June 08 - New Year same old sleepless nights

[hedgehog1979]

Bit bored so thought I would start the new thread

Essie, I think she has nieces and nephews (as well as her doll) so she has got experience of babies. She replied to one of my threads once about terries saying how great they were.

Neenz you're too convincing with your details on your dolls. (I've met Neenz, no babies at all, only 2 pretty dolls... )

Evening everyone

Sponge - wow at the amazing commando baby! He can really move can't he? Thea has become mobile but we're talking a few inches or degrees - nothing like that.

Hedgehog - v impressed at your food lists. I'm giving Thea bits of things that we're having. I've been sticking with things she can hold, like banana, pasta, toast soldiers, steamed apple etc and she has a lovely time slobbering on them. But the odd time I've tried giving her spoonfuls of mush (which is what I did with the others) she does that funny flobby tongue thing. I hope I'm not doing something wrong. Bits of the solid food have definitely gone down as I've seen some little bits in her nappy.

Today was the first day with the other 3 at school/nursery and it was heaven .

Rolf, I can share your joy at having the other 3 back to school/nursery, mine went back on Wednesday

The troll thing sounds very sad, I don't have time to read the other threads on MN - thanks for the summaries here! I once went to visit dh's Gran in an old people's home and there was an old lady there with a doll in a pram in her room, which she would push around like a baby.

Went out with Nigel last night - lovely meal, crept into the bedroom, tiptoed to look at Ethan in semi darkness, all seemed OK, he woke up crying for a feed at 5.00 ( yes nights have improved but not counting any chickens yet)and felt the cot all wet next to him, huge , huge orange sick and it wasn't warm so don't know when he did it! Poor boy, wonder if it was there when we went to bed and just didn't see it.

Amber I now have this with Caitlin at the moment, now we have her evenings sorted out! on work days we get home, do her bedtime routine and put her to bed, then have dinner and put ds to bed; mornings we get up, dressed, breakfast and go. It is true I don't see much of her on those days (I am working 3 1/2 days a week) but it won't be for very long, as he gets older you might find he doesn't need quite such an early bedtime - ds goes down between 7.30 and 8.15 which leaves lots of time after work for bedtime stories and playing (we get back between 5.45 and 6 most days). I guess what I'm saying is, I'd think hard before you burn any long-term bridges on the basis of what he is like at 6 months, because this will change quickly. Good luck and I reiterate what I've said before - you know what decisions are right for you and your family, it'll be fine.

Just ducking in....babypearls had temp of 102.7 and broken sleep so took her to the doc yesterday. He said that 'they don't really go by high temps any more' which I didn't know(never seen a temp that high myself but anyway). He checked her over and nothing to report but high temps continue and now she's not sleeping very well (usually 7-7) and very sad and clingy poor thing. Anyway, if you don't hear from me it's because I'm cuddling my baby...

they don't really go by high temps? Hope baby Puree is feeling better soon.

oops it's baby pearls not puree

sponge you are not a pig, it might just be that lighterlife doesn't work well for your body right now (even if it has before). Bear in mind your hormones are still settling down from pregnancy and your body is probably still trying to store fat, the hormones leading you to eat are very powerful.

I spent years in total despair over my weight and complete inability to control my eating. I was never able to stick to any diet till I read a book called the Carbohydrate Addicts' Diet and realised it wasn't my fault, it was just the way my body was designed to be. It was the only diet I could ever stick to as it controlled my food cravings (and I got to eat chocolate every day and lose 2 stone and stayed on it 7 years, till I got pg first time).

I'm pretty uncomfortable about my weight right now because I can't go back on the diet while I'm breastfeeding. I did try in October - I feel much, much better in myself when I'm following it - but my milk supply dropped off so I need to leave it a few more months. But I ma desperate to get back on it ... I can tell you more about it if you are interested, but the main thing was it took away a lifetime of guilt as I suddenly realised weight and food cravings are a biochemical issue, not a moral one. So don't beat yourself up about it!

morning all,

My famous person ....... Jennie Bond, you know, the royal correspondent/Jungle dweller

P&P Hope baby pearls is feeling better soon.
Rolf glad you are impressed, NCT friends are shocked when they talk about the 'mush' they are giving their babies. I am also fed up with the doesn't he choke comments.

Saw my HV yesterday, and she congratulated me on how well Isaac was doing for holding off on weaning for so long and for still BF (other than MNer's I don't know anyone else still BF).

Making the most of the days before I go back to work today and am off to the library for Baby Rhyme time and maybe even to get some books for me - have already finished the three I got given for christmas

Have fun today

5, KWYM about the pram thread all thinking it's ok, but I agree with Neenz that I get the impression they know her in RL and understand her 'issues' (which she must have cos her behaviour is a long way from normal ).

