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!

weston it might be the brand of dummy you are trying - maybe its too big? We had a brand that DS was gagging on, changed it over and he is happy to take it. Mind you, he's refused it from late afternoon yesterday - not sure why.

Lots of snow here too. I was planning on going to a local cinema screening where you can take your babies but would need to carry Isaac in a sling and I'd be worried about slipping (and it being a noisy nightmare!.) I'm not stable on my feet at the best of times! I'm getting to the stage where I'd like to get out a bit more and hopefully meet people with babies of the same age. Bit scary though! Missed out on nct classes so don't really have any mates to meet up with during the week.

Isaac's sleeping is still quite odd. During the day he has quite a regular pattern of being awake for 1-2 hours then needing a sleep but he's wide awake from 5pm-11pm and often in the early hours of the morning. So sleepy!

Has anyone got any tips on how to cut baby nails? they've grown long and he's got a few scratches on his face and I've got then on my chest. Do I need special scissors?

Lemontop I think we're local to one another. I'm near to Cystal Palace. Maybe we can meet up.

No tips on nails I'm afraid. I recall HV advising with DS1 to trim them with your teeth! Not something I've tried. Have found they peel off but they are getting sharper and longer now. I've got a tiny pair of clippers that I've used on the odd long nail. Nervous about doing it though.

No snow here!!!! Send me some!

Lemontop I've been using my teeth, as Fruitpastels suggested. You can also get special baby nail emery boards, I think you can get them in mothercare, which may be less scary! I remember with ds, I used the baby clippers and made him bleed! He cried, I cried- it was horrible!

OK, Anya slept through from 12 til half 6 this morning when I lifted her. Now, is this because DH gave her a dummy to settle her? Would she have woken up if she was hungry? Surely she would have. Although she had a great nights sleep, I spent half the night going and checking on her, worried that she wasn't waking up for a feed!

Lemontop ask your health visitor about parent baby groups in your area. I was a bit dubious about going to one but it's actually a really good way to meet people. There may be baby massage classes, or baby signing that you could attend. I took ds to a music class called rhythm time when he was little.

lemontop, the midwife in the hospital had told me to bite the nails. I was first a bit scared but it's easier than it sounds. In fact, I have just done one side while she was sleeping on my lap after breastfeeding.

We've got a bit of snow, just enough for the ground to be white. DD is very excited.

So, today is DH's first day back at work. I've been up with James since 4. He woke DD up crying at 7.30 and then fell asleep literally 2 minutes later. I am sooo tired. Normally he is awake for a couple of hours around 2am and then I get a few hours sleep before DD wakes. We're supposed to be going to a Christmas party but I just can't face it. DD hasn't mentioned it so I'm hoping she's forgotten. Roll on 6pm...

lemontop you can get baby nail scissors, or you can bite them, or just use clippers as you can't go too low with them anyway. I get DH to do it as I hate it. James was overdue and was born with his fingernails already long and sharp, so we had to do it on day 1.

You're all tempting me to try a dummy. I think I tried a couple of times with DD, but she wasn't bothered so it seemed more effort than it was worth.

weston try stroking the side of the cheek with the dummy so baby roots for it. Ioan gags if I try and put it straight in. Also, try putting in towards the roof of the mouth rather than straight. I think they gag as it pushes their tongue back as they don't know to move it downwards.
Was it you that does dream feeds? I tried to do one last night and he wouldn't drink any! How do you do it?

TOK she'd wake if she's hungry so don't worry. I tend to put the dummy in first off at night when he wakes if he's not screaming. If he's hungry he'll spit it out and cry, if he's not then it will settle him back for a time.
How old is Anya? Only reason I ask is that Ioan went from 11 until 5:30 the morning before he started his 6 week growth spurt. HV said it's quite common.

I bite nails here, it's much easier and safer than trying to cut small fingernails with scissors as you can nip their fingers. Easiest way is to bite the side to make a cut then the nail should just pull off and won't go down too far.

Lots of snow here, we're in Sussex and have had a good 3 inches overnight. DD had a friend for a sleepover last night so they've just taken DS1 out to play in the garden. Showed Ioan this morning but he seemed nonplussed by it all!! All schools and nurseries shut here today.
Mum is coming for our early Christmas day today as she's spening the actual day in Wales with my Uncles, so I'm hoping she gets here ok. We'll have a lovely meal later with crackers and all swap presents - the festive period starts properly for us today

Another nail biter here - do it when they are deeply asleep too so they don't notice.

