GinaG3

radnrach I'm a breastfeeding counselor and want to assure you this is very normal. My baby fed like this as a lot of babies do. Sometimes we would feed for 5 hours solid. It does start to tail off as they grow older and start solids etc. When a baby is breastfed they enjoy the comfort of sucking too just as they would with a dummy. Don't worry about what other peoples babies are doing at the same age either. No ones baby is the same as another. They all grow and develop at different rates. The good thing about a baby not sleeping long periods in the night at this age is it gives your body even more incentive to produce as much milk as needed for your baby. Also if your feeling tired (its easy when breastfeeding especially in these still quite early weeks) try to take a nap with baby and rest yourself too. It will be better for both of you. Agree with EDmummy on the 'over feeding' there is no such thing when it comes to breastfeeding! Breastmilk contains very little waste product so all the nutrients are used by the baby, don't let it worry you at all.

We use a 2.5tog gro-bag with a fleece blanket tucked in over the top if its very cold. She normally wears short sleeve vest with long sleeve sleepsuit. the problem we have is ice cold hands. She hates her hands being restricted so sometimes I use really long socks like gloves up her arms.

Hi Amy. My daughter did the same until 16 months when she started to sleep through. I co-slept until she was around 13 months when we stopped as she was waking regularly for 'boobie' and getting very violent with me. At this point I moved her to her own cot bed next to our bed, so she was still close but not close enough to wake up to the smell of me. I never believed it would work but it did, absolutely wonderful. Thinks just seemed to get better and better. I miss co-sleeping, but its now much better for her to be in her own bed, she has a proper nights sleep and so do we. She still on occasion wakes at around 5am for a feed but this isn't very often at all. We are fast approaching her 2nd birthday now and to be honest like you I wish I broke the habit of feeding to sleep. At 2 years I think she would be able to settle herself. Its entirely my fault, I love feeding her and have done since the very beginning. The only time she will settle without me is when I'm not around and she is with nana. Otherwise it just doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong breastfeeding is brilliant, but I would advise to try and find something to cut the sleep feeds before they become anymore habitual. I long for the day when my daughter will settle herself, or just want to go to bed and lie down before falling asleep by herself. I would suggest trying to move over to a cot bed next to your bed now. Then you are without things like the smell of you, and stirring and moving around that could wake her etc. This was a massive leap for us after loving co-sleeping for 16 months but it did work beautifully. I am also not one for controlled crying so haven't yet taken the step to putting down to bed by herself. I think I'm stuck with our little habit now. Gonna be a tough one to crack I think. Hope this helped, or gave a bit of insight into our little life like yours.. Good luck with it all. I'm sure we will all get there in the end.

No matter how sceptical people can be on the use of 'natural remedies' I would strongly advise using teething granules preferably nelsons. My daughter was teething from 8 weeks, and it went on and on through phases until her first tooth came at around 9 months. Then a whole mouth sprouted in no time at all. We are awaiting 4 more teeth (2 of which actually cut through yesterday leaving another 2) at 21 months then she will be the owner of a full set. Teething can be hard on the parents, but its something that must happen at some point, obviously. Distraction and granules worked wonders for us. The first ones are always the hardest it would seem, they get used to whats happening and tend to deal with later ones much better. Lots of cuddles, play and distraction I say. Trying teething rings too, didn't work at all for us, but have done for many others. Worth a try..

SB, My daughter just leapt with her development between 18m and 21m. Its like you blink and they are months older, or as least acting it. At 18m she was trying to say things but they weren't all too clear to understand, more signaling and pointing at things really. Now it is just extraordinary, she doesn't seem the same girl at all. We even count to 10 now albeit with help. It is really nice to see them grow up, but I do understand it can be very trying. Last night we had a 2 hour tantrum, and I mean tantrum because she just wanted to stand in the corner of the kitchen all night.. What's that about?! We had 4 teeth at once also about 3 months ago, that was a very impatient time. She seemed to moan, groan, scream and tantrum at everything but it only last 2 weeks or so (it isn't as long as it sounds, honest!) Try to enjoy as best you can, time really does fly and before you know it they will be teenagers and you'll wonder where all that time went.. I'm possibly mad for wanting to give her a little brother or sister already.

