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...

thrush not thrust!! Not much of that going on around here

What is pick up put down?

I'm struggling with settling Iestyn tonight. DH is working away (he will be tomorrow) and my technique is do everything (feed, nappy, bath etc), and then put him in his basket with a dummy. He's not sleeping, just fussing. Ignore the noises until they get quite loud (then go and replace the dummy) and hope he falls asleep. Help!

essie I do that dummy thing as well - I think I'm more reliant on it than A is! I was even sticking it in his mouth during the massage (the baby whisperer would be horrified!)

As far as I know, Pick up Put down is basically that when baby is in basket and cries, you pick him up to settle him, then as soon as he's settled, you put him down again. And this repeats until he stays down basically without crying! It is very wearing at the minute but I think the idea is that they get used to falling asleep on their own, yet have the security of knowing that you are there to help if they need you. I've just sent A off to sleep after a couple of repititions tonight, but I'm still on tenterhooks waiting for the noises!

UDC - I had quite a few pints of lager! Not normally much of a lager drinker but was at the Edin festival so its the easiest thing to drink. I stayed out till 2am

Tummy time - S doesn't really like it too much yet, after a minute or two he gets frustrated. I put him on his mat on his tummy every couple of days though. Of course, he regularly sleeps on his tummy on top of me or DH!

Neenz I also do the search the bed thing. So does DH. I've never bf at home and we only ever bring S into bed when we all wake up in the morning. It's very surreal.

Essie at your MIL. Other people always think they know best.

Thanks for all the nappy chat. Puddock I'm going to leave it a few more weeks now until S gets over this colicky/crying phase. Hoping he'll get used to the nappies - they were a bit expensive not to be used! I posted on the nappy thread and had a few recommendations to use fleece liners so will give that a bash. Essie I use the nature babycare (or whatever they're called - same as the codpiece nappies!) and they're quite 'dry' for a wet wipe IYSWIM so it doesn't leave S's bum wet. I also try and give him a few minutes to 'air dry' when I can. I read somewhere its good to let them have some nappy free time and S loves it.

Amberc I've got this which is all about appropriate entertainment for babies at different stages. I know some might find getting a book on it a bit unnecessary but as I've never really been around babies before I've found it very helpful so far!

Sorry, think this is a very long post. DH is away from the early hours until Thursday night so thought I'd take the opportunity to catch up.

Essie I often do the dummy thing. I'm so glad everyone on here recommended the dummy - its been a lifesaver for me. S still has crying problems but I'm not at the end of my tether the way I was a couple of weeks ago. I've inadvertantly been doing the pick up/put down thing. However, we're clearly not very good because as usual, S has ended up sleeping on DH after he gave up putting him back down.

ampster, I love the article - thank you! I have saved it to share with my NCT buddies, some of whom seem obsessed with "stimulating" their babies 24/7 and I think they're making their lives so hard!

Hi all. Am smiling at all the comments about what to do with our babies to entertain them... Well, B is quite lively right now, next to me on the sofa, and I am on mn and drinking wine! He is having a good kick around, so hoping he will soon wear himself out and need a good kip tonight - he's been full of beans all day.

DQ - hangover - go for it!!!

Allnew - TGF posted on the other thread about thrush symptoms - for me it was sore nips, with v pale tips when I'd fed B, creamy/white patches in his mouth. I think other symptoms include tiredness, craving sweet things, burning pain in nips. If you think you have it, get an appointment with your doc asap - we are getting rid of it, and it's made such a difference. I don't think I'm ever going to love bf, but it's bearable now.

Laura, Katyjo and DQ - ok, shall we plan a meet up? I will be around next week after all, but not the week after. I could do any day next week apart from Wednesday. Maybe if we can agree a date, we can think of a venue too.

Next week is rubbish for me whinegums I've got various doc's appointments.

What about week beginning 25 Aug or 1 Sep - kids will be back at school then too, so town will be a bit quieter.

Doh! Sorry whinegums you just said that week beginning 25 Aug no good for you.

Have just f up my laundry.
It's a mixed load, with a 'colour catcher' in there.
But the whites are grey.
Including Iestyn's lovely babygros.

So stupid.

DQ, week beginning 1 September then I think - if any good for Laura and Katyjo?

Katyjo, meant to say, glad you enjoyed Mumma Mia! One day I will be able to get out of the house in time to make the Grosvenor screenings!

