Ttc 1st baby catch up 3rd thread!

[Fivebyfive2]

Thought as I'm bored and we're on page 40 of thread 2, I'd make a thread 3!

@MrsEG, aaahh your Halloween plans and costumes sound awesome 😀 I hope they get to go ahead as planned...

I have no idea what will happen in terms of a lockdown?? I think maybe they'll start with closing non essentials again first? My friend was saying she'd rather have a lockdown now or soon and then maybe be able to have things ease up for Christmas. To be honest I think over Christmas, people will do whatever anyway!

I'm so glad you're back on track with the weaning. You're doing amazingly well xx

Well! Saturday night we started in his room and made it until 11pm. Last night we started in his room and made it until 2am. Slow progress, but still progress! He's got 3 teeth now and I think a 4th on its way. Isolation is getting a bit grinding, but we're getting through the house jobs, having time in the garden and eating like little piggies to make it more bearable! Joe is constantly shuffling/scooching around and has been up on his hands and feet this morning 😂

Hope every one is doing OK? We'll need a new thread soon 😛

@MrsR16 @purplefig @ELW85 @LikeTheFruit @cupcakesandglitter @MrsH497 @Larrydavid @lokicat @stormtrooperjulian @thumper59 @ranchorelaxo @TrashKitten10 @delilah7

Sorry if I've forgotten anyone! Xx

[MrsEG]

@purplefig thank you lovely. No fun is it. I was hit with this almighty sense of impending doom - it’s honestly the only way I can describe it. Hope you’re okay lovely - do whatever you need to to get through it! If you need anything from any of us just shout. Get back on those lovely beach dog walks. If I was any closer I’d join you!

@MrsR16 oh that’s good to know - the boys are dribblers too. Ahh the nursery fear it’s all too real isn’t it! I’m sure he’ll settle just fine - most people I know say their kids are angels at nursery and save the hardships for dear old mum...

@MrsH497 good luck - the Squeezy app is fab for pelvic floor exercises (and reminders!) x

[Fivebyfive2]

@MrsEG, have you tried them with just an open cup? It's a bit messy, but Joe loves it! He's like one of those drinking birds 😂 Although thankfully he does seem to have gotten the hang of his sippy cup too.

@MrsR16, I know what you mean about childcare and routine. I'm bricking it and I have 3 months to go, but it still seems really daunting!

Sorry to hear so many of you guys are struggling and feeling down. It's just such a strange time at the moment isn't it?! We definitely need that Mumsnet Mansion 😂

Joe was up every 2 hours again, including 1.5 hours awake 2.30 till 4. Then from 5.30 till 6.30 I just gave in and held him because I'm sure otherwise he'd have had the whole house up, so at least I got to have another hour just snuggled in bed while he dozed.

On the plus side, dh is off today so he's taken Joe for a morning stroll. We have a roast beef dinner to devour later 😋 And my dad retires tomorrow, after working until he's 68! Him and mum are soooo excited to have all the time... They keep making plans for stuff to do with Joe, bless them 😀

[ELW85]

@MrsEG - Finn isn’t a fan of the cups either, and he’s doing as @MrsR16 said and mostly just dribbling it 😂

@Fivebyfive2 - sounds like you have a wonderful day planned! Congratulations to your Dad on retirement too!
We’re going into ultra lockdown tonight in the north east, so I’m seeing my mam one last time. After the HV at 10am...

[thumper59]

Hey ladies hope your all ok and babies are all well.❤️❤️.

[cupcakesandglitter]

@ELW85 sorry to hear you're going back into lockdown too. Wouldn't surprise me if we ended up in the same position as we were in March!

@MrsH497 awww she's gorgeous! I know exactly how you feel re friends - I joined the Peanut app and it pretty much got me nowhere 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've just accepted that this is how it is now, I'm glad in one way it's shown me who my true friends are, and I no longer have to keep wasting effort on chasing people! With weaning, I'd go with an open mind and not put pressure on yourself or Charlotte , oh and prepare for it to be messy! 😂 Also I didn't have a section but I still have a wee problem from time to time 😂😳

@Fivebyfive2 snap! I'm loving the slightly colder weather! Not that we're going anywhere but I can't wait to wear jumpers etc 😂 congrats to your dad on retiring, I bet it feels amazing! Sorry if I've missed you mentioning this, but does he sleep well if you bed share?

