March 2016 - I can't think of a pithy title because I'm too sleep deprived :/

[DomesticAnarchist]

New thread?
Sorry, really couldn't think of something humorous!

Oh time I'm sorry you're having such a shit time of it. It does sound like she's a difficult baby, I know how hard that is, and now having S has shown me how hard my ds was in comparison and how it was absolutely nothing to do with my parenting but all about him. It will get better! In the meantime, do whatever you can to survive it.

Try not to be too upset by what your man said, it's easy to think you know what you'd do when you're not the one in the middle of it. From what you've said before it sounds as though he's generally supportive, so maybe put it down to a badly phrased suggestion.

Keep trying to get out at least once a day, I know it's hard. If she'll still nap in her swing, let her. Can you spend some time with your sister in law, the one with the baby (have I remembered that right)? Could you also go to baby clinic or the children's centre or call your health visitor and tell them how lonely you're finding things? They might help you to find some mum's groups where you can find a sympathetic ear. It'll soon be September and various classes will he starting again, it might be worth signing up for something like messy play or a music group, which would tire her out, help you find some mum friends, and help you have fun with her again so it doesn't get you down as much when things are difficult.

Sorry if that's not helpful, sometimes all you need is sympathy rather than practical solutions. Honestly, it sounds like you're doing great, having a baby who won't sleep is so hard!

Time have you ever taken C swimming? I know it's not really an every day thing but DH takes our DS every Sunday morning and it tires him out soooo much, he always sleeps afterwards for ages. At my local council run pool they often do cheap sessions during the day or even free ones sometimes.

Oh yes swimming is great for tiring them out, ds would only ever nap for 40 mins at a time but a post swimming nap was always 2-3 hours. It somehow seems to make them sleepy tired rather than grumpy tired. Even at 2.5 yrs post swimming naps are great.

Agreed, swimming is great, you have to time it right with meals and feeds though! If you come out of the pool and have a feed in the cafe straight after they'll usually have a really decent sleep on the way home.

DS loved swimming on holiday so I want to start taking him. Think there's a waterbabies near me but not sure how pricey it is.

Hope you're ok, time.

My local leisure centre has relatively cheap adult and infant swimming lessons (£17.55/month) - worth checking out your local one! We go every Monday afternoon. Tires C out nicely and makes him very hungry, we've been doing it since he turned 3 months.

C was very close to sitting unaided in my lap this morning - he was only using the fact that my left leg was around one inch higher than my right to sit up! He's only just over 19 weeks so I was a bit surprised.

Have an IBCLC doing a home visit tomorrow to see if we can sort out my boobing issues. I had yet another clogged duct yesterday but thankfully it was cleared by a hungry baby at bedtime.

Uh oh ... I think DS might have chicken pox! I'm not completely sure because he is and has been absolutely fine in himself and the NHS website says that it normally starts with a temperature etc before the spots appear. But he has at least 15 little spots and they are fluid filled and look exactly like the picture on the NHS website. About 5 on his head, one on his throat, one on his arm, one his leg by his nappy line and several on his torso so far

Hoping that as he's so young and seems fine it'll be a very mild case? Or an allergic reaction to something?

Uh oh me - if it's chickenpox he'll be contagious already so you'll be stuck at home. Get someone to bring you a massive bottle of calamine lotion and keep all the spots covered. It's such a hassle. DS had it at 20 months and we had to top up his lotion every couple of hours, then rinsed it all off in the shower at night. He got off mildly and only has a few scars. Maybe you can keep socks on his hands to prevent scratching?

That sounds like chicken pox! DS1 had it just before he was 2. We found Virasoothe gel very good (but very expensive!).

That's good value for swimming, Tri. We pay £20/month for DS1's lessons. Water babies was waaaay out of our price range (and 30 miles away and during work time )

Thanks Tri I've just enquirer with our local leisure centre after finding out how much waterbabies costs (eye watering!). Hope your appointment goes well!

Oh no me! Have some

Water babies is sooo expensive! A couple of my NCT group are doing it but I just couldn't justify the cost and DH quite wanted to take him anyway. It's lovely, they go together at the weekend and I get an hour of peace to myself DH is a member of a local gym with a pool so he can take DS there for no additional cost which is good.

No news on DS's potential pox, he seems to have gained a few more spots since this morning but he's by no means covered in them and isn't scratching at them. I may take him to the doctor tomorrow just to confirm if it is or isn't.

Me does sound like the pox to me. Ds1's started the same way.If you take him to the Drs just make sure they know you suspect it as they'll probably avoid putting you in the waiting room. Stock up on Bicarb and oats for the bath.

I haven't looked into any swimming for J yet. DS1 hated it as a baby and was such a waste of money having to leave the class early each time. Im going to take J myself when I get chance to test the water first. Agree though that it is a definite for getting them to sleep well after.

