November 2014 - the one where we all get a good night's sleep

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Here's hoping, anyway...

Just had a great night. We only had one get up of an hour between 11.30 and 7.30 this morning. Brilliant stuff apart from I have now woken up with a crick in my neck I think from sleeping too long in the same position! X

Anna & ,Strawberry we had a Sophie when ds was a baby & he loved it. Was really great for him to chew on even when not teething, though it kind of reminded me of a squeaky dog toy. We've got the teether version for dd so we'll see how that compares.

Workfree - think we will have to try white noise. Evening to ourself sounds bliss. My evenings are literally spent in a quiet dark room holding dd while she squirms, wriggles & wakes every 20mins for hours on end. She roots for the boob & cries & pummels me in frustration as its not available & I feel like a terrible mother for stopping bf.

If I put her down she wakes immediately, last night she was completely exhausted, asleep in my arms, woke the second I put her down & then took 2.5hrs to settle her into a deep sleep.

I know the real problem is she doesnt know how to self settle anymore because I've cuddled & rocked her to sleep. not looking forward to dealing with that.

Workfree when you say 7pm and 11pm feed, have you set feed times & a set bedtime or has your dd just naturally fallen into this pattern? I've been trying to set bedtime but dd is either so exhausted she needs to go sooner (but then is waking up all evening anyway), or her feed times dont coincide ie wants feeding at 5.30 but bedtime is 7 so not ready for her bedtime feed & consequently she wakes up mid evening for an extra feed. It just doesnt seem to be working out & I cant figure out how on earth we will get there.

Not only that but she is still struggling to poo despite now being on comfort formula. She goes several days between poos which I know can be fine, but we've noticed that the longer she goes, then she doesnt feed so well (her tummy must be fit to burst) & then she wants to eat more often because she didnt feed well but theres no room, so then she spits up lots. This goes on til she has an explosion & then she is ravenous & it starts again. I'm sure this cant be helping things but not sure what I can do about it. I bloody hate formula feeding.

I dont remember it being this hard with ds. Sigh.

twiglet I don't worry about green poo any more as he has it most evenings but a good yellow colour every morning - mucous I do worry about, it's only happened once but if it happened more I would seek advice from HV.

omama - have you tried getting DH/DP to try and settle her? At least there's no confusion about boobs there.

Omama, I just had a giggle to myself as autocorrect changed your name to Osama silly Apple. Your post was the story of my life until about 3 weeks ago. DS is fully formula fed as I had to stop due to medical reasons, which made it easier to establish a routine. I have no tips on routines whilst BF as I only managed 6 weeks.

White noise is amazing, Baby Wannabe stops wailing instantly once it comes on. He might not fall asleep straight away but he's happy to lay there calmly listening to it.

I followed everyone else's tips of lining the mattress with an extra blanket as the cold from the plastic cover can transfer through. I also put his blankets on the radiator so he has the warmth of that after I take him off me. Also a few early nights I had to let him cry just so he learns to self settle. As long as he's not screaming/wailing I leave him to it. I try to bath/top and tail around 6.30 before his 7 o'clock feed. If he's not ready to go down I might let him stay up lol until 8.30 when he gets put to bed regardless of tired or not.

Initially because of his age he was on 6 feeds a day as recommended on the side of the formula box, which I divided up as every 4 hours. For the first few days on formula I tried to make him stick to that so enforce the routine. Some days it's worked and some it didn't which meant earlier or later feed times naturally. I know it's selfish, but to get the times that suited me I moved each feed by about half an hour at a time. Either letting him sleep 30 mins longer or waking up earlier. Eventually he settled into feeds at 3, 7 and 11 around the clock. It's now gone down to 5 feeds as he's on more and sleeps through the night so the 3am feed is missing.

I had DS on anti-reflux milk a while back which I think may be similar to the comfort one. It also made him constipated and I was prescribed lactulose by the doctors. I was reluctant to use it so I only gave half the dose, which helped to 'unclog' things. Now I give him additional cooled boiled water during the day.

Sorry for writing war and peace, but I wanted to answer all your points.

Twiglet the mucousy poo and being windy even in the day does sound like she's struggling to digest stuff. But I don't know what kind of testing there is.

We had similar and were diagnosed with CMPI & put on Aptamil Pepti. We still have wind here - but never ever except in the middle of the night. Days/Evenings are wind-free. So we have some baaaaad nights and some manageable nights. Last night for instance was good by our standards - he slept normally until 6.45 and then the trapped wind kicked off.

Nowadays I deal with it by plonking him on boob across-body position as that makes him fart, and when I get tired of that bringing him into bed to sleep on my stomach, which is of course on HIS stomach. He still may writhe - last night there was one bit of wind that just didn't pass all night - but in that position he'll eventually settle.

