Jan/Feb 05 Babies chat!

[Kinlagh's Folks]

Julie wrote:

Hey, that would be a fun thread...if you could do something differently, what would it be? Or what will you do differently with your next one?

 
Oooo, that's a tough one.  I'd have to think about it cause nothing comes right to mind.  I guess that's a good sign!  Oh wait, I thought of one:  I'd "program" her internal wake clock at 8am instead of 7am.  And this one isn't so much something I could "do" but I wish bf'ing went better for us.  Tough memories in the early months, but we love our bottles now.

Jusspress: I just did some viewing on jusspress and wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anyone.  So far, I know of JulieB, Branwen, Heather and Tarri...am I missing anyone?

[HeatherC]

"never wake a sleeping baby."   :lol:   Oh, the things I'd do different if I could go back. Probably one of the few things I disagree with Tracy on!

 :?:  Hey, that would be a fun thread...if you could do something differently, what would it be?  Or what will you do differently with your next one?

Great minds think alike, as they say.  I always dreaded people telling me not to wake her, especially at night.  But I was so set to "do it the right way" and I truely thought I HAD to.  Now, I won't wake her 99% of the time.  Which led me to thinking, "what I'll do differently next time."  So here's mine:

 :arrow: I will start sleep training much sooner, ie having baby settle self to sleep from being awake.
 :arrow: I won't wake the baby unless absolutely too much time has passed; I'll be more relaxed about it.  However, especially early on, there does have to be limits:  to regulate day/night and to maintain baby's blood sugar levels with enough feedings.
 :arrow: I will sleep when the baby sleeps and not worry about the house or what dh needs.  Sorry, but I'm being honest.

Um, that's all for now, I'm sure I'll think of more.
Oh, and I tried apples and chicken today.  It didn't smell, and she ate all 4 oz.  It was the Del Monte brand.  However, I think it might have hurt her tummy  .  And it was not lumpy.  Where's the lumps to introduce texture?

[Deb_in_oz]

will definitely write when the girls have 1pm nap - this thread is moving too fast for me these days as i read in snatches through the day with one eye out for alex coming to catch me  :oops: and seem to miss so much - i swear i read other people's comments and think "did Christine say that - i missed it in her post" etc  :oops:  but will try to focus and re-read the last few pages.

on a positive note - olivia is still asleep - doing at least 1 1/2 hrs for morning nap - will write about it later (this is the 2nd time this week  )

talk later ladies - miss you all too!!

[sedona314]

Thanks for music responses. 

Michelle, that is great about Kinlagh saying Mama!

Heather,  Matty is dropping his toys a lot and I havent really decided how to handle it.  So far I'm just picking them up a few times and handing them back.  Not really sure what to do either.


Everyone:  Matty has a few great days of napping, and then one like today where he only slept 45 minutes at a time for all three naps. I think it is the teething thing.  He also tends to sleep better the days Im at work!  My sitter says they know when Mommy is home, but sometimes I get the good naps, just not as often.

Wanted to respond to more people but have to get to bed and tomorrow is a work day. 

Its helpful to me when  you guys post about your frustration with mornings.  I feel that I am at Matthew's mercy with how much sleep I get.  Will he get up at 5 am? 6:30? or do I get a late morning 6:45!!!!  Especially on work days, it can be unnerving.  I thought I was the only one who felt like that. I used to consider getting up anytime before 8 A.M. to be really early!  Im not a morning person!   Am I using enough exclamations??!!! lol

Hugs to everyone

Julie

[Tammy: Ethan & Kaden's Mom]

Wow - posters have been busy!   

Julie - we have just about nil "kid" music cd's around here.  I got a lullaby one that I used to use for naps, but no longer.  And someone gave me a Veggie Tales Sunday Songs one at my shower.  That's it for now.  I'm sure when Ethan gets a bit older, I'll be listening to much more, but for now, I'm in control of the music!  Of course, I'm pretty mellow, but love my Dave Matthews! 

Heather - I was thinking the same thing today; what baby food can you buy that has more texture to it?  The only difference I see with stage 1 and stage 2 food is the quantity.  I tried the veggie puffs with Ethan, he about gagged on them, and it made me paranoid that he was going to choke on it!  I don't think he's ready for those yet.  I just don't know how to go from the stage 1 baby food to the next step.  Any suggestions from anyone?  btw, we're still doing stage 1 because that's about as much as Ethan eats of solids at one sitting.  He usually eats one 2.5 oz of a fruit at lunch, and then a 2.5 oz veggie, plus maybe 1/2 a fruit at dinner.  If he eats more than that, I see it all over again!   :roll:

Julieb - sounds like you guys had a very early morning!  Isn't it lovely when you're woken up at that time of the morning?  I can't help thinking, oh geez, are we going to start today this way?

