Sept 08: They're under starters orders .... and they're off .... well, some of them!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

I thought I'd use this title as not all of our delicious babies are on the move yet, including mine

Well done Digi, glad to hear you're making progress.

In the past couple of days M has perfected sitting up from laying down, pulling himself onto his feet on the edge of the sofa, waving and saying 'ba-ba' for bye bye

DG it sounds like the CC is working really well for you - so glad you've (probably) found a solution that works for you!

Still no crawling (or even attempts to crawl, really) - someone actually managed to make me paranoid about it the other day by commenting how all babies are at least trying to crawl by now. A fair bit of babbling, but no attempts to link babbles to words or actions that we do.

T has cut right back on his daytime naps over the past 4 days. Not made any difference to his mood or night sleep, but does mean he tends to fall asleep more easily as he's more knackered. I do not anticipate him keeping his daytime napping for a long time - he sleeps 10-12 hours at night (5:30-7:30am in the pram), and only naps for a maximum of 90 mins or so in the day time already. In a way it'll be a relief when he eventually drops it, as it's one less hassle having to spend 20 mins jiggling the pram to settle him! SIL's son was having 2 hours a day and 12 hours at night until he was well over 3!

Don't get paranoid Hopefully, although that can be easier said than done.

M has only really started to do 'things' in the past few weeks, and tbh the moving thing is a pita as I have to pay more attention

My sister had to stop my niece from napping in the day just before she started school. I'm hoping M keeps his naps for a loooooong time. He has between 3-4 hours in the day and 12 hours at night. He's sleeping well at the moment, I think because of all of the moving around he's doing.

I shouldn't have said that should I? He's going to become a wailing banshee next week isn't he?!

My ds1 napped nearly every day for about an hour til he started school....was really worried when he started reception, but hes been fine.

Just measuered Tobys feet...they are just over 11cms long and 6cms wide - he is like me. I am only a size 4 foot, but they are nearly as wide as they are long!

Still feel awful...head hurts now when I bend over When is it ok to go the the GP with a virus????

DG Glad things are getting better x

We've just got back from hantsdoc, f has got tonsillitis he is really poorly.

Oh lollyheart, my sympathy for your DS. DD had tonsilitis about a month ago along with several other related things. If it's any comfort, she is totally well now and it is bliss in comparison. Babies are remarkably resilient. Sending some healing vibes to your house, and hope he will be better soon.

Anyone else's lo's eaten catfood yet??

I'm not a happy bunny as my car went into the garage on Friday for a very simple job and they couldn't get the bolts off and so had to heat them and broke the heat shield and another one won't be in for 5 TO 10 WORKING DAYS. I meant to be in work next week and we're meant to be going on holiday in it on Friday aaaaah.

Then to add to that on Friday afternoon M was sick 4 times on the way home from school and several more times at home. All over the buggy, me and the guinea cage! She seems fine now but she's been up a couple of times the last couple of nights and still up for good at 6.30 grrr

Sorry rant over.

lollyheart tonsillitus is horrible, sorry to hear that. I prescribe lots of icecream.

I've become one of those pushchair people. I don't like the Mutsy I bought (no shopping basket to speak of and I do my grocery shopping locally, use cloth nappies and have to cart around stuff for 2 kids. So I'm search for the perfect buggy - anyone use an infinity? Any good?

I have the infinity, the shopping basket is a bit small but otherwise i really like.

Hello ladies, I've missed you all!

I got back ridiculously late on Friday night (actually, 2 am on Saturday) after a week holiday in spain. Sorry I did not even have time to do a "see you later" post. It was all a bit hectic.

I've spent a fair bit of time catching up on the thread, and I tell you, it had the drama, pathos and suspense of a novel: Will Ponymum's nanny live up to expectations? And will CC work to give DG and her DP some much needed respite? Will the poorly LOs quickly recover now that we have a good diagnosis? And which oh which car seat should one get? Or buggy?

So having got up to date, Digital, I really feel for you, and can imagine what tough times you and your DP are going through. I know the kind of angry zombie I become after a few days of sleep deprivation, so the fact that you are still a caring mother (and can even manage to have friends over) is entirely to your credit.

