November 09 - solids and crawling underway but sleepless nights still here to stay!!

[scarlotti]

New and shiny thread

longwayaway, I'm sorry, I do not really have any advice. I read somewhere that it is good for their independent sleeping if you try to teach them several ways of falling asleep (bf, going for a walk, rocking,...), so maybe that could be a step in the right direction?
sirboob, I have the same problem with Paula when I try to put her into the buggy. Two things, actually three, seem to help a little:

• more upright position of the backrest, to make clear it's not because she is supposed to fall asleep.
• showing her the buggy toys before even putting her in so she is too distracted to revolt.
• showing that we are leaving, like moving the buggy already or opening the door.

Oh, and we are still "only" on 7 teeth. That last terrible night was due to tummy problems which ended in a rather impressive poo session at 2am (I needed three nappies as she started again as soon as I had her back in the grobag. And we went through different colours and textures, sorry if TMI)
I think it was the 2 tablespoons of (cooked) strawberry purree in her dinner. But we had a similar (less impressive) problem a couple of nights ago, when I thought it was due to the newly introduced sweet corn. So now I'm not sure if she has a more serious problem with her digestive system or if it was just a coincidence. Did anyone of you have similar problems with strawberry or sweet corn? or any other food?
At the moment we are back to the few ingredients that haven't been a problem so far but I wonder at which point I should see the GP. Anyway, it can't be serious as during the day you couldn't tell that something is wrong.

Ursi I have tried that, but nope, he still protests an unbelievable amount. I have to kind of take his legs out with one arm to get him in!!! We have also had several amazingly foul nappies here, recently. WRT sweetcorn, it is very difficult to digest even for adults. Haven't tried strawberries yet, so not sure about that, but wouldn't worry too much. Every new food processes differently, doesn't it? Obviously if you're really concerned ignore me and take her to the GPs

BBL you've inspired me to return to my jpop cds Currently listening to Utada Hikaru...

ursi all those teeth must be behind Paula's frequent night wakings over the past few months! I. would frequently wake at night with sore tummies but then I've no idea what normal babies are like Strawberries can irritate babies though. Some advise you to wait a few months before introducing them. along with things like kiwis and raw tomato.

SB I've been blessed with kids that don't mind the car seat so I'm sorry I can't help, but I vividly remember my wee sis kicking up stink! Poor you.

I had a busy day yesterday. DD1 had an appointment in town to get fitted for insoles, then back out for a settling in day with childminder, then back into town to catch up with things at work, then home for tea & bedtime and out again to go to a lecture. By the time I'd spent 4.5 hours in work with a baby, not actually doing much but dealing with lots of cooing and trying to get a handle on what has been going on in my absence, I returned home dehydrated and with a massive tension headache. It took me right back to the Bad Old Days. Work is seriously bad for your health. Time to make the most of my last 2 months of freedom!

Tee hee . In my efforts to teach I. how to use her sippy cup I've inadvertently taught her a new party trick: smacking her lips . 'Tis very cute.

sirboob, I didn't know that sweetcorn could be a problem. Anyway, I guess you are right and I shouldn't worry. I'll see what the return to the safe things will bring.
hobnob, as much as I like the idea of a reason (and therefore stopping) of Paulas night wakings, I am pretty sure that it is just a general problem and therefore won't stop anywhere soon.
I knew that strawberries are likely to give nappy rash (and I thought I have to try and see) but didn't know about the problems to digest. And I had even cooked them. As many people on this thread had mentioned them I thought it would be worth to try.
Oh, and Paula is very good at smacking her lips too. She does look rather funny, like a teethless old woman. But cute too

Another lip smacker here too, he looks a bit like an old man gurning!! He is going through a very sweet phase at the moment giving me cuddles and kisses - he lunges at my face with his mouth open and then pats my cheeks!! A very nice welcome to come back to after a day at work.

Ah, sweetcorn, comes out the way it went in!

Had a lovely dinner out tonight with a friend, gorgeous food and when the bill came he treated me - marvellous

The new party trick isn't helping getting water into her though. She takes a slurp, smiles, sticks her tongue out, makes kissing noise and then dribbles out all of the water.

More constipation here I think...

Hi all.

Annabelle is doing really well with eating. I definately see a difference between her eating pattern and ds and have come to the conclusion that he has always been a fussy eater. I found it had to get him to try food off my spoon, whereas she gobbles it down and wants more. hoping this means she will carry on being a good eater. She's gotten really cuddly in the last couple of days and a bit clingy as she will grizzle if I leave the room. I love that she wants me there but it makes it hard to sort everything else out.

