Feb 08 "Sore nips & no naps"

[omy]

Sorry guys- it is better with the date non?

Thanks count i thought i might get lynched for preaching !!!!!! glad it worked for you too!!!

Thanks sarah - you're right - in the end it's saying goodbye and better to be there...

And love the EASY routine. Kinda follow that already with me sleeping when LO sleeps in the morning...otherwise I can't function during the day! Am surrounded by Gina Ford fanatics and it makes me feel very disorganised!

And soz to hear about hernia saskia - anything like that is so traumatic for parents...thankfully, LO's don't remember it - that's what I hang on to (having held down LO for 4 cannulas!)

Thanks for the baby whisperer routine - I like it as it seems to follow the natural cycle. Havent tried the dream feed as I am usually fast asleep by 10pm! (I try to go to bed with LO)
It's a good idea though.

Saskia - how worrying to have to go through that operation. Glad all is well now.

Princess - those sticky bits on the breast pads always end up sticking to my boobs! Ouch!

LO has just gone down - which means I must too! night...

Saskia, sorry to hear that your LO has had to endure surgery. That must have been very difficult and I'm glad to hear things are back to normal. Pram outings on train and taxi are very much a hit and miss affair. Most stations have tons of stairs and you are reliant on the goodwill of passers by to get those heavy buggies up and down from the platforms. Taxis a doddle though but always wonder about safety of LO's in a pram if the taxi suddenly decides to slam on brakes (which happens in London a lot!)

Sarah - thanks for baby whisperer routine summary - love the description of the "dream feed" - it really is isn't it as they're off with the fairies but still manage to glug contentedly. Did mine last night and broke the feed for a burp halfway through then couldn't get the rest in as he absolutely conked out, despite some furious feet flicking!! Then got woken up at 3 (as opposed to 5am the night before).

Morning everyone! Well last night I cluster fed at 6, 7, 8. Dream feed at 10 (didn't knwo there was a name for that!), but DS2 still woke up every 2 hours for a feed. Thankfully he went back to sleep after each one, but it does seem an awful lot!
He's such an impatient baby - he only stops crying when he's asleep. I feel like I have a permanent headache from all his screaming...Oh, here he goes again...

Hi Guys

Thankyou for all your lovely warm welcomes.

saskia- sorry to hear about your lo, but glad all is ok now.

beany- may have to get some tips from you. I feel like Im totally crap at dealing with the two of them at the moment Probably cos dd cries so much, so when ds is around I dont have much time for him. Im sure we will get there eventually.

Omy- So glad the osteo is working, that gives me hope How many sessions did you have?

Re- baby whisperer- Yes used this book like my bible with ds, and I have to say it worked really well. To this day ds is an excellent sleeper and only recently dropped his 2hour day sleeps!

Still a bit skeptical about the dream feed though, used to do this with ds aswell, on the breast. He never woke up, but I always wondered if he would have slept til 3.30 anyway. (without me waiting up til 10!) He always woke up at 3 regardless.

Well, dd slept from 10-2 feed then through til 6.30. she is asleep now , but will wake soon for a feed Im sure.
Im with you guys who have had noisy nights though, dd strained and moaned her way through the night.
She is often gurgling halfway through the night and vomits (although it doesnt seem to bother at night like it does in the day)

Anyone else have this?

Quietone - 'he only stops crying when he's asleep', Yep sounds just like dd!.

Saskia - sorry to hear about the op, that must have been very hard for you all. Glad everything is ok now

Sarah - thank you so much for your long post. I really like the BW and tried to use it last time too. The main problem I have, and can anyone please help me with this, is that ds2 just doesn't like being put down and squawks whenever I do. Perhaps while he is complaining I should leave him and see if he settles himself but not let him descend into full blown crying? Arghhhh!!!

Ds2 has also gone from sleeping 7 hours at night to 3 hours at a time.

Smithy - I don't have any top tips. The best thing I am doing with ds1 atm is the "How to Talk..." stuff (he is 3.5) which is helping all round and just makes having 2 easier in general but that's about all. He is very patient and wants to help so I try and involve him but that's just luck rather than judgement on my part!!

Egg - big shout out to the ds1 poo!!

Beany- glad you appreceiated the long post- i was worried everyone would get bored!!!! i just hope it helps a few people realise there are different ways to have a routine and its not always about being cruel/harsh/hard etc!!!!

