Babies Born ~ July 1st-15th 2009 #2

[Calluna]

Hi lovely ladies,
I'm about to go to bed so I'll be quick, Just thought I'd let you know I've just posted up my birth story for anyone that's interested.

[ss_storm]

Great story Heather!

Just waiting for Hayley to go back to sleep after a feed, she is being pretty quiet so I think she might have gone to sleep straight away. It's the first feed in a week or so that she hasn't screamed during it... I did post a thread earlier about it, but lately she has been crying every time I try and give her a bottle, I don't know why. All she wants is to stick her thumb in her mouth and cries after every 20mls or so of milk. I have been struggling to get 120ml into her, she is having 180ml bottles, but is supposed to be increasing up to 240mls about now. DF thought maybe her gums are hurting her, but i can't feel the tips of any teeth. I put a tiny bit of bonjela on her gums during one feed but it didn't seem to make a difference. I bought a couple of 6 month+ teats yesterday as she is still on size 2 teats, which I think is for about 2-3 months old. Again I don't think they helped, just meant she got more milk faster. WIll go back and get the rest that I need tomorrow, may as well change all her bottles over to the new teats.

well she's still quiet so must have gone to sleep, back to bed for me too!

[Calluna]

ss- Thanks I'd been meaning to do it for ages but never get the time. I feel so good that I've finally done it and loved going through it all in my head remembering the details, There are so many feelings and images in my head that I just could not convey. I just did not have the right words to do it justice.
Sounds a bit like Isaac atm, he'll yell and stiffen up his body and cry. When he does drink its for a few mins if that then the whole thing starts again. Very frustrating, but hopefully it's just a phase. Isaac's taking more and more feeds the past couple of days so I think he's getting better. He still has a little tanty most times but once he gets into the swing of it he stays focused and will feed properly for about 10 or 15 mins.

[jetta2022]

Hi Guys!

SS Storm - hope things are going better with Hayley. I am sorry that I cannot give any advice on why she is screaming. I hope things improve though and big hugs.

Heva5 - hope things are improving for you too? Did you ring or contact the breast feeding association?

Just wanted to ask everyone. We are thinking of giving Sam some rice cereal in about a months time or so. If you are breast feeding, how do you do it? I have been told to not cut out any breast feeds and about 1/2 hour to hour after a feed offer. Does he just over time then eat more and slowely cut out one feed as they will become more spaced out as he is fuller for longer?? Is that the idea? Just trying to get my head around it!!!

Hope everyone else is well!

[Miss E]

Well we went out and got Ash a rainforest jumperoo yesterday and he loves it. Also thanks ladies for telling me about your LO's waking and sleep times... I guess we'll just keep going as we have been, but I can't help but wonder if he does need to stay up a bit longer... On Friday when we went to mothers group he stayed up for four hours and had a great time! But then at home it seems like there is no way I can stretch him any more than a couple of hours... Oh who knows...

Jetta, we're also thinking about starting Ash on rice cereal in the next few weeks. I wouldn't worry too much about feeds etc when you start introducing solids. From what I've been told they take in very little for quite awhile. The first few months you offer solids after the feed. Then at around 8 or 9 months you're supposed to switch it over and start doing solids first and then bf afterwards. I guess they just gradually reduce the amount of milk they take in. But I have also been told that until they are one bm or formula is their main source of nutrition so it is important not to cut back too much on the number of feeds they get.

Heva and Storm I hope your feeding is improving... It's probably really hard not to stress about it but I'm guessing it is probably a developmental thing. You're both wonderful mummy's!

Sarah I know what you mean with the day naps, they can be so hard to figure out. At the moment Ash has between 3 and 4 naps a day. One of the women from my mothers group saw a sleep specialist and she told her that babies of this age 'should' (I hate that word!) only be having 2 naps a day... Apparently they 'should' get up at 7am, go down for a nap at 10am and sleep till 12pm, then have another nap between 2pm and 4pm, then go down for the night at 7pm. Sounds good in theory, but I really can't see it working for us... And then it contradicts the whole feed, play, sleep thing.... Argghhh I hate all this conflicting advice!

Cate I hope little Zac has recovered from his needles, poor little poppet... We're also using the merino kids sleeping bags and they are the best! I love them! Like Jetta said you really only need to buy 2 and they will last you till they're 2. Unlike the other ones you don't need to get summer and winter weights, so they actually work out cheaper. And the merino is so much better cos it is a natural fabric.