Jaime - here's hoping that luke's nap wakings decrease or desist!   :lol:

Branwen - I hear you regarding what I'm willing do to during his nightwakings if the pattern continues (and what I'm willing to break him of).  Also, totally with you on the getting of Motrin kick.  I gave it to him for his fever when he had a cold, then he seemed like he was cranky and teething, so he got it for that.  I finally had enough since it had been about two weeks, so today was a no pain reliever day for us, and it seemed okay!

Us - well, I decided to tweak up ethan's routine today.  he woke at 7 am, and I kept him up for 2.5 hours, and put him down for his am nap at 9:30.  I was doing 9 am - meaning 2 hours A time.  He slept for his routine 30 minutes, but then fell back asleep pretty quickly after babbling to himself for about 15 minutes.  So, total, he slept about 1 hour.  That's good for us for a morning nap.  Then he was up from about 11 to 2 - yes, that's right 3 hours of A time!  That's a big deal for us, he was almost always a 2 hour on the dot kid!  Granted we ran some errands, and he fell asleep in the car on the way home - for about 10 minutes, but I'm not counting that!   :oops:  :wink:   I put him down for his pm nap at 2, and he slept straight through until 3:45.  Yeah!  I have gotten 2 and 2.5 hour afternoon naps out of him, but this was great too!  Then he was up from 3:45 till bedtime, which I moved up 15 minutes to 7:15.  I am trying to get rid of his 5 pm catnap.  The day went pretty well for us on this routine.  Poor guy was sleepy by the time bedtime rolled around, but that's okay!  He went down very easily - although he almost always does at bedtime.

And we haven't had any nightwakings since I've posted.  He has woken a couple of times in the night, cried out for about 30 seconds, then quit, resettled himself, and gone back to sleep.  Not sure what that's all about, but as long as he doesn't scream his head off, no problem!  I actually have caught myself after about an hour passes since he woke up having gone back to sleep.  Meaning, I lay there thinking - will he settle, will he wake up?  And then he settles, and in the meantime, I've gone back to la la land myself.  And then I start awake an hour later, thinking, gee, I guess he went back to sleep.   :oops:

We're also in the process of cutting out his df.  I just started this today, so we'll see how long it takes.  I'm nervous cause I don't want him to start waking in the middle of the night for a feed - but hopefully that won't happen.  I'm just decreasing 1 oz so far, and adding that 1 oz to his morning bottle. 

Oh, big news!  I think I finally see the cut in the gums where yes, you guessed it, a tooth may FINALLY BE MAKING IT'S APPEARANCE!  It feels a bit rough there, so I think it's finally coming!  No actual tooth yet, but I know it's on it's way.  Is it so ridiculous that I'm happy about this?  I thought Ethan would just be mr. cranky butt forever, and I'd forever be blaming non-existant teeth! At least if he gets one, I'll know they exist!   :lol:

Well, I'm off to do the earlier df tonight.  It takes too long to catch up to you girls!   

[Deb_in_oz]

HI all - this will be another long one to catch up... until the weekend we are on SLOW internet connection (we don't have unlimited and if there was more days left i would upgrade but for a few days not worth it....)

Tarri - it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job - congrats to you - i bet you are starting to feel so good and confident - you are obviously making all the right choices for emily!

christine - have fun with babyproofing now thatyou have alittle army crawler - Leah is on the move! yea!

Heather - i was excited that she said mama (alothough it has only been 2 times so far) because alex said dada first, and olivia seems to be a daddy's girl so i felt this was a nice connection for me and her to have.
and yeah on the waving - i have not even tried that one yet. ~ with the toys from high chair - don't get upset, just don't laugh at it.  she will grow out of it after she learns what she wants fromt he cause/effect stuff. it will last a while though.... Liv does not have toys at the high chair (nor the tray yet ) just holds her spoon and cup.

