July 09 - Sore ladybits and melons for tits! [grin]

[Quiltedrose]

Ok so there's only 2 of us so far but felt duty bound as the first July delivery to start the thread off!

'Pop' in when you're ready!!

lactose intolerance seems dd2 won't tolerate ordinary formula at present. happily taking a bottle of SMA LF at 10.30 from dh. tried with the aptimil for a week and have had the most awful sulphorous and eggy nappies. taken it out again and they have disappeared. off to gp when i can to try and see if we can test in a proper fashion unlike the adhoc way we found out with dd1. decided if it's true will have to carry on with the bf and not try and cold turkey the bottle!

growth spurt dd has gained 1lb in less than 2 weeks. not a wonder i was cream crackered with the BF! She's 15lb 3 at 12 weeks and heading off towards the 98th centile! ROLL ON WEANING!I'm sure she'll be straight onto pie and chips!

re medised - I used to keep a bottle of anti histamine (piraton) in instead and just give that with calpol if needed as its the same stuff - think it is also a lie about to the chemist thing too though.
I am wondering if Alfie needs weaning for the last couple of weeks he has been feeding lots and lots and waking much more at night. DD was grabbing things off my plate at this stage but wondering if Alfie needs more? maybe I should get him weighed? He is such a big lad. I wanted to hold out till 6 months and do baby led weaning (straight to finger foods)

Queenfee - Noah hasn't tried to grab any food yet but he sits in his chair watching us eat with a 'god i could just eat that' look on his face I weaned ds1 at around 18wks cos he was a big baby.

Gillyan if your little one is screaming like that I would definately take them to the doctor. Don't want to scare you but there are some things that develop as they get older (like a twisted bowel) ... for peace of mind I would just go and get them examined.

LydiaTTTL sounds exactly like swine flu to me. I had swine flu the other week. I was ill - headache, achy bones, cold symptoms, etc but it was nowhere near as severe as usual flu - could get out of bed if needed (well HAD to - with toddler and new baby) and wasn't anywhere near as achy - BUT - the temperature was hideous - mine was nearly 39oC for 3 days and nights. Never had anything like it.

hi everyone

Sorry I haven't been on for months it feels like! No time at all.

Hope you are all well and it looks like we have many bonny nouncing nippers on here. It's going so fast isnt it!

Woollyjo I am delighted about your BFP, as others have said, we think about you a lot.

We are ok, Oliver is getting fat and is about 14lb at 11 weeks so not bad going. Otherwise, we have two probs I wondered if anyone can help with

1. I can't get him down in the evenings at 7 ish when DD goes down. he is tired but gets a second wind and wants to be downstairs with us. He falls asleep with me at 10 ish feeding in bed and then i cafrefully lift him into the basket so as not to wake him... Even if I replicate this order of events at 7 pm he wakes when he hits the basket and yells to get backinto bed with me. I want my dinner!

1. I can't get him to sleep in a cot/basket on his own or settle any other way than by feeding. I don't want to co sleep any more as he is rather big but did fall into that in the early weeks and now he will have nothing else. Creeping around fingers crosed and placing him gently in the basket after the 3 am feed is a pain in the arse especially since he usually wakes up and then we start all over.

DH and I haven't had an evening together, eaten together or even a conversation for weeks!
Any one else the same?
Thanks

Hi everyone....Queenfee and Phoenix Max is showing signs too of needing to be weaned. I started the other 2 at about 16 weeks last time, sounds so early now with the 6 month guidlines.

My health visitor came round for our 3 month check the other day and amazed me by being very open to weaning early from 4 months. She said without me saying anything that he is a big boy and will probably not last till 6 months and to do from 4 if needed. I was surprised as I was expecting her to follow the rules to the letter.

Having said that I wasnt to hold off as long as possible as its so easy just doing boob. I did make my first pots up for him yesterday though and froze them as we had a whole load of apples in the garden and having had a frost yesterday they needed picking. Felt very exciting, but as he is my last I so don't want to wish this early baby stage away!

