July 2008 - Living in the Twilight Zone of never quite enough sleep to be compus mentus

[libralady]

Just thought I'd better set up another thread as the old one is just about to run out.

yey Halloween Smileys

poledra - I had my eyes lasered 5 years ago as I could see nothing without my specs, I love wakening in the night and being able to see!

I try to feed B every 2-3 hours during the day more in the evenings to feed her but no avail she still wakes every 2-3 hours, still very young though, think she is taking after DD2 more than DD1, DD1 was a brilliant sleeper (takes after me) from 6 weeks old, I thought this baby malarky is SOOOO easy I was so bored, then along came DD2 as DD1 beacme a toddler

Can't see halloween smilies. Am I being stupid?

Where have they gone they have been hijacked by normal smileys

rumpel/weeble - forgot to say welcome back

I'll catch up in a mo with all the goings on but just wanted to say it's a year today since I discovered I was pregnant with Luke

oh god, cass. are you (justifiably) smug?? i wish, i wish - your baby is an angel.

Elodie is mostly bf, but with a formula top-up at 7pm. She sleeps from 7pm to 10.30 - dream feed then from 11 to anywhere between 2 and 6.

That doesn't really help does it? Well, she was sleeping to about 5, but the rules of the game have changed (yet again) and now she wakes about 2.30ish and then about 5am.

I think she may be ready for some food soon.

we are getting there with the settling/dummy issue though. now i don't rock her to sleep but she has a final bite to eat on the breast (which I think gives her the settling/suckiness) and then I put her in her crib with her eyes open but sleepy. i leave the nightlight on for a bit and then go back 10 mins later to turn it off.

its the daytime naps that don't go so well. she sleeps in her nursery (in a fancy travel cot) and although its really cosy and nice, she will only ever sleep for 40mins at lunch.

peanut - they have removed the article but i saw the cached version. what shoddy journalism! really on your behalf!

Thanks for advice ladies. Doctor said nothing physical wrong. Looked at his gums, the inside of one is red raw, been chewing on hands for ages but looks like he has made them sore, which would be why he don;t wanna feed.

Re: sleeping/feeding - was feeding 7,11,3, and 7pm, then sleeping till 6am. Last few weeks added a dream feed at 10.30pm as started waking in night, then goes through till 6am but is easily settled with my sleepy hand resting on him over the side of the moses basket, till about 7am.

Oh forgot to add day sleeps 3 x 45 minutes if i'm lucky. never sleeps for longer than that unless laying on me!

Sk, Bryony is exclusively bf and was sleeping 8.30 till 7 last week, but last few days has started waking at night again, usually only once, sometime between 1.30 and 5. Goes straight back to sleep when I feed her usually. During the day she usually has one long nap (2-3 hours) and 2 short naps (30 mins) but never at the same times.

Thumb-sucking has just started here in the last 2 days, neither of my other 2 did it at all but Bryony is absolutely delighted with it and has managed to put herself to sleep several times today, which never happens usually - she always has to be rocked or cuddled. I am already worrying about how we will break the habit, but for the moment it seems like a miracle that she can get herself off to sleep. I wonder whether she will suck her thumb rather than feed in the night now, it would be fantastic!

Very interesting seeing what everyone else's baby is up to, Isaac breastfeeds sometime between between 6 and 8am, then every 3 hours until 6pm ish, when he feeds around hourly until 9pm when he goes to bed. We wake him for his one bottle of formula at midnight ish, then he sleeps through until between 6 and 8 the next morning.

Naps for about 30 mins in the morning, then a longer sleep of 1-2 hours in the afternoon, then another 40 min nap in the evening.

No Haloween Smileys here either.....

Sam goes to bed at about 7 then Dream feed at 10.30, then goes any where from 4-7 (this was before we dropped the Dreamfeed last night where he woke himself at 10, and only took 3oz and then went straight through til 7, but we shall see if that was a fluke or not tonight! )

He rarely naps in the day, only if we are in the car, or if he's in the sling, which is a bit of a bugger, but I can't do anything about that though can I??? I;d love for him to have at least1 good 1.5 hour nap at a certain time so I could go about my business (MN! ) but hey ho, can't have everything.

Oh yes, he's FF.

Oh yes, he feeds every 3-4 hours during the day.

Thanks for the responses seems like so far there is no hard and fast rule some babies are having long stretches at night some aren't, doesnt matter what way they are being fed.

Oh and with DD2 solids made not one bit of difference to her sleeping even when she was on 3 meals a day plus snacks.

I'm actually going to count up how many actual hours Bethany sleeps for in 24 hours as I'm sure it's not that much (she is up just now giggling at Daddy)

SK I always thought it did until Sam came along, when I BF I gave him a bottle of formula as his 'dreamfeed' firstly hoping he'd go longer and second so DH could do it, but it didn't make a jot of difference! funny isn't it.

