July 2014 - sleepless nights but lots of smiles

[NancyinCali]

The old thread is nearly full so here's a new place for us to chat about our July babies. Help yourself to some tea & cake to keep you going through the sleepless nights .

That's an interesting article about breast milk capacities. DD has just turned 10 months and a typical night she wakes and wants to feed 23:00, 03:00, 05:30. I'm not sure how much she really needs to feed and how much is emotional.

We've had some really messy BLW this weekend. I did risotto and DD took great pleasure in extravagantly sweeping it all off her tray onto herself, the high chair and the floor. And then she had the audacity to look at me with this 'where's my dinner?' expression on her face like I'd not given her any!

It looks like we are going to have to baby proof everything in a way we never had to. As much as I like open plan living, it is a right pain with a crawling baby! I can't even block off the kitchen area easily.

DS5 is still up for feeds in the night. We've also moved from purees to baby led weaning. I've been trying him with finger foods and he's not shown much interest but then suddenly he ate loads of cheese on toast and then when it was time for the next meal he refused to be spoonfed. So mostly he eats what the others are having except with things like macaroni cheese, he will have pasta and cubes of cheese instead.

I managed to get rid of a bin bag of clothes he's grown out of. We have to move him out of our room soon and I'm dreading it. It reminds me of when he was in NICU, which I know is daft. I'm worried he'll wake his brothers up and I'm going to miss our night time sleepy breastfeeds in my bed and then putting him back in his moses basket. When he moves I'll have to go and get him from the other side of the house. I'll end up waking up properly and getting cold. First world problems I know. I'm trying to soften the blow with some cot bedding retail therapy. I'm not keen on the traditional pastels so I've got bottom sheets with clouds on, rainbow blankets and I just need to find sunshine yellow top sheets.

Aww ellie. I love the sound of the colourful bedding.

Both of my girls have colds at the moment, and I've got it too. I've been getting up to both of them several times each per night for the past week. Currently hiding in my bedroom to get a break.

I've got some recipes for blw foods to make today so hopefully DD2 will enjoy them.

Sorry to complain here so much. I'm just so exhausted. Have just sent DH a text saying "save me" and he's leaving work on time for a change.

DD1 has been so difficult today. We're on the whining phase of her cold. Who knew a 3 year old could whine for an entire day. And all the teenager comments she's making!

DD2 is a snot machine and literally screams every time I wipe her nose. She's tired but will only sleep short bursts because coughing or blocked nose wake her.

I just want them to get well.

Oh dear kiwi sending big hugs and a giant piece of cake your way! DD screams when I wipe her nose so now I do a silly voice and wipe my nose as well whilst doing a Dick and Dom 'bogies' shout.

I always know when her nose is running as she makes 'mmm mmm mmm' sounds .

She has a permanently runny bottom and does not like lying still when I change her. Seems fine otherwise so am thinking its just teething nappies. Still only 2 teeth.

Thanks, liquid. Nearly all better now, which is a great relief! How is your little one?

9 1/2 months and still no teeth. Starting to worry about that a bit, though I know there's nothing I can do and they'll come in their own time.

I could really do without DD waking up every 2 hours tonight! I've had a couple of nights like that this week.

Teeth watch count: 4

DD only has 2 teeth so far. Despite what people say it has affected her weaning.

And I'm with you on the sleepless nights... am so tired!

Double whammy at the moment: both to teeth coming through and we just moved house. DD2 will not sleep by herself at night.

First week we brought her in with us but she thinks it's playtime and I can't cope with the sore joints I get from sleeping with her in bed. So we've now moved the cot into our room. She is not impressed. Apparently night time sleep requires Mummy's cuddles to happen.

It's exacerbated because I'm unwell too but I hate having her in with us.

How long can I reasonably expect such upset to last? She sleeps well in her room during the day.

Hello again, have been lurking for months but afraid of actually posting in case I start ranting!

Kiwi I feel your pain literally re joints and lack of sleep. Pickle has been in my bed since day 1. Husband has been dispatched to spare room because of snoring. I wake up every morning in agony from hips, back and shoulders. The girl wriggles and rolls around all night, headbutting and kicking me in her efforts to get closer. We have tried putting her in her cot in her room in a Sleepyhead Grand but she wakes up 3-4 times a night still for milk (I'm still BF) and is impossible to put back in the cot without 1 hour or so of settling, which I can't face at 3am. I am desperate to get her out of the bed but too tired to do anything sleep trainy! She doesn't nap very well either - lucky if we get 40 mins twice a day and it's such an effort to get her to sleep. If I hear the phrase "drowsy but awake" from anyone one more time I will go postal.

At least (dubious) she isn't very mobile yet... she's only just started to try and get on her hands and knees and is pretty rubbish at it, and although she is happy to pull up on our fingers she hates pulling up on walkers, tables or sofas. I feel desperately sad for her because she is trying so hard to get on the move but can't seem to work out how to achieve it - she gets so frustrated. She's the last of her NCT cohort to get mobile and she was first born!

I keep worrying that it is something I've done (glass or two of wine every couple of days) or haven't done (more tummy time, which she hated until recently).

On the plus side, her clapping and waving are second to none, and when she wants to be picked up she raises her arms and says "Up!" very clearly. No "mummy" though.

Ha, knew it would be a long 'un!

Massive respect to those who are back at work, I literally have no idea how you do it. I am so knackered.

I hear you on the sleeping thing. I sometimes go in the spare room with DD when she is ill which is a bit of an acrobatic night. How she manages to rate 180 degrees I'll never know.

