March/April 05 Thread #2

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Oh and just to add why I let Danielle sleep for that long in the afternoon - because she doesn't have a catnap, I just let her go as long as she will since she's up until 7pm, so sometimes she only sleeps 2hrs, but I count every extra minute as a bonus (but have occasionally woken her at 4pm at the latest).  If for some bizarre reason she sleeps past 45mins in the morning, I never let her go past 11am otherwise the rest of the day will be out.

Holly, another thing is, definitely wake him after 2hrs at the most since you're trying to fix up a routine and get on track.  He may be quite tired for a few days while you're shifting his sleep patterns around and be cranky as a result, but stick with it and try and aim for 11-12hrs overnight sleep (there may still be feeds in this time, but the aim is to have him fall straight back asleep rather than want to interact).

[kate585]

Holy cats, you all have been busy ladies the last day and a half!   :shock:

Regarding food:  Ryan would eat 18 cubes a meal if I let him...quite the piggy.  My ped. said about 6 tbsp. 3/day is good for this age, but as Nikki (and of course BW) pointed out each kid is different.  And, we are still going with bf as the main source until 12 mos. per most things I've read, too.

Richelle, I always make dh come and see a funny face Ryan makes.  He did NOT like the spices on the pureed chicken the other night and I just kept trying to give it to him so he'd get used to it.  He made the same face every time.  Next time I gave it to him with 2 cubes of sweet potatoes and some ebm and he did much better. Still not a huge fan, though. 

Holly, I think you should go with the flow for a few days, but then cut back on the day sleep.  I've had to wake Ryan a few times.  Just like Micky said, I talk softly, turn off his noise maker, and turn on a dim light.  That usually does the trick.  Or you could try dh's method: Barge into the room and say, "Who's sleeping in here?" in a loud, silly voice.  Ryan doesn't seem to mind (always wakes with a big smile for Daddy), but sometimes you have to bite your tongue, don't you?   :?   

Big excitement around here:  a HUGE poop during lunch.  Ryan usually has a BM at some point in the high chair.  Guess sitting up gets him going.  (Sorry, TMI).  So, I just let him go to it and fed him between grunts/pushes.  (How gross is this post?)  When he finished, I pulled back the tray and there was poop all over.   :shock:  :cry:   It was on him, the chair, under the chair pad, on the straps.  GROSS!!!  I think it was his first bout of the runs in a long time.  I feel like bad mommy for letting him sit there, but he didn't seem upset by it at all.   :oops:   Oh, well, we all have our moments...which is why it's nice to come on here and not feel so bad after all! 

~~~~~Good surgery~~~~~ vibes to Jackson!!!

[Little Bear's Mum]

Goodmorning!

Holly, Daniel probably has about the same amount and Brady both solids and  milk. Although not sure as Daniel is breastfed so can't measure, but I don't think he takes huge amounts. As for food, Brady may even take more than Daniel.

I measured the icecube tray thismorning, mine is as follows:

1 cube = 2 tblspn
2 tblspn = 30mls
30 mls = 1 oz

Therefore, for those of us with 2 cube eaters at a meal, they're having 2 oz of food.

We had a reasonably good night last night. Daniel woke around 1.30am and DH resettled him with a quick cuddle and some teething medication. Then again thismorning at 4.30am, but although he went quiet, by 5am he was making noises again so I got up and fed him one side. I think it was definitely hunger that time as it was about his usual amount of sleep time before he woke. He went down early last night. Then he slept again until about 7am. We're having our frequent battle to settle now though and he's letting me know how unhappy he really is.  :cry: We've got our coffee group thismorning so I really wanted him to be well and truly asleep by now as we need to go out in just over 30 mins. I think I"ll just get him up when I'm all ready cos I know if he's tired he'll just fall asleep in the car for another 30 mins anyway. Oh yay, he's just gone quiet. Let's hope it stays that way.

Nikki, your post reminded me about the 'average' sleep for baby. This means Daniel is doing exactly what he 'should' be. LOL. According to the charts. Most days now he does 1.5 hours x 2 and 11-12 at night. Wahooo!!!! I must tell DH when he wakes up.

