The Newborn & Toddlers Off-Topic Chat Thread

cbyrd · 17-01-2012 7:00pm

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Omg Cybrd you lucky thing!!!! How did he get on last night? Your brother not the hubby

A first aid course is a great idea! I've been meaning to do one for years. We just put together a first aid kit the other week. Should have done it long before now with a toddler around of course. But the first aid course would be a great benefit, particular for choking.

Never heard of a mood test Avril, I'm surprised I've never been sent for one, though maybe they did one on the sly and I didn't realise

Just about the whole PND thing, for all the new mums in here, if you're feeling in any way unlike yourself, if you feel you're worrying too much or you can't switch off or just not feeling right, and it's more than just the tiredness of a newborn, it's so important to say it. There's no weakness in it and it is so fixable there's no need to suffer in silence. I had a touch of it after the second little guy, was too afraid to say anything, till eventually I said it to the PHN and she was so supportive that I wish I'd done it sooner. I think I was even afraid that if I said it to the PHN that she'd think I was a useless mum and take the baby from me :eek::rolleyes: But she didn't

The mood test is a multiple choice questionnaire rating 1 - 10 on things like how weepy you feel, do you feel that things are getting on top of you, how you feel about leaving the house.. and they do tell you what it is and why.
My brother lost out to madonna.. (wagon:eek:).. the worst song in the bunch.. but he's hopeful for the Oscars. . he's nominated for an IFTA as well so he'll be home again in 3 weeks

@JenniG i was like that when i was breastfeeding.. i couldn't stand the heating being on and the kids were freezing

it's normal.. you're hormones are all over the place for a few months after the birth.. as they say 9 months in 9 months out..
And my hair has started to fall out too.. not as bad as last time but it's early days yet..

As for getting away on my own.. i think i'd said it so often thet my husband would never cope with the 4 if i went away that i think he saw it as a challenge.. and a way to get one up now that he has the baby sleeping a full 12 hours a night

(which i know he would have done anyway..that's what i tell myself anyway;))

liliq · 17-01-2012 7:28pm

My baby can definitely smell hot food anyway... and not while it's cooking, only when it's just ready and on the plate ready to eat!

caprilicious · 17-01-2012 8:11pm

I think my daughter was 6 weeks old before I was able to finish one full cup of tea. Always the same thing, she wouldn't stir during her sleep, but the second i had a hot milky cuppa in my hand - wide awake and looking for me!

Cbyrd that is some impressive balancing act to chop carrots

sorry you're brother didn't win, he must be on cloud 9 all the same. What an epic experience to be nominated and attend an event like that!

wmpd33 that's like something my oh would do. Not being intentionally awkward but just not thinking!

Nicowa that must be tough going with baba sleeping so little, hopefully it is a phase and she'll start sleeping for you asap.

JenniG, I'm shocked that people were rude enough to ask if your husband was a bit old for wanting a baby! what a silly thing to say! sure he's only a young lad still

I have a friend who had a suprise baby, he was 46 & they already had a 14 year old boy.
The little girl they had was the absolute making of him. She is the complete apple of her daddy's eye and has him firmly wrapped around her little finger!

Moonbeam · 17-01-2012 8:21pm

I remember the cold tea and cold food stage:(
It lasted about 6 months on both of the kids, you would think I would loose weight as a result but no it meant I ate anything in sight!!

How Strange · 17-01-2012 8:30pm

I used to love a cup of tea but since having my son I've gone off it because I never get to drink a hot cup. It's always luke warm by the time I get to it.

I remember someone saying to me when I was pregnant that being a mammy means you never get to finish a hot cup of tea and it's so true.

caprilicious · 17-01-2012 8:42pm

galah wrote: »

Getting better at one-handed eating as well - and stopped feeling guilty about breadcrumbs or bits of lettuce in baby's hair...:o

Laughing here at this, I remember visiting a friend one day, feeding baby with one hand and myself with the other. Felt bad when I looked down and seen the top of her little head covered in sausage roll pastry flakes

The_Conductor · 17-01-2012 9:15pm

Its why we have dinner between 8 and 9 at night here- there simply isn't any point in trying to eat earlier....... We each sort one baba, stuff them, change their nappies and get them to sleep for the night- only now can we sit back and put our own food in the (thankfully pre-heated) oven. I seem to bake absolutely everything these days- I don't have the energy to cook properly. Still- baked is good.......