@MrsEG thankyou, I'm definitely starting to feel a bit better as more of her personality is coming out - atm I'm trying to tackle naps and routine so that I can get some time to myself so we shall see! Im finding weaning a bit hit and miss really - doing a mixture of BLW and purées, but she's not ready for BLW I don't think, she prefers to be fed 😂 some days she has loads and other days nothing at all. It's mixed with teething, trying to crawl and a huge bout of over tiredness so it's not surprising really 😂 how're the boys finding it? Are they really different in terms of appetite or do they both enjoy the same things? I've got one of those anti spill cups for water but she can't really figure it out. She drank some from a normal beaker and was okay with that, I think I'm gonna try a cup? IIRC water up to 12m is just to get them used to having it at meal times I think?

@MrsR16 omg that smile 😭 how beautiful! Omg 😂 imagine watering it down! The best part I suppose is knowing that we know best - although im super anxious for childcare because we can't really control what's going on!

@purplefig totally understand, look after yourself xx

[MrsR16]

@MrsH497 aw thank you! I think he's quite cute (most of the time!) 😊 I started weaning about 5 months (ish?) - Ethan still loves food and has 3 meals a day quite happily! Charlotte's so beautiful ❤️

@purplefig you're doing great, lovely! We're here for you as and when you check in!

@MrsEG I hope he sleeps at the childminder's! I'm sure they have some magic potion they give babies to make them sleep with no problems 😂

@Fivebyfive2 we'll smash it, lovely! Well, we might crumble a bit but the babies will smash it 😂

@thumper59 hey! How are you doing?

@cupcakesandglitter he was so proud of himself! He's standing up on everything going... 😳 my feeling about childcare is that they have dealt with more babies than I ever will and know all the tricks of the trade 😂

[MrsH497]

Thank you @cupcakesandglitter 💕
@MrsR16 I was looking at starting soonish I know lol the advices 6 months, sitting up no tongue thrust but thought I'd see how she reacts to it all. Need a high chair first.

Anyone got any good shampoo for the post partum hair loss?!

[cupcakesandglitter]

@MrsR16 omg that's so cute! Dina did a mini crawl yesterday (she almost turns onto her side and kicks herself forward) but today she's back to crying at me until I pass something to her 😂 we're having GPs watch over her when needed which is why I'm so worried I think, one set have already proven to not listen to my SIL with her child and so I'm a bit apprehensive 🤦🏻‍♀️

@MrsH497 nothing from me I'm afraid, I just rode it out (horribly) it's the worst isn't it! My baby hairs have started to grow back now though!

[Fivebyfive2]

@MrsR16, Joe must have listened to you, he was waking after 3 hours last night instead of 2! Luxury 😛 How is Ethan doing with food these days, did he like the fruit you tried him with?

We're trying to get Joe to eat with us a bit more; mixed results! He enjoyed his first bit of curry, some roast potatoes and some cheesy leeks (not all together, obviously!) Failures include when I tried to do banana eggy bread and somehow it turned out grey (😂🤦‍♀️) and when I gave him home made potatoe wedges... He dropped them one by one on the floor, gazed down at them and cried 😕

Back to the friends conundrum! So today I was supposed to be seeing my friend from work. Confirmed last night and this morning we're still on... Gets to 12.30 (90 mins before she's supposed to come over) and I get a 'sorry, can't make it' text?! Aaaagh! I could have taken Joe to my mums for the day if I'd known earlier 🙁 On the plus side, I now have a tub of chocolate fudge brownie bites and no one to share with 😋 (sorry Joe, maybe when you're older 😂)

Pic attached... When you should have stuck with a cheese spread sandwich and melty puffs, but decided tomatoe soup and toast fingers would be 'a great idea' 😛

[ELW85]

@Fivebyfive2 - ah but he looks so happy!
Finn is about to have pea, leek and courgette pt 2 soon 😂

I think he’s starting to get there with his hands...ignore the washing to be put away; I was using it for cushions when he was sat up!

[MrsR16]

@MrsH497 OMG if you get any good recommendations for hair loss shampoo, let me know!!! 10 months in nearly and I still lose lots!

@cupcakesandglitter yayayay!!! That's exciting! However, you'll miss the days where you could put Dina down and know exactly where she is! 😂 she'll get there soon enough.

@Fivebyfive2 that's wonderful! I'm glad a virtual chat helped! 😂 omg how adorable?? Ethan's still eating everything under the sun... he likes pineapple! 😂 I'm glad Joe's doing alright with eating! Oh, that sucks about your friend! I'd have let Joe share the brownies 😂 Ethan's already had chocolate! Surprise, surprise, he loves it!

