April 2013 Babies

Hope your all doing well.

We are expecting snow later this week so trying to prepare for that, and keep warm. Hopefully the power doesn't go out as we only have a heat pump and panel heaters until our new fire gets installed next week !

I have heard from the sleep consultant. She is doing the assessment tomorrow so that will be interesting. Ashley has been better (I'm finding the stroking the forehead works miracles! ....still it's assisted sleep but that's ok) but I'm still going ahead with it. It's only $59 at the end of the day.

Look forward to hearing from all of you :)

Hi Speck

Haven't thought about solids yet..Ashley isn't yet 3 months so nowhere near ready. i will have to look into it one day soon i suppose. I know Plunket etc advise waiting until around 6 months but a lot of little ones are ready well before this. Something to look forward to...more mess haha.

With the wraps, the Sleep Store say... http://www.thesleepstore.co.nz/content/sleepadvice/popularquestions/howlongshouldIwrapfor
Once they start trying to roll is a good time to stop i think. Can try one arm out to begin?

So i have received the sleep assessment from the Baby Sleep Consultant you recommended. Ashley did 6.5 hours straight last night. May have been a fluke but im giving it a good go. Its almost like a project as i report back to Emma with my day. Its great so far! The report had heaps of advice and when i send back the activity log im keeping, she assists then too. So thank you Speck for this.

How do you guys cope with visitors and outings? Ashley seems to get so upset when people come over and hold her, or we go to peoples houses. Not that we do often but she seems to struggle with people around. She is great at the shops etc, its just when we are around people all wanting to hold her or give her attention. Too much for the wee dot. Which is hard when everyone wants cuddles...

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Edited by emma_3335 - 25 June 2013 at 9:31am

Oh that's awesome, thanks Emma!

I think I will contact her as our day time naps are about an hour max per time, and I know she needs more than this. Would love to use a dummy, but she can't hold one in which is a shame!

Cool - she is really good and will go on whatever you are comfortable with. E.g. I'm not a CIO kind of person and she respects that so we work it other ways. Or if you use a dummy or co-sleep she will adjust accordingly.
I'm someone who probably needs someone helping me along with a structure...my job is very corporate and structured so I'm finding it great! She is down to earth and realises all babies are different and we are all only human!

Good luck :)

Argh, Lara woke this morning at 3am and then fed until 4am before refusing to go back to sleep again, which is very unlike her. She eventually fell asleep on DH (this has never happened before) and when I woke her for her feed she was in a super deep sleep. I definitely think the lack of daytime sleeping is now affecting her nighttime sleeping.

We should get our sleep assessment from the Baby Sleep Consultant later today, and honestly, it can't come soon enough!

Emma - hope Ashley is adjusting nicely to your new routine. Definitely let me know if her daytime sleeps are improving.

Speck - how's Josh doing? Hope he is being an angel and giving you lots of good naps.

Any word from Bobsta? I don't think I've seen anything for a while?

Hi all,

So nice to hear from everyone! Glad The Baby Sleep Consultant has been helpful Emma - yay yay! I was worrying about sleep while I was still pregnant and a friend recommended her to me so I've been following her on FB. So many sleep experts are so set in their ways either leaving babies to cry or not leaving them at all so I really like how The Baby Sleep Consultant takes your parenting style into account. Sounds like Ashley is doing great - keep us posted.

JCD - sounds like it's been a frustrating time with Lara's sleeping, how has she been today? Hope your sleep consultant comes through soon! We have had on and off problems with cat napping. I keep trying different things: keeping him up for longer, giving him longer to grizzle in between sleep cycles, going for walks in the buggy etc etc. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't!

Bobsta - so nice to hear that you are Lili are doing so well!!! So neat that your antenatal group is so close - bet they are a fantastic support network! ANd sleeping through the night is amaze-balls!!! Well done Lili!!

As for Joshy, he is still doing really well. I wrote a few days ago about a routine we'd settled into but of course that got thrown out the window as he has started waking up at different times during the morning, anywhere between 5:30am and 7:30am. He goes to bed at 6pm so I don't mind too much if he wakes at 5ish as that's 11hrs straight, plus DS1 is an early riser too. But then other days he wakes later so it all just depends. It's hard to make plans to meet someone at a fixed time as I absolutely HATE having to wake him. But really I can't complain. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes he catnaps and other times (like today) he has two really decent sized sleeps which is amazing.

Emma - you asked about our babies being held by other people and going out and about etc. Josh is fine being held by other people but DS1 wasn't. I think some babies are just a bit sensitive to people other than mummy and daddy. They get better though. Josh is really not a fan of the car, unless he's due for a sleep. He also hasn't overly taken to the frontpack which is a tad annoying but I'm convinced once his neck is stronger and I can put him facing outwards he will like it more!

I think I am going to try swaddling Josh with one arm out next Wed when he turns 12 weeks. Bobsta I tried one of those Swaddle Me Up wraps but I think Josh finds it annoying trying to suck on his hands through the fabric...

Hello from a much happier household! Seems to be that our beloved Love to Dream swaddle was creating a bit of an issue - having her hands available meant Lara was doing a big startle and waking herself up. Back to the standard swaddle with a blanket for us, which we've never done before.

It is early days, but we are loving our Sleep Consultant - info is SO interesting. Day 3 of not having left the house, but determined to crack this thing as today is Day 1 of our new routine. I'm so amazed by how awesome my DH is - he is an absolute godsend, especially in times when I have been in despair.

Feeding time now, but hope you are all having a fantastic day and hope to give you an update soon!

That's great Mrs JCD! Yay for a happy household. You are lucky you have some great support. Probably need it that little bit more being over in the States!!

I have realised the Love To swaddle probably causes some of my problems too...she can knock her dummy out when in this, so it takes a bit longer to get to sleep as she cries when the dummy is out...so may stop using that one, not sure. Maybe just not at night? Although i will be trying to wean the dummy some time in the future....
I've spent the day at home today, done some baking and tidying up. Nice not to have to go out. Even getting my groceries delivered :)

I held it out to her and she sort of grabbed it, took it with my assistance so not on her own! she has def found her hands though. so cute :)

She is under the play gym/mat now hitting the hanging rattle like a boxing pro haha

im getting a wee photo shoot next week which should be fun! hopefully she is good and the cradle cap which has appeared this week disappears.