susyp

Your blog is amazing pebbles. I had insomnia some years back and yes, what you say about it making you feel insane rather than tired was definitely my experience. You and anyone else who suffers from it on here has my utter sympathy. I was very lucky in that acupuncture cured it very quickly (once i tried it), and now I know I have to be pretty careful with alcohol as that was definitely a big factor in mine. I am not a brilliant sleeper still alhtough I am so much betterand I watch my daughter go to sleep with such envy ! I used to frequently go to work and drive around all day (I was a tv producer) after having not had one wink of sleep for 3 nights. Madness. And no-one can possibly understand if they haven;t had a taste of it. very very amazing blog. I really hope you find some relief from it soon, I would say I had a good decade of it (worsening) before I found a solution, I hope it is just a life stage thing for some, lets hope so and you can move on from it soon. susypxx ps a friend of mine recently asked me to do the cancer research moonwalk with her and I don;t think could understand why I was so horrified- but the idea of messing with my sleep is just too scary - i haven;t even flown far since my acupuncture, I am totally resistant to messing up my bedtimes. Definitely no-one around me understands this they just think I am completely anal!!

When I was at secondary school I used to knock for a friend on the way who lived in a particularly chaotic household and her mum would chuck some money at her and we would have to stop at the newsagent on the way so she could buy some crisps and chocolate for breakfast. It made me sad at the time and even more so now that I am a mum. So I probably would judge at breakfast time - not at any other time. Before my daugther went to her school nursery she had only had a little cake and no sweets - then it seemed to be constantly someone's birthday and not only did they get sweets as they left for the day to celebrate then she would go to the party and we would have to make a cake or fairy cakes so that she could take a dairy free substitute - of course then we would have a cake for a week :-) . I do try and give her breadsticks on her way home from school (she won't accept fruit after school - a battle she has well and truly triumphed on!!) and only give her sweets on a friday. It's very difficult though especially when other people are giving their kids sweets (maybe they have monday sweet day - who knows!). She also has a chocolate milkshake every day as I give her oatmilk and she won't drink it any other way !! As long as she eats her vegetables with dinner I am not too fussy about it all though. susypx

I know nothing about this but I did have a conversation with a mum in the playground about my daughter's night time cough which was ongoing (fine now) and she said her son had an inhaler for some yeas for a similar problem from quite little up to about 5 - doesn;t need it now . Not sure if sometimes they give inhalers without the diagnosis just to see if they help. Also I think that sometimes little ones can have problems that resolve themsleves as they get older - as so often does on the milk allergy front (fingers crossed for you on this one too!). Also to say that my daughter was unbelivably and constantly ill from the age of 1-2, not sure how old your little one is now but definitely in that yearwe only had a few days here and there when she was well - especially if like me you take her to lots of groups! So may just be viral. Constant colds, coughs, - 3 tummy bugs in 3 months. susypx

Yes sorry I should have posted that also - if it is diagnosed as a dairy allergy life will get so much easier (it can take about 2 weeks to go out of their system completely) and even though my daughter is still allergic at 4 that is relatively unusual (3 of her friends in her class at school were milk allergic first year and aren't now), and even then it's really not any problem at all. ug patt1980 I used to sleep with my daughter kind of tucked into the crook of my arm so i could stroke her tummy every time she woke up screaming. awful times. x also i gave up dairy when breast feeding but it didn't make the slightest jot of difference - not sure why, the neocate was the only thing that sorted her out. susypx

I don't think anyone cares about whether someone breast feeds. It doesn't bother me in the least and I definitely enjoyed doing it when it went well. What I found hard and others have too was the complete lack of support and in fact quite the opposite , when I needed to give up. I no longer see my nct group because of the reaction I had. I don't think anyone who posts here holds such a limited world view as we are all happy to debate. But you can't deny it can be tough out there if you choose to give up bf after only a few weeks. Susypx

I ve had breast cancer and my oncologist told me you would have to bf for at least two years to see the cancer protection. Also having a baby gives you a short term increased risk of breast cancer so its v important to check yourself over the first 3 years post baby - difficult to do if you are bf ? Long term you gain protection after having a child though. It's all swings and roundabouts. So we come back to - just do what feels best for you in your own particular situation . Susypx

