December 2012: Everyone loves nap time.

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Started a new thread for us before we run out of room.

MaMa R often regularly rejects actual toys in favour or eg parading round the living room proudly wearing my fabric tape measure like something out of the Tailor Of Gloucester It's very cute when i tell him we're going to play with one of his little buddies and he trots off to get a toy to take with him though :o

D'oh Spotty

R slept loads better last night. I may have buggered it up by not sticking rigidly to the routine today meaning he slept for 10 minutes in the car stupid stupid mummy decided to try and get him into the cot so i could have a cup of tea but fingers crossed as always...

5th day in a row of being dry, although he did poo in his pants this afternoon - it was just after we left the house so i didn't realise that was why he was being odd about going to the park

pidj I have a midwife friend who can get me a new wrap very cheap. She is at a midwife conference thing and has seen the Manduca and ergo baby wraps... Have you tried out either or do you know someone who has??

Manduca and Ergo are amazing brands - they're the only ones that have made it mainstream so far, with Manduca stocked in Kiddicare and Ergo in John Lewis :o They're buckle carriers - bit like a big hiking ruck sack but with a baby between the outer fabric and your body instead of a load of food and a tent iyswim. I would take advantage in a heartbeat if I were you or even get loads and sell them for profit on the fb sites They're probably the easiest type of carrier to use. You can get an insert for the Ergo to make it suitable from newborn - I got one in TK Maxx for £3.99 as a present for a friend due in the Autumn to go in the one she currently uses for her dd R's age. They're only about £15 new though afaik

Oops strikeout fail

They must be brand new wraps that both companies have just launched. I have an ergo carrier (mostly for DH). I was wondering if there was much difference between the wraps. I think they are both the stretchy jersey type... She gets a massive discount, I'm tempted to ask for one of each.

How strange DS has just this week become obsessed with cuddly toys after having no interest in them before. I didn't realise they all do this! He has two bunnies, one blue one cream and he looks so sweet carrying them around by their legs. Cream bunny's the favourite

He's not had a nap today, hoping this makes for a swift bedtime and a peaceful evening.

possibly many of each and sell them on

The manduca carrier is very popular here. I borrowed one but find the ergo much more comfortable.

Nutella definitely jump on that offer! O was in a stretchy for the first months before we went woven and it's a godsend. Plus as pidj says they're both good brands already, so I would guess they're putting good knowledge into a wrap..

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. It's just felt a bit grim recently, but O had an epic nap this afternoon so I got one job actually to an issue deadline and then had a chance to plant things with him when he woke up without being distracted, which was lovely.

Also met three childminders today - looking for one day a week until the nursery we're registered with finally give him a space (not till 2015 they think.)

mama we're due mid November - started ttc when he was 9,months but with no periods it was a bit pointless really. Gave up bf when he was 13 months and pregnant in seconds! Good luck with yours, apparently it's easier after having a first one ...

I had a cheap Victoria Sling Lady stretchy for R and he pretty much lived in it for the first 5 months of his life until I got a wrap and learned to back carry :o I'd get at least one, and pack it in your hospital bag sadly not so much room for profiteering on stretchies

That's a question that would make a nice discussion actually - what are the pregnant ladies going to pack in their hospital bags this time round; what was completely useless last time and what could you not cope without?

I'm definitely taking a sling for my hypothetical next one, and will be going straight to cloth nappies and be damned to the hospital policy of sposies only, it's not like I expect them to wash the damned things! Hair bands and straws will be left behind, but I'll be sure to pack some decent clothes; managed to get waters all over my comfiest maternity trousers thinking I'd be able to wear them home again and I hate wearing pyjamas all day so will try and have specific "day" and "night" clothes even if it's just pyjamas and joggers with a loose tee shirt

Hey mama!
nutella def get one/both. I had T in a moby loads as a little un - so great when you've got other dcs - I got plenty of cuddles and had hands free for doing stuff with them. Plus she used to fall asleep quickly in it when she often wouldn't sleep anywhere but with me for the first few months. I was so sad when she got too big and I sold it.
Have managed not to feed her all day (since 5am) and it's been ok. She was desperate for it tonight though. Am I brave enough to make this the last one?? Actually I'll most likely feed her in the night if (haha) she wakes until I've done at least one bed time without.

