**The No Sleep Club**

[emilia]

Well, I'm not even going to say it!

It's almost impossible for me to NOT plug Oscar in when he wakes at night or gets befuddled - I'm tired and don't have the support during the night to let him cry it out. It's the easiest thing to do!
I also have to think of how it'll effect the other kids - they already complain about being tired in the mornings, dispite getting to bed early'ish. Bearing in mind that we have to get up just past 6am to get ready for school....

I don't know if anyone else is in my situation, but not having DH around, is very hard. I suppose I may as well be single at the moment!!! I don't have anyone responsible to leave Oscar with - it's terribly difficult.

I will have to break this on my own and to be honest - I just don't know where to start! The thought of it makes me feel even more tired, but apart from that, I don't know if Oscar is just a bit too young to sleep train. Maybe I'm looking for excuses - I don't think I am - just not sure where the heck to start.

I'll be looking again at my diet as well. Might have to make a few changes there too.
Ouch well, feeling totally over emotional this morning. DH going back and won't see him for 2-3 weeks.

Moan over now!
Emilia xx

 

[Layla]

im sorry hun.

i know this is a sore subject with a few people on here but what soilds is he on during the day?

the HV say 6 months yes, and its annoying coz they put the fear of god in to people, esp first time mothers, but thats only a new thing, i was always 4 months before, plus all the baby foods still have 4 months on them, so it will not harm babys in any way to start at that age.

you said the other day that when you gave him baby rice he loved it? maybe its time to give him more? if hes full from food in the day, maybe he will stop waking in the nights and settle better?

just a sugestion hun, hope it doesnt offend you


xxx

 

[emilia]

No offence taken, Layla - I appreciate your reply!

You might be right. I just read your reply to DH.... suddenly it dawned on us that his sleep has deteriorated (sp!!) since giving him rice. Can it be?

Emilia xx

 

[Layla]

maybe im just old fashioned but i really belive babies should have soilds from 4 months old.

since teh HV have changed the rules (not teh baby food makers coz it still says 4 months on the tins) babys have been unsettled and there weight has been dropping below the line they were on on there weight charts (in the red books) yet HV still insit on saying 6 months.

I have known a few HV admit that it would prob be best for the baby to go on soilds if they weight is dropping, or not going up as well.

if babys were really meant to wait untill 6 months now then the age would have changed on the baby foods, but it hasnt.

i really dont see the harm in it to be honest, and if it will make the mums life easier having a more contented, settled baby then its a bonus!


xxxx

 

[petchy]

layla, i couldn't agree more!

i can't remember where i read this, but apparently the advice to wait until 6 months is because the government are worried about the number of obese children?!?! now feel free to correct me, but i can't see why starting solids at 4 months makes a child more likely to become obese???? surely obese children are a result of bad eating habits (that they probably learn from the parents) and if a sensible and varied diet is encouraged from the word go, and the child gets used to a variety of different tastes and textures, they will be less likely to become overweight.

i think the government should deal with the obesity problem by focusing their energy on teaching parents and children healthy eating habits (and for goodness' sake get rid of those chicken nuggets and chips for every meal!!!) not by "dictating" at what age a baby is ready for solids! i don't think ruben will be able to wait until 6 months... i will be loking for the signs, and let him take the lead and tell me when he is ready!

 

[emilia]

I hear what you're saying Layla.
Beanie, Urchin and I seem to have similar probs at the mo. All our babies are around the same age.
Seren is excl. bfed, Oscar bf and rice and Brody 3 meals, formula and bf.

i just don't know what's causing this. Could his teeth be affecting him so much? Is he really hungry? Could the rice be upsetting him more?

You're right though - when my other two were little, weaning age was 3-4 months.
Emilia xx

 

[Layla]

layla, i couldn't agree more!

i can't remember where i read this, but apparently the advice to wait until 6 months is because the government are worried about the number of obese children?!?! now feel free to correct me, but i can't see why starting solids at 4 months makes a child more likely to become obese???? surely obese children are a result of bad eating habits (that they probably learn from the parents) and if a sensible and varied diet is encouraged from the word go, and the child gets used to a variety of different tastes and textures, they will be less likely to become overweight.

spot on hun! HV have changed the age to 6 months coz of obeseity, it is nothing to do with the babys digestive system, HV really scare first time mums by saying this and it makes me so mad, coz in teh end its the baby who suffers. if the baby was heavy born then of course he or she will need to be fed soilds eariler, and yes some babies can go longer than 4 months, every baby is diffrent which is why i think its wrong for a HV to say 6 months.

Coby is 3 and a half months, he was 9lbs 7oz born, there is no way he copuld go till 6 months! he started waking up in the nights last week coz he was hungry, i gave him lunch in the day along with his milk and he has slept through from 7 till 7 again. he is a very happy baby, if i thought for one min that giving him soilds would harm him then of course i wouldnt do it and i would put up with the sleepless nights. he is not fat by any means, and he is following the weight chart line up perfectly, i honestly think that if i wasnt giving him a bit of soilds in the day then he would drop below that line.

