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

[mzzzf]

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

X posts - glad the scan was ok frolic and well done on successfully getting your baps out in public - I'm jealous!

Btw had mac n cheese leftovers for lunch today with leftover garlic bread. I smelly cheesily good now!!

You are making me hungry....
I'm off to cook popcorn chicken. I forgot to buy chips though and I've no tatoes to do wedgies. Do you think the kids would mind just chicken and beans? I'm sure they won't starve or get ill or anything. [Bad mum emoji]

Mzzf- I love all that about winter it's the darkness I don't like! I'm convinced I have that SAD thingy! Poor LO hope she's feeling better soon! I know what you mean about getting a normal ish life back but I'm sorry to say I don't think we will!! These little bundles of joy tip our lives upside down! I suppose it will feel more settled at some point but we probably have to face facts that it will be a whole new normal! I'd give you some tips on project nap but I honestly don't know how it happened he just started doing it!

Chicken and beans will be fine fatty- throw some cheese in the beans maybe!? Mmmm cheesy beans!

Evening,

mzzzf I was the one who posted about the Lullaby Trust. 3 months for solo naps, 6 months for overnight sleeping. At 12 weeks I reckon you are probably there on the nap front. Assuming she'll go down for you

It's a dark and soggy night on the M6 southbound. The girls are both wrapped up in blankets while DH and I keep the van icy cold in a bid to stay awake!

fanby I didn't see The Legacy, we don't have Sky . It did look brilliant though, possibly my next box set.

Good luck for all those embarking on project nap. We are still going with random napping but I am lucky in that she will sleep in her pram rather than on me. She is starting to fight daytime sleep though so I suspect I shall be following you all into project nap shortly. I remember this phase so clearly from first time around. The 'oh shit' feeling when grumpy 1 started to be awake more in the day and I realised I had no idea what to do with her awake!!

Slow- yes to not knowing what to do with them awake!! I ended up playing with him with a sheet of tin foil yesterday in bid to make things more interesting! He was fascinated to be fair! I don't think he's far off properly playing with toys and grabbing things so should be a bit more interactive soon!

Oh and I can recommend lasinoh for eczema!! Obviously at that price I wouldn't suggest buying it specifically for this but if you end up with some left! His eczema has cleared so quickly and well the HV pretty much dismissed it today! Glad he's not a little scaly crocodile anymore!

Ds is asleep, dh is out picking up dn and I've just managed a lovely steak dinner and the last episode of pretty little liars in peace! Score! Do you think I'm pushing my luck if I try for a shower as well?

Poor mini mzzf, I hope she gets better soon.
I don't think we get our lives back until they're about 21, do we?!
You really wouldn't be jealous of my gigantibaps if you were unfortunate enough to see them! I'm beyond caring now. Ds seems to object to feeding without a pillow to recline on and squirms like a bugger when I hold him. And he's very nosy, all of which makes feeding on the go a bit tricky.

I love all the seasons when they come around. Autum is my fave, I love this time of year. Crisp days and cosy nights are the best.

Popcorn chicken is yummy fatty, I'm sure they will manage without chips.

Absolutely yes to not knowing what to do with a more awake baby. Singing, baby gym snd bouncy chair are getting very dull very quickly!!
I love the foil idea lily.

Evening all! Had a frantic few days with J being v grumpy, so not been able to post.

Slightly worried about the Lullaby Trust advice - am trying to put J upstairs at night as he seems to get overstimulated in the Moses basket downstairs. He's only 8 weeks, but after nearly a week of hysterical crying when being left to sleep downstairs, I need a break. Am not getting him to put himself to sleep, am trying to feed to sleep and then creep downstairs and listen out for him. Is that so bad?

Where does master frolic snooze for these uber naps Frolic?
And yes to a steak dinner! I'm yearning got a shower but she's screaming like a banshee if put in her bouncer and isn't happy on dh either. Ahhh the joys of being favourite!

Btw folks the new Catastrophe is on tonight!!!!

I'm LOVING the more awake baby!! He seems pretty happy to watch me do stuff or to try to jam toys into his mouth most of the time, but I just love him trying to talk to me and giving me big gummy smiles while being changed or fed. And he loves me singing to him, properly giggles at me. So much more fun than when his only two states were unconscious and unhappy.

I've no idea what's best regarding the advice tindel. You have to do what works for you as a family. The guidance is to do with cot death. It might be worth having a look at the other things you can do to reduce the risk (warmth, bedding, not smoking / drinking etc) and consider how you feel then. I think I said upthread that risk management is about looking at all of the components, not just one factor.
It's such a minefield, isn't it. We're lucky that ds sleeps fine downstairs, and maybe it's a hidden blessing that he is nowhere near ready for the night sleep until late.

Master frolic sleeps in his pram for daytime naps most of the time mzzf. He sometimes sleeps in the bouncy chair or on me, but never for long. I try to go out twice a day when he needs to sleep. Once with the dog and once to the shops. This usually sets him up for a good nap. He sometimes stirs when we get back home, but the White noise app sorts that out.