Not so pleased when DH brings her into our bed at 2am.

Although her latst trick is to fully wake up at 3am and stay awake until 9am. Am knackered and my work is suffering.

Have had a regression this week with food, all she wants to do is have milk and not a lot of it. Frustrating.

and muperoon, its a little quieter here at the moment but we are active on Facebook, PM me if you want the details.

Its also interesting to see how each baby is different and at different stages. I wouldnt worry about the lack of pulling up

Hope you're getting more sleep, liquid.

Mupperoon: agree that you shouldn't worry about the pulling up, etc. She might be more of a wordy baby instead of an "active" baby.

DD2 crawls but rarely pulls herself up. She has started getting up on all fours, though. I too love seeing how differently they're all developing on Facebook.

Our sleep issues are starting to improve. We're now just having trouble getting her to sleep at night. She usually falls asleep on me, but will stay asleep after I put her in her cot. Still have to feed her at 2.30am every night, though!

Hello ladies

Lovely to hear about all the babies - makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

Ds is now 11 months and walking people keep saying how much trouble he'll get in now but to be fair there isn't much trouble he couldn't get into when he was crawling/cruising/standing up! He is far more clever than he should be figuring out stuff like how to undo child locks and moving furniture we've put in front of stuff. He still only has two teeth - we haven't had any more come through since xmas though we've had phases of teething. I think he'll get up one morning with a full set or something! He's eating for England and there isn't much he doesn't like and wants whatever you're eating even if he's full from his own dinner! I still miss breastfeeding

Sleep wise I can't complain really - I still have to cuddle him to sleep/let him lie on me but he sleeps from about 7pm til 5 am so although early it's a good stretch though he needs comforting once in the night normally. He has 2 or 3 naps during the day but these still can be only 30 mins and still on me.

I'm just planning his first birthday party - just having a few babies from the group I go to and family. I'm using it as a distraction from having to go back to work a few days after

So after a really tough start he has turned into such a funny little character and I'm really enjoying him now though it still gets hard sometimes but a wise woman said to me that when it is hard it feels like that because my subconscious remembers how hard it used to be so I react emotionally in the way I used to... If that makes sense? I try to remember that when he's fighting me at nappy changes!

Me and DP are still waiting on couples counselling but we're 'ok' - hopefully it won't take too much for us to get back on track.

I'm ok. Still have spd issues which I'm still sorting out with various referrals

I think that's it from me. Hope the sleep issues get better soon. And I wouldn't worry about the lack of movement or teeth - there are several babies in my group that are older than ds and not crawling or the same age with no teeth!

Glad to hear you are doing well auntie. DH and I also working through some issues atm. Its been hard.

Can't believe our babies are turning or soon to be turning 1!

Am currently planning the birthday cake. I have to make it as MIL and DM will be put out if the other makes it . I can cook but dont want to mess it up so have ordered the plain sponge cake from a specialist shop and am concentrating on decorating it

Hope you and DH manage to sort out your issues. It's really hard isn't it. We want another baby but not sure the timing is right.

I think I'm going to order a cake from M &S - they do number shapes and a friend recommended them x

How is everyone? Such a shame the thread is quiet (although I can hardly complain as I'm not very good at posting!)

Can't believe the babies are starting to turn 1 We have a little while yet as DD was one of the youngest on the thread, arriving in August as she kept me waiting 2 extra weeks!

Hi

DS turns 1 this week where did my baby go???

It's a shame this thread is so quiet. Would be lovely to know how the other babies are doing but I'm a bit paranoid about joining the fb group.

Hi all!

Doesn't seem like two minutes since we were all chatting about the impending childbirth does it Auntie?

Could someone pm with details about the fb group? I would love to see how everyone's LO's are doing!

Wow 1 this week auntie! The Facebook group is completely private so no one will know you're on it if that concerns you?

Herdwicksheep if you pm me your email address I can add you to the group. It's lovely seeing photos of all the little ones and their different personalities are already showing

Dont be paranoid Auntie Maggie its private so only group members can see posts. Plus you get to hear all of my parenting disasters...

Am currently stressing about the birthday cake, DD is 1 in exactly two weeks time and I have DM and my MIL from Hell wanting to make the cake so the only way to diffuse the situation was to say I wanted to make it.

I am a mediocre cook. It will be interesting. Even more so since DH has decided a 9" cake with smaller cake stacked on top will not be enough cake for a small family party.

Fox will PM you.

I double checked the Facebook group and its "secret" so can't even be searched for

Good luck with the cake liquid! I'm going to attempt DD's too, and I know it'll be a disaster! But I want to make the effort anyway, and can always nip to the shops last minute in an emergency

DD2 is 1 in 3 weeks. I've finally decided what we're going to do to celebrate.

She's now walking with the wooden walker, I taught her how to give me five the other day (it's her new favourite thing) and she says "ooff" whenever she sees a dog (or cat or cow or sheep...). She can also say "kitten" and "digger" since we got two kittens (I am too nice) and there are always diggers on the building site we live on.

In less lovely things she is very fond of DVDs/CDs and will chew on them given the chance. It can be hard not to laugh when you see her little tongue poking through the hole in the middle.

Still waking two or three times a night. I've started giving her formula to see if extra food helps her sleep. Hopefully. And she has given up her morning nap, but it turns out it's better this way as she'll now do about two hours at midday.

I hope the first birthdays are going well for all the babies!

Just bumping this thread as long time no posts...

DD doing well and we have finally cracked the night feeds so she now sleeps through. Bliss.

Hope everything going well for everyone.