New, bright and shiny MARCH 2005 thread

[ZoeC]

Thought this was about due, hope that's okay

Well, no solids here (forget who asked that, sorry) - except she licked my finger when I was pureeing some apple but I don't think that really counts ). I have icecubes of carrot, apple and pear ready in the freezer though but really she's fine on milk and I'm in no rush.

She's now all formula fed though - we did mix feed for a bit but she quickly forgot how to draw the hind milk so was getting less and less from me, plus we got thrush again so I really wasn't sorry to finish to be honest. I much prefer the routine we can have now and am just pleased she got 4 months of breast first. It really was as much as I could do and stay sane.

She is such a smiley baby it's untrue - you only have to glance her way and she beams, it's so nice to see. She naps better too - 2/3 hours in the afternoon plus a small nap in the morning - and that helps her be happier I'm sure. She was 15lb a couple of weeks ago by the way.

She's 4 months, 1 week and 3 days old today.

Cristina well done and good luck misdee with the driving.

I keep meaning to take rebecca swimming as I'm sure she'd love it but I haven't figured out how I'd manage two of them in the pool and changing room yet, maybe I'll talk dh into going with us at the weekend - that'd help. Dd1 is so lively and into everything I'd probably lose her while looking after dd2.

JoPG - I had to laugh. Children do have these funny notions about age. DS asked me a while ago if I was Sylvia's grandmother. What?? He argued that I was old so I must be her grandmother. Thanks, darling. I think somebody else needs to get looking hip and stylish

Busywizzy - try and take & enjoy one day at a time. I see how DD squeals with pleasure when she sees other children and I know that, even if she doesn't need to go to nursery, she will enjoy it once she's there. In the meantime DH has her for the days when I need to go in to work.

Goodmorning everyone, hope you all had a good nights sleep.

Still feeling pretty lousy myself and unfortunately, the inevitable has happened and Harrison has picked up on my anxiety. He was quite grumpy during the day and only slept for 40 minutes at lunchtime as opposed to the usual 2 hours he does. He settled OK for bedtime but woke twice before DH and I went to bed and had to be soothed back to sleep. He then woke at 12, 2 and 3.45 and it took me until 6.15am to get him back to sleep. He just kept crying on and off and every time I thought he'd settled he started crying again. Probably didn't help that I was crying too (can't begin to describe how shattered I was as it was similar the night before) so kept dripping tears on him.

Oh what's wrong with me He's sooo gorgeous, I love him so, so much and yet I'm spoiling things at the moment by feeling so sad.

Must take everyone's advice and take one day at a time and enjoy the time I have

Busywizzy - please don't take this wrongly, but as you said it's a thread on MN that brought it about or made it worse, don't forget you can always absent yourself for a while. I wasn't using the 'net when i first had DS and, i have to say, many times i'm glad i didn't. I think i'd have felt inadequate many times and taken on feelings i wouldn't otherwise have felt. As it is, i got to parenting sites (in fact only one, UKP) quite late and could then feel a bit of distance about various topics and just say to myself "who cares? they all get there and we all do our best". Sorry if this is rambling. In short, use MN for support and ignore the rest when you feel vulnerable. I hope Harrison settles down a bit so you can both get some good sleep.

Thank you Cristina, you are absolutely right. I think I read that thread at the worst possible time when I was already feeling so very sad about having to return to work. Add to that the fact that Harrison has been very unsettled the past few nights and I'm very, very tired and you have a definate recipe for tears I suppose

Maybe it's a delayed hormone reaction to stopping BF'ing when Harrison was 6 weeks

Hello everyone,

Busywizzy, sorry to hear you are having a hard time. I wish I could say something to make you feel better, but all I can say is that I agree with what Christina has said and could not have said it any better.

Better days .

Hope you feel better soon bizzy, always think us mums have a harder time then the babies!

Work is going well and DP seems to be coping ok with Caleb whilst i'm working. Caleb has a better social life then either me or DP! He's been to a birthday party this morning which was lovely and has baby play tomorrow. He's also commando crawling and tried to follow me out into the hallway today will be using the baby safety kit from now on.

Hope everyone's having fun with their gorgeous little babies!

serena has been a demon baby today. she has been so angry and upset. tooth maybe? the 1st two appeared ages ago, she needs some more.

We went to a 50th wedding anniversary today at a restaurant in Mayfair. Everyone we met, though family, we met for the first time (and we've been married for 11 years!). Sylvia was great. She tried some sea bass, brown bread with raisins in it (i don't know its posh name), and roasted potatoes when i wasn't looking. Also a little bit of chocolate cake. Tiny amounts of everything, but more than DS tried. Many people commented on how "good" Sylvia was and on her reddish hair - and trying to work out which branch of the family she takes after.

Cristina7 - LOL at Sylvia's gastronomic adventures. Iris was eyeing up the choccie cake I baked for me and dp's birthday tea party today, but I managed ot keep her off it!

