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Yay Jack! That boy is a serious athlete! Eva is getting there and babyprooficng has started but we have to finish this WE!
I wonder what is up with these three and not sleeping...
I got a vid of Eva doing her bouncy thing in bed, and posted on fb...she does that for like 3 hours every night before sleep...unless we rock her to bed with the dummy...Carmey, not sure if weaning is a good idea if it is the only thing that calms him down - I could not imagine not using a dummy right now...Eva would never sleep!
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Hi Girls!
BS - Hope the sale of your business and all the accounting doesn't stress you out too much. Like Eva, Ryan often doesn't sleep very long during the day. I agree with letting our bubs lead and I'm sure that once they get more mobile that they'll wear themselves out more. Good idea to remove all toys from the cot. I used to wonder why there were so many Mums walking around shopping centres with blankets over their prams, but you soon realise the benefits of 'sensory deprivation' when trying to get a baby to sleep.
Lani - Good thinking to call Karitane. It must've been good just to talk to someone who wouldn't judge you and could offer some suggestions. The 'feed as a last resort' tip is one I use. I can usually tell by Ryan's cry if he's tired, hungry or has done a poo (although when I'm tired it gets harder for me to tell them apart). BS's suggestion that you ask DH to go in and resettle Jett is a good one. My DH can often calm our boys much faster than me and I figure it's 'cause he doesn't smell like milk. You're right, it will get easier.
Beany - I've forgotten about my bad day already!
Ryan mostly has only 2 half hour sleeps. Craig's nearly 3 and he has at least an hour in the middle of the day. When we're out shopping Ryan often falls asleep in the Baby Bjorn. How about putting Michael in a sling so you can get some things done? I also pop Ryan in his rocker and sit him outside with me when I'm hanging out washing or when I'm having a shower.
You will cope when you go back to work, I know you will because I did :) I am not naturally the most organised or self-disciplined person, but going back to work forced me to be. Once you go back to work you start doing things like the washing at night and hang it out first thing, and cook double quantities so you can freeze half. That's why I'm trying my hardest to lose weight now, because I know I won't have the time or energy when I get back to work!
How did you go with the playgroup?
Carmey - OMG! Crawling! Better get babyproofing! Ryan loves electrical cords and has a knack of rolling himself over to the nearest cord and starts chewing on it. So I've already been babyproofing, but I think he's months off crawling. I think Craig was 8 months old, I can't remember. It does sound like Jack has associated going to sleep with the dummy and can't get back to sleep without it. Sorry I have no personal experience with dummies. My first thought was maybe you can remove the dummy when Jack's sleepy but not asleep yet, and keep doing it earlier and earlier until he can go to sleep without it. Googling brought up the old suggestion to cut pieces off the dummy until it's gone, but the MACH nurses told us not to do that (I can't remember why but it makes sense). You could go cold turkey with out it and let him cry it out (might be only a few minutes, but it's pretty drastic and I don't know how desperate you are), or you could try putting Jack down without his dummy for one of his day sleeps when he's nice and calm and work from there. The other suggestion I found was either put lots of dummies in the cot with him, or sew some dummies on to a soft toy and teach him to find them and put them in his own mouth. Hope there's something there you can work with and maybe get Jack sleeping more at night.
Hannah - You were still in my heart and my thoughts all day today :hug:
AFM - I'm trying hard to be a domestic goddess, I made sweet orange marmalade this morning. This afternoon I took the boys shopping to try and find me some clothes. Help ladies! I have no idea what a 30-something housewife should wear. Any ideas girls? Everything seems to be either for early 20s or old Nannas! Shopping for business suits is easy but I'm completely lost when it comes to casual wear. My wardrobe is practically empty because I'm now 1-2 dress sizes smaller than I was. I've even considered hiring a stylist for a couple of hours ($140 for 2 hours, is that ridiculous? Like I said, I am clueless). DH told me we're going to his mate's wedding in Cairns in late September and will stay there for a week. I want to get something really nice to wear to the wedding. Not sure if I'm brave enough for a bikini, but it's great motivation to keep toning up.