[Calluna]

Jetta - no not yet. between DF and Isaac I barely have a spare second to myself. As soon as I get a chance I will. Although he's been a little better the last couple of days. He's had two decent feeds today already and no ussing at either. So maybe things are turning around. If I'm still having issues tommorrow I'll try calling them. I know what you mean about going crazy buying stuff, theres so much I want to get but cant and probably will anyway

Sloane - I don't think it's realted to AF because se's been back for a few months. Still haven't heard from barb or mantaray.

Miss E - I often wonder how many babies actually fit into those schedules. Isaac certainly wouldn't. I've been thinking about the jumparoo things but we lust bought a jolly jumper so I guess that'll have to wait for a while. How old is two old for them to use them?

Hiya everyone else.

AFM - Yesterday was horrible. We went to a picnic and it should have been a nice afternoon but I gave DF Isaac's dummy to boil while I got him ready and he forgot to pick it up on the way out. Because he needs it to sleep during the day I called MIL to grab it as she hadn't left yet. But she also forgot. Which was annoying but people forget stuff, poop happens.
Because Isaac was tired and wouldn't sleep he was cranky so I took him for a walk. When I came back about 20 mins later I found some kid and his mum that I'd never met before sitting on Isaacs rug playing with his toys. WTF?! No-one from my family had ever met them before and they came over and started playing with his toys. I don't know what kind of illnesses they might have and they just start touching his things? And they never bothered to ask if it was ok. It's just so damn rude. What is wrong with people these days?
NOT HAPPY! Not to mention the fact that this kid had also been playing in the dirt not long before and thrown it in everyones food. I had about 4 of his favourite toys on his mat and I have no idea which ones were played with and I dunno if I'll feel comfortable giving them to Isaac now, especially as he chew on his toys.
I dunno what to do now, If I should put them in the washing machine even though the tag said not to, I'm guessing because of the bells and rattles and stuff inside them. or put them in the sun like FIL said. I just don't think I can give them to him and feel safe doing so. WDYT? Am I over reacting, I'm furious?

sigh... aside from that things have been ok I guess, we're seeing my mum today which is sure to be fun, NOT!

bye bye

[ss_storm]

Miss E- I would be ignoring that sleep advice! No way could Hayley survive on only 2 sleeps a day! She would be mega grumpy by the end of the day and I probably would be too! I couldn't force her to sleep for 2 hours at each sleep either...sometimes she wakes after 45 mins or an hour or an hour and a half etc..it's always different. I figure they know what they need, if they need sleep then they will sleep for as long as they need to, if they aren't tired they'll stay awake for as long as they need to. Makes you wonder if any of these so called 'experts' have had babies of their own and what advice they followed!

feeding was better yesterday, no crying at all. this morning however I have already had to throw out two almost full bottles! She had about 20mls out of each one then refused to have anymore and just resulted in a screaming match. She woke up at 5am and I gave her one then with no problems. She woke up just after 8 and I tried to give her a bottle..threw that one out..then tried at about 9.30 because she kept stuffing her hands in her mouth and looking like she was hungry...threw that one out too..now she is in bed and I hope she wakes up in a better mood and wants some food.

I bought a box of the Heinz organic rice cereal. I don't know what it's like, but I didn't like my choices with the Farex...the one for starting them on had fruit and stuff in it...I just wanted plain Farex but that one apparently had bigger grains in it and was suitable for about 8 months+. Got all the stuff we need, bowls, spoons etc. Just need a sippy cup. Won't be starting her until after christmas I have decided!

[Miss E]

I dunno what to do now, If I should put them in the washing machine even though the tag said not to, I'm guessing because of the bells and rattles and stuff inside them. or put them in the sun like FIL said. I just don't think I can give them to him and feel safe doing so.

