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September 2006 Babies - growing in front of our eyes!

678 replies

Lysettes · 10/11/2006 10:25

New thread everyone!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Coriander73 · 23/11/2006 19:37

Cruisemum, I breastfed DD until 4.5 months (stopped as I had to go back to work etc). This time around I'd like to try until 6 months but all depends I suppose (like what I do about work, when he starts solids etc). I have to say that I'm enjoying it 100% more this time around....I guess it's a combination of knowing what you are doing, being more confident, more relaxed etc etc...& it's just so easy when you are out & about like this afternoon when I popped out for spot of crimble shopping & sat in Starbucks with a nice blueberry muffin (lush!)& Jack plugged in!!!. I saw that programme too..yep it was C4....8 years old...just not right in my opinion...sorry if that seems harsh but how can a child of that age benefit when they are eating all & sundry??...makes you wonder just who was getting more out of it...the mother surely!

Munkibaby, my DH would be most envious if I told him how often your DH is getting it!! We'll get there again one day...just when I get into bed I want to fall asleep ASAP before Jack demands another feed.....rather than DH demanding bding!!!!!!

Gizmo....oopps to you as well!!! compo, am sure you'll be OK......

cruisemum1 · 23/11/2006 19:48

Pistachio - don't be fooled into thinking we all have great routines on here! Most of us are still stressing over bedtimes/feeding times/naps etc.. I still find my ds a total mystery some days....... AND i still have the 'put me in my cot and i will wake up' scenario! I have to time it just right or 'ping! eyes wide open grrrrr. It is hard being a mummy. That's why we are all on MN

MunkiBaby · 23/11/2006 21:06

pistachio ~ my LO is only 8 weeks now and i've only just started to put him in a moses basket at night...((ok ok, so it was really like 3 weeks ago, meaning that i was a huge softie in the first weeks of being a first time mum)).

anyways, now after his bedtime feed, he usually falls asleep in my arms as they tend to do...but when i would put him in the basket, i'd have the same problem: ds waking up and not settling back. soooo, no, i get a hot water bottle ready before the feed and put it in the basket, nearer the head. and by the time the feed is over, its just warm enough to make an easy transition from my warm arms, to the warm cot/basket. works most of the time. Its worth trying....and sometimes i'll even take off the tshirt ive been wearing and tuck around the basket mattress really tight so that he smells me. easing him into a nice sleep!

give it a go!

Coriander73 · 24/11/2006 09:41

Arrgghhhhhh.....DD has chickenpox!!!!!!!! This is all I need...still no heating, nor hot water whilst Jack has a really bad cough....hey ho....

cruisemum1 · 24/11/2006 10:22

Coriander - you poor poor thing. At least it is anothger childhood ailment out of the way. Re: the heating - Have a duvet day!

liquidclocks · 24/11/2006 13:52

Cori - poor you and DD - but better now than when you'd have to take a week or more off work. I'm not really in the mood either ! Have tried twice ince LO arrived but still need to recover a bit!

Gizmo/Compo - fingers crossed for you both (unfortunately have to tell you I was conceived while my mum was exclusively BF and there's only 12 months between me and DB1) Don't know when you 'did' it but morning after pill can be effective for 72 hrs and a coil for 5 days I think.

Pistachio - while I wouldn't mess with a system that's working however strange - if nothing very much is working getting LO to sleep then try not to get into the habit of cuddling to sleep as you may end up going through this all again in a few months time. We've always put both boys down in the dark with lights out awake. It was pretty hard with DS1 for a few weeks, DS2's done it naturally thankfully, but we now don't have any sleep problems with DS1 regardless where we are or if there are any other upsets during the day.

Marls - hope you enjoyed spending the night with DH!

Gizmo · 24/11/2006 17:58

Blimey, I'm not being very efficient at this mumsnet lark - averaging one post per 24 hours is not very helpful for conversation, is it?

Anyhooo, I'm impressed by Munki's sexual prowess (and indeed, stamina ) Luckily DH is probably as tired as I am, so although we do fancy the pants off each other, we're more talk than action. Although there is enough action for the contraception issue to be relevant, IYSWIM.