I have a horrible throaty bug thing going on, feel like I have swallowed a razor. Also quite light headed and exhausted. Just what I need at the moment! DH has been away but is back later on and has 5 days off so I will get a chance to have a break......I hope!

belrtano best to start with daytime sleeps to try and teach LO to drop off to sleep by themselves cos in the day you have more patience and also I feel it gets to you less than say by the end of the day and you feel knackered or the middle of the night. My dd wouldn't sleep well in her moses basket at all but has slept like a dream in the cot. was easier for me tho as is second baby so had the cot already.

Even if LO falls asleep on the boob during the day try and put them down awake but drowsy and see if you can get it started that way. Found it really helpful with both of mine to look at the clock as I put them down and walk away for say 2 mins then go back, pick them up, check for wind etc and then put down and go back out and go back after say 3or 5 mins. It's really hard but they get the idea. If you are sure that they are fed and burped and tired then they need to learn to associate cot with sleep not boob. baby whisperer is great for this cos it's not all about controlled crying or leaving them for ages to "cry it out." that said when dd goes to sleep she usually cries for about 3-5 mins (on the clock) but feels like 20! DD2 used to fall asleep on me all the time but now prefers to fall asleep in her cot instead. It's taken time but if you nip it in the bud then it's easier than when they are 6 months.

weaning at 4mths This is what i did with dd1 and was encouraged by HV to do so. Was (and am with dd2) counting the weeks to 16 weeks to ram in some baby rice as she is v hungry. I think it's unreasonable to expect a baby to get to 6mths and not need night feeding if they are big. But then that's what we've all been working to stop! (the night feeds I mean) I'm so excited about weaning dd2. Going to make purees over half term and get stocked up. Have so many cute photos of dd1 covered head to foot in green spinach puree etc. Good job i have laminate floors!

Hello all Been busy and have only had a chance to do a read of all the posts without having time to add my 2 cents worth. Please excuse me if this post becomes a novel as I try and catch up

gillyan good luck with the driving! I couldn't imagine not having a licence. I was without a car for about a month back in July (waiting for new car to arrive after selling old one). I felt trapped at home! Guess its all what you are used to...

lydia thank you for the good laugh re: your DD bouncing Bill to the point of him giggling! Can just picture my DD2 doing that to Marco. We are still waiting for him to giggle for the first time... seemed on the verge this morning, but nothing! He was 11 weeks yesterday.

holding Marco does not like to be cradled either. He wants to be upright... either over the shoulder or facing outward. Nosy bugger!!

screaming my LO did that in the beginning and it was colic related. Hopefully it is just a phase for your LO. Have you tried gripe water?? Works like a dream with Marco when he gets fussy like that. Settles his tummy enough to feed or sleep, whichever he needs most!

sitting Marco hasn't tried it on his own yet, but he shows no preference between sitting in his bouncy seat or laying on his back on the floor. I just try to change it up for him so he doesn't get bored and cranky.

weaning LOL... I get the same "I want some of THAT" look out of Marco when he sees me having my dinner! I don't think he will last til 6 months either. But I started all 3 of my other DCs on rice cereal at 4 months and solid fruit/veggies at 6 months and they turned out just fine. Patchy I agree about looking forward to the next feeding stage, but treasuring the 'now' time... Marco is also our last and I dont want him growing up too fast!

sleep Marco only sleeps in his swing. When we try to put him down in his basket, he stays asleep for a few minutes, then wakes crying. I think he likes the motion. Our playpen has a vibration feature which we have tried on him, but that does not seem to work either. I think I am going to try and wean him from the swing, back to co-sleeping with us, and then on to sleeping on his own. I figure if I can get him to sleep without the motion, that will be the hardest part conquered.