Hi Ellie, this was my experience with a dairy allergic baby and I think several others on this forum have had the same experience. I would get your baby tested asap. You may have to go private for the test then you can do it next day (we're talking around ?150 I think) and then you can opt back into NHS system. See your GP and they can refer you. Good luck Susypx ps also if your baby is diagnosed as dairy allergic - go straight for neocate - not nutramigen - lots of babies still react to this but it builds up slowly - I was left with a baby projectile vomiting at christmas time and not keeping anything down and a registrar refusing to change the prescription because the specialist had suggested nutramigen. Also the way I got her onto it was to mix breast/her normal milk with varying amounts of the new formula - ie 80/20% and keep reducing the percentages. Some people say you shouldn't mix breast and formula like this but sometimes it's needs must. But take the advice of your specialist of course + ask to be referred to a dietitian. I think my daughter was so hungry by the time we got to neocate she didn't care what went in!! (and she was never underweight like many websites say allergic babies will be ). pps also my daughter is soy intolerant not allergic - so doesn't show up in any tests but she still gets chronic pain if she has it. I am not sure if this is right so obviously ask the question - but I think allergies tend to make you throw up/diarrohea - intolerances don't do this but do make you feel ill. That at least is the experience of my daughter and my mum (who is chronically inotlerant to nearly everything but not allergic to anything!!) . hope that's not too confusing. ppps my third addition is to say that you will quickly learn as a mum - your instinct is nearly always right! xxx

Hi Sillywoman I'm not name calling you, although I don't agree that it was in any way helpful to use the term "artificial". Breastapo are those people who look at you as if you are a bad mum when you get a bottle out in public. I am quite sure you don't do that as you enter the debate in a meaningful way, even if I don't agree with you I do appreciate that (sadly! - joke!) not everyone can see things my way! Breastapo are also those cowards who message those of us who come out and question that breast is always best rather than post openly on here like you do. So not - no name calling you. You have given much sensible advice on this forum. susypx

I've only just caught up with this (trying not to get too involved or I'll lose the plot...) but I've never heard the term "artificial feeding" Now my daughter is on artificial milk (neocate) because she can't tolerate cows milk. But cow's milk = artificial? Really.?!! Unbelievable. It's nice to know that we seem to be turning the debate on this away from the breastapo, at least on this forum. Hope it gives any new mums reading this the support that I so badly needed early on. Susypx

Brilliant Susypx

If you don't want to breast feed don't let your partner force you into it. Some men can be very adamant about it but they are not the ones stuck at home doing it! Breast feeding is lovely but bottle feeding gives you a lot more freedom in my opinion. Wish I had done it earlier. Just sounding the other side of the issue not going to get drawn into any discussion here! Good luck with however it works out. Try and enjoy the first few months, they are very hard, and you need to do whatever you find creates less stress. Susypx

Yes I think I will wait. Going to keep the potty in her room and maybe do a reward chart for each morning there is wee in it, as I think she can def go early morning, to get the idea in her head. If that doesn't work either will give up entirely! Thanks x

Ok well after my initial excitement we have had 2 wet nights in a row. Last night I went to check on her at 4.30am as I hadn't heard anything all night - the bed was soaked right up to her pillow and all her toys - she was fast asleep. Then tonight I just went up at 830pm (she went to bed at 7 - had 2 wees right before bed) and she was soaked again (and her toys!). It's quite upsetting as she is so conked out I couldn't really clean her properly so she has that horrible wee smell - changed the bed but now have no more waterproof sheets (they take forever to dry?!) so have put a pull up on her but told her to try and use her potty if she can. At this point, I am tempted to give up as she has done both these wees while fast asleep. What I wanted to find out was whether her nappy was wet because she was just weeing in it consciously rather than going to the toilet. She is 4 3 months. The only thing that makes me wonder whether I should persist is this sore foo foo she keeps getting - it has been fine this week without nappies. But I am concerned she will start to get anxious if she is continously wetting the bed - at the moment neither the nappies or the wetting is upsetting her and I don;t want it to be come a "thing" tempted to wait 6 months until the easter hols and try again - what do others think? Or is this pitifully soon to give up - does it take night after night of wet sheets before they become dry sometimes? Also was just reading about this hormone they need to have - it concentrates the urine so there is less liquid - well she has far more volume in her wees at night than at day so does this suggest that she doesn't have this hormone yet? Ie no point in this exercise? thank you Susypx

stopped my daughter biting her nails by offering to paint them if she stopped and then saying she would ruin the varnish if she bit them - did it in the holidays - she is younger than yours however so not sure how it would translate. I still bite my nails. Never given up. The nasty tasting stuff didn't stop me for any length of time. Susypx

