*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

pigpen

My youngest boy was 2 months early and got his first 4 teeth at 6 weeks!! My 14.5 month old has 8 teeth and has had for months.. 4 huge molars almost through.

My 3 year old doesn't sleep through most nights and my 14.5 month old still wakes for boob at least once. She has a 1 hour nap some days and goes to bed at 8:30-9pm until 6:30-7am.. This is my nocturnal tag team.

Babies are not capable of self settling... their adrenaline levels soar as they have feeling of fear, abandonment and isolation.. they are meant to be with parents not shut away in another room.. go have a read of the research about it.. it all makes sense!

fluffysox

Pinksteps wrote: »

Had to smile earlier, mother came round as she had locked herself out and needed a spare key. Reminded us of when my dad came round a couple of Christmases ago just before he passed, he had dementia and locked himself out, thankfully he found his way to mine and we were trying to keep him safe until mother could pic him up. All of a sudden he announces in the hall that he's heading home as he had found his door key, in his hand was a 6" Santas Key on a big red ribbon, he was adamant it was his front door key. Funny how memories have a way of making you smile when feeling down. Silly old sod!

That is a lovely memory, made me smile

DanielleNic87 wrote: »

Evening all

Haven't been on for a few days.....was in hospital having my baby. Little Oscar was born on Wednesday evening ( 6 days late) weighing 7lbs 15 oz.

I'm off to catch up whilst I have 5 minutes peace

Huge Congratulations!

PrincessKitty, as others have said its still early days. Get rest when you can and don't over think it xx

My little baby is one on Wednesday! Cannot believe how the time has flown. He has such a sweet nature, affectionate and gentle. He has no teeth so far but is nearly walking bless him 5 steps on his own is his current record.

Bought a personalised calender credit from groupon, will be christmas gifts for our siblings and parents. Pics of the boys nd poss nieces and nephews if we can find nice ones (10 calendars for £60, two lots of 5- perfect number as it includes one for us, 3 siblings each, parents and DH's special uncle) Fab value and will be appreciated. Will be a gift for a couple so will look for a M&S offer on their special tins to put with them. (I have a gift card with enough credit to cover this) That just leaves nieces and nephews to sort out

Cav82

Princess kitty - I agree with the others, really don't put pressure on yourself to get a routine too early. My dd is 6 now, she slept through at 11 months and probably didn't self settle until around then (quite happily)
Ds is 3 in December (29th!) and still rarely self settles, he's had more routines than hot dinners and changes from one day to the next. (He's also sat on my knee still at 10.25pm!)
Every child is totally different, trust your instincts and make life as easy for you both as you possibly can is what I'd advise!
Cav x

springdreams

My DS and my twin nephews have only ever been bottle fed - didn't make them sleep through the night though. Would have been lovely if it had

Just goes to show that no two babies are the same.

Edit: hmmmm - post re bottle feeding has been deleted ...

pigpen

springdreams wrote: »

My DS and my twin nephews have only ever been bottle fed - didn't make them sleep through the night though. Would have been lovely if it had

Just goes to show that no two babies are the same.

Edit: hmmmm - post re bottle feeding has been deleted ...

Formula does make them feel full longer as it is harder to digest than breastmilk.. but it doesn't alter sleep needs.. I also found it can cause sleep patterns to worsen, they feel overfull .. like after you had a big heavy dinner then go to bed one day and a salad the next. I formula fed 1 exclusively breastfed 8 and mix fed 2... so have worked through everything.. only 1 was bottle fed because I'm lazy and it was hard work.


5 hours straight is classed as 'sleeping through' in sleep clinic terms.. I've been there too.. several times.. I have had 3 that never slept, 2 that slept in 45-60 minute bursts, several that slept when they did and 2 absolute dead heads... one went down at 8pm and got up about 8am and the other slept 8pm to 7am then fed and slept 4 hours all through the day until she was about 4.5 and at school.. she has fallen asleep a few times at school too. They are all very very different but also the same in terms of sleep requirements.. they won't sleep if they aren't tired. My niece is almost 6 and still not slept through the night yet.


And for my Christmas present I want to sleep for more than 6 hours without waking up for someone.. Dot wants cuddles or juice or the baby wants 'boof' or juice or she's cold.. not sure how you'd wrap it but that's what I want!