Jaime - i too am amazed at all the free support in australia.  with no family here i could not have survived alex's first year without my local early childhood centre and obviously i have used every resource possible with olivia.  in our state especially there are a lot of programs to support families with under 5's.  they try to catch any problems and help kids before they reach school age.  ~ congrats on the hug - sounds delicious

julieb - we too have had episodes of waking and crying - from naps and before DF.  i had success with resettling once at nap by rocking and pat/shh simultaneously (it was my first rocking experience and i was amazed - now i know why people do it  :lol: ) i think it is all developmental.  olivia really seems to have a lot going on with her and i thin kit is just comeing to a head these days.  ~ i also don't envy you (and the other moms of little boys) i said to Dh when PG with Liv "if it is a biy i won't have any cluke how to handle "bits" and how to toliet train etc"

Branwen - that is the way things often develop -they learn and then forget as they move on to learning other new things - alex was like that all the time and Liv is similar (ex: she rolled at 7 weeks and then almost nothing until now.  alex learned some words and then dropped them for ages until she starte again...) all normal. ~ yeah on the crawling and napping and breakfast out! ~ with the grobag you adjust what clothes they are wearing with it in order so they dfon't overheat - they come with a temp. chart that lists what to wear based on the temp int he room. ~ i thought liv might be hgavinga 7 mo Growth spurt so maybe eirwen is having an 8 mo GS  :roll: ~ toys: we use almost all non-electronic toys (stuffed animals and dolls, soft blocks, books - board and cloth, rattles, rings, etc) ~ teething remedy is a homeopathic drink made by "Braeur" - they have a full range for all kids ailments, tastes nice, you can't give it "too often" or for too long so is ok to use all the time which was great with alex when she would teethe for weeks on end

Vidya - OMG i feel so bad for Diya. i am glad to hear they fixed her elbow but how scary!! hugs to you.

Nikki - how was swimming.  we might take the girls this weekend (we have a 3day weekend) if the weather is nice since alex's swim calss is on break. it will be liv's first time.

Julie G - because of alex we have lots of kids music and it is on a lot.non eof what i play specifically woud be available in the states/canada but the general idea is i have 2 CDs of nursery rhymes, a 3CD set of "action" songs like if you're happy and you know it, wheels on the bus...; a couple of locally produced Cds of fun educational songs for toddlers.  they are quite good (my 38 year old siser wanted to burn copies of some of our songs because she could not stop singing them during her visit  :lol: )

Michelle - hope all is well for you now.  thanks for your kind words.  both girls still have runny noses and alex now seems to have a tummy bug (yucky poops and poor appetite) ~ Kinlagh will have to resettle after a trip - check out the getting back on track board if you need to.


i am sure i missed a lot but can't comment on it all....

us - well - olivia did a 1.5 hr nap this morning and then this afternoon woke after 30 min whyen rolled on her tummy and she was playing and babbling, etc i have tried resettling but don't think it is going to happen!!! why can't i have a great day - i was too excited from this morning's success - that'll teach me!  ~ also - got my latestthyroid test results back and unfortunately i am now HYPOthyroid so will be seeing my doctor next week to discuss changing those meds.  what fun.  at least it explains my recent weihght gain and feeling cold when Dh insists it is fine in the house! ~ am also exhausted and that can be part of it.  so hopefully changing meds there will give me a pick me up! ~ olivia is rolling back and forth now and really doing a lot  on all 4s but CANNOT go forwrad no matter how hard she tries.  does anyone know how long they can crawl backwards before learning to go forwards - i thought it would be a week but i was wrong! ~ must dash off to try again to settle her.  will write tonight if i forgot anything.

can't re-read this now so sorry if a mess to read  :lol:

[Daniel's mummy]

Just a real quickie as I have loads to do while Daniel sleeps.

Yesterday was a n awful nap day.  Did about 45 mins in morning and then about 30 mins in afternoon!  He displayed lots of what I would describe as 'tantrum' behaviour yesterday as a result.  Was a scarey look into the future maybe! :shock:

Consequently he was in bed by 6.30pm (usually about 7.45) and he slept through til 6.30am :shock: Yay!  Feels so good doesn't it when they do what you plan for them to do!  Just wish he'd do that more often

My sister and her husband are taking Daniel for the day today.  They are so excited and I am so looking forward to a Daniel free day (as much as I do love being with him, a day to myself is heaven).  I have to go now and pack up ALL his stuff.  Also need to write out lists and timetables (nice to know I'm not the only one who does this).


Really love looking at video clips of babies crawling.  Can't wait - Daniel kind of balances on his tummy but has not yet worked out that he can get up on his hands and knees to move.

Have a great day everyone.

[HeatherC]

Tammy-go ahead and buy stage 2.  You can open the jar, dish out the amount he will eat, and the remaining can stay in your fridge for 2-3 days.  Kelsey doesn't eat a full jar yet, so I use them throughout the day.  Also, it took several, several tries for Kelsey to get the hang of the veggie puffs.  I, too, am so paranoid of choking, but she's doing really well now.  I think the gagging is mostly do to the funny feel of them in their mouths.  Everyone has told me to just jump into the finger foods, and I'm slowly trying.  I still break about 2 of the "corners" off the puff just to make them a tad smaller.   :oops:   Great naps, yay!  I think he'll be fine to cut out the dream feed.  Maybe then he'll start taking more solids.  We're up to 3-4 oz per feeding, and it was 2-3.  I just assume her appetite is increasing.

