NOV 09 - once the lights are out and the last baby has arrived safe and fine, see you here on cloud nine!

[Broodzilla]

I've just realized we're now under the "being a parent" header. I've got stage freight!

We have a moby sling - took a bit of getting used to with the wrapping lark but I really like it now and Toby falls asleep in it against my chest. I use it mainly in the evening (about to put it on now!) when he is too cranky to sleep in basket / pushchair but needs a sleep. I try very hard to get him to take naps in basket when we are at home during the day (otherwise he sleeps on school runs) by sitting next to him and shushing and stroking his chest. It usually works but takes time. But I agree that moses basket can't be as nice as mummy's chest but with two other DSs I need him to settle in his basket as much as I can so I can be mobile and spend time with DSs. At night he sleeps in there fine, I'm very lucky in that respect.

Fruit I've checked out the amby website here about the safety thing. The two incidents hadn't assembled it correctly so the hammock is fine. I'll be carrying on using it.

Looks like I have an evening of constant feeding ahead again, been going now for 2 hours and little sign of him stopping. Guess the growth spurt is here!

Tamlin gorgeous pic of Arthur smiling and your other DS is gorgeous too
We have the same wooden train set

Tamlin what a smile

tamlin aaaahhhh he is gorgeous

Thanks Longwayaway for advising about the Amby, I would rather know about theses things Scarlotti I checked the Amby site earlier as well. DH contacted Amby in the States and they were reluctant to speak about the recall. The incidents appear to be due to incorrect hanging of the hammock. It arrives tomorrow so I will see how we get on and the nightime routine will be put in place. I'm looking forward to having it set up in my room rather than the big cot we have.

DS has been woken every 2 hrs and stayed awake mostly for 1.5hrs at a time, that's all he seems to manage. I'm hoping this will help to rest him down after he's last feed of the night.

These cluster feeds are exhausting. I hope you don't have a bad night Scarlotti & Ursi

I'm not organised for Xmas at all. I'm pleased its only the four of us this year. I can get away without all the trimmings.

longwayaway yes thanks for pointing it out
fruit good that your dh has checked with them, makes me feel more reassured too.

Was planning on starting our routine tonight but dh is ill and it was more than I could cope with after feeding and doing bed for the other dc's. Tomorrow hopefully!
I think he's getting unsettled down here in the lounge with us too, too much light/noise is stopping him sleeping. Will miss him though when he goes up to bed

Thanks for thinking of my clusterfeeding evening, fruit.
Tonight wasn't that bad (well, if we are done). She slept much longer than usual in the afternoon and only fed twice. And it seems as I only needed two attempts to put the sleeping Paula in her cot. But I also tried to offer her the bottle with my expressed milk and what a failure! This child is just too clever
I guess, my timing wasn't great as she wasn't that hungry. Maybe I'll just express if I am sure that my husband will give it to her. There is no real need that I give her a bottle myself I guess. I might try again if she got more used to it.
Well, I'd better go to bed now as I will be on my own for the night and morning too.

Hi Ladies,

Bed-surfing on the phone again...
Sorry for the weird replies, but I don't want to offend anyone by getting names wrong...

Re: only sleeping on mama... Yes, here too. Can't get anything done as he wakes up within minutes if I put him down. Apart from when we're in bed, he sleeps next to me then (but it means I have to go to bed when he does as he falls asleep on me...) which brings me to...

Re: Hammocks. I think mine might be up for sale. It's barely been used (see above) and also...

Re: slings. In yet another attemps to get things done around the house with a DS who will only sleep if I hold him, I gave my ringsling a go. Got so irritated I started a thread about it. It's the most ridiculous contarption ever! I've ordered a Close sling, it should arrive tomorrow. Will let you know how I get on. Who was it on here that breastfed a baby while walking from the tube? What sling do you use, I want one of those!