I'd just handwash them in hot water with whatever detergent you use for his clothes. I've done that with a couple of Ash's soft Lamaze type toys and they've come up great. I also use a mixture of hot water and vinegar to clean his plastic/wood toys. HTH

[naomi54]

hey all,
sorry havnt been on to post.....Cam is getting better....still drives me crazy though....but after reading what some of you are going throught with your little ones,im inclined to think what he does could be classed "normal" for this age!!..........apparently we have stopeed our 4hr nap aswell, now having 2-3 naps a day...which i find better. Although means generally our mornings are now starting at 5 not 7+ grrr ohwell

Have uploaded some pics on FB...We got Cam a walker for xmas, never had one with Lachie, but i thought bugger all the preconceptions i had heard with DS1 and Cam LOVES IT!!!

regards to those with feeding issues, im having the same drama, although like i said things are getting better and he actually taking alot more bottles without too much of a fuss, was wondering if possible, their little backs could be out or something?? have heard of this but im not sure?

Hey Heather LOVED your birth story...Well done hun, you must be proud as!!

i use hot water and vinegar to wash hard surfaced toys and, hand wash with just hot water and maybe some washing powder with the soft toys.
I'd be fuming too, i cant believe the nerve of some people.

Cam can dismiss many bottles in a row, most has been 4 over a 6 hr period, taking in only about 50mls, but next offer he was fine. Nowadays he may dismiss 1-2 bottles but they are half drunk so im not to fussed, i assume he knows when he hungry and how hungry, so i follow his lead, cant do damage unless he always refuses them right??

im with you all on the sleeping "ADVICE", Cam doesnt follow tradtional routines as it is letalone sleeping routines!!!

sorry for the lack of personalised personals, have been meaning to get on here but kids are "good" just full on atm....had a few breakdowns over last couple of days, makes me feel as this is a sign i shouldve been happy with just 1 iykwim, not that i would change it for the world now of course but i hope ykwim.
I do do the whole, it wont last it will get better etc, but half the time it doesnt work and i get stuck as to knowing what to do, family and friends work, or live a fair bit away, im not one to call on help when im in the middle of a crisis, i normally call someone after it and get it off my chest that way, buts its not when i actually need it.....iykwim

OMG im dribbling on like crap, sorry ladies, hope you are enjoying your weekends.

[Calluna]

ss- hope your day got better,

Naomi, miss E- I washed the toys today and put them in he sun. Hopefully that kills any remaining germs. :S

Naomi - Thanks I am really proud of us. I didn't do it drug free like I wanted, but I did the best I could and feel a great sense of accomplishment because of that. Maybe next time I'll try for drug free again and see how I go.
Hopefully you had a better day today. I'm the same, I just battle on, on my own then talk about it later.
Dribble away, that's what were here for

AFM- Isaac is exhausted but refuses to sleep. I rock him to sleep and he wakes up agian 10 mins later, I've tried feeding him to sleep and he wakes up 5 mins later, I've tried sitting with him next to his cot and holding his dummy in (he wont keep it in just smiles at me and spits it out ). He wouldn't sleep in his cot last night either. He was fine while I was holding him but the second I put him down he was wide awake. It seems as though we've moved on from not feeding to not sleeping now. Sigh.
The hardest part is whenever I lay him down in my arms he cracks it and starts crying and arching his back, stiffening his legs etc. Just like with the feeding probs, except he'll feed now (mostly). I have to hold him upright and hum to him for a while and slowly lay him down while I'm rocking him. It takes forever. Then I finally get him to sleep put him down and he wakes up again. I've tried holding him while he sleeps but it doesn't seem to have made a difference this morning. ARGH!
So right now I have him lying on a mat on the loungeroom floor. He's quite happy I think but he's soo tired. Droopy eyes, rubbing eyes, pulling ears, etc. Then DF (whose been watching TV all morning) says "He's REALLY tired, you should put him to bed" like I don't know WTFDYT I've been doing all day?? Playing tea parties with my teddy bears?

ahem /vent..
we're going to head to the shops now because DF reckons he might be too hot and the air conditioned shopping centre might make it easier to get him to sleep. I doubt it, but I cant be bothered arguing. At least I might get a decent lunch. Theres no food in the house.

[lovelycate]

heva -"Playing tea parties with my teddy bears?" Isaac sounds like he is doing exactly what Zac was doing a while ago with his sleeps. It seems like you just get thru one issue when another one crops up. If it's any help, the current thing that's working with Zac is to put him down, roll him onto his side, and pat his bum. Sometimes I wedge a rolled up towel behind him to stop him from rolling onto his back and waking up again... Also, apparently freezing will kill any germies - shove them in a plastic bag and in the freezer overnight or for 24 hours.