Thanks everyone who responded to my question about DTD. I forgot that BF makes things a lot drier downstairs and I remembered that it hurt a bit because of that the first few times after Craig was born. It's taken us a lot longer to get around to DTD than it did last time, so I guess I thought things should be back to normal because it's been so long. Instead it's like I've gotten my virginity back :rofl: There was discomfort DTD after Craig, internally around my scar for months and months, but this time it hurts more in my perineum. But I guess it will go away in time. Hopefully we'll get some more practice in ;)
Sending ~~~~~sleepy dust~~~~~ out to all the bubbas, so all the Mums can get some quality sleep tonight.
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Hi girls :)
Argh, I feel like Liam is stealing sleep from all of the other bubs! All of you with badly-sleeping bubbas have my sympathy right now - it's absolute hell :(
beany - Liam still doesn't nap much during the day, and honestly, I've given up trying to get him to nap more. How is Michael when he wakes up from his 30 minute naps? Liam's pretty much always chipper and smiling when he wakes, so I figure he's had enough sleep (or wants to be awake and doing things more, like BS said about Eva). Sometimes he'll still be yawning, but so long as he's not grizzling, I don't worry about it. BS's advice about just trying to go with the flow is good IMHO - maybe even let Michael stay up longer before his naps? Liam can stay awake now for 4 hours or so if he's really keen, which is way more than the books recommend - but I have to remind myself all the time that he's an individual, and the books talk about average bubbas.
Also - when things were really bad with Liam and he wouldn't sleep or play on his own at all (the latter is a godsend now, he'll play long enough for me to shower or make dinner etc) was wearing him in a sling. Do you want to pop over here sometime and try some of the slings that I have and see if Michael likes one?
Carmey - The dummy is a bit of a two-edged sword, I think. It helps the bubs to sleep, but if they're light sleepers, I think it can disturb them a lot when it falls out (which happened to Liam, I think). Either way, I don't think weaning off it during a period of disturbed sleep is going to be great for anyone. We got lucky in that Liam just rejected his, so we never had to wean per se.
Lani - Go you in reaching out for the help you needed. Sometimes I think it just helps a lot to be able to talk to someone, even if they give you advice that you've already thought of.
AFM - Things with Liam are actually falling into something like a vague routine - not that we've ever tried to push much of a routine (though I've often wanted to, being a super organised and structured person normally). Just in case anyone is interested, here's what a normal day is right now:
Wake: 7:30am
(this is when I hear him, anyway, I suspect that sometimes he's been awake for a while playing with the teddy we keep in his crib. Some days he's a little earlier, and he's slept as late as 8:30am)
Nappy change/dressed/breastfeed: 7:30-8am.
Playtime on the floor while I do morning things - laundry, feeding the cat, feeding myself, checking email.
Solids: 8:30am (rice cereal or oats, can take 30 minutes or so, will sometimes have another bf afterwards)
Playtime on the floor while I shower, dress and put on makeup.
Then errands/shopping if it needs to be done, otherwise more playtime with me.
Nap: 11am-11.45am
Varies where this is - sometimes in his crib, sometimes in arms (not fussed about the latter now he's sleeping well in his crib at night)
BF: 12pm.
Playtime, usually with my mother while I get stuff done around the house and have lunch.
Solids: 1pm (fruit or veggies)
Nap: 1:30-2:30pm
I usually work through this second nap now.
Playtime and a walk if the weather is nice, running errands sometimes now as well.
BF: 5pm
Solids: 6pm (rice cereal)
Bath/change/BF: 6:30pm - 7pm
Down for the night - 7-8pm
Sometimes needs to be resettled 40 minutes afterwards if he needs to burp, and will sometimes have another BF then.
There are also sometimes more BFs during the day if he needs them, as well as another catnap in the late afternoon.
And now I've typed all this up, watch him change his pattern ;)
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Rose - That's awesome! Sounds a lot like what Ryan is doing, except I have to squeeze in an express (no pun intended) after the first morning BF so I have milk to mix with the rice cereal. I second wearing them in a sling when they won't let you do anything. That's a great idea for Beany to try Michael in one of your slings.