Re:sleep. Lukas sleeps lots. I've actually wonderd if he sleeps too much?
He wakes up about 6AM for a feed/poo/change. Falls asleep about 7-7.30AM. Wakes up 8.30-9AM for another poo and this is also when I get him 'up for the day' and top&tail and dress him. At 10AM he's ready for a feed and goes to sleep. He then sleeps until 2-3PM with two or three poo/change/feed breaks. Late afternoon he might be awake for an hour or so, but usually has another nap before bedtime at 8PM the latest. He's then feeding/dozing until 9-9.30PM and has a deep sleep until 2ish, feed/poo/change until 5ish. So I guess in 24hrs he might be awake for 5-6 hrs, tops. He's 10 weeks, is that normal?

Had a crazy night last night... Had taken Lukas on a playdate (he slept through it) and on the way back an accident and roadclosures turned a 20min journey into 2hrs! He always sleeps in the car, and luckily slept through all that, but when we got home he woke up ravenous. As he'd missed a feed on the journey home my boobs were near exploding, and the milk was coming out too quickly. After a couple of attempts that ended with Lukas choking and spluttering he got angry with the boobs. He was FURIOUS! Refused to go near them, but was also starving... Two hours of screaming later I couldn't think of anything else to do, so I stripped both him and me naked and got under the covers for some skin to skin. He calmed instantly and eventually fed... And then snuggled up to me and had a long happy chat about it all (agoo, ahh, awaah, agg... ). So terrifying to begin with (he's never been like that!) and so, so sweet to end with.

Also meant to say Raggie gosh, what a story! Hope you feel like you've been able to process it and that you're body and soul are healing.

Symphaties to Trikken and the boiler saga... Why do things like that happen during a cold snap?

Also, about expressing... I had to do it right after birth. The machine at the hospital certainly got the job done, but I felt really quite violated... Use a handpump at home, find it easiest in the morning (I "save" one boob for it during the early morning feeds) as I then have plenty of time for the gallons of water it takes me to produce the milk again. I've found it easier to not focus on the pumping as stress doesn't help with the let down. Hooray for crappy TV!

Also, who asked about when the night feeds get easier? I realized that I ended up feeding Lukas on autopilot when he grunted in his sleep, which meant lots of snacking day and night. He still doesn't have to cry to get fed, but I do make sure he really does want to feed rather than just having a noisy dream, and suddenly we can go for nealry 4hrs rather than 2hrs!

On that subject - do you all wear bras to bed? I don't, and am now staring to worry about saggage...

Brood we have a Close sling. I can't use it yet due to CS but dp uses it and as long as baby is not hungry it's working very well.

tip of the day...get one of those long cot side book things..put it at side of moses basket and hey presto a sleeping baby! works best for the morning nap

Broodzilla 5 hours sound fine to me, some babies like to sleep than others, DD1 Im sure was awake all the time but DD2 now is only awake prob 5 hours a day and I am sure she wont sleep at nite cause she sleeps a lot of the day but she does. I have even woken her up sometimes when i swore I would never wake a sleeping baby! lets just hope it continues and we are not on here in a few weeks saying they never sleep!!

Good morning everybody. I hope you had all a relaxed and refreshing night... well as much as possible. Mine was ok. As we were on our own, Paula was sleeping in my bed from 5 to 7 but I couldn't sleep that well. As much as I liked it I suppose she has to go back to her cot during night.
Broodzilla, I would say Paula sleeps less but it really depends if I hold her or try to put her somewhere to sleep. On days where my family has been here (fighting who could hold her), she was sleeping all day long. If I want to put her into the sling (I have a wrap so need preparation while she is lying somewhere else) I need good timing. It usually doen't work if she is alert as she wants to watch things so being on my chest and covered by fabric is just not fun. So, when she falls asleep on me, I put her on the couch, prepare the sling, she usually wakes up and cries, then I hold her first and only when she is calm and half asleep again, I put her in. That works usually quite well.
And about bra at night: sometimes I sleep without, I find it quite comfortable. Most times I wear one, mainly because I am very often leaking from the second breast during feeding. And I had to change shirts already so often that it is just easier with a bra and pads.

hi all, didnt sleep well, where we still havent had our boiler repaired i spent the night cuddled up with dd as i was worried she was too cold in her moses basket.

am annoyed, cannot find my sling. got dh to go in the attic which is where i thought it was (and i cant go in as am very afraid of heights) and he just stuck his head in and said "cant see it", so thanks love, very helpful. was the traditional 'man-looking'.

