September 2006 babies

[Lysettes]

Start of our september 2006 post natal thread!

Hi all!!

We have dd in her grobag too. She went in at about 2 weeks as she really didn't like being swaddled (unlike ds who we swaddled until he was about 4months).

Daytime sleeps are very variable and we tend to start them off in the crib upstairs if we're at home. If she wakes I may get her to have another half hour or so in her bouncy chair (dummy helps re-settle her). She sleeps great if we're out and about (almost 3 hours yesterday while ds had his swimming lesson and then round tesco).

dd is 6 weeks today, weighed 9 11oz a week ago, still exclusively breastfed...keep wondering about expressing the odd bottle but can't be bothered!

We're still up twice in the night which is beginning to do my head in. Generally she sleeps from 7ish to between 1 and 2am and then up around 5am. I keep hoping for an improvement, but if not I may have to start lifting her at 11pm and see if that helps... That worked with ds when I was following YOU KNOW WHO to the letter.

I think part of the issue is that I really struggle to get more than 4 feeds into her during the day so she is looking for it at night. Can't really be bothered waking her to feed. May have to get the book out if she's not sleeping longer at night before long as I really hate broken sleep!

claire - how's it going with cloth nappies? We're using a mixture of totsbots, terries and fluffles with motherease wraps. I'm using them at night no bother. Hadn't really planned to make a total switch, thought I'd do half and half with disps for a while, but I'm finding it pretty straightforward and much less yucky to deal with than toddler poo (only switched to cloth with ds when he was 15months so no experience of newborns and cloth)

(sorry that was a very long post!)

Mabel, hope you're having a better day today. I know it's not much help, but I've had quite a few days like that this time. A couple of weeks ago DD pooed all over herself when I was changing her so I quickly filled the baby bath to dunk her. DS then proceeded to pull the plug out when my back was turned, soaking the entire carpet. It still smells damp!

I hope I didn't offend anyone with my 'nursery' comment. I certainly wasn't implying that mothers shouldn't work or use nurseries. I too think it's important just to have a bit of a break but I felt guilty for considering shoving him anywhere that would take him just for my sake. I think he should go both for the social aspect and so I can give DD some one to one time but maybe after Christmas when he's two and enough time has passed for him not to associate it with Lizzie.

Oh and by the way, Lizzie is def. having a 6wk spurt, as she has fed almost continuously the past 2days.

Compo, had raging insomnia myself last night, 11 pm to 2 am. Finally just got to work on a commission; thought I was being crazy even while doing it. That's SO frustrating ... Got something done but would rather have been sleeping. It's really going to hit me tomorrow.

We're still swaddling Jameson, leaving one arm out during the day. DS1 was completely swaddled until he was 4-5 months. Jameson seems to like it too - the tighter the better.

What is a gro-bag?

Mabel & Tassis, 2 feedings at night in this house too, just like your babies'. No set schedule betw. 6 am & 10pm; he is always woken at 10:30 though by DH & either topped off or given a full feeding.

Friend said she remembers her DD dropped the midnight feeding just after her 2-month doctor appointment. Jameson is two months on Sunday, so next week we'll add one AR feeding (added rice; thicker) in place of his 10:30 pm. May help; may not. We'll see.

Looking forward to this mad schedule ending. Am going to bed at 7:00 now, completely missing time with DH. He came home for lunch yesterday for a "quickie" . DH endured 9 months of nothing with no complaints, so feeling he def. deserves it (so do I ).

Help! 7 wk old ds won't sleep!!!He was OK up until 2 nites ago and since then has slept in bursts of 30 mins at the most! He is not rooting for food so hunger doesn't seem to be the issue. He is not screaming - so I guess I can rule out colic (phew), but he just cannot settle. When he does feed, he seems to spew a fair bit back but, again, this doesn't seem to be causing him any grief. At night he does go for longer but seems to want to use me as a dummy. What should I do?????!!!

