The new rolling ILX parenting thread, since the other one was getting unwieldy

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You have my every sympathy, Archel - to top my sleep deprivation, today I have come down with some kind of sore throat / shivery muscles bug type thing. Hope I don't pass it on to the wee fella - don't think it'd be much fun with both of us ill :(

― Meg Busset, Monday, 19 March 2007 20:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay for baby slings! The answer to the baby who will only nap while cuddled up to mum. Tried H in his today and, after a few mins grizzling and wriggling, he promptly fell asleep. That was two hours ago and he's still snoring away happily. It's nice not to be stuck on the sofa with both hands full of sleeping baby, unable to move!

Are there any co-sleepers on this thread? This morning we brought him in with us after his usual 6am refusal to settle, and all three of us dozed happily til 7.30 - after which he even went back in his crib for another 45 mins, which made mum and dad very happy. But it still seems a bit of a taboo thing to do...

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 22 March 2007 14:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I had a baby bjorn - the best in my opinion - and I used it so much when she was a couple of months. I don't think I could have survived without it. I also tried other baby carriers but I threw'em in a corner as the Baby Bjorn is very VERY safe.

I still have a cold and so does Ophelia. :-( I went to the doctor after several people advised me to. I am not a big fan of antibiotics, especially for kids, but I figured I better not feed my guilt (of being a bad mommy and neglecting Ophelia) so I went. Was it necessary? No. But I still have to give a few meds (nasal spray and other *concotions*). Hopefully it'll clear up cause she still sleeps very lightly. Me? I wake up because of my own snoring. Urgh. Morning sickness and old BEGONE.

― nathalie, Thursday, 22 March 2007 15:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I never did get the hand of baby slings, but my husband did. They worked very well for him!

As for co-sleeping, we slept with both our kids. It was a choice we made, but yeah, people won't hesitate to tell you you're making a terrible mistake. We transitioned them into their own beds in our room (Julia is still in hers) after leaving ours. Alex got his own new bed and his own room when he was about 5, I think. Julia still wakes up in the middle of the night and crawls into bed with us, which is fine. (She's 4 1/2). Honestly, with nursing, I don't know how anyone can do it and not co-sleep. It was the only way to get any rest, it seemed.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 22 March 2007 15:38 (seventeen years ago) link

We had our best night yet last night - Owen slept all night (as usual), and Ben made it to 5:30, and would probably have made it further if my wife hadn't peeked in to make sure he was still breathing! Looks like we may be getting close to having both of them sleeping 7pm until 7am, which would be mind-blowingly cool, especially for 4-month-olds. I credit the swaddling.

― schwantz, Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

This is silly, but I thought you guys would appreciate it. My new phrase for the sounds the babies make when we're trying to go to bed? "Cock-blocking bleats."

― schwantz, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:58 (seventeen years ago) link

I have a book question for the parents of little girls 5 snd above. My niece is turning six this May. She is an excellent reader, and I would like to give her her first "chapter books". I got my nephew "Lemony Snicket" for his seventh birthday (two volumes, which makes gift-giving easy for, oh, the next five birthday/christmas exchanges, as I continue his collection of the series). But i don't know any girl books, or just fun books that would appeal to a rather pink/princessy type girl that are "longer" and/or in a series.
I have looked on some lists, but a personal recommendation is always great!
Thanks!

― aimurchie, Thursday, 22 March 2007 19:48 (seventeen years ago) link

The ones that sprang immediately to mind--Little House on the Prairie and the Anne of Green Gables series--might be a little too much for a 6 yo, although Little House might work (maybe in a year if not now?). The American Girl series are nice for that age, but clear it with the parents, they might not want her getting hot for the very expensive dolls. Maybe some biographies of actual princesses? I started loving Cricket Magazine at that age too--it has stories for different reading levels.

― teeny, Friday, 23 March 2007 12:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Aimurchie : your niece might like the "Animal Ark" series, by Lucy Daniels.

― C J, Friday, 23 March 2007 12:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Little House series seconded.

― Rock Hardy, Friday, 23 March 2007 13:01 (seventeen years ago) link

There was a great thread along these lines on ILB but I can't find it.

