SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK PART 8 -- Pack the bags under your eyes and join us!

[RoRoMommy]

Well...I had to think of something! DH's suggestion "Eyes wide shut--the art of sleepwalking"

Ooh share some with me CSB. I've only got some digestive biscuits. They're hardly a treat are they?

I have a ton of digestives - I ate so many biscuits in the early days of BFing I figured digestives were cheaper ... them and own bran Nice biscuits ... they taste great at 3pm when you haven't eaten all day!

I say make a cheesecake - much more sinful than a mere digestive

CSB - agree on cheescake. they do lovely packets, that really are sensational with fresh stawberries chucked in and a HM strawberry coule. MS all day not haoppy finally eating something, a frozen pizza that DF kindly bought me as he's out watching the hatten/mayweather fight and i'm so wish i could stay up to watch, but one of us has got to get up in morning!

Amber - glad things aren't too bad with, for dh helping

mmmm cheesecake.

Thankyou everyone for your messages of encouragement and support. It means alot to me that you take the time to write.

DS2 seemed a little happier yesterday and we had some nice moments together. DH went out with the older 2 to get the tree and so they were really excited and happy. It is DDs birthday on the 17th (she'll be 3) so she can't quite work out which she is more excited about, that or Christmas!!

DS had 2 4 hour stretches last night so I am trying to see that as a positive step in the right direction. Meg, your experience has given me real hope, but I am not ready to try it myself quite yet. DS2 will be 6 months on the 27th of December. I would really like to cut his night feeds down as I am sure a lot of it is comfort feeding and has the negative effect of adding to his wind. I am still BF at night. If I try to pat him instead he just cries louder. Any ideas?

Amber sorry to hear your LO is giving you trouble. I hope you are enjoying yourself. I think as they get older and discover their independence they keep wanting to test the boundries. (Mine seem to do this fairly constantly anyway )

Abnyway must go and do some washing or DH and DS will have no uniform for work/school tommorrow. Am too scared of DS2s head teacher to contemplate that!!!

CM, glad you are feeling more positive this morning . Four-hour stretches are great at this stage. Have to say that I didn't really try to cut back on night feeds til DS was about 8mo, as he wasn't taking much in the way of solids til then. But if you suspect he's not really hungry then maybe he would settle for a dummy or water some of the time? I also found that if we co-slept he would sometimes accept a cuddle instead of the boob to get back to sleep.

Ginger how is DH now?

Hi everyone else

Our night:
Bed 7.30 (without so much as a peep!)
Bit grizzly from 5.30am for an hour or so, but kept dozing off again
Up at 7.30

Thanks Meg. I have considered water, but I think I'll hold off for a bit longer and see if he continues to improve on his own. DS2 spat out every dummy I tried to give him.

Going back to waking your LO in the morning. I don't think I left DD until she had dropped her morning nap. I know what you mean about keeping their daytime naps. I just wish DS2 would get into some kind of predictable nap routine!! He's been asleep now for an hour. Do I wake him? Yesterday he wouldn't sleep longer than 30 minutes.

good morning mamas. ds2 slept ok last night.bed7pm, up at 10 for dummy, 12 for cuddle, 4 for feed up at 6. ds1 slept from 7 til 6, so not bad!

meg - that's a fantastic improvement keep up the good work, and yay that LO has finally learnt how to sleep?

CM - i didn't drop night feeds untill ds2 was 8mo either. althouh he's having a growth spurt atm so he's getting it in the night once now too. that'll stop aagain this week though! Do you have trouble bringing his wind up? if he's comfort sucking and half asleep it shouldn't add to his wind as he wont be taking in any air at the same time.

Good morning. Hooray for Meg, and Beal that's not half bad a night, either, also for you CM, four hour stretches are great.

Feeling rather low at the moment, DS is constipated something awful, apparently not getting enough fluids with his solids (I always mix them with breastmilk, but I've never given him water, had no idea I was meant to ). I had to pull the hard poop out of his bottom this morning as he was crying on the changing table, not an experience I wish to repeat. Have now given him apple/pear juice and a spoonful of brown sugar (at recommendation of pharmacist) and he's down for his nap.

CM, 4 hour stretches are really great. i hope they continue. i find if i get at least one 4 hour blcok and a few other tid bits of sleep, i can function ok.

Hello all. DH isn't 100 percent yet unfortunately. Still very dizzy so it's like having two DC. Not sure I have the energy for two permanently!!

We have another molar which explains a couple of difficult nights and grizzly days. However, I reakon on the whole she is a lot lot better at this sleep thing. I squeezed in next to her last night while DH tried to get some uninterupted sleep. My restlessness was definately disturbing her so when DH is better I'm definately going to attempt leaving once she's back to sleep. She moves about so much in the bed though that always ends up with no covers and consequently cold so I'm going to put her fluffy suit back on and hope that keeps her warm.

