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

[mzzzf]

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

Corblimey- xposts! Thanks for the toujours tip then I shall give them a whirl! I agree I have heard the mattress monitors can cause dress when the alarm goes off for no reason- I much prefer to Zoom in on DS on our video monitor and watch his chest move!!

And another thing - I am on a mission to get rid of DS2's cradle cap. DS1 never had it and I know it doesn't do any harm but I really don't like the look of it. I am variously oiling and creaming DS2's head and have a special newborn shampoo by Mustela that has great reviews on Amazon and have also invested in a cradle cap massage brush. I know. I need to get out more.

Oh wow kbro, what a cutie!
And I second everything you said in appreciation of the experienced mum's who offer advice here. Invaluable. Thank you all

jockstar, Pinterest might be your friend for easy Halloween costumes. I'm always getting great ideas of nice crafty things to do with dn's on there.

Thanks for the stain eradication tips siani. They are very colourful leggings, so I hope that any yellow left should blend in!

I'm very envious of your sparkly new lidl cor! is this what my life has become now?
They had loads of yummy looking Christmas stuff in ours today. It was all I could do not to buy myself chocolate gingerbread and toffee spread.
We've had tojours from a size 2.
I've just bought some bamboo breast pads on e-bay and there is indeed a surprising amount of used ones listed.

Is anyone else's baby still cluster feeding? Ds had really slowed down, but has been going for it the past few nights. I don't mind if it means he sleeps like he did last night, I had just thought it would have stopped by now.

Missed a new page of posts!

lily, if you manage not to eat the whole packet, you are a better woman than me
As for giggles, we get chuckles, but not full on giggles yet.

I've just demolished a lidl toffee Sunday. Mmmmmmmm!

Evening all!

We ended up in Ikea this afternoon which was pretty dreadful. I don't mind it but DH cannot stand the place so I end up scurrying around grabbing things off shelves in a mad rush. Its like shopping meets hostage negotiation to stop him randomly exploding over a Billy bookcase. Anyway, we did manage to get what we went for (a new bed for grumpy 1) and avoided picking up too much random shit. Although I do have more of those funny little boxes that go inside drawers than I now have drawers to put them in...

Breast pads. I use the Boots reusable ones and they seem fine but then I've never been a big leaker. I didn't get on with the papery disposable ones because when I was using them in the early days I found they stuck to my cracked nips and made them even sorer. The reusable ones were much softer and more comfortable.

lily it was this stuff that eventually did the trick vitaltouch.com/product/natalia-baby-special-skin-balm-15ml/ it's mixture of shea butter, calendula, olive oil and vitamin E. It looks pricey but goes miles so not bad value over all. I still use it when she gets dry skin now. For her cradle cap I have been using sunflower oil. It seems to do the trick (it's certainly receding) but she does smell like a little roast potato a lot of the time!

frolic we have been cluster feeding again for the last few nights. Partly to do with the jabs but also 8 weeks does seem to be another leap forward for them developmentally so I put it down to that. I think our DCs are nearly the same age (grumpy 2 was born on the 28th August) so we are probably tracking the same curve. Bad luck with the leggings. I find the prewash function on the washing machine (which tbh I hadn't even noticed existed pre-children) very useful at getting poo off cloth nappies and I haven't had one stain yet, so maybe try that? Yes, I saw the W.H.O article, MIL likes to send us links to 'useful' stuff like that

nolonger chuckled at your DH rotating clothes on the airer. That is exactly the kind of pointless activity that I find DH doing while the DDs and I are hanging around waiting to go out / have a nappy change / eat tea / go to bed etc.

Anyway, grumpy 2 has gone down like a light at 8pm tonight thanks to the clocks so some good came of the general weirdness of the day (I felt it too fanby!) How did the other 9pm bedtime babies cope? Here's hoping for lots of sleep everyone x

Evening Augmums!

Nice day here at a country park after a horrible night of wind. I switched to the next size teat which did not go well but DH then said today that he didn't think DS liked him very much as he cries even he feeds him. I explained about the wind and he seemed to.brighten but it was so sad watching him think he was doing it wrong. I explained that that's how it is quite often in the day it's just that he only usually sees the nice calm buts when he gets back from work
So tonight he did bath time and read DS a story and apparently DS cooed and smiled the whole time.
DS is asleep now, just wondering whether to wake hin up for a dream feed...