Moonbeam · 17-01-2012 10:35pm

I bake nearly everything too, though I bought a slow cooker so when I learn to use it dinners will get nicer!!

Winnie · 18-01-2012 10:19am

Sorry everyone, slightly off topic here, my 7 month old son is teething and his first tooth has literally just started to poke through the gums, he seems to be in more pain than ever now, so is it more painful when the teeth start to break through the gums? Is this the tougher stage?

Hannibal Smith · 18-01-2012 10:36am

Winnie wrote: »

Sorry everyone, slightly off topic here, my 7 month old son is teething and his first tooth has literally just started to poke through the gums, he seems to be in more pain than ever now, so is it more painful when the teeth start to break through the gums? Is this the tougher stage?

Has the tooth broken through? Is that what you mean by poke through? When our fella's first tooth started to break through the gum, he started chewing on my finger like mad! He was like a demon possessed lol, but he chewed and chewed for about 10 mins and then I noticed a spot of blood on my finger, and I felt the tooth break through.

Not sure if that's recommended procedure or not, but if the tooth hasn't come through, I wonder is it okay for you to help him along like that?

Winnie · 18-01-2012 10:41am

yeah the tooth has broken through, only a small bit showing but its there and driving him mad!

Moonbeam · 18-01-2012 11:34am

Yes it is the worst bit.
Put teething gel on it and give him loads of cold things to bite.

Winnie · 18-01-2012 11:51am

yeah doing all that, he is generally bit more cranky and clingy

doubletrouble? · 18-01-2012 1:20pm

with the twins 11 weeks old and a big baby boom on can anyone tell me when it's best to start ringing schools to get their names on the waiting list thanks.

wmpdd3 · 18-01-2012 1:25pm

Seems to be different everywhere, I brought my daughter to the local school one day and signed her up for 2015, they said there's loads of space. But talking to someone int he boy school they said its getting pretty full up and as they are losing a teacher they dont know what the situation will be by 2016.

I wanted to go early just in case there was a problem, both schools are catholic and were not. But I live right beside both so they said currently that means more than religion!

Winnie · 18-01-2012 3:02pm

I signed up my son when he was 3 months old to start in 2015 in the local Educate Together school and there are already 7 others in front of him on the waiting list.

liliq · 18-01-2012 3:23pm

doubletrouble? wrote: »

with the twins 11 weeks old and a big baby boom on can anyone tell me when it's best to start ringing schools to get their names on the waiting list thanks.

As soon as yo get them registered and get a PPS number... That's what we've done anyway, just to be sure!

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I wanted to go early just in case there was a problem, both schools are catholic and were not. But I live right beside both so they said currently that means more than religion!

We're the same... there's a school literally within stones throw of us (6 houses down the road) that's a catholic school, and we're not.
I read their enrolment policy, and if they go over numbers, my son is in the 7th group of people that would be enroled. Kids from other areas that are catholic would be accepted before he is. Ridiculous

Winnie wrote: »

I signed up my son when he was 3 months old to start in 2015 in the local Educate Together school and there are already 7 others in front of him on the waiting list.

I have my little mans name down for 2 educate together schools- one isn't built yet though! (we're hoping they get patronage). I didn't know you could find out so early where you are on a waiting list- how did you find out if you don't mind me asking? Did you email?

lynski · 18-01-2012 4:09pm

heard today of a child being registered at 3 months for her local gealscoil, and she was 19 on the list, however, now at 3 she is num 68 on the list and there are only 56 places :eek: her mother is a aghast as she has not registered her for anywhere else.
There is a wisdom to registering for a few schools if you can. I didn't but i had now idea what i was going to do if we did not get into the ET school.

How Strange · 18-01-2012 5:12pm

I put my sons name down in 3 Educate Together schools when he was a few months old. My husband and my son aren't catholic, I was but am lapsed or opted out or whatever you call it, so we really want to avoid catholic run schools if we can. Unfortunately that excludes gaelscoileanna which is a shame.

