Polly D

Thanks guys. Yep - he's been having a dose of calpol at night, most nights, yet is still waking screaming a few hours after going to bed at 7.30pm. Has been going on for over a week now. Last night he got so worked up he coughed and coughed and was sick in his bed. My husband thinks he's after attention but I don't see why he would suddenly feel the need for that in the middle of the night (and he's much more cheerful in the day now but still quite clingy). Sometimes he tells me has an itchy ear which could be an indication of the teeth but apart from that, no obvious teething signs: spotty bum/dodgy nappies etc. Does this change the older the child gets?

My son will be 2 in February and has recently become a nightmare at night time. Sure/hope it's just his age and a phase, and maybe molars though I can't feel anything. Anyone else going through a similar stage? He's got really clingy in the daytime and wants a 'carry' everywhere. He had a nasty cough and cold before Xmas which is still lingering a bit, lots of infections: eye, ear, throat etc and then the antibiotics left him with an inflammed willy (sorry if too much info). So I daresay he's just feeling fed up and run down - aren't we all?! But he's always been a good sleeper, even when ill, and now he's waking up screaming in the night and starting the day screaming in the morning, when in the past he would wake happily and chat to his bedmates - cow, bunny etc! When we dp go to him in the night he's fine, I mean once he's been reassured. He's usually able to tell me when something is wrong during the day, as in he can communicate quite well, but at night when I ask him he just says 'cuddle'. My husband and I are having those stressy hushed irritated 2am conversations: 'don't go to him', 'shall we just leave him', 'what's wrong?!' agggggh! Apologies for the waffle.

You poor thing - this sounds really upsetting. Whilst I agree your husband's behaviour isn't exactly normal - as in acceptable - I do think that a lot of people behave in this way. So don't feel you're alone katmando. I've been in a relationship like this in the past, but we didn't have the commitment of a child. It sounds like he's letting you down on a lot of levels and you are totally overworked. Your husband is arguing with you because (I'm sure) he knows he's in the wrong and so he's acting defensively. The problem is you won't be able to change your husband's drinking; he has to want to make that change himself. Could you ever see him agreeing/making the decision to go and talk to a professional? I would hold off on the plans for a second child - if I may be so honest - because I doubt this would make your husband change. And you would be more stressed and tired.

There's also a spreadsheet somewhere which various forumites have helpfully compiled detailing local clubs and activities. I would say you've moved to the right place if you want to make other mum friends!

I am very lucky with my MIL as I feel her involvement with our son is just right: in fact she says to me she doesn't want to interfere, to the point where I feel guilty that perhaps she's not involved enough. They do live 250 miles away though so it's hard to see them too often. I imagine a lot of MILs are thinking they're 'just trying to be helpful'. Let's not forget that in the future we will probably be someone's MIL. Slightly terrifying thought. Edited to add that I'm not boasting by the way, reading back realise how it could sound. Just wanted to support (some of) the MILs. I do empathise.

I know it's not what you're asking for but have you considered driving there in your own car (therefore confident re car seats) and paying for valet service? We did this in October at Gatwick and it only cost us ?40 for 5 nights. V easy, you get met right outside the terminal. I think company was Diamond cars if you want to google it.

Def sounds like a growth spurt. He'll probably sleep for next 24 hours!

Did you used to be woofmarkthedog, Dickensman?

Tricky one but I think you should go! And leave baby with trusted babysitter. Much less disruption for him. As number 2 says above: the only thing that will be tough is you feeling strange (I expect), and you will be able to cope with it for sure. Sure it will be one of those events you look back on and think 'really we glad I did that!' What does husband think? Re the breastfeeding - could you take a pump and express (throwing the milk away) to keep your supply up? Meanwhile baby has formula instead, since he's used to is already. Good luck - this is definitely the kind of dilemma I would lie awake thinking through too.

I'd been resisting the temptation to post on this thread because I have to admit that Mr D is much more hands on and understanding than he was during R's first 6 months but he's just come home from work saying there may not be much under the tree for me this year because he works a ten hour day...and there's been a lot of snow. I don't care about the presents of course but am seeeeeeeeeething at the implications of "I'm working ten hours a day"... What the f"*k do you think I'm doing all day?! I work 32hrs a week in paid employment and the rest of the time am dropping off/picking R up, cooking, tesco online shop, blah de bloody blah and Grrrrrrrrrrr. So thanks for recognising the need to vent fellow family room forumites.

So sorry this happened to you MrBen. My advice would be to take Victim Support up on an offer of counselling (assuming they have) because even though time/friend/family should help, you may sometimes find yourself filled with unbelievable rage that these guys robbed you violently of your personal effects. This happened to me 6 years ago in Honor Oak Park and I still crap myself walking home in the dark.

Someone at work told me Sudocream is good for spots. So now we have nappy rash on our faces if you look at it this way. Don't worry, sure it's just hormones and they'll calm down v soon.

Mr sb's work should be able to inform on this since companies do vary. A small task for him while you get on with assembling the new buggy! X

Yep, totally agree re JMB. I often wonder about the manager who went off to have triplets not that long ago - wonder how she's getting on!!

Oops Sean, I clearly have missed a trick. Ta for the tip.

Urmmm, nothing special but it would let me acess the forum on my iphone, aside from going via google. Or have I missed a trick?

Did a Tesco online shop last night and the earliest they can deliver is Monday night.

Sure this has been mentioned before but a search is pretty hard to do on this one: would you ever consider creating (is that the right word?) a forum app?

I've seen some for grown-ups with thumb and one finger missing for phone usage - maybe you could adapt them for baby SB? http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/24/etre-touchy-gloves-three-fingers-texting

My son wears tights! And I think they were even boys' tights from Mothercare. He's 2 in Feb. Cosy, and no need to be just a girls' thing. Sometimes I want to put a clip in his hair but that's another story.

Agree a bit weird to give Kate his mother's engagement ring, given the state of that marriage, but (to me), if one thing came out of yesterday's news and coverage it's that Will seems, well, quite nice and normal really.

Hello MrsLL2b - we had the large pool in a box filled with water, and 4.5 people in the room, in a top-floor flat of converted Victorian house. No probs at all, with the weight I mean. Good luck!

Keef: I finally got round to emailing to ask them to stop sending me the Daily Mail, and charging me 1p for it! And it's stopped, and I got a very polite response. Re their actual shop and delivery, in Tesco's defence, whenever they cock it up, I email and always get it sorted out - usually money off the bill or an e-voucher for next shop. They're pretty good I'd say, and much better than Sainsbury's (for online shop), in my experience.

Many happy congrats! And on bonfire night - will always be celebrated well. Well done you x

And meant to add, this thread is reminiscent of the section in the family bit of the guardian on a Saturday.