March/April 05 Thread #2

[solnme]

Hey everyone!  Hi to Nome and Beata! 

Nice to hear so many of you are getting over the nap/sleeping bumps.  Ds has now decided to lengthen am naps to 2 hrs but is not going down for his afternoons!  3 days in a row and he's been sleeping for 10 - 20 mins max.  He doesn't get cranky or anything but i sure miss my afternoon tea break.

Anbody still using soothers?  Sol uses his at bedtime and when he's in his car seat.  Now that he's 6 months, should I switch to one size up (6 - 12mnths) or is that just a marketing ploy?

Hannah - i'm in the same positon as you with the df.  I haven't intro. lunch yet cause he wasn't eating much at the BFs.  So 2 days ago I started adding more food at dinner.  He's at about 11 tbs of solids now.  Both days he hasn't wanted his BF before bedtime.  i'm assuming he's prettty full but waking at about 9 pm hungry.  I've fed him then and skipped the DF.
I'm hoping to slowly move the 9 pm feed back to 7 cause i'd rather not wake up in the middle of the night which is a big concern! :wink:
It's kind of a tossed strategy but i'll let you know what happens. 
Anyway , it's raining crazy here and we're having a pyjama day!  I'm loving it but lo is getting kinda restless.  Must entertain.

[sophieandhannah]

Nikki and Roz, thanks for the input.  Nikki, btw, not that you sounded offended but when I thought about my drinking comment and celiac I felt that it was a little insensitive...what mother would want to be thinking about her lo out drinking spirits...anyhow, just wanted to say sorry if I put thoughts/images in your mind that were unwelcome.

Roz, I think that is basically what I am going to do, I have already basically moved the df to 9:30, so I think I'll just keep creeping it backwards a bit.  It is a pretty selfish thing I guess but I keep thinking when I go back to work, I'd love to be able to go to bed around9-10 without worrying about the df.
Sophie still uses a soother, also only in bed and in the car (funny!).  I tried to move up to the 6-12mo kind but she wasn't really interested.  The nub is smaller and the plastic is much harder.  I guess the harder plastci is why they reccommend the next "size" so that teethers will not chew off pieces of the 0-6month kind which are quite soft and squishy...  I think I will try again, or maybe just wean???  Just don't know. One thing at a time I guess.  HTH
Karen, our A intervals are still all over the place.  Sometimes she can easily go 3 hours, and others 2 is the max without major fussing/complaining.  She has basically dropped the catnap...hasn't done it for two weeks.  So we are trying to lengthen the afternoon A time so that the evening is not soooo long.  Glad your first week back went well.
Hannah

[Erin M]

Hannah - we pushed the DF forwards until about 9:45 and then just dropped it all together.  It was never one of her bigger feeds though (I only gave her one boob instead of two) - maybe decrease ounces as well as make it earlier.  Also, if you're mixing milk with cereal for solids, that counts in her total intake for the day as well - might be something to do if you aren't already.

Jessica - not sure where you are with the solids, but have you tried feeding some prunes?  I've found it works wonders and it's a bit more natural than milk of magnesia - oh, and I had a friend who used to mix prune juice in her LO's bottle, and I've heard of others doing it with cereal as well...some options there if you want to go that route.

Traci - I have held Katie to sleep, nursed her to sleep, rocked her to sleep, and brought her to sleep with me when she wakes up at 5:30 (I think that's all my accidental parenting for now  :oops: ) during this last teething/cold bout we've been working our way through and she still seems to be settling just fine, so I don't think you're going to undo any of your hard work.  I don't think she's slept longer than 45 minutes in awhile, but her awake time has been off - she's made the daylight savings time switch ok in the AM, but she's still trying to nap when her body thinks it should be naptime, so not nearly enough awake time. 

Hi Beata and welcome!  How do you pronounce your name by the way?

Roz - we never used a soother, Katie just spit it out.  Good luck with whatever you end up doing with it though.  Katie is a total thumb addict, so while I don't enby you the job of weaning Sol from the soother, at least it is something you can take away!  I sometimes have visions of Katie sucking her thumb when she's 21 (no kidding, I have a cousin who is 22 and still does - her name's Kate too....maybe we should have thought of that when we named her....)

Karen - glad to hear that all is well with the return to work.  We're close to 3 hours with awake time now -- well, we were, but Katie's a bit thrown off with the time change here - she keeps trying to nap when she was napping, but now her awake time isn't long enough to keep her asleep (I hope that made sense...it doesn't seem to now that I reread it!)

Take care all!

[Taylor's Mommy]

Hi Ladies,  just got back from my mommy group where I let it all out and cried and did the whole nine yards!  but I feel much better now.  We talked a lot about how the womans feminist movement has actually hurt us in a way because it makes us all think we can have it all-the career, the house, the perfct family, etc.  But in reality it's kind of hard to have it all w/o something suffering  Just something to think about.

Okay, so I think it was Jessica who asked about constipation.  We gave Taylor one dose of a Flax suppository and it worked wonders to get her going.  The next day we gave one dose of Little Tummies (very gentle laxative), and since then we have been giving her a couple of bites of prunes with all meals, as well as adding prune jiuce (apx. 1/4 oz.) to her sippy cup with water, and all seems to be well now.