So even on special easily digested formula we still have trapped wind to deal with. DH is absolutely CONVINCED its much improved from before - he says the windiness was all evening and night. I don't really remember, tbh, its a bit of a blur. But the residual windiness now is prob immature gut.

omama I have a 3 hrly routine for bottles during the day for my hungry hippo but then go to 2/2.5 hrs in the evening to "load him up" for the night. I usually make 4 oz as opposed to 5 as it hasn't been 3 hrs.

So if I give a bottle at 6 & he's not finished it till half past, I'll still give a bottle at 8.30 regardless as then he'll be drowsy to settle to sleep. I put his grobag on before giving it and put the white noise from Ewan the dream sheep on. I wind him with relaxing rubs rather than pats. So he's usually half asleep going into basket.

But I'm not rigorous with it, last night he slept through 6pm feed so had it at 7. So then I gave 8.30 feed at 9. He was asleep at 9.30 with the white noise & slept till 2.30 which was amazing!

Oh and yes, enquire about Lactulose at the GPs. You just have to be careful about doseages or you'll give them the runs. It literally lubricates the poo so it slides out.

My rule is feed to sleep, even on formula. I don't think there's any other way when they're this weeny. A baby who hasn't eaten in two hours will not settle all that well. Ditch the 7pm rule, and just put to bed after evening feed, whenever it happens to be. Given they're probably gonna have a 4 month sleep regression anyway, I couldn't be bothered being too strict about exact times yet.

Hope you girls have a better night tonight with happier babies. I don't really feel like I can complain about being knackered cause DD sleeps pretty well, I really feel for you :(

Dp has decided he wants to go for a long walk today with all of us. In a place he never normaly wants to walk so I think he needs some space to clear his head and have fun with the dog. He's really struggling to come to terms with it all being so sudden.

I'm sulking cause I want a bacon sandwich and DD has just woken up.

amy - dh is generally happy to let me do it unless I ask for help, but I am making sure I do! She wouldnt settle well for him initially, but is getting better.

Workfree thanks for your detailed reply. Can I ask how old & how big your ds is? I'm guessing he might be a few weeks older than dd since he is going 4 hourly & sttn? Lucky you!

DD is 8 weeks & weighs around 10lb. She's smallish for her age but was 3 weeks early. Per the packet dd should be having 5 feeds of 6oz in every 24hrs. I'm a bit worried we could be overfeeding as dd has 7 feeds in 24hrs but she can only go 3hrs between feeds in the day. We offer 5oz & she usually drinks 4, sometimes 5 if she's had a good clearout .

Her constipation is causing problems today. She is so bunged she cant manage her usual 4oz & so she's getting hungry really quickly & crying a lot after her feeds when she starts straining. Its awful to see bless her.

We got lactulose prescribed to counter the effects of infant gaviscon, but this was before she went on the comfort milk & so we've been reluctant to use it as well as the milk as I fear it would make things a bit too loose! Maybe I will have to ask the dr about that again.

Anna thanks only just seen your reply. Do you stick with set times for your 3 hourly routine & feed then regardless of whether hes asks for it or not?

I had hoped to do something like 7, 10, 1, 4 & 7 as this is what we did with ds, but we dont seem to be able to get there with dd. I think you are right for now - forget set bedtime & do it whenever it falls.

I guess I'm just finding it hard knowing how easy we had it with ds (& we thought he was a hard baby - pah!!) & I just really really need my evening time at the moment. We're trying to finish decorating our new extension & its taking forever & then I have studying to complete plus a ton of other things - just feel a bit overwhelmed by it all really!

Omama, my DS has just turned 9 weeks and weighs just under 12 lbs. He's currently on 5ozs of feed which he finishes easily and looks for more. I upped it to 6 last week but he was leaving the last oz behind, so I've taken it back down to 5.

Mines 9 wks & was only taking 4 till this week when he started draining the bottle so we've just upped it to 5. No WAY will he last longer than 3 hrs unless he happens to be asleep - he'd go apeshit.

And tbh if he goes apeshit at 2.5 hrs I feed him anyway.

We just go 3 hrly from whenever he wakes up to feed, so its vaguely similar but never identical. We are very relaxed here!

Ventured into town today for first time (central Manchester, I have left the house don't worry, just not into the city centre). Put pushchair in boot just in case and wore sling ready tied onto me then put baby in sling and managed our whole time in town like that apart from when we popped into pizza express. Pushchair stayed in boot btw we didn't wheel an.empty one round. Very pleased and more than a little smug.
We got home and DH changed his nappy and he went ballistic on the changing table. Never seen him scream so much in his life! It properly scared me. All calm now but by Jesus it was scary.
Hope everyone else is having a nice Sunday.