Incidentally, he is still in moses basket. Should he be in a cot by now? He weighs about 12lbs (prob just under)

cruisemum - could he be having a growth spurt? I wouldn#'t worry about getting him into a cot if he's still okay in his moses basket. We only switched because dh was eager to but I quite liked dd in her moses basket as she looks much more cosy in it!! Hope tonight is a better one for you

thanx compo, he is still awake, had monster feeding/sucking session and still doesn't seem bothered about going to sleep. aaaaagh!!

Cruisemum - I agree that he could be having a growth spurt, but if he is not hungry, just 'sucky' then would you consider using a dummy? I had a similar thing with DS1, he was a very sucky baby, he just wanted the comfort of sucking rather than the food, so after a night spent with my little finger being sucked off, I gave him a dummy.
Tassis - you seem to be having the same problems as me - in fact your DD is exactly the same age as my DS. I have got my book out by 'She Who Mst Not Be Mentioned' today, to see what sort of routine I ought to be trying to get him in, it is just not practical with 2 though, I just can't stick to it like i did with DS1. I have tried to stick to the 4-6 week routine today, but after everything going succesfully til about 7pm, DS then decided he was desparately hungry at 9pm, so I have to feed him, and according to the book, if they are hungry at 9ish you should just let them have one side (or half a feed), so they'll take a feed later on- that is easier said than done when you have a hungey baby - they just eat until their full don't they?!
As for going upstairs and settling at 7pm - that's certainly isn't happening - he wouldn't take his eyes off me till about 10 minutes ago when he finally gave in!
Homemama - don't feel gulity - I am doing exactly the same as you with my DS1. We go to playgroup twice a week but after xmas, when he turns 2, they will take him, without me having to go with him. I am just going to start with 1 afternoon a week and see how it goes, he is extremely confident and I can't see it being problem, I am sure he will love it, and I think by then he won't associate it with DS2 being born, and it will give me a break and I can concentrate on him instead, as at the moment, he spends a lot of time just sitting in his chair while I entertain Ds1, and I feel guilty about that as he is not getting the attention that DS1 got at his age.

sorry that was a long one - trying to cram everything in while I have the chance

Cruisemum - just another thought. If he is having a growth spurt, maybe he is not getting enough milk?
The reason I say this is because I am convinced that my DS is having a growth spurt at the moment and he has been latched on to me all evening but didn't seem particularly happy. I had expressed some milk earlier in the day as I am going out tommorow, so I think my milk must be a bit low this evening. In the end I've had to give in and make up a bottle of formula, which he guzzled 4oz of and zonked out. I could be wrong, but just a thought.

Hello - off to bed in a minute but first had to help Marls out with the gro bag question - here you go! - when my mum first saw ours she kicked herself because she said she 'invented' something similar using ribbon and pillowcases for my older brother and wishes now she'd patented the idea! We've loved them having two now that don't do swaddle very well but kick around a lot - these are great because they still feel 'free' but they can't wriggle out from under them!

Cruisemum - sounds like a hard situation. Only thing extra that occurred to me in addition to what else has been said is that around 5/6 weeks they do become a lot more wakeful and interested and fight sleep a bit more. You could try a 'nap routine' - I'm a big fan of blackout blinds personally, though we do mix it up a bit so DS still sleeps in a variety of places, but also taking 5-10 mins wind down time. I also confess to being a bit mean and if I think DS1 or DS2 has got into a bit of a 'snacking' pattern rather than taking proper feeds I kind of force (not to point of screaming but as long as they'll be fooled by a dummy/rocking for) them to go a decent length of time between a few feeds to see if that helps increase the amounts, which then in turn helps them go longer and able to sleep better in between.

Bed is calling...

Thanks Liquid!