As far as food is concerned I pureed some veg yesterday, but only as we were supposed to have friends over for sunday lunch and they callen in sick at the last min, so instead of throwing them away I steamed and pureed them, god it bought back memories!! I weaned DS1 at 17 weeks (Don't shoot me!) but Sam's no where near as 'ready' as DS1 was, he used to try and swipe whatever we were eating from us to put in his mouth!!!!! At 15 weeks!!!!!! Sam's no where near that advanced!!!!

Hi all only managed to catch up on todays posts, sorry for the things I've missed earlier in the week not had a chance to log on. SK your poll is so timely, I'm really struggling with Louis at the moment so it's v useful to see what other babies do.

He's exclusively bf, wakes at about 7am, feeds, then it's approx every 2 hours for food during the day. Sleeps for about 45 mins at a time and can only manage about 1.5 hours awake before needing to sleep again. Bed about 7.30, might wake for a feed abut 11 might not, either way next feed is about 3. Then 5 again then 7. BUT (and this is a very big but) he's so variable with these times and so so so difficult to read that when he's crying I'm never sure if it's because he's tired, hungry, he's got wind, his teeth hurt (teething big style for the last fortnight) he wants a bit of comfort, his nappy needs changing (even for a wee- so unfair!) he's bored or any other of te 100 things he cries for. The first five on my list he demands boob for and so I am really a slave to him, he's either crying or feeding all the time it feels like some days. Thinking of trying to implement a more strict routine (against all my normal parenting principles!) just to try and reduce the stress for me. I must say I am really struggling at the moment and feeling really useless, what sort of mum am I if I can't work out what my baby needs? I know I shouldn't compare my boys but Louis is so much more tricky than ds1 was and I feel so guilty for a myriad of things.

Sorry for me me me post, hope all is well with everyone else, will try and catch up over the next few days.

Thanks Tjuice, I did sound a bit smug, I didn't mean to, sorry!!

Yes Ed is FAB at night, but the downside is he feeds every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day and doesn't settle very well for naps during the day. I don't put him in his cot in the day as we're out and about so much, but he sometimes will go to sleep in the pram in the kitchen, usually after a good scream.

I've worked out it's when I'm trying to get things done (washing and cooking mainly) that he gets cross and I get stressed. So today we've had a nice day as I haven't done any washing or cleaning up and hubby came home early so could look after Ed while I cooked tea.

Minkus - I find it hard knowing why he cries sometimes. I read the 'secret of the baby whisperer' book by Tracey Hogg. it's helpful without being too prescriptive. Basically it says babies have a natural cycle of sleep, wake up, feed, play then sleep again. Ed does this over 2 hours, but it varies. It helps me as I then kind of know why he's crying.

Sorry if you've heard all of this before! you sound down and how I (and all of us?) feel at times. Do you need a good cry or girlie chat with a friend (or both?)?!

Been out tonight to see the Bellydance Superstars Show - it was fab, they are really good. Have also bought some baby rice 'just in case'. I weaned both my other kids at 16 weeks (it was the done thing 6 years ago!), but Ed's not ready yet. But I'm not waiting for 6 months just to keep some health visitor happy!! Cass.

Thank you all for your angry faces. . They seem to have taken the article off their website after we complained, but when you google my name it still comes up saying "Peanut says her post-natal depression was so severe after giving birth to son Charlie that she was suicidal". Raaaaaaaaaahhhhh! So cross! Disney so shocked to hear your story of your press/media encounter!!!

Aaaaanyway...

SK - Charlie (exclusively BF) goes to bed after a feed at about 7pm and is woken when we go to bed at about 11pm and given a big bottle of EBM (approx. 200ml). Goes back to bed and usually sleeps through to anywhere between 7am and 8am. Want to cut out the dream feed but too scared...

Off to bed now as my eyes are burning... hope to catch up in more detail soon.

Oh - WW you sound awesome. xxx

Morning all,

Peanut Glad it's been retracted but still abit that it's still out there in cyberspace!! Oh and do it (drop the dream feed) I did it 2 nights ago and Sams gone 7-7!!! No more waiting around for bed!!!

WW Glad you had a good time at your folks house!! Sounds amazing, maybe we could have a MN retreat up there!!!

Tjuice how's it going with the dummy today?

Minkus sorry you feel so down, has it been like this for ages? or a new thing (Growth spurt, teething etc) Have you tried a spot of Calpol during the day, he might have a tummy ache or a head ache or something??? Sorry can't help much, I know Sam has odd days like this and it feels like they are never going to end, but it's not all the time. for you.

Twinkle I was thinking of you the other day, in fact I think of you every time I open my P&T, (Your DH chopping his finger off!) Hope all is well, would love to know how you are....

Heard from Kaz on FB the other day, she's fine, STILL not moved, and no internet access, just grabs a couple of mins here and there when she's out visiting. But at east she and Kezzie are OK!