Brood 5 hours is fine, he'll wake up more when he's ready
I'd hang on to your hammock unless you're planning on co-sleeping for some months, itmight make the transition to a bed easier.
We have a close sling and a baba sling, I've used the close one a little but he's quite heavy (12lbs now!) so it hurts my back. Am going to try the baba today as it looks easier for feeding.
I don't wear a bra to bed, and never have with the other dc's. It's pg that makes them sag, not feeding so go with comfort.

Quite a good night here. Used to the two wakings now and he fed well and quickly. Moved up a nappy size so now don't change him at night (hv said to do that too) and it makes such a difference. 6am feed was only about 15/20mins from taking him out of bed until putting him back in.
Have a cold though, boo!

Brood that's wondeful. The more they sleep at these early weeks the better. DS2 was like that. He bearly put his head above the parapit for 12 weeks! DS1 on the other hand... best not go there. Toby so far is more like DS2. But sleep is good!

Bad night here - Toby really restless 2.30-5.30am - wind I think. He then slept like a log after a feed until I had to get him up to do the school run. Poor child. Warm and cosy and then thrust out into the cold air.

Wrapping presents at mo. while Toby sleeps in pushchair.

I leak all the time, so I sleep on a towel wearing a bra with pads in, a singlet and a flannel pyjama top. On a bad night, I'll soak through the lot. I know I am very lucky not having supply issues, but it can be an absolute PITA sometimes. Speaking of oversupply problems - Arthur decided to scream and feed and scream and feed from 5 pm to 10.30 pm last night, so he finally got that rotten blocked duct unblocked. Thank goodness - was so worried about it getting infected...

I am having a really hard time with the evenings now. He gets so overtired, but when I put him down, he only sleeps for twenty minutes and then he's up again like a little jack-in-the-box, grizzling. I have no idea how to fix it, and it's driving me potty because DS 1 did it for months and we didn't have a solution THEN either. DH keeps threatening to hock him on e-bay, but I'm not sure we'd get any takers. My sister is babysitting him tomorrow night while we're at the company Christmas party, and I want to give her combat pay - I'm scared he's just going to scream at her for four hours straight... Have told her to bring I-pod with noise-cancelling earphones so she can rock him without going crazy.

tamlin with any luck he'll realise your sister doesn't have any milk and this will calm him. I think when you're breastfeeding the baby is sometimes irritated by your presence (lovely) because you make them think of feeding.

I've also been worried about how much James sleeps. He basically feeds all evening (last night 8pm-3.30am, for 20-30 mins per hour) but in the day I have to wake him for every feed. But he has plenty of dirty nappies and is putting on weight - that's all that matters, right?

Anyone who uses Grobags or similar - what age/ weight did you start at? James is another baby who hates the Moses basket so I think this might make it easier. Becky I need to follow your lead and put him in the basket during the day, but just knowing that he won't like it and will cry is putting me off.

I wear a bra in bed as otherwise I'd leak everywhere. I feel a bit gross and sweaty though. Not sure what the solution is really. I used a towel one night which was fine when I was asleep, but every time I fed the other boob leaked all over the duvet/ James.

Been feeling a bit bad as I've realised DH has bought all the Xmas/ stocking presents for the DCs, so I'm going to try and get to town today to buy a few bits and pieces. DH goes back to work after paternity leave tomorrow, which I am totally dreading. He'd hoped to get it off and go in on Monday, but he can't. At least it is only one day until the weekend, but I'd already told DD I'd take her to a Christmas party, so I'll have to manage both of them on the bus. Should be fun!