WL awesome! I would suggest keeping the bedtime feed and ditching the night time ones, but then I loved the snuggling up with a clean baby in the rocking chair...

kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning_faqs/

kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning-techniques/

Hi mama I've heard that when they walk later they are fairly sure on their feet. I would say DS runs/trots more than he walks. Two weeks away sounds great and slightly terrifying :) I hope you had a lovely time!

Utopian be kind to yourself. I'm finding this pregnancy so much harder to cope with while running after DS. I feel like a lazy mummy for not taking him to the park often enough and then when I do I am sooooo worn out (because he has to climb everything all the time and mummy should not bother to even consider sitting down). Also I think this bean has more room to perform its kickboxing antics after everything has already been stretched I cannot remember DS being this active or this painful - I might have said this before..... Sorry if I have but it goes to show my lack of cognitive abilities right now!

DS loves his penguin. It's called "Qua qua". All birds are called that! It's really cute, he will grab a cuddly toy and squash it up under his chin in a hug and say "ahhhh". The penguin is probably the most filthy loved cuddly toy he has.

WL I hope the weaning is all going welling isn't too stressful for you. Do you have any problems with sore boobs when T doesn't feed? Here they recommend peppermint tea to help your milk stop when you want to stop feeding.

Hello again. I've been lurking but too busy and tired to post. I'm officially overdue again, and feeling the tired quite badly. DS has also become quite clingy and insistent for my attention. It's cute really, he comes and takes my hand and leads me to the toy he wants us to play with. However it's lots of time spent sitting uncomfortably on the floor :( Nutella I hear you on the pointlessness of trying to sit down with a 18m DS. Parks, playgroups, soft play... It's not a chance to watch them play, to them it's definately just a chance to play with mummy somewhat different.

I've spent the last few evenings putting together a photo book album. I bought a voucher back in May for a 100 page book for £20 instead of £90. Thought it was a great way of getting all the baby pics of T off our phones/laptop/computer and into print. However, the voucher had to be used by midnight last night, and as usual it was all left to the last minute. Well, the last two weeks, but with 26 thousand photos to go through (duplicates and I sorted old photos) I had my work cut out for me! Only about 2.5 thousand were this year, including over 1000 from PIL. So, lots of late nights recently, and early mornings with DS, who's decided 6am is the new 7am. :(

Pidg I've struggled with my hospital bag this time, I had however forgotten to put the sling in, so will do that now! There was loads I didn't use last time, but also with an induction and section there was lots I was just not going to need. Main thing I've done different this time is pack two bags, one with loads of spares in. I want to use reusable nappies from the get go, but DH isn't sure and won't let me buy any little ones! We also got given two packs of newborn sposies by my sister who didn't use them, so I don't have a leg to stand on in the argument :(

stacks I've got a few preloved reusable newborn nappies (they are soooo tiny and cute) and then Muslins and wraps etc. see what works. I'm not totally adverse to the odd sposie but I don't think I'll need any. DH is pretty well trained at washing the nappies too.
after all it is only pressing buttons on a machine

I have my birth plan ready but nothing in a hospital bag yet... I'm hoping to go home ASAP after baby arrives. I don't find hospital at all relaxing. But a bag at home in case of c-section might be an idea, with pjs etc.
Also the hospitals here provide everything you need. Nightgown, baby clothes, nappies, feeding pillow - whatever they have that hasn't been stolen basically.
Gah, I'll have to start a list and dig out a bag!

Stacks unless you know for sure you're having a smaller baby or are a total addict like Nutella and me new born sized nappies are a bit pointless. Size 1 fitteds last ages (to about 15lb in most brands) but stuff like teenyfits are only on for such a short time, bit like tiny baby clothes. I would do it from the beginning because i'm confident of my ability to argue with midwives washing and know what types are good for which purpose but R was in sposies for the first 5 days not only for the meconium but while I got used to things and because the wraps rubbed his cord.