Last chapter to the book... my dinner for 25 turned out brilliantly! I have even managed to pack my mum home with some of the leftovers. My DCs were beginning to complain that they have been eating the same fare for 3 days now! LOL. Of course, my success means that I will probably end up being coerced into hosting again next year!! LOL. Maybe I will be too busy with work by then!

bonzo thnsk for the adbice - touch wood- she hasn't done it for 3 days now! Hurrah! She was VERY red cheeked so gave her a small amount of calpol and stuck a dummy in and it calmed her in minutes, also she started the hissy fit the other night after he rbath and before the last feed, but I knew it was cos she she was tired so I just forgot about the feed and put her to bed - worked a treat, she woke up at 8pm but just fed her in her oom and off she went again. I'm starting to think now that it may just of been over tiredness coupled with bouts of painful gums. Have got baby bonjella and some teething things that look like dummies. Her gums are white where you can see the teeth underneath - won't be long. I will def take her to the docs if it starts again.

weaning I am so excited this time round to wean, think I was a bit terrified the first time. Summer was 16 wks yesterday and I bought bowls and spoons and some baby rice - if I'm honest though she doesn't seem to be showing any signs, she is quite happy having 5 feeds a day 7oz (usually leaves about half an oz ) she does seem to be taking an interest in food and wacthes us eating but I will try and hold off especially becuase she has such bad eczema she may be prone to allergic reactions, I'll see how she goes, DD1 - I started her at 21 wks because she started having more frequent feeds and I think waking in th enight. Can't wait though love their little faces when they get their first tastes!!

belgrano sorry you're having trouble, not really got any advice that will be usefull for you. If your LO is used to bed sharing it must be so much harder to get them to go down alone. I have never had any trouble with Summer but I have always put her down in her moses basket from a day old and luckily for me she didn't mind it. I do use the contolled crying at bedtimes if she is ever a bit off just in a sense that if I know she is happy, fed, dry warm eough etc and she starts crying,I just ignore her for a few mins and then go to her but I don't pick her up, I just put my hand on her tummy and making ssshhhing noises, sometimes put her mobile on. You need to try and get him used to being out down awake but fed and sleepy, could you maybe try in the day and graduae to the 7pm bedtime?? Hope you get it sorted! xx

Hello!

I am in awe of you ladies who have regularly contributed to this thread as I somehow just don't get the opportunity; am only on my laptop tonight because have done my online grocery shop!! So, what's the secret....?

Gillyan Your description of how your little one likes to sit up on your lap facing out and can't bear to be cuddled lying down is a perfect description of mine. And the screaming, sounds like teething to me, especially as she's settled with Calpol and a dummy. My son, James, screams 24hrs after his jabs (both times) so definitely related to them. The 2nd time I gave him Calpol and he cried for just a couple of minutes. Waking up with his arms raised above his head, knees by his chest, face screwed up screaming blue murder is definitely not his usual behaviour!! Thank God for Calpol is what I say! It just concerns me that, if he reacts like that to an injection that supposedly has mild reactions, what is he going to be like for his 12 month jab (which is supposed to be a particularly nasty one) never mind the MMR

I think that I'm the last as have not been on, to spot Woollyjo's marvellous news. She has been in my thoughts ever since James' birth and I am so thrilled for her. Congratulations Woollyjo. You absolutely deserve this baby and I'm sure you will be monitored like crazy and you won't experience another full term loss. I am overjoyed for you xxx

howdy! how is everyone?? we're all feeling better, though dd still has a chesty cough.

weaning not sure when to start with bill was thinking asap but over this past week seems to have calmed down on his feeds alot and he is even sleeping at night!! so may hold him off a bit! since friday he has been going down lovely at about 6.30-7ish then only waking sometime between 12-2 for quick feed then down again until 4-5ish which is brilliant compared to the 1 1/2 hr feeds. he is also now taking from both boobs which he has never done! i dont know whats happened to make him do this, touch wood it carries on! the only thing i can think of is that he was cold as we started putting the heating on timed through the night. im starting to feel human again, even managing to put some slap on...wierdly im also not as hungry which i presume was the tiredness or his constant feeding??