My steak dinner was fab, but I never made the shower. I didn't manage catastrophe either as dh and dn arrived. I did catch a Welsh tv programme similar to one born and they were on the same theatre as I had ds in. I cried buckets! I've feel like I.'be been quite calm the past few weeks, but those raw emotions are obviously still close to the surface!

Lol at unconscious or unhappy siani! Totally sums up the first few weeks

Thanks frolic, I was just wondering if I was being unrealistic / unsafe in doing it at this age. As it is, J woke up the minute I put him down after his feed, so I brought him back down. DH took him so I could finish dinner and he fell fast asleep on him.

siani I definitely feel like it's mainly unconscious or unhappy at the moment. I am enjoying the few alert times and J starting to pay more attention to the world around him - I never thought I would be so excited at him following a toy around!

It's amazing what we find fascinating as mothers. DS1 trying to eat a balloon amused me highly
If you are comfortable with sleeps away from you then there's no reason not to put them upstairs as long as other safety advice is followed as someone else said (can't remember who!)
Honestly a lot of this parenting stuff is basic common sense. Other stuff makes absolutely zero sense. There isn't an in between....its either blatantly obvious or so obscure even Einstein wouldn't be able to figure it out.

lily I loved Gone Girl - enjoy! You are very posh with your lobster in Mac and Cheese!!! - mine just had broccoli in it (to get DCs to have their veggie intake)

frolic sweet potato chips and Mac and Cheese burgers sound delish - don't think we have an Iceland near us

Off to get my nails done after school run - fingers crossed baby and toddler are both super quiet - nails done is my treat to myself even though DH moans constantly about the expense

What, no night postings? Does that mean all babies slept peacefully?

Love, enjoy your nails. Even pre children I've never been careful enough not to trash them after a few days!

Do any of your babies cry out in the night then go back to sleep? I fed at at 9 and then we went to bed. He stirred and cried out at midnight, but I sat up and looked a lot him and he'd fallen back asleep. I think he wriggled again but we both slept. Same again after a 2am feed. He cried out at 4 but was asleep again so left him. I'm assuming if really hungry he'd carry on crying, as I did this with my daughter I think. She slept 10-5 from 8 weeks, but broke again at 16 weeks sleep regression.

Sleeping from 10-5 is AMAZING rrra!!

Normal night wakings for mini mzzzf. She was awake for her usual 10.30pm dream feed but dropped off soon after. Our room is a scent bowl of menthol vapour stuff to help her also wedged her mattress so she was elevated. She did well and sleep until 3am when she stirred again, so I dream fed her and put her back down again. Then the nasal issues started with gusto every 45mins ish and at 5.40 - BOOM! Cue uber snorting and struggling to get a breath in. Can you believe dh didn't wake up through any of this?!! His DD was fighting for breath and he didn't move a muscle. Even our dog came in to check all was ok with 'her' baby. It worries me that he doesn't hear her...

Right going to watch catastrophe on catch up from last night!

Mugabe morning to you all

A good night here!! 7:50pm, rejected the 10pm dream feed ( massively offended) then this morning 2:35am, 4:55am and 7:15am. She was stirring around midnight but I left her be and fell back into a glorious sleep, makes up for the insomnia the night before! So similar to you rra?

Clstow - well done on surviving, bet you're ecstatic to be home!

Glad you're feeling more like yourself Lily-we're having a lazy day today and I wonder how I'll cope by the end of it lol. What do reckon about the lanisoh stuff on cradle cap lol? Maybe I should try that!

Frolic - glad the hip scan went well. Hope you've had a lovely time with your niece, I have one of those chatty ones too, it's constant! She's just about to turn 4!

Mzzzf - how was sleep and cold last night? Still snuffles??

Slow - the legacy is amazing, definitely one to look out for. The other one I watched this year (again on sky though) was 40 degrees in February or something like that, again excellent, although nothing can overtake my love for the legacy though...

Siaini - although weirdly exhausting, I much prefer molls now she does stuff! I love the interaction, it's so rewarding after those first sleepless weeks!!

Love, I totally want to get my nails done today! There is place near us that does cheap shellac though I've never been. Do you think it'd be ok me taking molly in there with all of the fumes?

tindel I'd say go with whatever works for you. I've kept all my babies downstairs in the evening for a long time, my 12 week old is still downstairs. She did get distracted by chat/TV for a while I remember, but not crying, just being a nosy baby! She comes up to bed with me at 9ish. I like them to be able to sleep/nap with some noise around as it makes for an easier life not having to creep around the house. I like cuddling them though. Good luck!

Mugabe morning all. Been on radio silence as I'm not using my phone overnight in an effort to curb my insomnia. The night before last I was awake from 0030-0500 even though DS slept for most of that time. The Dr suggested anti histamine, as sleeping pills not recommended for breastfeeding and I did have a better night last night. ds slept from 2000 then woke at 0030,0315,0630. He normally only does two night wake ups so wasn't sure if 0630 was an extra one or us up for the day but he's now fast asleep on me so guess it was still night.