Naomi - I can't imagine what it must be like looking after two LOs - I'm finding it hard enough with one, so you have my full admiration. You're doing a great job!

ss-storm - I've got the Farex iron enriched for 4-6month olds. It seems nice and smooth, doesn't have any fruit or anything in it.

AFM - seem to be having some similar problems to a few others re feeding. Struggling to get Zac to take a full bottle at one sitting these days. Also, I've been wondering if the increased night wakenings (every 3 hours) are because he's hungry (he certainly downs a bottle pretty quickly then) so therefore he's not getting enough during the day. According to the formula container, at his age he should be having 5 x 240mls, but he's having more like 6 x 180mls. So now I'm going to try to get more into him during the day, but since he doesn't seem particularly interested in feeding atm that will be interesting...

I'm feeling pretty knackered myself. Went back to bed with Z this morning, which was great in terms of having a nap, but we've got mothers' group this arvo and the day is pretty much written off now! ah well, tomorrow's another day!

Took christmas card photos yesterday - Z in a little santa suit. OMG he was sooooo cute :-)

[jetta2022]

[QUOTE=lovelycate;2075615]Also, apparently freezing will kill any germies - shove them in a plastic bag and in the freezer overnight or for 24 hours.

Hey lovelycate - I hope you were talking about the toys there and not Isaac or Zac! No, sorry, I just thought it looked funny how you wrote it straight after talking about Zac!!! Sorry, maybe my sense of humour is a bit warped...it really isn't funny... Good advice though, I didn't know that. Would love to see the pics in the SAnta suit!! So cute!

Miss E- totally the same. Sam will be in the shopping centre with me and stay awake for 4 hours but at home, he is only lasting 1 1/2 hours at most. After the 4 hours he was totally over it and I needed to get him sleep asap but yeah, I think the excitement of the hussle and bussle of the shops kept him going. Then the other day in the shops he had a complete nana...and I had to try to feed him to sleep.
Also, no way Sam would survive on two naps. On Sunday, he wouldn't go down for his third nap at all. An hour and a bit later got him up and about 20 minutes after that went abo****ely beserk. We had to give him a bath because feed, dummy, nothing worked. He had a bath and was happy and then I fed him and he started falling asleep on me so I put him to bed. I just know that staying awake for that long makes him really upset so I think it is ridiculous to think they could just have two sleeps. Well, for Sam anyway.

Heva5 - hope things get better with sleeping. Sam is really all over the place too, not the same but I think their sleep really gets effected around this age. He was self settling all week, then back to really fighting it, then self settles again. I am totally with you on the toys though. I would not do that someone else! I just can't imagine walking up to someones mat with toys on it and just start allowing Sam to suck all over someone elses toys. No offence to Isaac but she didn't know if your child had a cold or anything either! But other than that, it is quite rude and I would be just as annoyed as you. I didn't know about the freezer thing, so good tip or the soaking.

Naomi54 - good that you are able to have a whinge. hopefully it helps! I hope things get better and you feel better soon. If you have more than one child, I admire you! It must be full on and you should be really proud of yourself for doing such an amazing job!

SS Storm - Sam is really interested in food now, but I am thinking the same, around Christmas I think or maybe a bit before. We will see. I had a friend who around 5 months said he stopped sleeping through the night and she thought it was hunger so thats when she started. I will see how he goes. Kind of exciting!! They are growing up so fast!!

AFM - work is busy but looking forward to 2 weeks break at the end of the year. My husband has been running the business on his own, so he is really well and truely wanting a break. That will be nice to have him around, as he hates only seeing Sam at the end of the day. He loves the weekend when he sees Sam happy and playing. Trying not to buy too many christmas presents and looking at buying the high chair soon. Just had new dining table arrive which is nice so finally the house is complete now. Sam is rolling more and just being generally lovely!! He has had a few beserk moments lately where he has just gone ballistic. I think it has mainly been when he is over tired and nothing will settle him but I guess that is him just growing and stuff... I just always freak at that something is wrong as he is normally so calm and placid. I am sure it isnt anything serious though.
Anyway, catch up again soon!

[lovelycate]

[QUOTE=jetta2022;2076232]

Also, apparently freezing will kill any germies - shove them in a plastic bag and in the freezer overnight or for 24 hours.

