June 2008 babies: rolling, sitting, crawling, babbling, teething, laughing, sleeping (not yet!)

[spongebrainbigpants]

New home!

Rolf, don't be hard on yourself - 4 kids is madness

Amber, so sorry about your sister, what a nightmare. Glad you're enjoying work, am a bit . Have been stuck at home for 9.5 years, and this week has been particularly bad, as ds1 was ill Mon & Tues, so stuck in, now ds3 is ill Wed & today, so stuck in. It's lovely and bright and sunny and I'm stuck in and going mental.

Neenz, hope you get a hospice place sorted quickly

Deb, hope your friend's op goes ok.

My dd has got a sore bit on her thigh I think where the tots bots (washable nappies) rub, so have put her in pampers, esp as going away in a couple fo days, so will need to use them then anyway, and every single time she does a poo, it leaks out all over her vest and clothes even when she hasn't got poo leaks, she feels damp and smelly with the pampers. sigh Any suggestions? (bought a giant box of pampers, so stuck with 'em.

Oh, and when she starts crawling (God help us), dresses won't be so good. Any reusable nappy wearers recommend some partucularly non bulky compact ones to wear under trousers? I have tots bots but they are bulky and seem to be rubbing her chubby thigh raw

Hi Ernest - the ones I use (well, Iestyn actually, as I am fully continent when I remember to do my pelvic floor things ) are the Modern Baby pop-ins. They're quite slim. Also quite expensive, but they're a good nappy.
I also bought a pack of pampers when Iestyn had raging weeping rashes on his bum, on the basis that having urine on it would hurt. (I'm not convinced that was true now, because the rash got no better with pampers, but did with the washables, but tots bots are different in that the wrap has a little bit that scratches at the leg so it's not the same situation). Anyhow, they totally stink - weird, like a dodgy brewery, all yeasty, and they leak poo everywhere. My only unhelpful suggestion is that huggies are better, and nature babies better still.

Systems I know of your book (but haven't read it ). Forgot that you work on language etc. Iestyn's been volunteered for the Psychology Dept's language acquisition and bilingualism project.

Very at my frenemy yet again. Why do I even bother? It's nothing really, just her patronising and sanctimonious attitude as usual. I think part (!) of the problem is me because I just hate it when people won't listen to me and talk down to me when I actually know what I'm on about. (Same problem with FIL - so it is me!)

I'll look into those, ta. Can't get huggies here, hate pampers, they're shit

btw, deb, if you see this, what's the name of that online drogerie beginning with s i think, zhat delivers?

ernest all I can suggest is putting them on very tight - or maybe putting a wrap over the pampers to catch any leaks? Agree about the smell, I really don't like sposies - my two are in huggies for nursery, best of a bad selection, but do prefer washables! Tots bots are quite bulky I agree. Fuzzi Bunz are what we use for a slimmer profile or under trousers, but I need to put 2 of their stuffers in because 1 isn't enough, and they're not as good with poo as a 2-part system. Otherwise mine are in One Life one sized with Motherease airflow wraps which is a reasonably non-bulky combo and very effective against poo leaks.

essie I had to check your book out too - not sure I would understand any of it but love the cover! Will be v. interesting to see how Iestyn's language develops. All linguists I know get heavily into language acquisition when they have kids

Systems I commissioned the cover; I have a framed version of the artwork in my living room. It's an artist I know who does similar work with manuscripts and images. Most Welsh Law books have dull covers, or images from Pen 28 manuscript - and I wanted to be different.

I agree we all do seem a bit down. Hugs to all, especially Neenz and your nan.

J is still poorly, he hasn't had even his yoghurt for days and cries if i get a spoon or bib out, and then a couple of days ago he started refusing to bfeed again . He edven cries if i try to feed him asleep so assume it is an illness thing and hope it will get better soon as i am reduced to spoon feeding an ounce every so often to keep him hydrated and even this makes him bawl. He's seen the dr but just has a virus apparently (and a lovely rash to go with it)the worse thing is that because he hasn't eaten/feed in almost a week his chubby thighs have really slimmed and he is incredibly miserable. I feel as if I have barely slept all week and bloody dh has been in us the whole time

thats US not us!

Sybil you poor thing, that sounds extremely stressful. hope he's at the end of the virus now. One thing I've seen suggested for older kids with food 'issues' is to let them do messy play with trays of squishy food (yoghurt, jelly, porridge), with no pressure to eat it unless they want to, to shift the negative associations they've somehow built up around eating - don't know if this might be worth a try with J once he's better? ignore if stupid suggestion!

You have done such a marvellous job with him, how wonderful that he's had the chubbiness to get him through the virus what with everything you've dealt with feeding-wise!

ooh, link to essies book pls

Hi, sorry I was out shopping Ernest - online place is Schlecker, I use their brand disposable nappies(babysmile) and they only leak very very occasionally over a nighttime, and poo stays put (but that's not bfed poo now, solid stuff)

Thanks Systems - there are some very clever people on this thread

Sybil - sorry to hear about Jamie being poorly and your dh being away, hope he's better soon

Haven't heard from Whinegums or Poppy for a while

Systems if she is ill would you try medised? I know this has become a bit of a joke but it really is great for when they are stuffy with a cold. (it does affect some kids strange tho). Even if you just use it one night to see its effect. It is not so good for teething I find - ibuprofen is soemtimes better than calpol tho. I think playing with food is a great idea for Sybil/J.

