August 2015 - Jaffa cake wars and many Mugabe greetings to you!

[mzzzf]

New thread ladies - praying for a decent sleep tonight!!

Clstow I put Fergus down on his side if his reflux is bad. I have seriously considered his front, I've heard it can massively help. Putting him on his side is a huge improvement - he sounds like he's fucking drowning on his back but breathes fine on his side.

I caught him mid roll. He nearly got over but got stuck on his arm, then got stressed about it and screamed the place down.

Tuesday confessions. Love it.

Well asides from nearly tipping him out the pram a few weeks ago, he currently has a dummy in his mouth that I honestly can't remember when was last sterilised, Ive let him go over a week without a bath once cause I literally forgot he needs bathing, we (although I think this is more dh's confession) once put in a bath that was far to hot and he screamed. And this morning I told him to shut up. I know that last one is terrible but nothing I tried to settle him worked and I so badly wanted to sleep. Am now wondering round acting like Mary poppins doing everything in a sing song voice to ease my guilt.

Fatty feel better soon. Tummy bugs are the worse.

It sounds like you have a lovely relationship with your brother fatty. He's very lucky.
Check out your beautiful clever little baby! They're growing so quickly.

No judgement here clstow. You have to do what you can to survive IMO. Iv'e done a lot of risk management training and to be effective it's about reducing all of the risk factors where possible, not just one. And that's exactly what you're doing.

I've gone almost a week without remembering to bathe ds as well kbro! Don't beat yourself up about a few words that a tiny baby can't understand.

Dh is off today and ds is being a little angel. He was very smiley this morning and is now having a big nap. Most of the housework was done over the weekend and I did a load of cooking yesterday. Is it wrong that I kind of wish he was at work so I could watch shit tv without guilt? I'm going to have to find some jobs to do or he will think all of my days are like this.

kbro tis fine. Don't worry about it.
Oh and sterilising the dummy I'm terrible for. He has 7 dummies. He has one in the changing bag in case we lose one when out, I think he's had this yellow one since Sunday night.... Best go change it before I forget again...
I also stick Timmy time on and let both him and DD veg in front of it while I get busy work done.

frolic just get adventurous and mn sat on the loo clean the bathroom. You need to close the door so the smell of bleach doesn't affect baby

Thank you for embracing the Tuesday confessional ladies. Loving all the anecdotes.

A couple of additional ones from the dwarf house.

Grumpy 1 asks us to time her brushing her teeth so she knows when 2 minutes are up. Yesterday morning I was mumsnetting tending to Grumpy 2 in the bedroom during tooth brushing time. Eventually a small voice drifts through from the bathroom 'Mummy is it two minutes yet?'... 8 minutes later . At least she had super clean teeth...

Also rubbish with nappies (which is extra heinous when in cloth, but her bum seems fine so hey ho!). DH and I have also been known to both 'pretend' to be asleep until the grumbling from the cot gets loud enough to potentially disturb Grumpy 1.

And kbro really don't worry about telling DS to shut up. I've done it with both girls, sometimes you just have to let out the frustration and move on.

Have also told my children to shut up. I'm not proud of that but there are worse things. I learned DS1 could roll when he rolled off our bed and hit the floor. Oops! After crying he was fine. I was a wreck. I also hit my baby nephew on the head with the Wii controller while playing a bowling game. Bad auntie as well as a bad mummy!

Took E to a bumps and babies group yesterday which was nice. It will be a few weeks until we can go again though due to other commitments. Saw a friend this morning. Still struggling to get him to nap without lots of help. He's currently in the Fisher Price swing. The Moses basket down here is virtually unused (he does sleep in his crib in our room at night but is put down asleep).

Nolonger- that's what annoyed me so much about the doctor it was like he was suggesting that we were incompetent at using condoms! Spoke to me like some 16 year old kid! Oh and yes to the electric blanket ours will probably be going on the bed in the next week or two! I love it!

Frolic- I'm terrified of the hangover too! It's my birthday in a couple of weeks and we are thinking of trying a restaurant near ours where you take your own booze- sounds like a recipe for disaster for my first drink! The blanket is nothing special it's a really soft fleecy blanket with a baby giraffe picture on it we got as a gift- need to find out where it's from and get a spare in case I lose it or it gets ruined! Sounds like your new bedtime playtime worked a treat!

