Jan/Feb 05 Babies chat!

[herbst99]

Heather/Debra - swimmingWell the first "lesson" didn't go to well. 1st thing apparantly is to teach them to feel comfy on their backs in water - UNFORTUANTLY lise is not comfy on her back on LAND!! Always turning over to get goiing. The teacher said that she thinks Lise will just skip the floating stage and go right into tummy swimming. (Not wanting to lie down has got something to do with babies righting reflex.
Branwen Babes throwing toys is an important developmental stage - teaches them "release" - general release untill spesific release (location). I would probably recommend you tie a few toys with some ribbon etc to your highchair. (under supervision of course - don't want strangulation!!). When baby throw toy usually will either look where it has gone or starts moaning for you to get it - you can then teach "pulling up" of the toy. I know it is annoying!! Hopefully they will "get it" quickly!!
Tammy - Dreamfeed??? I am also cutting Lise's - and in the process decreasing some of her milk feed - so on the day I decrease milk and give feed earlier she has woken around 2/3 am - but just took the dummy and the next night was fine. So I have to decrease again tomorrow - will let you know!
Walkers VERY bad!! Some people also feel this way about jumpers to. How is exercauser different from a walker - Can they not self propel at all in an exercauser?
Music We have lots of baby cd's - with some traditional songs and I play this everyday to and back from work - only thing that keeps lise calm!! winddown and intro to sleep we use "majors for minors" - this serves as a general sleep cue - use with naps as well.
Things to do differently
1. Keep Babywhisperer to myself!!! I get so mad at people asking advice, then not taking it and then asking the same thing again!!
2. Get DH more involved in SLEEP - as he uses the excuse - I don't know how to get her to sleep!!!
3. Leave her with "sitters" earlier - mostly for myself!
4. Not stress so much about naps!
Us Well - talking about naps - this 7mth Nap Crazy is driving me carzy!! Lise is now sleeping 60min max at nap - and with NO!!! extending. Where I usually could get her to sleep another 45min after her first waking at 45min it just seems that at 60min she has now gone past the "tired" stage! Ooh well - I am now going with the flow this week trying to see if we cannot determine a "pattern" emerging.
Dh away tonight so home alone. Taking Lise with me in the room for the night so will see how that goes. Keep well and will talk soon
Nikki

[julieb]

Michelle:  Yes, Asher can stand in the crib, but it was never a game.  Asher has always gone down for naps well, it's the mid-nap transitions that have been difficult.  At this stage, you do PU/PD once they sit or stand up, then PD.  There's no real PU anymore.  Does she know how to get down?  If so, and she's not crying, leave her to it.  If she doesn't, wait till she cries, go rescue and put her back down and leave.  You may be doing this many times before she finally tires out though.
It's annoying, but doesn't last forever, I promise!

Speaking of cute LOs standing in the crib peeping over the rails, I have to post this photo of Asher!

Nikki:  I thought I read somewhere that excersaucers were bad as well, makes them late walkers or something?  But I can't find the reference again for the life of me.  I decided not to get one anyway, and I'm happy I didn't.

[Kinlagh's Folks]

Standing in crib - Thanks Julie & Jo for your replies.  It reminds me that I'm not alone in this craziness called motherhood.  I used what you both suggested tonight and it worked.  I only had to put her down twice before she settled to sleep.  Although she was exhausted because of no afternoon nap.  FYI - She can't yet get into the sitting position.  She stands by pulling up from her knees.  She's a crawl-kneel-stand girl.  I'm sure I'll get it on video once the frustration of it all wears off.  Guess we'll go thru this all again once she can go to sit.  Oh no!!

Thanks again!

Hazel - Thanks re: videos.  She's a fun subject!  We do brush her teeth/gums every night.  I guess once she has a few more teeth, we'll do it in the morning too.  No advice as Kinlagh loves it!  Sorry.