Have heard that too about girls. Boy don't we get all the above stuff you mentioned too. Tantrums at the first sign of the word 'NO'. Not listening to us when we try to tell her the 'exploring' she is doing at that very second is dangerous! Her dinner plate literally just being put down in front of her and hearing 'detchup detchup' or point blank refusal to eat. Its hard work, I am finding it rather stressful at some points mainly the not listening though it has to be said. But the learning to talk and acting little things out with her toys is so brilliant to watch. When you hold them as babies you think its going to take ages to get to that stage but its all going so fast. It needs to slowww down a little so I can enjoy it a bit more.

My daughter is 21 months and I cannot believe how she acts etc. We have around 60 words, she can say around 5-7 sentences. I find it amazing the amount her speech has come on in the 6 weeks or so. She has grown up so much, I can barely remember the days of tiny baby in my arm its going so quick. Did anyone else find this? I mean I now even get told to 'come on' and I'm then dragged to wherever she wants me to go. I have a mini adult already. I'm finding it all so fun, trying to copy everything in a funny way. She sings 'birthday to you, birthday to you' about 3 times a day using different people. Cbeebies obviously show too many birthday cards in different intervals. So tell me, what does your 21 month old get up to? Are they growing up too quick? I find their exploration skills and learning amazing.. What does the 2nd year hold?

What a horrible thing to go through, especially when heavily pregnant. Glad the NHS were helpful. My friend went through this a few months ago with her 18 month old son. Turned out to be asthma with him, but runs in the family so they were half expecting it at some point. Hope she is feeling all better soon. Weird how there was another twin in at the same time. One twin is always smaller than the other when born are they not? What with fighting for space and stuff. Was twin II the smaller in your case?

The spring time song was best, with the little boys in their tuxedos. You had to love it my daughter did. She learn't how to sing happy birthday to you last week from the little card showing section thingy'm'jig! Just in time for Nanas birthday this weekend. Now I will have to get a card to them in time for her 2nd birthday in February (hers not Nanas ha!) Come Outside brings back memories, I used to love it myself when I was little. Daughter loves; Waybuloo - she now tries to do yoga whilst watching, rather cute really Timmy Time - keeps her giggly and shouting all through breakfast Night Garden - tears after dinner if she misses it Chuggington - she even sings the song now, chuggy chugga chugga 3rd and bird is lovely, if I might say so myself. Not that I watch it myself..

Haha. If the kids were at school why would any parent be watching it anyway..? Unless maybe some do have jobs, watching dirtgirl world? Did you sign up just to say something about dirtgirl world, if so you were obviously researching her yourself, strange! Moving on, I saw it the other day and have to agree it is kind of weird...

I do agree, children are as expensive as you make them. You can still give your child a decent life and all the love in the world on a very small income. If you buy everything second hand (apart from christmas and birthdays - or you could even forget this and still buy used stuff), cook everything from fresh/grow your own and so on it is do-able on small amounts of money. The biggest costs in the first 6-12 months of the childs life are probably nappies this cost can be brought down too by using re-usable nappies saving you a hell of a lot of money. I already have one child, and putting off the second (although I don't really want to, but know I have to) until we can afford to live comfortably on a budget. Right now with all weekly out goings we have ?40 or so for ourselves (or christmas right now) we do just fine. Zeban makes a good point of people thinking money equals power and responsible parenting. I couldnt think of a view more silly. Growing up with less money I see more and more kids that are more generous, willing to share, less than spoilt and not thinking about themselves all the time and also aiming for a better future after school years, including extended education. Of course you see this in children from richer background but it seems to be getting more and more common for children growing up in poverty or just on the borderline. This doesn't go for all kids of course but the numbers are rising.. Parenting is what makes children who they are, not money. You can live on no money and still grow up with great values, respect for others and a positive attitude. Money cannot necessarily buy love nor happiness. I grew up in a high earning family whereby my parents had to leave us with au pairs and nannies for a good 12 years of my life. I hated it. I longed to feel love from my parents but all I had was nannies etc for most of the day. They picked me up from school everyday, no parents. From growing up like this I want my daughter to feel the love I have for her, I dont want her flitting in and out of childcare blah blah. A child needs their parents and I will be there every day I possibly can to pick her up from school and give her a big smile, cuddle and well done for all the school work I get shown. Flexible hours is perfect for me, or even part time. I'll get by on what I have, you just have to but my child is an important part of my day to day life and I dont want to miss out on a thing. Money does not equal a good or bad parent. I'm just as good a parent than majority or people on (no joke) even 10x my income! Child benefit should decrease with every child, I believe. But ti wont happen, they will just do it another way.. But I'm not getting into the CB debate because I've heard enough already frankly.