Kiddicare do 4 bambino mio prefolds for £2.99 in the smaller size (same price but 3 of them in the bigger ones) and have the wraps to go with for £1 but it's only in store. You fold the prefold into thirds, lay it in the wrap and pop a liner on the top (chop any old fleece blanket into relevant sized rectangles) and put it on like a sposie. You wash the wrap part once a day unless it gets actual poo on, just change the inside if R poos in a clean nappy i only change the liner I reckon you could get enough to do day times for under £15 - how many Pampers is that, dh? I've got 5 well-loved size one bamboo fitteds looking for a home if anyone wants to message me with an offer btw. I once worked out that if I'd bought all my more expensive BTP nappies on 3 for 2 they work out at 4p per wear including washing that's on one child until potty training at 2.5 so not really an accurate one for me, but they're in the cupboard for next time...

Next time I think I'll go straight for wool. I had R in it full time for a while (we've used it for nights since he was about 4 months iirc) and it cut my washing load down dramatically! You don't have to wash it as you soak it in lanolin which reacts with urine to make a crude form of soap, so it just gets re-done every 6 weeks or so. Tee shirt on the top half, wool trousers on the bottom with a fitted or prefold underneath, easy :) And cheap because I made most of his out of charity shop jumpers!

Can't remember who it was nutella def go for it!! Love my ergo and now have a connecta- clearly like my buckles :) they are a good brand so would probably make a good stretchy. Sounds like a good idea for them as the current ergo better for older babies- guess you can get the newborn pod thing but think wraps better suited to newborns.

My ergo was a life saver tonight. Was trying to pack for the weekend at inlaws so dh was trying to get dd ready for bed ( plan was to get them ready for bed & put straight in car so can fall asleep on route) but she went hysterical crying for me- wouldn't let him dress her, read stories or anything! As needed to pack, got her dressed, in ergo & carried on packing with a happy dd.

Dropping the night feed was my plan pidj but I've been trying for weeks and she just won't settle without it. I've had several 2-3 hour battles which is untenable. I think all the time there's a whiff of milk she'll be like it, hence the stopping completely. I'm sad because if I could've conquered the nights I'd have happily fed her for another year.
Some of my cloths are on their third bum which I love. I sold my fitteds after dd2 as I preferred the prefolds. The newborn prefolds I cut into thirds and use them as booster pads for T now. I used spodies until the cords fell off.

pidj I have bought them in the name of research, obviously actually they were fairly bargainous. I'm tempted by wool but, I don't get it I suppose I'm sceptical even though I know I shouldn't be and they always look so gorgeous and cosy.
Hmmmmm I have a lot of nappies.

But I have a couple of converts too. I think my obsession and range have helped.

I'm applying for another job. Doubt ill even get an interview but worth a try. It's at a school so would be great. Life is stressful right now! Might go and eat the half a cheesecake that's in the fridge

If she's fighting that long then definitely needs feeding IMO WL R was happy to swap milk for cuddles, if he'd been upset then I'd have caved too! I gave all my newborn prefolds to a friend as a nappy cake (her older one is in cloth) but they also work well for stuffing pockets I've found :o Not sure how many bums mine have done as i bought most preloved!

Nutella wool is waterproof and hygenic just like a sheep! You use 100% wool that is handwash only - the process to make it washable strips the oils or something so it won't absorb lanolin - and it works. It's a bit magic tbh. Disana are an awesome brand and I think they're German, if you want to try it. You only really need 2 unless you've a particularly messy poo-er. One pair for days and one for nights, and possibly one spare. Put 1" lansinoh in a cup, mix with boiling water until it emulsifies and goes cloudy, then put in a bowl. Add cold water, dump in wool cover, soak for 1/2 and hour or more, roll in a tea towel to get most of the water out and hang to dry. Then they're good to go for a few weeks when you repeat the process to top up the lanolin. You can use a wool wash (there's some that have a bit of lanolin in for topping up) in between if they get dirty. I sling the night ones over the cot bars to air during the day when I remember Let me know if you want adding to the facebook group :)

Good luck Spotty

My sister (following 3 mc) is having a boy!

Congratulations Aunty Spotty :o A little rainbow baby to buy for!

spotty just give it your best and fx! Hoorah for your sister.
pidj it's all tied up with her not wanting to eat much when she can fill up on boob. Her food intake is so much better since I've cut down the feeds. I honestly don't believe she needs the milk, it's just the association. Also she used to be desperate for boob if she was the slightest bit upset and is now accepting a cuddle.
We're supposed to be off to the school fayre but it's pissing down. Hmmm

Congrats to your sis spotty ! Lovely news for your family. How many wks is she?