Slowife- thanks for the library tip! Your midwifery service sounds amazing! I barely ever saw the same one and they varied from amazingly helpful and lovely to incompetent and grumpy! Knowing me of we had the same one all the time is get a crap one!

Mzzzf- baby bedtime defo classes as a nap I'd say! Our monitor is a Motorola MBP621 it is usually always on offer in Argos at half price. It is very good.

Fatty sorry you are feeling so rough, I'm dreading the first time I get ill trying to look after DS.

Ruby- i want to try a dream feed but I'm yet to bother as he is either awake at the time I would do it or I'm too scared of waking him up! The times he has fell asleep whilst feeding after only having a tiny bit i can't get the bottle in his mouth so I don't think it would work for him anyway!

Slowife- confessions wise if they aren't supposed to be on the table in the bouncer then I'm the worst parent ever- DS probably spends a good 2 hours a day on there in total it's my location of choice whilst I'm making a brew/ emptying dishwasher/ making a bottle etc etc plus it's nice to eat tea with him sat with us! It's that or leave him in the lounge alone so I can bring the dogs in with me as can't leave the dogs alone in the lounge as they'll get on sofa and there not allowed so we all have to be in kitchen/ diner together and he isn't going on the floor at dog height! So I don't consider it a confession! In terms of that I let him stay in a wet but not dirty nappy much longer than I probably should but his skin is fine and he isn't bothered by it plus they haven't leaked! Have ocasionally left in car seat for half an hour when I've for home so I can have a minute!

Just been for DS's 12 week jabs and I don't want to sound gloaty especially as Siani has had such a hard time with her Lo's jabs but he was an angel! Literally didn't cry at all for the first one and the second probably had a 20 second cry and then went back to being all smiles! I'm amaZed!

Just pulling up at shopping centre to try and sort out bridesmaids dresses for my mate (long atory!) so I will reply to page 12 later!!

Mugabe!!

Confessions:

Left dd1 and dd2 on the bed to nip and get some clothes. It was suspiciously quiet. Turned around to see dd1 standing on the bed lifting the baby by her ears! Parenting fail!

Also rubbish with nappies (cloth so that is worse!)

Two years I have failed to baby proof the house. We have open fires, open shelves with glasses, a Rayburn, wee steps everywhere.,..you name it!

Sleep with the baby in between us.

Was driving out the car park in town and dd1 said "Me want click, Mummy!" What had I not done...near had a heart attack when I saw her scrambling out of the car seat unfettered by straps! Sleep deprivation is a Very Bad Thing!

Probably millions more things. I'm quite feckless and stupid.

Wow fatty clever little monkey rolling around! I'm torn between wanting DS to roll as its a lively developmental thing and not as then I'll have to watch him more closely any time he's at height! Confession- I leave him laid on the changing mat on the kitchen table sometimes whilst I go and wash hands/ grab a nappy!

Kbro- don't beat yourself up about saying that- even those of us who haven't said it have certainly thought it!

Frolic- I know what you mean about wanting DH to be at work! When mine did loads of nights and so had loads of days off I was rest for him to go back- I wanted to get in he swing of things and couldn't with him there!

Quick bit of indulgent me me me posting......last night was a complete disaster!!! Started ok as I managed to fall asleep straight away but I woke up at 1.15 when DS started grumbling and only half went back to sleep until 2.15 when DS was now screaming hysterically (he never does this over night for me- I feed him when he no longer takes dummy and goes back to sleep) and DH was on the landing trying to make his bottle (wtf?! Why he didn't do it on the shelf in the bathroom like we usually do I don't know) he then put he wrong amount of water in so had to start again and go downstairs for more powder! All the whilst DS was getting really upset so I got up and picked him up and cuddled him! DH came back up (ffing and jeffing and slamming things around) and started doing his nappy- I asked did he want me to help and he said (shouted) 'I don't know' so I stayed sat there a bit more I case he did and asked again he said 'go to bed you will tell me I've kept you awake in the morning' so I did- until 5ish when DS started murmuring again- I'd switched the monitor off by now as I could hear him across the land if anyway! I went in a total of 4 times between then and about 6.30 putting dummy back in and settling him, each time DH was asleep- I woke him and told him he needed to listen out for him but each time he didn't hear him! Total fail!! I'm not asking him to do it again it's too stressful for me and for DS as he gets so upset because he gets left too long before being fed! I can't understand how I can hear him across the landing but DH can't hear him in the same room! I'm wondering if he's ignoring him on purpose until he gets so loud that he can't? I'm worried now as well as I'm supposed to be having a night away in December for my friends hen do (I'm a bridesmaid) and also when I do go back to work next year I will work 3 nights every so often and I don't know how I'm supposed to do that if DH can't hear him!? Any ideas to make him sleep more lightly?