We've had a strange night...DH went to bed at 7pm! (too tired after staying up to give DS a bottle of EBM the night before at midnight.....honestly!!!)...both babies in bed by 7ish. I had the place to myself for a couple of hours (which was bliss) until going to bed at 10 with the bottle warmer & bottle for DH to give to Jack. Well, J wakes at midnight, I have to nudge DH to get on with it (at this point Jack is starting to get upset & I'm worrying he is going to wake DD)...anyhow a few minutes later DH comes back in & says that he's only had ONE oz of the 5 expressed (ARRGGHH) & that he keeps spitting the teat back out. In a nutshell I have to go back in & feed him. He then fed at 3, 4, 5 & 6 something but each time only for about 5 mins,really strange considering he goes for at least 25-30 mins. Two things;

Why did he reject the teat? He's been having them for more than 3 weeks now without any problems. DH did say he seemed to choke as soon as he started & he seemed to "throw him". What kind of feeding pattern is every hour just for a few mins?!!! As such I don't feel like I have much milk this morning (although I should really)...but J is fast asleep in his boucy chair having not eaten well at all since 8pm last night. Expressing, whilst easy enough, is such a chore. I am almost thinking maybe I should give him a bottle of formula at night but then I just can't bring myself to do it quite yet....if I have the milk then I should stick with it as it's better for him isn't it?......Suffice to say I'm bloody knackered this morning! It's also raining & DH & DD don't have swimming lessons this morning as it's half term;....so we're all wondering what to do with our day....(obviously I'd like to be left alone to sleep... )

can i just tell you all that lucy slept from 7.30pm to 3.30am and then sometime after 7 this morning!!!

8 hours!!!

talk more later, off to soft play...

(marls, do they not have baby sleeping bags in the US??)

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well, its been so mad not really had a chance to catch up.

I put DS in a sleeping bag a couple of nights ago as he always kicks his blanket off and im constantly recovering him but I found that he had extremely cold hands, more so than when he is uncovered!! He did seem to like it though.

I was wondering when people started to express? DS will be 4weeks on monday. I would like to express so DP can feed him but i dont know when to start or what time in the day to do it, Im fullest in the middle of the night.

DS fed at 10pm last night then again at 4.30am, then went back to sleep again until 7.30!!!!

Hi Petrified! Babies extremites are always cold....Jack has been in his Grobag for a week & whilst toasty inside his little hands are very cold!! Re expressing, go for it! 4 weeks is more than long enough for your breasfeeding to have been established so take the plunge I say!!

Tassis, whilst very happy for you can't help but feel very about your long nights!!!! If only....

Thanks to all who replied to my plea for help! ds slept beautifully last nite 10.30 - 4.45 then again till 7.00ish (nights generally ok.... so far....)it is the daytime napping which causes most probs. He is totally erratic and there's no predictability at all. some days he'll nap well for a couple of hours a couple of times (car seat is best 4 this) and others no naps longer than 15 mins and only then when he is being held. As for his suckiness - I've tried a dummy but he hates it - scream, thrashes about - horrible. Just getting frustrated and a sore back!

Actually no, Tassis - I'd never heard of Gro-bag! We use Gymboree blankets for swaddling, as they stretch - I'd certainly invest in some Gro-bag products if this weren't our last child! They look fantastic! They seem geared toward a cool climate; would be perfect here (not so much in Houston where DS1 was newborn).

Don't know if this helps anyone, but when Jameson won't take the nipple & seems overexcited I just bounce him - quick, small bounces with my legs while he's on the Boppy. Moving him erratically seems to calm him down (though you'd think it'd do the opposite).

And for burping, for both boys, I'd hold them under the arms and lift them quickly up and down facing me, in front of me, 11-12 times (supporting the head, of course) - Then immediately afterward put them in a sitting position on the Boppy in front of me and push their back a bit toward their legs (so the body makes less than a 45 degree angle), and hit them on the back 12+ times. Nearly a foolproof burping method for both boys. Hate not being able to see what they'll deposit on my shoulder, so never do it that way. Unless, more than the above is needed. Then - just sling them over my shoulder and walk around with them for a while, attending to other things. That'll raise a burp after the above doesn't.

16 more pounds to lose.

