I can't believe I am first to post on the new thread.
Well I have had another good day with Jett yay!!!! Things seem to be on the up and I hope it continues. He went down at 8pm tonight without a fuss. This is the earliest he has been down in a long time.
Sorry no persies tonight I want to get some washing done before I head to bed.
BS - I reckon it's worth giving wrapping a go - it can't hurt, anyway. I know other people who have to hold their bubs still in their arms for 20 minutes or so, actively restraining them so they'll go to sleep. If you wander around the baby whisperer forums, you'll see them talking about "holding through the jerks" a lot - not that I agree with most of what they advocate, mind.
Tilda - Oh goodness, you have my sympathy at the moment Does Matilda cry at night when she wakes? I was reading a lot about sleep training when Liam was still sleeping badly, and had pretty much resigned myself to doing it out of sheer desperation. One of the things that stood out to me as important was learning when they're just grizzling and trying to soothe themselves to sleep, and when they really need something. Which I'm pretty darn sure you already know, but just saying it in case. It's so hard trying to deal with it all when you're so sleep deprived yourself. Is Matilda on solids? Does she have a dummy or suck her thumb?
beany - I read on fb about Michael cutting more teeth. Poor little guy - but at least you know the cause of the recent fussy period, and know that it'll be over soon.
AFM - Had a good day, though Liam was sleepy all day (but not grizzly with it, which is a very welcome thing). My SIL and niece came to visit - it's so awesome seeing my niece, since she's just a little older than Liam and I get a little preview of what he might be doing in a month's time. She's not quite crawling yet (but scoots around in a similar fashion halfway between a crawl and commando crawl) but moves from lying down to sitting and back really well. She's *so* mobile it's kind of scary. I think I need to start babyproofing
I was thinking today about all the things that I think have helped turn Liam's sleep around. Just in case it's useful to anyone, I thought I'd go through them. I know most of you already know all this, so feel free to skip.
The first thing was moving into his own room. I don't regret having him in our room for six months, and I think that he truly wasn't ready to be on his own before then. But once he was physically capable of sleeping through, he needed his own space where he could be undisturbed.
Sleep associations. Bedtime routine (bath with Daddy, sleeping bag and pyjamas, breastfeed in the dim room where he'll be sleeping, short rock and into bed while he's sleepy), the same music playing softly (Music for Dreaming) and a humidifier going for white noise. We used all of these for months before we moved him, which I think made the move easier.
We also keep a small teddy bear in bed with him, as well as using a Prince Lionheart back to sleep bear, so he has familiar objects (and the back to sleep bear can soothe him back to sleep as well, and I wore the little blankie that comes with it inside my shirt to help him get attached to it as a lovey).
I think solids did help, but only a little. In Liam's case, it probably helps his reflux more than anything. Getting his reflux meds sorted helped, too - of course, he could also be growing out of the reflux.
One of the biggest ones for him was learning to suck his thumb to soothe himself to sleep when he woke. The dummy had the same effect, but he would wake every time it fell out. He can't lose his thumb, at least I know a lot of people want to discourage thumb sucking, but I think it's worth it for the self soothing.
Making sure he's warm enough at night. He really feels the cold, and is currently bundled up in fleece pyjamas, a sleeping bag and two blankets on top. Which seems like a lot, but it keeps him comfortable.
And lastly, I think he's just matured to a stage where he can physically sleep through, and eat more to fill his belly.
BS - Funny you should say that about your DH holding Eva down so she can't bounce and will go to sleep, my Mum used to have to physically restrain my brother so he would sleep during the day. And my DH's best mate as a baby in his cot used to rock on his hands and knees and butt his head against the railings! So I don't think what Eva is doing is too abnormal and there must be some way to get her to understand that bed is for sleep. Thanks for sharing the SIDS info and about your brother OMG yes please will you help me with clothes! I love fashion and clothing, but I feel so out of touch with everything now and don't know what my style is anymore, or what is appropriate for my age. I'll email you with some details.
Rose - That's great that Liam is still doing so well! Great sleep tips also. I just read a site that pretty much said what you just wrote. The only thing I would add after the site I read, is that babies seem to sleep better at night when they have a routine of sorts during the day. Not a rigid routine that must be adhered to, but we've all had days when we've been to a wedding or baby's been sick or immunisations, where it's upset the usual daily routine and we have a rough night. Oh yeah and I totally agree that babies sleep through when they're physically and mentally mature enough to do it.