The official advice seems to be that for a baby who is exclusively breastfed (ie fed frequently with no supplemental feeding) there is hardly any risk of conception before 6 weeks and a risk comparable to the combined pill (about 2%) under 6 months. DS is scoffing away like a good'un and is just under 8 weeks old so for my peace of mind I might consider getting a coil in sooner rather than later. Until then, it's hey for the rubber highway for us (urggghhhh, condoms are not my favourite things).

In the meantime, I'm trying to get into a pumping habit, but it's very hit and miss. Using a medela electric pump but it doesn't always seem to fit my boob very well, so it can take an age of fiddling to make the damn thing 'latch'. This is not helpful when you're snatching 20 minutes pump time while the baby sleeps. Has anyone else come across this problem?

As for routine.....pah! Just remember it is a double edged sword - DS2 is regular as clockwork at night - bath, boob and bed by 7.30, late feed at 11pm, wake up at 3am on the dot every night, then probably wake up again before 7am (although he is beginning to go longer in this part of the night now and we've had a few nights where he's slept right through from 3 - 7am). I say it's a double edged sword because I suspect that changing the routine will be a struggle - obviously I'd like to do away with the 3am waking, but he's been doing it for 3 weeks now and seems very attached to it.

Pistachio...when you say your DD wakes up when she goes back into the basket, does she seem really upset, or is it just tired crying? DS1 used to do this and I spent months devising more and more elaborate routines to try and avoid him waking up on contact with his bed. None of them worked, and it was only when I realised that he actually needed to be half awake and to acclimatise to his bed by crying a bit that we got ourselves into a regular bedtime habit: milk, cuddle, pop down into bed (normally with eyes open), kiss goodnight, and sleep after 5-10 minutes crying/grumping. After about a week, he got used to it and didn't even cry and has been great about going to bed ever since.

Right, DS1 pasta-and-cheesy sauce calls (can you tell it's friday night and I have run out of culinary inspiration?) so I must go but hopefully may be back later to improve my mumsnet average.

cruisemum1 · 24/11/2006 18:50

Haven't had a chance to read up todays posts but had a general question which I am hoping will clarify things for me.... Just a reminder first - ds is 11 weeks . OK what time do you let your lo's have their last naps of the day if you want them to settle by around 8 - 8:30pm? I'm thinking awake by around 5pm but rather clueless tbh! Thanks

Myrtle1 · 24/11/2006 19:53

Cruisemum, my DS usually has a longer nap over lunchtime say 1-2:30ish and then if tired in the afternoon he might have a nap for 30 mins but be awake by 5pm.
DS had immunisations yesterday so has been a little grumpy. He slept a lot yesterday early evening so consequently was up about every 2.5hrs in the night, strangely though I don't feel exhausted today I guess it might hit me tomorrow.
Went to look at nurseries today, there was a really nice one on the uni campus, where I work but it has a year waiting list so will probably opt for one about 10mins away from work. I dropped in to work to show off LO who got lots of attention. I told my boss I want to come back PT which he said should be fine but now he is talking about changing my job a bit and giving me new things to do but he was vague about what and said we would have a meeting in january.
I'm off to bed now with a chamomile tea and my book - I'm reading the new Bill Bryson book, Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Its really good.

Gizmo · 24/11/2006 20:40

Cruisemum, if you believe she who must not be named then by 11 weeks an afternoon nap is unnecessary. Babies will be awake by 2.30 until bed time.

Back in the real world....DS2 is, atm, King of the Random nap, but I don't worry about letting him have a 15 minute power snooze as late as 5.30, provided he has been awake for 2 - 2.5 hours at some point during the afternoon. He is very good at going to sleep, however - it is his hidden superpower: Narcolepsy Boy.

Coriander73 · 24/11/2006 21:21

Grrr to her who must not be named...what a load of cojones I must say: DD slept as & when she needed to without it ever causing a problem in getting her down for 7pm. Jack seems to be heading the same way...usually naps in the morning & also afternoon (sometimes twice), anything up to 5pm & then he is back in bed for 7pm too.