Wow Workfree he is doing really well then. And it sounds like dd is actually quite a whopper now considering she was evicted early! I dont think she'll be ready to sttn any time soon though, we are getying 4-5hrs tops.

I am doing the cruelest thing imaginable to dd & am sat in the dark next to her cot with my hand on her chest while she screams. Ok its not cio but it might as well be. She is distraught

Hope everyone else is okay.

We've had a mad few days here. MiniWol started with a growth spurt on Tuesday, managed to react to the Rotavirus vaccine with diarrhoea, and now has a cold. May have to go to the GP tomorrow as I think she may be a touch dehydrated as well.

Hello all. Just checking in before bed. Hope everybody is doing ok and crossed fingers for good nights all round.

OH just got back from a weekend away working. DS gave him huge smiles and giggles before promptly throwing up down him. Welcome home daddy!

Erm I'm stuck. DD has fallen asleep on my shoulder and has a huge handful of my hair.

Actually debating putting up with a baldish bit rather than wake her up prizing it out of her hand! DP is still staying at his mums so he can't rescue me!!!

Usual night here, 10.30-8 with feeds at 2.30 and 6.30.
But... the last 2 nights she has gone absolutely bat shit crazy at about 8ish. She sounds like she's in pain, we actually stripped her down to see if she was injured (yes we literally thought we'd broken the baby). Gave her calpol 1st night but last night was on my own and decided to ride it out with her in my arms on the rocking chair and she eventually passed out exhausted, woke for a feed half an hour later and was fine. I'm seriously wondering if shes an early teether, dribbling loads, coughing, rosy cheeks, rubbing her ears and constantly has her hands in her mouth - but then doesn't take the boob. Time will tell!

Trip to London was fine, had a long pub lunch for which she was mostly quiet, poonami because staff took so long to give me the key to the disabled loo. She got a bit eggy coming home so I did a lot of pacing the carriage and then the bus stop.

amy I'm going into manchester solo next saturday (dp has season ticket so we're shopping while he's at footie) can you recommend any baby changing/feeding rooms? I normally use John Lewis.. perhaps I'd be better at trafford centre...

Ark, sorry but I laughed! I am sympathetic though as this happens to me occasionally.

Cat, sorry for the delay, dropped bottle off at PO yesterday so on its way to you with today's post!

DD done another big poop this morning and it's finally back to normal. She's had a bit of a temperature and been very whingey for a couple of days as well as the snotty green poo, am now wondering if it's all been related to the jabs and drops she had on Weds. She finally settled back into the cot at 6 this morning after a couple of hours in the bed with me and slept until 8, so am hoping that whatever it was has passed.

twiglet Thanks!
ladydolly I live in Manchester too. There is a feeding and changing room (essentially a changing room with a chair in it) in the food section at M&S, kind of hidden behind the escalator. Also House of Fraser had a feeding room too. I know the trafford centre has some hallowed lovely feeding rooms but not ventured there yet.
ark do you still have all your hair?

Morning all husband had staples out of knee today all went ok.off in a bit for baby to have his tongue tie clipped, husband can't come as have to park 15mins walk away as hospital parking is rubbish n q for an hr to get in car park. Husband can't walk far.

Had a few good night's with 2 blocks 3hr sleep at a time.

Went to a bday party for ds1 yesterday took baby too n he slept most of it in the pram despite mega noise.

ladydolly no I don't sorry. I'll feed anywhere and changed him at pizza express. I'd say if you're on your own Trafford Centre might be easier, much as I hate the place.

Thanks cat and amy think we'll go to trafford, I'll also whack them out anywhere if she needs feeding but I'd rather be comfy :)

babydolly is once again refusing to sleep anywhere but on me today. It's like cot ping pong at the moment.

Now, is anyone else watching ALOT of tv since becoming a mother? Only on catch up since evenings are for feeding/crying/sleeping. But whenever I feed I stick it on. Feel guilty but it gets boooooring otherwise!

ladydolly watching rubbish TV is what mat leave was made for! Don't feel guilty. With DD1 I could tell what time it was by what terrible daytime TV programme was on. Sadly, second time around, I have to watch CBeebies too (and speak to/ play with DD1 whilst feeding DD2, not just watch TV).

Poor DD has got conjunctivitis :-( took her to the doctors this morning as she'd had gunky eyes since Saturday. Hoping it goes away with just washing with cool boiled water but she screams the house down and screws up her eyes when you do it so not sure how effective it'll be. Her eyes get all stuck together when she sleeps :-(