Fab Feb 2009 - hey ho, hey ho, its off to babyproof we go...

[dinkystinky]

off we go again

LMN... A's favourites are the cat bowls and the recycling bin

dinky... ouch! hope danny sleeps again tonight when you can actually enjoy it

BRT.....why do we bother with all these expensive toys!!? Now E is crawling, the dog is also in for a bit of attention which he (the dog) is a bot about. The cat is a bit quicker and just buggers off!

Those of you with older DCs......can you help me here please?

Thanks

LMN will watch your thread with interest because I think we are just entering that territory with DD (2.3).

Talking of DD she really upset me today. She's never really gelled with the idea of having a little brother, and when Sam was newborn she couldn't resist the odd slap or kick as she walked past him. That all calmed down and she's just indifferent to him now, but always reminds us "don't like Baby Sam". this morning she hit him with one of her Waybuloo toys, then when he was on the floor having his nappy changed, she stamped on his face while watching me. She had her trainers on and poor Sam was inconsolable for a while, complete with footprint on his cheek. Why, after all this time does she hate him so much? We only have 1 photo of the two of them together because she can't bear him to be near her. Is anyone else still having sibling rivalry problems?

All us ladies (and a few of the blokes) in the office have just cried our eyes out saying goodbye to our colleagues who's retiring today . At least I made it in to say goodbye. DH is at home looking after BOTH DC's, because we seem to have passed the bug on to the childminder . Not nice when you are preggers.

Got to squeeze 2 days work into 2 hours now.

Dinky - here's wishing you a repeat performance from Danny tonight!

Oh STW/Z - that's hard. Could it maybe be because you've been home because Sam has been ill and couldnt go to the CM and she's finding it hard that he's getting the attention? I think O is over 2 now isnt she - are you using the naughty (or thinking) step for her? It may be time to start doing something like that so she realises that she doesnt get attention by being mean to Sam. Sending you enormous hugs and lots of fortitude - it is just a phase and will pass but till then you may need to change Sam on a table so she cant get near him at changing time.

LMN - when I was pregnant with Danny I had exactly the same problem with DS1 and complained about it lots on this thread and MN generally. THHOM recommended a brilliant book to me - My child wont eat - which really helped me come to terms with having a picky eater (or rather non-eater) in the family - and DS1's eating has got loads better since. I tried all the tricks before but ended up going for the put it on the table and dont comment approach (main course and dessert) - if they dont want it, they dont have to eat it but if they want to eat between meals DS1 just gets some fruit and water. If DS1 had been really good with his behaviour (including with his meals during the day) he got a treat at the end of his dinner -a chocolate or biscuit which he wouldnt normally get. Worked a treat. It is just a phase and it will - eventually - pass...

Thanks Dinky - I'm going to the library tomorrow with DCs so I'll see if they have it. Have had some good tips and advice as well - how I will stay calm though god only knows!

Awww STZ - I don't have any advice I'm afraid but it must be heartbreaking The naughty step works for us. DD is very heavy handed with DS - I've found her sitting on him, stripping him off and when she wipes his face....well, lets just say she isn't very gentle....she is pretty aggressive with him when he pinches her toys and even that is difficult to get right. Hope things improve....perhaps start a thread about it - there must be lots of people who go through similar things

MS re studying, it is possible, I started an OU psychology conversion course (lasts 4 years) last October, while working 3 days a week, and its doable, just hard work. It means I spend 3 evenings a week studying, but the spod in me likes doing something productive with my evenings rather than spacing out in front of the telly. If you're studying something you're interested in then you'll be motivated which should mean you'll be fine...

LMN WE've just been through/are going through this with ds1 (2.3). The best pieces of advice I've been given are.....

1. 10 mins before dinner is due, tell her dinner will be ready in 10 mins so she should start packing away some toys.
2. 5 mins later, tell her dinner will be ready in 5 mins (this is so she knows there's a change of activity coming)
3. I take ds to wash his hands
4. Make her sit at the table before you put the meal down

A friend of mine, if her dd gets down from the table and refuses to eat, she gets strapped in to pushchair and ignored while everyone else eats so she understands it's not a time to play. Personally, I don't do that, if he doesn't want it, I tell him there will be nothing til tomorrow etc, or I take 1 piece from his plate, put it on the table and take his meal away and tell him to just eat that one bit. (he never does)
I was really worried about it, so I asked my v to come round. She told me to keep a diary of everything that he ae ad drank over the space of a week and when we sat and looked at it, it turns out although he might not eat dinner, he is actually eating a fair amount of food (normally he just eats the peas/sweetcorn etc)
You could try cutting out the snacks, but I don't.
How big are her portions? Maybe try putting a little less on her plate so she doesn't feel overwhelmed and she can get the satisfaction and reward of finishing a meal easier?
HTH

everyone else Will catch up later this morning. It's Dad's club at the play group so I might get a couple of hours to myself woo-hoo!!!!!!!