We have gas!! We have central heating, we have hot water...yippee!!! Poor DD, this afternoon she suddenly errupted with more to follow I'm sure. Took J to the doctors too...he has a slight chest infection poor love. Can't bear to hear him cry as he's so horse..... am off to bed

liquidclocks · 24/11/2006 23:07

I'm afraid Lady Voldemort still holds much sway in our domain! Agree with Gizmo though - there's that and the real world - DS2's 8 weeks now and catnapping for about 10 mins around 4.45pm but DS1 needed about 1/2 an hour at least at the same stage and continued to until he was at least 9 months - still slept well from 7-7 though, lucky us! I think the 3hrs sleep during the 'day' rule is a good guide though give or take half an hour - some babies need more sleep than others as I'm finding out.

Gizmo - ours sound quite similar in terms of routine and a week ago he was regular at 3am on the dot - this week though we've had 3 nights now of getting to 5am so hopefully it's not that far off for you either, keep my finger crossed for you!

Well, have decorated DS1's bedroom today and a first coat on our (small) kitchen. Along with the fact I've already done the hall stairs and landing and our bedroom this week while DH has been off work, and spent a day in birmingham shopping with a friend, I actually feel like I've achieved something for the first time in months! Knackered though... and DH has only just got around to cooking my carbonara for tea! smells so good... I'm SO hungry!

redz · 25/11/2006 01:57

Thanks for you email Liquid, I have replied.

redz · 25/11/2006 02:07

Hi all,

Just wanted a bit of advice on my dd sleeping pattern. The thing is she doesnt fall asleep untill about 3am, she then sleeps through till 9/10am feeds and changed then goes back to sleep untill 3pm. So the length of time she sleeps for is great but its the time she goes off to sleep.
Ive tried the bath, feed then bed but once I put her down she just cries and cries and its not her normal cry its screaming.
Tonight I bathed her at 8pm fed her at 9pm put her down at 10pm and she just cried and cried, eventually fell asleep at 1am, in between me going back and fourth to soothe her.
I dont understand why she sleeps so well in the day I can put her in her moses basket or her cot awake and she falls asleep for her nap but at night she just cries.
Sorry to go on I just dont know what to do now feel like ive tried everything. she's 9wks on sunday.
How long should you leave your baby for controlled crying?

cruisemum1 · 25/11/2006 08:15

Thanks for info re: late afternoon naps. ds is not really in a nap 'routine' anyway but sometimes he will sleep quite late afternoon and I must say, I do tend to fret about it . Re: the 11 week theory... what utter bs! DS would never be able to stay awake that long without being so fractious and cranky that it would almost be verging on cruelty!
Gizmo - my ds will challenge your ds2 for crown for random napping! V frustrating isn't it?!
Cori - great news about your heating/water etc.
Liquid - ds will not seem to go down awake other than during the day when we are out or in his pram. I would LOVE to put him down sleepy at nite but he won't have it. maybe I am being too weak

compo · 25/11/2006 12:10

Redz - it sounds like you really need to show your lo the difference btw night and day. So the next time she falls asleep at 3am wake her at 8amish, open all the blinds, have tv on etc so she knows it's daytim. Then when she goes to bed use a black out blind etc, no noise, so she knows it's night time. hth

clairemow · 25/11/2006 12:30

hello everyone, and welcome to the new people to the thread.

Had a good week at my mum and dad's although DS1's behaviour took a bit of a dive... combination of getting a bit spoilt, being tired and also my dad not letting him have a bit of a strop and ignoring him - instead, tried to keep cajoling him to cheer up... disaster as it just taught him that he'd get attention by creating a fuss.. Amazing how quickly they learn to manipulate(!), and now I have to un-teach it all... Oh well.

Fraser hasn't been fed in the night now for nearly 2 weeks (which is fab), but he insists on still waking up around 3-4 and crying and needing to be settled down, either with a dummy or the car seat. Any advice on how to stop this?! He doesn't need to be fed, as once he goes back off, he doesn't wake again until at least 7 (7.45 this morning - when we woke him up), and sometimes isn't even that interested in milk then. I am trying to be really strict with how much he sleeps in the day today - not more than 3 hours says SWMNBN... He would sleep a lot more if I let him. And tonight I'm going to try feeding him a bit earlier before we go to bed.