What about this weather it's so bloody miserable.

Meg very pleased for you. I'd like to give you a big squeeze. CM glad you're feeling more positive. My DD had no routine until about 8 months when she just suddenly started sleeping better. Beal, Hope you're getting some rest and that things are OK.

Amber missed saying about the jet lag. My DD has turned into the biggest stroppy madam and I remember saying at about 11 months that I can't believe she's already having tantrums. Trouble is I'm pathetic at discipline so two or three whinges and I give in and give her whatever it is she wants. Tiredness doesn't help with consistency.

RoRO, my DD got constipated when starting to wean. I ust started to make it routine to offer water at meal times from a sippy cup. We used apple juice and also prune juice which helped. Poor little fella and poor you.

X posted, g'day Amber

RoRo, poor LO. tbh ds doesn't drink much water at all, just a sip here and there. but maybe yours is eating much more than mine.

i'm actually not really enjoying myself at the moment. stuck in the burbs at in-laws, can't do a lot because LO in such a bad mood all the time, clinging to me, and permanently tired and won't sleep out of the house, just gets wound up and cries it's kind of embarrassng with all the relatives that he's behaving this way. poor little mite though, i feel sorry for him, i've really turned his safe litle world upside down.

so am not really sure what to do. i put him to bed at 8 last night, which was a bit earlier than he'd been going, so maybe it will help to be on local time. but it means we can't go out to dinner or anything. sigh.

feeling a bit trapped. can't go anywhere without driving, and ds yelling and screaming everytime he's in car seat for most of journey.

why is he not like normal kids that fall asleep in car seat? but then again he can stay awake for 14 hours overnight on a plane, so clearly he's not normal

hi ginger! yeah the tantrums are full on. i think mostly it comes out of sheer frustration not being able to do what he wants to do (ability-wise or being stuck in car seat etc.) he's also screaming when he has a bath which normally he would enjoy. he's not eating solids at all and just screams in the high chair. restaurant visits are also a disaster. he's become a milk monster and it's a bit draiining. every time he is in the car seat and we're driving he signs for milk!

Oh Amber, so sorry you're feeling so upset about things. I'm sure your DS is just adjusting. It took me about a week when I went to NZ so it must be doubley hard for him. Have you tried some calpol in case he's teething? Try not to get too anxious as that could make him feel uptight too. Just explain to relatives that it's a lot for him to take in all in one go and your sure he'll be ok in a few days. With bed times just try and adjust it bit by bit. I know it'll be really hard because you're jet lagged too but try and go with it and in a week you'll all feel more settled I'm sure.

Take care

Xposted, Sounds like he just feels a bit out of his comfort zone at the momeent. You a such a brilliant reassuring patient mummy that I'm sure with a bit of TLC he'll be returning to normal in a few days.

Ty[ing w 1 hand as DS just woke up from a long nap and is clinging to me.

Amber: toddler like behaviour started for us at avout a year as we;; - screeches and tantrums. DS has started bashiing his head in frustration when he's thwarted (he usually chooses a soft surface - not daft!). I'm hoping that a) he's getting in out of his system early and b) it'll get better once he's talking 0 I would think signing a big help there.

CM: sending lots of +ve thoughts your way.

Srry, better go! Message to all babies: sleep!

Another onehanded post, ds having another shittier than shit spell. Feel really weepy and low just now, things were so much better before we went away and now we're back to square one with taking ages to settle and being restless all night and constant wakenings after 20/45 mins and startling all the time. None of which would be so bad if dp could do his share but ds just won't have it and gets completely hysterical. dp and i were meant to have some time together tonight and apart from 2 x 20 minute stretches (during which I was washing up and wrapping presents) I have been on my own rocking or feeding since 6.15 and it's soul-destroying. I just wish ds would be better with others ... I'm too impatient for this to pass I guess. Nights have sucked too and ds is just miserable and uncomfy for some reason. And I bet we get it sorted just in time to visit again at new year . Sorry, I know some of you guys are having crap times of your own but I know you understand.

CM, I hope you're feeling ok, know you've been struggling too but with multiple children you deserve a medal woman!

ginger, hope your dh is on the mend asap, sounds like you all need a break tbh.

Ro,amber, meg, ep, beal, tibsy, anyone else ... sorry for selfish post but hope very much you are all enjoying your well-deserved kip

CSB - i'm so sorry i wasn't on last night. i really feel for youhun. Ds2 wont let DF settle him anymore so it;s all down to me, it;s nice the kids are so attached but really! hope your nights are starting to improve, remember tey're clever little things and they pick up on everything you're feeling, make sure you get in loads of cuddles during the day so you can realise how cute LO really is!
hope last night was better for you.

our night wasn't too bad, bed at 7, woke at 2, 4, and then 5.

ds1 slept from 3:30pm till we woke him at 9 to change nappy and get in jim jams, he woke at 3 calling for daddy (a real rareity) then awake at 5. so all in all not too bad! df and i were in bed at 9:15!!