Hi everyone, just found this thread and would like to join you! My DS is our first and he's 22 weeks old. He's usually a good sleeper (average of 3 wakes a night for a quick feed and then straight back to sleep) and until a couple of weeks back I could feed him to sleep and then put him down. But now as soon as I do he usually wakes up crying Is anyone else finding their baby harder to settle suddenly? Am wondering if it's a developmental thing and/or if there's anything we can do.

time, my friend's LO of the same age was also unsettled with green poo and her doctor suggested it could be related to the pouches he was eating. Not sure if you are weaning your LO yet but might be something to consider? I hope things get better for you soon.

Welcome Peggy! My DS has been more difficult to settle for naps over the last couple of weeks. Someone on this thread (can't remember who sorry!) mentioned it could be coinciding with a wonder week which it did. Do you have the wonder weeks app?! It's really good and explains a lot.

Poor DS had his 4 month injections this afternoon, he got so upset bless him . He was fine though after some calpol and a cuddle and he's upstairs now having a sleep as he was absolutely knackered! I'm just waiting for the temperature spike, after the two month jabs he did get a temp in the night and he felt like he was on fire. Wish me luck for tonight!

tri you've got me enquiring about swimming at my local pool too. The rest of my NCT group go to v expensive class in my nearest city but getting there on public transport is a marathon and it is hugely expensive. My local pool is famously cold though so may be a no go - must check it out.

Hi peggy my little on, at 20 weeks, is a bit harder to transfer from naps in my arms to basket/cot. She often wakes wide eyed and yelling though half the time if I get a dummy on she falls back asleep.

Hi Time hope today is better, you are really being put through the wringer. You never know though, the toddler years may be a breeze - that is the case with my brother and SiL who were hollow eyed and fazzled with my DN, a colicy, unsettled sleep fighter of a baby who is the sunnyest toddler ever.

me it's might not be chicken pox - ds1 had lots of very chicken poxish looking spots when he was 4mo but it turned out to be some viral thing which cleared up on its own without causing him any problems. Good idea to see your gp to find out one way or the other.

dotty hope the 4 month jabs don't cause too much upset!

Hello to peggy. I have noticed ds2 getting a little harder to settle but I think for him it's because he's getting so much more interested in the world around him. Every time I put him down for a nap he rolls onto his front and tries his best to crawl away. It's very frustrating for both of us!

Anyone else finding (milk) feeds a bit challenging at the moment? Ds is so easily distracted I'm getting soaked in milk at every feed, it's driving me crazy.

dotty my DS reacted pretty badly to the first lot of jabs, but the last lot didn't affect him at all. Fingers crossed for you!

Trinpy yes DS is definitely getting distracted easily these days. I'm lucky that I've never had the issue with getting soaked though, never leaked either - touch wood! If we're out anywhere I have to find somewhere calm and quiet to feed or it just won't happen.

Trinpy I think I'll try and take DS to the doctor tomorrow to get them to confirm whether it is chicken pox or not. I counted around 35 spots on DS before bed, some are just red and others are raised and filled with fluid so I am pretty sure it is CP but will see what they say tomorrow. He has been pretty cheery all day still.

dotty no reaction to the 4 month jabs here either so hopefully yours will be fine.

Peggy welcome. Like Trinpy DS has been harder to settle for naps as he also enjoys rolling all over his cot. He goes down well at night though, I think because we have a good bedtime routine so he knows it's time to sleep.

Speak to them first me, a lot of doctors don't want you to go in if it's chicken pox because it's so contagious.

Good point Swear, I'll ask when I call in the morning what they think is best.

Thanks everyone, FS and Me I'm glad your little ones were OK after their jabs. DS is his usual happy self but his temperature is very odd. On one side of his head he is 37.7 and on the other side 38.5!! I'm not sure which to believe. He does feel very hot. I've just woken him to give him the third dose of calpol so I'm hoping that will cool him down a bit. He's wide awake now though so sitting in the dark listening to him wiggling about in his Moses basket trying to get back to sleep. I'm primed and ready with the thermometer.

Think it's going to be a long night!

My poor little baby keeps crying in his sleep, usually he sleeps right through so this isn't like him

He was like this after the first lot of jabs, super hot and then super clingy and cuddly. His temp just now was 37.4 so it's coming down. He just feels so hot!

How's your DS this morning dotty? Hope you managed some sleep.

I took DS to the doctor this morning - went in at the back to avoid the waiting room! The doctor said it is definitely chicken pox and was surprised to see it in DS so young, he said most babies have still got antibodies from us. DS may still have a little bit of immunity from me which might be why it seems like a mild case. At least he gets it out the way now and he can't scratch himself yet so won't scar!

Oh no Me, chicken pox!! Like you say though at least it gets it done he probably won't even remember. It's good it seems mild too, some of them really suffer with it dont they. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

DS is better this morning, thankyou. He had a good stretch of sleep from 4-8.30 and his temperature is normal now but he still feels hot to touch. He's a bit grizzly today but not too bad so we are having lots of cuddles. I've been working really hard to get him to nap upstairs as he sleeps so much better up there so he is up there having a little kip at the moment. If I didn't have so much to do I would go and join him!

Mums of two, I have touched perfection. Behold, the tandem nap!

(This will never happen again. Ever. )