Redz, it does sound a bit as though your LO has day and night confused, or his "nighttime" is from 3 am to 3 pm instead of 7 pm to 7am. Will he wake up if you try to wake him in the day?

cruisemum1 · 25/11/2006 15:56

ds really grumpy today - wondering if he actually likes me ? I felt really awful earlier - he was needing a nap but would only fall asleep while bf and wake again once he was put down grrrrrr. eventually had to let him scream and scream till he finally stopped, stared about a bit and calmly fell asleep..... aaah . when he woke he had poo up his back, through his vest, top and dungarees. i felt soooooooo guilty . he's feeding a lot today (again) another growth spurt perhaps??? . Motherhood is soooo confusing ain't it?! Worried that he seems to feed so frequently all the time. Having a doubt filled day - sorry

Myrtle1 · 25/11/2006 16:56

Cruisemum, of course your DS likes you. Don't worry I have days like that too. My DS feeds very frequently too usually - about every 2 hours during the day sometimes and every 4 hours at night. It might be a growth spurt, I think DS had one this week and he is 9 weeks. It is very confusing but remember we all know how you're feeling and have most likely felt the same at some point.

pistachio · 25/11/2006 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyOfThePoinsettias · 25/11/2006 21:21

i can't keep up with this thread anymore lol
what with ds1 aswell!
anyway, as you all have litle monkeys of the right age, i was wondering if anyone would be interested in buying my winnie the pooh hundred acre wood laynest off me so i can buy ds2 a xmas gift? (i am obv. on maternity pay and things are tight atm)
if you want to look my pictrail is here.
ds2 is only interested in his bouncy cradle.

hijack over. x

redz · 25/11/2006 22:39

Hi all,
Thanks for the advice Compo and Clairmow
Problem is Ive tried all that. In the day I have the house as bright as possible all curtains and blinds open tv on music playing but she can sleep through all of that no problem. I try to keep her awake but it is hard. Then as soon as its midnight she's wide awake and when she does eventually fall asleep (normally between 2am and 3am) she can hear a pin fall its amazing you cant even sneeze without her jumping out of her sleep and crying then its that whole thing to try and get her back to sleep again.
MW says its because when I was pregnant I didnt really go to bed before 2am so she says she's just following what she knows.
I dont know what else to try. My Mum and sis came round today and have kept her awake and entertained she's awake now gurgling and cooing so im hoping to put her down soon and pray she sleeps. But I know as soon as her head its that cot/moses basket she will start to cry her head off.
So many people have told me she will grow out of it, but im worried as its not so much a sleeping problem its the time she goes to sleep.
And its not nice when your knackered and dd is wide awake. Thank God dp is on late shift this week he finishes at 12:30am home by 1am so normally sits with her till she sleeps but next week when he's on earlies it will be me straining to stay awake.

princesscarrie · 25/11/2006 23:47

Cruisemum - dd just lies in her moses basket and coos to herself. Sometimes she'll get upset and we give her a cuddle but she's usually happy by herself.

Me and dp also 'did the deed' for the first time today w/o contraception. Oops. (Obviously not the first time ever, or dd wouldn't be here Thought bf would be enough but apparently not. does anyone know if you can take the morning after pill while bf-ing?

cruisemum1 · 26/11/2006 09:41

princess - sounds like you have the putting down awake things sussed - I have yet to conquer that and ds will only really settle after a marathon suck-a-thon! Then we will absolutely not give in until he is really fast asleep -sigh. Funny thing is, in the mornig he will happily lie in his cot cooing and smiling to himself for a good 30 mins! so itis obviously not the cot itself! Will reply to more posts later as ds now awake in pram and wanting some attention

liquidclocks · 26/11/2006 09:54

Princesscarrie - see here , then get yourself down to your nearest pharmacy or a&e! oops! Don't worry though - you're not the only one from the looks of this thread!