Oh Essie! Curses! Maybe try soaking them in a weak bleach solution overnight?

Essie - your comment about preferring to talk to people who can reply really made me laugh. I am totally with you on that. The fact is that, adorable as they are, this baby stage is really quite boring IMO. I also feel a constant guilt that I am not 'entertaining' Caspar enough - especially as when i do chat to him, he gives the most massive smiles, that it makes me feel like he's miserable if I am not paying him attention. Really though, I don't think we need to worry about it - I think they are happy a lot of the time to just watch the world go by, as long as they are getting occasional hugs/chat.

Josey - I have been reading your posts for a long time and am filled with admiration at your incredible fortitude. Olivia looks so gorgeous in the pics - I just want to give her a big cuddle!

mamawizz - i felt the same re: jimmy's smiles - that he obviously enjoyed interacting with me and i was neglecting him if i denied him that stimulation - until today when i caught him giving exactly the same gorgeous, happy grins to a fluffy sheep on his cot mobile.

udc compression deffo helped with expressing this evening and seems to help with feeding - she's been a bit quicker today.
she was 9th centile for ft but born ten days early - but she stayed at 9th for about a week and then shot up the chart! i was v relieved to see her stabilise between 8 and 10 weeks - and her feeding isn't as crazy as it was - i get a couple of hours to myself in the evening now which is fab.

essie wee has ammonia in it (acidic) so it's better to wash it off if you can.

rolf don't sweat the centiles - i only care because now i can see storm's massive six week constant growth spurt has petered out (for now). I should have expected her to shoot up really - I was 5ft8 by the age of 11!

puddock i use the nature disposables and reusables - and i noticed that too - it's quite handy, isn't it?! do they fit your LO well? Storm is in the maxi size already (15lbs up) even though she weighs less - the next size down don't go round her waist!

Ok - FF hungry baby time and then bed! Night all!

morning all,

OK, been up since 6 catching up, and now have a sleeping baby. so here goes

reusables we have been using these since day 3 and have got tots bots, sandys and the mothercare smart nappy (DH's choice) as well as motherease wraps. Love the tots and sandies, for me they contain the poonami's, The mothercare one is rubbish at this though, not had a problem with clothes yet, they do fit under the 0-3 babygros and outfits.

wipes I am a terrible mother and have been using baby wipes since day 1. I am trying to convince DH that reusable wipes would be a good idea but am not pushing it as he did agree to the reusable nappies. I have cammomile tea, lavender and some baby oil to make the mix up and loads of old 70's flannels from my mum and MIL

tummy time I have a couple of baby massage books which suggest putting the baby on his tummy on your thighs and stroking his back continuously. Isaac loves it and also being allowed to sleep on his tummy which my mum consistently does.

stimulating him we have been watching the olympics and he seems fascinated by it, but he is also fascinated in the car by the rear windscreen wiper . I also put him on his playgym/bouncy chair and leave him for a bit.

slings any of you interested in a wrap sling, I bought 5.5m of cotton jersey from here, cut it down the centre, and hemmed it, voila two wrap slings, and there are instructions all over the internet. I love it. I am not now superglued to the sofa!!

essie White vinegar/Sunlight is supposed to bleach the stains

josey keep your chin up for Olivia, It sounds like she is doing really well.

MIL has been moaning that she doesn't see him enough. She lives 10 minutes away and can make it over here to mow our lawn during her lunch hour when we are away but not for 20 mins to see her grandson. She was here last night (our first back, so house was a tip) and kept asking what was wrong with him - he was gurgling and cooing away, took him outside as I was bringing the washing in as it was raining, handed him to me when he filled his nappy although I was trying to cook her dinner, and yet again almost dropped him, don't think she will be babysitting anytime soon

Have posted a couple more photos and our family one which I will use for all the thank you cards I have to write!!

ampster - what is the discussion board you mentioned for english speakers in Sweden? I am curious because I am live in Copenhagen and I don't know of any similar groups . . .

Loving the baby pics at the moment, especially debinaustria. So nice when they smile . . .

TGF - how did you come by the name Storm? I love it! Its a surname here and I have seen it used as a first name too.

Well, I am knackered and lacking in entertainment skills today . . .

