November 09 - rolling, laughing and cutting teeth ... but us mama's are still not getting sleep!!

[scarlotti]

New thread for us

Pav The chocs were won in a raffle but I'm not complaining!

It's understandable that you're feeling disheartened after another unsuccessful interview for your hubby. Don't give up though, the job situation will improve and in a few years your children will be at school and your income will go up and you will be doing just fine.

I know I have plenty of support but I'm struggling with daytime. All day every day on my own is a bit overwhelming, and I'm lucky that DP is home at 4 most afternoons! I realise from time to time that I'm clenching my jaw and I'm feeling quite stressed out. I've started running, been out three times a week for about a fortnight but this doesn't seem to help with the tension. I'm going to try to address it, get out more & look after myself better. Hopefully it's just a bit of cabin fever but I've lost my temper with ethan a couple of times this week and feel awful for it.

Pav sorry, meant to say sorry your dh didn't get the job.

DWB we go out every day here, even just to the corner shop. Ioan gets cranky and I get cabin fever if not. We can stay indoors until about 11 before he starts to complain.

Tried Isla with a carrot stick tonight and she gnawed on it as enthusiastically as she gnaws on her fingers. Hard to know if she could tell the difference. FP I've been considering these for BLW. Might help on holiday? I'm still constantly thinking in terms of a 3rd too, and DH has expressed his horror.

We managed to get wind out of her at bathtime. DWB I let her sit forward for a while with her nappy off beforehand and could hear things groaning around inside her, and she finally 'let'go' after the bath with her legs in the air. Nappy off definitely seems to help.

SB you really need some 'me' time to find yourself as a mummy and gain the confidence to do things your way with no reprisals. Go to DPs!

BBL I'm pleased to hear your sleeping is getting better. I've been thinking of you lots this past couple of weeks as I've been surviving on about 4 hours a night and wondering how on earth you did it with 3 LOs. Of course we always manage but it's not always pleasant, is it? especially for DD1 who got roared at from the get go this morning for not doing things my way in my time. Sigh.

pav sorry to hear Reuben is still not well. It's so frustrating when you're working against these variables trying to sort out sleeps and naps. I'm conscious that my waxing lyrical about the miracles of tummy sleeping and the 11-hour stretches Isla was doing preceded the current nightmare we're in which was precipitated by the sickness bug, food reaction, teething and now a cold of some description. Ursi I put Isla on her tummy after a feed with no apparent problems.

scarlotti we get out with the dog daily but 20mins in the pram and ethan is usually just falling asleep and of course wakes up when I lift him. Today getting him to sleep in the pram before going our walk definitely worked. Otherwise I really struggle to encourage his naps and he's a tired grumpy boy most of the day.

Ursi I confess to a sleeping baby but deserve it after DD1 who stills wakes us and she is 3! DD2 sleeps 6pm till 8am (dont forget about DD1...) and she then feeds roughly 3oz 8am, 5oz 10:30ish, 5oz 1ish, 5oz 3:30ish then 6oz 6ish and dream feed of 5 oz at 10pm. She is 5.5 months but is still only little 12/13lbs and has never really been a hungry baby, hence the hv making me take her to the doctor about her weight all the time even thought there was nothing wrong with her. I am just starting to wean her.

I think if they are screaming and its middle of night and a brief feed gives you and them more sleep then I can't see why harm it does.

Was about to throw away winter clothes and get some t-shirts and just looked at the forecast...need some wellies...

Week 2 of diet..anyone else attempting to shed many stones??

Weston I am 5lb down. 36lb to go.

Chin up Pav. If it helps you to know I am in a similar situation.

It's been a day of firsts here. Alfie rolled over from his back to his front. He ate his first breakfast (mashed banana) and first supper (pureed carrot).

Morning all

I am in love with my local art shop!!
Went in yesterday to get some black paper/card for my windows with a vain hope it might help the early morning waking. You can buy blackout paper, A2 size, 65p a sheet. Stuck it to the window frames last night and the room is pitch black. Ioan woke at 6:30 this morning and that was only because DS1 came in Hoorah!!!!