JulieG-I'm not a morning person either, and I don't have to work outside of the house.  That's why I have Kelsey sleeping 8-8.  She sometimes starts to stir around 7:30, so this is when I start getting up and get breakfast ready, and my coffee, then get I get her.  As long as she's not crying, which she usually is not, then she just plays for a few minutes while I get ready for the morning.  If I bring her right out, she'll fuss the whole time I'm getting her food ready, so she's much happier just playing in the crib.  Or dh while get her if he has time and spend some time with her before work. 

Branwen-it's been about 3 days now since I haven't given Motrin.  Of course, she's been having the Pediacare now for her cold, and I certainly didn't want to give too much medicine.  She seems okay with her teeth, but it's so hard to tell with the runny nose going on too.

Thanks for your imput on toy throwing.  I know that it's not the best idea to give toys in the area that is meant for eating, but I have to keep her occupied, and she has hit herself in the eye with the spoon.  I guess I will just try a small bowl that I use for her food.

[Leah's Mom]

I know I REALLY need to catch up, and I promise I will soon. But I have one quick question. Has anyone tried cottage cheese? I was eating some last night and I gave DD a bit. She loved it and kept trying to take it from me!  It's the 4% large curd. Can you use it as part of a meal? For example, half a jar of veges and a few Tablespoons of cottage cheese?

[julieb]

Okay, so Asher is officially teething again.  :roll:  :shock:   One of his top incisors is buldging and will prolly break through within a day or two.  The other doesn't seem far behind.  I'm also wondering if he's working on his second set of bottom incisors because they seem kinda swollen and I think I see white underneath.  So at least I have a reason for all this craziness!   Must say that he's handling them better than the first set -- especially during A time.

Last night he woke at 10 pm and took a good hour to settle.  I didn't have to do PU/PD, it was obvious he was tired and was trying to get back to sleep, but couldn't.  But I still had listen to him moan and go in every 5-10 minutes.  Then he woke at 5:40 them morning and just moaned off and on again until I got him up at 7:00.  I'm SOOOO tired my eyes just ache.  I'm going back to bed after this since he's napping.  Now that I know it's teething, I think I know how I can help him better tonight.

Happy Asher news: Not allergic to millet! 

Heather:  You hit three of my top "what to do differently" right on the money!   :lol:

Deb: Potty training is my biggest fear with a boy!  :shock:   And we're still arguing about how we want to refer to his bits and pieces.  I prefer the proper names but DH prefers weird alternative phrases that only a man could appreciate!   :roll:  :lol:

Heather/Michelle:  Oh, how I wish, oh, how I tried to get Asher on a 8-8 schedule!!  I fought with him for MONTHS until I finally gave in around 4.5 months and moved it up till 7-7.  All was well for a while, then we started fighting the 7-7!  I'm determined not to move it again because I know he'll just counter me again!  :evil:   :cry:   If either of you know how to "program" 8-8, let me know!   :lol:

[HeatherC]

Christine-I have read that cottage cheese is an exceptable table food.  However, Kelsey didn't like it.  Have you tried the yobaby yogurt, or do you plan to?

JulieB-I can't really take credit for the 8-8 (or so) sleep.  That's how she's always been.  Probably no one believes me, but she never woke in the night as a newborn or after for that matter to eat.  I had to wake her at least after 5 hours per the ped. instructions to feed her.  After I stopped waking her (8 weeks) she never woke on her own from habit either.  That's not to say that we didn't have days/nights when we had to hold her around the clock, but that didn't last too long after she got days/nights sorted.  I tried letting her sleep until she woke one or two nights, but after 7 hours I would get worried and feel like she should eat.  Everything I read said not to let a bf baby go more than 5 hours.