Had a surprise meal out with dh on Tuesday. He'd organised for me to have the night off with my boss before hand which was lovely. We went of a curry and tried lots of new things.

Also managed to choose an eternity ring by accident. lol. Dh's been looking at getting me one for ages. we were out with dh and our friend looking for a present for friend's gf and I said "ooh that's nice!" staring at a gorgeous ring on display. dh asked the lady to get the ring out of the case and it fitted me perfectly. he decided he liked it and bought me it, but he has tucked it away and I cant wear it 'til our anniversary on the 30th of this month.

hobnob, we have the opposite problem, we are back to a rather breastfeeding looking poo (it does smell like real one though) I don't know if this is supposed to be like this as we had been on rather solid one already. We have one proper solid lunch and dinner is rice, a bit of cooked fruit and a bf afterwards. And I think she is drinking more these days so I guess it is normal.
Anyway, what I wanted to say about getting water into a child: Have you tried to feed it with a spoon? That works really well with Paula and is actually quicker as her desperate attempts with the cup. And I prepare her puree rather watery too when I think she is not getting enough water.
juicylips, that sounds very nice, especially the ring even if you have to wait a little to really get it

hobnob constipation here too, went to the doc today and we've been given lactulose. One thing though, he said that some babies just struggle no matter what you do as their muscles will take a while to get sorted. If they don't move as much (Ioan loves to sit) and they don't get gravity to help then they can struggle. Also they are pushing against a hard floor if sitting - if you think about it, it all makes sense. There's no way I could give Ioan any more dietary help - he has weetabix with prune juice, apricots, apples, vegetables etc. If I catch him when he goes, and push his legs so he's effectively squatting, it all comes out fine (sorry tmi!)
The lactulose will make it softer to he doesn't have to work as hard, and apparently in a few months when he's moving around it will all right itself.

oH juicy sounds like you've had a lovely week. Presents and dinners. Nice.

Glad you had a nice evening last night too Scarlotti

Rosa and I are in Scotland - it's been such a scorching day we've been hanging out outside in my mum's garden all day. She was soooo tired at bedtime she had a teensy feed then - SNORE - she was out like a light. Hope it's the same tomorrow eve as I'm hoping to catch up with some old friends.

Food - Rosa is sometimes very interested and other times not. We are doing purees and mashes with bits of help yourself as well. She is definitely bored of very smooth purees though - she has a few spoons then gets cross. Tonight however with some fish, new pots and peas all just mashed with a fork (!) she WOLFED it down. And my naughty mum gave her a teeny spoonful of ice cream with her strawberries for pudding. Hopefully such a small amount won't do any harm but I started thinking about raw egg...sugar...not to mention all that fat!

Then proceeded to scoff a huge bowlful of it myself! Double standards...

helips I just read Millennium trilogy. V entertaining and engaging if not exactly high-art literature! And did you mean True Blood on DVD...? Must catch up with that!

MissI we're on mashed food now, not a puree in sight anymore and it's going down a treat. He eats a banana by me just breaking off chunks and giving them to him. He can now munch his way through a finger of toast on his own, or a digestive if broken in half.
As for fat, they need it so don't worry. The sweet thing at this age is more down to not wanting them to get used to sweet things - although if you've ever tasted bm you'd be amazed at how sweet that is.
Ioan is dc3 so I appreciate I'm nowhere near pfb territory anymore - I give him the odd bit of cake if we're out and it's a special occasion. He had a small mouthful of lemon birthday cake today and loved it!!

Went to the docs today about my pmt which is back and quite severe. Only option is the pill but can't take that whilst bf so now need to think about how long I want to bf for, whilst balancing up how much of a witch I want to be

Juicy aw that all sounds really nice DP did that with a ring for me on our first day out with Bryn, when he was 10 days old (God that was so long ago..!!) - we were looking in the window because we are both magpies, then I said this certain ring was really nice... Which anniversary will it be?

Hobnob and Scarlotti I hope the poo problems are sorted soon! Interesting what the doctor had to say about movement affecting them. Does make sense though.

MissI Bryn has had a tiny bit of ice cream before (My excuse - I needed to cool his gums down so I put some on his dummy ). What did she think of it? Fingers crossed she sleeps well tonight for you too Also at it being warm in Scotland

Got an appointment at the doctors tomorrow about several things for Bryn, though I might have to mention myself too, as I am currently bleeding again Third time in a month. Not very impressed.

