August 2016. Anyone got the hang of their babies yet?!!

[plimsolls]

Thought I'd start a new thread. Unimaginative title but E has spent the whole day grizzling/feeding/sleeping on me so I'm running on limited capacity!

I'm supposed to be going to one at the start of Dec. DD is only just settling now. The dinner starts at 7.30pm. Hmmm.
However (though not necessarily because of xmas meal) we bought some formula today so that DH can do DD's bedtime next week sometime and I can do DS's. At most we only want to bottle feed 1-2 per week at the moment so will see how we go. If she is agreeable to that by Dec then I stand a chance of going out for an entire meal. It's less than 5mins walk from home so if it all goes to pot then it isn't the end of the world.

Thread disappeared again!

Sorry things are so relentless for you pear. I'm sure you'll be able to go to fireworks again one day! Maybe next year?! If it's any consolation, I've been on a v restricted diet for about 2.5 years due to IBS problems. You do get used to it after a while and I think your palette changes a bit so you stop craving the old things quite so much and find new favourites.

Regarding mixed feeding biscuits- I've been thinking the exact same thing. It's weird because I'm not anti formula at all but I have some kind of mental block over it. I don't know if it's because she has so many digestive issues anyway that I'm reluctant to change anything in her diet in case it causes further issues. Also, she hates bottles so that's a barrier!

But, E is such a random feeder that I can't really foresee a time I can reliably leave her if she remains EBF. I'm actually not in a hurry to leave her at all- I just feel it would be good to have the capacity to, just in case. I did manage 1.5 hours ish in a local pub on my birthday though. It was nice but disconcerting to be without her!

I'm using those blanket bag things too. I had to relent as we've got E's crib on an incline because of her reflux and so she ends up down the bottom of it over the course of the night....was worried she'd end up with blankets covering her face. I've not seen the JoJo Maman ones with sleeves, they sound nice. I love their stuff but I find it a bit pricey compared to most other places. I might wait til she's at the bottom of the next size range so to get maximum use!

E appears to have given up on naps in the day. Not too much of a problem as long as I ensure she gets enough quiet time so as not to be overstimulated. I am very much hoping that she does not give up on night time sleep too!

Nothing else to report really. I'm falling more in love with her by the day, her funny little personality just melts my heart and I just adore her. I never knew I had the potential to be so emotional! Although, it's lucky she's perfected the art of the gummy beaming smile at her 5am wake up as I'm not so indulgently soppy at that time in the morning

I'll be going out end of the month for anniversary, DP has arranged for DD to stay overnight with DM. We will also be going out for his Xmas party beginning of Dec and DD will be with his DM.
DD is mixed fed, so I'm already trying to build a supply up for both days. I'm actually excited, but I know on the day I'll be upset to leave her.

The 16 week jabs seem so much harder on DD, she's really running a fever. Luckily unlike her 8w ones we can give calpol!

On to another sleepless night!

Oh plimsolls thank you...don't worry I wouldn't say things are relentless in the peardrop household...just the normal parenting lessons to be learnt everyday I should have known better about the fireworks scenario...sometimes I really do forget that my stubborn 3.5 year old doesn't always know best It sounds like you're going through a similar experience with Dd and wow...2.5 years to change your diet is tough going! Makes sense what you're saying about being able to adapt! I now eat raw broccoli which I could never imagine doing before I used to always throw away the stem...I had no idea how sweet it is and how much calcium it contains!

I received another lecture about tummy sleeping from my lactation advisor This time it was about how I shouldn't do it in my bed. I do see where she was coming from on this one. Luckily this week I've actually managed to wean Dd off the bed into the co sleeper baby bay (still on her tummy). So that is a massive leap for us!

She also gave me advice about how maybe Dd still has a tongue tie, needs more cranial work or has silent reflux. I would definitely not consider having her tongue treated for a 3rd time as that would be too traumatic for words. I will consider more cranial treatment though. As for silent reflux...I doubt that since 3 different medications didn't work. I've realised now that nobody trained has an answer for me because not one person specialises in tummy troubles for babies (that I've seen). Like, because she obviously doesn't know anything about food intolerances, it wasn't even mentioned in her suggestions. I had to correct her when she started to say that lactose and cows milk intolerances are the same. At that point I lost a bit of trust because I think that's pretty poor of her not to have that simple knowledge when she specialises in bfeeding issues and nearly all digestive issues in babies link back to cows milk protein intolerances/allergies... so I keep reading.

