April 2008 - The One Where Our Babies Are All Turning Into Toddlers!

[KnitterInTheNW]

07 March: Ashton, a fourth child for gemprincess, 5lb 13oz @ 34+6
09 March: Ted, a second DS for Daftmoo, 7lb 14oz @ 36+0
21 March: George William, a first baby for KnitterintheNW, 7lb 2.5oz @ 37+3
25 March: Olivia, a second baby for TheMaskedPoster, 7lb 2oz @ 38+4
28 March: Pablo, a third baby and first DS for vacaloca, 7lb 14oz @ 39+4
28 March: Matteo Alexander, a first baby for Gangle @ 38+0 (?)
30 March: A baby girl, a second child for PortAndLemon, 8lb 15oz @ 39+5
02 April: Jak, a baby boy for rainbowdays, 9lb @ 39+1
02 April: A baby boy, a second child for bunyanvillas, 6lb 14oz @ 37+5
02April: Struan, a baby boy for Donnabels, 6lbs 15oz
02 April: A baby boy for mummyofaprincess @39 weeks
03 April: A baby girl for PippiCalzelunghe @38+2weeks
03 April: Aeryn Daisy, a baby girl for Denny185, 9lb 8oz @ 39+3
03 April: Benjamin, a baby boy for Micegg, 8lb 3oz @ 39+4
03 April: Roelof Grové, a first DS for SalLikesCoffee, 7lb 5oz @ 38+5
03 April: A baby boy for siikibam, 6lb 8.5oz @39+1wks
04 April: Matilda, a baby girl for AprilsFoolsBaby 7lb @
05 April: Ellis, a baby girl for MadameOvary, 9lb 12oz @ 40+6
06 April: Henry Peter, a baby boy for Sheds, 7lb 130z @ 40+4
07 April: Sebastian George, a fourth DS for Peachy, 8lb 4oz @ 41+1
07 April: Jack, a first baby for ThePFJ, 7lb 5.5oz @ 41+1
07 April: Lexie Bea, a fourth baby for babywhiting, 8lb 1oz @ 39+4
08 April: Alasdair, a second DS for bunnyrabbit, 8lb 5.5oz @ 40+3
08 April: James Samuel, a third baby for honeybee10, 6lb 7oz @ 37+2
09 April: Zara Mia Martin, a first baby for V1KK1M, 7lb 10oz @ 41+0
09 April: Jasmine, a baby gilr for Niceychops
11 April: Kyran for rdk, 7lb 13oz @ 38+3weeks
11 April: Sebastian James, a second baby for Fleecy, 10lb 2oz @ 40+4
11 April: A baby girl, a first baby for CeylonSapphire, 7lb 12oz @ 41+1
11th April: Florence, a baby girl for LouMoose
12 April: Maya Alice, a first baby for egyptianprincess, 8lb 15.5oz @ 40+3
12 April: Sophia Viviana, a second DD for AussieDivaonaBreak, 6lb 12oz @ 39+3
15 April: Alexander Oliver, a third baby for VictorianSqualor, 10lb 3oz @ 41+0
16 April: Ailish, a first baby for Mollyfloss, 6lb 11oz @ 40+3
16 April: A baby girl, a second baby for elfsmummy, 7lb 13oz @ 41+1
16 April: Zoe, a baby girl, a first baby for ToastAddict, 6lb 10oz @ 39+3
16 April: Jasmin, a baby girl, a first baby for Eggandketchup, 9lb 3oz @ 41+4
17 April: A baby boy for paranoidmumy, 8lb 9oz @ 41+4
17 April: A baby boy, a second son for lorisparkle, 7lb 12.5oz @ 41+6
17 April: Benedict, first baby for LadyBee 9 lb 3oz @ 41 +2
18 April: Millie Grace Jessamy, a baby girl for scorpio1 8lb 9oz @ 41
18 April: Cameron, a second baby for munchkinmum @ 39+5
19 April: Oliver Michael, first baby for bashboid, 7 lb 4 oz at 41 +3
20 April: Samuel, a first baby for Velbels. 8lb15oz at 41+1weeks.
20 April: Angharad Mai, 8lb 4oz, 40+6, first for 7monthsplus
20 April: Emilia, 7lb15oz, a first baby for SuzeM, 40+6
20 April: A baby girl for SushiMama
21 April: Eve, a second baby for OMaLittle, 8lb 4oz @ 39+3
21 April: A second DD for Monmoo
22 April: Sam, a second son for Soph73 @ 40+0
22 April: Molly, a first baby for EllieG, 8lb 8oz? @ 40+5
22 April: Daisy, second baby for AttilaTheHan @ 40 +3
22 April: Zoe Olivia, second daughter for Piccallilli2 7lb 1oz @42+1
22 April: A second DD for blinks.
23 April: Jessica Elizabeth, first baby for BabyBratt @ 40+1 7lb 12oz.
24 April: A baby girl, a second daughter for christmaspixie, 9lb 2oz @ 40+6/41+5
24 April: Miya Jade, baby girl for ShelleySare at 39+4
25 April: Amelie, a first baby for Dondons, 9lb, 41+3 (i think!)
25 April: Aisha, a second baby for Jaq39 7lb 14oz @ 41+4
26 April: Hope Olivia, a second dd for northeastmummy, 7lb 11oz at 41 .
26 April: Gabriel, a third child for Bainmarie @ 41+5
26 April: Eli Michael, a baby boy for LittleMissTurquoise, 7lb 15.5oz @ 40+5
27 April: a baby girl for Ayomi, 6lb 1oz @ 41+0
28 April: Jacob Andrew, a 2nd DS for Kaybeeand2boys, 8lb 4oz @ 41+5
29 April: Thomas Henry, a 2nd DS for TLSM, 7lb 8oz 40+3
30 April: Harry Samuel, a fourth ds for Chipmonkey, 9lb 5oz @ 39+2
30 April: Ellie, a baby girl for Annamama
30 April: A second DD for luckymummy74
01 May: Sophie May, a baby grl for Annieroo, 6lb 5oz @ 41+4
01 May: Euan George, a baby boy for Jenniejennie, 8lb @ 40+4
02 May: Robyn Olivia, a baby girl for soph28, 8lb 1oz @ 42+1
05 May: Nora Martina, a first baby for Eva07, 7lb 8oz @ 41+2
05 May: A baby boy for Beeper, 8lb 10oz @ 41+0
05 May: Gabriella Summer, a first baby for MommyHasAHeadache, 8lb 4oz @ 40+6
06 May: Wilf, 8lb 60z for bigbadmom @ 41+6
07 May: James Andrew, a second ds for Moominsmummy, 8lb 13oz @ 41+5
08 May: Ellie Isabella, a first baby for Carey87, 7 lb 8oz @ 42+1
08 May: Robin David, a 2nd baby for Woollymummy, 8lb 11 oz @ 41+3
09 May: 4 kittens for scorpio's cat!
10 May: Astrid Mary, a second dd for TheShipsCat, 8lb 8oz @ 42+0