Not sure what to say re- cryinf when lo ias put down, i have a really contented baby- she is happy to lie in the cot- pram, carseat, chair and watch whats happening- we have being putting Rosie to in her cot at about 7 so she gets used to being in there awake- by the time DS is in bed and had his story - (normally by 7-30 she is fast asleep!!!!) i feel very lucky she is a good girl!!!! i think you have to do what you are most comfy with- if you can leave him to settle then fine- if not pick him up0- he is your baby and you know whats best for him!!!!- not helping though am i !!!!1

Going to stop rambling now- off to list stuff on ebay as bank needs a cash boost really soon!!!! oh dear- i must stay away from NEXT-

Sarah - you have helped me loads, thank you.
He is asleep now but that was after another feed, but hey ho, sleeping in his cot is progress for now so I'll go with that!!

Right, time for a spot of lunch methinks!

beany- was trying to read that book a while back. think ds was a bit too young at the time though! (2.5).Think it would work better now.
Yes he is very helpful too.
Also, Mine goes to nursery two days, and has a day or 1/2 day with his cousin.
Feel like I miss our one on one time though......

feeling a bit chuffed, cos having read some of the posts from some of you I decided to put dd down in her cot and let her cry for a bit. And guess what! She is fast asleep.
Id been trying everything. else..rocking, burping, boob, sling.
Admittedly ds did turn up and distacted me somewhat from the crying... so there you have it...i need to be more hardcore from now on methinks!

I know what you mean about missing one on one time Smithfield. On the odd occasion I get to cuddle up with ds and read his bedtime story I feel quite sad that the "mum and bean team" as we call ourselves has now moved on. I'm also really aware of how quickly he is growing up. Sentimental old mummy. Sniff.

Ds2 is also just sitting in his chair, quite happily. This is turning into quite a day!!

My day babywise also going well, but I have my THIRD cold since babies born so feel like death warmed up. Thank god DS1 is at nursery today. Babies slept for three hours at lunch in their cot! Just been fed and passed out again, although now DD is crying a bit. I honestly do find that they go to sleep quicker if they are left to cry for a couple of mins, if they get picked up whenever they cry they never settle except on someone. All babies are of course different though and this didn't seem to work for my DS1.

Saskia so sorry to hear about your DS's op. Glad he is all better now though, but must have been horrid. I am very curious to know where you got the bottles of ready made milk with the teats. I asked in hospital if they were available to buy anywhere as was dreading first few nights with two teeny babies at home and they said nobody could get them except hospitals etc. Also they only ever seemed to come in 100ml bottles which would be too small after a few weeks. Would love to have some for emergencies!

How can my babies be asleep again when they just slept for hours? Aren't they supposed to have some activity now?

Dreading this evening once I collect DS1. It is all a rush getting him bathed and babies fed and everyone in bed. Wish I could bath the babies before bed as I really do think it helps the routine but it takes forever as I still dont like bathing them together as worry one gets too cold. Also dont like bathing them when DS1 is around as it means so long away from him and he hasn't been interested in coming into the bathroom to help (not that we would all fit). They haven't had a bath since Monday as I couldn't face it today .

DD crying again, better give her some love. They are smiling so much more now thankfully, it makes life a lot nicer.

Oh and thanks for kind words re Mcdonalds and poos etc. DS1 "normally" has weetabix at breakfast with some flax powder on top, but has not had it for a week (since DH gave him a biscuit for breakfast last Friday ) so that is prob not helping. He wont eat fruit except bananas which I have been told can make constipation worse in small children. He does like fresh orange juice with bits in so am trying to get him to drink lots, but then I worry about his teeth... Children are one big worry really aren't they?

Spent so long writing this that DD is now snoring.... Neglected again.

If DS1 is in a good mood I love the time from 7 to 7:30 when it is just me and him, the babies are in bed, and he gets into his sleeping bag and sits on my lap reading Postman Pat etc. He also likes to get into my bed (and makes me get under the covers too) so we can "lie mummy" together . Trouble is he is often a bit grumpy at bedtime so it doesn't always turn out well. Fingers crossed for tonight.

Egg - I bath ds2 on a "need to" basis, i.e. when he has puked on himself one too many times and someone is coming over. Today, I am changing my clothes on the same basis. He has been sick on me (and I mean, sick) 5 times, but am not changing until I have to go out. The washing machine can't cope otherwise!!