Beany - Def try Michael out in a sling and see if he likes it. I already had my baby bjorn which is good for running around shops with, but if I was buying a new sling I'd get a mei tai style. I can't hang out washing with the baby bjorn because I'm worried he'll fall out the top but a mei tai style carrier will hold your baby more securely and they can't fall out when you bend over. But you might prefer a ring sling and they're great when bub is older. It's worth it if you can get things done and keep them happy at the same time!
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Oh girls :grouphug::grouphug: Thank you all so much... I feel sooo much better about it! What would I do without all you lovely ladies?
I think sometimes I just need to be brought back down to earth...my anxiety makes things seem 10 times worse than they actually are and I get so stressed out.
Lani - gosh, sorry to hear you're having trouble too. Great idea ringing that place...sounds like they gave you lots of advice. Things will pass, they WILL get better. (Just got to remember to tell that to myself!! :lol:)
BS - A lot of what you said really hit the spot with me. It made me step back for a minute and look at the situation for what it is. And hearing that Eva is not sleeping much either but is still a happy baby makes me feel a lot better. Thank you sooo much :hug: And what a little champ Eva is!! That was a great video on fb! She'll be crawling in absolutely no time!
Carmey - thanks so much for those tips. Sorry to hear Jack isn't sleeping very well. I think a few of us have had those couple of weeks where they wake up every hour over night. But it does pass, Michael has stopped doing it and....wait for it....only woke up once last night AND put himself back to sleep!!! And I agree with Rose, prolly best not to take the dummy away while he's going through a fussy period, might make things worse. Maybe try a bit down the track? Oh, something I'm doing atm is rather than popping the dummy back in his mouth, I actually put it in his hand so he learns to put it in his mouth himself. It has worked because sometimes if the dummy is out but next to him, he is starting to reach for it and put it in his mouth. Maybe try that? Thats great Jack is crawling!!! He's going to be right into sports like his Mummy! Off to a good start :)
Suz - thanks for those tips re coping when I go back to work. They're good idea's, esp about making twice the amount for dinner. that'll be great not having to worry about cooking tea on the days I have to work! Gosh, making marmalade as well!! You really are a domestic goddess!! :clap: I'm afraid I'm no help on the fashion-front. I'm having the same problems. TBH, all I wear these days are trackpants and long sleeved cotton tops (from cotton-on) and maybe a zip-up top if its cold. I did go ot and buy some jeans the other day, succumbed to the fact that I have gone up a size :( I think its a great idea to get a stylist!!!!! I'd LOVE to do that one day!! I'm sure they'll tell you all the shapes/styles that suit you and colours and stuff...that'd be fantastic!! I haven't been to the playgroup yet, thats on Thursday, but I'm not sure I'll go to that one yet. I've found out that our local church has one, well, actually has 4 a week...and they're part of the school I want him to go to so I'm goign to try and get him in that one. Just waiting for the lady to ring me back.
Rose - Thats great Liam is getting into a bit of a routine!!! So happy for you! And I agree, so long as his night sleeps are good, I wouldn't worry too much about his day sleeps. So, is he not waking up at all at night now? How lucky are you to have him self-wean off the dummy! Great stuff! Thanks for the suggestion re sling for Michael...I wish he liked that sort of stuff. HOnestly, I"m sure this is not normal, but he's not one for being cuddled or held for a long time or restricted in any way, he's okaaaay in the baby bjorn for about 10 mins but only cos he can face out and see what I'm doing. I think he's one of those babies who always has to see everything and do things for himself. He's not a cuddler, much to my disappointment. But you never know, maybe I'll try a few next time I'm over.
Hello to everyone else!!
AFM - (drum roll please....) Michael only woke once and resettled himself last night!!!!!! (Suz, perhaps your sleepy dust worked!!) I got to have a lovely full nights sleep! Oh it was bliss :) He has also gone to sleep relatively easily for his morning nap, tho I think he may have done a poo so will prolly only be a short one. BUT I'm OK with that now...its fine.
I think these teeth are really giving him trouble, his cheeks are mega red and I can see the pointy bits through his gums...wonder how long they'll take to cut? I hope not long, poor little darling. he was dribbling like a tap last night.
Oh, and I can recommend a good book if anyone is interested. Its called Breast, Bottle, Bowl by Anne Hills and Penelope Stone. It has some great suggestions for food, and tells youwhat foods you can introduce when, how to buy ripe food and how to prepare each food. And lots of recipes too.
