Questions 3/15

[luv2rn4fun]

1.  C is chronically overtired the last 3 days.  Wakes up rubbing eyes, constantly fussy, refusing to nap for any significant length of time, and now nighttime sleep is a nightmare (this started with DST but not sure it's related).  I used to nap him primarily in the baby carrier...even then I was lucky to get 3 hrs/day max (typically 2 1/2).  Now I'm trying to break that habit and have him in the RNP only.  He's swaddled, white noise, dark room...not sure what else to do.  Is this just an age thing (he's 12 wks old) and he'll eventually get better with naps.  It's affecting his nighttime sleep, which used to be decent but now I'm lucky if I get a 4 hr and 3-3 1/2 hr stretch then he's up almost hourly after that.  Getting him to bed a horrible too...last night took forever and then he was up twice before falling asleep for his long stretch.

2.  If you used the Merlin suit, did you use it for naps too?  Did you use it in the RNP or just the crib?  Were you literally able to put your baby down awake and he/she fell asleep (especially if you have a needy baby that you have to get solidly asleep before putting down)?

[MadamePresident]

Anyone have a good method for getting pee smell out of the couch?

[mannah]

Mar 15, 2015 10:08:41 GMT -5 luv2rn4fun said:

1.  C is chronically overtired the last 3 days.  Wakes up rubbing eyes, constantly fussy, refusing to nap for any significant length of time, and now nighttime sleep is a nightmare (this started with DST but not sure it's related).  I used to nap him primarily in the baby carrier...even then I was lucky to get 3 hrs/day max (typically 2 1/2).  Now I'm trying to break that habit and have him in the RNP only.  He's swaddled, white noise, dark room...not sure what else to do.  Is this just an age thing (he's 12 wks old) and he'll eventually get better with naps.  It's affecting his nighttime sleep, which used to be decent but now I'm lucky if I get a 4 hr and 3-3 1/2 hr stretch then he's up almost hourly after that.  Getting him to bed a horrible too...last night took forever and then he was up twice before falling asleep for his long stretch.

2.  If you used the Merlin suit, did you use it for naps too?  Did you use it in the RNP or just the crib?  Were you literally able to put your baby down awake and he/she fell asleep (especially if you have a needy baby that you have to get solidly asleep before putting down)?

1. Is it possible he's going through a growth spurt and isn't sleeping well because he's hungry? Could you try loading him up with nor milk or formula than you think he needs and see what happens?

2. We used the Merlin in the crib only but she was not as complicated/difficult to put to sleep as you describe (don't mean that to sound bad). If his sleep sucks already it might be a good time to ditch the swaddle and get it over with. I'm sorry it sucks right now!

[luv2rn4fun]

Mar 15, 2015 11:08:03 GMT -5 mannah said:

Mar 15, 2015 10:08:41 GMT -5 luv2rn4fun said:

1.  C is chronically overtired the last 3 days.  Wakes up rubbing eyes, constantly fussy, refusing to nap for any significant length of time, and now nighttime sleep is a nightmare (this started with DST but not sure it's related).  I used to nap him primarily in the baby carrier...even then I was lucky to get 3 hrs/day max (typically 2 1/2).  Now I'm trying to break that habit and have him in the RNP only.  He's swaddled, white noise, dark room...not sure what else to do.  Is this just an age thing (he's 12 wks old) and he'll eventually get better with naps.  It's affecting his nighttime sleep, which used to be decent but now I'm lucky if I get a 4 hr and 3-3 1/2 hr stretch then he's up almost hourly after that.  Getting him to bed a horrible too...last night took forever and then he was up twice before falling asleep for his long stretch.

2.  If you used the Merlin suit, did you use it for naps too?  Did you use it in the RNP or just the crib?  Were you literally able to put your baby down awake and he/she fell asleep (especially if you have a needy baby that you have to get solidly asleep before putting down)?

1. Is it possible he's going through a growth spurt and isn't sleeping well because he's hungry? Could you try loading him up with nor milk or formula than you think he needs and see what happens?

2. We used the Merlin in the crib only but she was not as complicated/difficult to put to sleep as you describe (don't mean that to sound bad). If his sleep sucks already it might be a good time to ditch the swaddle and get it over with. I'm sorry it sucks right now!

1. I'm not sure if he is or isn't because he doesn't seem to be eating as much during the day (but maybe he's just in the phase where he's more efficient???). He's eating every two hours like normal. All of this started last week with the time change so not sure if it's that, growth spurt, or what...just know that he's overtired and it seems to be a perpetual cycle that's only getting worse and not better. It's frustrating because he is capable of sleeping so well (always has trouble going down at night but even that was down to 1 hr and we were consistently getting 5-6+ hr stretches...last night was 3 1/2 once he went down).