Marls, do you know it's really hard to get hold of Boppys here? Isn't it funny that we in the UK love our grobags and the boppy seems to be a fave US baby purchase! I bought one in John Lewis last pregnancy, but they've stopped stocking them. There are various other similar breastfeeding cushions available, but not (IMO) as good as the Boppy!

gosh i've missed so much again!

mabel, for what it's worth although i know it's a few days late, you poor thing, we all have days like that and i hope you're feeling better.

cruise - i think a growth spurt definitely - we have the same sort of constant feeding sometimes in the evenings, although not very often.

jacob now goes 7ish till 2ish, then 3 hours then 2 hours.

and i'm pleased to say we still haven't given him a dummy!

and he's in a gro bag for first time tonight without fussing, so that's a breakthrough, although seing the huge poo he did early that went everywhere i don't relish facing one of those early morning in the grobag.....

good tip from our doctor, if they won't "go", a tablespoonful of prune juice in a full bottle (260ml) of formula / ebm will help - and it does!

anyway, DH our for wet babys head drinks tonight so am making the most of it and catching up on MN. DH too was shattered after dealing with jacob on his own for 2 hours today while i had a driving lesson (yes learning again after our time in hospital!).....

Hey ladies,

Glad to hear that we are all getting more sleep and not feeling so tired and gradually life is becoming more 'normal'.

Ben is sleeping ok at night, even if sometimes he is in with us- which is a pain but it means we sleep... I wake him at 10/10:30pm and feed him no matter if he's awake asleep etc... in our room with no lights and the tv on low. He then goes into his cot which is beside our bed. We have a tomy beam-a-dream and he seems to like that lighting up and sparkling away. He tends to sleep til about 4:30 (nearly 5am this morning!!!) although generally I do lift him in with us between 2/3am bt he settles straight back down and falls asleep again. Then after that feed I put him back and generally we go til about 7/8am. But he can be unsettled and be back in with us. I am loathed to let him have a moan about being back in his cot incase he wakes DD, as the few times he has it has taken me nearly two hours to settle her and then go back and sort out Ben. But all in all he seems to be getting better with the idea of sleeping (touch wood)... Except the disappointing thing is that DD was sleeping through from 10pm-6/7am from 7 weeks and B will be 8 weeks on Thursday.

More sleep would be great but we are doing ok.

The day is a different kettle of fish as he is so unsettled and windy. It takes him so long to settle down and then wakes up screaming about ten minutes later with the bad farts. It is really limiting DD's time with me and what we do, i'm not quiet brave enough to let her paint or felt tip when I have to see to B I think we'd be redecorated!

Other than that we're ok. For those who want to meet mums, I have met three ladies from netmums.co.uk and we get along great. All of our first borns are roughly the same age and one is expecting in April... It's nice to get back out of the house for DD and me rahter than planning everything around B.

We are also going to look at a house tomorrow which we can afford and is vacant, so really is a great option if it is ok... Although we don't really know the area but if we don't get on the ladder soon, we never will!!!

Sorry it's long and it's been a while, hope everyone is ok.

at Marls and her lunch time quicky... DP is still in his drought...

Thinking of transferring ds into cot tonight instead of moses basket. Seems so vast though by comparison. Does anyone recommend gro bags? I know some of you have already started using them. I have a couple but am nervous about using them as he is so used to blankets wrapped tight in the snugness of basket. Any top tips?? Marls - What is a boppy??

Also, how on earth are any of you managing to get baby down by 7 or 8pm? We are still hitting 10pm most nights. He just won't seem to settle before then. I ahve 8.5year old dd too plus being half term she is going to bed later. Help!

cruisemum - we aren't managing to get dd down at 7pm either. It worked about 3 times but not any more! Last night was a bit strange - dd had top up bottle at 10pm, then cried for almost 2 hours - me and dh took it in turns to try rocking her, using the dummy (she refused it), she wouldn't feed from me either. In the end she fell asleep at 11.30am we put her in the cot and I woke her at 7am And that was new time (really it was 8am ) So no idea what is going on. She did feed a lot in the day and didn't sleep for long so maybe she was really full.
We used the grobag when she hit 10lb. She does look small in the cot but we really want her to get used to it. Also at least then we don't worry about ds getting to her in the moses basket on the floor!!
Marls - another one here who has never heard of a boppy!