Magrat just having the same debate. Except I can't do it without waking him so not really dream feed. Arregggg what to do???

DS is 10 weeks and still cluster feeds a bit in the evening but has hugely eased. I think as he is v colicy it's more just for comfort. (and I am happy to comfort feed so can watch TV in peace.....)

Frolic out of interest how did you find eating meat in pregnancy? I completely went off it and couldn't keep any fish down at all. Apparently if you have bad sickness it's not uncommon to go off meat and fish. Thought was weird as thought body would want the iron / protein but couldn't stomach it at all.

Ok DS is awake again. This answers the dream feed question for me.

I couldn't stand even the thought of meat while pregnant. I'm ok with chicken now and ham but red meat still makes me a bit queasy. Fish is ok though. Weird.

We're still cluster feeding but that's to be expected as I think we're the youngest because she wasn't actually born til September.

Feeling very tired and weepy. It's all just A Bit Much Actually!

Joskar that is exactly how I felt yesterday. Going to bed early really really helped even though DS was up 3 times. Have insomnia tonight though.

I also went off meat in pregnancy too and I love a steak or ribs normally!

No cluster feeding and in fact my 9pm er went down at 7.30 and is still asleep now. I dare not try a dream feed.

Yes Slow, my DH is the king of pointless activities at inappropriate times. So annoying isn't it? He also has the most irritating habit of using the wrong utensil for a job - spreading butter with a sharp knife or cutting bread with the paring knife or using a tiny bowl to whip cream or a teaspoon to eat pudding or the old broken tongs when we have nice new ones or a fork to mix sauce in a nonstick pan. The list is endless. Wow that was cathartic!

Kbro I absolutely love your ds's outfit. So darn cute!

Right tomorrow's mission is to find me both a Lidl and an Aldi. It sounds like my life if not my waistline will be better for it!

Night night Augmums.

Corblimey - we've hardcore been hit with cradle cap too. We'd just been bathing in water every night as usual and then almond oil - but hers is at the front of the hair line and on her face so difficult to comb out? Anyhoo I bit the bullet and bought detinox shampoo (think that's what it's called) been using it since Friday, yet to see any results - decided to swap out the almond oil for coconut tonight, will see what it's like in the morning. Any other cradle cap tips??

Love ikea slowwife, again my DH hates it and likes to be in and out. I can easily spend a hundred quid on bits of crap in the marketplace....

Joskar - I too am tired and weepy, think I'm going to watch the notebook tomorrow and get it out of my system...

Nolonger - insomnia is the worst, I've suffered with it pre pregnancy, in pregnancy, post pregnancy...hope you manage to catch some zzzz's soon xx

Ah joskar - gin addled hugs for you missus!! You're such a ledge for managing a newborn and a toddler, more fake buenos for you!!!

Mini mzzzf has decided evening and night feeds aren't properly for her. She's taking such a minimal amount for bedtime, dream feed and night feed that I think I need to drop the dream feed altogether to get back on track.
Having my bestie here at the weekend was brilliant, she arrived with champagne and lindor choc balls Plus she's a paediatric nutritionist who works for one of the big baby milk companies so we had a full on chat re weaning song the like. Mini mzzzf will commence onto the tasting of awful veggies at 17 weeks Only 5 weeks away - arrghh!

Plus Ive bitten the billet and bought a travel cot so that project nap can start in earnest when it arrives!

Buenos fake or not, I need many in my face in my life right now!! I keep meaning to put 'night feed snacks/ choc' on my bedside table!!

Monday dawns Augmums!

Btw think mini mzzzf may have laid an egg, I'm not 100% but there's no way I'm waking her up to check/change her when her give-a-fuck-o-meter is not even registering!

Ooooh that's a good follow on from confessions and irritations - what do you not give a fuck about now?

Mine are: not bothering with pants most days, vacuuming, washing our bedsheets , trumping in front of DH (pregnancy literally blew that one out of the water!!)