@ELW85 still a fab photo of Finn!! 😍

[MrsEG]

@Fivebyfive2 We’ve tried open cups, the Doidy cups - I mean they have a few sips but not much at all. I’m sure they’ll get there eventually! Wow retirement - the dream haha!
Ugh that’s crap - cancelling on the day is such a no for me. Night before, fine - day off is just shit. Enjoy the fudge!

@thumper59 Hello love! Hope you’re doing great too x

@cupcakesandglitter sounds like she’s doing great! They definitely let you know what they prefer don’t they!! Appetite wise the boys are very similar but Conor is insistent on feeding himself whereas Ruairí likes a mix, he’ll often just lean his head forward for something rather than grab it himself. I’m just taking their lead!

@MrsR16 childminders and nurseries definitely have a magic sleep potion I’m convinced of it!

@MrsH497 Hair loss... I just rode that train haha. I did try washing and brushing it less to see if that helped a bit. It’s stopped now and I’m at the poufy starting to grow back stage!

@ELW85 Ah hello Finn! He’s getting it for sure!

Well ladies I had my 5 hours off today and it was amazing. I strongly recommend a head and scalp massage if you can get one! I was sooo close to falling asleep...
DH also now gets why I’m always so highly strung after a full day of the boys! So excellent all around haha!

[LokiCat]

Morning all, I hope you're doing well! Managed to lose my place in the thread and sorry haven't been on top of it 🙈

A bit of a selfish post because I'm so exhausted, sorry!

So Alayna was doing really well for bedtime for about 2 weeks - I'd do her bed time routine, white noise on, in sleeping bag and put her into bed awake with dummy in and she'd fall asleep within 5 minutes for a 5-6 hour stretch before waking for a feed then sleep for another 5-6 hours. I obviously celebrated too soon because for the last week or so, she's been falling asleep on her own but wakes up every 2-3 hours needing the dummy put back in to fall asleep 😫
Anyone who uses a dummy experienced this? What did you do? I know the realistic answer is to get rid of the dummy; I tried last night for 20 minutes and she just fake cried in frustration 🤦🏻‍♀️ as soon as I put the dummy in she rolled over and fell asleep. From 4am she was up every 45 minutes!! So tired 💤

These babies!! Just when you think you've figured things out they decide to test you!

I'll try catch up with you all when I don't feel like a zombie.
@Fivebyfive2 I love that photo of Joe! He looks so pleased with himself 😂
@ELW85 ahh little Finn 😍 looks like he's doing well!

[MrsEG]

@LokiCat We ditched the dummy, didn’t want them relying on it to sleep so we went cold turkey with it at night and slowly weaned them off it for naps, we had a few crud nights but they soon got used to falling asleep without it. They started sucking their thumbs though - I don’t know which is better, haha. But yeah - if she’s waking when it falls out I’d say you’re gonna have to ditch it! Grab some sleep where you can in the meantime. We had a crap night last night and both of them are currently in the nursery not sleeping so I’m not catching any ZZZs this afternoon... think I’ll be in bed as soon as they’re down tonight!

[Fivebyfive2]

@MrsEG, sorry to hear the boys are keeping you up. Have some wine and chocolates 😀

@MrsR16, glad Ethan loves his food still. I think he and Joe are kindred spirits!

@ELW85, omg Finn is so adorable 😍 How did it go with the hv??

We're gonna try Joe in the travel cot at the weekend as an in between solutions to our cot conundrum. I can see us using it until he's big enough to use the cot as a bed to be honest 😕

We had a letter come through about a phone consultation for Joe's 8 to 10 month check up. Got a questionnaire to fill in.

Omfg... Just sorted nursery around what I'd agreed with work. Now work want me to drop another day! I can't afford to drop 2 days and pay for nursery, but reading between the lines, it's do what they want or risk getting made redundant because they're struggling... Fun times 🙁

[MrsH497]

Oh @Fivebyfive2 that's a rubbish situation to be put in. We are struggling with nurseries and shift work hopefully found one but need to go and look at it first.

@LokiCat we let her have dummy until she's almost asleep then I take it off her. But if she's having an unsettled bad reflux day she has it more as I do find it helps the reflux.

Exciting life I have got new pillows today can't bloody wait for bed! Clean bedding as well - heaven!

