January 2014 -- the birthdays are coming!

[TobyLerone]

Just wrote a long message on the old thread only to have it not post because we'd filled it.

We really ought to do less chatting and more sleeping

It is a bit funny :o

I was about to say is it because the disposables feel different, but then realised she only has disposables at night. Very weird!

It's only since we've been putting her down awake. She did it once last week and it got her taken out of the cot, taken into the other room and changed before going back in the cot and eventually going to sleep. Then pretty much every time since.

She's a quick learner, I'll give her that!

I have no suggestions then. It's very clever of her!

I know I can start giving S cows milk from 1 year old, so does it matter if I start this week? I assume nothing drastic is going to happen to her digestive system within the next 7 days which means I have to wait. Do I just swap to cows milk or gradually phase it in? I'm almost at the end of a tub of formula and could do without having to fork out 12 quid for another one (cheapskate )

Epic fail on the "Settle snotty baby back to sleep then avoid the squeaky floorboard on the way out" challenge. A in our bed (again), him and dh snoring. I'm wide awake, and I'm the only one at work in a few hours Will read through everyone else's posts at a more respectable time!

toby that is quite funny. Clearly you have an intelligent one on your hands there!

Felix I think you are meant to start introducing it gradually so start mixing it with the formula. I can't see that a few days would make much of a difference and I know a few people who have switched early.

So hoping it's not a one of but O slept the whole night through . Didn't hear a peep from her, so much so I got up at 5 to check I could hear her breathing still! So she didn't have any feeds over night and was fine so I'm definitely stopping those now!

Felix, I can't imagine it matters much at all. But I think I'd introduce it gradually too -- replace one bottle at a time for a few days.

Well done, O :)

We had a crap night too, Merry. M is hot and snotty and so was waking up hourly. She ended in with us at 4.45am. DH is also full of cold. And I'm knackered. It's great fun in our house

Grr. No fun in our house either. Epic row on Sunday - I'm used to rows sorting things out and clearing the air and people saying sorry but DH is a sulker so that was all Sunday ruined. Some of it is cos he's about to go back to work I think but its not ok for that to be taken out on me. I'm worried there are some really major flaws but can't get DH to engage or consider counselling. Apparently these are all "doing things my way" so are not to be considered. I'm actually very sad, mainly for the effect all this stupid sulking and rowing must be having on our lovely wee boy. I'm also sad that time might be shorter than we know and its such a waste.

Ugh, puggle. Your H sounds like my XH. Everything has to be his way. I'm sorry things are shit for you

puggle. I know what you mean about sulky DHs. I too come from a family where we use fights to clear the air and get it over with so I find it hard to discuss anything with DH because it always ends in a massive sulk and me having to please him. It's shit. I am sure H isn't as badly affected by it as you think though. Does your DH sulk in front of him or does he keep it just between you?

Toby that is very funny. Hope N doesn't pick up any ideas, though my TB is not that fussed about cleanliness and would probably just go back to sleep.

My first period since having N started yesterday and it is awful. Mostly been chained to the toilet except at night when I managed to stain MIL's bed.

puggle. I have a non-apologiser too. It means I end up apologising just to get things to move on, otherwise he sulks and sulks. I have a long story about me giving in to DH's demands recently and then being all passive-aggressive about it, but I'll save it for another post .

toby, I am impressed with your GR progress! Can I ask a few things, as we are thinking of starting tonight?
Do you have exactly the same bed time each night, eg. 7pm, and exactly the same routine?
What is your routine now you are not feeding to sleep?
If M wakes in the night, do you still feed her to settle her?
Thank you!

We always have the same bedtime routine, although not the same bedtime. And that doesn't really seem to matter. We do dinner, bath, pjs, feed, story, sleeping bag, then into her room for quick cuddle and into bed. She cries, sometimes for only a couple of minutes, sometimes for a while. Sometimes she stands up in the cot, but eventually she lies down again and goes to sleep.

In the night, sometimes I feed her, sometimes I don't. The last few nights she's been quite hot and her voice is very croaky, so I've fed her a couple of times, then put her back down awake. One night I managed not to feed her til 4am and I've never fed her more than twice in the night since we started. I'm basically playing it by ear, but it seems to be working ok. I haven't retreated far yet, though!