daizie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > YOUNG MOTHERS. Calm hysterically crying children > by firmly slapping their legs and then tugging > them along by the wrist. How very stereotypical. Not all young mothers are like that at all, in fact very few.

I'd love to know what your 'actually' meant to do in situations like this. If you play up to children of that age and show it bothers you they will more often than not scream even more. I'm regularly on the 12 and my daughter hates it sometimes.. She will sit in her pram and I'll try to give her things to calm her but it will not work. If I get her out for a cuddle to try and calm her she instantly wants down, kicking and screaming trying to escape out of my arms. Stuck a bit here aren't I? If I put my 20 month old (not far off 2 so surely it counts) down on the bus and the driver slams on his brakes and she goes hurtling up the bus, tell me would that look bad? It would, wouldn't it? Not that I would do it, I would be putting my child in a dangerous situation. Fact is most children of this age have no patience. It might only be a 15-20 minute ride but they don't know that. What about the teenagers etc playing their loud music on the bus for everybody to hear, this is an annoyance for most is it not? You could ask this kid to turn it off, they have sense and should also have respect and patience! Now there is a level of control here at least the kid knows what your saying to them and can fully understand (unless the music is really that loud of course) but they might throw a tantrum too.. After all who are they to do as they are asked, really? Is this the same? I guess it probably isn't..

Happened it me several times when I've specifically waited in. It's so frustrating!! Our postman actually got a right mouthful when one time he knocked and literally chucked a parcel at my feet. I was so outraged. I'm always so polite with posties but sometimes they are so rude. I got in an argument with him over this so he started posting all my mail to another address and they came and dropped it round saying the postman delivered to the wrong address!! Some are so rude I've had packages thrown at me with toddler in arms. Could not believe it. Royal mail need to employ some more respectful and polite post persons. Our new one is lovely!!

Pampers were all we used in the early months as we found every other brand leaked. Found huggies too hard, thought they were like cardboard. At 20 months we are now having lots of nappy rash (have been using Sainsburys own baby dry ones) moved back to pampers and no nappy rash. Very weird. I also found with Sainsburys one the crystals came out the nappy and onto the bum.. Would definitely try different brands as said already, every baby is different!

Its a tricky subject is privacy especially with teenagers. I'm only just in my 20's now and know from experience if my mum and dad wanted to know anything I wouldn't let them know. My parents are friends on my Facebook now but I'm not a teen anymore, have my own family and my own responsibilities . Personally the more my mum and dad tried with me the more I rebelled against them. I wanted my privacy and thought they should of respected that. If I got into a 'very' difficult situation I always knew they would be there for me. Of course this is different for every teen, I was very rebellious and took every opportunity to rebel whereas a few of my friend were the total opposite. I don't believe parents are to blame, of course you can be too lenient but teenagers love to push buttons and see where the boundaries lie. Its all part of growing up. Its exactly the same as toddlers pushing boundaries its all a learning curve. I'm probably going to get jumping on here but a lot of teens will do as they please, they will experiment with drugs, alcohol and sex, specially with all the hormones at that age but its your duty to let them know how to stay safe in these situations. Of course you will still worry but once again thats your job as a parent. Being a parent myself now, I look back and don't necessarily feel regret at my choices in my teenage years but definitely feel guilty as to what I put my parents through. I was irresponsible but I enjoyed it, why not, I had no responsibility in my life at that time. One thing I did know was how to handle myself and keep safe in various situation and was always with one friend at least. I always carried a phone on me incase I got in trouble and needed help.

