December 06: For my first birthday mummy I would like.......

[Indith]

Here you go Eli!

I almost put 'your clothespegs' on the end there. Ds loves clothespegs. Came home from Rainbows the other day and dp had made a deal with ds. He could play with the clothespegs as long as he did it in his playpen and let dp make dinner.

I'll say.

Just put dd1 to bed, she didn't want to go to sleep in case she had a bad dream

We talked it all through, and I left her giggling, but if I don't get more sleep tonight god knows what I'll be hallucinating about tomorrow

Awww, poor little elibeanette. When ds1 had nightmares last year, we made a sign that said 'no monsters allowed in here' and stuck it on his door. Did the trick. Still there!

I'm actually going to talk to our GP on thursday about DD1's sleeping, including her nightmares and night terrors. I'll let you know if she has any recommendations. At least with night terrors they don't tend to remember them - bloody scary for us though. Here's hoping for good nights' sleep all round tonight!

Thank you all for your very kind suggestions for disguising my gash [sardonic] Perhaps I'll just wear a large colourful hat and give people something memorable to stare at.

Thanks, will try that ('no vipers or scorpions allowed') tomorrow. dh thinks she's angling to boot him out of our bed and sleep with me

BP, X-post - sorry your dd is having similar problems, and yes, please, any tips gratefully received. dd had a few night terrors (more like night tantrums, strangely) last year, but now more like straightforward nightmares.

I do remember my neice going through a phase of them when she was 4, too. Maybe they're just realizing a lot more about the world, and their poor brains are processing over-time.

Do make sure you post a photo of yourself in that hat, please

your dh is so sceptical! Sign's worth a try, I think I got the idea from mumsnet anyway. It fell off and he insisted I put it back to keep him safe. I guess the world can seem a scary place to a 3/4 year old because they're starting to learn about things. Hope you get some answers (and a colourful, yet warm, hat) bp.
It is freezing everywhere else too! DS1's new coat hasn't come, ds2 is just about grown out of his fleecy all in one (should I buy snowsuit?) and won't wear mittens - meant to feel like -4 tomorrow!

Eli, we've been known to open ds1's window and blow the bad dreams away, then shut the window tight so they can't get back in. A friend of mine used to sprinkle some 'fairy dust' along the doorway so the fairies could stop bad dreams coming in. Sympathies though, it unsettles them so much doesn't it?

Ds2 had his first walk outside today in his wellies. He looke so cute stomping about .

Ok, we had sleep problems when DD1 turned 3.

Terrible nightmares.

Our solutionS

1 - Fairy wand waved about to scare the nasty dreams away.

2 - We found her old Tomy Dreamshow. A yellow star nightlight thing that plays music and glows. Meant for cot but it plays for 5 mins. She can turn it on if she is scared.

3 - Also, we have a cat. He can be a bit feisty and often catches mice/birds etc. We said that our cat would never let anything scary come into DDs bedroom as he loves us all and protects us.

The 2nd two were most effective. We rarely get nightmares now.

Also, the Tomy Dreamshow is very LOUD. So if she turns it on in the night I tend to hear it from my room and it means I can be ready to go in if she then calls (which thankfully isnt often because of being scared).

I'm not having a good week. Anyone who likes shopping then please help me out

DD1 at pre-school today. Took her to the Dr yesterday as she keeps getting tummy ache. he thinks it is colic pain (she is 4!). He's doing a urine test to rule out a uti but I dont think it is that. He reckons it will go on its own but she's getting pain 3-4 times a day at the moment

DD2 has injections today. Joy of joys. She is just about better from all of her colds and coughs and now she'll get ill again

Grumble, Grumble....

FGS, DD1 had tummy problems when she was 4 as well - I thought it was colic. She used to double up with the pain, just like when she was a baby. Our GP said it was stomach migraine, and that there was nothing we could do but wait for her to grow out of it.

I'm really hoping the GP will be able to help us with this sleep thing. In 5.5 years, DD1 has never slept through the night, and it's definitely getting worse now. Apart from anything else I need to move DD2 into her room but can't until I know that DD1's settled. Aagh!

We're being battered by incredibly strong winds now. I've decided that if the power goes out I'm just going to go back to bed Working from home today!

I took a tip from Terry Pratchett (of all people) when DD1 was suffering 'monster' nightmares. I asked her to leave her room and go into ours and stay there. I then made a lot of noise, moving furniture, thumping about a bit. Then 'bumped' down the stairs on my bottom, opened the front door and evicted the 'monster'. I told it very sharply let all of its peers know that this was not a house that welcomed monsters, and would they kindly leave us in peace. Then slammed door, went back upstairs and settled DD1 back into bed. She hasn't had a monster nightmare since.

DD1 still thinks I'm a bit magical

Good morning!

Hope you have had some sleep Eli, though your posts are quite entertaining in sleep deprived mode

Sorry to hear about all the nightmares, am noting solutions for use in a few years time!

We also have huge amounts of wind and it is very cold. Had to race around the back yeard like a mad thing yesterday trying to shove all the pots and the table and stuff into the old privy.

Ds is back in creche today ready for the new term adn I still haven't fed him! I made the decision not to offer if didn't ask but I just want to feed him! every time he cries (even when it was just because I put him on the floor to stir his porridge) I want to feed!