Am so pleased, night feeds I can cope with but starting the day at 4:45am I can't.

Scarlotti - brilliant!

Had a not bad night here, too. Dream fed Lucy at 10pm and she woke up again at 2.30, but not hungry, just to chat a bit, fed again at 5. Then had a bit of a screamathon about tummy for a while but then slept in my bed in my arms until 8.30. Not bad at all.

DontWorryBaby and Hobnob - you're using washable nappies, aren't you? What do you do at night? I have to change Lucy's nappy frequently if she's in cloth in the day so don't dare use them at night yet.

skorpion glad you had a better night. Hopefully she will start to sleep through the 2am slot if she's not hungry. Is she sleeping a lot in the day?
Am not using reusables, but all the Mums I know that have always use a disposable at night. The odd Mum that hasn't has put in extra boosters to carry them through, and also a bamboo lining as that tends to keep the bottom drier. HTH.

Thanks scarlotti. Yes, I'm hoping she'll drop that feed, too. She's obviously maturing and not needing so much food at night. And it makes a hell of a difference for me, too. I remembered your tip about dream feeding last night and it did the trick.

I think I'll stick to the disposables for now, don't fancy disrupting my her sleep in any other way

Oh, and her daytime naps vary A LOT. from 15 mins to an hour. I always think it's not enough, but from a purely selfish perspective: nothing gets done around here!

skorpion am with you all the way on not disrupting nights any more than needed!
Apparently by 6 months they need about 14.5 hours of sleep in 24 hours - usually about 11 at night and 3.5 in day in form of 2 or 3 naps. Obviously that's only an average!

I sometimes feel I need double that

Skorpion We use totsbots with a 3ply bamboo boost for nighttime which are always fine 7-7. In fact DP forgot the waterproof wrap one night this week but his clothes weren't damp at the 4am feed, only noticed during his 7.30 feed. I have to say the reusables have leaked less and are MUCH better for his skin than we found disposables. Disposables would leak every other night but reusables have never leaked.

Thanks DWB, I use flat bamboo ones usually. I think they are probably too thin to use at night, I need to change her at least once every couple of hours and they are soaking. Her nighttime nappy is usually very heavy when I change it (so far I'd been doing it at the 2am feed, but it moved more into the morning now). You're right about the leaking - only the disposables usually do. Maybe she's just a big wee-er. I have some Little Lamb microfibre ones, too, with fleece boosters. Might give the boosters a go with the flat nappy and see how long that lasts in the day. She has thankfully no problems with her skin.

glad to hear about the better nights. We are a bit back to normal with waking up several times at night. but it is ok.
scarlotti, I think, I'll try the puree today really in between feeds. I initially wanted it to be one meal with puree and bf but she just gets too tired if I wait until the lunch feed. I guess I can still do that when she is more familiar with that funny food on a spoon.
skorpion, we are in reusables too but only during the day.I have bamboozles and they would have a booster but it only fits when I do not have to fold it down anymore. I also use disposables when we go out for longer than just a walk.

ninja thank you, hope you are feeling ok atm. Did you go straight in for two meals with Alfie? We did first food yesterday, lunch. But only because I did not want to wait til dinner and DH wanted me to wait til after his job interview so brekky was out I had considered doing dinner as well but was not sure if it was too much. How did he do? Did you mix the banana/carrot with anything else, or straight as it was?

A better night here in some ways. She woke at 2:30 (not good) but I persevered with the shhhing and back patting until she fell asleep again 1hr15mins later since she didn't seem to be in indescribable pain. That's an improvement on the 5 hours it took last week! And then up again at 6:30. Not too bad. And the same technique worked for a nap at 11 for an hour. The gods must be smiling.