Busywizzy - hope you're feeling better. It's often much worse in the anticipation than it is once you're actually back in the swing. That's not meant to belittle your worries at all - I'm feeling pretty panicky about my own return in January too. Mainly worried about the long commute, plus the high chances of being lumbered with a really tedious role. Am also trying to focus on enjoying this remaining time with the girls, and remembering that if things are really bad we will just have to rethink our options sometime next year.

misdee - hope serena produces a tooth for you soon and is back on smile mode. We're still all gums here!

Buzzywizzy, I hope you feel better about going back ot work nearer the time. Is there anyway you can reduce to part time? Its a good compromise.

Shalaa - glad to hear the job is going well.

Yesterday I went to dinner at a friends, she is swedish and her sister and friend with babies were visiting. One of the babies is a week younger than Niklas - my jaw dropped when I saw him eating the same spagetti bolognese that we were eating!!! This isn't just a taste of differnet things like Sylvia is having - this was his dinner! I am still feeding Niklas cereals, fruit and vegetable pureees only! Am I being too cautious? Is it time to introduce meat and start him eating what we are eating??? He is almost 7 months now but has only been on solids for aobut 5 or 6 weeks. What are all your babies eating now?

Leogaela - you can introduce proteins now - meat (chicken is good to start with as easily digested), cheese etc. I wouldn't give him what you are eating generally, although if it is something fairly innocuous - ie. chicken casserole, vegetable soup, and you haven't used salt, it should be fine.

I'd love it if Sylvia could join us for family meals. The sooner, the better. Thing is, though, a lot of our food is too spicy or too chunky and just can't be eaten by a 6 month old. Not to mention we don't always sit down 3-6 times a day for a meal, much as we'd like to . DH doesn't add salt to food, but it's other practicalities that prevent us (such as a quick pizza in the oven as there's no time for anything else).

Sylvia is still on mainly breastmilk plus about a jar a day of baby food and one or two pieces of fruit (banana or apple). I have home cooked for her too but it's all in the freezer for later as the blender isn't working too well and it came out too chunky.

My MW says it's important for them to be on protein now. From 6 months they don't get all the iron they need from breast or bottle and need to get it from meat and other sources. She swears they also sleep better once on protein. Lauren has chicken liquidised to a paste. Tried her on lumpier chicken but she wouldn't take it. Also giving her green leafy veggies at lunch, as they are a good source of iron. She's not in love with them but I manage to get them down her even if it takes a while, with lots of playing, pooing and eating of her bib!! Patience, patience...! She also loves her yoghurt. She also has a finger food and some dilated juice in place of her 11am feed now and doesn't seem to have missed her bottle at all at that time. In fact, she seems to be going off her bottle. Hardly ever takes a full bottle at all now. She loves her little Avent Magic Cup and took to a spout straight away. Don't know how she does it as I tried to drink from its non spill spout and it's pretty difficult to get anything out. She seems to manage though.
Want to start her at a baby play group next month as long as she is sitting. Still not quite there. She hasn't really been exposed to many other babies, although when she does she is fascinated and loves it until they cry and that makes her cry too, in sympathy I think, as she's not really a crying baby.

Am busy putting some photos in on photobucket. It's been a while and I need to update.

Hey, how about some updates on the photobucket! Dying to see recent pics of some of the babes and some buckets are sadly lacking on the latest pics. Come on mums.

I updated with some new ones of Caleb! He's also eaten spag bol and seemed to quite enjoy it. Gave him a petit filous (sp) and he loved it! Generally as long as i've homemade the food we give him a bit to try. We go to a baby play gym every Monday and he loves it, watches the babies and goes in the ball pool.

Caleb also cries when other babies start crying, he's also into slapping/patting at the moment.

Yes, Lauren is also into the patting stage. Everything must be patted and toys must be wildly shaken. She is also very into faces at the moment and if you're not careful your nose gets given a good yanking! She has taken to stroking my hair whilst drinking her bottle - very sweet. Also took DH's mum's glasses off her face and proceeded to eat them! She is becoming a really little character and we are all just totally in love with her. As are we all with our little ones, I'm sure, and I'm sure that every one of us thinks we've got the cleverest, cutest baby on the planet!!
Am up early preparing Lauren's bag for her day with her Granny. Gone are the days when I'd just chuck in a few bottles and that would be it. Now it's breakfast, midmorning juice and snack, lunch, afternoon bottle etc etc, and 2 changes of clothes as her food is bound to go everywhere, even with the world's largest bib! Takes me an hour just to get ready to go with her. That's not even counting trying to have a shower and get dressed into something vaguely decent, as my Mum is bound to comment if I'm in yet another tracksuit. Luckily I go straight from her to gym so I've got an excuse.

Thanks for the meat advice! Niklas is going to have a treat of meat for the first time on Friday when he is 7 months !
What about eggs?

How do you all manage to get your babies to drink water, Niklas REFUSES!!! I have tried lots of different ways, bottle, cup with spout (tried 2 or 3 different ones including the magic cup from Avent), normal cup (most successful but spills everywhere) usually he refuses it.

Jambot I know what you mean about packing a bag for a day! Sometimes it feels as if I would be better to pack a suitcase for him!