Ds1's old CM used to say that about bananas too. Fortunately ds1 is into his dried fruit and likes dried apricots so he starts the day with those. We have been known to put prunes in his porridge before now but that was before he had a choice in these matters....

Sarah - have been following your advice and just feeding ds2 a lot more today instead of waiting until he squeaks. Will see what the evening brings. Last Ashes to Ashes tonight - marvellous, although I have to say, I have seen enough of Keeley Hawes' left shoulder to last me a frigging lifetime!!

Reading the Baby Whisperer info (I do have the book but obviously never really read it properly) makes me think I am feeding mine too little. They nearly always go at least 3.5hrs between feeds. I guess though being bottle fed they maybe get more each time esp if further apart. It def seems to suit them better. It says on the formula box they "should" be having five feeds a day, and that's from something like FOUR WEEKS old which is ridiculous as that would basically mean no feed between 10pm and 7am or so if you feeding 3-4 hourly. What a pile of cack. Mine have six feeds a day.

Beany glad your DS2 is the same. I took the DTs to nursery today and said "they might smell a bit, today is supposed to be bath day". I think your post a week or so ago summed it up.

DS1 - Oh no! Neck cheese

DS2 - Oh look, neck cheese, better bath him at the weekend if I have time (or words to that effect).

DD playing nicely under activity arch.

DS2 still asleep.

Hi all, have been feeling guilty as we have no mobile or play arch for LO. So finally made DH put a screw in the ceiling and hang up the lovely indian elephant mobile I was given last week and she LOVES it. She smiles at the elephants (very cute)

I also bath on a need to only basis - especially when it was sooo cold and we still have no heater in the bathroom. (usually bath her in whichever is the warmest room at the time in baby bath)

We have started calling her scabby head as her dry skin on forehead and head is really chronic - I hope she doesn't get exzema! Olive oil doesn't seem to help so am now trying pawpaw onitment (from Australia - a bit like vaseline - actually more like lansinoh!)

ds used to go 3.5-4 hrs between feeds and he was breastfed...so it depends on the baby I think. I dont think a baby would sleep if they were hungry.

Am so looking forward to the pint where dd will settle in a cot from 7pm. ATm its continuous crying and cluster feeding from 4-10pm. Driving me up the wall. But it has got better as it used to be 4pm-12pm.

Found a top sibling tip...get them to replace the dummy! Ds loves doing that for dds naps in the bouncer

Uhm *point not pint- you can tell it's witching hour here!

I heard an interesting program on the radio on insomnia the other day - apparently sleep deprivation releases hormones that make you crave chocolate and junk food! hmmmmmmm

I have a play arch for titch but he never actually goes under it. Ahem. I suspect he has enough of me in his face, without a bunch of stuffed animals as well.

Egg - I'm not sure how many feeds ds2 has, it's still a bit of a running buffet here, partly because I have been reluctant to fill him up too much because of all the puking. That does seem to be settling down just a little bit though, so am going to try for some bigger day time feeds and see how we get on.

I hate to speak too soon (last time it was not a good plan) but since returning to the infacol and giving maximum dosage we have not had a puke from DS2! The odd bit of possetting type thing but no projectiling. Am sure it will happen now at next feed, which will not be good timing but hey ho.

A fine example of neglect in DTs happened after my last post. DD had a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge poo, it went all over, up past her belly button. A little bit went on her vest (only a teeny bit) and her belly button was filled. I just wiped her down with baby wipes, put a nappy on and did her clothes up again .

Egg - had to read your post twice to see what the problem was!

If it was DS1 he would have been put in the bath and given fresh clothes. Even if a bath was out of the question I would have at least got a sponge and wiped his tummy and belly button etc...

In a dilemma now. DS1 trying for another poo, DS2 screaming blue murder, nothing I do stops him, thought he was hungry although not due a feed quite yet but not interested in bottle. Need to get DS1 in bath but he is screaming when I try as he is needing a poo, but have to do it soon or I wont be finished before DTs need feeding (by 6:50 LATEST). If I drag him up unwillingly he will be horrible to bath, whereas if he goes willingly he is a lot of fun to bath.

DD playing happily...

Smithy - that pretty much sums up our evenings and yes, we are grateful that it's not midnight any more too!!

Omy - I heard that too. They were also saying that insomnia leads to depression and vice versa, so it can be difficult to work out which one came first, a bit chicken and egg-esque.