Warm?! It's been 28 degrees in Glasgow the past few days! My poor DSIL is 34/35 weeks pregnant with two kids, a hubby on crutches and a heat wave. Looks like she could pop anytime.

Ethan's doing well with food but I think he'd like a new flavour with every meal. He gets very excited then the food hits his taste buds and it's 'oh, apple again'. If he has a new food he loves it. Melon went down a treat today. So very messy though.

Ooh, 28 degrees? Nasty. A cool 12 here today !

I naively thought we had turned a corner yesterday. We had 2 2-hour naps !! Despite being bunged up. Now things have started moving this morning, she has only just gone down for her first nap and has been Oscar The Grouch all day. Sigh. And this nap won't be a long one because I've to haul her out of her dark cot into the bright sunshine and stiff breeze in her pram for the nursery run soon. Double sigh.

SB I hope the doc goes ok. Did you ever ask about reflux? I hope you are ok too.

Doctors went okay - she agreed it was reflux, but tried to fobb me off with "Well, if he's breastfed that makes it really difficult, and seeing as you've put up with it for seven months..." (her exact words!). I was very composed, smiled sweetly and replied, "Well, yes, I have, but that was because another doctor here told me it was colic. And as much as I can put up with it, I think he is getting a bit fed up with being in pain. Wouldn't you?" Stupid woman. Can't believe she was willing to leave him hurting! So now I need to give him Gaviscon three times a day after a breastfeed for two weeks then go back to speak to them again.

Has also written / is writing to the hospital - he needs his heard scanned as DPs dad died of cardiomyopathy. Am relieved they are going to do it, but at the same time slightly anxious that he will have it. Should get a letter within the next few weeks for a scan.

Though to lighten the mood - the headline of the local paper today is "Builders Thwarted By Fish-Eating Spiders"

SB good to hear that he has been diagnosed. What kind of gaviscon do you have? If it is sachets it's a right PITA to administer. Gaviscon tends to be used for pukey babies. It helps keep feeds down and helps weight gain. It doesn't neutralise acid though. If it's not keeping his milk down totally he may still get symptoms. Next step should be Ranitidine (tastes like mouthwash) or omeprazole (dissolved tablet of wee granule type things). Do you know what's involved with a heart scan? Is it just ultrasound or do they need to inject dyes or such like?

SirB glad he's been diagnosed, hope the gaviscon helps. When is his heart scan? Let me know if dp can't go and you want some support and I'll come with you.

Not much to report here. Dribbling still happening in floods but still no teeth breaking through. He's still eating more during the day but still waking at night for a feed

Probably looking to move him into his room this weekend but am not sure I'm ready! I will so miss his little face next to me in the morning.

Went to docs to discuss contraception and am now in a quandry. He suggested the mirena coil, I got caught up in the idea of no periods and believed it when he said my turning into a witch can't have been due to the coil. With a bit of space I'm now regretting being talked into it and wishing I'd stuck to my guns and been referred for sterilisation.
Would be interested to hear anyone's experiences of the mirena.

Yeah is the sachets Have just given it for the second time and feel like The Worlds Most Evil Mother Ever. But we'll see how it goes. Not sure about the test - think hope it will just be an ultrasound.

Why not mix it up with some baby rice and give it that way? Just a couple of spoonfuls. Might just even be less faff than trying to get the darned stuff to dissolve.

Yes, I stood stirring for at least five minutes earlier!!! Can you mix it with baby rice? I wasn't sure. I gave it to him via syringe as he was getting so stressed with the spoon.

Any way you can get it in
Bottle-fed babies get it in their milk. The idea is to form a heavy top layer on the milk in their tum.

Cheers Hobnob I might try mixing it with baby rice tomorrow - see if he protests a little less... She told me I had to mix it with his milk, and when I said "I'm breastfeeding", she looked at me like I was mad, and said, "Still?". Goodness, I'm glad she was a locum!

SirB sorry to hear of Bryn's tummy troubles, hope that you managed to get the gaviscon into him today ok.

anyone doing anything nice for fathers day? Dh is out working but should be home soon, then he'll go out a little later as his brother has invited him and his dad out to play snooker, but no partners invited so my lovely day has just turned out to be me and the kids again. ah well. am going to make some fairy cakes with the kids and let the use sprinkles and things! (a rare treat, lol) [messy emoticon]