June 2008 - The Olympics are here and Mums deserve gold medals

[ThePenguinProject]

Thought I'd start a new thread before we ran out of space! Couldn't remember the exact name suggestion so have paraphrased, the sentiment is still the same though...

UDC - B doesn't vom very often, but has been a bit sicky since jabs - seems to have settled today though, so fingers crossed D will too.

LAura breastfeed/bottle feed on take off as the sucking action helsp balance ear pressure, if they wake up on landing do the same, we flew with Edie when she was 4 months and she was great, also if you are doing cheap ariline, see if you can get priority boarding worth it even if you have to pay for it. We are going out Friday but wll be back by 11 which is when you should be turning up, there or there abouts, our babysitter will be able to help you if you are lost and I will email your DH with my mobile number as well.

Hello,

How did your children change when they started to try and sleep for a little longer at night?

Timothy has started to occasionally sleep from 20:30 until 06:30, however, sometimes he wakes at 04:30 or 02:30 instead. Sometimes he wakes up in the early hours and screems for an hour or two! I laughed so much when I read that babies cry themselves to sleep in just 10 mins - not mine!!

It's so unpredictable, not knowing how good a night sleep we're going to get! He had a really active day yesterday, and a snoozy one today - here's hoping he'll still sleep tonight.

Laura I brought A on the plane a couple of weeks ago and it was much easier than I expected. I had him in the sling in the airport which made it very easy to have hands free through security etc. Also he didn't get bored as he slept in the sling. When we boarded he woke up when I had to take him out of the sling to attach the seatbelt round him, but I gave him a feed and he went back to sleep for the flight (just a quick flight). Good luck, I'm sure C will be fine

agaboo I'm very re. the 5 hour sleep. My max so far has been 4.5, and that was a one-off!

essie also interested to hear how you managed with the bath. I like the idea of it (minus the poo !), but don't know how I'd get out/get him out without DH

sponge, so sorry you're feeling so down. Don't feel like a bitch for feeling like that
hi agaboo.
Laura, ditto feeing on take off/landing. At this age, flying is a doddle. Just wait till they're 1+ and doing the whle backwards head butt thing. 1 till 2 when they can't sit still & can't be reasoned with - hell.

Sorry, no time to read further. ds had 1st day today . SOmehow I didn't feel moved to tears, but kept cecking my watch and asked the teacher if I could leave yet (bad mummy)..

Took ds3 swimming as a treat, was a bit scared just going with ds3 & Adele, but luckily she slept most of time, till a little toe rag splashed his sister loads & drnched my sleeping baby. I had a bit of a go at him, not realising his mum was right behind me oops.

Going ou for giant ice cream with all 4 of them when dh gets in yum yum.

Wishing any techy babies a good night's sleep tonight

Oh mixing up baby whisperer and 'no cry' doh! As agaboo says its not a set routine - it's all about working out a sleep plan that suits your baby. For newborns I think most of the stuff is fairly common sense but it does have lots of advice/tips on dealing with different problems. It is padded out a bit though! Initially I did think it was a bit BF focused but I think its useful for both FF and BF. Haven't looked at it properly since S was born, but maybe worth a look for anyone searching for alternative to crying down type methods.

Ernest glad swimming went ok at telling off toerag while mum behind you!

Lin06 I didn't notice any specific changes as such. DS varies between active days and sleepy days but haven't noticed any trends on how this affects his nighttime. He doesn't feed in the night but sometimes wakes up looking for his dummy.

amber hope all ok with Luke.

Someone suggested pulling legs back towards tummy? (Sorry, read earlier but no time to post). Hadn't heard of that so will give it a try. Presumably just gently push knees up towards tummy?

Laura I think you BF but anyone FF needs to plan in advance getting FF onto flight if feed needed whilst at airport/flight. I hear different people have had very different experiences at airports due to liquid restrictions. One tip I got was to phone Boots airside and reserve cartons of ready made milk to save hassle.