DH is 'struggling' when I wake him at the moment to go to Daniel at night. He also had a 1am bedtime last night due to his work function. But I can see even without this he finds it hard waking and GETTING OUT OF BED to Daniel. My secret thought is at least he's learning / experiencing what I've been thru for the last 7 months.

Well Daniel is officially asleep so time to get ready to go.

TTFN

[sophieandhannah]

All right Kate,what is it with you and Ryan and poop??!! LOL
I often think about the fact that my dd just poops away, grunts and all in just about any situation...she's not bashful, even in public, ah to be that uninhibited
 :lol:

Oh, also, I laughed when I read about how dh wakes up Ryan, dh does that here too.  He is soooo loud all the time it seems.  If he gets her all riled before bed he'll say."I'm just getting the last of her energy out"  Yeah, sure whatever, and yes, lots of eye rolling.

Holly aI think you got some good advice about waking.  I think you should after 2 hours, or at least in time for the next feed??  So that he can stay on sched. a little.

Nikki-thanks for the info on the feeds and the thoughts on eating amounts in general.  I think you are so right.  This is why I always thought it a little starnge, to tell you the trulth about the dropping the df thing in bw.  She says to add a few ounces to other feeds....but what if they are full right then?  Anyhow...I appreciated your thoughts.

I was going to buy yobaby at the store but forgot, darn...wanted to see that "Sophie" face
I did find Baby Mum-mums though!!! Yay! we'll see how it all goes.
Later Kids.
Hannah

[Erin M]

Richelle - reading your post about going to walk on the beach made me VERY jealous    - and I'm also jealous of all you ladies below the equator who are heading into the warm weather and not out of it.  I really have to move farther south one day where winter is not quite so cold.  Not that I should complain though, as things have been unseasonably warm around here.  Oh, and Richelle, our house is pretty chilly - the thermostat is set at I think 62 at night, of course that's Fahrenheit and I am SO metrically impaired - on the chilly nights, I keep Katie in a long sleeved onesie, a light pair of pajamas (I have these Carter's thermal one pieces that I love), a fleece pair of pajamas (with feet) and a sleep sack.  Since she's used to sleeping in a relatively warm room, I might plan on overdressing her, but I'm always cold, so that's just my opinion.

Hannah - your junior high acronyms crack me up  :lol:

OK, another metrically impaired question from me - anyone know how many tablespoons = 1 ounce?  From Hayley's post it looks like 2.  Katie is certainly eating a lot these days!  I'll have to let everyone know once I figure it out in tablespoons.  My book The Nursing Mother's Companion which I have found to be a great breastfeeding resouce (recommended to me by a lactation consultant) recommends starting to make the switch to milk after solids after 8 months.  I was thinking about switching for her lunchtime feed.  She loves her morning boob so much, I couldn't bear to give her solids first just yet.  Still contemplating switching to formula for the middle two feeds, have to see how this whole working thing works out - I'm constantly with kids, no time at all to pump, but it's only two days a week.  However, I have to think that even twice a week skipping those middle feeds and not pumping is going to affect my supply sooner or later. 

Kate - you and poop - how funny...

Micky - thinking of you and Jackson's surgery tomorrow.  How close to 7AM does he normally eat?  I would think that if he usually eats just at 7 that you might hold off feeding him all together - I would worry that waking him up at 3:45 might have some disasterous consequences.  Oh wait, just reread your post and noticed that he's not having the surgery until 10AM - hmmm, I think I might wake him up then and feed him, otherwise that's a really long time for him to go without eating.  Sorry for waffling here.

Holly - Sounds like you and Brady are doing great!  I too think he may be sleeping a bit long during the day, but that's just my opinion.  Also, I nurse Katie 4x a day - usually 8, 12, 4, and 7:30 and give solids around 8:30, 12:15, and 5:30.  I noticed your evening BF is in with supper - maybe if you spread them out a bit he would take more of both and not need the night feed?  Wishful thinking, I'm sure, but you never know. 

Nikki - Great to hear that Danielle's sleeping well.  Maybe with getting Nathan's dietary needs straightened out, you can actually get a full night's sleep for a few days running!  Wouldn't that be something 

Have a good night all!