Winnie · 18-01-2012 5:17pm

liliq wrote: »

I have my little mans name down for 2 educate together schools- one isn't built yet though! (we're hoping they get patronage). I didn't know you could find out so early where you are on a waiting list- how did you find out if you don't mind me asking? Did you email?

well the letter of confirmation we got when we pre-enrolled him said he was no.8 on the list

red fraggle · 18-01-2012 6:17pm

galah wrote: »

right, do children have an in-built 'mammy is about to have food' sensor? our little dude could be asleep for hours, not stirring for anything, but the second i even glance at the fridge, he starts wailing for attention...:rolleyes: think i may starve to death one of these days if it werent for 'smash n grab' food such as drink joghurts and raw bagels....

also glad someone bumped the breastfeeding support thread - so good to read we're not alone when it comes to hourly feedings and nipple shields etc (since some of my 'real world' friends are of the peachy 'my pregnancy, birth, and raising kids were/are the most wonderful , easy, fulfilling, soft-focus things ever' brigade - not wanting/daring to admit that they had rough patches as well, and almost making me feel guilty for admitting that after 2 days of breastfeeding every hour and stuck in a house in the sticks with no mode of transport, i am 'slightly' knackered and not particularly overjoyed with my lot...:rolleyes:

oh my God i totally agree with all of this. i even try get my food soon as she finishes eating but she knows!! yeh and its not all peachy and easy and oh this is great. its hard work! and so tiring. and i find it so hard when im the only one who can get up to feed her and my husband doesnt. he would love to be able to. i might start expressing after a month just so he can help with one night feed. but i do love her to bits and she has put on nearly a pound in a week which is great. im goin to go to my mams tomorrow to get out of the house (mobile!) phn said to start getting out meeting friends etc. hard when ur so tired but im gona try get out a little every week or get ppl to visit.

How Strange · 18-01-2012 6:23pm

red fraggle I found getting out everyday for a walk of some sort saved my sanity. It's so hard in the early weeks, you're still recovering, your hormones are all over the place and it's not easy getting used to having a little baby totally dependent on you. Getting out in the fresh air really helped me.

Moonbeam · 18-01-2012 7:20pm

Now is the best time.
I put my babies name down at 9 months and she is on a waiting list.

red fraggle · 18-01-2012 7:21pm

How Strange wrote: »

red fraggle I found getting out everyday for a walk of some sort saved my sanity. It's so hard in the early weeks, you're still recovering, your hormones are all over the place and it's not easy getting used to having a little baby totally dependent on you. Getting out in the fresh air really helped me.

thanks im going to try doin this even if its only down my lane!

have a few questions

1. baby sleeping on your chest. my little one loves this but i would be afraid to leave her there while i fall asleep. what if she fell off or moved etc or does ur body know??? its so hard

2 also do ye sleep when ur baby sleeps? do ye sleep all day or maybe just for one of babies naps?i know we are all different but just wondering what others do. duno what i would do if i had another child!!!

nicowa · 18-01-2012 7:30pm

Can't answer no. 1 as I'm wondering the same thing. I've thought about some sort of sling thing. Some nights it seems the only way she'll sleep is on my chest but it terrifies me to fall asleep so I end up waking after a few minutes and put her back in the crib.

As to no. 2 - I go to bed at 9.30 and himself takes care of her until she either falls asleep or wants a feed from me. And then I get a lie in (usually) after her morning feed (7-8) until about 10.30. I don't go back to bed after that. I simply don't want to even if I am tired. That's long enough in bed for me. I rest on the couch watching telly if I'm tired after that.

red fraggle · 18-01-2012 7:36pm

nicowa wrote: »

Can't answer no. 1 as I'm wondering the same thing. I've thought about some sort of sling thing. Some nights it seems the only way she'll sleep is on my chest but it terrifies me to fall asleep so I end up waking after a few minutes and put her back in the crib.

As to no. 2 - I go to bed at 9.30 and himself takes care of her until she either falls asleep or wants a feed from me. And then I get a lie in (usually) after her morning feed (7-8) until about 10.30. I don't go back to bed after that. I simply don't want to even if I am tired. That's long enough in bed for me. I rest on the couch watching telly if I'm tired after that.

i do something similar. this week himself is only home at 8.30 so i wait up and we go to bed together after her last feed. think i just need to talk to him and spend time with him. he bonds with her at this time. maybe next week when he is home around 6 or 6.30 i wil try get to bed at 9.30. usually she will feed in the morning then at either 7 or 9 whichever it is i lie in then until next feed and then i just rest on the sofa after that. i find i get anxious when i try sleep durin the day and am constantly checkin on her. i do this all the time anyway!!

so tired right now! my sister is on her way to visit so lookin forward to this!