Nikki - I'm curious about the "babies righting reflex" you mentioned. Kinlagh is always quick to roll to her tummy when placed on her back.  Makes putting cream on her murder!!   [/b]

[Deb_in_oz]

ok - i am really struggling again.  yesterday's early nap wake up was because she rolled onto tummy.  she could not resettle and then after an hour of me trying, she pooped and all bets were off.  now this morning i can't ven get her down for her 1st nap - have been trying for over an hour and she just keeps movi9ng around the cot, rocking, crying out of frustration, just di a big poo.  i changed her and tried again! have already offered a top up bottle since she only had 4 oz at bkfst (she took another 3 1/2 oz at 9:20) and have tried holding her down and settling on either tummy or back.

what the heck do i do?! i don't remember the last time i had a morning shower - i think it was Mon or Tuesday... alex needs me and is feeling neglected. we finally have a sunny morning after a week of rain and clouds and i am still in PJs and glasses struggling with nap1  :evil:   help anyone???

[StrawberryAnnie2]

Deb:

Does she take a pacifier? Hannah still likes to be swaddled, just under her armpits so her armas are free. Maybe that may help calm her. I usually hold Hannah and sing softly to her until she gets heavy eyed, then I lay her down. Sending you sleepy vibes......HTH

Joanne

[Deb_in_oz]

joanne - thanks, but no pacifier ever and we got rid of the swaddle at 5 mo - she is in a grobag now. it is the adjustment to tummy sleeping.

it took until 10:15 am (from 855am) but finally afetr that poop it took 2 min pat/shh and she was out on tummy.  slept for 45 min and woke crying on her tummy.

[Kinlagh's Folks]

What worked for us was just settling her on her tummy and not flipping her back to her back.  Figured she needed to get used to it sooner or later, so why not sooner.  Just did our version of pat/shh (hand/pressure on her back, or stroking her cheek and a soft whisper or shh in her ear).  It took a few wakings (all in one night) and it was over.  She was fine for her next day's nap.  Good luck

[branwen]

Things to do differently-most of you already said these :wink:

1- start BW from day one or after day night sorted out
2- definitely keep BW to myself!!!
3- trust my instincts as a mother more

Heather- I believe you!! Eirwen was the same as Kelsey.  We had to wake her every three hrs for about 7 weeks to eat as she would not wake on her own.  At six weeks my ped said I could do one 6 hr stretch with her.  It would take us 45 min to wake her!!! Oh, gosh those days seem so far away....sigh...

Nikki- re: Toy throwing.  I didn't mean to sound like I get mad at my dd or anything.  I don't.  I mean I totally let her throw stuff around.  It's fun- I still like throwing stuff. I just don't want to encourage it beyond her natural desire to do it.  I have this personal trauma of being hit in the head by flying metal cars from an 18 month old who thought it was fun to throw stuff at me.  I know she needs to learn the relationships, gravity, etc.  So we play with balls and stuff and I drop them and she drops/throws them.  I didn't mean to sound like a control freak. :oops:   For me toys in the high chair just don't work for us- she's too distracted by them and will not eat the food- so I give her "kitchen" stufff to play with. 

Most exersaucers are stationary, just a seat.  I think there are few where baby can take a few steps back and forth in them.  My ped said jumpers were ok because it is the jumper that supports all the weight, so they aren't exactly pressing to stand in them- more like toe touching.

Hazel-I love how you describe your day off.  That is so great!! And i know about the feelings of non-existence.  this is what has been getting me down lately

Jo- I so hear you!  We are trying to move to NM from the Eastcoast for the same reason-no family and a few as you said SUPER BUSY friends :cry: and plus we just don't like it here anymore.    It is honestly just too hard sometimes, like when I took Eirwen to the ER, there is no one to call, no one to come help, and my dh is 1.5 hrs away, it really highlights how isolated I am, so we are trying to change that.  I also run errands after my dh gets home.  There is no time for us huh!

Us- Eirwen doing much better

[HeatherC]

Branwen-you "sound" good.  I'm so glad Eirwen is doing better.  Keep us posted.

I had a terrible day with Kelsey yesterday as she only took 30 minute naps.  However, today has been wonderful.  I just have to remember that even babies have bad days, and she needs me more than anything.  Isn't it great to have someone love you more than they love anyone else?!

[Leah's Mom]

  Isn't it great to have someone love you more than they love anyone else?!

