April 2008 - the one where Scorpio and Millie show us all the 'through the night' trick

[Scampmum]

Sorry if someone else has already started one - couldn't find it!

Much better night last night, maybe due to gripe water?

Roll on 14 weeks! G now goes down at about 8/9ish, wakes at 1ish, again at 4ish and again at 7ish. However when DH is doing his Fri/Sat stint with her, she wakes only at 4am and 7am. NO FAIR! lol I read somewhere that the reason babies are safer in your room is that they have difficulty regulating their own breathing when very small and the presence of another person in the room helps to regulate this process and so is protective against SIDS - so I think she sleeps so well with him cos he snores!!

I'm looking forward to taking G to baby massage - my course only starts at the end o July (there was one that started last Thurs but I couldn't take her to that one cos she hasn't had her 1st lot of innocuations yet). Speaking of innoculations, I am dreading them - she gets her 1st lot on Wednesday Next week we are going to take her swimming - been waiting for the innoculations to do that as well. SO looking forward to that!

Aeryn first slept through the night after jabs so don't be scared

you know how it's recommended that you don't bath babies every day? well, what do you do with them during that time instead? and how do you do a bedtime routine if it's not the same every day?

We wash her face with warm water and cotton wool and dress her in her pj's. So it is always either that or a bath.

We bath everyday coz she goes in with the other 2 and is just easier. I just don't put any products in the water and use olive oil on her skin after, otherwise as m2b says wash with cotton wool and water. If u want something to be the same everyday to signify bedtime maybe do massage b4 putting pj's on.

Thanks for giving me hope, Knitter. Sorry your knee had to pay the price though!

We bath Roelof most days as well, but follow up with oil so that his skin doesn't dry out. I know it's not recommended, but he seems to love it so much that I decided to go ahead anyway and just keep a close eye on his skin's condition. On the days that we don't bath him though, he doesn't seem bothered, still goes to bed at the same time, feed, change of clothes, bed.

Very few baths here, but the sort of routine is that A has nappy free time, wash and a clean vest, then milk and a smothering of wet kisses from her sister before bed every night. And this is the only part of the day which works like clockwork, every day!

Knitter,
I love your drawer idea. I might try that as we have big drawers under the bed too.

thanks.
Bedtime is NOT going well tonight. Am taking a break because for some reason it's really getting to me. Keep getting really frustrated with him, he's so obviously tired but he just won't shut his eyes. Have tried every trick that usually works and nothing is

LadyBee, try not to fret.
It's only 9pm and he will go to sleep eventually.
Breeeeeeathe

Calm vibes to you ladybee....when DC settled sit down and have a nice cuppa x

How you feeling now VS?

Congrats Eva! That's lovely news

I am so pleased I am not the only one who is a wee bit fed up with DP. Had another row this evening, which I think was actually my fault though - culminated in me telling him to 'Just shut the door and go away!' So he went. And gave me time to calm down and came back with a hug and a cup of tea bless him. He ain't that bad really. I love Molly to bits but it does put a strain on things doesn't it? Can't understand why people have babies to 'fix' dodgy relationships cos it would be bound to drive you further apart. The sleep deprivation itself is a killer isn't it?

Having said that, apart from when he dummy falls out and she has a bad night because of that Molly seems to be gradually getting into a pattern - she gets REALLY fractious downstairs by 6.30/7 and have to take her up to do bedtime routine, then an hour or so of doing that bath/feed/story/cuddle and she falls asleep after a couple of false starts between 8 and 9. I give her a dream feed at 10.30 and she wakes up somewhere between 3.30 and 5 for a feed, then back to sleep til 7. Sal - I got that baby whisperer book and have found it quite useful in understanding what sort of routine will be good for her to get into, rather than forcing her to conform to mine.

I do bath or wash every night cos she really loves her bath and seems to chill her out before bed, I just don't put stuff in it every night, just a bit of olive oil.