I did have to draw the line a couple of hours ago though, was queueing in starbucks and he decided he'd like to play with the (ceramic) mugs on the shelf. Picked him up, he squealed very loud. That didn't work so a few mins later when we were away from the mugs, he kept going to lick the pushchair wheels. Filthy boy! And not at all attention seeking, oh no...

Hi all,
Thought I'd say hello on the shiny new thread.

Knitter, I have often thought of strapping sponges to DD's knees so she can clean the floor as she crawls.

I am going back to work in July and DD will be going to nursery 5 days a week, am very nervous that she'll be upset and I won't know. The nursery she will be attending comes highly recommended, but it will be such a big change for us both. DH pointed out that I will only see her for about 2.5 hours a day Mon-Fri. I am going to try and get a four day week asap.

VS, if a child at your nursery was very upset and didn't settle, the parents would be told, wouldn't they?

E says hi and bye and does a cute imitation of a monkey. No walking here yet and she still only has 2 teeth!

Good luck to your DH, Peachy.

Hope you are all enjoying the sun.

Hey Suze!

I can completely sympathise with your going-back-to-work-nursery worries. Anyone here can tell you that I banged on about it for WEEKS and moaned and groaned and cried many tears. However, it has really not been that bad. The induction period was horrid as she used to cry when I left her, but after the first proper week was over she settled fantasticly into the new routine, and I can honestly say she is very happy, sleeping eating well and very chilled and happy. Our relationship is still very warm and cuddly, and I appreciate the time we have together immensely now. She is happy in herself, and they make a point of telling me how her mood has been through the day. When we were doing the settling in period they were clear that if she was distraught they would ring me. Generally though, she cried for a couple of mins and then was fine. Now she waves me off with a smile as she knows I always come back, and she's built up a fab relationship with the 2 girls who work in her bit. I thought it would be an unbelievable wrench, and it was to start with, but we both have settled OK, she is thriving and coming on so much with all the stimulation she's getting, and the ungrateful wench appears to be missing me not a jot now

Honestly, it will be fine. The anticipation is worse than actuality. I know Molly is very social and it takes some babies longer, but they do all get used to it.

Sorry, that was a bit long-winded wasn't it? And I repeated myself rather too, must remember to proof-read long posts...

Right, off to bed. Night all (not that anyone appears to be there)

Thanks Ellie. Glad Molly likes her nursery. Emilia is also quite sociable and we do see other babies every day. She crawls off to play but she knows that I am there. She will be going for two weeks before I start work and DH is going to take the first week that I am working so that he is around if necessary.