Mugabe Augmums, back on the breast pump due to grumpy 2's inconsistent approach to night feeding (it's all or nothing with this dwarf!). Tonight was nothing, but might as well make hay and fill the freezer.

nolonger sounds like your DH and my DH were separated at birth! On our list, using a chefs knife instead of a bread knife, wiping down with a tea towel, using grumpy 1's paint brushes for DIY tasks, eating dessert with a soup spoon. Oh the list is endless and so, so strangely irritating!

mzzzf things I don't give a f*ck about. Hair washing (mine), grumpy 1 leaving her toys out, our cat (poor thing), getting grumpy 2 regularly taking a bottle (this was an obsession first time around), Facebook (not enough time in my life).

fanby we had the evil face cradle cap too, all across her eyebrows and bridge of nose. Ears too. Only thing we found that worked (because, yes, you can't brush it) was the balm we used on her dry skin. It sorted of melted it off in chunks. I linked to it further down for Lily, I'll try and do that again in the morning - at the moment when I press paste you are just getting a link to the IKEA catalogue

Regarding the second time Mum thing, firstly it's wonderful having the benefit of hindsight. Oh my god, the things I absolutely do not give a monkeys about now that had me in agonies first time around (yes, breastfeeding / sleeping iPhone app, I'm looking at you!). But also you can smell bullshit so much better. I'm reminded of a story from my first NCT group with grumpy 1. One of the ladies proudly announced that her DD was 'sleeping through' at the tender age of about 8 weeks. This lady was a medical professional so the rest of us panicked about this and spent ages working out what was 'wrong' with our babies. Turns out, after some probing, that what she actually meant was 'my baby goes down around 9pm, had a dream feed at midnight then sleeps till around 5am' (which was not dissimilar to what most of the groups babies were doing at least some of the time). That's not bloody 'sleeping through'!! 'Sleeping through' in the dwarf house is bedtime at 7:30pm and then you don't see the dwarf again until 7:30am!! A cautionary tale indeed in bullshit spotting...

Right, that's 5oz so I'm back to bed for a bit. Night, night Augmums! Hope everyone who was feeling a little tearful got some sleep tonight.

I've never used a single breast pad yet I've only leaked slightly about 3 times in the whole time of breastfeeding so I've just never bothered using one. I've got little lamb reusables and some lanisoh but all still in packets.

Fanby u enjoy all the goodies u can to make up for a crappy day. I've done terrible this weekend on my diet. Just didn't care. Will have to extra good Monday tues and weds ready for weigh day Thursday. I don't last long on diets before I start majorly craving chocolate and food in general.

Love the pictures loves and kbro. Super cute.

Dd has been awake since 4am which is not like her. She had a night with the inlaws Saturday that I wasn't happy with so I think it's sent her out of sync a bit. Can't be arsed going into it all buy basically she somehow slept 10 hours for them which she's never done ever for us so it makes me wonder what they did in that time to make her sleep so long. I dropped her off about 7 and she was sleep at half ten yet she'd had three bottles in that time. Dp said I'm over thinking things and worrying unnecessarily as she wouldn't have taken the milk if she didn't want it but I beg to differ. I'm just glad now it's winter my parents won't be going off to their caravan now so they can do all the babysitting from now on. I'll feel much more comfortable with leaving her with them.

Mzzzf- that is super exciting about the weaning!! I can't wait to give mollypops real food!!! I wonder whose baby will be the first to try a kinder or Lidl Bueno ey?!

Slowwife-I'll get some of the balm, I can scroll down for the ljnky, I've already perused the new IKEA catalogue so no need to send that one

That is so funny about the NCT and sleep thing, we've had similar chats in my group. I count anything after 10pm ish as a night feed, lots of other people don't. For me sleeping through the night will also be from 7:30-7:30 or thereabouts!!! x

Oh slow I've been classing dd as a 'sleep through' the night baby which is from 11pm to 6am. Even if she wakes at 5am I was classing that as nearly sleeping through the night. I thought it was pretty good for her to doing that so early on.

Frolic hope the stains have come out ok. We went for brunch yesterday at the pub too. Was lovely. No time for a walk though. Must go for one tomorrow. Went for a decent walk on Saturday but forgot to wear my bloody fitbit which is annoying because it syncs with my weightwatcher and gives me extra points if I walk so far. And I need the extra points after this naughty weekend food wise.