[james030405]

Traci - sorry if i scared you, yes I was being sarcastic re:  ADD.  James is just a very active baby.  Crawling properly at 6.5mths andfor the last 2-3 weeks, he is pulling himself up. He just doesn't stopall day.  so sorry if I upset you :oops:

Hannah in re: bread.  James has had it both as bread and toast.  I don't use any butter just vegemite.  I haven't put anything else on.  James also is a pretty big eater.  I have given him scrambled eggs a couple of timesand he likes that.  I just use 2 egg yolks and a bit of formula and 20-30sec in microwave and it is nice and creamy.  I also give rice, couscous with veges and meat.  He probably hasa couple of tbs of ceral in mornign and sometimes a "finger" of toast.  Lunch is about 2 cubes of veges + fruit/yoghurt.  Dinner is 1meat + 2 veges +fruit or yoghurt.  I try to make sure he has a least one protein meal.  Also I only give yoghurt at either lunch or dinner not both.  I try to make little "casserole" ice cubes as this way I know each cube will have at least meat and 2 veges in.  I have a few recipes if you would like me to post them to you. 

Sleep is going well.  Naps are anywhere from 45min-2hrs x 2 times a day.  He hasn't wanted a catnap for awhile so in the afternoons he is sometimes awake for about 4hrs but he seems to handle it well.  I guess becasue it is broken up with dinner bath etc itis not too bad.  He then sleeps for about 11hrs at night. 

Hope the surgery goes well for you.  Take care, I would probably wake andfeed early if you think he will need it.  Or could you do a DF around 12am?  Just a thought.

Take care everyone.

Lisa mum to James my textbook/spirited koala bear

[sophieandhannah]

Micky, that's such a hard question about the feed...Lisa a df is a really good idea.  That way maybe you don't throw him off too much but still get him some food???

Lisa thanks for the food suggestions.  I am going to try the scrambeled egg idea for dinner tonight.  And maybe tomorrow some toast.  Do you just toast a regular slice of bread?  Sorry if I seem thick on this one, I'm just trying to picture it :lol:

Erin, glad my junior highschool experience turned out to be good for something! :wink:

BTW, dh is too funny lately.  Remeber during the chat how he went to bed at about 8pm?  He is really trying to get to bed early so that he can get up early and workout.  he's trying to loose his baby weight   OK, this is good for a laugh...he'd die if he knew how much fun I've been having at his expense...ok quick disclaimer...dh is a wonderful amazing person, dad, partner etc.  I am truly lucky to have found him. That is sincere.  Now again, back to the fun.. as a way of getting back in shape he suggested sexercise!!! (and he was DEAD serious)

 :lol:  :oops:
Now doesn't THAT sound like fun??? (Maybe to you Naomi...since you have been feeling 19 again :wink: )

Hope you're all laughing.
Hannah

[Arwyn's mom]

Oh Hannah, you crack me up (so does your DH's weight loss program  :lol: )

Well... from the discussion, it seems like Arwyn isn't really taking enough solid food. Today, breakfast was a total waste... only got maybe a teaspoon into her. Lunch was about 1 tablespoon. She was very interested in what I was eating so I rinsed off a few spiral noodles for her and she gobbled them up. She will also eat Cheerios until the cows come home. I wonder if that counts? Not the most balanced diet :roll: but I can't get anything else into her. And thank you Nikki for the reminder that as long as she is thriving, all is good.

I'm going to wait a few more weeks before giving her solids before breast for her middle meals. I want to preserve the morning and evening BFs... as much for me as for her  :oops: I really enjoy that time with her.

Just feeling a little low today   with the solids thing and today, after 5 good days on routine and with good naps, we have regressed to short naps and cranky baby. I just gotta pull myself together. I wish it wouldn't affect me so much :roll: . Sometimes I wonder if I didn't set myself up for it... I know moms who have no routine, no set nap times, don't worry about length of naps, etc. They seem much happier (or are they good at covering the worry up?) and their kids are fine too. But like they say about enlightenment, you can't go back. So I guess I'll just plug along. :cry:

[kate585]

Ankie...big (((hugs))) to you!  We all have those days.  From your post, it seems like Arwyn might prefer to feed herself instead of you feeding her.  Is she a bit independent?  I have friends whose lo's refused solids until finger foods were introduced.  Obviously watching her feed herself 25 peas will take a lot longer than shoveling in the pureed kind, but whatever it takes, right?  There are also fruits you can cut up, plus meat sticks, eggs, etc.  You might want to give it a shot. 