― Madchen, Friday, 23 March 2007 13:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Gotcha

― Madchen, Friday, 23 March 2007 13:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Thank you! I might start her on the "Little House" books - she's too young for Nancy Drew and most of the list sites are really about selling particular books.
I can't buy into the American Doll thing unless she is exposed to it. It's not bad, but it's also NOT GOOD.
I am the "Book Auntie"...
Thanks, rolling parents!

― aimurchie, Friday, 23 March 2007 21:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Tummy time for Ben (Owen looks on, Cat Benatar sits in the sun)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/432043024_f4b077289f.jpg

― schwantz, Saturday, 24 March 2007 04:26 (seventeen years ago) link

aimurchie, is your niece from the Scottish side of your family? I just bought Mairi Hedderwick's Katie Morag books for my niece. They are really aimed at the 5+ age group - a little above her age - but no matter, I just wanted her to have something relating to traditional Scottish life (her father is Scottish, but her mother is American and she is being brought up in Florida).

― ailsa, Saturday, 24 March 2007 12:58 (seventeen years ago) link

("her" being my niece, not yours, re ages)

― ailsa, Saturday, 24 March 2007 13:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Lots of girls like the Junie B. Jones series. A new author, Sarah Pennypacker, has just released "Clementine" and a follow up. This is an adorable and clever book along the lines of Ramona, which wouldn't be a bad choice either.

― Virginia Plain, Saturday, 24 March 2007 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia had her first long tantrum. She wanted another yoghurt and I refused. I realized I should have put'em in the cupboard so she didn't see'em; but that doesn't mean that I should reward her for knowing where they were. So I put her on her back on the ground so she could howl as much as she liked. She eventually crawled onto my lap but then realized, probably, that daddy was a better companion and reached out to him.

― nathalie, Saturday, 24 March 2007 16:13 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm sure Lucy gave her a long-suffering look.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 24 March 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link

The family is going to Scotland nexy month! Them, not me:(
I will tell my sister in law about the Katie Morag books. Thanks!

― aimurchie, Saturday, 24 March 2007 20:32 (seventeen years ago) link

i've been off thee parente threade for a while, hope everybody's doing well. i do have some new pix.

this was his christmas outfit:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/gypsyfrocksbedlam/0002230-R01-053-25.jpg

at central park zoo:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/gypsyfrocksbedlam/0002229-R01-053-25.jpg

and the ever popular pool of balls:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/gypsyfrocksbedlam/0002229-R01-009-3.jpg

― tipsy mothra, Saturday, 24 March 2007 21:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Why bother building her a bed?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/432863989_6fed17f40a.jpg

She slept like this for two hours (it was her afternoon nap) but - success - she did actually sleep in her bed 8:30pm-4am last night, which is a start. She's in there right now - 3 hours and counting...

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Whoops.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/432863989_6fed17f40a.jpg

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:17 (seventeen years ago) link

we bought a miracle blanket today

OMG PLEASE WORK

― sunny successor, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:43 (seventeen years ago) link

lemony snicket isn't for girls?!

― emsk, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Nope, just for evil stinky boys.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:57 (seventeen years ago) link

THIS MAKES NO SENSE

i read (some of) them in borders when there were some decent freebie live things happening there and the whole time i was just thinking DAMN, i wish i'd had these when i was 7. and i was an GURL.

― emsk, Sunday, 25 March 2007 00:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Good luck with the Miracle Blanket! Make sure you wrap 'em up tight!

(Ben's back to waking up at 2-3am - I guess the other night was a fluke :( )

― schwantz, Sunday, 25 March 2007 03:04 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.bibsandstuff.com/miracle-blanket-1.jpg http://www.keyboardbiologist.net/knitblog/images/Equals.JPG http://www.affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/Horse_with_blinders_small.jpg

(So far, apparently...)

― Pleasant Plains, Sunday, 25 March 2007 05:35 (seventeen years ago) link

And they wrapped the Beeps in swaddling clothes and lay her in a manger.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 25 March 2007 05:39 (seventeen years ago) link

I love the Lemony Snicket books as well, and as someone recently pointed out to me, my lip gloss collection suggests that I'm a "girly girl."