Hope I didn't sound too smug in that post sorry - I get very very bad nights too! Lots of them!

he did go off at 9:30 after another feed, poor thing.
BabyB loves his bath too, so I think I'll just keep doing it - I have a baby organic lavender wash that I use once a week and his skin is totally fine.
that break was what I needed, I don't know why I bother having any expectations that he'll sleep at a particular time..guess I was hoping for a repeat of yesterday, but the entire day's pattern was different as soon as he had a big sleep in the middle of a feed at 10 this morning. Aye well...tomorrow is another day.

WOW! G slept from 10pm - 3am, up for a 20 minute feed, back down again until 7am again up for a 20 minute feed and back down until 9am! I feel refreshed! Go G!

Lucky you Mum2BR, Ben did an enormous nappy at 1 which went everywhere and it took forever to clean him, the basket, myself and finally feed him. All the time he was hugely upset, which made it harder to latch him on, kept choking etc. He woke again at 4:00, then again at 5:30, and then at 7:30, not like him at all

Such a lovely day though - think we'll try to be outside as much as possible today!

Advice please! One of my friends is due in a couple of weeks, and I can't decide what to buy her. What was the best present you got - that you wouldn't have bought for yourself but have used lots anyway?

I also wondered about child benefit and the £250. Do you get it automatically, or do I need to get a form?

Thanks!

You should have got a form in your bounty pack for child benefit, if not ring up inland rev to get one (or HV's might have one if your in for weigh in). The trust fund cheque doesn't come till after benefit starts.

Present wise, memories book/boxes, baby scrap booking kit, voucher for photo, playmat, rattles/shiny toys, mobile for bed, or something for her like voucher for massage.

Ladybee, hope little bee is better today.

Thanks Denny. I never got a bounty bag, so I guess I need to find the form.

Sagitta I think you can download it from the directgov website.

Babybee has a cold - his little nose is running and he's coughing occasionally . I guess he's been fighting it off for a bit as his nose has been a bit stuffy and his eyes streamy for a few days now. I'm taking his temp regularly and it's ok - we'll just take it very easy today, lots of naps on mum.

Best present we got was a sheepskin rug, we've used it since birth almost daily, he loves lying on it with just a nappy on and it looks ok left on the lounge floor. Second the mobile as well, great distraction for nappy changes.
Other suggestions - a delivery of readymeals? CD of white noise? this DVD of baby calming techniques? a whoozit?

The best present we got was this blanket. I am at how much it cost though!

Sorry to hear BabyBee is sick LadyBee - hope he gets better soon.

Sagitta, get your child benefit done ASAP because they only backdate it for about 3 months. That's about £200+ that you'll lose out on.

Just got back from sports day and DP's final letter of appointment is here so he can finally hand his notice in and knows where he will be working etc. He is rather chuffed to say the least.

I, however have really caught the sun! I have strap marks and I had moved my straps by about 10:30am

Plus I need to see the emergency dentist toady One of my teeth has just broke in half and I have a broken sharp bit inside the gum Plus last night my filling that I got done when PG fell out!!
Gutted, I had great teeth til this pregnancy but all that sickness coupled with drinking so much coke has fucked them right up

Sagitta - my favourite gift was a blanket that my grandmother knitted him. So sentimental mainly. However, as I'm not creative at all my friends would prob not appreciate knitted stuff from me...

Then most practical was gift vouchers, but then - I don't really link the stuff bought directly to them, which I know you should.

Hmm - what else? Oh, got the cutest little denim dungeree from Baby Gap that he wore loads but I wouldn't have bought, and then I liked quirky stuff like this Babygami book. Hmm, just read the reviews on that book - apparently I'm the only one who thought it's funny, so I think I might just have strange taste...

Oh Sal, I saw that book in town a few weeks ago and am lusting after it!!

£60 for a handknit blanket is actually really good, especially one with all the multi-coloured pictures on. That takes ages to do. (Well it takes me ages to do anyway!)

Maybe I should I have said that I am at how much our friend spent!! It is a beautiful blanket and I agree - worth every penny if not more!

I am on the case with the CHB. Thanks for the link LadyBee - it was the only way I could get it to work!

Think I'll go with a mobile for my friend. Do they work? We haven't got one, but are the good for settling babies? Does anyone have a really nice one?

I always thought blankets were a good idea, but I know she's got one. Thanks for all the advice!