Hannah, there was a girl on Oprah the other day who claims to have lost a bunch of weight on your dh's program. Didn't get to see it, just the commercial, but maybe someone else can fill you in on the specifics.   :lol:

Hayley, not sure I said welcome back, but I thought it and we all missed you!

That's it for now, ladies.  Have a good one!!!

[Little Bear's Mum]

Hi everyone

We've just had our Plunket nurse here, and Daniel is now a big 8.3kg (18lb 5oz). Progressing just fine she says. I talked about me being a bit 'scared' to introduce foods and not very good at it, she said that's okay, but to be adventurous if I can. He can even eat gingernut biscuits! And, she said the normal adult yoghurts are fine, just not the strawberry or diet ones. Even the chocolate and caramel 'plastic' yoghurts are okay. So I'm now definitely going to write out a plan. DH and I have always said we want Daniel to eat well, and what we eat, so I better get started. I may also try to push out his bed time again to 7pm and somehow get us all eating dinner about 6pm, then he can watch us eat too. That might take a bit longer, I'll probably just start with increasing his variety of food. Also, she said I can now switch the lunch and b/feed around so he's having lunch when he first wakes from morning nap, if it's not too early. I'll probably feed lunch around 11am. I find it all a bit daunting and scary, and maybe that's partly cos I never used to be a good eatre, ie if I could not eat life would be much easier! LOL. But I don't want Daniel to have my food issues so I guess I better start him on the right track now.

Oh the great news is he's taken 30mls of formula today from the bottle and that was after a b/feed. and about the same in water from another bottle. He actually has the sucking action right every so often too. Yay, I'm so excited. Makes me feel better about leaving DH with Daniel on Friday. I think it will be easier than it was even a week ago. I may even try a bottle first thing tomorrow morning and see what happens. Who knows, he may just take it!

Kate, thanks for the welcome back, it's nice to be chatting to you all again.

Ankie, I totally understand what youo're going thru with the food issue. That was Daniel a week or so ago.

Can't recall who asked about bread. All I've done is get plain white bread and put it in the oven for about 15mins on low heat. I was told today I can add cheese to it so I'll try that next time.

Gotta go, dinner time and DH has arrived home.

[BiancaB]

Hello everyone
Have no time to read back..sadly :cry:  Life is hectic for me lately, with the warm weather and daylight saving time here in Vic -I am working later than usual and you know the usual drill of the busy life of Mum's
Anyway just wanted to pop on and say hi to all.
 I am struggling to add new foods to Si's diet at the moment as she just doesn't seem to chew all that well and I have a huge fear of choking her!
She has both bottom teeth through now(looks so cute) and is doing well on grated fruits(apple pear etc) and her staple diet of oatmeal(mixed grain) and sweet potato(roasted) but I need some inspiration!
Anyone feel keen to let me know what they are feeding please go ahead.
Thanks Bianca

[kq]

Good surgery vibes for Jack, Micky and thanks for the website on curry. Will try and make some this weekend, we can get Pataks here.
LOL Kate re poops. You have the funniest poop stories.
I don't really measure what Sam eats, he gets offered 3-4 ice cubes depending on how I feel and whether he looks hungry or not and he sometimes finishes all the food and wants somemore and sometimes there is a heap left. I just make sure that his milk feeds are not decreased drastically and if so, I cut down on solids.
I am always looking for inspiration for food and have a freezer full of different veges. I then mix and match for the day. I also have chicken and beef.
I have a recipe for banana biscotti that looks really good that I found in a baby recipe book I have. I will post it tomorrow as I am at work at the mo.
Sam has been refusing his catnaps intermittently and we just make it up by putting him to bed earlier. Today, he only had 2x45 minute naps and was awake for 5.5 hours before he went to bed for the night. What can you do if they are happy and playing? Mum tried to put him to bed and he just kept rolling onto his tummy and smiling. I was at work and maybe the excitement of spending the afternoon with grandma got to him!