Wonderful!!! The best part about working is picking Leah up. I stick my head in the door and she gets this big smile and starts kicking her legs, flailing her arms and screaming (a happy scream!) 

[StrawberryAnnie2]

I just have to remember that even babies have bad days, and she needs me more than anything.  Isn't it great to have someone love you more than they love anyone else?!

So true. We get into a groove then when an off day (or week) hits I get all upset, but I'm learning to relax and go with the flow more.  It's so nice to have other moms here to share experiences with. Hugs to you all

Is it just me or are all of our lo's having a funky nap week? Hope the weekend will be a little more calm.

Jo

[Daniel's mummy]

My lo has had a great nap day today.  yay!  He took a solid 1.5 hours this morning.  Then we went swimming.  Then he took another hour and 45 mins this avo.  Then he went straight to sleep at 7.30pm.  My husband has been using an electric saw on the landing right outside Daniel's room  :shock: (like literally the other side of the door!) and Daniel hasn't woken once.  What a star banana.  Just can't believe it.

No doubt means tomorrow will be a very different day :wink:

[Tammy: Ethan & Kaden's Mom]

Sounds like some of us are having good days mixed with the occasional bad days.  I think that is par for the course!

Good us news - Ethan's tooth has broken through!  He is once again {mostly} my happy boy!  Love it! 

We had a GREAT nap day today.  Ethan has been waking later the past few days, around 7:30 instead of 7.  I put him down for a nap today at 10, and he slept until 12, with a brief 15 minute wakeup and babble in the middle somewhere.  That is a tremendous morning nap for him, he usually does 30 to 45 minutes, and that's it.  Then I put him down for his afternoon nap at 2 thinking it would be short because his am nap was so long.  And he's still asleep!  He woke up for a short babble for about 10 or 15 minutes (right when the garbage truck was coming down our street), and went right back to sleep.  So that's another 1.75 hour nap!  Amazing!

And the best part - my dh and I are going to the Texas Rangers baseball game tonight with his work.  My mom and dad are coming over to babysit shortly.  So I know that Ethan won't be super cranky pants tonight, since his naps were so awesome! 

These are the days that make everything worthwhile.

Oh - and can I say - I am going to miss my baby's toothless grin.  It makes me tear up just thinking about it.  I'm so sappy sometimes!   :cry:  :oops: 

[julieb]

I gave Tylenol to Asher before bed for the first time!   :lol:   I felt we deserved it since those giant front teeth are coming through!  He did okay.  I gave him another dose around 3 am.  Still woke at 6 am though.  :?

So, the past 2-3 days, we've had shorter morning naps, like 1.25 hours instead of the typical 1.5.  And the afternoon naps seem to be getting longer again, like 2-2.5 hours.  Our A time in the morning is 2.5 hours, but it's obvious he can go longer.  We go 3 hours before the afternoon nap.  I'm not sure if I should extend the A time in the morning, or just let the morning nap get shorter and shorter.  If I extend too much, that'll put the afternoon nap way too late in the day (and it's already approaching that).  And since the afternoon nap is the one that stays, I figure I should just let the morning nap fizzle out on it's own?  What do you think?

Tammy:  I was so sappy about Asher's gummy grin.  I still miss it sometimes.  But I have to admit, those two little teeth all by themselves are pretty darn cute sometimes!  :wink:

[HeatherC]

JulieB, Tammy, and Hazel, I'm happy for you that your nap situations are improving.  Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat with Jo.  I've had nap h@ll this week.  Of course, she's had a runny nose/possible cold, so I can't really blame her.  However, she's been much better, but yesterday's naps were 30 minutes as I mentioned, and today's were both less than 1 hr.  Then I've tried to run errands these past 2 nights and she's been an absolute bear.  Is this part of the touchy temperment?  I stay home all day so she can nap, so the evening is all I have.  She used to be decent when I'd take her out, but now I barely have a 1 hr window of opportunity of her being happy, and that's only if the stroller is moving.  Heaven forbid I should stop to do something.  I just had visions of running around with my baby/toddler and doing things out and about in the world with her.  I guess I need to let go of that for now, but it is depressing.  Sorry, didn't mean to ramble.