Hannibal Smith · 18-01-2012 8:11pm

I'm sure this is totally against recommended practise as well as my earlier post, but our both of ours fell asleep on our chests. A few times I've fallen asleep and woken up and thought oh no. But nothing happened, so we were lucky. For exactly the reasons you say Red Fraggle, it's not ideal, but it got him a little sleep and us a little shut eye. The only reason I stopped doing it is because the youngest fella is long enough to kick my section scar.

If you can sleep when they sleep, great. If you can't, don't put yourself under pressure to. If you can get some one to call over to the house for a couple of hours while you go and sleep, that's ideal. Don't be afraid to ask anyone to help out and if any one offers, don't knock it back, accept every help you can!

Doubletrouble, I put my eldest son's name down in a school during the summer (he's 2 and a half and due to start in 2013) and I rang the other week because I heard nothing back. They said they only check the applications a year in advance and the usual rules of siblings of older students, local children etc apply, but to check back in Sept 2012. So not sure if this year in advance thing is a standard procedure with all schools, but I'm not so convinced putting their names down now is any benefit. No harm I guess though.

caprilicious · 18-01-2012 8:34pm

I thought I was being ott putting my daughters name down for the local secondary school when she was 3 months old, sounds like it's the done thing though.

I'm not holding out much hope on it being a done deal as 1. we live miles from the school 2. It's a Church of Ireland school which we are not, so COI pupils would get preference 3. short of winning the lotto there's not a hope in hell of us being able to afford the private fee's at the moment, but I'm hoping our circumstances will have improved (or at least that we'll be out of this recession :rolleyes:) in 10 years time when she would be due to start.

I really must enroll her for elsewhere as a back up. There's a girls only secondary in the city that has an excellent reputation.
I think I'm going to wait til no. 2 makes an appearance and enroll both at the one time.

It's surreal having to enroll them so far in advance :eek: though when I worked in childcare in Dublin several years ago, women were ringing us to book a child's nursery place to be booked from the time they were 8 week pregnant.

How Strange · 18-01-2012 8:59pm

It seems that newborns want to sleep on their mums chests and we all feel guilty about it. It only lasts for a few weeks so go with it. As long as you're not falling askeep in a chair or on the sofa its safe enough and if you're breastfeeding it makes it easier. We coslept for 6 months.

Yes, definitely nap as often as you can when your baby naps especially if you're not getting much sleep at night.

The_Conductor · 18-01-2012 9:25pm

Moonbeam wrote: »

Now is the best time.
I put my babies name down at 9 months and she is on a waiting list.

Out of an abundance of caution- I put Baby Helen on the waiting list for the Gaelscoil in Maynooth- 3 months before she was born (I had to get a provisional PPSN for her to do this- which was only officially issued once the birth was registered in the GRO).

Shane Jnr was registered @ 3 months of age- and was already 96th out of 90- thanks to the school's siblings first policy. C'est la vie.

I've only enrolled our two in the one school- perhaps I need to revisit this?

Hannibal Smith · 18-01-2012 9:38pm

Ah jees...you're all getting me panicked now....do I need to try others? I presume I don't have to put his name in the local school as a back up as it's a sure fire thing that he'll get in there?

liliq · 18-01-2012 9:41pm

red fraggle wrote: »

phn said to start getting out meeting friends etc. hard when ur so tired but im gona try get out a little every week or get ppl to visit.

That's very early to be trying to get out! I seriously barely left the house for about 4 weeks, and when I did it was because at that stage we moved house to somewhere where I can walk to Dundrum TC, the Luas into town. My little man is 4 months now and some days I still find myself in my pjs, unshowered, and trying to get some lunch at 4pm!
Defnitely get people to visit you if you can, and leave the tea, coffee, milk and sugar beside the kettle so they can make it themselves!

red fraggle wrote: »

1. baby sleeping on your chest. my little one loves this but i would be afraid to leave her there while i fall asleep. what if she fell off or moved etc or does ur body know??? its so hard

2 also do ye sleep when ur baby sleeps? do ye sleep all day or maybe just for one of babies naps?i know we are all different but just wondering what others do. duno what i would do if i had another child!!!

1. I adored my baby sleeping on my chest I was very nervous of it at the start, but relaxed after a while and still co sleep quite a lot. You'll feel if she moves, and I found myself keeping my arms kind of wrapped around him to hold him on me even while i was asleep.
2. Sometimes! At the start it was hard to sleep when baby slept. I took me so long to get anything done for him- even to put on a wash or anything, that I didn't really have time to sleep! After a couple of weeks I just started getting up a lot later in the day and ignored everything except what really needed to be done! It's a lot easier now though thankfully.