2.  Thanks!  Yes, he's very difficult, definitely no offense taken!  I'm ready to break the swaddle habit...seems like it couldn't hurt right now.  Just need to convince DH to throw the $40 at Merlin in hopes that it might work.  I'm waiting to see if a friend of a friend is willing to let me borrow hers first.

Also, he just started biting my nipple (yesterday).  Is it possible that he's teething?  I know it's early but still possible???  He drools but has been doing that for a week or so and I know it's common right about now. Obviously just grasping at straws...

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2015 10:52:36 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

Anyone have a good method for getting pee smell out of the couch?

Nature's Miracle cleaner.

[fayeelle]

Mar 15, 2015 12:59:43 GMT -5 @supergreen said:

Mar 15, 2015 10:52:36 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

Anyone have a good method for getting pee smell out of the couch?

Nature's Miracle cleaner.

This!

[mannah]

luv2rn4fun
It could definitely be teething! Especially if you have noticed an increase in drool and biting recently. I think anytime until they have all their teeth when they are being different/regressing can be blamed on teeth. does he seem like he is in pain? Maybe try a dose of tylenol and see if it helps. One dose won't hurt if it turns out its not teeth.

Borrowing a Merlin is a great idea before buying one in case your little guy hates it.

Keep us posted on any progress, or lack thereof. Good luck, you've got this!!

[luv2rn4fun]

mannah- Thanks- I feel bad for always asking sleep questions (it seems like that's all I do on here these days) but it's getting really frustrating...I hardly left the house the last 3 days trying to get him to sleep more and still not making progress.

He doesn't seem like he's in pain, if anything he has more gas...he finally pooped after several days of no bowel movements. He never bit me before yesterday so I'm wondering if that's a sign of teething or just normal 12 wk old behavior.

@mrsbecky- He can't roll yet. He's 12 wks today and still quite small (10 1/2 lbs). We haven't tried stomach sleeping yet. I think he fights the swaddle because he wants to suck on his hands...he's constantly trying to break out of it. Definitely need to try to de swaddle soon. How did you make that transition?

[AlpineSlide]

What granola bars do your toddlers like? I don't have a TJs or Whole Foods.

[niq]

Does anyone have a good, easy to use "dude, where's my spouse" app? Basically I just want something that will tell msniq how far away I am on the way home from work. We tried Google commute sharing but it doesn't work out of the box.

Glympse? Anything else?

[luv2rn4fun]

Mar 15, 2015 14:03:22 GMT -5 @mrsbecky said:

We have a Halo swaddle sleep sack and I think DS liked that because his legs had a good amount of freedom. So we then started swaddling him with his hands out for a few nights and then just used the sleep sack - a nice heavy fleece one so they still feel some weight on them, which I think helps. We did all that in the RNP.

Both my boys did okay being swaddled but slept a lot better unswaddled. You may want to try just cutting the cord with the swaddle. I would keep him in the RNL bc that's still a pretty snug environment. But just give it a shot. He may surprise you.

We have the Halo sleep sack swaddle too...cotton and fleece.  He uses the cotton one during the day and fleece at night.  For some reason the fleece one really helps to keep him from moving his arms too much but lately he's still trying to break free.  He's always fighting the cotton one.  I did try doing a one arm swaddle the other day for nap but he resisted even more so just ended up swaddling him.

Would you try naps first or nighttime first?

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2015 14:10:21 GMT -5 AlpineSlide said:

What granola bars do your toddlers like? I don't have a TJs or Whole Foods.

We all eat the Fiber One bars. Sugary, but with fiber!

[mrsjrd23]

Mar 15, 2015 14:12:05 GMT -5 niq said:

Does anyone have a good, easy to use "dude, where's my spouse" app? Basically I just want something that will tell msniq how far away I am on the way home from work. We tried Google commute sharing but it doesn't work out of the box.

Glympse? Anything else?

We use waze and just share our trip with each other.  It tells us arrival time and allows us to track where in route the person is.

[estrellita]

If I haven't pumped since last evening and I'm not feeling sore/engorged/etc, am I ok to just stop? Or should I pump just to get a little out? Not sure if it causes any problems if I just stop (I did cut down sessions over the last couple days but haven't pumped at all yet today).

[namasteak]

Mar 15, 2015 14:10:21 GMT -5 AlpineSlide said:

What granola bars do your toddlers like? I don't have a TJs or Whole Foods.

Plum Organic mighty 4 bars

[niq]

Mar 15, 2015 17:11:32 GMT -5 @charky said:

Any tips for dealing with CD poop? Diaper sprayers seem... messy.

E recently started solids after being EBF for 6 months, and the output is so so different.

There's a thing called the spray pal that helps contain the mess when you use a sprayer.

Or you can MacGyver one with a couple of plastic school binders and a chip clip.

ETA www.spray-pal.com

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2015 10:52:36 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

Anyone have a good method for getting pee smell out of the couch?

I would try those cleaners meant for cleaning up after animals.

Failing that I'd call for a professional cleaning.