Dh and I ended up going for a big long walk with the dog and baby. It's so lovely and autumnal out there. We also resisted going for a coffee and cake so I'm feeling very smug and hungry.

I'm loving all of these confessions! It's so good to remind ourselves that we are only human.
The 8 minute tooth brushing has really tickled me slow. 'I want click' is also a good one jockstar.

Thank you for the snuggly blanket and dummy Suggestion lily. I just need to work out how to get him off me without waking and I may even get to eat my dinner with two hands tonight
I'm glad the jabs went well.
Bring your own booze sounds like a recipe for an utter disaster or a really good time! Only one way to find out!
I've no idea how you can get dh to wake up. That must have been infuriating last night. Maybe purchase a cattle prod and use it on him every time the baby cries? He'll soon start to associate both and wake up quickly .
I struggle to get dh to realise he needs to do things a bit quicker and just drop what he's doing if ds needs something. I sometimes feel it's easier to do it myself because ds will often have got really upset by the time dh has stopped faffing around; which is a shame because dh is really lovely and keen to muck in.

Impressed you resisted coffee and cake frolic it has become my favourite past time! Glad the blanket and dummy tip worked, DS is currently rocking the same look! I love the cattle prod idea- a bit of classical conditioning could work! I know what you mean my DH is the same sometimes like in slow motion!

Ok big confession to what has occurred this afty........ I pretty much forgot to feed DS!!! Had his bottle stuff with me whilst we were out and in the shopping centre he was all happy smiley in his pram then we went to lidl on the way home (no goodies ) and then when when we got in he was asleep in car seat- I moved him to his cosy and after 15 mins he woke up so I tried to get him back to sleep but he started crying even though he was clearly tired........I cycled through what might be wrong in my head and realised he hadn't eaten since 1230 and it was 520!!!! Poor poppet! I felt well guilty! Trying to make him sleep when he was hungry!! Oops!

What a cutie lily!
How did you manage not to buy any goodies in lidl?
I'm pretty sure that I would have forgotten to feed ds on many an occasion if it weren't for my burning boobs!
He's been super sleepy all evening. I'm need to give him a bath now, which is bound to flip him into super grumpy mode. Balls!

Aloha ladies!

Loving the confessions!!! I'll admit I've also told dd to shut up and might even have slipped a sweary word in there too!! I've also put her in a too hot bath and I've also left her in sickie clothes for too long! Such fun!

Today DH and I went for some culture and a walk round a city park. All good, we even managed lunch out until we came home and BOOM! The cries have been uber loud and long and with real tears. I really think she wants to have a real bedtime with dark and quiet. DH is against having her upstairs alone yet so we have compromised and will get a travel cot for a dark corner down here. Any recommendations!?

It's so bloody nice having DH around during the week day. He said today that "it's bloody hard work isn't it?" I think that was him giving me some credit for the last 11 weeks!

Another confession : ive just cracked open the giant chocolate buttons!! GET IN MA BELLY!

Oh and mini mzzzf cried through her evening feed so we're lagging behind - will make for an interesting night!!!

Evening all! We had baby sensory today which was fun. Does anyone else do it? It's lovely to just have the time with DS to bond and play without house stuff getting in the way! Had coffee with my parents afterwards but DS was overtired and cried in Costa! Slept in pram once we got home then was up for a while and now sleeping in moses basket. I don't want him to be separate yet either so I've got to bed too but we have a TV upstairs.

Met up with my old boss yesterday and got some gossip on the situation at work. Felt strange to be back in work mode!!

Got some real proper smiles from DS this morning and lots of cooing which was ace!