For what it's worth, I have actually resorted to CC in the past. I know a child's character has a lot to do with sleep and therefore you cannot give cc all the credit, but I have to say that it worked really well for us, and that since, Diego on the whole is a good sleeper and an incredibly contented child. However I have to say that not all CC methods are fine by me, and that I could have never ever done the "let them cry themselves to sleep" method, which I find cruel, both for the parents and for the baby. I followed The Estivil Method, which is by a Spanish paediatric neurologist. It is based on instilling a sense of security in the child that allows them to self settle. I like it for two reasons:

1. It is based on the child never feeling abandoned, and therefore the table of timings requires one to re-enter often, starting with 3 minutes. Also, although you should not pick the baby up, you can touch them, and are encouraged to talk to them and explain why they are in bed, why sleep is good, and that you are nearby.
2. It is explicit enough that you do not have to think and fret, as the instructions are clear and strict.

Actually, there is a third reason. I think it fosters intelligent use of transitional objects such as a cuddly toy, that act as a switch or a symbol for the child to make good sleep associations.

For example, this past week in Spain, we were in a rented house near the beach. I took a travel cot for Diego (more of which later, as I thoroughly recommend the little life arc two, not just cos it cheap, but also because it's practical and kids love it). I took with me his dummies and his sleeping cuddly toy, and followed the same sleep routine as I do at home. and he slept very well every night. Ok, this may also have to do with the fact that he was knackered, but on the whole, I think that he has learned how to fall asleep, and that it is ok to be on his cot and in darkness when he's tired and it's time to sleep.

Anyway, sorry for the whole essay. I hope it is of help - at least for those who do not abhor of CC!

DG, how was last night for you?

And with regard to prams, all i want is something really light and that folds really small. Is that a mclaren?

pacita yes I'drecommend a mclaren for small and light and sturdy. Only thing to check is how you like the handles. They angle in slightly and I really like that. But my best friend got a really sore back from them and has to have straight handles.

lolly poor F, is it bacterial tonsillitus? Has he got antibiotics? That's what ds1 has had and he had penicillin but it didn't help soI think his was viral. He's better today than he has een all week. A couple of friends have had it too so it's obviously going round this area- although touch wood so far none of the rest of us have had it.

oh and feet- 10.5cm

and ninja if we had a cat I'm sure he'd eat the food.

pacita agree about the 'comfort' toy, I'm sure it helps M. DD1 never had one and was a terrible sleeper

Welcome back Pacita, I was thinking only the other day that I haven't seen you about

I hadn't thought about a comfort toy, food for thought.

M hasn't eaten cat food ............ yet.

ninja - Oooh yes, catfood is threatening to become a regular part of DS's diet!

I agree about the comfort toy too. DS1 has a fleece taggie that I made and Waddle the penguin and he's always slept fine wherever he is if he has those. Good for napping at childminder too when he first started there.

At bedtime he asked why the Gruffalo has spines on his back, I said I didn't know so he said that maybe God made him that way and that maybe God has spines on his back too! Very cute.

ponymum twice!

lolly sorry to hear about your lo's tonsilitis.

ninja no cats here, but DS has got into the habit of eating anything he comes across on the floor (pincer grip has now been perfected) - today it was a single bark chip he found on the playground in the park.

pacita welcome back!! Last night was a little bit tricky, he woke twice and his cry was so sad and forlorn I thought he was ill. DH gave him Calpol, checked his temp etc. He was fine, a little snuffly, but no temp. Your spanish CC method sounds very interesting, very similar to my own (unpatented) version - except we started at 5 mins (feeling even more cruel now).

Bedtime tonight seems to have gone backwards also, took 45 mins. I thought it would get easier rather than harder, but we're learning things every night i.e. tonight we tried to put DS to bed earlier than usual as he'd skipped his afternoon nap. But in the end he fell asleep at the usual time. Listening to him cry really doesn't get any easier. I just hope that by next weekend he's learnt to go to sleep quickly. I have to remind myself that we are ALL getting a lot more sleep now, even with the crying.

Looking forward to going on a date with DH once this has all settled. At the moment any evening plans have been put on hold till we can be sure DS is settled and able to sleep through for a good few hours.

DG, I think this is the key "...I have to remind myself that we are ALL getting a lot more sleep...". I really hope that it gets better for all of you very soon.