JenniG · 19-01-2012 12:59am

nearly 7pm pm here, and much to catch up on this thread. I promised myself to stop taking over this thread and stop writing insanely long notes.

Nicowa, it's great to meet someone else who has a partner with the same age difference.:o Like you it doesn't really bother us. We just ignored any commentary and it stopped. But when we got pregnant, it started again. I guess that with the hormones I found I don't have the patience and become a little snippy. Hopefully I will forgiven for my impatience.:rolleyes:

Dinners have been a disaster with Sarah going to sleep around 9pm. I am trying to put on my chest so thanks for the suggestion wmpdd3 :P She seems calmer there for sure, still not falling asleep but calmer. She mostly just stares into space, or looks up at me. (I must confess I love that).

Anyway during my nesting period I went nuts with cooking, until the freezer was so packed that Mr had to stop me. So we are currently happily eating through that. I'm so smug, cos he's grateful of this now.:cool:

As for teething, that terrifies me. I will definitely watching how things go for you Winnie for when things start happening in that department.

Well it's official, we have a date. We have been delayed a little and it turns out that we will be arriving in August, 10th to be exact. Tickets booked and we have been looking for places to rent like mad. We found a few places but it's hard to tell when you can't see it in person. Leopardstown, Churchtown, Dundrum areas seem to be okay. Their not far from things but again I'm judging for maps & Google here. Would love assistance here from those who actually know. Help please.

Something simple, livable and a little bit of space. But nothing bigger 3 bedroom. We saw a number but don't know much about these areas, are they nice areas, near facilities? Etc. Oh and schools, I wouldn't even where to begin. Can we email them to get the child on their lists, if so how. I don't want Sarah to miss out because we're in the process of moving across the Atlantic... And which schools???

(I feel so disorganised):eek:

liliq · 19-01-2012 1:29am

I live in Dundrum!

They're all lovely areas- Leopardstown and Dundrum are both on the Luas- the tram system from subarbs into Dublin city centre.
For looking for somewhere to rent- have you discovered daft.ie? It's great.
I'm going to PM you

nicowa · 19-01-2012 12:32pm

New Baby in the House
New Dad Survival Tips

Once home for good you have no excuse not to perform duties you may previously have bodyswerved: nappy changing, night feeds, bottle washing. Do everything as if each task makes you a better and happier man. Soon, the fact that you aren’t crumbling under the weight of kiddie chores will cause resentment and you may have your duties relieved.

Sorry, had to post this ridiculous notion. How many mums and dads here are annoyed by this?

--

ok, sorry... didn't realise the source:

Content courtesy of:
The Bad Dad's Survival Guide
by Adam Brophy

The_Conductor · 19-01-2012 1:48pm

JenniG wrote: »

As for teething, that terrifies me. I will definitely watching how things go for you Winnie for when things start happening in that department.

Don't worry about teething- our 7 month old is having an interesting time at the moment- her favourite thing to chew appears to be her 22 month old brother- which doesn't go down the best....... We have many things in our arsenals here for teething that might not be available stateside- my little wifey and our two popped up to Belfast with me last weekend specifically to pick up Calgel- topical lidocaine for teething- it might sound severe, but it works....... Our two hate most of the alternates- this causes instant numbness- which is brilliant- you have a 10 minute window to get them to sleep- and you can use it more liberally than some of the alternates. Aside from that- our two love chewing laptop power cables :eek: and books

JenniG wrote: »

Well it's official, we have a date. We have been delayed a little and it turns out that we will be arriving in August, 10th to be exact. Tickets booked and we have been looking for places to rent like mad. We found a few places but it's hard to tell when you can't see it in person. Leopardstown, Churchtown, Dundrum areas seem to be okay. Their not far from things but again I'm judging for maps & Google here. Would love assistance here from those who actually know. Help please.

Leopardstown/Dundrum/Churchtown/Goatstown/Stillorgan etc- nice areas, but what criteria are you basing your house search on? Do you drive? Does your hubby drive? Where will he be working? Interns have quite stupid hours over here- how easy is it to access out of hours public transport if hes just had a ridiculous shift? What criteria other than- 'a nice area' are you using to decide where to live? Personally I think the smallest possible commute time to work should be top of the list- but thats just me.......