Cor I'd be the same with the cradle cap. Dd just has dry skin at the moment on her scalp so I'm paranoid of not turning into cradle cap. I sit and pick at I and give her dandruff instead. I've been using the really bad Johnson baby oil which I know is terrible for them and not hippy at all but it seems to work. Coconut oil did nothing for her at all.

Ikea. Horrible place at the weekend . I usually go week days bu once went at the weekend and it was like a game of dodgems. Too many people for my liking.

Magrat sorry to hear dh feels that way about baby. It must be tough for the dad's sometimes because we do most of the care giving but I'm sure he's doing a grand job and he'll be great as the baby grows older and more interactive

Right, dd has had an hour and a half of feeding and seems to have had enough. She doesn't have floppy arm syndrome so not sure if she will be put down but down I'd like a few more hours sleep thank you very much.

Oh and frolic,my dd has never stopped cluster feeding in the evenings yet at nearly 11 weeks old. I don't feel like she's ever going on grow out of it at this rate! And i still can't just give her a 'quick' feed. At least an hour every time if not longer. I'm just used to it now though and gives me chance to watch lots of TV if I'm at home lol.

Dozy have you asked about the cluster feeding and the long nursing periods at a bf group? I'm wondering if the shields are contributing to this? Maybe you need a different brand or something.

We've got outdoor playgroup and then I do the story session at the library today. Horrible wet and windy day. Really wish I was going to be curling up on the sofa with the fire and a hot chocolate (maybe a fake bueno..) and just watching crap tv with the baby. No such luck!

Why are you thinking 17 weeks for weaning? My mother gave dd1 ice cream at 16 weeks and I was not best pleased. Ice cream! In the event she wasn't in the least bit fussed for food until about 7/8 months old. Ice cream remains her top fave thing.

Still feeling a bit blue. I think I've been pushing it all too much plus non stop visitors plus the hearing test is tomorrow and I think she'll fail again because she's loaded with the cold. The logistics of this! Oh! Just too much!

frolic yep, DS still has days of cluster feeding. I am not sweating it, they are much less frequent, so that's enough for now. He still basically feeds most of the evening, but I'm getting used to having no choice but to put my feet up and go with it.

Slowife oh my god I know EXACTLY what you mean about DH in Ikea. The last time I went with my OH he threw such a tantrum that Words Were Had when we got home, consisting largely of me coming over all head teachery and advising him strongly on the unacceptable nature of his behaviour. I've refused to go back with him, even midweek. I went with my mum and DS when DS was 2 weeks old and honestly DS's screaming meltdown was much less embarrassing.

DS slept really well last night too, ! Out like a light at bedtime and did two 3-4 hour stretches. I'm now trying to stop him doing huge naps in the daytime, and that seems to massively improve night time sleep, but being kept up "late" by the clock change definitely meant he was extra sleepy - he was yawning away before his feed.

Magrat I've got my OH doing bathtime with my help and then reading a bedtime story himself every night and it seems to be REALLY improving his confidence and his bond with DS. DS absolutely loves his story, and sits tucked in Dad's arm cooing away, really happy. And with two of us so that he's constantly warm and getting attention, DS is so happy and loves the bath.

Morning all! Had quite a good night last night - ILs wanted to see us, so had them over here for dinner. J was pretty good, fed and dozed in everyone's arms until about 8pm when he woke up and wailed inconsolably. Took him upstairs in the dark, cuddled until he calmed down, fed him and then put him in his Moses basket just before 9pm. I then got to come downstairs and he didn't fuss again until almost 1am! So, we got some time on our own and some sleep! Although it did work out ok, I still would prefer to have a monitor just for my own peace of mind.

There were a few sniffy comments about our parenting choices from MIL - she had to tell DH about when she last came over and J was in a too-small sleepsuit (his backup after soiling the first one and I had no time to change him before they arrived), she thinks he's too little to start swimming lessons, why did we put him with feet at the end of the Moses basket, etc etc. DH and I do present a united front, particularly after she told us she didn't like J's name, so I think we might have to get firmer with her when she sounds off again.

Tonight, my plan is to fit bath, massage and story before going down for a decent sleep upstairs. I might spend the evening listening out for him, but it's preferable to having him down with us wailing because he can't stay asleep

Morning all,

Fanby hope you have a good day today!