Hannah, I think with the DF you cut back on the ozs but add them to the bottles during the day, and move the time up.  Good luck!  I am sooo chicken to attempt weaning the DF, esp. since she wakes fro it everynight and scarfs down 6-7 ozs!  so not technically a DF! :roll:

Bec, about the W book, a coupel of things to consider for naps:
1. Keep them in the same sleep window on a consistent basis, because their bodies have natural sleep windows that if are missed, will make it harder to sleep.  so if she usually naps at 9 but for only 45 minutes, try to keep her as close to the next 'cycle' of sleep around 12-1ish to make it easier for her 2nd nap.
2. with regards to snoozing for brief periods when they are supposed to be awake, that can make it harder to go or stay asleep for a nap.  For ex. yesterday T slept for about 5 minutes of her afternoon walk and then fell back asleep after transferring her to the crib...45 minutes later she was up.  So I think because she slept for those 5 min. in the stroller, it messed her up.
3. A 45 minute nap can be restorative, of course not as restorative as a 1-2 hour nap, but it does help...anything less than 30 minutes though doesn't count.

ALSO, as Traci's attachment points out, it is common for them to still need a feed around 10-12 at night and 4-6 in the morning until 9 months!  That definitely made me feel better about her waking up at 10 pm and 6 am lately for a feed (she is still going 8 hours).

I think that is it. 
Karen-glad to hear work is going well.  I kind of miss my job a little, so can understand you enjoying your first week back.

Welcome Nome and Beata.

Traci-hang in there girl...you are not alone.  We just have to keep remding eachother that we are all doing a great job and doing the best we can for our lo's!

ANdrea

[kate585]

Hola, chicas!  Welcome to Nome and Beata.  Karen, so glad it's been a good week for you...we've all been thinking about you!!!

Roz:  Ryan still uses his binky/paci.  I was so sure we'd NEVER use one and here we are almost 8 months later still pluggin' up!   :oops:   (When I got pg, dh bought me a charm for my bracelet with a paci and I told him he should take it back since we wouldn't be using them.  Oops!  I really thought I knew it all, didn't I?)  He only uses it in the crib and can take it out/put it in himself without disturbing us, so I think it's not considered a prop at that point.  (Can you hear me justifying this to myself as I type?  What a headcase I am!!!)  I have moved up to the next size since he seemed to be popping it in and out more lately, and they seem to be a better fit.  Like Katie said, at least we'll be able to throw it away at some point, but I've heard horror stories about that.  I'm hoping to get rid of it by his first b-day, although, that's what I said at 3 months...and 6 months... :roll:

Jessica, I'd try the prunes and my ped. friend told me I could also do apple juice, possibly watered down.  This was months ago, since we all know Ryan had no problems with poop lately!   :lol:

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Hannah, definitely no offense!  In fact I really appreciated your comment and it actually gave me nice visions to think of him out with his mates and NOT feeling deprived! LOL

Andrea, that is good to know about the 2 night feeds until 9mths, it really puts it in persepective considering Danielle still feeds once between 7pm-7am at around 2-5am but no DF.  So really, she's still right on track and goes back to sleep no problem.

[Colesmom]

Hi Everyone-thanks for the support and encouraging words

Nikki-Cole goes to sleep WIDE AWAKE at bedtime.  Even last night he did.  It was the only time yesterday that I didn't feed/hold to sleep.  I had success today for nap 2 with PUPD!  I feel so empowered.  When I was picking him up I was keeping him upright and he wasn't calming...so today i held him cradle style and the second he calmed i put him down.  Took about 10 minutes and I guess 7 pupds. 

Now I feel I might actually be able to work on eliminating the middle of the night feed.  The reason I'd been delaying it was because I didn't think pupd was working with cole and I didn't seem to be able to soothe him when he woke.  I'd put him down and he's be on his hands and knees. I'd try to pin him down :oops: , horrible i know...but he's so darn strong that I felt terrible doing it.  I'd have to use so much force :oops:  :oops:

I suppose on top of teeth he's likely still messed up from time change.  I never really thought about it til Erin mentioned it-thanks erin

Thanks for posting you A times Nikki- I was just thinking of asking you for them b/c I think that's another reason for our struggles.  Some days I get a catnap, other days I don't.  Seems if he wakes from nap 2 before 1:30 then he'll catnap otherwise it's too late.  It's hard eliminating a catnap at the same time as the time change.  It's like a double whammy! Can't believe he's not in bed by 4pm at this rate.  We've had a lot of 45 min. naps the last couple of days but I figured it was b/c i was holding him to sleep...maybe it's A time.  I try to stretch him more tomorrow and see how we do.

OH-Nikki-I've been meaning to say-I agree with Karen.  At least you caught it early and all the foods Nathan will eat will just be his normal foods.  I don't think it will be that hard for him.  If you had of discovered it when he was 10-well, that would be hard to do.  Not trying to make light of it...just saying I think he'll be okay.

Karen, great to hear that your week went well for you, DH and DS!