I am guilty of sticking her in front of CBeebies so I guess we will have more quality time now!

Yes, Suze, they would be told.

We have had quite a few new children start over the last month and most have settled after a week of being a bit whingy.

At least 50% of children cry when they leave their parents, even children that have been coming since they were 6 weeks old and are with us 8-6 every day still cry but within minutes they have stopped.

We have two children who haven't settled. With both children we have been in regular contact with mum/dad, both them calling us and us them throughout the day, one child has left(mum's decision) the other was with us yesterday and quite a lot better but still not 'settled'.

BOTH of these children not settling has been completely due to the parents IMO (and the opinion of my colleague who has worked with babies in nursery for 25 years so I think she knows what she is talking about!). They drop them off whenever they feel like, whatever time of day, normally only for a few hours, one day a week.

No child is going to get used to an environment they are not expecting and not spending enough time in to get used to it so my best advice would be to just let her get on with it. Yes, she is likely to be upset the first few times, yes it will tear you in two leaving her! but yes it is completely normal and it only lasts a few days.

Try to spend as little time with her in the nursery as possible, maybe the first session be there for 15-20 minutes but don't hang around, because she'll just get used to you being there and the 'settling' period will start all over again when you're not there iyswim. We had one little boy - one of my keychildren actually - whose Dad stayed with him on every visit so by the time they had to go to work poor child wasn't settled at all and was expecting Dad to be there, but Dad couldn't come because he'd used his free time sitting in the nursery the previous week.

Do they have a parent room in which you/DH can watch her on cctv? We try to encourage parents to bring a book along and have a cup of tea in ours for the first visit, normally around two hours, then leave the building for the second visit, about 3 hours and again leave the building on the third visit, a full morning/afternoon. We take mum/dad's mobile number and if a child really isn't settling at all (most will cry a little, play, cry a little, play, cry a bit less, eat, cry cos they're tired, sleep, cry cos they've woken up, play, then cry cos they've seen mum/dad at the door ) then we will call and suggest they come back and we try to arrange another visit. After three visits most children are settled enough to come for a full day and the longer/more often they are with us the easier/quicker they settle.

Just keep talking to your key person and listen to what they're saying, it's really hard to tell a parent that it's because of them the child isn't settled and more often than not we try to tactfully tell mum or dad to bugger off and they don't hear what we are saying and it's the child that is left feeling it whilst Mum and Dad are prolonging the separation anxiety.

Thanks so much, VS, I appreciate the info. I'll follow their advice.

I don't know if they have a parent room. I went in with the registration form yesterday and they told me that there are three settling in sessions. The first day, I go with her for 30 minutes, it is really just to see her room and meet the staff. The second day I stay again for 15 minutes or so, then go off for an hour and the third day, she goes for an afternoon. They said that as E will be there 8-5.30/6, five days a week, she should settle in quickly. I hope so.

It's another lovely day.

No time to read all the posts but just wanted to add my tuppence worth.

Suz, I've been back at work full time since November. Alasdair is in nursery from 7.30 ish when DH drops him off (usually closer to 8 by the time he gets his ass in gear) and I pick him and DS1 up about 5.45.

He loves the nursery and gets very excited when DH pulls into the car park. I'm a bit strange in that I actually call the nursery, generally twice a day, for updates and just so I can speak to someone about him. (I did this for the whole 4 years DS1 was at nursery too). When he gets older I will ask to speak to him when I call. The nursery is lovely and the girls tell me all about his day, what he's doing, anything cute or funny, what nappies he's had, what he's eaten and how he's slept. It keeps me sane!!

Whenever I turn up he is generally being played with or playing with (well next to) another baby.

I have always worked full time and there is always guilt. I always find myself questioning what I'm doing and if it's the right thing, but in the end he is happy and he's getting lots of attention and social interaction and I think I'm just jealous 'cos I want to be with him all day.

Agree with what the others have said about crying. Quite a few children seem to do this (I've seen it lots when i used to drop off DS1) and it seems to be mostly for the parents benefit!! Alasdair never cries when DH drops him off but always cries when I do! I take it as a compliment that he loves his mummy enough to make a show when I'm leaving him, as about 10 seconds later he is happily playing.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I know exactly what you're going through. As Ellie says, we feel all this emotional turmoil and the little ones don't even notice!!

BR

BR, thanks. I am sure it is much harder on the parents than the babies!

I do like the nursery and the staff I've met so far so that's good.

I left her in the wobblers room while I went to look around. The supervisor said that E looked around and seemed a bit puzzled, then started playing happily. When I came back to get her 10 minutes later, she tried to struggle out of my arms to get down on the floor and continue playing so that's a good sign!

Aww bless that is lovely. Good for you and good for her!

LOL at Wobblers room. I absolutely love it!!!!