Dd2 doesn't have cradle cap but dd1 did, and still does aged 4! Dentinox shampoo solves it, though I'm not keen on chemicals so I tend to leave it alone or use almond oil.

For breast pads I love the lansionoh ones as well, they're on offer for about £4 in Superdrug atm.

Does anyone use the Click and Collect for supermarket shopping? I discovered it for Tesco last week, I love it! I can't face trekking round the supermarket with two children, so I spend 15 mins loading a trolley online and then collect it at the shop, I just pull into the carpark at the click and collect stop, they load my shopping into the boot, I drive off, so easy! So I've ordered loads of maltesers and half price chocolate which I'll be collecting shortly

Is anyone finding their baby is chewing their fist? At first I thought she was doing it for hunger and tried to feed her, but I think maybe she's just exploring her hands...

Live the Mugabe dream all

Joskar - hope you have a better day, your activities sound fun, fingers crossed you feel more cheerful x

Tindel - hope you don't mind me saying but your MIL needs to mind her own business. Glad your DP sticks up for your parenting choices! You sound like you're doing a sound job!!!

Giraffes-thanks yes to fist chewing! She's been doing it since about week 7/8 if I remember correctly??!
Yes, I was the same about the detinox and chemicals but I just want it gone tbh-don't use it on her face though!! We're still just oiling that bit!
Don't use click and collect (although I do for john Lewis purchases!) we've gone to the dark side of Internet shopping-they bring it to your kitchen! Which for us is at the other end of the flat so a lifesaver! I do miss supermarket shopping though, it's my fave kind of shopping....

Dozy that is amazing sleep! Piper is doing so well to be regularly sleeping like that for you all the feeding and nurturing must be resulting in one happy and contented baby. My story was only meant to illustrate quite how easy it is as a first time Mum to get really worried about what your baby is doing simply because they don't appear to be the same as everyone else's.

However hard I am finding some days at the moment they don't compare to the hard days with grumpy 1.

First time Mums on this thread I salute you, you are undergoing the steepest learning curve of your lives whilst sleep deprived, hormone addled and for some of you after major surgery. You are all amazing

Slow I agree, being a first time mum is the hardest thing I've ever done, nothing prepares you for the sleep deprivation and constant neediness of a baby, second time round you are prepared!

Fanby I love grocery deliveries too, especially waitrose, yum! I never enter a supermarket anymore ha!

Oooh yes to Internet shopping. The lovely man brings it right into the kitchen. He'll be getting a Christmas tip

Re the weaning at 17 weeks, although WHO advice is at 6mths that is worldwide advice and mostly aimed at underdeveloped countries where breast milk is probably the most sterile and hygienic Food source there is, so it's set at 6 months as a safety net for disease. However, babies are ready for taste exploration earlier and the best window of opportunity is between 17-24 weeks. They still get the majority of calories from milk but this window is for trying bits of everything, getting different tastes and textures in their mush. And advice is to start with the most bitter tastes first so it's not an issue. I can see the point of that as who'd want broccoli after trying sweet fruit, so mini mzzzf will be getting a veggie onslaught with a bit of fruit but deffo not the properly sweet fruit to start with. All very interesting!

DH back at work today, think he's relieved tbh, so it's just us flying solo. Wish I had a bueno!!!! Or 7!

Post wouldn't post for some reason last night......

Frolic I have somehow managed to finish the day having eaten just 2!!

Slowife- I had a right giggle at your DH in idea! Fantastic description! Thanks for the recommendation cream wise. I know what you mean about the roast potato smell- we used olive oil on DS at first when he had just dry skin and I thought he smelt like I was about to pop him in the oven!

I wish he clocks had a similar impact on DS's bedtime no such luck! He only finally seemed ready for bed about 9.45 and then at 10.30 was crying which he never does! He dropped back off once I'd given him dummy back a few times but by the time we've come to bed around 11pm he was whingeing again and just as I climbed into bed started crying his hungry cry! He's only had 3oz and is now asleep on my shoulder the little monkey! I don't know what's going on with him feeding wise again today! He's left a couple of oz at every feed and he doesn't usually have a feed between 8ish and 3am ish! He did the same last night but at least finished 5oz at this time- didn't make go any longer over night though which is what is hoped! Going to ninja transfer him and try to get to bed!

Night all

Now will read back and reply for today!