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Hi everyone. I've been piecing this post together for days, so some of the response are a bit out of date (sorry). And I just lost a whole lot of updates when I tried posting. Arg!!!!
Kawa - not still bleeding!! What a pain. You must feel so lethargic!
Beany - I hear you on the frequent night wakings and bursting into tears! Matilda pretty much waking every 30 mimutes to 2 hours between 7 and 7 and sometimes its taking an hour or 2 to resettle her between 3 and 4. I wish I had some ideas for you. If you I reckon you should go along to the playgroup and see what its like. You never know, you might click. And if they're second timers they might have some great tips! Or maybe you could try and start a new one up by putting a notice up at a local shopping center or something. I've gone to the local playgroup her a couple of times now and really enjoyed it. Matilda just loves the novelty of new toys to play with and there's so much going on they're entertained for a couple of hours with little effort. And don't ever feel like you don't have friends. We love you!!
Willow - I don't know how you can deal with your living arrangements at the moment. I think I would have literally screamed the other day when your MIL woke Harry up (again!). I can understand you don't want to upset them but can't your DP have a stern word with them or something. There's just nothing worse than having your unsettled baby woken up. And now a cold to top it off. Poor little tike. Is Harry still waking up a lot at night? Do you think they eventually grow out of it? Please tell me they do!!!
Alison - is Milly over her cold? I hope so - there's nothing worse than seeing them sick.
Suz and Beany - I had the same issue with DTD for quite awhile. I actually asked a "women's health physio" about it and she gave me some tips which I can send you via FB if you want. It's just a bit too graphic even for our forum LOL :redface:. And it seemed to work because its all good now.
Suz - I wondered about a stylist too LOL! They were advertising them at BJ.
Alison - poor Milly sounds miserable. Its a bit sobering to think about how many colds they normally have in the first year. Keep thinking "its good for her immune system". Is she feeling better after the weekend.
BS - I hope the anniversary of your cousin's passing wasn't too painful. Thanks for the belly sleeping suggestion awhile back. I'm a bit nervous to try because she's a "non-roller". She still can't roll! And her grandmother’s sister died of SIDs so I’m a bit nervous about belly sleeping.
Rose - OMG I wish M could take a leaf out of Liam's book. You're truely the miracle story at the moment. Go Liam!!
Sorry for missing everyone else. I just lost everything and have to get this up before you forget who I am!!
AFM – Matilda is pretty much up every 30 minutes to 2 hours and is up and down like a yo-yo between at certain times of the night. I’m sooooooo tired and I feel like all the books and experts are glaring at me saying "I told you so - you shouldn't feed her to sleep". I rang the Tresilian helpline the day before yesterday and they told me I’m doing it all wrong. They said I shouldn’t feed her to sleep and I confuse her by wrapping her during the day, putting her in a sleeping bag at night and then bringing her into bed with me sometimes. I knew they would say all of this (don’t know why I even called really). I'm dreading having to do any type of sleep training. I feel like I'm being weak and not somehow guiding her properly and that maybe I'm being selfish in not being prepared to bite the bullet and letting her cry a bit. I was all decided I'd do it after talking to my SIL this morning. But then I spoke to my aunt who said "its so unusual to have a non-crying baby like Matilda it would be a shame to do it to her". My aunt did controlled crying with her eldest and I respect her opinion so that completely took away my resolve. And she is a non-crying baby. She is just adorable and happy and desperate to have fun. It's just she doesn't sleep. Anyway, I really have to go and give the poor darling some dinner.
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Suz, I'd be happy to advise you on clothing options...do you have websites or brands of clothes that you like? And I would need to know your body type etc...save the 140 for a nice ****tail dress for that wedding. I think the key is buying easy stuff you can mix and match and with babies, wash easily (so avoid dry clean only stuff for your every day wear)...Tunics and tights and flats in all colors are the easiest things to do, topped with a big pear of sunnies and you'll always look chic. Send me a pm if you want to chat about that - me loooves the fashion!
Rose, what a great sched! who knew he had it in him ;) I am so ecstatic for you and you really deserve this break! Keep it up for mummy Liam!