Quick post (need to go shower while S content!) but on the wipes hedgehog I use the washable wipes at home, but just with water at the mo! DH wasn't sold on the idea, but when he saw that they were much better for clearing up poo he was happy to use them! Still use regular wipes too, especially when out and about.

Laundry is all rather lilac now ! But I'm getting a Tesco delivery and have added whitener for whites (!) to the order.

Feel like I've done a day already; Iestyn was fussing from 5am onwards. I think I know why, though - due to me not being very with it at 5am he had a very wet nappy at 7. He probably had it earlier too.

Off to the breastfeeding clinic/cafe now, back later.

Re: stimulating Iestyn - he's on the playmat, but wants his dummy. However, he keeps dropping it, and then trying to suck it back in himself without using his hands!! (He never manages...)

Hi All, Luke slept for 2 hours this morning while I went to have his baby passport declined at the post office . Why couldn't he have added this onto his night sleep instead of waking at 5.30am and wanting to be played with?!!

I got my old boss to countersign it - he is an Oxford Graduate and a Management consultant and it had loads of crossings out - even his own phone number had been crossed out! Therefore need to start again - I will never get a holiday at this rate!!!

tjuice - it's www.mumsinsweden.com . great please, very friendly and informative but not busy like here.

great place, durr. am trying to finish stupid article and jimmy's been so good this morning and played quietly alone for 2 hours but now the grizzling starts and i'm so nearly finished...

Oh my god - my electric baby rocker!! Have just got it out again as baby hated it at first but he cannot stay awake in it - it's amazing!! Will put him in there for all his naps from now on. Will get DP to buy 100 batteries as I think I shall be going through them!! It has a light show on the lid part and little toys dangling from it but he got himself into a trance by looking at a hinge

Hi all

A quick update from me before I catch up with all the posts.

I don't know if it is linked to the fact that I have started limiting SJ's feed but since last Thursday he has slept for a stretch of 7 to 8 hours every night...It is soo much better when you have a break from being a milk machine.

I have also started trying to put him in bed at 7.30 or 8.00 at night and have to do the control crying thing. The poor mite can cry for up to 30 minutes and he kind of falls asleep and sobs so much he wakes himself up (and I feel so guilty, but he can't go on with not dropping off until 11 or midnight). So yesterday I tried the mam dummies which one of you recommended and they seem so much better than the ones I had as he managed to fall asleep and not to drop the dummy.

The other good news is that we have finally found a house in bristol. I cannot believe the property market there. You find something nice on the internet and by the time you make the call, it is gone. Luckily we were the first ones on the house we have rented. I feel really relieved as I am supposed to move in three weeks.

Right I will try to catch on the posts

He is still trying to find his thumb without much luck bless him.

needahand at 7-8 hours sleep! Maximum Luke can do is 5 and that's usually the early evening part or when the night nanny comes!!

Just watching beach vollyball on Olypics - surely that's just on to make men salivate right - not an olympic sport? Those teeny outfits make me feel all the worse about my post preggo body .

Hi all - Not much to update here. Just a quick post so I don't lose the "threads I'm on" link.

Bl00dy cold today...after worrying about LO being too hot for weeks, I'm now digging out his little woollen cardis/hoodies. They are so cute.

Sorry about your washing Essie. I put some out on the line yesterday, all nicely pegged up except for 2 shirts, one mine and one DH's. To save on ironing (waves at BDQ) I'd put them straight on coat hangers and hung the hangers from the line. Went back later and they'd gone. We've searched the local area and nothing, I think they blew away. Not doing too well at this domestic goddess thing...

whinegumskatyjo and BDQ week beginning 1st sept is good for me apart from the friday as we're going away (to stay at Sophie's B&B) for a wedding in the evening and will probably need the day to panic about what I need to pack!

BDQ I have a few bamboozles hadn't noticed particular crying with them when wet, but will study it! most of my nappies are bimbles and bumbles and they have a built in fleece lining which seems very good, C is certainly cosy in them! (why do all these nappies have such ridiculous names??)

Essie we are also now using the term poonami in day today conversations around the house - thanks!

needhand glad you've got somewhere to live in Bristol, must be a relief!

Josey it sounds as though Oli-bear is doing much better than the doctors expected? perhaps they aren't giving you straight answers because they aren't sure of the long term effects? it certainly sounds as though she's doing so much better than they originally told you to expect - what an amazing wee thing she is!