Regarding bringing forward his bed time, I found that when you are doing any kind of sleep training, maintaining the routine exactly the same is quite important, as it provides recognisable boundaries within which they feel secure. This extends to mealtimes throughout the day, apparently, as the sleep and eating cycles are related. Although I am back to my usual chaos now, I remember I was trying to do an 8,12,4,8 timetable.

Have you tried the transitional toy thing? You know, putting some sort of teddy in the cot with him and actually verbalising "this is teddy the teddy and he's going to sleep with you". I know it sounds silly, but when I put Diego down in his cot, he looks to one side to find his dummies, and then he looks to the other to see that Luna (the fluffy thing) is there too.

Aaaanyway, I'm sure you're pretty fed up of people telling you what to do - so just huge sleep vibes to the little A.

Now, two things I need to run pass you, ladies:

1. travel cots: if you need one, I can totally recommend the little life arc two. It is 2.3 kg. It' super easy to put up. It's got plenty of ventilation and anti-mosquito netting. It's considerably cheaper than other makes, and for waht it's worth, Diego things that going is is a hoot. here

1. the moooncup! Having been exposed to the mumsnet way for some time now, i went and purchased said implement. I am having freakish post pregnancy heavy periods, and so far, I think it's a great invention. But... does anybody have any advice about how to remove it without it feeling like you're giving yourself a self inflicted hysterectomy?

Bah, I cocked up my post. Point one up there should say "Diego thinks that going in is a hoot. Here is the link

Hi girls.
I am back. These last months have been crazy.
I am still Bf lorea to sleep, still sleeping with her and as a result of that, I am very tired.
I have thought many times about coming back to our group here, but I never can assure you I am back for good. I usually collaps on my 2 hrs before the little one demands more milk.
(She still feeds during the night).

pacita we're going camping this summer and this could be just what I need. Thanks (the cot not the mooncup)

re Mooncup you fold it into a C shape to break the seal, is that what you're doing?

Hi Poxtola Sounds like Lorea and Robyn are the same. I am more tired now then when she was a month old.
How is she doing with solids?
Robyn loves eating but she is bf just as much as she did several months ago.

Hi Debs75, sorry you are in my situation too.
She eats what her 5 yr old brother eats, but mashed.
I have a rutine:
At 6 she has her supper, ay 8 I give her cereals with Frutapura and I take her upstairs. I get her into her Grobag, I bf her and into the cot.
At 11:30 I go upstair (she is still in my room, we don't have a room for her in this house) I think she smells me or something because 5 min later she starts calling me. I then BF in bed and we sleep together. I guess I Bf twice during the night.
It is lovely, she is really happy and one day I will miss all this closeness

She is very tall and big (not fat).I am not worried about BF, because her brother was the same. I stopped Bf when he was 2.
She does eat pieces of clementine, toast etc.

SHe does not crawl, he moves with her bottom, really fast and loves her brother. She is an attachment baby.

Which reminds me. I am still a sling/ wrap fan.
Do any of you has a Gauze Calin Bleu. I need to buy one for the hot weather. Is it supportive? Reviews please

Hola Potxola! Lorea sounds like a lovely baby. I am enjoying breast feeding too. I never thought I would last this long. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have told you I'd breast feed until six months! Comes to show, doesn't it, that you just don't know what it is like until you're living it.

Ninja, no, I was not folding it into a C to take it off, will try this out. Also, for complicated logistic reasons I ended up with two little arc travel cots. One of them is still in its packaging and completely brand new but I can't find the receipt, which means I will get a voucher but not a refund. Would you be interested?

Welcome back pacita and potxola debi i'm not sure if the tonsillitis is viral or not, he has got antibs but he was sick all last night, bright yellow stuff so i have just spoke to the doctor and she is going to change the antibs.

How long was your ds1 ill for? F does'nt seem any better and now is not eating

My ds1 now has a cough, a house full of sick children not fun.

Poxtola I think they are twins. Our routine is pretty similar except her last feed is at 5-6, haven't tried giving her a meal later. She is also in our room as we have no room for her so will probably be in our room until dd1 moves out.

We had a better night last night, it has been a PITA trying to get the bedding right with this weather, have gone back to the grobag with a vest and she has woken less.

DP is laid out on the settee feeling rubbish. His vertigo is back and he is wheezing and keeps shaking. Taking him to the Drs later. Hope he doesn't pass it on to me vertigo was bad enough when pregnant, never mind carrying Robyn around