We did spend about 4 nights first with DH rocking her to sleep to break her of the feeding to sleep habit.

Thank you toby! A lot of the books seem strict about the same bed time, but I find that quite impossible, tbh. It's easier to keep to the same routine.

My TB has literally shredded my nipples with his nail. He plays with it to help him get to sleep, and for this morning's nap, he was fighting it and me, and squeezed a bit to hard. Ouch. Not sure if we should start the sleep training tonight as he's missed oout on a nap, but something needs to change.

M goes to sleep more easily if she's missed a nap, but it does mean we don't get the whole bedtime routine in. We end up skipping the story if she's falling asleep during the feed, and going straight into sleeping bag and to bed. She's still always awake.
And we take it in turns to put her to bed. I took the first night, which was pretty brutal. But it got much better, quite quickly.

I think it was Felix who advised not to leave the room too early? That is invaluable advice. I usually give it a good half hour from when she's asleep before I escape. In that time she will often rouse a bit and whinge, and I shush her and she goes back to sleep.

You are all much nicer than me! I've realised O settles much quicker if I'm not in the room or if I completely ignore her (sat in the pitch black). I used to rub her back and shush her and it took ages but had to leave her to it one night and she settled in minutes. I think I have done less of the gradual retreat and more just abandonment! Haha! I just figured I was over stimulating her so I think it just takes a little while to work out what they need.

I don't pay M any attention past shushing or saying "lie down". No patting, no rubbing, no PUPD. She'd go ballistic if I left her.

The first night was awful, though. I had to position myself close to the cot, but out of arm's reach, as she was standing up and reaching out for me, crying "Mama" over and over. And "miii", which is what she says for "milk"

Ah toby that must have been soo hard! O just crys, but not a full on cry and it's no different if I'm there or not.

Is everyone's LO'S saying proper words now? I don't think O is, she says the word but doesn't attribute it to the person, but I realise she is still a little bit younger than some. She definitely understands words though. Our favourite game at the moment is threatening to chase her and she loves it! Squeals and runs away

M says quite a few words, but I wouldn't necessarily expect anyone other than us to understand them all! Her first proper word was 'cute', and she's been saying that for a couple of months. And some of the things she says are weird. When we try to get her to say DS's name, she says something which sounds like 'brother'. Which is nothing like his name and is the weirdest coincidence -- nobody ever says anything about him being her brother. And she thinks the cat is called 'gentle', because that's what we say when she goes near her :o

She's nowhere near walking, though.

Haha toby I think our dog is called 'gentle' as well! Common name!

Well my Mw is sticking to form from last time and is an hour late for our appointment. Just as well she is nice!

As always I've tried to catch up, and have forgotten almost everything already.

Very, very sad news about becca. Thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Toby M sounds so cute, I can't wait for L to start talking. She'll say 'mumumumum' when she wants me, but I don't think that really counts.

She is walking really confidently now. Over the last few weeks she's started walking instead of crawling, and today she's sussed out standing without help.

Glad to hear some are sleeping better! L isn't, but DH has 2 weeks off from Friday so I'll be getting lots of sleep :)

If I don't make it back here before next week, I hope everyone has a great Christmas!

MrsG I've just done the same and I'm posting on the app so can't go back and check what everyone's said How many months is she now? Walking sounds cute but scary!

S only says 'dada' occasionally. She's started dancing though which is the most hilarious thing ever. She's still not pulling herself up on anything to stand and I thought she would be doing it by now as she's 1 next Monday

at the cat being called 'gentle'

I thought it was a great idea to hand make all of the decorations for Sunday's little party. I am currently sat on the floor surrounded by paper bows and have loads left to do. I've made her a hilarious party hat though, I will post a pic on the FB group at some point

M does dancing too, Felix, and it's hilarious :o

It's funny how they're all.different, isn't it? I must say I'm glad M's chosen talking over walking :o

Just heard the babies heartbeat Really early to hear it on a doppler but Mw thought she could feel uterus so tried and there it was! There is actually a baby in there!!