any april/may 05 moms want to chat?

[cambeladamom]

my ds was born may 1, and i was wondering if any other moms with lo in this age range would like to compare schedules and swap ideas.
it would be helpful to hear what other are doing

[marlowho]

Mine was born near the end (25th) so we're still not doing a great schedule yet.  Though she had her checkup today and I feel better about her weight gain, so I definitely need to start paying more attention to her schedule now. 
I'm in- let me know of a good time- we can use the BW chat, right?

[deb]

Well, Nat came May 15th, so we're smack in the middle. I can tell by now what her schedule is SUPPOSED to be, but she oblige me by sleeping! (or STAYING asleep - short naps already? :shock:)

I can never tell when I'll have two free hands to type so I'm not committing to anything, but count me in when I can!

[Katet]

Liam is another 25th May baby & like Marlo & Deb, we're not in a good routine... I'm sure Liam, Noel & Natalie already talk to each other!!
I am in Australia so online chats are hard, but a thread would be great...

Liam has just finished a growth spurt & gave me a blisfull almost 6 hours last night (unfortunately his big brother has a cold & interupted it a bit!)

I was doing a 2.5/3hour schedual BUT Liam seems to be snacking some feeds & being big (10lb 4oz born) & now in 3month+ clothes I am going to see if we can keep all day feeds at least 3 hours & hopefully it will stop the snacking & hopefully help some sleeps??

I am also going to see if a 5 week old can have habitual wakings as Liam seems to wake at 1.30am & 4.20am & 6.30am almost to the minute (last 5 nights)

[cambeladamom]

great to hear from you all. it sounds like a timed chat would be hard, so maybe we could just stick to this thread.
judy, i am with you on the "independent time" my ds is horrible at it:) he can't go for very long at all without needing a change, or needing to be held. won't it be nice when they can hold toys? by the way, when does that start to happen? right now cambel will stare at toys, but he doesn't try to reach for them yet.
it doesn't sound like anyone is getting a full nights sleep yet. i was getting desparate for a couple of weeks there, but recently (the last week) cambel has had his last feed at 8:30, and then didn't eat again until around 4...then back down until 7 or so. it has been wonderful to feel like a normal person again. i hope it lasts!
it is nice to hear from moms with lo's around the same age as mine. as a first time mom, i need all the help i can get:) keep in touch...
here is another quick question. we are going on vacation (one we planned before we knew cambel would be coming:) ) next week. any suggestions on how to keep him on his routine? we will be with family-all of whom love to hold him constantly. and we will be driving a lot.
any advice would be appreciated.

[marlowho]

Not a lot of tips, Campbell's Mom.  The only thing I would suggest is requesting the family members to let you lay him down for naps so that he doesn't get used to being held through naps.  (That would be hard to break when you got home.)  As far as the car, there's not much you can do.  But babies this young adapt back a little easier, I think. 
I'm not sure what has been going on with Noel the last few nights.  She's been getting up about every 1.5 hrs- then nursing for a good 20-30 min.  So I really haven't been sleeping.  About to go lie down for a nap now while Madeline is sleeping and hopefully Noel will oblige as well.
I am enjoying this thread and seeing how things are going for others in this stage.

[Katet]

Judy, I can't believe your patience patting for up to 30mins regularly. I have only had to pat Liam off a few times & it hasn't take long.

I am sitting here at 5am Sydney time as I decided ds was habitully waking as he only snack fed for most night feeds.

Well he woke at 11.30 as per most nights - whinging not crying (did his growth spurt just as we were getting the df sorted & havn't got bak in yet) So I gave him the paci... lasted 10 mins... so I changed him, re wrapped & paci again (waited until all quiet 15mins & took it out)... next woke 2.30am more like a cry & took decent feed.
 
Next woke 4.20am, whinging again... gave paci, 10 mins, gave paci, 5mins... thought ok last time & re wrapped & at at the computer as frustrating going back to bed... well he seems to be off now.

incidently by accident due to busy day he fed 3/3.5 hours most of the day & no real cluster feed either...so I'm thinking as he is a big boy he definitely should go longer not shorter to get the decent feeds.

[cambeladamom]

kate, we had a similar situation with cambel last week. he was waking, but was not very hungry. we did the same thing with the paci and reswaddling...and he seems to have come out of it. now last night he did wake up a little earlier than usual, and we had to put him back to sleep until he was really hungry, but i am wondering if he wasn't feeling the effects of the chocolate cake i ate (it was our 3 year anniversary yesterday, and we went out to eat) .  i hope your lo begins sleeping better for you. it is frustrating to be up with them when they are  not hungry.
marlo-i hope you were able to get a nap today. and i am hoping with you for some rest tonight. hopefully noel is in a growth spurt that will be over quickly.
cambel has taken 2 great naps today-i only had to go in and give him his paci one time. he usually has such a hard time putting himself back to sleep when he wakes up halfway through a nap. but today he did great!
lest i get too excited though, he seems to have decided that he cannot be put down. judy, any suggestions for how to help him begin to entertain himself? or is this just something i just wait out?

[Judy]

Well today we had one nap where I did not have to pat at all   And two where I had to do minimal patting   So I'm very happy with that direction.   I can't seem to extend nighttime though.  I shouldn't complain because they are only up once but it seems they generally wake between 5-6 regardless of last feed - it has been 9pm 10pm or even 11.30pm and they STILL wake around 5am.  So tonight they will get that last feed at 9pm and then I'm not bothering to wake them or df after that and see what happens.  I figure at worst they'll wake at 3am and really not sure that's too bad.  I find it takes a full hour before I get back to bed so getting back to sleep at 4am to be woken at 7am by the other girls will likely be EASIER than getting back to sleep at 6am to be woken at 7am.

judy, any suggestions for how to help him begin to entertain himself? or is this just something i just wait out?