[Kinlagh's Folks]

JulieB (and others) - Has Asher (or others) started standing in their crib yet?  Kinlagh learned how today and I have yet to get her down for her afternoon nap (been trying for 1.5 hours).  I'm at a loss and need some advice if you have it.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jaime]

hmmm... what would i have done differently....

i would have moved to canada so i could have a year's paid maternity leave!  :lol:

i had BOTH kids on an 8-8 schedule, and it had to be scrapped so i could return to work! 

i honestly don't regret a lot of what i did (perhaps i am not thinking clearly!).  i did wake the sleeping baby.  i had to - #1 had days & nights confused due to an overnight labor.  she was straightened out quickly.  luke had the play at night biorhythm - he took 7 weeks to 'fix'.

i wish luke could have been bf longer, but since i was pumping only for him, i don't see how i could have held on much longer than 6 months anyhow. 

there were many times i wondered why i had them so close together, but i'm very happy with that decision now.

and yes, ignoring the house is a must.  i did learn that after the first one.  and dh knew better than to complain about it the second time!  :wink:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
food- i buy the plain unsweetened applesauce from the grocery store - that has a bit of texture.  depending on my mood, i will buy canned (salt free) or frozen peas & carrots or whatever - they're little enough to be finger food.  at least, i did with jaina - we're haven't quite gotten to finger foods yet - not much interest from luke.  also have found that if i don't let stuff go too long in the blender or don't add as much water there are more lumps.

Hazel - enjoy your day off!  oh how nice that will be!

Tammy - hope that tooth finally comes in!

[StrawberryAnnie2]

JulieB (and others) - Has Asher (or others) started standing in their crib yet?  Kinlagh learned how today and I have yet to get her down for her afternoon nap (been trying for 1.5 hours).  I'm at a loss and need some advice if you have it.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, Hannah stands up in her crib now! I stay in her room for a min or two after laying he down (out of sight). If she sits up I lay her back down before she can even get into a standing position. It's really cute when she wakes up now because when I go in to her room to get her up she's standing up waiting for me. She's so cute with her big blue eyes peering over the top of the rail.  Naps have been off for us too these days. 1 hr in the am and pm for the past 3 days, glad to know she isn't the only one.

As far as what I would have done differently.........I think I would have started the EASY routine from day 1. I didn't really follow it until Hannah was 3 mos, which is when I got the second book (solves all your probs). Also, I'd be more relaxed, I stress way too much. I'm learning to take one day at a time and do my best. If she doesn't eat or nap well it's not the end of the world, though it sometimes feels that way when I'm wiped.  Lastly I'd get more help. I don't have any family here and only a few very busy friends. We are currently trying to move back to the Westcoast to be near my mom and sisters. I'd love to have my mom care for Hannah one day a week so I can run errands w/o her. Right now I run errands in the evening when DH comes home from work and it sucks because I'm so tired. Anyway, thats all for now.

Jo

[Daniel's mummy]

I have officially had the best day in a long time!

As I posted earlier my sister and her hubby had Daniel for the day today.  She is familiar with baby whispering ways and is really great with him (as is her hubby) so they excitedly drove off with him this morning after his morning nap. I, well, did NOTHING for about an hour first.  I kept glancing at the monitor expecting to hear Daniel waking up and then remembered he was awake and 'playing out' today    Then I went shopping and spent ages just walking around etc... Then bought myself a book and went and sat in Starbucks and read for about an hour.  It was heaven.  I even got to take the stairs rather than the lift which was a treat in itself.  (You realise all the little things that you can't do when you have a pram and a baby with you).

Got home about 4pm and curled up on settee with a hot choc and just enjoyed silence.

Daniel arrived home at 6pm.  He had had an hour's sleep this avo, had had his tea already and just looked sooooo grown up (is that possible for an 8 month old?!)  Oooo I had so missed him (but oooo I had a good day too :wink: )

Funny really but today has been quite significant I think.  Just having some quality time all to myself has kind of made me realise the importance of guarding some 'me' time every once in a while.  I don't know if any of you feel the same but since ds came along I guess I've almost forgotten that I exist.  It's become a bit like I just exist for Daniel.  Does that make sense?  Today has made me fall in love with him even more than before (if that's possible). 

Michelle - your video clips of Kinlagh are adorable. 

Julieb - I know what you mean about dreading potty training with a boy!  Me too.

I've been trying to think of 3 things I would do differently.  Quite difficult really.  Things haven't always been easy but somehow, at the same time, I wouldn't want to change it.  KWIM?

 :arrow: I'd not get my hopes up at about 38 weeks thinking that the baby could come any day.  Holding out then til 42 weeks for an induction was murder!
 :arrow: I'd have not worried so much that Daniel was getting 'fat'.  People were obsessed all the time with how much weight he was putting on (me included :oops: ).  I'd just relax and enjoy his 9oz bottle feeds (at like 4 weeks!!!).  He's just a hungry, healthy baby.
 
Could only think of 2.  Guess that's a good thing really.

Teeth - do all of you clean your lo's teeth every morning and night?  Now Daniel has 8 :shock:  we are really trying to get into the habit of properly cleaning them after breakfast and before bed. But he HATES it!  He used to love it but now it turns into a battle every time.  Just wondering if anyone had any clever advice?!