BR

PS, Oh and chunky finally decided to roll over voluntarily last evening. Thank goodness. Only took him 14 months to do what his brother did in 12 weeks!!

Morning all.

Suze - I second everything everyone has said regarding nurseries. Sam started when he was 4 months, settled in immediately and hasn't looked back since. He loves it. It's definitely the parents that feel it more. VS is right about the parents making things worse. The Nursery classroom (3 yr olds) at our school is down the stairs from the Library and for the whole of September all I hear is screaming. The parents hang around for ages and it really does make life difficult for the teachers and the kids. The teacher normally has to tell them to bugger off.

I'm going to have a semi-rant now if I may as I'm not that angry so not a full rant Went to pick Sam up from occupational therapy and his face and his top was covered in chocolate spread. The therapist had been putting it on his lips to get him to exercise his mouth. Then she'd put some on the end of a spoon to see if he takes food off a spoon properly.

Now, I'm not adverse to my kids having chocolate but the thing is she didn't even ask if it was OK until I got in there. She sort of turned, gasped and said "oh, he isn't allergic is he?" To which I replied "luckily for you, no!" She did look a bit sheepish. The thing is what if he had been allergic and what if I didn't want him to have chocolate at this age?

Sometimes I'm amazed at how stupid professionals can be!

Rant over, thank you

I would rant too soph - not appropriate IMO grrr on your behalf

suze - would defo echo what VS said about nursery - the big thing that has helped Molly is going there regularly, every morning. If she has a half day it will be an afternoon so that her routine every morning is the same. Plus I have developed a good relationship with her keyworker, who I really trust and I know I am safe leaving Molly with her. Or any of them for that matter. Also agree that hanging around is a bad thing. My goodbyes have always been very quick and I have trusted to the staff to comfort her, which they have done. Is less painful in the long run that way. However, no matter how horrid, I ALWAYS make sure I say goodbye and she sees me leave and never sneak off so she knows I will never leave her without her knowing and just disappear. Plus I make a MASSIVE deal of coming back, BIG hugs and wooooooo! and that makes us both happy too

Thank you Ellie

Name change is due to a conversation I had on the SN thread, in case anyone's wondering

LOL Soph!

I'd have gone ballistic personally. DS2 doesn't have chocolate and I wouldn't be at all happy.

Suze, you're a genius witht he strapping sponges to George's knees to clean the floor. Heck, I wouldn't even need to sweep it first, he'd go round eating everything off the floor given half a chance!

Went to get him weighed this morning, haven't been for a couple of months and I was interested to see. He was 19lb 2oz 2 months ago. Today he was the grand old weight of ... 20lb 2oz! He rarely stops eating, but then he rarely stops moving too, so they must cancel each other out.

I understand your annoyance at Sam's OT Soph, but I must admit I lol'd at the thought of his little face covered in choc spread, thinking all his birthdays had cone at once!

Knitter - exactly, you should have seen the smug look on his face, fab George, the human hoover LOL. Will you hire him out to do floors?

Oooh yes, an even better idea!!! An income AND he wouldn't cost us as much to feed!

LOL at George with sponges on his knees, munching everything in site!!!

What a fab idea. Might try putting them on DS2's bum.

BR

Glad I could be of help Suze. Let me know if you have any more wobbles

On the flip side, MY son leapt out of my arms into the childminder's arms this morning.

Bas has chickenpox!

Thank goodness I delayed vaccination tuesday (supposed potential issues with CP and MMR in vulbnerable kids)

Sending off money for single jabs when he's all clear. Bloody disease (CP / measles / asd - insert as per relevance LOL)

Poor Bas, hope he is not too itchy.

Great to hear about all the happy babies. I do feel guilty about going back to work. I would prefer to do a four day week, maybe they will agree to it next year.

Wow Soph, she should have checked. I have given Emilia bits of dark choc but she is not that keen. She can't be my daughter!

Aww poor Bas. I must admit though, I'd rather they have it at this age than older. At least you can cream them up under their nappies.

Suz, I know exactly what you're going through. Do what you can but don't castigate yourself for things beyond your control. If that's the way it has to be, then that's the way it has to be. You will cope and DD will still flourish.

Sending waves of support and compassion your way.

BR

Morning ladies.

Went to one of the many social security offices this morning to find out why we hadn't been getting the 100 euros a month towards nursery and the answer, because I hadn't filled out the form to say I wanted it! However, I didn't realise there was another form as the woman at the social security office you go to once you've had a baby told me I didn't need to do anything else. You'd have thought I'd have learnt by now that there's always more than one form to fill in

Anyway, we should now get the money, I'm just peed off with myself that we've been struggling along for the last 7 months without it. Hey ho, live and learn

Peachy - aahhh poor Bas, hope they're not too bad.

Soph, hopefully they will backdate the money for you.