Ernest, stuck inside for 9.5yrs - no wonder you are going mental . I use onelife and terries and they are bulky so I just buy pants in a bigger size. Agree that disposables stink! Sometimes my terries get a bit whiffy tho too so I put them through 90C wash every now and then. I use vinegar too but maybe not enough? How does everyone else get rid of the pong?

Essie you are funny! I have a friend who does that to me, speaks down to me as if I am stupid. She has twins too (7yo). She posted on her FB status that she was 'getting slightly irritated by some people's status updates' so I said jokingly are you taling about me? And she said 'only slightly hearing about everyone's babies' farts, poos and wees'. I was very hurt but didn't say anything, just made a joke about it .

Sybil, that sounds terrible. It must be very worrying if he is not feeding/drinking. Big hugs to you.

My SIL's baby has the virus and rash too. He is forever ill with something or other. He is BF but I think a lot of his illnesses are down to her having her heating on 24/7. She panics if the thermometer goes below 18C but he is 7mo now - he lives in a cold country he is going to have to get used to it. Just put another layer on him!! Having it so warm is surely a breeding ground for germs?

Sorry for that slight tangent/rant.

SA I also think the playing is a gooid idea, he does love to get his hands in cereal of a morning, although sadly doesn't transfer it to his mouth.

Neenz - that must cost her a fortune in central heating! we are put a jumper on/congregate in one room people here!

neenz yes, we've tried Medised a few times with her, I think it's good for snotty colds but also for the sort of irritating cough that's from snot dripping down the back of the nose into the throat iyswim which is what she has right now. It doesn't knock her out but when she's been waking a lot it does get her down to her normal waking pattern of 10.30 - 2 - 5.30 (ish) which is fine. Sadly last night I gave it to her and she threw it straight back up again ... the coughing had made her gag and I think that combined with the sickliness of the Medised made her vomit copiously (she is fine today). So we are going to have to be careful with it from now on - unfortunately!

Poor you, Sybil, and poor J. Hope things improve soon.

What I love about this thread is that it can go from a discussion about fungal rashes to a discussion about books you have written .

I went to the Big Scream today to see Revolutionary Road. Great film but bloody depressing. Bit close to the bone!

I am having a crisis today - please tell me I'm being an idiot. I love my job and I am really enjoying being back but I feel like Luke is going to love his carer at nursery more than me as he will see her 5 days a week. It's only day 4 and he practically jumped off me to get to her this morning. When I got home I just fed him and he fell asleep so we had no quality time at all. He's happy at nursery, I'm just being an idiot.

"You're being an idiot" - does that make you feel better?

If it helps I felt exactly the same when I returned to work with both boys, they adored their CM and ds1 in particular would cry when I picked him up because he wanted to stay.

You have to be strong and realise how fantastic it is that he's happy there and just how unhappy you'd be if they were having to peel him off you, you'd be off to work in tears then.Sounds like they are doing a great job and so are you, Luke is a very lucky boy.

What Deb said

I am lucky that he's happy you are right I AM an idiot! I miss him loads but I am actually having a ball working again and have been asked to help with a charity. My boss died very suddenly aged 38 about 2 weeks before my mum died and the chairty has been set up in his name so I am really glad to have been asked. I made a freudian slip by saying to someone it was nice to be home as opposed to back at work so work must mean more to me than I thought.

OK, Ernest!
You're going to be so disappointed...

Amber don't worry. I think Luke will be fine - he is quite affectionate (compared to Iestyn - he's pretty indifferent to most people except immediate family!) possibly because he likes a lot of stimulation, and thinks 'different person, yay, different faces/noises/games'. Also, I don't feel bad about leaving Iestyn at nursery because I figure he has a better time there than he does with me. The staff there don't have to take a shower leaving him in the cot or in a chair; they don't need to load and unload the washing machine; they don't need to cook their own dinner whilst he rolls around on the floor in the other room; they don't plonk him in front of the telly so that they can have a sit down and a cup of coffee etc etc. Despite all this, Iestyn still prefers me (!), and Luke also prefers you.
LOL that you said home, though. When I was working in the research centre in Aberystwyth I kept referring to my upstairs office as my bedroom. It was a Welsh language thing with some dialect confusion thrown in, but still...

Hi, we're getting our flooring replaced this week so things are a bit hectic and I'm not up to date with everyone's news - sorry to those I leave out!

sybil hugs, it really sounds like you're going through a tougher-than-it-should be time at the moment. I hope things improve! I like the idea someone had of letting our LOs play with their food. I'm really struggling to get any solids other than baby biscuits into Fraser but I let him feed himself mashed potato and cheese today and I think some of it actually made it in.

Amber I know exactly how you feel! Fortunately as DS1 is older now he can tell me what he thinks about his nursery staff. When he had a crush on one it reaffirmed for me that they aren't replacing me and fill a different role in his life.

Aw thanks everyone - I do feel a bit silly when i know others are having a harder time than me for all sorts of reasons.

As former nanny who worked for one parent who used to turn their child away from me when I walked in to the room and accused me of stealing her smiles' can I just say that Luke loves you soooooooooo much more than some tweenager who only plays with him because it's what she gets paid to do (obviously that was never my attitude to the kids I looked after but what I have to assume about the girls at nursery now that I am a mum otherwise I would never leave Cecily!) Shall text you the same x

Puree at the woman you worked for, stealing her smiles !!

Baby P has the cutest smile btw

Just spent ages trying to figure out what ernest's name is/was! I think it must be Ernest.

I have a friend from school, my age (so only just in her thirties ) who was called Mabel. Did not suit her at all. She's now calling herself Caroline.