Good morning

My name is Angela from AMBY UK and we are the distributors of the Amby Natures Nest baby bed and now that we have all the information regarding the tragic news from America, we have posted a press release on our website, this is the link www.amby.co.uk/site/pages.php?fid=0,11,93

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Tel 01959 533130

Best regards

Angela

I used grobags for the DS1 and 2 and from about 4 months with DS1 and 11 weeks with DS2. DS2 liked to be swaddled so, this sounds really odd, we'd swaddle him in a thin cotton sheet and then put him in the growbag with his arms swaddled inside. This worked because he liked being tight and snug but didn't kick off any additional covers as his feet were in the growbag. When he was about 4 months we stopped the swaddling.

Laugs what I do is sit next to Toby when he's in the basket and he does cry a bit but I pat his chest and shush him and he'll calm down a bit, cry a bit, calm down a bit, cry a bit, calm down until he drops off. I also stroke his forehead which encourages him to close his eyes. This is basically what I've learnt from Baby Whisperer. She says don't leave them to cry as they lose trust in you and also learn to dislike being put down for naps but help them sleep without rocking, etc, to sleep and soothing them by being there for them when they need it. It is time-consuming but worth it in the long run if you want to encourage them to like being in bed to sleep, without feeling abandoned! It might not work with every baby. I want Toby to be as adaptable as possible as there are times when he'll have to sleep at home, sleep in the pushchair, sleep in the sling, sleep in the car, etc. He does seem to love the sling the best! I do too and it is lovely in the cranky time in the evening to put him in and sit with him and stroke him as he drifts off.

Laugs I'm waiting to use grobags here as they shouldn't be used until babe is 8lbs according to the packaging. As Ben was only 4lb 14 when he was born we've got a while to go yet

I can't stand wearing a bra at night but do need something so I've got a couple of tightish vest tops that I can stick breast pads to and that seems to do the trick. I think someone has missed a marketing opportunity though as instead of breast pads I could do with something shaped more like a wide sanitary towel.

I've got some lilypads to try out in a couple of weeks to see if they are any more convenient - I'll report back.

Thanks to everyone for reporting back on slings. That's an online order for this afternoon

laugs I use a grobag for Millie, think you can start using them once baby is over 8lb.

broodzilla made me smile to read about your skin to skin and Lukas 'talking' to you!

I wear sleeping bra's in bed, a) to stop sagging and b) I need to wear breast pads at the mo. To be honest my boobs are so big that I find it uncomfortable not to wear one.

Feeling horrible today and have got a stinking cold. Also, it was night 2 for the stairgate on ds door and again it didn't go down well. Ds cried for us until 9pm last night and then woke up at 3am wanting cuddles. Kept putting him back to bed but he didn't go back to sleep, at all!! Dh got up at 5am for work and this calmed ds down but he then decided it was playtime and that was that for me getting anymore sleep!

So this is 2 nights in a row he has woken at 3 and not gone back to sleep. I am now worried that I am making a new habit for ds and that he'll keep doing this. What do I do, keep going with what I'm doing? (I remember what Scarlotti said about routines taking 3 nights) or give in and cuddle him back to sleep? I am getting desperate as I don't think I've ever felt so tired. This morning I shouted at ds and then burst into tears, he must think I've gone mad! Ds is having a nap now and so is Millie, I should nap too but have got a million presents to wrap and cards to write.

Sorry for moaning, hope everyone else is ok!

Helips if you can bear to I'd say stick to it or he'll know that you're likely to give in if he is persistent enough. At least try another night... see how it goes.

I think Scarlotti is right about the three nights thing, it's true for DS 1 anyway.

Becky, I think I'm going to try the Baby Whisperer thing with Arthur. I'm starting to realize that he is SUCH a different kettle of fish to his brother that the same techniques probably won't work. (DS 1 was up all evening feeding, vomiting, socialising happily, feeding, vomiting... while Arthur seems to want to sleep, but gets upset when I put him down.