JenniG wrote: »

Something simple, livable and a little bit of space. But nothing bigger 3 bedroom. We saw a number but don't know much about these areas, are they nice areas, near facilities? Etc. Oh and schools, I wouldn't even where to begin. Can we email them to get the child on their lists, if so how. I don't want Sarah to miss out because we're in the process of moving across the Atlantic... And which schools???

If you pick out a few of the places that you're looking at- or post a new thread over in the Accommodation and Property forum- we'll do our best to help. Its probably not the appropriate place to discuss property here.

JenniG wrote: »

(I feel so disorganised):eek:

Disorganised? You've a freezer full of home cooked food and seem to be coping very well with a brand new baby- you're far from disorganised. If you could see the chaos in our house- you'd see just how well you're doing! You're also incredibly brave- I don't know whether I'd be up to moving home to another continent with a young child- getting out the door at all is almost a military operation!

How Strange · 19-01-2012 2:21pm

JenniG, I swear by amber teething necklaces. You put it around your baby's neck and the amber has healing properties which ease teething pains. I'm a very sceptical person so I'd normally laugh at these things but we have a very cranky, upset baby who was taking a lot of calpol until I got the necklace. His personality changed pretty much overnight and we've rarely used calpol in the last 6 months and he's cut two teeth in that time. The necklace isn't a choking or strangling hazard as he's never even touched it and I put it around his ankle in his baby gro at night.

We found the calgel good too especially on the rare night that he wakes up screaming but thankfully that doesn't happen too often anymore.

newmammy2011 · 19-01-2012 3:00pm

Just wanted to second the amber necklaces.
I have twins who started teething at about 10 weeks and dribbled so much I had to keep a plastic back bib and a cloth bib on them at all times.
Have been using the amber necklaces on both of them and they are definitely working.
The boys now each have 4 teeth and got them quite easily. Also a massive reduction in the amount of dribble!

liliq · 19-01-2012 4:39pm

Where is a handy place (in shops or online) to buy an amber necklace? My little man is starting to suffer at the moment. All I've been doing so far is keeping sterilised soothers in the fridge and giving him Calpol when he gets paticularly cranky to give him a bit of relief.

newmammy2011 · 19-01-2012 4:44pm

I bought mine in Bella baby in Dundrum, you can by them from them instore or online.
Teethingsos is another website or if you google it you'll get a few options

How Strange · 19-01-2012 5:46pm

I never really thought of it but my son doesn't dribble anymore except perhaps when a tooth is actually cutting through.

I got mine from teethingsos.com. It arrived by post the day after I ordered it.

Tigeress · 19-01-2012 5:51pm

Eek I'm dreading the teething phase!

I didn't realise the lists for schools were so packed! We live in a small ish town & there are a few schools but as Nathan won't be Catholic I wonder I it'll pose a prob.. Must look into registering him soon!

We got the little man weighed today and last week he was 9lb 10oz at 2 weeks old (his birth weight was 9lb 11oz) this week he is 10lb 6oz! He's doing so well

if only he'd sleep all night now we'd be sorted lol! Although last night we got 5 hours outta him! That's a first

Jenni best of luck with the move! I can't imagine starting a fresh in a new country let alone with a baby! You should def go to mother & baby groups to meet people! I plan on joining one myself as soon as I'm able to drive again after the section.. We moved here 5 years ago and still know no one

about time we met people lol!

Hannibal Smith · 20-01-2012 10:18am

Wow, nice one Nathan! 5 hours is pretty good at this stage!

How Strange · 20-01-2012 1:56pm

My little man is one next week and I was wondering at what stage you introduced your little ones chocolate and sweets. I'm absolutely in no rush but lately people are asking me if he's had chocolate yet and telling me I'm too strict. I'd prefer to get to at least 18 months before he tastes it.

Hannibal Smith · 20-01-2012 2:54pm

How Strange wrote: »

My little man is one next week and I was wondering at what stage you introduced your little ones chocolate and sweets. I'm absolutely in no rush but lately people are asking me if he's had chocolate yet and telling me I'm too strict. I'd prefer to get to at least 18 months before he tastes it.