Laura that's a good point from BDQ re. liquids. I bf but brought ebm in bottles onto the flight as A is such a fussy feeder and I wanted to keep things simple. The rule (on BMI anyway) is that you can bring bottles in addition to your other liquids, but that then must contain 100ml or less. And they make you taste them (urgh!)

Ok a quick post because PIL are coming [stress emoticon] and DH won't be home to entertain them [double stress emoticon].

Amber and UDC sorry to hear about the vomiting. No suggestions - not a health professional - but plenty of sympathy. Amber, is it all coming up or just some? Iestyn was really vomitty (to make up a new word) but mainly because he was taking too much. Surplus would return, often with extra. He's better now but I didn't mention the vomit he did in the bath last night as well!

Before Penguin gets on here I will now confess to my baby brain moment today. London ladies, I was all set to go to meet you, but Iestyn needed a feed, so I texted Penguin to tell her I would be late. In fact, not late, but 24hrs early... See you tomorrow!!

Instead, I made an appointment for the Cupcake spa and had a facial! It's dead expensive, but the facial was blissful, Iestyn was ok in the creche (first time with a stranger - or indeed, anyone other than DH and I) and the other mums were so friendly. Mind you, I won't be able to meet my mortgage payments now!!

Bathing, well some tips from the expert here... I started having Iestyn in the bath with me because he hated being bathed so much, and it's worked really well! It is a 2 person job, though. I get in the bath, DH hands Iestyn to me, and I hold him (really tightly). He kicks like fury, absolutely loves it! Then he's handed over to DH who dries him off etc. I once tried it by myself (my bath in Wales is a corner one so a bit easier to get in and out of), but I was naked and wet and rather cold, so I'll only do that if desperate. The only way I did it was running the bath, getting in it with Iestyn, and getting out, wrapping him in a towel, wrapping me in a dressing gown, then attending to him.
But yeah, the poo was a bit of a shocker...

Probably x-posted with loads of people now because I've spent half an hour on the phone!

Poppy and Essie - Luke not vomiting, just spitting it out, arching his back and holding his breath. Poppy you could be right about him being too tired and interesd in other thigs as the 7pm feed tonight he did the same and I moved to a dark room and he had the lot (well until he fell asleep whilst drinking it!). HV said he might have gone off cow and gate so I gave him Aptimil instead. Not sure of any difference tbh.

Testing out my baby restraint (AKA Safe T Sleep). It came yesterday. Doesn't fit the bed properly - it's a little too big so I have pinned it to the mattress. Let's see how he gets on or if he will work his way out of it houdini style! (more likely).
Re bathing - Luke used to bath with me but he prefers it on his own now as he can splash about much more in his little plastic seat. ALso it really wears him out so easier to get him to sleep!

Looking forward to seeing all the London lot tomorow x

Bloomin' eck - too many posts! Ok, just going to deal with Tuesday's for now

Thank you all for your comments re: the job.

Mamwhizz - The everything happens for a reason is one of my philosophys too, although sometimes I find it bloody hard to work out what that reason is!

Welcome Agaboo - great name.

Essie - PMSL at poo in the bath. Sorry!

Amber - Luke freaks out at the 7pm feed because he's watching the baby channel as you feed and it's goes so trippy at that time. Don't be anxious, you're a fab Mum and Luke is a lovely baby. He also seems to be way ahead of Ryder in his development so you're obviously doing something right!

Paro - Loving Fleur batting those eyelashes, Ryder just plays hard to get (ie: is grumpy).