Who else is 'missing' butterfly jacobsprincess Can't think who ese, will have to revisit one of our lists and see!

Morning all,

Peanut Glad it's been retracted but still abit that it's still out there in cyberspace!! Oh and do it (drop the dream feed) I did it 2 nights ago and Sams gone 7-7!!! No more waiting around for bed!!!

WW Glad you had a good time at your folks house!! Sounds amazing, maybe we could have a MN retreat up there!!!

Tjuice how's it going with the dummy today?

Minkus sorry you feel so down, has it been like this for ages? or a new thing (Growth spurt, teething etc) Have you tried a spot of Calpol during the day, he might have a tummy ache or a head ache or something??? Sorry can't help much, I know Sam has odd days like this and it feels like they are never going to end, but it's not all the time. for you.

Twinkle I was thinking of you the other day, in fact I think of you every time I open my P&T, (Your DH chopping his finger off!) Hope all is well, would love to know how you are....

Heard from Kaz on FB the other day, she's fine, STILL not moved, and no internet access, just grabs a couple of mins here and there when she's out visiting. But at east she and Kezzie are OK!

Who else is 'missing' butterfly jacobsprincess Can't think who ese, will have to revisit one of our lists and see!

Mummywannabe - glad there is nothing wrong with your LO.

SK - I did a poll about sleeping and babies with my NCT class and like you have concluded here there seems to be no standard, each baby does exactly what they want! I have to say I have found it's swings and roundabouts, Alex is a nightmare at night but such a dream during the day whereas other babies sleep thru the night but can be a handful during the day! They are all just little people (however it is frustrating!)

Minkus - you are a great mum! A bad mum would't worry so much about why her baby was crying. Look at it this way, a routine might be against your parenting principles but some babies really like a routine, and you can always just try it and if it doesn't work then throw it out the window. (the routine not the baby!)

Peanut - good that it's been taken down. Are you going to take things further?

Jodie - glad to hear dropping the dreamfeed has gone well. I am a bit 2 sided about hearing sleep stories, part of me is so pleased that another mother is getting decent sleep and the other part of me is wailing and gnashing teeth with jealousy

Someone mentioned nappies - there is another vote here for Tesco nappies, we don't change between 7pm-7am and it weighs a ton when we do change at 7am but A is as dry as a bone still (we also sudocream at each nappy as well)

Can we have how we told our husbands we were pregnant stories please? I told mine on bonfire night in front of a huge bonfire, I don't think I have ever seen him look so happy, it still gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling when I think about it.

Morning all xx

Don't you just hate school holidays when it is wet, windy and yuch!! However, will not be saying that when I go back to work

Abbie bf except for one bottle of formula at night and she sleeps most nights 8pm till 7am but last few nights has woken at 3am for a little suck She is drooling constantly and chewing on her little fists furiously...no sign of teeth though.

OMG dd1 and ds4 fighting AGAIN.....going to take them to indoor playbarn to run off some energy.....roll on next Monday when our schools go back

No Halloween smileys here either......was it a dream SK

Just a quick message re Halloween smilies - have y'all tried hitting F5? And if it works, don't thank me - thank littlelapin

Thanks for that Poledra But still no special smileys!!

I went to see my friend yesterday with her new baby girl, she's 6lbs 4oz at 10 days, and OMG, how small, she's like a little doll!!!!! Surprisng though it didn't make me broody! maybe when my other friends start popping (one due Jan, one due April, one May and one June) And Sam's abit bigger I'll start getting broody again!!! (will be much to DH's terror!)

Ohhh, just had a hunt around and apparently the Halloween emoticons have been put back in the cupboard till Mon 27th here. I've still got them though

Hello all! Fascinating seeing what everyone's LO's are like with feeding etc. I am still persevering with a bit of BF and then formula top ups. Phoebe usually has a feed 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm & 10pm feeds (give or take half hours). She has between 15-20mins boobs then we offer her 4oz bottle which she will take between 1.5 to 3.5oz of except for 7pm feed where she has a 5oz bottle which she usually drains. She will usually doze a bit between 7pm & 10pm feeds and then I give her last bottle in bed in her sleeping bag before putting her in Moses basket. She will sleep then til 6.30-7ish (sometimes 8). Although she is VERY awake during the day most days which is exhausting and hard work and means I get NOTHING done as she wants constant entertainment!! As I type she has woken from a 20min nap on her playmat and is screaming so had better go make up a bottle etc!!!

Hi all,

at the Halloween smileys. It will be xmas ones soon enough!

Been to Baby club today and there was a lady doing LittleImpressions Casts. Ive seen then before and just couldnt resist so had a handprint done. Alittle expensive at £60- Just dont tell DH!

Lovely and sunny here so must put some washing out before we go to our friends this afternoon. - She too has a 3mth old girl, so a playmat for Abigail.