[cupcakesandglitter]

Omg @ELW85 how much does he look like you!! Gorgeous ❤️

@MrsR16 I know 😅 today she's just played on her mat but doing 360s on her stomach 😂 she's not got much patience so will grunt and moan/cry a little until either I pass her toys to her.... or she shuffles to them and grabs them, at which point she's absolutely fine 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

@MrsEG ah that's a plus I bet! If Conor feeds himself at least you don't always need to use both hands to feed! Dina does the same with leaning her head forward 😂 ooh that massage sounds amazing😩 hope you enjoyed every second!!

Ah @Fivebyfive2 sorry to hear about your work - is there anyway you'd drop another day at work and maybe drop a day of Joe at the nursery? Would that help? Sorry if I've missed it, what's the craic with the cot?

@MrsH497 gah the best feeling!! Enjoy your fresh bed! Heaven 😂

Ladies I really need some help please if possible! I'm really struggling.. I'm very much baby led to a certain point BUT I'm finding I need some routine, especially with PPD I feel much worse on days I don't get any time to myself... Dina will nap for maybe 30mins at a time (give or take ten mins either way) and her wake windows are all over the place. Eg. Today she woke at 8.30, was exhausted by 9.30, slept for 30 mins but was then exhausted an hour later again 😩 I'm not getting that long lunchtime nap, or any long naps at all 😂 on a couple of "lucky" days I've gone in and basically held her for another hour after she's woke after 30mins but I can't keep doing it. She settles herself overnight most of the time, but even bedtime is becoming exhausted. I do bath bottle and bed, but 30mins later she's awake again... and then has no problem staying up until around 10pm! Where I just boob her to sleep.... it's becoming really exhausting and I'm really struggling without routine. I have no idea where to start or how to implement anything really... she won't take a dummy, will only really boob to sleep, and won't resettle if she's woken up. I try not to rush to her when she wakes up but she doesn't just stir, she is wide eyed and playing with her comforter for a few minutes before then crying to be picked up - but a lot of the time her eyes are still red and she's yawning but she refuses to be resettled!

So sorry for the long post, I'm just so exhausted in the day, I can never get anything done and she's struggling from it too. All tips appreciated 😩

[Fivebyfive2]

@cupcakesandglitter, sorry I've lost track of ages... How old is Dina now?? You sound quite similar to me in that we didn't have much routine at all until about 8 months, when his wake periods got more predictable. I found it got better as he ate more; not that the food made him sleep better, but that giving meals at semi regular times finally started adding some structure to the day! I started following a rough version of the 234 routine. Up for 2 hours, nap, up for 3 hours, nap, up for 4 hours, bed. But because that's kind of aimed at a 12 hour night/day, which Joe Never does, often I fit a 30 min cat nap in at around 4.30ish, mostly in the buggy.

Sleep... I really shouldn't advise! Joe still boobs to sleep and is squeezed into the snuzpod because attempts at the cot in his room have been a disaster! But he will be rocked by dh, sleep in the buggy and car. I'm working on self settle, but it's not happening! Can you get her to sleep and then transfer her?? Another thought, does the bath relax her? I only ask because we found it stimulated Joe, so binned off bed time baths and swapped to bathing him in the day.

Sending solidarity from a fellow tired, routine resisting, sleep fighting household! Xx

[Fivebyfive2]

@cupcakesandglitter, forgot to add, to give a bit of hope, Joe now reliably naps for 60 to 90 mind after his first wake and around 90 mins to 2 hours after lunch, after a boob and being put in his pod. On a really good day we can then just go 4 hours and then bed, but a lot of the time we do the buggy cat nap before his tea. Sorry I don't have any self soothe advice. Still working on that here!

Try not to be hard on yourself re Sleep. I can't tell you how many times, after a bad night, I've come on here posting about my 'failure'... It is not failing though, it is just that all babies are different! Xx

[cupcakesandglitter]