got him weighed yesterday and his weight seems to be leveliing out after his rather rpid weight gain. he's now 15lb 1oz at 14 weeks.
gillian i hope summer is ok, no advice really to offer im afraid!! esme used to scream like that too but hers was colic!
belgrano i ws a bit at a loss as to how to get bill to sleep in his cot but i did the same as what gillian has suggested. i put him in semi sleepy then just wait for a few minutes in his room if he stirs i just stroke his hand and shhhhh him then he usually nods off. im hoping his current sleeping state is permanent as going out on saturday for first time since he was born and a little nervous about leaving him for few hours so was hoping he'd sleep and id be home for when he does his first wake up between 12-2! he's such a mummys boy im smitten!
oh and we luuuurve medised in our house used it for dd and will use it again. it was brilliant for using with dd this week as her cough was stopping her sleeping and the medisied just aided her to relax and get some rest!

Hi all *lydia8 glad Bill is settling down a bit for oyu

Hi ruby

WHAT A BLOODY DAY!!!!! been at the GP with Grace this morning, she's just got a cold and bad cough but thankfully no ear/cheast inf but then a red raw throat.

Got back and then Summer did her massive hissy fit, it was so bad and she was no way near due a feed and she had just woke up from a nap, I neded up calling the GP and described what had been going on and they said to take to A&E.

Off I went with FIL and MIL stayed at my house with Grace.

The upshot is, the doc agreed with me that it is most likely teething and he did say she should be too young but after he observed ehr biting and drolling etc he though maybe so. I described the screaming as like Colic ad he said that was the other option, I didn't know they can get it older but he said they can. She's had no fever and the screaming bouts seem to follow no pattern so I had though either teeth or tummy ache. Al her food is going in andcoming out again the right way so we've dismissed twisted bowel etc.

He was lovely and said over the next 3 days to regularly give the full 4 doses of calpol every day and teething gel and infacol for colic, if no better he said they will admit her to a ward and run some tests but he didn't think it warranted it today ( nor did I ) So....feel a bit better now. I didn't want to dose her up all the itme without knowig what is up so happy now, I thinkit is more teeth than tummy ache or colic, but we'll see. It would be so much easier if they could jus tell you whats makning them scream wouldn't it!!!

What a day though didn't get back from hospital till 5pm!! Chippy tea was called for!

Gillyan Gosh, what a horrible day for you!! It sounds like your Dr is sensible though and let's hope the Calpol sorts Summer out, and breaks the pattern. Our babies are still very young and I think crying/screaming for a reason that is not apparent to us, is probably more the norm than a 24 hr silent baby. I wonder whether it's tummy ache relating to her tiny baby tummy though obviously I'm no expert Sometimes they're just unreasonable (like when, as they grow older, they're tired but just cry a lot. It makes you think, you're tired, so why won't you just go to sleep???

Belgrano It will come re bedtime. I give James a bath, then his last bottle irrespective of what time he was last fed. This is usually around 8pm though I don't beat myself up about it. I carry him up, put him in his cot (in our bedroom) put his mobile on lullaby for 2 minutes, then switch it off, say goodnight and leave the room. The monitor is on and we don't hear a peep from him (so far!!)

Patchybob My health visitor also said that the current guidelines are 6 months but to use my own common sense Think mums know best and to play by ear really. If you feel that milk is just not enough and the quantity required to satisfy is not healthy (and isn't satisfying!), then maybe it's time to begin adding solids.

Gillyan - Hope they're both ok and the calpol sorts Summer.

Lydia - Great news that ds is feeding/sleeping better for you.