Thanks LBB....I think you might be right about portion sizes (I have that problem with my own dinners and sensible tips there. Have got plenty of really good things to try now....so she will see a new (calm) me at the dinner table today......just got to work out how to stay calm!

How did potty training go LBB?

Morning all!

Not sure what I was thinking but said DS1 could have a Halloween party so am busy putting up decorations, carving pumpkins and making spooky sandwiches!

Dinky are you going to start the new thread ?After all it is your job!

LMN Potty training is going really well thanks. He has been out of nappies for just over a week now. He has a few accidents now and then, but that's ok, he's doing much better than I expected.

Re staying calm, try just ignoring her. It's what I do with ds1. If he doesn't eat, I tell him there won't be anything else until tomorrow, he asks to get down, I say ok, he sits on the floor and cries. I ignore him and finish my dinner.

THHOM hope you have a lovely party. I was supposed to be holding one for all the NCT babies (DD's little friends) but because we've been a house of bleurgh this week I thought it wise to cancel in case we infect anyone else.

Thanks for the messages re DD. She's always been a "high maintenance" little thing, but it's escalated recently - could be the going back to work thing, maybe made worse because Sam's been unwell and has had lots of attention - even if it has just been changing his clothes umpteen times a day. I must admit we're not consistant with the "timeout" thing, so I think we need to work out a plan of action. I took O into Kingston this morning and on her own she can be adorable, so I know she has it in her .

Loads of great tips re. eating. I think the one about warning what's about to happen can really help. We try to that with getting in the pushchair and car too. I always try to say why we are doing something.

Right, Sam napping and am just about to put DD into bed, although she rarely sleeps these days, but at least we all get some quiet time .

Happy Halloween

hello all, finally managed to find you as you'd dropped off my 'threads I'm on'

dinky & MS hope your LO's are better now.
the overseas family have had the barfing bug the last week.
DD2 had it last Saturday night, the night DS1 and DD1 arrived from the UK for 2 weeks. Then DH got it Sunday/Monday (and of course he was so much more ill than anyone else)
then I got it early hours of Tuesday which was a pain as Tuesday is my one work day and I had to cancel my 3 signing classes which was a shame. On the brightside, I lost 4 1/2 lb

DD1 has reminded me the last few days why I sent her to boarding school

STW shocking at your brother's incident and all your name dropping
Also how awful ref your DD and Sam. Poor little thing. DD2 was a bit heavy handed at first with H but now adores him and his little face lights up whenever he sees her.
He is crawling everywhere now and follows her whenever she is in the house

Hope all ok

OK where is everyone? I know MN was down this morning but it's almost like you lot are off having a life!

Good to see you MoS. Hope you're all better now.

Halloween party went really well (cute photos on FB) and Mr T has started crawling properly at last. Also rather disconcertingly last night he walked pretty much across the living room pushing one of those little wooden brick trolleys. Is that normal for 8.5 months? DS1 didn't walk until he was 14 months.

Hi THOM, I was wondering where everyone was. Like you say, all out enjoying RL whatever that is.

H has been crawling since end of August and is constantly standing up, pulling himself up on anything he can and sofa walking. I reckon those with older siblings walk much quicker so they can chase/escape from the older ones
Bet Mr T scared himself when the trolley started moving. H does that

No, far from it, he was utterly delighted!

It's really odd, its quiet on here, there's no one on Facebook (which is very annoying as I want people to admire photos Tarran who was dressed as the cutest little devil yesterday) and I can't get hold of anyone on the phone...

thom I want to see the photo's! Off to request you as a friend on FB.
I've not been on because my parents have been over.
Luke does not like them. Everytime my mum looked at him he really screamed! (she's babysitting next weekend whilst I do a party.

Just twigged that Dinky's buggered off on hols so I guess I'd better start the new thread!

And [http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/853339-Fab-Feb-2009-9-months-in-9-months-out-now?rnd=12 57097432897 here it is!]

or even here!