MSE Parent Club

Snaggles

The thing about months 4,5 and 6 being the best bit isn't necessarily correct - I had much more energy in months 6, 7 and 8 (although was getting a bit shattered as I started to approach month 9!). Just be kind to yourself Bailey, take any help that's offered and if it's getting too much, get your other half to take the baby for a bit, go and have a soak, read a book, go shopping, or whatever it is you like to do to recharge your batteries.

Seriously hun, you will be able to cope much better if you build a bit of time for yourself into your routine - your head will be clearer, you'll be less tired and stressed, and that will benefit everyone.

purplepatch

Try not to worry about the spotting, it's probably your body's way of telling you to rest up. Hmmm, some chance with a baby needing attention.

I'm another one for the snot club. Both of the girls had it very mildly, I've been coughing and spluttering for days!!

I still feed Izzy every time and she's 11 months next week. I occasionally let her do finger food, but it gets squashed into fingers, hair, eyes, etc and not much gets eaten. Or I find it in the highchair once she's got out :rolleyes:

Don't worry about it, I don't remember what I did with Olivia, I know I never let her make too much mess though! And she's 4 now and able to feed herself ok! Izzy sometimes reaches for the spoon and I let her hold it with me, but haven't let her loose on her own with it! I usually am under pressure to get mealtimes over with what with school run and DH pick up from the station in the evening.

I'd just follow Jack's lead - I expect he'll let you know in no uncertain terms when he wants to do it himself.

Snaggles

Could you give a bit of milk to stop the crying, then when the baby is looking sleepy and docile, quick burp, fling a new nappy on and then finish the feed?

I know you're worrying, and it will be tricky in those early weeks, but you will find routines that work for you, and you might even find Jack starts to sleep through the baby crying, because it will be a sound he is accustomed to.

Edited to say (((hugs))) to you, because you sound so tired and stressed. xxx

purplepatch

Deleted_User wrote: »

He is a light sleeper and does stir with noise even though we've tried not to tiptoe around him. Some people say once their child is asleep they could poke them or move/lift them up and they wouldn't wake. Jack has never been like that from the word go.

Obviously my 2 are much further apart in age, but Olivia was always a very light sleeper until Isabel came along. Sometimes it amazes me how she can sleep through the screaming, but she does. Perhaps something kicks in and they adapt to the baby's crying or something? A lot of friends said the same as i remember worrying about it myself, thinking Olivia would be disturbed on schoolnights, but it hasn't ever happened. I don't think she's ever got up in the night due to hearing the baby crying in fact. Expect someone with them closer in age will be able to confirm.

SusanCarter

I do elimination communication which is slightly different to conventional nappying but I always used to take Alice to the toilet/change her nappy after night feeds and this didn't cause problems in terms of her going back to sleep.

jenpoptab

Bailey, I stick Hayden in a disposable at 10/11pm and don't change him 'til he wakes in the morning. I purposefully don't change him middle of night when he wakes for a feed so as not to disrupt him more than necessary. Hope you get on alright at MW, take it easy! Also I was shattered in third and third trimester's with all three pregnancies.

I feel quite refreshed today, Hayden fed at 11pm, bottle from Dad, then I don't recall feeding him again 'til 6am ish, however I do get him out of basket & feed him without realising, quite often.

purplepatch

I don't do middle of the night changes either, she is changed at bedtime and not again until morning. The only exception would be if she poos, which she rarely does at night, but I do change her then as she is so susceptible to nappy rash.

I remember my friend's hv was really shocked when she told her that she changed her baby during the night, told her not to bother.

[Deleted User]

Hi guys, well all went ok with the MW, she detected a heartbeat and told me if it happened again then to go to the hospital. She also told me to take it as easy as possible and only do the bare minimum, which I am trying to do anyway, but its hard when DH is hardly hear and now my mum is away for a week, most of my friends are back at work, so its predominently me and Jack most days.

Re night changing is that from birth? Would you change them around 10/11pm and go through until 6-7am? As I know with Jack in the beginning we didn't do that as we thought newborns needed to be changed with every feed which was approx 3-4 hours. If I can get away with no changing overnight so much the better especially if I can breastfeed.

Maybe I am worrying too much, Jack will adapt, he'll have to, not only with sleep but not being the centre of attention all the time. Today when the MW was talking to me and had her back to Jack, he started protesting at being ignored and the same in the bank after the initial greeting of the cashier he whinged to get more attention. He's used to being centre and I think he'll find it hard to begin with, but he'll learn.

Right I think he's gone to sleep so my cue to go and lie down too.

PS as a suggestion what do people think about putting in your signature your children's ages, as often I am getting people's babies and children mixed up and find it difficult to relate to the problem's people have with their babies when I can't remember what stage they are at. Although it would need updating every month and would we remember to do that?

SusanCarter

Deleted_User wrote: »

PS as a suggestion what do people think about putting in your signature your children's ages, as often I am getting people's babies and children mixed up and find it difficult to relate to the problem's people have with their babies when I can't remember what stage they are at. Although it would need updating every month and would we remember to do that?

I've put Alice down in my signature but I've just put in when she was born so it doesn't have to keep being updated. I think some people already have that.

Edit: PS the "toy" Alice is playing with in my avatar is an old food container. It's one of her favourite toys - very MSE :money:

[Deleted User]

Susan that is a good idea saves updating it then, i'll do Jack now. Thanks.

Great toy, I have found one of Jacks fave toys is a 29p plastic spade or a fly swat. He also likes pushing his pot lids around the tray after he's eaten keeps him amused whilst I can finish my food.

Having trouble with him going down tonight, don't usually, but I think its because he napped late and he's not quite ready, but I've had enough i've been going with him since 6.30am and DH isn't home until midnight. So bed he is.