As for constipation-I'm looking for things to stop Cole up.  He had 3 huge carrot/sweet potato/butternut squash poops yesterday.

Hannah-as for DF..well, I'm going to work on my middle of the night feed first.  I'm sure that he'll take more during the day if I get rid of that.

Fed him lunch for the first time today, but that was more because DH gave him only 1 tbsp of oatmeal for breakfast :? and he wasn't interested in squash or sweet potato.

I was a bit worried when I was BFing him before bed.  He kept coming on and off the breast.  Then when I got him up to burp and switch sides he started this weird twitching :?:  His head would twitch and he'd make a funny face/expression with his mouth.  I thought he was going to throw up?  It went away anyway, not sure the cause.

He's double diapered tonight too!  No more full on leakage like last night.

phew...i think that's all from me. DH going to be home late tonight.  anyone want to chat again?

[becca24]

Hi Everyone,

Traci - thank you for the weissbluth download. Don't worry about holding for naps too much. I have done it plenty of times and she can still settle herself no problem. It's just 45min naps I have trouble with. Also, I feed her to sleep every night. Her bedtime routine is bath, bf, bed. Sometimes she falls asleep feeding. I love it when this happens. It is the one thing I will be very sad to give up as this is the only time she will snuggle up in my arms and I can stare at her for as long as I want before putting her to bed. :lol:

Andrea - thank you for the info on naps. That happens a lot with dd re: the dozing off for 10mins in the car or pram then not having another nap. I will have to keep an eye on that and see if it makes a difference.

Jessica - DD recently had problems with constipation. I stopped giving her rice cereal and it solved the problem.

Hannah - What times are you giving solids? I found giving solids straight after the BF worked better for us. It means she gets dinner really early but then she takes a big feed before bed. She is now sleeping through with no DF.

Big hello to everyone else

Welcome Beata !

[Colesmom]

bec-i'm a bit confused by the last bit about your timing of solids/BF. Do you do a BF and solids...then another BF before bed?  could you post the times please (approx)

thanks

[Arwyn's mom]

Traci... Arwyn is able to fall asleep on her own for both naps and night sleeps lately but it has been hit and miss. Once the two teeth broke through, she put herself down for at least 3 days. Now, she has a cold. So... back to accidental parenting. I feel like I didn't sleep a wink last night because she was up again every 45 min to an hour or so... Finally, at 3 am, I gave in and lay down on the futon with her. At least we are doing what Tracy says in her book... 'Go to them' (Yes, I am justifying my AP practices

I am still hoping my wonderful sleeper that I worked so hard to teach will come back! But, it does seem like she returns to normal when things settle down.

Welcome to Nome and Beata! Glad you guys are joining us!

Ta ta ladies... off to try to get some sleep before Dh has to work tonight! Will catch up on everybody later, I promise!

[Taylor's Mommy]

traci-I may be up for a chat later.  what time?

[mickymuscles]

hi guys!

Jessica: we've had a lot of practice with constipation...our ped. suggested a few different options #1.  1oz of pear juice diluted with 2 oz of water #2.  Glycerine suppository  #3.  1tsp. of brown sugar added to 2 oz of either EBM or formula or #4. 5mls of Lactulose twice a day when needed.  Lactulose is available over the counter at the pharmacy.  It is kindof a sticky sugary substance.

Well, DH is home and has jumped right into changing Jacksons diaper without hesitation.  But,  he has come down with Shingles!!! :shock:   How the heck that happened??!!!  Anyways....shingles isn't contagious to me but can cause you to get chicken pox if you haven't had it yet.  So, I'm stressing about Jack getting chicken pox especially right before he's due to have surgery!!!!  I feel bad but I secretly wish that DH would go back to work :oops:  :cry: .  What a bad wife!

[Colesmom]

Oh Micky-hugs.  That's awful.  Shingles is really painful I thought?  Hope your DH is okay and Jackson doesn't catch it.

Andrea-DH is home now.  Probably shouldn't chat tonight since I did yesterday and will on Sunday.  Gotta keep my marriage intact.  thanks anyway.

[becca24]

Traci, I feed solids within the hour after B/Fing  eg:

(times are approx.)

E - 6.30 b/f & 7.00 breakfast
A - 7.30 walk in pram (stays awake)
S - 45min
A
E - 10.30 b/f then lunch before 11.30
A -
S - 45min
A
E -2.30 b/f then tea before 3.30
A -
S - sometimes  :roll:
A

5.30/6.00 - sit at table in high chair eating teething rusk thingy while mummy & daddy eat

6.00/6.30 - bath, b/f, bed

[Colesmom]

thanks Bec.  that's what I thought you were saying.

Do most of you just BF/Bottle at 2pm feed then give dinner in the evening before last BF bottle?  just curious.  thanks and good night (or good morning) everyone.

This is my day in case anyone is curious:

6am BF
7am breakfast
8:30/9:00-?? sleep
10:00 BF
11:00 lunch (first time today)
12:30/1:00-?? sleep
2:00 BF
4:00-?? sleep-only if nap 2 ended before 1:30
5:00 dinner
5:30-5:45 BF
6:00-6:15 bed