@Fivebyfive2 Dina is six months now - I'm hopeful hearing that wake windows got better for you! I'm finding setting a time difficult for weaning atm because there's no same time every day she's awake/her naps don't really have a pattern. I'd love to to the 234 but it's impossible - she woke up at 7.50, I thought fantastic we can start the day.... she's just fallen asleep on the boob. Think it's because she isn't getting enough sleep overnight? Teething doesn't help either 😓 at night, usually around 10pm (up to 12am) I can boob her to sleep and then put her in her cot (in our room) and she'll sleep for a few hours. Last couple of nights she's been in our bed because she wakes up crying (think it's the teething). But any sleep before that and she's awake every half hour! We ended up buying another cot for our room, and just trying to do daytime naps in her room for the time being so she gets used to it 😩 we did move baths to the day time but because of her awful sleeping it just wasn't working - I think we do need the evening ones now though because we've tried bedtime without and she's too alert 😂 your day naps sound amazing, I hope Dina does it too soon 😂 it's exhausting isn't it, I'm way more tired now than I was in the newborn stage, and my legs are always in pain from lying on my side with her next to me - I can't even use my pregnancy pillow! Meanwhile DH gets to snore away next to me all night and I've never been more envious of his sleep and bloody useless nipples 😂😂

[ELW85]

Morning all

Thank you for all of your lovely comments about Finn! I’m trying my best to relax about his development but I keep finding things to worry about...eg at the moment it’s head control even though the physio and Dr said it was full control and great, I’m noticing things that might not even be things to notice.
I am getting there though and @MrsR16 has been doing an amazing job of keeping me sane!

@Fivebyfive2 - the HV isn’t worried, but she also flip flops on her opinions so that’s not helping me, haha!

@cupcakesandglitter - I know it’s really hard when sleep goes out the window. I wonder if it’s a 6 month thing as Finn has taken to doing 4 hours, then resettling then 3 hours then waking up after 20 mins and needing resetting periodically after that. You’re not alone though, and it will pass!

@LokiCat - Finn has a dummy but has started taking it out and putting it back in by himself so there may be hope yet that you can keep the dummy! Before that though, he started spitting it out so she may just get rid of it naturally.

I had thought Finn looked a lot like me but check out this side by side If him and his Dad as a baby!!

[ELW85]

This time with photo!!

[Fivebyfive2]

@cupcakesandglitter, aaahh 6 months was a bad time girl so I get it! I think there's a growth spurt around that age. I remember at just 7 months having an awful night and breaking down in tears, paying for the little ones programme because I was so desperate to try anything to get a bit of structure. Unfortunately it didn't pan out, the schedules they gave were too rigid and assumed he needed way less day sleep than he actually did, so we binned it off. He started sleeping much better naturally a week or so later. Unfortunately his night sleep has recently gone to pot again, but at least his day sleep is really good and now semi predictable. We only started the 234 a few weeks ago and sometimes he still has 3 naps so don't stress too much if she doesn't drop to 2 for a while xxx

@ELW85, oh my those photos made me smile! I'm really sorry to hear you're still anxious. Is there anyone you could maybe talk things over with? How is your dh about it all? I just want to come round and give you a massive hug and some chocolates! Xx

[ELW85]

@Fivebyfive2 - my door is always open for chocolates, hugs and chats.
I’ve agreed to have some CBT around health anxiety, so I’ve got a first proper session on Tuesday. I do feel like I’m managing it a bit more but with all the neurologist stuff with Finn, I think it just sent me into a bit of a tailspin.
DH is a lot more chill than me 😂
And to be fair, @MrsR16 has been doing a great job of making sure I’m not going off in my own head too much.
I’m very lucky to have our group! You’re all wonderful xx

[MrsR16]

@MrsEG I'm thrilled you enjoyed your time to yourself! And I'm glad DH understands a bit more 😊 I haven't subjected DH to a full Ethan day yet... I think he'll be in for a shock!

@LokiCat hello!! I'm epically struggling with Ethan's sleep at the moment... I still use a dummy with Ethan and he sometimes replaces it himself if he actually wakes up, but if he stirs but doesn't wake, he can't find it.

@Fivebyfive2 ooh, you've been contacted about Joe's check? I haven't heard a thing about Ethan's check up! I'll have to chase! Your work would have to be very very careful with making redundancies from the sound of things! It will all work out, I'm sure!

@MrsH497 ooh, new pillows and fresh bedding is the best!!! I'm jealous 😂

@cupcakesandglitter you've got a little monkey right there haven't you? Bless her. Ethan's wake windows are still all over the shop! He did manage the 2, 3, 4 routine the other day for the first time ever! His sleep that night was pants 🤦‍♀️ He's getting better at napping longer though. Although not from half 2 this morning 😴😴😴 he doesn't self settle yet either so I cuddle him to sleep.

@ELW85 still doing a bloody amazing job!! And managing everything really well! ❤️