Toby been awake for 2 1/2 hours so I've given him his dummy. He's asleep now! I want to avoid using it at night but will perhaps use it more for naps and see how it goes. At the moment he settles at night beautifully but not for naps.

Tok that's great. She would have woken up and let you know quite vocally if she was hungry. It is normal at around this age (5-7 weeks I guess) to sleep 5-6 hour chunk. Toby regularly does 8.30pm-2am now and I'm hoping it will gradually extend through the night. At this age DS2 was doing 8.30pm-4am every night. Needless to say we were very happy with that!

Laugs I know how you feel. It's a long day when you are alone with the children. The DSs are off school today. Over breakfast one was shivering and the other said he felt sick. Guess what? As soon as I had phoned the school they both perked up! But it is the last day of term and I am sooo tired I just think 'ahhh whatever'!

Another dummy-lover here. I didn't want him to have one, but then when he was born it was obvious he got comfort from suckling, but couldn't always locate his thumb. He took it for the first time yesterday afternoon, saved my sanity as we got stuck in traffic coming home, and he was quite content to suck on that and feed when we got back. Gave it to him last night then had a long feed and - he woke up ONCE after sleeping for six hours last night. Oh. My. Gosh. I'm like a new woman He's worked out how to hold it in his mouth as well, so is obviously best for him.

His nappy rash has not improved though, despite the fact I'm using water and cotton wool, leaving it bare for a bit when changing him, then smoothering him in bepanthan before putting the nappy back on. He cries every time he fills his nappy Any tips?

Weston it takes Bryn a couple of sucks to realise the shape is different to a nipple or his thumb, so I have been keeping hold of it at first, until he adjusts his tounge to hold it. Hope that helps a little.

TOK may I just say that Anya is a beautiful name? It would have been the name of the baby I lost, and it makes me smile every time I read it

Lemontop I've been using nail sisscors - they have a rounded top but are extra sharp to handle the tiny fingers. I use my finger nail is push the nail slightly away from the skin first, and put some water on to make it softer.

Scarlotti hope your Mum makes it down okay and you have a really nice day

We're snowed in Can't get out of our road.

Can't believe all these snow stories - not a flake here. Not fair. DS1 has recovered enough to eat a kitkat and DS2 has recovered enough to want a kitkat (although he's not getting one for hitting DS1 just now). Definitely endoftermeitus me thinks.

Hi All. Sorry, I just cannot catch up on the whole thread, just a few last pages.

It's so strange to read about all the babies - now it really feels that I am so much behind you all. Lucy's nine days old today and I'm nowhere near any sort of order with her. It's just feeding and a bit of sleeping with her. And then some feeding.

Thanks for all your advice about nipples - I spoke the the mw and am sticking with the sheilds until they heal and then starting over at the birthing unit to work on the latch. I think I got the latch OK on Monday, but by then it was way too late.

I still don't feel like I'm emerging into the real world, I haven't even taken Lucy out for a walk yet - damn this cold, next baby will be planned for summer.

raggie goodness me, what a story.

I hope you're all well, babies are doing fine and I will try to catch up more frequently. Promise.

A quick question for anyone combining bf and formula. Tried dan with formula for the first time today and he seems to hate the taste! Not really sure what to do. (I've tasted it and have to say it tastes foul!)

Had a nightmare with ds1 who refused all bottles (not easy when you have to work) so i started dan really early with bottles of expressed milk which he takes. Was really pleased as i thought i wasn't going to relive last times nightmare but now... DOes it take a while to get used to the taste?? Any advice?

maman2tom Just an idea. Can you give the bottle of formula to Daddy and he gives the feed. DS may be disliking it as he can smell the good stuff on you.

I'm going to say this very quietly I'm liking the hammock very much It arrived yesterday and we put it together last night. Not the easiest thing to work out but had the help off the video instructions on-line. We were running late with a feed so woke DS at 10.30 and I bf him for a bit then DH gave him a top up of formula. We placed him in the hammock and he slept straight away. He woke up at 3.30 (that's impressive for us!) for a quick feed and had a very wet nappy, so had to change him. Placed him back in the hammock and he drifted off to dream land. Woke again at 6pm for another feed and he stayed in bed with us for cuddles. He looked so cosy and warm in there. I wish I had know about hammocks when DS1 was born. He is sleeping in his hammock now and it took a bit of perseverance but sleeping soundly for the last 15 mins. I feel very tired today but thats probably because I've had some decent sleep and a proper sleeping position without having to co-sleep.

maman I am combining bf and formula. I have been lucky in that Leah took the formula straight from the bottle without fuss (which was a huge relief, as I also had big issues with dd1 with both bottles and formula!). Have you tried more than one brand of formula? I know they can be quite diffent so it might be worth trying a different type. The suggestion of getting daddy to do it is a good one too, at least until he is used to taking it. Good luck.

