May 2008 - gurgling, laughing and maybe even rolling!

[thefortbuilder]

new thread everyone!

hellooooo!

finally got a few mins to post as ds2 is snoring in the sling

have read back but sorry no hope of remembering who said what...

we had a good time on holiday - we got the best 2 weeks of the summer (so far... ever optimistic ). DP did lots of taking the boys out for walks so I got my runs on the beach . Poor DS1 had an ear infection so was having looong naps every day, so we didn't do as many day trips as we were planning, but it was still nice just to sit in the garden with ds2 and try to figure out why he was wailing...

it's not exactly relaxing going on hol with two small dcs tho' is it?

ds2 is doing really well - sleeping at night a lot more consistently and even managing the occasional daytime nap in his bed (rather than strapped to or reclining on someone's chest!). He's really turning into a happy little thing as long as he gets his kip - otherwise he's a nightmare (bit like his mum ).

ds1 has been having a bit of a hard time he didn't take well to going back to nursery after being on holiday and has cried most mornings since . He only goes in 3 days but i think there is a lot of change in his life atm - he's about to go up a class at nursery (all his friends are already there) and also will start going to school 2 mornings in Sept. plus i think he has finally figured out that i stay at home all day with ds2

we have been trying to explain that only babies stay at home all the time, and ds2 will go to nursery too when he's bigger, and everyone has to go out and do things in the day (dp and i both work usually), and what a big boy he is going to school soon etc etc. he kind of gets it but i think he's a bit worried about it all. he's been quite a handful at home at times too and i think there is a bit of boundary testing going on - how much do you really love me? do you send me to nursery because you don't want me at home? will you still love me if i behave really badly? etc. he can't articulate any of this yet but i do wonder if that's part of it.

the rest of the time he is lovely - i had a really great day with the 2 of them last friday, felt really close and special. i am also feeling a bit guilty tbh because of liking my time at home with ds2... even tho' ds1 has had 3 years of our undivided attention and ds2 will never have that, i still feel bad, so maybe that is rubbing off on him too. boo hoo!

hope everyone is ok. my mum and stepdad coming up tomorrow for the weekend let's hope dp manages to be friendly this time

Hello can I join your thread please? I have been reading for ages but not posted yet. My DD2 was born May 2nd. I have a 2 year old DD1 too.

The thing that grabbed my attention is the sleeping debate. Nature or nurture? I think some babies do naturally sleep better than others but I also think a lot of it is down to what we as parents do with them. My DD1 was a total nightmare cos I cuddled and rocked her to sleep all the time. It took months and months of getting her out of the habit and I really regretted it at the time (and still do). I decided I would do things differently with DD2, so right from the word go I left her to cry it out and get herself to sleep. It was really hard, especially when she was newborn. I know they may have been different anyway, but the difference is amazing. DD2 learnt to get herself off to sleep very quickly.

asicsgirl glad you had a good holiday although I know what you mean, not much of a holiday with too DCs!! At least it's time away from home. Your poor DS1, I hope he settles back to nursery soon, it must be very hard for you.

Welcome gruffaloschild Great name! My DD1's fave book! I also have two DDs, aged 2 and 3 months.
Interesting points you make about sleeping...both my DDs have been generally good sleepers. I personally think it's down to luck, although DH is convinced it's what we've done with them. It must have been hard leaving a newborn to cry it out...don't think I could have done that!! Whatever the reason I DO know how fortunate I am, and I thank my lucky stars everyday that I have two good girls. Not that life is always a walk in the park for me, but I know I am very lucky, and I do appreciate it, IYSWIM.

DD2 has been a bit more grumpy lately and feeding a bit more. I'm wondering if it's a growth spurt (but she's not meant to have one at 15 weeks!...LOL)

LM xxx

Kings ROad is great for me - If the weather is good, I will get the train, but otherwise I will drive, I have a pass to get into Cadogan Square......

Week Wednesday is good for me...

Morning ladies!!

I have a Q for you, not advice really, just curious... For those of you with babies who sleep through... what do you do about nppy changes?

Harry is up at three every night so I change his nappy at that point.. but if your baby doesn't wake, do they just go the whole night in one nappy?

Morning YCBS. Yes, DD2 stays in the same nappy all night. She rarely poos at night now.

Gave her her first bottle of formula last night, at 10:30pm. She stayed asleep IYSWIM but managed 6oz. She woke at 5am but settled herself after about half an hour of gentle whinging, then woke at 6:30am for first feed.

I'm still planning to BF her 4 times a day, but give her formula about 10pm to top her up. Feel a bit guilty, which I know is ridiculous, but I feel as if I should manage one more breast feed a day, but it takes much longer, and at least with formula DH can give it to her.