Tilda - No, you're not forgotten! (is that a song lyric? ) I get what the Tresillian lady was saying, that babies like consistency and ritual. Ryan is also a non-crying happy baby and I dread the thought of having to do anything where he's got to cry it out. Rose's sleep tips are great and you can do them without having to let Matilda cry it out. I don't know whether to wrap or sleeping bag, but how about changing her to sleeping bag for all sleeps and making it a part of her bedtime routine? How's her sleeping environment? Did you say you have her back in her old cot and in her own room? Sleep associations: I guess she has a sleep association with the boob. If she falls asleep during her last feed, try waking her gently so that she's awake when you put her in her cot (I did this with Ryan and now I can lie him down awake and he goes to sleep on his own). Are you having to feed Matilda every time she wakes? Maybe try following the advice Karitane gave Lani and feed her as a last resort. Or even get your DH to go and settle her for the first half of the evening while you sleep, so that you get a few hours straight before the dreaded 3-4 o'clock wake up. Hang in there, you'll get that girl sleeping through. Please send me the info about DTD that the physio gave you, I'd be very interested to read it.
Beany - I'm so glad the sleepy dust worked! Poor Michael sounds like he's having a tough time teething I really hope his next teeth are through soon.
AFM - Ryan bit me on the nipple today!!! Not once but several times! Each time I calmly and gently got him to open his mouth and firmly told him 'No!' He dropped the bottom lip and cried each time, he doesn't like being told off and this was the first time I've had to do so. I think it was towards the end of the feed, I've noticed he's easily distracted during feeds now. DH is being a lot more helpful with Ryan than he was with Craig, I think he's feeling a bit guilty about spending so many weekends away. But he's also a much more confident Daddy and Ryan's a big calm cuddly koala of a baby. Which makes me wonder if that's why Ryan's been so much easier than Craig was, because DH and I are more confident as parents? It doesn't take much to undermine your confidence. Does anyone think that babies can smell fear and get upset if you're upset? A midwife told me that I would have calm happy babies because I was calm and relaxed during my pregnancy, but I think it carries on through to motherhood. I know that when I get stressed, the kids seem to pick it up and get upset and then it quickly escalates out of control. But when I'm calm and patient (which is easy when you're well rested, showered and feeling good about yourself) no matter what the day throws at me I can ride it out. That's why it's so important to have time to ourselves to destress and look after our health and wellbeing.
Be good to yourselves ladies
Last edited by *suz1*; June 23rd, 2010 at 10:51 PM.
: added a bit more
Oh, and Tilda, I meant to add earlier: I still feed Liam to sleep 95% of the time. The only thing I've changed is trying to pop him off when he switches to comfort sucking and put him down in his crib still somewhat awake.
Something else that I think helped is that my mother started trying to settle him for some naps while she's here watching him (so I can work) - she's really calm and patient and spent ages rocking him to sleep. Now he'll go to sleep for her within 5-10 minutes of rocking, though it sometimes takes longer when he gets overtired. I think this has been useful in letting him learn that he can go to sleep without the boob. Could you try something like this with someone else settling Matilda so she doesn't smell milk? I find that Liam will only rarely settle for me without being fed, mostly because I can smell milk, I think.
And suz - Great point about the daytime routine. Something that we didn't really work on much, I have to admit, because I was always so damn tired that I was just doing what I could to get through each hour. But it probably would have helped immensely.
Tilda - Oh my goodness I know how it feels to be up and down so often. I wish I could give you some advice. For me, it was just something we had to ride out. However, I don't know if this was a coincidence, but on the night that he stopped waking every hour, the first time he woke up (would have been about 11pm I think), I let him go for a bit before I went it. He wasn't crying-crying (he is a no-crying baby too), just a bit of a whinge-cry. Well, about a minute of that and he went quiet...I went in and he'd gone back to sleep. Ever since that point he hasn't been waking up as often. That could totally just be coincidence tho. Have you tried giving her a minute or two before you see to her? And with his sleep associations, its always in a grobag with a dummy in his cot with the curtains drawn (not 100% blockout). There is nothing in his cot to distract him either. Oh, and YES PLEASE to that DTD info...anything to help!