No need to worry about this. In exclusively breastfed babies this is very common as breastmilk does not produce much waste product hence the longer times between poos than FF babies. It is normal for a baby (of this age particularly - growth spurt time) to not do a poo for up to 10-12 days. You could try gently massaging the tummy when she is laying flat on her back just a little bit of gentle rubbing with warm hands..

You'd hate to know what I've been doing all week then.. Some bars up Leicester Sq already have their tree's up. Now that is stupid in my book, but presents on the shelf doesn't bother me. Just shut your eyes for the first aisle of Sainsburys I suppose..

My daughter is hitting 20 months, granted its not quite 2 but nearly there. She has been throwing ridiculous tantrums, had horrible blistering nappy rash and constant runny nose. She has been teething since she was 8 weeks old and got her first teeth a long time ago. We are nearing a full set just the back ones to go now and 2 front side ones. I just wish it would hurry up and get out the way so we can have our bouncy little girl back. its horrible to watch them go through, even more so at this age. Shouldn't be too long. Ive had a constant tantrum since 6am this morning.. not good :-(

Glad to hear your doing well buggie. Well done to you both!!

You can look out for touching and pulling of the ear. Thats normally a sign of pain or discomfort in that area. My daughter did the same from 11 months until she started walking. Would definitely make appointment with GP or there is always Seldoc if its worrying you enough in the meantime. Took my daughter down there yesterday to check for ear infection - she has flu!! Doctor was brilliant and acted like a complete ninny to make my child happy. Are you breastfeeding by any chance? I was and still am, we had to change our sleeping arrangements to stop her being able to smell me in the night as this caused huge tantrums at around 3-5am every single night. After we moved her a bit further away from us (she sleeps in our room and had always co-slept or been very near to us in the cot) everything was perfect, and she started to sleep through! Just an idea..

Most pubs are family friendly during the day, if you want to go for a quiet drink do it at night when children are safely tucked up in bed out of your way. Simple really. I took my daughter to harvester for a meal the other day, nice family outing for us. I tell you don't go there if your looking for a quiet meal, it wont happen. Next thing someone will be moaning about children in Sainsburys - ban being able to shop with your child!! The phrase 'children should be seen and not heard' comes to mind here. This is no longer the world we live in, you need to time travel back a while for that mate.

It is school traffic. I walk past a good 3 times a week. Sometimes from about 1pm there is around 7 coaches sitting outside waiting (school doesn't finish for hours still). Its not uncommon to go down there and see around 12 coaches parked up at 3ish. When they pull away they use the wrong side of the road as they drive towards lordship lane (this is to get around the pedestrian island just after Alleyns). There has been countless complaints about coaches taking up all the road. Can they not allow the coaches to pull into Alleyns instead? I do see a lot of people getting really peeved off at trying to drive down Townley Road at school times. My advice, try and travel a different route at these times!

I have been wondering the same thing. Not getting a re-paint out of my landlord though. Guess who painted the entire flat in the first place.. I actually still have 2 tubs left of the same paint so I'm going to paint to 'try' and get my deposit back. What am I thinking, lord knows. Off to scrub my walls then, it would seem!

MAC - Cannot be dealing with all the slowness of Windows & viruses. I'm using a 10 year old mac (old I know, anyone feel free to buy me one.. thought not!) and it quite literally takes 20 seconds to boot up compared to the 4 year old PC I was using a few months ago (what a nightmare) taking about 10 minutes! Then again I'm gonna stick to mac as thats all I know and has always been the same, it drove me to nearly lobbing a PC out the windows trying to use one for 2 months. Few things you cant do on mac for sure, but thats where the iPhone comes in!