MSE Parents Club Part 16

Doglover

Hi, thanks Tigerlee. I take it that feeling like an only child and having yours close together means that you would've liked to grow up with your sibling? Congrats on baby number 2!

Hi Claireloo

Clarieloo

Hi - how are things? We've made it to 12 weeks somehow but L still isn't sleeping through the night All my friends in RL tell me their LOs go from 10.30 to 7am but we still have a 4am wake up. Oh well...

The 5pm withcing hour seems to be getting better which I was told it probably would at around 3 months so thats something at least.

Doglover

Hi, it's been a long slow 13 weeks here! LO has only actually been sleeping in the last few weeks so I'm nowhere near sleeping through. RL friends all seem to have perfect babies my end!

The colic symptoms are defo easing but the reflux is ever apparent

wendz86

Claireloo - some babies don't sleep through the night till a lot later. Poppy is 7 months and doesn't. Not saying your LO won't soon but it isn't the norm at such a young age. Thankfully I have met a lot of other Mummys that babies wake up far more than Poppy which makes me feel better.

Talking about age gaps. There was 2 years and a month between me and my sister and we were always close until teenage years but we are again now. Was nice having someone to do everything with.

*BigBird*

Hi All

I've not been on for a little while as Joe and I were both suffering from lurgy last week. He's fine now and I was OK but now seem to have developed tonsillitis

We are going away this weekend and I've dug out our travel cot. It's about 7 years old, had probably been in my brother's loft for at least 4 years and has been under our bed for a year. Would you think the mattress would be OK? It doesn't smell musty or anything, but I know you're not really supposed to use second-hand cot mattresses - does the same apply to a travel cot?

I know everyone has said it already, MV, but I think you've done the right thing. I understand that it must feel like you've given up your independence and you're a braver woman than I, but I think you'll have a much better quality of life even if finances are a little more stretched.

I'm lucky in working from home and work allow me to do full time hours over 4 days, but it's hard. I do 8 -7 for 4 days and have Joe on my own on a Friday. I've had a cold for about a month and don't seem to be able to get over it, I think because I just never get to rest. I'm very tempted to cut back to just 4 days a week properly, so I can finish when DH brings Joe back around 5pm, but I don't really want to lose 20% of my income.

We're planning to start TTC late next year when Joe is 2 as I'd ideally like a 3 year gap. Partly because Joe will be getting some of his nursery sessions funded then so it'll be a little easier financially. Also partly because I really can't imagine being pregnant and having to chase around after a toddler :eek: I'm hoping he'll be a bit more independent and easier to look after by the time he's 3. I'm probably sadly misguided!! :rotfl:

I didn't enjoy being pregnant and had said that I wouldn't have another, but now he's here I don't really want Joe to be an only child. I'm 1 of 4 and can't imagine not having my siblings around. I've also recently seen my friend, who is an only child, go through the stress of losing her Dad then having to nurse her mother through Cancer. Her Mum never really recovered fully and has developed a raft of other medical issues, to the point she's now had to go into a home and so my friend has had to deal with finding her a suitable place, selling her Mum's house and sorting out the finances. There's only so much support friends can offer, so she's really been left to sort it out on her own. Joe's potentially going to be in the same situation and I'd rather he had someone to share the burden.

But, saying that, my friend loved being an only child. She's very independent and left home at 17. With no siblings, she had a lot more adult company and believes that shaped her personality.

So if it doesn't happen for us again, I won't be gutted that Joe doesn't have a sibling, but I'd like him to, IYSWIM.

Joe has been a really good sleeper and I do worry that we can't possibly be that lucky a second time and so a new baby will not sleep. My brother has refused point blank to have a second child for this very reason (SIL is not at all happy, but resigned to it)

mirrorimage0

ok so we have 3 boys now, aged 12yrs 9 yrs and 6 weeks.

theres 2 and a half yrs between our eldest and my eldest was at nursery when i had number 2 so got to spend time a few times a week on a one to one basis. but as long as you encourage the older one to help out and get involved etc they wont feel left out. our eldest was really excited to have a brother. as they got older they played together really well but they are having moments lately where they just dont get on but fortunatley it only lasts around half hour lol

the love you dont have to share there is simply enough for all.

financialy i didnt find it harder when they were little but it is getting harder now that they are older and want more for birthdays and xmas etc. also planning a holiday on a budget can be long and tedious but we manage.

with the third we had to start again with everything but am so good at bargaining buying now and using freecycle that we get really ood deals and hasnt cost a fortune, also breast feeding saves money too lol

hope everyone is doing well. and getting some sleep. x

missymoo81

I just wondered if someone could help, baby has been crying for ages!!! He's a week old but I can't work out why he's crying, the only thing I can think of is, it's because he hasn't pooed for a few hours... So does anyone know of any ways to relieve baby's constipation? Your help would be so much appreciated, I feel so bad when he screams so much, he's so tiny.

wendz86

Ohh Missymoo congratulations!

I am not sure it would be constipation after just a few hours and not really sure on what you could do about that if it is at that age. Could it be wind? You could try cycling his legs /massaging his tummy gently.

Is hard when they cry especially if you don't know whats wrong.

Bigbird- hope you are feeling a bit better now. I am not sure about the mattresson the travel cot, personally i probably would use it but don't know what the guidelines are.

mirrorimage0

oh missy moo its horrid when they do that.

samuel was doing it and gripe water seemed to help but it says not to use until 1 month old, and he was a couple of days of off a month before i gave it to him.

easier said than done but try not to stress as baby will pick up on this, give him to other half for 5 mins so you can calm yourself down. are you breast or bottle feeding? as people may have different suggestions.

have you tried massaging his tummy or holding him up against yoour shoulder so his tummy is on your shoulder so to speak.

or putting him in the bath with you, samuel loves that.

hope fully someone else may have some other suggestions, let us know how you get on. x

Sammy_Girl

Sorry, a bit late to the party but congrats on handing your notice in MV. I totally agree re the independence of having your own money, and it is a hard decision to make. IMO, it's a small price to pay for being there to watch LO grow up. This year has just flown by, so I don't want to miss any more.

Missymoo - Sounds like it may be wind.? DD used to suffer terribly. Make sure she has a good burping session after feeding and plenty of tummy circle motions and bicycle legs. ((((Hugs)))) - the first few weeks are hard x


I remember when DD was a few weeks old and DH was adamant that he didn't want another, although I could never understand why as he hardly ever got up with DD when she cried, needed feeding etc! Anyways, in recent weeks he has said that he would like another and tonight we were talking about names :eek: But no plans on when we would TTC number 2, so its all a pipe dream at the mo. But I'm thinking if Im going to take a career break now, maybe sooner rather than later would be better?