Can't remember who said about us not allow being close enough to just pop out for coffee...well when the Dcs are a bit older I so think we should have a meet up! Lots of hobnobs and jaffa cakes obvs!

joskar your confessions are fab, especially the first. Proper made me chuckle .

mzzzf our travel cot is from Asda, it's a Red Kite one and is always on discount at around £30. It does the job just fine. Enjoy your giant buttons, I'm just cracking open a Cadburys Screme Egg for maximum sugar rush now my tooth is feeling a bit better.

lily and frolic I totally lucked out with the midwifery service. It's a relatively new thing in our bit of the North West, basically the NHS subcontract out some midwifery to a private company. You can stay with the normal community service or self-refer to the enhanced service. Politically I am against the privatisation of the NHS in this way but by my third trimester I'd got so fed up with the crappy service provided by the community midwives that I self-referred out. It pretty much saved my pregnancy experience and has been a great support in these early weeks.

We've had a pretty rough evening. Grumpy 1 is finding reception totally knackering and is having massive meltdowns as a result. This of course sets off grumpy 2. I'm terrible at compassionate parenting on so little sleep so I then shout, which sets everyone off again. Rubbish . Anyway they are both asleep now so I shall take a moment to eat chocolate and think 'this too shall pass'...

Just catching up and loving all the confessions!

Mine is that DS is wearing the same sleepsuit he had on last night and has been all day! He's not pooed in 48 hours though so it's pretty clean and he isn't sicky...

With DD I once turned my back having left her on the changer and she rolled off, narrowly missing hitting her head on the chest of drawers. My heart was going ten to the dozen and DH still doesn't know about it! She was fine after cuddles but I took longer to calm down.

Magra, we are starting baby sensory in Nov. Did it with my first and loved it. Think I can still remember all the signs to the say hello to the sun song!

Am loving all the confessions - it reminds me how many mistakes I have and will make!

Even though its late, I am ecstatic - fed J at 9:30 for almost an hour, put him down, DH cleaned him up when he was sick, so asleep by 10:45 and he didn't wake for a feed until 3:15! This is the most sleep in one go I've had since before he was born! Ok, I'm still up as we had a nappy change mid feed, but I'll take it and hope it continues. He's been a bit grumpy most of today, so was dreading tonight, but this has made it so much better. Now, if he could just smile when he's awake, it doesn't have to be at me, that would be amazing ...

Awhh yeah a lovely big meet up would be ace MaGrat, imagine all the babbas, it'd be chaos!

I'm surprised how my OH sleeps through DS's wake up noises in the night Lily, I always thought it's because subconsciously he knows he's off duty but your post has made me wonder... Not sure about how to get your DH to wake up - maybe change his alarm to noises of your DS?!

That midwifery service sounds brilliant Slowife, hope they roll it out across the country.

OH took DS to weigh in yesterday, he's still teeny tiny at 4.25 kilo (9 pounds 6) - firmly in the lowest centile, but for the first time the HV was totally cool and said he's clearly a happy baby and he's just smaller than most. Hurrah! Some of you may remember I had serious stress in the first month with the HVs telling me I needed to top DS up with formula after every feed so am relieved they've now just accepted he's a tiddler!

Mugabe Wednesday to you all, hope everyone has had plenty of sleep overnight and have got glorious days ahead.

Yey clstow that's good news about the weight.
I'm terrible at changing nappies. Especially as she doesn't poo very often. I've started using cloth nappies now and they're pretty wet when I take them off. Her skin seems ok though. Had first poo explosion in one last night. It was everywhere but all contained within the wrap so I guess that means it worked. I can imagine if it had been a disposable it would have probably leaked onto the clothes. Not looking forward to cleaning that one though. Hope it doesn't stain.

Confessions: I've forgotten to do car seat straps up when in the ca r. I've felt awful about it once I've gotten her home and realise. And it's happened more than once.

Morning. Someone set up a caffiene iv please? Nathan was up screaming all night. He decided that instead of sleeping like he usually does, he wanted to play more, made himself overtired and had a scream fest.

Meet up would be lovely, but we are so scattered, where would we meet?!

I did have more to write but my mind has gone blank...fucking hell I need sleep....

Mugabe morning all. Fraid I can't keep up with everything, especially as I seem to have given myself some sort of breastfeeding - typing rsi in my thumb. Grr.

Confession: for about 4 weeks we wondered why the car seat straps were so difficult to adjust. Then finally realised that we still had a plastic sales tag on the buckle that effectively kept it from doing up properly

Anyone else suffering from insomnia? Ds slept from 1am to 4.30 but I was awake the whole time. What kind of cruel joke is this?

Re solo sleeping I leave ds upstairs for all of about 20 mins while I Wolf my dinner and then go to bed myself. He doesn't sleep alone in the day as I need to be on dummy duty.