End of responding to Tuesday's posts

Hello all, Its been a few days since posting, very busy here getting my big girl ready to start school on Friday! Sybil - hope alls going well for you LO.
I like a few others before me have felt a little ignored at personal comments Ive made or directed to certain people. I understand that people just dont have the time to reply to everyone about everything, but I have made a few comments/questions to people in particular and not had anything in return. I also do not want to leave the thread as i find it really helpful and a lovely thing to be a part of, hence keeping my distance for a few days.
Katyjo, hope the boobs are going down now. For me, I stopped BF on the Wed eve, was pretty uncomforable until the Sat, just expressing off 1oz a day. By the Tue was back to normal. I was very emotional too at stopping, but now 4 weeks on, I have no regrets as we are all soooo much happier!
GF and Needahand, am still up for a meet up at some point if you guys keen.
Sponge, I too can really sympathise with your feelings towards pg freind. I did'nt have to go through IVF, but it took 3 years to conceive this one, with a mc in between at 10 weeks. Squillions of freinds got pg in the meantime and I had very difficult emotions everytime. It's completly understanderble. You've done so well to get to where you are already.
Isla's jabs last week went ok, she slept a lot the following day, followed by a couple of nights of random sleep. Waking at 4 and not going back to sleep until 7! Not nice.
She seems to be over that now thank the lord. Possible growth spurt going on though I think, has just drank 7oz before bed, normally only 4!
Hope all you others are doing ok and have agood night. x

amber think there is v.little difference between two (or SMA except SMA doesn't have probiotic in so can be a bit constipating). Aptamil makes edie a bit sicky so I've stuck to SMA. Re the feeds reckon distraction not good as defo puts edie off...

so much for last night (got her off to sleep at 8).. put her to bed again at 6.30 etc dozed off then woken up again so got her back to sleep and now shouting again... so much for my evenings

Wednesday...

Deb - Thank god I didn't read your post this morning, it would have exhausted me too much to leave the house. How did it go?

UDC - Sorry about D's vomiting. I'm sure you've already tried this, but just in case, someone at post natal group this morning suggested keeping baby upright for 20mins after feeding to help with reflux?

Amber/BDQ - The pick up, put down thing is from the baby whisperer I think. Details can be found on the website (google BW) if you don't want to buy the book...how much of a cheapskate am I?

Lin - 10mins!!!???

Essie - As if I'd tell on you...! Actually I'm afraid Amber already knew because I wanted to check that I hadn't got it wrong... The Times had an article on Cupcake at the weekend and I was overjoyed as I thought their rates had dropped hugely - article said £125 joining fee but just £25 a month thereafter. Unfortunately it was £25 a week and that was the cheapest option... I didn't realise you could go as a non member though.

Went to postnatal group run by local HV's today. The HV running it was wonderful, I want to swap the one I've got for her. However there was a stereotypical competitive Mum there, I actually felt sorry for her baby, I could feel the pressure she was putting on him to perform across the room!

Could I ask you ladies what you do for your 'bedtime' routine? Ryder has started staying awake later and later in the evenings so I think it's time to enforce a bedtime...

Looking forward to seeing the London ladies and babies 2m.

pp -don't ask me re routine... have edie on me as we sepak having failed once again to settle her earlier.. have emailed ambers night nanny as I give up!

Fed Luke in a dark room tonight and he muched the lot (don't suppose you mucnh formula but you get my drift!). Thanks for the advice all who gave it.

Bedtime routine for Luke stats at 6. I take him to the bathroom and weturn the taps on so he gets excited as he knows what's coming. Then we play a little while the bath is running. Bath until he gets pissed off with it and has worn himself out splashing around like a maniac. Dry and bedclothes. A bottle (now in darkened room!). Then for actual bed part I have a very dark room with blackout curtains and a white noise machine. I then rock him to almost sleep and then put him down (may have to pick up and put down once more but that's it). Then he's sparko until we wake him at 11. GF says that at 3 months they go into an adult sleep pattern of REM and non REM and can wake easily from the light sleep so that might be it?

poppy* she's on hols till sept 11th if you don't gt a response.

thanks amber remember you saying she was but couldnt remember when.. can struggle on til she gets back!

your routine sounds v.similar except she wont settle properly after initial sleep but then goes back down at 10...

your routine amber. I can't get S to shift his feed from 6 till 7 pm for love nor money and I dont want to give him feed at 6 and then bath straight after. As of next week we're going to try and bath him around 7 then try some gentle soothing in dark room before putting him down. Fingers crossed.