BS - I agree, I think his lack of needing to be cuddled and held is a sign of independence, for sure. And yes, I think reading all the "your baby needs 'x' amount of sleep" things gets me all done up. I guess its only cos I want the best for him. You can always give the wrapping a go. I nkow if I tried that with Michael tho he will make it his mission to bust out of it! But its worth a shot! I'm sorry Eva cried when you left...that must be so hard. but I'm sure it will get better. And OMG, I'm so sorry to hear you lost a brother to SIDS Thats so sad
Lani - So happy you had a better night with Jett, hopefully the trend will continue!
Rose - yeah, I really think these teeth are bothering him. He woke up a lot more last night, and once when I went in he had fallen asleep with his finger in his mouth (he chews on his fingers when he is teething). Poor little darling. Bonjella helps tho Great idea posting your sleeping tips. With the music, do you play it all night, like, on repeat? Or just until the CD ends? and with the dressing for bed...I always worry whether Michael is too cold. Atm he has a wondersuit on, then a longsleeved top and then a 2.5TOG grobag. The coldest his room has got is 15oC, and when that happens I turn the gas heater on in the living area which heats his room to nearly 18oC. Are they flannelette 2-piece pyjama's that Liam wears? Maybe I should be dressing him warmer... Oh, and how do you keep the blankets on top? Michael would have wriggled out of them in no time!
Suz - Ooochies with the bite on the nipple!! I've forgotten, has Ryan got teeth yet? I reckon babies can sense how you're feeling, I really really do. I remember when we first brought him home and had his bassinet right next to my side of the bed and I'd wake up then lie there stressing that he was going to wake up...and whaddya know, he does. And, the times when he hasn't been sleeping and I come in his room to get him up with me being upset...he looks at me differently, he doesn't smile he just studies my face. They know how we feel, I really believe that. And YES! It soooo helps when you've had a decent sleep and a shower and have eaten, you can handle anything! Thats prolly why I went to pieces last week cos I wasn't getting the sleep I needed and it all just snowballed.
Alison - Hope little Amelia is over her cold now! Where the heck do you buy these Hyland Teething Tablets? I've been to 2 chemists and woollies, coles and target and I can't find them!!
Hope everyone else is doing well!
AFM - no news. Oh, except what I put on face book. He has 2 teeth cutting through atm...I can't work out which ones they are, they're not the front teeth, they must be the ones next to those, but then they look pointy like the eye teeth, but then its waaay too early for them. Hmm...we'll just have to wait and see!
Hey girls, I really don't have time for persies but just an update - yesterday Eva cried when I left her at daycare then ended up having a very bad day. She had four watery poos and her bum is burned bare! They called me at 3 to tell me to come get her because she could not take it anymore. She has no skin left in that area all around her bum and girly bits...I was outside of the school when they called so I got her home and did my best to change her every half hour and did not use any products on her skin (except for the cream) - Her skin is completely raw and even bleeding in some parts What the hell happenned? I read that the teething can do this since it makes the poo very acidic and my friend told me her baby had the same thing and got teeth two days later (she told me it looked lmike someone had taken an iron and burned her skin, which is what Eva's bum looks like)...but I see nothing in Eva's mouth (although she is not very good at letting me in there at the mo)...I feel so bad for her...Every time she has a pee she whimpers like a little dog because it burns I didn't even bathe her last night - DH and I just ran some water on her with the showerhead and she seemed to appreciate that...I can't wipe or use any product on her bum so every change is very slow with a lot of caressing of her head. It seems to be getting slightly better, and I am staying on top of constant changing and cream application. I feel so bad for her It looks so painful.
So hopefully she gets out of this today or tomorrow...The poo is getting more solid and she is eating very well, so I can only imagine it is her teeth. I guess I have to wait and see. Did anyone else experience bad diaper rash with teething???
I have to get some work done since I don't know how much time she will nap for - I managed to get her to sleep with a tight wrap...She just stared off and dropped into sleep - I think she needs a bit of physicall restraint at the mo because no matter how exhausted she is she still manages to be physically active in bed or in my arms when I try to get her down - the wrapping helped her settle in about 5/10 min! I thought she would fight out of it because she hated it when we tried when she was smaller but I think she appreciated the forced stillness. She is even on her back - I put a pillow under her head and the maternity pillow around her legs so that if she wakes up and wiggles around she won't fall into an uncomfortable position. She is sleeping so soundly though, so I am glad I tried it.
