plonky said, we just don't feel finished yet although I nodded to nearly every point on that list! I'm back to work next month so I'm sure it will be crazy and maybe I'll rethink it then once the sleep deprivation truly kicks in. Anyway just thought I'd offer a perspective from the dark side...retreats to shadows...

Meant to add before I hide that I'm sorry you didn't get the result you wanted Stormy but I hope it happens soon! I didn't mean my post to sound insensitive.

Cant Hello!!! Don't you dare go retreating.... now you're here proper, you just have to stay. Ah gowan gowan gowan gowan... you know you want to

Yes join us Cantturn. Zoolander fan? Not an ambiturner?

Stormy I'm one of two with a reasonable gap, so my sister was in school full time when I came along. Mum said it was lovely. DP is one of 3, and theres two years between him and his brother, then and 6 years passed before they had SIL. She's so young she's still at uni . A gap like that would be doable. But then mil is a SAHM and that ain't the life for me.

Now, ladies, you are an invaluable resource. Your collective wisdom knows no bounds. I am interested in opening an online shop. Nothing major, just a small side project that might one day provide some pocket money. I'd like to sell ethically made, useful items/clothing/toiletries for new kids and new mums. would you shop for this stuff online? Or dj you think there are enough people already providing this service? Thoughts please!

hello everyone. I've missed too much to name check properly so will stick to what I can recall.
Stormy I was sorry to hear that there is no baby news for you this time but pleased that it got the call rolling again in terms of chatting to dp. Just think how fast this year's going. That time will pass quickly again and it'll be time to be up duff again before you know it.

Plonky I'd go for a site like that but I am a hippy particularly for gifts. It's nice to buy ethical gifts for babies and to have an array of good choices in one place would be great. I've been to shops like this before and enjoyed them. Would you do staples too?Nappies, wipes and shampoo for example?

Worse glad you seem to be through other side with illness and wonder week. It sounds like carry on builders with you! Sleep wise we're still awful here but have been since August! I can't pass it off as a phase any longer. It's a bad habit. And not one I want to stick around. Sleep work commences on February 11th!

Shattered I've spent a few days feeling like a bad mum too. Maybe mums have wonder weeks too where we struggle with new skills?! I'm sure you're doing just fine.

Cantturn welcome! I forget this soap opera is available to all! Our babies are 4 days apart so maybe we're wonder weeking together.

Bit sleep deprived in general here what with one thing and another but I travel hopefully

I realise with the timing of my post that I had no need to point out the sleep deprivation you can work that much out for yourselves!

DS has finally begun to crawl! I'm going to be so tired now aren't I? Oh well he's off to nursery today, interested to see if he does it there. Fairly certain we also have had a word! Bottle. He said it just once, I got very excited and gave him lots of positive reaction. And then he refused to say it again. The tease. Bob bob has made his usual morning appearance though. And shasha.

Eco what's the sleep lady recommending? I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but controlled crying works well for us. If he's been ill (and coslept) we have to do it again, but one night of a ten minutes of crying and were back to good habits. I get the feeling you wouldn't want to resort to this, but know that if you do, and it makes you feel awful, you'll have support!
Are you feeling all well again now?

Thanks for feedback re shop. I'd love to sell nappies, but the initial investment would be huge unless I went for cheapies - and they're probably not the most ethical. It'd be a long term goal though.

Eco I'm with you as always. Last night we had absolute manic screaming from 12-1.30 then again at 3 & she was in bed with us by 4. There were also a few lesser wakes before and after these manic sessions. Will I ever sleep properly again?

I've also got some form of burst blister on my right nipple from where she rubs her top teeth and its absolute bloody agony feeding on that side. It's been a week and no sign of improvement and its bringing a tear to my eye! Any advice?

Welcome cantturn it had completely bypassed me that we might have lurkers but now that you're here there's no retreating!

Plonky my honest opinion - ethical is a nice to have when people are feeling flush. The rest of the time unless you have something totally unique you're going to have to compete on quality and price. Organic is a good buzz word for all things baby as new mums with pfbs are a touch paranoid. However, the economy is definitely picking up, and given the amount of building work going on round here there is no shortage of cash, so now might be a good time to launch an ethical product base.