I spoke to the nursery and I am going to take him twice this week and 2 or 3 times next week, so I feel a bit happier that we have more time to settle him in. If it doesn't work this week then I can take him even more next week. He has started to get really upset when I am not around, so I am a bit worried about the whole thing!

Oh, did i mention that we are moving, we have bought a house and get the keys to move in next Tuesday! I am really excited, I am dreaming about all the toys we can put in the garden for Niklas!
We are surrounded in boxes at the moment!

Photobucket - I keep meaning to add some new photos, I'll do it now!

I know that egg yolk is fine for now and I think they recommend the white only from 9 months. White fish is also an option.

Lauren is ok with water and the juice that I give her is basically water as there's so little juice added. Why not try adding a bit of fruit juice in small quantities to his water? I'm dead against giving too much juice, but especially if its hot they need that liquid.

Have managed the virtually unheard of feat of getting both girls to take an afternoon nap at the same time - jubilation!

Leogaela - my first dd didn't take to water for ages. I think if they're drinking milk, and they're not constipated and it's not roasting hot weather don't worry too much just keep offering it. She did get the hang of it eventually. Iris takes a few sips from the kind of cup where the water dribbles out slowly without her having to suck. And see if you can get Niklas to play with the cup himself - maybe get one with little handles. Then sometimes they end up shoving it in their mouth and consuming something!

Iris's sleep has gone to pot again - bed at 7pm and waking first at 10-11pm. Which frankly is rubbish. And it's not hunger either. All most frustrating frankly. But I keep on saying "it's just a phase, it's just a phase"!

OK must scoot - have a friend and her toddler about to arrive to help us eat up the mountains of leftover chocolate cake from our birthday tea!

Hi all, just popped in to say hi. Kieran and I are both suffering from colds. He is being a nightmare at the moment , it's a goodd thing I love him so much .

Hi all - just quickly, as I should be doing chores while Grace is sleeping - it's her 6 month birthday today!

Have received a selection of cloth nappies today so have washed and dried them and am looking forward to trying them out tomorrow! Am strangely excited about it - dh is less keen but I'm sure I can win him over .

How many of your babies are sleeping in their own rooms now? DD1 went into her own room at 4 months but Grace is still in with us and for some reason I am feeling a bit strange about putting her in on her own. I know we need to do it at some point, and I'm sure we'll all sleep better when we do, but she seems so little still and I just know I would worry too much. Am I being daft?

Leogaela - glad that you are happier about the settling in arrangements with the nursery now - I'm sure it will all work out fine. How exciting about the house move! I guess things must be a bit chaotic at the moment if you're moving next week?

We also have a lidded cup that drips if you turn it upside down (TommeeTippee) - Grace didn't have a clue what to do at first but is gradually getting the hang of it I think. She had her first taste of chicken today - I cooked some with some vegetables and pureed it down. She wasn't overly impressed but ate a little bit.

Hi i've just joined mumsnet and am in need of some help and advice. I have two problems with my 16 month old daughter, firstly, sleeping - she still does not sleep through the night although we have managed to cut her bottles down to two 9oz bottles of milk a night I would also like her to go into her own bed and own room. I've tried so many different things i'm now at a loss, people who i've asked for advice say she'll get there in her own time. Also she is a very clingy child not allowing me to go anywhere without her, ie - doing the dishes, cooking her tea, going to the toilet if I do manage to sneak away she throws a screaming tantrum often ending in her making herself sick. Please help!

Norash, poor you! I also have a cold too, but Niklas is fine and being a really good boy at the moment so not suffering too much! Hope you both feel better fast!

Pidge - its just a phase ! I manage to settle Niklas back to sleep by stroking his back (he sleeps on the side) and saying shhhh, he also has a little teddy bear that he cuddles these days. Is there anything like that you could give her that could help settle her back to sleep? Another thing I find is that he settles to sleep and sleeps much better on his stomach (or side) than his back - could be worth a try.

Niklas has been in his own room since he was about 4 weeks when we took him out of our bed. There is no room for a cot in our room so there is not much choice - I enjoy having him in our room when we are on holiday though! We still worry and if either of us wakes up in the night we have to go and check him. He just doesn't disturb us quite so much (I only have to put up with dh snoring and not both of them!). He still comes into bed with us in the morning which is lovely !

Thanks all for hte advice about the water! I'll keep trying different things - handles and a bit of juice sound like a good idea !

Pixie, welcome to Mnet ! But is your dd 16 months or 6 months?
How often is your dd waking up in the night?
When we first put Niklas in his own room he would fall asleep in our bed and then we would move him, when he woke up I would try to get out of bed and feed him and put him back in his own bed in his own room (but oftne he ended up back in our bed), try to do it progressively. Is she in your bed or in a cot in your room? If in your bed try moving her progressively into her own bed in your room.
As for the clingyness - do you manage to go out and meet other people? Perhaps a playgroup where she may be distracted by other children could be a good start. I think its more difficult at home, but I keep changing Niklas's toys and put him down in different places to renew his intrest and distract him. If he is hungry or tired I oftne only realise because he complains so much when I put him down somewhere..... but that's my experience of a 6 month old not a 16 month old!