Having said that I think some of those people on the pram thread are nuts anyway - how much time can you spend obsessing about prams?!!!

HH, I think Isaac's diet sounds bloody fab - I'm just sooo impressed that he eats all that stuff with his hands!

IKWYM about the NCT group - all bar one of mine are doing purees and had a long chat the other day about when it was ok to introduce lumps. I kept on trying to say that A had been eating lumps from day one so asap really, but they didn't really seem to want to listen! I just talk to my BLW mate now and swap horror stories of the mess they make!

Rolf, thank you! Although I'm beginning to realise why SA was so pleased her DS didn't crawl til he was 12 mths ! I'm exhausted - he's into everything and I don't get a moment's peace anymore (well, except to MN while I keep one eye on A playing with the DVD! ).

Deb, I'm sure we've all done this at some point - we had this with A a month or so ago. I was mortified but he was fine - I now feel all around his head and nappy area gently when I check on him just to make sure it's not wet .

p&p, sorry to hear about babypearls, hope her temp comes down soon.

SA, that sounds really interesting - would love to hear more about it. Is the book still available? My cons emailed me back last night and said that I should definitely not do LL so will need all the support I can get!

HH, lol at your Jennie Bond story! Did I tell you about my Robert Plant experience? Can't remember. Anyway, we met him in a pub in Wales and got chatting and I asked them why they were in Hay (didn't recognise him at all !) and his girlfriend said that they'd been at a local festival and I asked if they'd seen any good bands! Hmm, he was headlining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neenz - I tried a walk in the pushchair for about an hour if not longer. Nothing doing, just a very glum baby who was resolutely awake. About 60% of the time the pushchair gets P off to sleep, but usually about 40 mins of walking for 20 mins of sleep! Okay night here, but P has now been awake since 6.30 with no nap. Might take him out in the car and try that.

Puree, I think not going off temps is cos a high temp in itself is not dangerous, it is just the body dealing with the infection or whatever. And bringing a temperature down doesn't help the underlying issue (altho it can make the baby more comfortable). That's how I understand it anyway! There was something in the news about this recently cos they found ibuprofen was better than paracetemol at bringing down temps but the experts say it doesn't matter anyway! I could only find this on it. Hope she feels better soon anyway!

HH, ha ha Jennie Bond, I bet she was mortified that you didn't realise she was That Very Famous Person Who Used To Know Princess Diana.

Well Esther woke at 5am and wouldn;t go back to sleep so I fed her even though I said no more feeding in the night. I wonder whether she was wet cos her nappy had leaked this morning. She went back to sleep after I fed her anyway. I reckon if she wakes again tonight and tomorrow and needs feeding again then I will start being strict again (only cos I worry if I feed her at 5am soon it will be 2am and 5am like last time). But just once every now and then I can handle.

I have got to do some ironing today. DH keeps making comments about how wonderful the house would look if I didn't spend so much time on MN . He is right, to be fair.

Gosh Ali, that sounds bad. What happens if you put him in his cot and leave him (need I ask)? How long can you bear to leave him to try to settle himself? What were his naps like in the daytime before this 'nap strike'?

Ooh, just bf and he has dropped off. On me of course but at least he should be better refreshed.

Sponge why does the consultant say no to LL?

HH that's great that you HV is so supportive. Stopped talking to mine as I think she has play dough instead of brains. She is very nice and everything but just seems to parrot what I could read for myself in the birth to 4 NHS book.

LOL at play dough for brains Ali. Glad he has gone off to sleep now.

I am trying not giving the DTs a morning nap today - they are on the play mat at the mo. I gave Theo a musical toy to play with and Esther grabbed at it.. I said 'no Theo is playing with that' and gave her a different musical toy. I went to get a brew and came back to find Esther playing with the toy Theo had and looking at me with a wry smile on her face! I don't think Theo even noticed (we don't call him simple simon for nothing )

I still haven't started the ironing. I am going to now - in a bit.

Hi all, thanks so much for all the advice - feel much better now after last night's crisis! I will give it a go - as you all said I haven't signed a lifetime contract. I was talking with Mark last night about retraining part time for a vocational position but need to think what my vocation is! Neenz - the reason why want to go back to work so much is that I get very bored and lonely. I am a people person, I need to have people around me and if I had any family it wouldn't be so hard but I only have a sister and she lives far away and we are not close. Mark leaves at 7.30am and doesn't come home until 8/9pm. Also all my friends are working and childless or live far away. The other mums I know nearby I see once or twice a week for coffees. I have gone to M&B groups but I want to forge stronger relationships than people I see once a week to be honest. Not having a mum and dad makes things much harder.