Stick to your guns. I was told I was too strict too, and on his 1st birthday I caved and my parents have been shoving sweets into him ever since. It's been a huge battle with them to get them to stop. Once he started tasting the 'nice' stuff he became very picky about what he ate. If you want to wait longer, do it, you know you're doing it for his own good.

Orion · 21-01-2012 1:21am

smccarrick wrote: »

Out of an abundance of caution- I put Baby Helen on the waiting list for the Gaelscoil in Maynooth- 3 months before she was born (I had to get a provisional PPSN for her to do this- which was only officially issued once the birth was registered in the GRO).

Shane Jnr was registered @ 3 months of age- and was already 96th out of 90- thanks to the school's siblings first policy. C'est la vie.

I've only enrolled our two in the one school- perhaps I need to revisit this?

You should pre-enrol in all schools in Maynooth. The ET school is just across the road from the Gaelscoil. Pre-enrolling commits you to nothing. It's just an expression of interest. If/when you are offered a place you can turn it down.

Tigeress · 21-01-2012 12:55pm

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Wow, nice one Nathan! 5 hours is pretty good at this stage!

Thanks Hannible

How long is it usually for them to go
All night? I know every baby is different but just wondering if there's an average?

How Strange · 21-01-2012 1:16pm

My son started at 7 months but it was quite a rare occurance. He just let us know he could if he wanted to. Since Christmas when he was 11 months he's been pretty much sleeping through from 7pm - 6.30/7.30am. Most nights he wakes up once or twice but he chats to himself for a few minutes and then goes back to sleep.

caprilicious · 21-01-2012 8:39pm

smccarrick wrote: »

....... We have many things in our arsenals here for teething that might not be available stateside- my little wifey and our two popped up to Belfast with me last weekend specifically to pick up Calgel- topical lidocaine for teething- it might sound severe, but it works....... Our two hate most of the alternates- this causes instant numbness- which is brilliant- you have a 10 minute window to get them to sleep- and you can use it more liberally than some of the alternates.

+1 on the Calgel, I find it absolutely brill. My daughter hated bonjella and teetha did nothing for her, but the rare time she is bad with her teeth it is a God send.
I had a wisdom tooth cutting myself a few months back and used it on my own gums, its great stuff! numbs the area immediately and stays numb for quite a while after.

I agree with Hannibal on sticking to your guns with the sweet treats, as soon as my girl was allowed to have treats it was like a green light for some (well intentioned!) people to arrive with inordinate amounts of sugary treats for her.
I wouldn't mind, but the same child is equally as happy with a handful of blueberries or an orange. Some people don't seem to see fruit as 'real' treats though :rolleyes:

Jenni that must be kind of exciting having a date in mind for when you're moving over! Happy house hunting

Tigeress that's brilliant that Nathan is doing so well with his weight!

JenniG · 22-01-2012 11:30pm

liliq, smccarrick: Thanx so much for the advice. Liliq we did have a play with daft.ie, and saw a world of options

I will have go onto the property forum/thread, I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier. Does preggy brain still apply after baby is born?

smcarrik "Disorganised? You've a freezer full of home cooked food and seem to be coping very well with a brand new baby- you're far from disorganised. If you could see the chaos in our house- you'd see just how well you're doing! You're also incredibly brave- I don't know whether I'd be up to moving home to another continent with a young child- getting out the door at all is almost a military operation!" (I still can't get the quote function to work for me, sorry

)

Thanxs again smcarrick. for complementing me I'm in fact covering for the weepy chicken within, but excited too. As for being well organized... hmmm see our place & maybe you'll reconsider. Thank god someone else has described their place as being in chaos. I was beginning to think I was alone :rolleyes:.

Bubs will be only 3 weeks old soon & yet our small apartment has erupted. Yes I have a controlling streak. But other parents places that I have been to previously don't look anything like this... I find myself asking what are they doing that we're not? With a constant flow of washing, dishes, ironing etc. I'm so ashamed. I feel like the worst mother, wife etc. I realize that I'm possibly being to hard on myself here. As per above notes, she just seems to sense it when I'm about to move (thank god it's not just me). Great googily, moogily! :eek: Definitely considering in investing in a baby bjorn.

I heard about amber for teething, with mixed reactions. Some swearing by it, some not. Some swearing by certain ointments etc, some loathing them due to rashes and even more drool... Then some swearing by cold chew toys... As with anything, there is at least more than 1 way to skin a cat. I guess all we can do is try each one, though I think though we will try the amber first & see how we go...

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