I think it's just time.  I'd just keep at it every day.  I keep putting Kaia and Hannah on the floor and then into the rockers at every wake time and slowly it gets a little longer.  I also find they HAVE to have something interesting to look at too.

[cambeladamom]

well, after a 14 hour drive, we made it to our family vacation. cambel did great....we drove through the night, so he had his longest sleep yet:)
i think he is in a growth spurt right now-eating more and more often. just when i am dying for sleep! but our families are here, so we will make it.
one thing i am wondering...when do you all put your lo's to bed? we have been putting him down around 9 (with no df-he doesn't respond well to this). but he is getting fussy earlier in the evening and i am wondering if we should try to put him down earlier. this may mean i have to get up 2 times at night, but i am thinking he may get some more sleep this way. and this might make him a little happier.
any thoughts on this?
i'll check back after we are back from the beach:)
hope all is well for you. judy, how did the night go without the df?
marlo, are you getting any sleep?

[MichelleTutt]

my new baby Mia was born May 1st, and I've been trying the contented baby routine - breastfeeds at 7am, 11am, 2.15pm, 6.15pm and 10.30-11pm.
feedwise she seems quite happy, but she wants to sleep all morning - falling asleep mid feed requiring much waking to get to breast #2 - then is very clingy late afternoon/all evening - can't remember last meal not eaten one handed with baby over shoulder!
how can i keep her awake during the day???
(also,have 2 year old Keira, and have to confess there are times when i'm grateful for the constant napping!)

[kombay]

Hi There
My DS was born on April 8th, he weighed 7 pounds.  He now weighs 19 pounds and is 30 inched long.  Lately he has started doing the 45 minute nap thing.  He use to take 2.5 hoiur naps 3 times a day like clock work.  Any of your little guys experienceing the same thing?  I think it is a growth spurt.  Also, he never eats more hten 4 ounces at a time, when can I expect him to start taking more food?  This is my first child and he is very changling.  Without his naps, he is definately a grumpy baby.  It makes it hard because I always thought my child would be happy, not the case here.  I sometimes feel like a bad parent becuase he is rarely happy.  Anyone have any ideas especially for activity time that will make him happy?  Thanks Chris

[Lilachawk]

My baby, Heather Mae was born on the 26th of May, she was three and a half weeks eairly but doing realy well, she is still a little small for her age but nothing drastic. We are still working out our EASY routine, I find three hours between feeds hard as we were inisaly doing 3 and a half hours (she is bottle fed) and now we are trying 3 hours she isnt taking as much milk, we are sticking to the 3 hour plan though as even though she is taking less she is feeding more often so I guess it evens out. Our 'problem' right now is daytime sleep, I am having problemsgeting her to sleep in the crib for naps although she does great at night, going down for sleep when she still has her eyes open and geting herself of to sleep although she doesnt manage this in the day at the moment but we are working on it.

[Taylor's Mommy]

my lo was born on 4/19.  we are doing pretty well.  my two "problems" right now are the 45 minute nap thing  :evil:  and she is not always consistent with her night time sleep.  she will go 3 days sleeping till 5 or 6 am then a couple of night waking in the middle of the night.  does anyone else have this inconsistency?  is this normal at this age?
Also, one thing I am struggling with is her wake time.  since she 'usually' wakes at 5 or 6 she will then go back to bed and wake up again anywhere fron 8-10 am!  should I be waking her up at the same time to get consistency?  I tried if for a couple of days to wake her at 7:30 but it is just so hard when she is sound asleep and you know you can be getting more rest too!!! 
what do you all do?
Thanks, ANdrea

[krice]

Hi there . . .I'd love to join in.

My lo was born May 6th - a little over 3 weeks early.  He is my first child!  We started EASY around week 5 and have made great gains.  It was thanks to the BW books and this forum that I realized my Matthew has reflux.  It is still challenging at times - he wakes up from vomit and as of late, his meds (zantac) don't seem to be doing the job. I hate to see him in pain.  We go into the doctor again this week so hopefully we'll be able to get something done.   He is gaining weight though - the past three weeks he's gained between 12-15oz per week!

We are on a 3 hour schedule and dh does a dream feedeach night at 10:30.  Matthew can make it to 4:30 but not always.  Is it just wishful thinking to want him to make it to 7am???  Any suggestions as to how I can extend this time??? If it weren't for his reflux I'd say things were going incredibly well.  Our typical day is something like this. . .

4:00 Eat
4:40 Sleep
7:00 Eat
7:20 Activity
8:15 Sleep
10:00 Eat
10:20 Activity
11:15 Sleep
1:00 Eat
1:20 Activity
2:15 Sleep
4:00 Eat
4:20 Activity
5:15 Sleep
6:45 Eat
7:00 Bath
7:30 Sleep
10:30 DF

I guess my problem right now is fighting constipation.  My lo one used to be so regular (almost every feed) and now he's gone for more than 24 hours without a bm.  I know it is from the rice cereal - we thicken his milk with the hope that it will stay down (it seems to be working but now we've got this lovely side effect).  Any suggestions?  I'd love to hear them.

Cheers,
Kathy
Mom to Matthew (Born 6 May 2005)