We've made some progress with project nap. When ds looks a bit tired - and I watch him like a hawk after he's been awake for 60-90 mins, I cuddle him, give him a dummy and if his eyes start dropping carry him gently straight to his crib. He quite often falls asleep there, with dummy, a bit of shushing and my hand resting on him. Never more than 45mins though so I'm using the sling once a day for a longer nap too. And I stay with him the whole time a) because it's not v long anyway and b) because at least first ten mins he's quite likely to wake up and need some more dummy /shushing to go back to sleep. I only leave him sleeping for a little while after putting him down at night while I eat my tea. It would be better if he would just fall asleep downstairs with us, but he just stays awake and gets overtired.

I don't understand how some of you get so much done with a baby. If I've showered and unloaded the dishwasher I'm winning the day.

We had a fairly good night, tried to put J down after feeding at 9pm and he promptly woke up, so took him downstairs where he promptly passed out on DH! He then vowed he would do the night feeds. Cue a lot of faffing sorting out a bottle of expressed milk for the next feed while I had to hold a wailing J, who took a small amount before feeding from me and we all went to sleep. J wanted a feed 2 hours later, DH didn't warm the bottle, so he wouldn't really take it and was grumbling. DH then whined he was exhausted, so I took J and DH promptly fell asleep. I think he has a better understanding of how night feeds feel like! To be honest, the night feeds don't bother me, it's the crying and struggling to settle I want help with ...

rrra J cries out in the night - it's normally just before a massive fart and he settles back after that. He is quite a noisy sleeper anyway - lots of grunting and groaning. Think I sleep through the low level stuff and wake when it turns into hungry cries

Good night here. Although he did wake up with a mahoosive shit at 4am! He had been asleep since 10 though so can't complain.
It's DS1s birthday. Who wants ?

love I'd love to have my nails done, but I'm petrified of scratching the baby when I'm doing his nappy!

rrra yep, Fergus does this sometimes. It usually means he needs to fart like Tindel says or has done a wee. If he's not warm enough he wakes fully and needs changed or fed. He's a very noisy sleeper though and will groan and grunt and grumble for ages before waking up.

Happy bday fatty boy 1. Hope you all have a lovely day. Hell yes I'll have some cake!!

So breaking news from kbro household. We put DS to bed last night. Gulp. Can't remember who suggested it but someone said one way to do it was to put them down when they seem naturally tired and work on bring it forward instead of trying at 7ish. So we tried this last night. Took him to bedroom about 9pm, changed him. Then I fed him on our bed and put him down, played some white noise and kept my hand on him for a bit, gave him his dummy. He was asleep by 10pm. So not quick or particularly early but felt like a big step in right direction for us as DS had got into habit of being awake till midnight. So massive thanks to whoever suggested that. DH and I watched some telly just the 2 of us. Was v weird. Then attempted dream feed but really don't know if I'll ever manage that without waking him up.

Which brings me on to another DH moan. I discussed all of above with him, including how the plan is to slowly bring it forward and he goes to me last night 'do you think at some point he could go to bed earlier'. Yes I do. We discussed this and thought this way would be best. Unless you weren't listening and just agreed so you could get back to the important business of playing on your phone (says me, mumsneting and ignoring DS) He does this all the time though. We discussed being baby led, agreed, then moans at weekends DS has no routine, we discussed and agreed concentrating on bed time before naps and then moans DS on naps on us. It's so annoying. Anyway......

Jokstar massive massive thanks for the truth advice. You're ace!!!

Tindel have you tried a bit of white noise or heartbeat noise to help settle. It (I think) helps DS.

Mzzzf hope the cold passes soon. Award yourself 100 great mummy points for sucking the snot out though.

Clstow can not believe your in laws. Well done for surviving. I'd being chewing dh's ear off about that for weeks. Also I never get why people think it's cruel to only have one. What on earth is cruel about it?? Weird!!

We're still struggling with wind here! He just cries sometimes whilst feeding and DH felt really upset saying he didn't think DS liked him as he cried and I settled him! It's so easy to take things personally but tbh it's just random who is feeding when he gets the wind and he's calmed quicker the calmer you stay. Must be tough for OHs as they only see DCs fir a couple of hours a day. Will Deffo try and get DH to do storytime more. DS is being all cute so far today, cooing away looking at his own hands and kicking his legs up.

I am equally excited and terrified about weaning! Need to read up on it a lot!! Think it'll hopefully be much more interesting for DS but will have to moderate my cake intake to lead by example etc!!

DS had a massive nap yesterday after baby sensory and I managed to do some Germany practice (my job involves speaking Germany and was starting to worry it would go really rusty!) felt good to use my brain.

So our cat has, we joke, a summer and a winter girlfriend. A little black cat - presumably winter girlfriend - is currently just mooching round the House! Erm!!

Trush advice not truth advice. Obvs.

German. Not Germany! Silly phone!