Hello all, was going to do a long post but instead I'm going to have a teensy little rant. This is probably unwise, but here goes...

I'm getting a bit fed up of the moaning on here about the lack of understanding from people who 'give their babies mush'. I personally prefer to call it baby food, or purees, and I am feeding my baby, not 'giving him mush'. There are two sides to every story, and I don't find the wry comments about the silliness of 'mush feeders' and their (ha ha ha) total shock at BLW to be very funny. In fact, I find it a smidge insulting, and feel everyone should keep an open mind - I think most people, however they feed their babies (be it forcing mush into them or the gold standard BLW) happily let their babies play with bits of bread, finger foods (by another name). Sorry to have to say it, but I don't find it big or clever to read about BLW weaning smugness and the hilarity when you tell those freaks who give their babies mashed food about the amazing diet your babies have.

No responses please, but just stop it.

Amber, totally understand where you're coming from on needing to be with people. Can't imagine how hard it must be for you to not have your parents around. I hope you find the answer - again, I would say life coaching would be perfect for you and hopefully find your vocation.

Ali, too drastic a diet and it messes big time with your hormones (my periods stopped last time). Plus she's worried that if I get pg I'll pile it all back on fast cos I'll have to go straight back to eating proper food in decent quantities. I can see her point I just need to think about an alternative. Probably do WW I think.

Essie, I think you're being a bit over-sensitive! No one's laughing and I said myself that I suspect the puree babies (I've never used the word 'mush') are eating a much more varied diet than A is. He survives on a diet of rice cakes, pittas and breadsticks!

OK, sorry. There have been a few posts in the last couple of days (admittedly not you, Sponge, and I did like your open mindedness and inwardly applauded your comment about puree babies eating a more varied diet - depends, though, if they're exclusively yoghurt fed! ) which just upset me a bit.

I am struggling with a baby who is now on the 1st centile (just), who does choke on pieces of bread and rice cakes, and who needs to grow a bit, which he can only do with food, and he wouldn't eat if we did BLW. And I do feel that some people (particularly on the weaning boards) are rather judgemental of the mush-feeders. It's childish (and so is my response, admittedly) but it's the whole in-crowd, outsiders thing; currently BLW is the in-crowd, I'm not in it, and I get a bit narked when people doing BLW pretend to be in the minority, surrounded by amazement from everyone around!

It's all silly really. I just wish parenting wasn't always seen in terms of right and wrong, and my gang, your gang. But I suppose it's exactly how Sponge (for example) must feel - given your baby FF? Do not pass go, you're not in our gang.

Going to take Iestyn to A&E now (!!) because he has a very minor pink eye, Tim's GP in London can't see him until next Tuesday (!!! idiots...) and the Walk in Centre doesn't do babies under 2. It's just a bit of pink eye, but I don't really want to let Iestyn suffer or have some long term effects. (Yeah, I know, highly unlikely, but don't you all think 'I could be the one that breaks the rule'?!)

Thanks sponge I will look into lifecoaching - I have a friend who swore by it - kind of counselling but more practical!

Essie, yes, that's exactly how I feel about not bfing . In fact your post made me cry, but don't worry I'm hormonal! But yes it's horrible, and sometimes people even on this thread say stuff about bf that really upsets me, but I just try to ignore it.

Yes, the weaning boards are ludicrous about BLW but as I said to Neenz a couple of days ago, it's just one way of feeding your baby and if it's not for you don't do it and don't feel bad about it. I'm no earth mother believe me - in fact my RL friend who's doing BLW was saying on Monday that BLW is for lazy buggers like us who really can't be arsed to cook!!

Hope Iestyn's alright ?

Amber, I can get the name of her life coach if you're interested?

5, am v envious of your River Cottage course. I love Hugh! Valentine a bit freaky I thought, but I liked him too. And thanks for posting the link to the food focus site. I'm going to give it a go (was horrified when I worked out everything I'd eaten yesterday!).

Amber, I know how you feel. I have lived in Scotland for 8 years now, but none of my close friends here have babies. In fact only one friend here does, and we are good friends but not very close or see each other very often IYSWIM. I posted about my experience at the M&T group a while ago, which I hated! Just because I have a baby doesn't mean I have anything else in common with someone else who does. I hope that doesn't make me sound all standoffish, because I'm not. DP works crazy hours and is still in Russia at the moment, so yes, I am feeling bloody lonely. I also feel quite trapped in our flat - the endless stairs are very trying.

Was going to post more, but B is screaming - think it's lunch time! - so better go.