She's also getting a bit harder to BF, she really fidgets and kicks her legs, so ends up pushing herself off the nipple, IYSWIM. She feels so big already to be BFing!!! I know that too sounds ridiculous! She's only 3 and a half months!

hallo ycbs! ds2 has the same nappy on from about 8pm (when he goes into his pjs) until 5.30/6-ish after his first feed of the morning. he normally has 2 smallish feeds in the evening between 8pm and about 9:30 when he conks out for the night. nappy seems to hold out fine!

welcome gruffaloschild! re the great sleep debate - i've said this before but ds1 was always fed/ rocked/ sung to sleep and he is now a brilliant sleeper. it wasn't a struggle making the transition either. so i really do think that children are just different from one another. everyone does what works for their family and that's how it should be

on another note, i got given a noonoo comforter - just a little one - when ds2 was born, but unfortunately it said on the card it's not recommended for bf babies. would anyone who is bottle feeding like it?

ps thanks lm74 for kind words re. ds1. i went in yesterday to see him on a 'visit' to the next class up and it was great - he played really happily, hardly noticed i was there and let me go after half an hour v happily. he stayed up there all day! so that feels like a huge step forward.

ikwym about the fidgety bf! ds1 used to pop off and look around at this age. quite embarrassing in cafes with him grinning at all the old ladies and me hastily trying to put my boob away, lol. i've been more used to it with ds2 as he's been quite hard to bf from the start - lots of wind and popping off needing a burp/ cough... ho hum.

great ycbs it's in the diary!

ds2 stays in the same nappy all night unless he does a poo when he wakes up for his feed at around 3am. otherwise he is just too awake and it's a nightmare for him getting back to sleep tbh. he doesn't often poo inthe night now.

and sam has the pox - 2 blistered spots today so we're waiting to see when the rest arrive. saw the doc this morning

oh bad luck flick. ds1 didn't suffer too much with the chicken pox, if that's any consolation. the worsr thing was having to keep him away from others who might not have had it! we went a bit stir crazy... good luck!

pina the cards are lovely! yes google adwords i think is expensive but i'm trying it out to see where it might get me - you never know!

also re the self settling - ds1 couldn't do it till 12 months then we moved and he regressed badly till about 20 months! ds2 has been self settling for at least 2 months now - i guess there was more of a "he has to" with he and jacob having a similar bedtime - ds2 has bath and feed first and jacob bath and into bed after so ds2 has to be settling himself really while i'm bathing jacob. i totally agree that all babies are different though!

not much else to report here

Just a quickie - I'm only on here for a tick...

But, Pina, I'd have another baby NOW

I have no chance of convincing DH to have another baby (he already has 2 girls) so maybe I haven't considered the ramifications too carefully!! But, if DH came home and said 'OK', I'd be in like flint!!!

sorry, gotta go...

B*gger!

Mind was overtaken with broody thoughts and I forgot what I'd come on for:

Harry is starting to teeth (pre teething, the Paed called it) so I've gotten him a few teethers.... Could you please let me know what you guys do about sterilisation?

I am religious about sterilising everything (it's the PFB in me!) but not sure how I go about sorting out these toys...

What would I do without you guys!!??! THANKYOU!

Holy S**t! Just been to the funfair at Superbros, we took DD1 on some little kiddie rides which she loved, and me and DH went on the big crop ride, the big claw thingy that spins around as it goes up and down, and the rollercoaster......I fill sick!!! It was (kind of) good fun, not sure I'd want to do it again!

Sorry to hear about the pox flick, at least it gets it out of the way!

YCBS I don't think I ever sterilised a teether? But I don't think DD1 really used them much (not for want of trying). If you can steam them in your normal steriliser I would do that, if not you can get Milton sterlising tablets that just go in cold water so mayeb try that but obviously rinse well afterwards.

The whole sterilsing thing is a bit of a mystery to me, as the Lactation Consultant said to me once "your breasts aren't sterile!" LOL! We currently use a microwave steriliser, which lasts for 3 hrs, so does that mean that one min after 3 hours the contents is no longer sterile??! And if you sterilise a teether, for example, surely by the time it's in contact with airborne substances it's no longer sterile? I do sterilise, but I just find it all a bit pointless when DDs put anything and everything in their mouths, that isn't sterile......

Oh, and no more babies for me...two is enough for us!!

That would be drop ride, not crop ride.... (it was very very high and dropped very very fast)

Hi Guys!

No time today - DH home tonight and we have a party this weekend, so away from tomorrow.