Anyway, all is well. Luckily DH has been able to give me a couple of hours sleep most days this week so I feel absolutely fine for being up in the night TG I count my blessings everyday that Dd is not on any medication and only has windy issues and the odd tummy ache. When I see on the 'Living with reflux' page how many babies are suffering with endless hours of screaming...I just don't know how mum's cope. I'm so lucky that Dd stops crying when we comfort her even if it means I am awake.

It's lovely to know that when weaning begins things will improve as their little digestive systems develop and they sit up on their own. This I know 3 months and I'll be weaning...eeek! How can 6 months pass so quickly! I won't be weaning at 4 months this time as I tried that with DS and it held no benefit at all.

Plimsolls I completely relate to the mental block re formula. It is silly really & I know some women would have loved to have been able to bf and couldn't for whatever reason. And some simply choose not to, which is also utterly fine too. As long as baby is fed... The intellectual me knows all this. The hormonal me has quite another thing to say. But we shall try and see. If it doesn't work for us then no matter.

I think my mental block is that I know what a challenge it is to ebf. One that I am proud of being able to do at the moment. DD feeds going on 50-60x week. A couple of bottles isn't going to arse up the benefits for us of bf-ing.

After a rubbish windy night last night and constant wake ups I have gone full circle and brought a bottle of infacol. Back to the beginning Wish me luck!!

Oh hello again...

With regards to formula feeds to cover time away, is expressing an option? I have a stockpile in the freezer, however now seem to be having problems accepting a bottle again now as it's been a while... a dentist appointment without her the other day was enough to make me frantic so I can't see time away from her is going to happen until she is at least 30....

In theory yes, expressing is an option. In practice I struggle to find the time/energy at a point when there is decent supply. But I suspect milk would be readily flowing as soon as formula bottle was given. So perhaps a little freezer supply could be created that way.

It was much easier to express last time. Though like you say, there is no guarantee that milk from a bottle will be drunk, regardless of what it is!

How is your DD tonight Pear?

Ahhh Biscuits I'm so frustrated The infocol has done its job but I've been awake winding since 1:30/2 and it's now 4:40 This is my problem...if I manage to do vigorous winding it almost always requires a happy change, change of clothes and more feeding I must remember to tell DH that if he has her late at night he must change her nappy before passing her back otherwise she's bursting in the night and I can't get away with leaving it

Positives... the infocol worked!!

Negative... I've been up long enough to realise that my idiot MIL who is meant to babysitting my son tomorrow has just had her shingles vaccine and has side effects. I've put two and two together and realise that she's not thinking about us at all...again. There is conflicting advice on google but I think the safest thing would be for her to stay away...I think

Fizzy It always warms my heart when I read others say they struggle to leave bubba for short periods like trips to the dentist. It's like a missing arm isn't it How amazing the bond is between us and our babies in such a short period of time!

Oooo Dd has finally fallen asleep in arms. Now I just need to get her in her bed so I can maybe get some sleep tonight...at least an hour pretty please...2 would be amazing!

Oh and Biscuits...I went to buy your suggested sleeping bag but I can't find the one with poppers around the arms to adjust size. Did you see it on the vertabeut site?

Ahhh. I can't tell if they have poppers under the armpit either. My guess would be not because if the sleeves are detachable then it would probably interfere with that if the shape/size of the armhole was changed.

That said, any vertbaudet children's clothes we have had are relatively small so you may be okay. I think you would have take the gamble and hope. That said, I like the multi season thing of removable sleeves so they ought to last ages.

Sorry that your mil is being less than helpful. I don't know what the advice re shingles vaccine but on the basis that ill toddler or baby would be worse than having them both today, I wouldn't take the risk either :(

Just asked MIL and she hasn't had it yet. She's having it on Monday. Phew. She does have a cold though but I've realised this morning that Dd has a cold too...hence the extra clingyness and constant wake ups in the night! Why it takes me so long to work these things out I just don't know I think it's because to me a cold is when you have a runny nose and also I guess Dd is always unsettled in the night so it's never v obvious at first.

I got 1.5 hrs sleep in the end...phew.

Hi all, been lurking and keeping up to date but not had much to report. I think we're going through a wonder weeks leap right now, so DD is grouchy and clingy. She's also trying really hard to roll back to front, but can't quite get the hang of getting her hips over. She's also like to be grasping things but is quite content standing up and chewing her hands.

Does anyone want to be added to the secret Facebook group? If so, PM me with your name and I'll send you a friend request and then get you added.