Beany, glad Michael gave you some rest - Eva is not a big cuddler either, meaning she is very affectionate and grabs me arond the neck and kisses me and all that and love to be in my arms, but she is not a sit still and snuggle girl. I think our babies are similar activity wise - lol - last night while eva was jumping around like a monkey trying to grab everything in her reach DH turned to me and goes, man, I hope #2 is calm! lololololol Not me, I like that she is dynamic and I think that later she will have an easier time being active, doing things and generally moving around more - more work for mum but later I am sure she will be a super dynamic and motivated girl and I like that :) Michael might just be independent - the snuggle thing is not a big deal, and he will have moments of attachement (this morning Eva cried when I left her at daycare :( ) but I think they are just babies too fascinated with everything around them and it will calm down when he gets more mobile (but I am afraid we might always have to keep our eyes on them more than some others! lololol) I am glad I helped alleviate some of your stress...we read all these books and get ideas of what "should be" happenning but like rose said, each one of our gorgeous babies is an individual and we have to remember that. Once you stop trying to fit him into a routine I am sure he will find one on his own. Being a mother is so hard - you want to do everything right but you don't know what "right" is all the time. Just let Michael tell you - he is a smart cookie ;)
Tilda, is Matilda in her room yet? Maybe it would work for her like it did for Liam? I think it is important to have certain "sleep rituals" like a sleeping bag every time (no matter what you do in the day)...but seriously going into her own room might just be the solution - Like I told Rose before Liam became the perfect baby ;) that is really what got Eva settled. If she is still not in her own room, now might be a good timle since you guys just moved so she has a new environment and some new habits would not shock her too much...and before she gets too old and gets scared to be away from you at night.
As for belly sleeping, in my opinion, she does not have to roll but be able to hold up her head...Eva slept on her belly before rolling but could pick up her head easily and move it side to side, so I knew she could change sides to breathe. My brother died of SIDS so I can't tell you how scary it was to sleep Eva on her belly (remember she has been since 2.5 months!!!) - I would wake up many times in the night to check on her...try with naps to start (belly sleeping will also stregthen her back a lot and prob get her rolling in no time) - I started with naps when she was in my line of vision otherwise, it scared me too much. It might really help...as long as she can hold up her head (and be sure sheets are tight, and there are no blankies, bears etc in the bed...). If it stresses you too much then don't, but it mmight really be godsend.
Side notes on SIDS...I read an article saying that they found that SIDS is not caused by sleeping issues but is actually a neurological characteristic found in some babies - I have to find that article because I am not sure what the exact info is. And usually after 6 months the risk is pretty much gone. My brother died at 2 months and most cases of SIDS, are generally with much younger babies. Not saying you should not be stressed, do what makes you feel comfortable, but just letting you know that some things are really blown out of proportion - during my childhood, belly sleeping was encouraged, and I am sure most of us were belly slept and we're all fine. SIDS unfotunately, happens, but it is rare, so don't let anxiety overwhelm you. It is hard when it comes to our kids though, I know. I am so controlling over every aspect of Eva's life for the moment, but strangely, I stress less about her getting sick, or putting stuff in her mouth, or being too cold, whereas DH worries about that stuff (I am more like education, stimulation, do I talk to her enough, does she hear enough music in her day, is all of her food organic and all her stuff super clean..lol - we each have our obsessions!).
AFM, Eva cried when I left her this morning. That sucks :( Last night DH and I gave up trying to put her to sleep and just went out for a walk after dinner so around 930 thinking she might nod off, but of course, no! And then in bed back to bouncing around. They told me at daycare that they put a maternity pillow around her legs to inhibit her movement and she falls asleep for her morning nap that way, but at home she screams if we do that...but DH discovered last night that if he stays in the room with her and holds down her butt so she can't lift it, she drifts off in about ten minutes! DH has to do it because with me she either gets more excited or complains if I hold her down...I suggested wrapping her - I never have since she did not like it when we tried when she was smaller, but do you guys think it is too late to start that now??? W ould she not be too strong to stay in there?
Back to my paperwork ;)
xoxo
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PS - Beany, I saw your fb thing abou tthe teeth - no wonder he won't sleep! It will pass! He is teething like MAD! :)
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