Hey lovelycate - I hope you were talking about the toys there and not Isaac or Zac! No, sorry, I just thought it looked funny how you wrote it straight after talking about Zac!!! Sorry, maybe my sense of humour is a bit warped...it really isn't funny...

nope, you're right, that was quite funny! good lord my brain is very random at the moment.

ss-storm - I was re-reading what you said about changing teat sizes. I wonder if that would be helpful for us? I have kept Zac on the size 1s as they say they're good for combining with BF, but given that any BF we're doing is more comfort sucking than anything else, I suspect it doesn't really matter... I've got some size 2s around, so might give those a go tomorrow and see if that helps him with finishing his bottle - worth a try at least!

[ss_storm]

Oh man..I don't know if her sleep is getting better or worse! Seems to take ages to settle her to sleep, she starts crying as soon as I walk into our room to put her to bed
Can take up to 30-45 mins to get her to actually go to sleep, and she'll either be whingy crying/crying or laughing and chatting and playing with her dummy, or a mix of all. DF keeps telling me to let her cry it out, but I really don't want to do that, distresses her and I know it would get me upset. "oh no...you are teaching her that you'll come running every time she cries...when she is 3 years old and won't go to sleep unless you are there don't come complaining to me..."

FFS I think it is worse for her to cry to herself to sleep all the time! She used to self-settle really well and I'm sure she will again, just takes time and patience, and reassurance that someone is there, not that she is all alone in her cot in a dark room and no one will come to soothe her...All I do is pop her dummy back in and maybe pat her back until she settles again, it's not like she is sleeping on me again or i'm rocking her to sleep, so she can put herself to sleep but sometimes just needs a bit of help. she is a baby, and unlike us she can't just go to bed, close her eyes and go to sleep, she needs to learn how. What's worse is I know he lets her CIO...I've ducked out to the shops a couple of times and she has just gone to sleep but wakes up when I leave and he leaves her to cry herself to sleep. He just doesn't see a problem with it and thinks that is the *only* way to get her to go to sleep by herself. Makes me not want to go anywhere without her because I don't want her to go to sleep from exhaustion, not only that I think it is only creating a fear of the cot, as I said before she starts crying as soon as I walk into the room with her!

Anyway..sorry for the rant, but I know you will understand, no matter what I say to DF he just doesn't get it, or won't listen, one of the two. Which of course then starts another argument

Sorry, once again no personals, I better get off BB and do some work!

[lovelycate]

ss-storm - you poor thing! As if it's not hard enough without having somebody undermining your efforts!

I highly recommend 'the Science of Parenting' by Margot Sunderland. It is based on research into the brains and psychological development of children, and really supports the whole 'gentle parenting' approach. CIO only teaches them to give up and that they can't trust anybody to come and help them. It sounds like what you are trying to do is reassure Hayley that there is someone who cares for her and also you are teaching her how to settle herself. It's not going to be an instant fix, but that's not the way humans work!

Some people seem to have very old fashioned, out of touch with reality, ideas about how to raise a child. FWIW, I think you're doing a fabulous job

[sloane]

ss_storm that must be so frustrating. i dunno if your DF will listen but even advocates of CIO or CC say don't try it before babies are 6 months old. fwiw, DP's SIL went to a sleep school where they practised CC & since then, their baby has been weaned off wrapping but his sleep is still as unpredictable as ever. so i guess it's one of those things that may work for some but doesn't necessarily for others, even on babies that are over 6 months.

jetta - it sounds like you def deserve a break soon!

lovelycate - oooh, are zac's santa pics on facebook? that would be so cute!

naomi54 - ugh, 5am starts are just so wrong, aren't they? i've tried to tell corey that it's not acceptable to be up before at least 6.30 but will he listen?

miss e - i hear you on the conflicting advice! although it does make me really think that whatever works for you is the best thing to do!

heva - those sleep issues sound very similar to what we're going through. did the air con at the shops help?

afm, sleeps are still all over the place. yesterday we went for a 2 hour drive because car trips always seem to get him to sleep & then at least he's had some sort of nap! went to a talk on solids at my MCHN centre today - they advocate BLS/W which is what i was hoping to do so that was really good. i think corey is really getting ready but i'm planning to wait until we hit 6 months.

[sloane]

i finally did corey's birth story...it's verrry long. but i did do a two line short version at the end

[Miss E]

Sarah and Heva I loved reading your birth stories! you inspired me to finally right mine! It can be found here birth story