Fungle sorry you were feeling ignored - I think some days there are so many posts people dont have time to read them all or skim them.

PP It is indeed baby whisperer.. I was getting my 'guru's' (ahem) mixed up.

I've bathed luke loads of times after a feed and he's been fine (sometimes the timings get buggered up and he has a bottle at 6 not 7).

What I mean is why can't you feed and then bath? What happens?

PS white noise thingy is great! He starts closing his eyes when h hears it now.

Sorry Fungle if I've ignored you - it wasn't personal if I did.

Been doing the pick up put down thing tonight and so far have only needed to go in and re-settle Ryder twice now...since 9pm!!! He's been quiet for 10mins now though. [hopeful emoticon] Can't decide whether to do a dream feed as well. (R used to sleep thru the night without this....!)

Poppy - Pls don't use the word fail! Good luck with the night nanny.

Part of the reason I want Ryder to start to fall asleep by himself is to stop him only falling asleep on me. But I have to admit that part of me loves him doing it. It's so snuggly and I can't deny the 'only Mummy is good enough' vibe boosts me....but I'll keep that for daytime naps. [guilty emoticon]

Amber - What's your white noise thing? (Opps I actually just typed the word white with an S....!) Sorry, I'm sure you've mentioned it or linked to it before...

pp sorry inadvertent typing..but know exactly what you mean - I love cuddling edie to sleep but know its not exactly a long term plan!...also re cupcake -am bracing myself to get my mum over for day where get hair etc done. As most doting grandma in world I know all routine etc goes out the window which is fine but not for every day (have resigned myself already to dealing with v.spoiled daughter who doesnt want to come back from grandmas)

amber logic prob much the same as the idea that kept me and my sister out the swimming pool for an hour as kids (my mother had visions of us throwing up/cramping).. suppose it makes sense not to bath if baby has reflux etc but sounds like works well for luke.

Fungle - hi, my ds2 starts school on Monday too, but he's 6.5, they start much later here, is your dd looking forward to it?

PP and others - had a great day, but am knackered, gold panning was a bit of a disappointment - no gold nuggets - just sparkly sludge in the pan!! Bird of prey display - one of them flew off and the trainer had to run off down the mountain after it!! But most importantly ds1 and ds2 loved their day and ds3 just fitted in !!

Really hoping for a few hours at the spa tomorrow as that's also included in this card we have , so it will be Ethan's 1st swim/splash. The outdoor pools are way too cold for him.

Ernest - hope ds's op goes well tomorrow

How's Josey doing? Is she around?

Hi all

mamawhiz re storm sleeping through, she pretty much did it herself. She took less and less at her 10/11pmish feed until about two weeks ago it was becoming difficult to get her to take anything and it took hours to get her to sleep after. So I stopped trying to wake her for it and just ignored her when she got unsettled around that time. She resettled herself and slept till 4 the first night. I also stopped setting alarms in the night to wake and check/ feed her and let her wake me up - I felt guilty at first, but looking back I think the alarms (just a vibrating mobile across the room) were part of the reason she was waking. The first week she slept roughly 9 til 4 all but two nights, and now seems to go from about 8.30/9 to 5.20am most nights. The key for me is not to pick her up again once she's in her cot unless I think she's got bad wind, but then I'm lucky as she almost never cries (touch wood...)
However, Storm is a big baby, now about 15lbs, so it's probably easier for her than a smaller LO - how much does yours weigh?

paro good luck with settling fleur. I got annoyed at trying to feed storm to sleep for her morning nap today and just plonked her in her cot (i knew she was tired). I left her to her own devices and she went to sleep by herself. Am going to try it more often as, while it's nice to feed to sleep, it's not a long term solution really!

fungle/needahand I've got baby massage tomorrow, but we could do something on Friday? What do you think?

poppy * I know it's a tough decision re the builders, but it might save your sanity!

sponge don't feel bad for being jealous of your friend - it's totally understandable given your past problems.

No time to respond to more but hi to you all and