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2015 16:57:12 GMT -5 estrellita said:

If I haven't pumped since last evening and I'm not feeling sore/engorged/etc, am I ok to just stop? Or should I pump just to get a little out? Not sure if it causes any problems if I just stop (I did cut down sessions over the last couple days but haven't pumped at all yet today).

Does your hospital have a nurse or LC line for questions?

I don't know if you can get any plugged ducts or something otherwise painful by just stopping. They may also be able to recommend a med to make sure the process goes smoothly.

[whiskeyandwine]

If you bottle and breast fed/feed, when did you introduce the bottle? Seems like I'm reading to EBF for the first month to get him comfortable with that, then introduce the bottle. Does that seem right?

[heygrey]

Mar 15, 2015 17:11:32 GMT -5 @charky said:

Any tips for dealing with CD poop? Diaper sprayers seem... messy.

E recently started solids after being EBF for 6 months, and the output is so so different.

the transition was the worst. those poops were epic. i used the diaper sprayer and just cleaned up as needed. once his body started handling solid food more efficiently most of it has been plop-able. the ones that aren't can easily be scraped with a (dedicated for poop) spatula.

i got a lot better at using the sprayer too. i found that spraying directly at the diaper leaves far less mess than hitting it at an angle with the water.

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2015 17:23:16 GMT -5 whiskeyandwine said:

If you bottle and breast fed/feed, when did you introduce the bottle? Seems like I'm reading to EBF for the first month to get him comfortable with that, then introduce the bottle. Does that seem right?

The class we took said as soon as breast feeding is well established. I think 6-8 weeks is a lot of time when things are supposed to settle in. But sometimes necessity guides this.

I actually don't know anyone in real life for whom a bottle messed up BF.

[bowies]

At what age did your DS/DD tune into books? At 8.5 months they are still just something tasty to gnaw on.

DS has entered a phase where he will refuse any food that isn't a purée. If we so much as attempt table food he will make himself vomit. Will he be attending college as a purée junkie?

[anaps28]

Does diaper rash out of nowhere at 5 months (FF no food yet) mean teething?

[bowies]

Mar 15, 2015 17:23:16 GMT -5 whiskeyandwine said:

If you bottle and breast fed/feed, when did you introduce the bottle? Seems like I'm reading to EBF for the first month to get him comfortable with that, then introduce the bottle. Does that seem right?

In the first week since we needed to supplement. It didn't affect him at all.

I also haven't heard of a baby that refused the breast after the bottle or developed a bad latch. I have, however, heard of plenty of bottle refusing babies because the bottle was introduced late. Late as in 3-4 months or more.

[krystee]

Mar 15, 2015 17:23:16 GMT -5 whiskeyandwine said:

If you bottle and breast fed/feed, when did you introduce the bottle? Seems like I'm reading to EBF for the first month to get him comfortable with that, then introduce the bottle. Does that seem right?

My BFing class said two weeks.

[estrellita]

Mar 15, 2015 17:22:38 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Mar 15, 2015 16:57:12 GMT -5 estrellita said:

If I haven't pumped since last evening and I'm not feeling sore/engorged/etc, am I ok to just stop? Or should I pump just to get a little out? Not sure if it causes any problems if I just stop (I did cut down sessions over the last couple days but haven't pumped at all yet today).

Does your hospital have a nurse or LC line for questions?

I don't know if you can get any plugged ducts or something otherwise painful by just stopping. They may also be able to recommend a med to make sure the process goes smoothly.

Yeah.. I suppose I could maybe call them. Maybe I will pump again tonight just to make sure. I have been cutting back on sessions but I wasn't doing it quite as gradually as most people probably do, but then again I was getting far less milk than most people usually have when they pump. I did try hand expressing some earlier just in case but I can barely get a couple drops out that way.

[gibbinator]

Mar 15, 2015 14:18:15 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Mar 15, 2015 14:10:21 GMT -5 AlpineSlide said:

What granola bars do your toddlers like? I don't have a TJs or Whole Foods.

We all eat the Fiber One bars. Sugary, but with fiber!

Us too. Ds1 also likes those dry, crunchy nature valley ones. AlpineSlide

[heygrey]

Mar 15, 2015 17:39:41 GMT -5 bowies said:

At what age did your DS/DD tune into books? At 8.5 months they are still just something tasty to gnaw on.

between 10-11 months?

he learned how to turn pages around 11.5 months and it's been nonstop books since then. he actually picks them up and "asks" to read.

[whiskeyandwine]

bowies - what bottles did you use?

[estrellita]

Stupid app lost my post. Grr.

When did you fit back into regular jeans? I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but still have the pudgy belly (I had GD so I didn't gain any weight the last 2 months and only gained about 20-25 overall, don't hate me, lol). I fit into my "fat" jeans but my other jeans wouldn't go up. I'm hoping my hips didn't widen too much that I'll need new jeans