I've had Noah to the doctors today. He's had a cough for over a week (all 4 of us have got it at the mo) but the last few days after a bottle he's been coughing and coughing til he gags and brings his milk back up. This afternoon he brought back what looked like the whole bottle he'd just had so i rang the doctors and got him an emergency appointment. Doc checked him over for dehydration and listened to his chest. He said he was ok but to keep an eye on him and feed him little and often. He's only been having 4-5oz every 4 hours (gone from 8oz a few weeks ago) so i'm waking him and feeding him every 2-3 hours and he's still taking 4-5oz so i'm happy he's getting enough but just wish his cough would go. Doc said it is normal for a baby to do this though because they can't cough there mucus up like we do.

phoenix hope Noah gets well soon x

Can't believe the boys are 4 months old today
We're in more of a routine now, Freddie quite placid and goes with the flow but Stan is a really screamer when tired or hungry.

Still haven't slept through yet, I'm praying it will happen soon.

Stan has learnt to roll! did it for the first time on Sunday and now there's no stopping him the minute you lie him down he's off

Freddie is quite happy to just lie on his back playing with his hands

We have teething too, mainly Stan who is socking in dribble all the time he had 10 bib changes and 3 different tops today, calpol seams the best thing as the teething gel doesn't last long.

phoenix hope noah is better soon so awful when they're ill.

gil sounds like our experience of teeth. it's such a mercy being able to give regular doses of calpol. I'd always ave one of your 4 doses for if she wakes in the night and put up with more screaming through the day cos that's when you really hit the WHY WON@T YOU SLEEp? stage. Dd2 woke at 6am for a feed but has creamed blue murder for 45mins till given calpol and flaked out again. Am trying to encourage her to sleep till 7 not 6 or the rest of my life will be a 6am wake up! Is hard when they are really upset. Seems pointless in a way but for a few days struggle I hope we can get her to go through a bit further.

i spoke too soon. have been up all night (sob)

alibobble thanks, sorry u having same problems. hop you get her going to 7am I had the same problem ish but she was sleeping 8am from 8 pm, DP doesn't have to be at work till 9.30am but I managed to changer and get to go 7 - 7 cos it is better for evenings. She now has feeds at 7, 10, 1, 4 and 7 which is way better for my day.

lydia OHNO he'll get there xx

Hi everyone

Poorly little ones gillyan phoenix et al Hope LO's are doing better! Must be hard.

Weaning not sure when and how we will do it. Tristan is 15 weeks tomorrow and is defo NOT interested yet. DS1 was weaned from 18 weeks and loved puree'd food. He ate everything we ate (just it was whizzed up and unsalted of course). By 10 months he was off all bottles and purees and eating everything cut up. DD was different. She became interested around 21 weeks and although we started with purees she loved finger food and by 6.5 months she was eating just finger food.

I am going to play it by ear with Tristan. If he likes the puree route or finger food route it will be up to him. I am not fussed either way.

Teething Master is definitely teething. I now need bibs to soak all his drool and he is constantly sucking his hand. Yuck.

Sleep we had a few broken nights again (12:30, 3:20, 5:10.....argh) and I decided to bring the little man into my bed. I am still debating with DH on whether it should be a permanent fixture. DH is too scared too. I love it. Tristan is so snuggly.

Anyhow must go and feed my DD and then nap for her.

Hello All,

Haven't posted since birth announcement - primarily since it didn't occur to me that all had migrated to a post-natal thread doh. I'll blame the hormones, lack of sleep...Starting to resurface now. All told little Eddie is a bit of a super star, gainning weight and sleeping quite well. He seems an easier baby than DS1, although that could be because we're a lot more relaxed. And DS1 seems like a lot of work, possibly because he's toddler.

gillyan Fin had colic till he was 15 months and we got through a bottle of calpol a week It also played merry hell with me and dh relationship due to serious lack of sleep. Didn't go till I took him to a cranial osteopath, might work for you? Sorry you are going through the mill with it it's horrible.

weaning I have gone and done it and I have to say he was more than ready for it as he scoffed the lot and wanted more! I do feel a little however not to have made anywhere near 6 months.

lgor rolling early! be warned when they are on the move young they have no sense. good luck!