Ok let me get some emails read, because once she wakes up my productivity is over (except for spending time with her, which is better
Just a quick one....BS, sorry to hear about poor little Eva's rash It must be so painful for them. But funny you should say that, because Michael has a bit of nappy rash for the first time in his life...and he is definitely teething. Its a dark pinky colour at the mo, no bleeding yet, thank goodness. He even clamps his legs together when I am trying to clean him. Poor darling It started maybe 2 days ago, which would coincide with when I noticed those bumps in his gums. Maybe try and have a look in her mouth when you get the chance...a good way of looking at her bottom gum (where the first teeth normally appear) is to play with her bottom lip...like, pull it down but repeatedly and fast so she thinks you're playing with her. Thats how I got to see Michael's bottom ones (top ones are much harder!).
BS - I hope the flight goes okay. Poor little Eva. You're sooo lucky to be jetting off to NYC. What a life you lead! I was just looking at those pics of Eva in the swimming pool, they are amazing. The colours are fantastic and Eva is truly beautiful!
Alison - I didn't watch it but now i wish I did! And as for the wrist thing, Jack does something very similar. It's very cute. Must be them learning about movement of the wrists. I saw on FB that you said Amelia can use her thumbs? That's pretty amazing! What does she do?
Suz - thanks for your routine, looks good. It does look very similar to the one I'm using. I hope you didn't think I was being forceful with my posting of my routine; I just wrote it with excitement because it's the first time in nearly 7 months that Jack has slept properly. I wouldn't expect anyone to actually listen to my opinion!
Everyone else - are you as cold as I am? It's sooooo cold! BS, I'm sure you're enjoying warm weather, lucky thing. It's horrible here at the moment.
ATM - Jack was off his solids and the boob today, plus he was tugging at his little ears. I suspect it's more teeth - I can't imagine what he'll look like with the top ones! For the ladies still breastfeeding, have you had a nip yet? Jack hasn't given me one, thankfully, but he does bite my finger if I'm silly enough to get it near his mouth.
Anyway, less talking, more sleeping. Night girls. xxx
Just a real quick one....Alison, Michael is doing the EXACT same thing!!!! I say he is casting his spells Its just his right hand, he sort of twirls & twists it around and looks at it. Soooo cute!
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to you all xx
Does Matilda cry at night when she wakes? I was reading a lot about sleep training when Liam was still sleeping badly, and had pretty much resigned myself to doing it out of sheer desperation. One of the things that stood out to me as important was learning when they're just grizzling and trying to soothe themselves to sleep, and when they really need something. Which I'm pretty darn sure you already know, but just saying it in case. It's so hard trying to deal with it all when you're so sleep deprived yourself. Is Matilda on solids? Does she have a dummy or suck her thumb?
I know a lot of people want to discourage thumb sucking, but I think it's worth it for the self soothing.
) I get what the Tresillian lady was saying, that babies like consistency and ritual. Ryan is also a non-crying happy baby and I dread the thought of having to do anything where he's got to cry it out. Rose's sleep tips are great and you can do them without having to let Matilda cry it out. I don't know whether to wrap or sleeping bag, but how about changing her to sleeping bag for all sleeps and making it a part of her bedtime routine? How's her sleeping environment? Did you say you have her back in her old cot and in her own room? Sleep associations: I guess she has a sleep association with the boob. If she falls asleep during her last feed, try waking her gently so that she's awake when you put her in her cot (I did this with Ryan and now I can lie him down awake and he goes to sleep on his own). Are you having to feed Matilda every time she wakes? Maybe try following the advice Karitane gave Lani and feed her as a last resort. Or even get your DH to go and settle her for the first half of the evening while you sleep, so that you get a few hours straight before the dreaded 3-4 o'clock wake up. Hang in there, you'll get that girl sleeping through. Please send me the info about DTD that the physio gave you, I'd be very interested to read it.
And OMG, I'm so sorry to hear you lost a brother to SIDS
What the hell happenned? I read that the teething can do this since it makes the poo very acidic and my friend told me her baby had the same thing and got teeth two days later (she told me it looked lmike someone had taken an iron and burned her skin, which is what Eva's bum looks like)...but I see nothing in Eva's mouth (although she is not very good at letting me in there at the mo)...I feel so bad for her...Every time she has a pee she whimpers like a little dog because it burns
Its just his right hand, he sort of twirls & twists it around and looks at it. Soooo cute!
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