Hope all the babies are sleeping peacefully tonight!

― Sara R-C, Sunday, 25 March 2007 06:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Ben's back to waking up at 2-3am - I guess the other night was a fluke :(

They *always* do this! But it's not far off, those long nights. Hang in there!

Morning sickness is still in full swing. Really full swing. :-(

― nathalie, Sunday, 25 March 2007 07:50 (seventeen years ago) link

i'm a grown up girl and i've read some of the lemony snicket series, i thought it was great. two of the key characters are girls, i can't see why it would be thought to be aimed at boys.

― gem, Sunday, 25 March 2007 09:17 (seventeen years ago) link

I always found them a bit negative. I'm a sensitive chap.

― Mark C, Sunday, 25 March 2007 09:48 (seventeen years ago) link

UMMMM.....I bought the Lemony Snicket books for her brother, who is seven. The books are reccomended for 7 and above. He already has the books - the family is reading them together. Why would i get her the same books?
In fact, i mentioned them because - well - her brother already has that collection, so I Would Like To Get Something Else For Her!
She's very girly, but I tend to "combat" that by NOT buying her barbie stuff, etc. In fact, I only give books to the kids - they get plenty of toys from other relatives.
I didn't ask about books for girly girls - i asked what parents thought about for a five year old girl. i guess i could have said "five year old not gender specific", but "niece" kind of gave it away!
Anyway - not the point of this thread.
Thanks for the reccomendations!

― aimurchie, Sunday, 25 March 2007 10:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Mrs COastaltown seems to have morning, afternoon and evening sickness at the mo:(

― Matt, Sunday, 25 March 2007 12:20 (seventeen years ago) link

We have thought about swaddling Howie, but given that he loves to sleep with his arms above his head, and kicking his legs in the air is one of his favourite things, I don't think it would go down too well. When we try to wrap him in a towel to wash his hair, it's mere seconds before he has arms and legs sticking out all over the place. He be a free-spirited baby...

― Meg Busset, Sunday, 25 March 2007 13:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Whoo-hoo!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/435925876_426497ad6e.jpg

Ben gets a private concert from atop the piano:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/433147978_b4433083cc.jpg

― schwantz, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 18:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Seriously, how long can you have a cold? Sheesh, it's been a couple of weeks and she's still not recovered. Some nights are horrendous: wakes up every night and cries. I refuse to put her in our bed this night. Which I know is cold and severe, but I wanted to let her learn that she has to remain in her bed. :-( (Also, I was so sick and feeling horrendously crap, I don't think I could have more than *me* in bed.)

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 06:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry to hear about Mrs Coastaltown's all-day-long morning sickness. There's been a thread on this which might help

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Apparently swimming in the morning helps alleviate morning sickness. So a daily routine of 30 minutes should help (and is also extremely good for zee bones and muscles). I don't of course swim so much, but the weekly swim does help with the morning sickness. I feel exceptionally well after it.

Still suffering from morning sickness coupled with dreadful cold. And hormones. I am as a result a bit out of it. :-(((

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, poor you :( I suppose you can't take much in the way of cold medicine, can you?

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, sort of homeopathic ones that don't do me anything. I mean, works for an hour and then it's full on snot mode again. hah. It's not so much the physical aspect but the fact that mentally I feel awful. :-( Ah well, this too shall pass. ;-)

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Any chance you can have an indulgent day pampering yourself with Nice Things, or are you working in the shop today?

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Much obliged for the link CJ, some helpful stuff (the swimming also sounds a good idea, she starts easter hols next week so I shall suggest it). My sympathy to Nath.

Scan today!

― Matt, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Pampering? haha No. The shop has to be open seven days a week. The only pampering I can do is stuffing myself. ;-) (Which I realize is NOT good but it alleviates the sickness a bit.) Also, we just discovered OPhelia has the measels (from the creche). ARGH!

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh lordy - are you rubella immune, nath???

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:20 (seventeen years ago) link

shit, i mean chickenpox.

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah shit, I just read the effects it can have on a foetus. :-((((((((((((((((

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:38 (seventeen years ago) link

But YOU don't have chickenpox, right?

― schwantz, Thursday, 29 March 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

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