I had it when I had chronic constipation during chemo (sorry tmi!). I had tried acupuncture which had worked for me before with insomnia but it didnt seem to help with this particular problem - reflexology sorted me out straight away. And it's very nice. I am thinking of training to be a therapist at some point as it was such a good experience. susypx

she's just conked out after loads of sweets and a very late dinner so I suspect tonight may not be as successful! susypx

Have to say I am a convert - went out with a v cute group of 2-4 year olds witches/monster/black cat/ pumpkins tonight at about 5pm and had a lovely time. Some very imaginatively decorated houses. It's still quite a random idea but I can't deny it was fun! Not so sure about the older kids doing it I have to say. Susypx

Just wanted to update for anyone worrying about giving up nappies at night - admittedly it's only day 1 - but last night my daughter did 2 wees in her potty by side of bed and no accidents! I would never have thought it possible!! Lady in the shop where we bought the waterproof sheets said she did it with no bottoms on her daughter - so they don't get a sense there is anything there - we did this (commando sleeping!) and it also made it easier for her to hop on and off the potty. Lets hope it continues but at least we know she can do it !! She did make an awful lot of noise just getting out of bed and going to her potty - think she wanted to make sure we knew she was doing it!! susypx

How funny I was looking into this myself. On amazon they have rave reviews but I really want to check they are ok for wood floors - ours is engineered - anyone know if this is ok for a steam mop? ! suspyx i hadn't heard of groupon. My god I am already addicted. It gives me something else to obsess about!

i don't think it hurts her in the day, and i think generally she is fine going, at school i think because they have to go out the classroom she doesn't like going on her own . But it's also because she doesn't drink anything at school. At home she drinks plenty ( as I make her ) and wees plenty. We shall try and see how it goes - v much appreciate all the advice! Susypx

Do people think I should go ahead and try this? She is soaked in the morning. But I am not sure how much of that is conscious weeing. She herself is not at all confident about the idea. She is quite big (5+ clothes) despite only being just 4 and generally has been quite advanced on a physical basis so I find it hard to believe she doesn't have the hormone? I think I would have to lift her - but I really can't imagine her waking to wee- she will probably just cry in protest! There is a place near her bed I can put a potty + bin to put in toilet tissue so I think she will do that ok at least in the mornings. Perhaps I should set this up first to persuade her to try and use it before taking away the nappies altogether - with some sort of reward chart? If she really wants to get dry I am sure it wouldn't make any difference if she was wearing pull ups or normal pants? susypx

Yes, I have come to the conclusion that I have procrastinated about this too long now and the amount of offence I would cause by pulling out would be greater than the amount of discomfort I will feel about taking part! Sigh. Am already plotting my excuse for next year though!! Again I bow to the collective wisdom of forumites! thank you Susypx

Agree with all you say about neighbours - that is our friend's reason for doing it , the community feel - but i still have a problem with my daughter knocking on doors to beg sweets from strangers. If I decide not to go I will call her and explain - totally agree I have to tell her why or she really will get offended! I suppose we could go this year and then I can arrange something else for the next years so that we don't have to do it again!! arg. so undecided. It's so easy to stand up for my principles when it's just me, but I also know my daughter would enjoy it. Susypx

thank you that is a good site. I hadn't thought about fear of the dark in terms of going to the toilet but that would be an issue which the site mentions - so will put her potty right next to her bed so she doesn't have to venture out into the dark (we have lamps on but that's not enough for her - she has 3 or 4 nightlights on in her room!! susypx

Said friend was invited too to the other party so she knows it wasn't previous. And no doubt we would return from it all dressed up to encounter them trick or treating (as they only live a few doors down) so I think it's probably better we all sit in darkness in the back of the house for a couple of hours!! susypx