Skorpion good luck with things getting better with the bf and hopefully once all is better you will be able to continue without the pain.

Sorry you have no snow Becky! If I could send some your way I would. I was a bit worried it might melt here before dd gets in from school but looks like it might stay and forecast is saying it will get worse again later so looks like we will be snowman building after all! Most of the schools here are closed but glad dd's isn't one of them!!

Sorry the nappy rash isn't clearing up for Bryn, Erika. I hope it starts getting better soon and stops causing him pain.

Sorry your night wasn't so good Laugs. I hope your day has been ok and 6pm comes round soon!

I managed to get some ironing done earlier. Leah was asleep to start with but then wasn't happy with me not giving her attention so I naughtily put her in the car seat and so was able to rock her while I finished! She is now sleeping again on her beanbag and looks adorable! Does anyone else find they take numerous photos?! I have so many and they all look quite similar, but she is just so lovely

That's really good news about the hammock fruit! Long may it continue for you

Just taken DS1 to school for the afternoon! He insists he is totally better (not at all influenced by the fact the school rang up to check he was ok and dropped into the conversation that his teacher had a present for him!). He's so funny. DS2 also completely recovered and happily playing.

Toby just not sleepy today - he'll be cranky by bedtime for sure. He's asleep now, again used the dummy in desparation! He likes it so I guess it is good.

Hi all!.. I use the dummy when we have our screamathon evenings..it soothes her sometimes!!!....

Unf we've all come down with this tummy bug, Charlotte too...Its the quietest she's been and it petrified me..I had a fever all day and DH was throwing up all day...Anyway today seems a little better, apart from me being shattered...DH obviously went to bed at 8pm as he was so sick...butterpie, scarlotti I feel your pain.. I was up all night and he had 12 hours sleep!..Men are so lucky..

sleepless you poor poor thing, I do feel for you. It's horrible to be ill and still have to look after a baby

erika I use sudocream and it clears up nasty rashes really quickly. Might be worth giving it a try?

fruit so glad he likes his hammock it's a huge hit here too.

Did bedtime routine last night and it worked a treat. He went down at 8:30, awake, and just drifted off to sleep on his own. I managed to get some time to myself to wrap presents
I tried to dream feed him at 11 with no success. Was going to give a bottle of formula to get some extra zzz's. Gave up. He stirred a little at about 12 and I only managed to get 2oz into him so he still woke up at 3am!
Tonight I think I'll just leave him and see how long he sleeps for - maybe I'll get a long stretch like BBL! Fruit I've moved up to the next size nappies (pampers new baby size 3) for night time as they are more absorbent. Lasts all night long.

Hi all!
just checking in,sorry for being rubbish. feel like i am getting zero sleep over here, Sam seems to get bad wind/colic all night, i don't know what to do. he feeds, then immediately gets hiccups and burps, bringing all his milk back up, so is hungry. aaaagh. better in day. any tips??

bbl ha re DSs and school/ill! hope the present is good!!

Skorpion I think it's normal at 9 days to feel like that. Sam is on day 24 and I am still like that!

Not much snow here, but worried as we are meant to be driving from S London to Yorkshire on sunday am.... Was nervous BEFORE I saw the forecast....

Aaaagh my house is such a mess, it is stressing me out!! I know it shouldn't, but I feel like I can't relax until it's tidy, and there is paraphenalia everywhere...

hi to everyone else, btw. Trying to catch up now x

Katster Could it be reflux? Maybe speak with the HV or Doctor. It sounds a very tiring and stressful process every night. I hope it can be sorted quick.

Scarlotti We're in pampers size 2, I might try the bigger size. It's all the top up formula he guzzles last thing at night!

Kaster HV said wind is common in babies in the evening. Alfie has really started shouting at night and pulling his knees up to his chest. HV said infacol used regularly would help if it doesn't settle and that pro biotic drops for babies were also good.