Aloofdragon

O my gawd pigpen how have you stayed sane x x

MrsChristmas

Sorry for butting in, just wanted to reaffirm that all babies are really are all different, try to relax & not worry & just enjoy them because it goes so fast xxx
My 1st had to be rocked to sleep for the first 1 1/2yrs of his life, the 2nd stuck to a rigid 4hr feeding/sleeping routine & when toddling put herself to bed around teatime & resurfaced 12/13hrs later & the 3rd didn't sleep for the first 5yrs of her life or so it seemed!

The need to dangle fairylights everywhere is becoming a little overwhelming
Spent yesterday searching for stocking ideas & making lists, so am going to pop into town to see if I can cross a few things off.

Ideas for DDs (8,11) are:
A chocolate orange at the bottom, Hairbands, fun socks/gloves, Jelly beans, a loom band metal hook, Giant lolly in Christmas 'holiday' colours, one of those cats that arm waves?! & a christmas teddy for the top.

Arg0s have pot noodle gift sets on offer at the moment & think this will be a good idea for DS (16).

quidsy

Babies are not capable of self settling... their adrenaline levels soar as
they have feeling of fear, abandonment and isolation.. they are meant to be with
parents not shut away in another room.. go have a read of the research about
it.. it all makes sense!

I don't want to turn this into a discussion but I just want to point out that this is your personal view & not actual fact.

My son & as others have posted, their kids, all self settled early without force. my son created his own pattern similar to Mrs Christmas

the 2nd stuck to a rigid 4hr feeding/sleeping routine & when toddling put
herself to bed around teatime & resurfaced 12/13hrs later

There is no right or wrong when it comes to child rearing, whether it be feeding or sleeping, it is what suits YOUR individual child that counts so comments like this are not helpful to new mothers in any way.

girlinayellowdress

Well said quidsy

pigpen

Aloofdragon wrote: »

O my gawd pigpen how have you stayed sane x x

who's saying I have!?

quidsy wrote: »

I don't want to turn this into a discussion but I just want to point out that this is your personal view & not actual fact.

My son & as others have posted, their kids, all self settled early without force. my son created his own pattern similar to Mrs Christmas


There is no right or wrong when it comes to child rearing, whether it be feeding or sleeping, it is what suits YOUR individual child that counts so comments like this are not helpful to new mothers in any way.

Yes it IS a fact that babies under 6 months cannot control their sleep, a lot have periods of wakefulness linked to developmental stages but some do just simply sleep more than others.. go read PROPER investigations not some trash thrust at parents to make them feel they are failing in every way possible when they really aren't their baby is just being a baby! My advice to ANY and ALL parents is.. whatever the child is doing is normal a short lived phase and if you think this one is bad.. the next one will be worse until you get used to it and then they enter a new one.. the one predictable thing with children and parenting is the unpredictability..

Babies left to 'cry it out' show raised levels of cortisol which may damage brain development.. but is it not our job as parents to make them happy and not distress them?? Surely that means meeting their demands and needs.. reasonable demands like cuddles and food and clean bottoms... not demands like ipads and pet giraffes! (My 3 y/o wants these things!) They are tiny for such a short period and while yes it is draining and hard work at the time they aren't meant to be away from us, they need us, they believe they are a piece of us, which is a way is true but is it so much easier and better for parents to just roll with it and not get themselves or their child stressed trying to conform to the abuse of crazies who write books thinking they know everything. I think it is left out of all parenting classes that this is how it is.. parenting doesn't stop at 7pm, it is a 24/7 forever kinda thing.


http://www.pinkymckay.com/when-baby-sleep-training-goes-wrong-the-risks-of-controlled-crying/

And why is my example of what ONE of my 11 children did or ONE of MrsC's, not helpful?? Our experiences are just as valid as everyone elses. I have enough that it is clear with even the same parenting children do what they do and there is no controlling it or changing it until they are developmentally ready. One out of my 11 fed 4 hourly during the day and slept all the rest of the time... so what.. ONE!! The other 10 didn't!


It is helpful to know that some do but the greater majority don't and regardless of how many lying parents say oh mine did this and that.. they aren't usually telling the truth.. that is what was being pointed out.. I have NEVER EVER done anything other than feed my children when hungry and put them to sleep when they were tired so don't try making out I was some fruitcake who followed some insane abusive 'regime' as any part of my child rearing. As it happens that child who slept 90% of the time as a baby is now 17 and still sleeps 14 hours a night.. she still eats like 3 men and weighs all of 7.5 stone too.. but that is just the way she is!


Google 'gentle sleep solutions' ... they are do much less stressful for children and parents.. they take a little more work and you have to be consistent but they are so much better for everyone... and geared towards meeting your childs needs not depriving them of comfort and company.

.