I am not going to start weaning Coby untill hes at least 5 months, but untill then i will carry on giving him extras (soilds at lunch time) to keep him happy and contented.

emilia - its up to you hun what you do, please dont think im trying to force you in to anything, im just saying that every baby is diffrent and not all HV are right, i think mums know there babys better than anyone.

xxx

 

[emilia]

I don't honestly think it's a food problem I have - It's Sleep!!
Emilia xx

 

[Urchin]

Awww Emilia we'll find a way to sort this out for you!

Last night Brody was in bed at 10, then woke for the first time at 2, I let him cry for 5 mins and I could hear him drifting off again so I let him whinge a few more mnins and he went back to sleep!
After the he woke at 3 then 5.30.

Emilia I do think the one small bottle of formula I give him in the evening helps. I know you don't want to do this, I really didn;t want to either.
I make up a 5 oz bottle in the afternoon, then mix about 2 oz with his meals, after that the rest he has from the bottle before bed, some nights he wants it other he moans until he gets boob.When he does take it I think it really helps get my boobs ready for the feeding in the night!

 

[emilia]

Yip. It will have to fall into place eventually. I'm not being oblivious to weaning - I've just started with the rice and will take it slowly from there. I just don't think that it will solve my problem immediately!

I've got viewers here just now - wish they would just buy so that we can all move to CT and be with DH. Booooo Hoooooo!!!

I'm glad you had a better night anyway Urchin. You're doing really well!
Chat later - better go!!
Emilia xx

 

[beanie]

(((Emilia))) same here as well. She is sitting on daddy's knee at the moment beaming away whereas I am a shell of my former self lol. I know what I have to do but am kind of in a similar situation. OH is here but he ha to get up at stupid o'clock in the morning as his knob of a boss put him in Sheffield to work, so its just me and Seren at night. I can't leave her to cry, my HV is always telling me to do this but I just can't do it. I think my problem is, is that I have just got Seren into bad habits by letting her have the boob when she wakes, the first time she wakes she is hungrey but the other times it is just habit as she is not feeding as much. I have got the baby rice ready but she isn't showing any other signs that she is ready for solids, she is feeding fine during the day and will sleep 5 hours then want a feed but its just after that when the fun starts which is why I think it is habit. I have tried a bottle of formula before bed, made no difference sdly. So I guess I'll stick with it

 

[emilia]

>>hugs<< for you too, Beanie!!
I'm going to keep Oscar off rice for a couple of days and see what happens. I don't think it's that - just elimenating some posibilities.

Have you managed to have a wee looky at the post "31 ways to get your baby to sleep"? Loads of good stuff in there - I'm going to try the sling thing tonight.

I feel really heartsore that DH has gone again. I think the folk that were here this morning was having a nosey rather than having the dosh to buy the house! Grrrrrrr!!!

I don't know if Seren does this, but Oscar take a suck.... looks away... takes another suck.... looks away again!! A bit potty, really!

We're lying on the bed - Oscar trying to destroy laptop. " Poor wee internet orphan", DH calls him.
Time for cuppa.
Emilia xx

 

[beanie]

I don't know if Seren does this, but Oscar take a suck.... looks away... takes another suck.... looks away again!! A bit potty, really!

Seren tends to that more during the day when she wants a nap, it gets a bit sore after a while. Whether she does it at night I have no idea as I have usually gone back to sleep and left her feeding lol.

Been thinking more about this and I think that my problem is very similar to what Urchin suggested. Whe she was going to bed at 11-12 she would sleep usually til 8.30am. At the least it would be 6.30, she's have another feed but go straight back to sleep. We moved her bed time routine forward slowly and when she was going to bed at 7pm it was ok for a short while then she started waking like she does now. Obviously at that age she was too young to go fully through the night and perhaps she has gotten into the routine if having boobie at night and falling asleep on it. I don't want to move her routine back as if I'm honest I love having my evenings back and plus I don't think she's take too happily to it.

 

[emilia]

Oscar has just been put to bed....... AWAKE!! Hold thumbs girls..... this is so difficult!
Emilia xx

 

[Lucy]

Well done Emilia (Oscar, Mummy's boobs have gone to sleep now so be a good little fella and not ask for any until 6am )

Hope it goes well - keep us updated!

Lucy

 

[emilia]

Screaming blue murder... just keep reassuring!
Who said being a mum was easy..???

Emilia xx

 

[Urchin]

Well done Emilia, if he is tired, rubbing his eyes etc he will go to sleep if you let him.

Give him 5 mins then go into the room and talk softly to him.


Good luck!

 

[emilia]

Been doing that Urchin... He's just starting to stop crying after 20 minutes. Still sniffling, but he was tired and had an excellent feed tonight!

This has to work - oopsss.... there goes the crying again - poor wee lambie.
Hopeful...
Emilia xx

 

[Lucy]

you're doing great Emilia, has he got a dummy tonight or is he still rejecting it. Olivia stilll spits it out at night.

Lucy

 

[Urchin]

Been doing that Urchin... He's just starting to stop crying after 20 minutes. Still sniffling, but he was tired and had an excellent feed tonight!

This has to work - oopsss.... there goes the crying again - poor wee lambie.
Hopeful...
Emilia xx

Even the little bit of settling down he did is a good sign, he will get there! It'll do you both the world of good for him to learn to get to sleep on his own....keep it up we're here for you!