CSB: sorry I wasn't around last night (went to bed early!). for feeling so low, and that LO is so unsettled, but I'm sure his sleep will settle down soon. I know how frustrating it is when they won't settle for anyone else. Not much else I can say other than take care of yourself, get to bed early if you can and remember it will get better. {{{hug}}}

Beal your night sounds good

Amber I'm sure that Ginger is right and LO will be better once he's settled in properly. Is there anywhere you can get to by bus or train? I find with DS the novelty of being on public transport distracts him from getting fidgety.

EP, I have a feeling we might get some toddler behaviour before time -- already he can screech the place down if you take away a toy

Ginger, for continued good nights (teeth aside), so pleased things are working out for you.

RoRo, I offer water with meals but sometimes he hardly has any. He does enjoy waving the cup around, though.

CM and Tibsy, hope you had good nights too

Have I missed anyone?

CSB: sorry you're having a bad time and feel free to rant away - that's what we're here for . I hate not having some time in the evenings - it's the only chance of a bit of peace I get. We had a long stretch where DS would go down at about 7 and not stir till about 11, but those days are long gone . I am OC nights as well - DH does try, but DS only wants me. Which is nice in a way but sometimes I wish it was me on the sofa while DH wrestled with DS in a darkened room! What's your routine like atm? We're a bit all over the place thanks to illness, which doesn't help.

RoRo: DS had to have water when he started solids as well or he's get constipated. Hope things are improving.

Hope the rest of you are doing well.

Despatch from the front of winter lurgies: I now have earache as well as a cough and the sniffles. I am a walking advert for cough and cold medicines and I'm not allowed to take any of them! Trying to get hold of go for an appointment but number engaged - too many sick people atm.

that's GP obv

sorry ladies, havent had time to read all posts. just wanted to send huge (((hugs))) to csb and amber for feeling down. chin up both. sending you both positive vibes for improved situations real soon xx

hi roro glad youre enjoying having your mama with you.

hi charlie, ginger, EP ( youre poorly), beal and for your nights meggy, yay!!!!

ooh, we've got our christmas tree up, i love it

CSB: I hope things are a bit better. I really feel for you. I know that feeling of hopelessness and despair. It is especially hard because it is the centre of your world that is making you feel like this. You want to be enjoying every precious moment, but it is just so hard, all the time. Things will get better. DS2 has been noticeably more settled and dare I say it even happy lately. IMO some babies just don't enjoy being babies!! My LO seems desperate to be a big kid like his brother and sister. He does not like sitting around watching the world one little bit. These children are hard work as babies, but as they grow they are so much fun. I say that with a gritted smile after the afternoon I had with DD.
I hope that you get a bit of a break tonight.

RoRo: I always made sure mine ate plenty of fruit as it took them ages to get the hang of drinking water/juice.

Amber: Poor you. I hope Ginger's right and that when your LO is over the adjustment he'll settle down. I flew from LA to England and the jet lag made me feel physically sick. I'm sure that I've heard that West to East is the worst way to travel for Jet lag effects.

EP: I hope you feel better soon too!!!!

Hello Tibsy, Ginger, Beal. I have to go as it is story time for DS1 and DD.

Thanks for the support folks. Just had to get DP to take a spell because after a really good day with DS and getting him down at 7 without any major trauma (he was exhausted mind) he woke within 15 minutes (little bugger only ever gives me time to wash the sodding dishes, never enough for a glass of wine and a sit down too!) - wide awake, chirpy, but obviously still pooped. I'm so frustrated standing in darkness swaying with him as his little head bobs around and he moans and groans with tiredness, makes me want to throw him out of the window at which point DP gets asked to help, DS really objects and then I go back ten minutes later to calm down the hysterics, get DS to sleep and the whole thing starts again, currently after 15-20 minutes of sleep [bashes head against wall repeatedly]. I don't get this 20 minute waking thing at all, 45 made sense because you can see hin going through the sleep phases, but this is just weird - he's SO hard to resettle at this point too - really really tired but instantly totally awake.

Anyway, enough of my moaning, I sound like DS! Thank you all for being so lovely.

Sounds like some good sleeping going on, but sorry for your maladies Effie, hope you got GP appt.

Must go now as DS is at the screaming and I suspect DP hasn't thought to take the sweaty little creature out of his grobag ... [siiiigh][weep][wail][wring hands]

Hi all

Sorry haven't got much time to respond but [waves] and big hugs to the poorly EP.

Just wanted to say CSB, have you tried white noise? Hairdryer, extractor fan etc worked a treat for calming my DD. You can also buy a CD from little sleepy head which is a tumble dryer etc (lulled me to sleep anyway)