Hgleslie you have my sympathy as I know how you feel I have a grouchy and clingy one too!

DH is away working overnight. Thanks for the last minute warning DH So, I made a terrible mess up of the day because I was so tired and also messed up the bedtime routine. However, both kids are still very much alive and kicking and I finally achieved a quiet house at 10pm. I know...time isn't great but hey! I did however make Jamie Oliver's salmon fish fingers. That was fun. Unfortunately DS still isn't keen on salmon even disguised In breadcrumbs Making the breadcrumbs with my Lakeland whizz blender was super cool though as it's just so fast and mess free. Cannot recommend this hand blender enough...it's going to be great for weaning! I now make the smoothest mash potatoe with it ever! Even DH is sold and he hates cooking

Ah pear I would call any day which ends with children asleep and fed on something a success. How you get there doesn't matter so much!

What is it about grandparents who like to wind up toddlers?! And then complain about the subsequent toddler behaviour 3yo don't have the emotional capacity to manage that sort of thing.

We are being babysat tonight for one hr It is super daunting to leave DD but it is parents night at nursery and would be good if we could both go.

biscuits I know what you mean re grandparents. DH was away all of last week so mum came to stay and 'help' but children much more unsettled, attention seeking and generally excited and now debating whether it was the right call. Unfortunately this has now set a bit of a precedent so when hes next away I will offend her if I don't ask her to come!

what can you say something like 'you really appreciated the time she gave you to come but you would also like to know that you can manage on your own' thus either she comes for less time or not at all?

It must be hard when you have willing family but actually they aren't helpful. We have willing family who recognise their limitations so don't offer. And willing family who live bloody miles away and still work so it would take quite a crisis to instigate a mercy mission (DD's early arrival nearly triggered this) And then unwilling family

Thanks biscuits it is tricky but I think I need to suck it up really, she lives abroad so coming for a shorter period isn't really an option and this is the best solution given my dad can't cope with little children so otherwise she really wouldn't see much of them at all

Hi everyone, thought I'd pop in and day hello. I posted on some of the early threads as TwistinmySobriety, but then life took over and I lost track. Anyway baby Hazel arrived on July 28th in a mad rush, less than 2 hours from start to finish, and here we are three and a half months down the line! Anyway I look forward to reading back over the threads and catching up with everyone's news.

Hello Plastic, I was on the antenatal threads as I wasn't due until September, but DD arrived 10th August instead! When were you due? And is she your first? How are you getting on?

I'm writing Christmas cards and working out how much money I need to spend between now and payday. Sadly it's more than I have in the bank.

I was due on August 8th, number two as I have a little boy who's just turned three :-) Getting on well thanks, it's a lot easier second time round and she's a very chilled little thing! Looks like most of the action is maybe on FB these days?

Wasn't on the antenatal threads. Wasn't.

Bella i have the same issue...eek! I don't know why Christmas always creeps up every year! DH says he will tide me over but I feel bad about that At least we've got DS Christmas presents so he is now sorted.

Hope everyone is OK. My DS has a bad cough now so he's been extra work... if that was even possible. I am praying that DD doesn't catch it

Dd gave me her first chuckle tonight when I was tickling her toes. It was just the cutest sound ever! She is 15 weeks now (technically 11). I have rung the tongue tie clinic and they don't want to do a third tongue tie snip TG! Going back to mouth exercises and stretching her mouth will apparently help the scar tissues and ease the tension in her jaw which is possibly causing the feeding issues which results in bad colic/wind. I also took her to the last cranial session today. Apparently everything has grown out that was wrong but her jaw is still tight. I feel so relieved... like I finally have answers because what I'm being told makes a lot of sense. Now... whether the diet has anything to do with all this who knows. We're going on holiday in 3 weeks so I thought maybe I would have a bit of dairy then to see how she copes. Like one bowl of porridge with milk, not lots. Or one hot chocolate. Gawd I miss hot chocolate!!! Positive note...I've lost 1lb this week, 2.5lb in total so far so clearly less indulgences is no bad thing

Nevermind the onset of Christmas, what on earth happened to thia year?! It has flown by! Am completely unprepared for Christmas. Haven't bought a thing yet. But have made lists so feel like am doing something at least.

Glad things seem a bit clearer with your DD Pear. Dairy free def helps with the weight loss - I found that too.

Getting on okay here. DD has another cold so is a bit unsettled. DS is having another shot at toilet training. It isn't going very well yet. Am totally stumped about how we manage it without him getting stressed.