Sleep here is continuing on a positive trajectory, which is all to the good. Do you mind me asking what time you are settling dds down for the night Eco and Betty? How would you feel about pushing things later? I find dd will do 9-10 hours if I put her to bed relatively late, say 9pm. Earlier, and she tends to wake in the night.

Things that have changed here, which may be having a positive effect on sleep:

A whole batch of teeth have just come through.
She's super confident at crawling and cruising, so no major developmental leaps
Eating properly - meat or eggs in the evening so she isn't hungry at night

I'll have to end it there, the tiddler has had her limit of the play pen.

Worse, I always "here" and Plonky no, alas I am not an ambiturner. Betty, I have suffered with blisters since DS was born. Combination of laninsoh, MAM compresses, weleda oil, air and trying to stop him biting helped. A little teething gel before feeding seemed to reduce his carnivorous tendencies somewhat . You have my sympathy-it's agony. I think I've spent much of the last 10 months spontaneously grabbing my boobs either in pain or to work out which side to feed from...and all too often in public!

Oops, I AM always here!

News from Stormyworld: one half of my face has caught the plague. The right side is fine. The left side not so much. 100% blocked nostril, so severely blocked that all attempts to blow it result in ears popping and air coming out my eyeballs. Also 100% dripping. How can the snot be solid yet runny at the same time? Also, left eye is stupidly swollen and won't open properly. Is this likely to be a symptom of imminent demise?

Anyone got any tips, advice, or just words of sympathy for dealing with incessant shrieking? I thought we were over it for three glorious days, but now she's at it with a vengeance. Doesn't seem to be related to anything (hunger, tiredness, boredom, etc), the only constant factor is my presence. If she can't see me, she plays happily. Earlier today I ended up hiding my face inside my dressing gown just for some peace. I'm not coping with it at all well. To the point where I finally admitted today that I'm getting violent urges when she won't shut up (although no one needs to worry too much on that one; I'm well aware that smacking her wouldn't shut her up so would be pointless). Could really do with some coping strategies. Anyone got any suggestions?

Betty just think, one day DD will be all grown up and buggering off to university, and you can have all the sleep in the world. It will be bliss. Although you'll probably miss her ridiculously.

Have you tried nasal irrigation Stormy? Might help...

Anyone's mini got offered a flu jab spray up the nose? We weren't but Im told perhaps should've...

Stormy - if it's any consolation, i've just experienced the same. I found myself expkaining to het in a calm but slightly maniacal voice that if she didn't stop screeching, I would leave. Literally. She didn't get it so carried on but I found that leaving her to it and going in a different room and talking loudly while she screeched helped a lot. Otherwise just go out. I found the screeching stopped as long as she was sufficiently distracted. And in the fresh air, where it never sounds as loud...

I agree with Any, keep her distracted and busy. Easier said than done when you're in the melted face stage of a bad cold. I prescribe a relentless stream of olbas oil, sudofed, steam and cuddles.

Eco and Pud (any other cloth nappy users?) what do you use overnight? Were having some mixed results despite boosting. Considering going back to reusables overnight but I really don't want to.

Thanks eco . Back on track now I hope!
stormy yes try irrigation or steaming or a
nasal spray from the chemist for a few days.

worse good news on the sleep. We had a whole
blissful week of sleep but back to wakings
now. I am getting tough this week and
reducing milk by an oz a night. Wish me luck!

More teeth here too- six now . No more
news really, although he's getting pretty fast
on the crawling so we really should
baby proof. Any tips on getting babies to eat
more??!!

Plonky I use ultitarians by guerilla fluff overnight. With a blueberry wrap. They were eyewateringly expensive but do hold the value for resale and have been totally bombproof when all else failed.

Ooh price has come down a bit
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/121396968/night-time-cloth-diaper-diaper-semi?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

Wors we tried having a later afternoon nap & pushing bedtime back but she just gets completely beside herself after about 6.45 so then it's bath time and she's in bed about 7.15. I'm sure having a better dinner would help too but she's still strictly beige foods, meat and eggs are evil in all forms. I'm sure we'll get there eventually!