Nikki,hurray for Danielle sleeping through the night and Hayley, well done Daniel for taking the bottle.
LOL Hannah re dh's exercise plan.
Karen

[mickymuscles]

hi all!
it is 3:45 in the morning....I'm not sleeping well tonight-go figure!   :shock:   Anyways, I just fed Jack (about 6 oz) I tried not to wake him but I think I did.  He seemed confused on what the heck I was doing to him in the middle of the night.  I haven't DF since he was about 3 months old.  But he is quiet again right now so hopefully he will sleep until 7 still.  I probably won't be back again until we are home from the hospital.  I am feeling quite anxious and am hoping all goes well...esp. his pain control. :cry:  :cry:   talk to you all soon!

[Colesmom]

Lisa-see, now I feel silly.  Of course you were just kidding around :oops:

hayley- I didn't say welcome back!  Glad to hear you had a good time and sounds like Daniel adjusted okay so that's good.  My parents are up north in a 5 star resort (home renovations) and they've invited Cole and I up.  Maybe I should go.  My father isn't well though and I don't want Cole waking him often in the night.  We'll see.

Ankie-big hugs.  There is no rush for food.  I consider myself lucky that Cole eats very well but each baby will progress at their own rate.  DH was upset when I read to him yesterday that babies that are very physically active like Cole often develop speech etc later :? Oh well!

Hannah-sexercise...yep it was on Oprah...I saw it for a bit.  This women had sex twice a day...burns 200 cals a session so she said for us to do the math

Bianca-I wonder if it might be easier for everyone to PM you on what they're feeding their los?  That way you don't have to sift through all the posts?  I will PM you as well just in case but right now Cole who started solids kind of late at 6.5 months has had: rice, oatmeal, potato, sweetpotato, broccoli, avocado (mashed with EBM), butternut squash, carrots.  We're starting apple today.  We have yet to introduce dairy, wheat, meat or finger foods.  Will start apple today

Richelle-forgot to post to you about sleepwear.  in a 70/21 degree room Cole wears a ss diaper shirt, ls diaper shirt and his 2.5 Grobag.  Maybe your mom could pop in to a used clothing store a pick up some winter items?  No sense getting new stuff if she only needs it a short while.

okay, i gotta run but also just wanted to post my good news.  Cole slept 12 hours last night.  He had one wakeup at 8:15 due to teeth.  Gave him tylenol.  Two feeds at 9:20 at 2 something but went 5:50-5:50!  woo hoo.  no catnap must be the trick right now

[hayes]

Hannah-You are so silly!  How about LLL longer letter later, I definately don't need to say that my posts are always long enough.
Richelle-I am working with Yo baby.  First try lots of funny faces, I think it is the consistancy and temperature.  Ben has had 4 containers now and is more into it.  I bought a heater with a temperature regulator at target for $30, it works wonders, not sure if that is an option for your trip.
Sophie-have you tried warm water for the washing of the face or a silly song while you are wiping.  Ben can see coming in for the cleaning and gets ready to hide!
Roz-I take the valve out of the sippie for drinking.
Are your Los drinking out of the sippie on their own or are you helping them?
Kate-Laughing so much about the pooping story.  The Dh of this house loves to sing at the top of his lungs and wrestle loundly before sleepy time.  THen when I am playing too much with Ben before bedtime I get the lecture about quiet time before sleepy time.
Ankie-Hugs for you.  I think that the moms who don't have their kids on a routine don't know any better.  We were on a date last night and saw tons of kids up at 9:30 in a restaurant.  Just think about how happy and how much good sleep your LO is getting to make a smart brain.  in the end I think it is worth the worry.  I am trying to cut out on my worry by remembering that I can't control everything and realize I am doing my best to keep me happy and everything that I have read about what you are doing sounds like you are doing a FANTASTIC job raising your Lo.
Bec would love it if you posted some recipes.
We'll see how today goes.  Up at 5:15 to take Dh to the airport, down at 8 for nap.  OFf to babysitters at 10.  Then to the airport tomorrow.  i think I am trying to make a recipe for disaster on my mini vacation.
SSS sorry so sloppy!  Wow I am reliving my grade school days :lol:
macaire