We use motherease nappies all the time. I'm not too bothered about her being in a wet nappy all night and she doesn't get a rash from it. And that's not even with the booster pad in yet. Our only problem with them is DD1 who still wears one at night. If I've been up during the night DH does her breakfast etc. and then I get up either at 8 for nursery morning session or 9 on other days. He doesn't take the nappy off and DD1 sits in bed reading and overflowing her nappy. Too many sheets in the wash....

hobnob may the gods keep smiling then.

Thanks for the nappy info. Unfortunately we have a very sensitive mademoiselle who doesn't like her bum wet...

And who is currently very tired but REFUSES TO SLEEP!!! And we were going to go to a mums' meetup in the village but yesterday she gave a sreamathon for precisely that reason so we're staying put. And it's raining...

Skorpion Hello - I was wondering where you'd got to! Nice to see you back
I had totally forgotten about Black Swan Green and haven't read it yet, think that will be up next. First I have to review some Mills and Boon style romantic fiction! Yum.

That will be the only romance in my house... Anyone else feel like they are their DP are just parents at the moment, not partners? We really need some time to ourselves, but that seems impossible - James just isn't easy to leave at the moment.

SirB Is the only thing stopping you moving the deposit? I think you should ask DP outright if he will contribute. It could be a loan if necessary, but I'm sure he's noticed how tough things are for you and Bryn there. Otherwise, can you set aside some money each week as a Moving Out Fund - it might keep you going as you see yourself getting closer to that goal.

Pav Sorry about DH's job. I know it's tempting to imagine this was predetermined, but I think the fact is that there are a lot of people out there in need of work and applying for jobs. He will have fought off a lot of competition just to get to the interview stage. It's just a really really tough market. Yesterday wasn't his day, but it will come soon xx

We have started weaning too. He's had baby rice and pureed apple so far. Seems to be going down well. Thanks so much for the offer of the BLW book Scarlotti but I think I'm just going to play it by ear for the moment. I am worn out to be honest, so can't really think about something new!

Who else co-sleeps? I have reluctantly been doing this the past couple of nights as it's the only way to get some sleep. I would rather not though! Am I making a rod for my own back? My reasons for not doing it are entirely selfish eg I am really looking forward to the leaders' debate tonight, but would rather be armed with a glass of wine while sneering at the telly! Will I never be able to drink again?! Wah.

DWB I felt a lot like that when I had DD. It's pretty lonely during the day, especially if you haven't any friends who happen to be off having babies too. It gets much better when they start to talk. As much as DD tires me out with her constant babble, I also feel like she's my friend, which you can't really say about a new baby. Do you go to any baby groups? You might have to try a few to find one you like, but when you do it is so lovely to have a grown up conversation!

Hobnob I read that you were worried about that research on crying babies the other day (I have been reading, just not posting) and thought I should say that every time I read about the enormous lengths you are going to to make Isla content and happy, I think what an incredibly lucky baby she is to have you as her mum. You are doing brilliantly, please don't worry or you'll set the rest of us going

x-posted Skorpion that is the worst! Try walking her around the village maybe? Or is it really pouring?

Hi Laugs, it is horrible outside. Well, she's in her pram, talking to Berie the blankie buttefrly so at least no screeching. We'll get there.

I take her in early morning sometimes. When she has bad tummy it seems to settle her better. And I have her in with me for the morning nap as well, if I need to catch up on sleep. But I try not to make a habit of it and not to make it the only way for her to get better iyswim.

I can't believe you're weaning already! Lucy's not far behind James, is she? 20 weeks yesterday. Not interested yet and I'm happy bf'ing.

Oh, and yes, lost the couple feeling completely. Although it is just us with Lucy on a day to day basis DH cycles a lot and the evenings are ever so short... Must get my Mum over to look after LO one evening and go out for a meal or something. I just don't feel like my old self at all. It's very strange... Yesterday we were talking about our life about 10 years ago: it wasn't that wild, but it certainly was different!

I meant take her into bed with me.