Flick - great. In my diary too. E-mail me at ycbs @ fsmail . net - it's my MN e-mail!!!

LM - thanks for the advice re. sterilisation. Glad you are enjoying your time at SUperbros...

PIna - Your website looks cool, will have a more detailled look soon.

Asics - Glad you ejoyed your break. THanks for the advice re. HVs!

Sorry, no time tonight... Harry says Hi!

Won't be about now till Monday, so hope everyone has lovely weekends.

YCBS x

Sorry, keep meaning to add 'Hi Gruffalo'

I'm not being rude, I just don't have a big brain capacity...

I think you are right about th nature / nuture thing... I went to Mums of Steel again today and Harry whinged as soon as he was placed in his buggy... I'm going to have to deal with leaving him now and again, Otherwise he's going to be a total mummys boy!

re teethers.....dh and fil took jacob to lords when he was a few weeks old (he threw up all over the corporate box...) and bought him a very small cricket bat and then a larger one which he wreaks havoc with now - but the very small one was his teether! he never wanted any teething rings but he grabbd this blessed bat and chewed the f* out of it...

and no we never sterilised it - i'm pretty free with sterlising now - sam is grabbing all the toys off the baby gym and gnawing on them as well as any blanket or muslin he can get his hands on and they're not sterile. agree with you lm - your breasts aren't sterile (well no ones are, not just yours!)

ycbs i'll email you

Hi all

Been a while, the days seem to be flying past, although I do read the posts when I can.

YCNBS - ds is 12 weeks now & i stopped sterilising his bottles a couple of days ago so now just rinse them out and run through dishwasher. I don't think you need to sterilise teethers just give them a wash. The thing with bottles is that the milk is breeding ground for bacteria but the teethers aren't going to be in contact with food.

Pina - love the cards, i'd like to do something like that from home but can't think what to do!

asics - glad your ds had a better time at nursery.

Hello to everyone else, sorry i only have a couple of minutes free.

Jamie is doing well although i think he's started teething too. dd turns 2 next week. Today when i was shopping they were in the double pushchair and she was sat there holding jamie's hand which was very cute and moments like that makes it feel all worthwhile in the midst of all the hard work and tantrums etc!

Morning ladies

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day!

I can't even think about another one yet! I do want another but I can't imagine sharing my love yet and want to enjoy dd. It however allows me to raise a question. Is everyone back to enjoying intimate relations with their dps? We haven't for a long time (I mean about 6 months!). It is him not me that's just not interested. When I was pg there was the issue of the bubble inside me and now it's because she's in our room....

Indulging in some Olympics while dd sleeps next to me. We are off on holiday tomorrow about 5am for 2 weeks. I am super organised since I had dd which helps me feel on top of things. I've had our stuff ready for weeks but packed last night. Got to do final bits today and I have to remember our dry cleaning. My memory is awful at the moment so I have a small book I write everything in.

Flick and YCBS hope you enjoy your meet and Flick hope your LO is better soon.

Indigo at your LOs.

May check in later but back in two weeks if not. Take care everyone.

MM x

Hi everyone, hope all is well, this thread has speed along while my internet's been down so I won't reply to individual people just poke my nose into the sleeping/settling debate.
I read a recommendation on MN for a book called healthy sleep habits happy child by marc weissbluth and I can say it has COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE! It's brilliant about sleep...how much they should have and why and when. The big thing is learning the signs of drowsiness (which I wasn't noticing) and putting them down then, which results in them going to sleep easily and learning to self settle. Once you get into overtired(which I was thinking was drowsy) then they start to go bonkers and that's when you get the hysteria and not being able to put them down. The more they sleep during the day (in 2 or 3 long naps) the better they sleep at night.
I started this weeki and Nico now does the following (he's 5 months on 26th Aug)
wakes 8am and feeds
after about an hour or hour and a half he's sleepy so he goes in cot and if I've timed it right goes off to sleep with almost no crying and sleeps an hour or two. Sometimes he wakes and cries briefly but if I leave him for a minute he usually sleeps another hour.
this he does every morning. Afternoon naps are a bit more irregular but he has AT LEAT one other 1 or 2 hour nap
feed and bath at 5.30-6.00, soothing and asleep or perhaps awake for a bit then a shorter nap.
8pm ish last feed. Sleeps til 8am.
He was beginning to do the morning nap himself but the book has really helped to get him down without crying, go 12 hours at night and me to understand how much sleep a baby of his age should be having.
It explains all about the science of sleep and how it changes from birth.
I really cannot recommend it highly enough. It's the best book I've ever read.

Just marking thread for later... Hope you're all doing OK.