Ds is officially a bit of a tiddler, had his 12 month check yesterday and he is hovering between the 9th and 25th centile. He still weighs under 20lb according to the HV scales

still beautiful

Oh and have a look at this place Dp and I took advantage of having mum here and went out. Just the 2 of us. Without ds. It was fab

BP - I mentioned migraine in the stomach to Dr as I had it as a kid but he thinks it is too frequent to be that.

Your DD1s lack of sleep sounds very hard. Not sure what to advise as I'm sure you've probably tried everything by now. Does she wake for the same reasons? or is it anything and everything? I LOVE the Terry Pratchett moster scaring.

Indith - How lovely to have a night out

Indith, I spent whole minutes wondering why you kept pots and tables in the privy and not in the kitchen like the rest of us

Very at your night out. Still haven't had one since DD2 arrived. Really must find someone local who can look after both of them!

FGS, hope your LOs tummy gets better quickly. It's so miserable for them

oops yes that sentence really should have finished 'because they were being blown around so much' shouldn't it

Was first night out together in a year. Invite your mum uo for the week so you can sit in front of your computer and MN work. Def the way to go

migraine in the stomache? The mind boggles...you learn something new everyday. Hope you find out what it is FGS if not that or uti.

No nightmares! Could be she's settled back into pre-school, could be I made her wear a vest under her nightie so she doesn't get cold minus covers, could be pure luck. But thanks for all teh solutions, some of which I used when she was 3 (she's too cynical now) and some of which I've never tried and will - and LOVE the Terry P one, though dd1 is likely to end up very awake and enjoying it too much; worth it if it makes me magical

FGS, so sorry dd has stomach ache - 3/4 times a day after food? Or unrelated? There are some weird bugs going around that cause pains but not much else, I've had one, could it be? Poor LO As for shopping, I love it, but do'nt dare click on link as shouldn't be here at all should be having lunch so I can cope with visiting mayhem (pals plus kids) this afternoon.....

Indith, am enjoying your post, privy and all, even un-sleep-deprived

Not after food, Eli. I have looked for links to food, hunger, needing the loo, stress, etc and can't seem to find anything.

Re nightmares: DS was inspired to build a tent in his (and DD1's) bedroom after reading one of his school books. They slept all cuddled up together in it for ages and not once did DD1 have a nightmare/come and find me. Just a thought, maybe get them to share a room (or build a tent ). I'm sure it ties in with starting school/nursery/imagination taking off. Alternatively, ride it out - DS doesn't have them anymore (nearly 6).

Re tummy ache: try Actimel. Has worked wonders for my friend's son.

I hadnt thought of actimel castles. I've always been a bit dubious but if the urine results come back with nothing then I cant do nothing and watch her in pain. It's so sad. Must be a kind of spasm because she'll be fine for ages and then it hits her....

No wonder colicky babies scream so much if they have that kind of pain

I've been giving dd1 a probiotic drink every day since she had the rash/eczema after they were recommended on here.

Poor Indith - I was so sad when I stopped feeding.

Is it me or has mag74 been absent for a whilew?

I am finding it hard to find the time to post, so don't worry if I go awol for a while.

I have walked approx 7 miles in the last 3 days now I'm taking dd1 to preschool.

I seem to be doing a good impression of hansel and gretel. I dropped my glove yesterday on the way to preshool - and found it. Today dd1s coat fell from the bottom of the buggy and I found it again on the way to school 2 hours later.

I've been giving dd1 a probiotic drink every day since she had the rash/eczema after they were recommended on here.

Poor Indith - I was so sad when I stopped feeding.

Is it me or has mag74 been absent for a whilew?

I am finding it hard to find the time to post, so don't worry if I go awol for a while.

I have walked approx 7 miles in the last 3 days now I'm taking dd1 to preschool.

I seem to be doing a good impression of hansel and gretel. I dropped my glove yesterday on the way to preshool - and found it. Today dd1s coat fell from the bottom of the buggy and I found it again on the way to school 2 hours later.

A dietician friend of mine always recommends Actimel or something similar - she reckons they're fantastic - I think some have less sugar than others.
Margo, I think magnolia popped in just after Christmas but was having a tough time of it. what of lowfat though, she's disapeared entirely!

I saw lowfat around on other threads occasionally but haven't seen anything recently. Wonder what she's up to? Hope she's ok.

Mags' dh broke both arms when he was knocked off his bike just before Christmas so I think she's run off her feet atm.

FGS, your poor dd. Actimel or similar sounds like a good idea, at least you can feel like you're helping a bit. Ds1 went through a phase of doubling over, screaming in pain with his tummy but it passed after a few weeks. It was only once every few days, less usually, so I didn't think too much of it. Feel a bit bad now though .

Ds2 has another new trick.

Climbing up the ladder to ds1's top bunk . He is determined to give me heart failure!

Indith, I think there's a huge drop in hormones when you stop bfing which make you teary. Poor you though. I'm dreading ds2 self weaning. Are you absolutely sure you and he want to stop? Ds2 never 'asks' for a bf but he never refuses if I offer either so I'm figuring that he's still happy to carry on.

Goodness, Indith, I forgot to post re: bf - how long now since he's had a feed? Could you try lying down/in the bath etc to awaken his interest so to speak? If he has self-weaned (and everything I've read suggests it's not tha t usual before 12 months, more like 18+) then you may remember me with floods of hormones, took quite a few weeks to calm down.
DS2 danced yesterday, so sweet! My mum did a little boogie so he held onto the armchair and lifted his legs up and down whilst kind of shimmying!
Oli, be careful up that top bunk! They scare me, dp can't wait to get bunks for the boys, he wants them now!