babyurbeautiful

In between the cries of 'warmer' (apparently I'm really bad at making the perfect temperature milk) and that goes for bath and showers too. Albie hasn't quite grasped that when you say warmer it means to make it hotter!
I'm currently being ordered about by a 3-year-old dictator, so you can imagine its  quite testing to get him to take orders from me!
I also don't understand how this diminutive child understands the power of negotiation already...

Through frustrating times during our potty training journey, I'm afraid I have to admit I've resorted to bribery, yes, my bad. Chocolate has been used.
But I find, as my child had such a fear associated with no 2's, something had to give.
I'm laughing as I write because he had his morning poo (a Vesuvius may I add) - and it was in the potty.
After this he ate two brioche rolls and a whole pear and because Albie is aware he's been a clever lad, he said: 'now I can have ONE chocolate!' With the one being heavily accentuated.
So now he's playing ME at my own game knowing he's simply done the things he should - but he's expecting his reward - fair enough.
(Just so you know he'll get his chocolate at lunch time and he WON'T forget!)

Since Albie was two, every morning in his milk I have to put a sachet of Movicol.
Its a laxative for the treatment of constipation in adults, adolescents and elderly.
Movicol helps you to have a comfortable bowel movement even if you have been constipated for a long time. It also works in very bad constipation called faecal impaction - which Albie has.
As the months have gone on, I've noticed a change in his bowel movements, he used to cry every time he felt the familiar tummy rumble, and believe me, before Movicol I can understand why he felt so frightened after having to manipulate his poo out and seeing how hard and dry it was.

So basically I'm updating you to say we're at the final stage of our Huggies potty training journey - he's just turned 3, and now has a regular morning poo - which is a delight to see (honest!) instead of waiting three days, a lot of tears, frustration, even high temperatures at times and refusal to eat. It's been really hard, and if any of you mums can relate please talk to us!

At night I've been alternating between night time pull-ups and going pull-up free (Russian roulette, believe me!)
Every night we read a story, I toilet him, then remind him, if he does have a pull up on, to pull it down and wee or poo in his potty.
We've had mixed results - but we're almost there. I have no doubt there will be the odd accident but make sure you line the bed/cot with an water resistant bed cover for that reason.

Here's a great one from Drynites, the step on from Huggies Pull-Ups once you’re potty trained
WATER RESISTANT BED COVER DRYNITES

Huggies Pull-Ups expert, Dr Heather has given some helpful tips for the final stage:

Be Consistent Day and Night
With day time dryness well underway, it’s time to focus on how to help your little one stay dry through the night.
Night-time dryness always takes a little longer to master. This is because the bladder needs to be strong enough to hold on until morning, while also be able to send clear signals that it’s full so that your child wakes up to go to the toilet.

- Create a calming bedtime routine and get him into the habit of having a last wee before bed.
- From the very beginning of a toddler’s potty training journey the key is consistency, so stick with his training pants once you’ve made the switch.
- While it's not necessary to restrict drinks in the evening, it is best to avoid fizzy or caffeinated drinks as these can stimulate the bladder into action.
- Make sure your little one can get out of bed by himself should he need to visit the toilet during the night, and help him see where he's going by switching on a nightlight or with glow in the dark stickers.
you notice that your child's Huggies® Pull-Ups® are dry for a few mornings in a row, try without. If he has an accident in bed, go back to Pull-Ups® Night-time pants and try again later on. Remember, wetting at night can be common up to the age of 5 or more.

The fuss-free approach to night-time accidents:
•    Prepare – put spare pyjamas and bedding somewhere that’s easily accessible so
accidents can be sorted quickly and calmly.
•    Reassure – while frustrating, night-time accidents aren’t your child’s fault. Help him stay on track by reassuring him that it's nothing to worry about.
•    Stay calm – your toddler will sense if you’re stressed, which will add to his own feelings of failure. If you’re OK with it, he’ll be OK with it too.
•    Don't be disheartened – accidents at night are common in young children and the odd accident every now and again is not a sign of failure.

Accidents are normal, so it’s best to handle these with patience, reassurance and support, resort back to a Pull-Up, like we did and start again.
Huggies® Pull-Ups® Night-time feature clever fading graphics to help kids understand when they’ve had a dry night and encourage them to achieve this final stage of potty training.
I know we're almost there, because Albie now knows the difference between his Pull-Ups and pants, and that if he has an accident in his pants - it won't be as absorbent (or pretty!)

Good luck everyone and thanks for reading our journey xx

One of the most frustrating parts of potty training? Regression.

After weeks of ablutions (army slang, blame my dad) in the correct places, nap time followed by awakening with bone dry pants. So it's extremely frustrating to take ten steps forwards and eleven steps back.

My little one, Albie, now 3, had been in pants for weeks, I was really proud of his progress, despite various setbacks.
But as a whole we'd got some great teamwork going on.

Me: Need a wee, Albs?
Him: Yup

Every day at pre-school he's absolutely fine, and regularly toiletted  - so no problems there.

Cue this month.

Happily immersed in his new mini Thomas motorised train set, I asked him a few times if he needed a wee.

Me: Need a wee, Albs?
Him: Nope (hopping from left to right foot)

I watched the pattern of him grabbing his 'ding' (his bits) and hopping from one leg to the other, so the 'nope' clearly contradicted the answer.
I ensured the potty was right by his feet ready for the deluge, and carried on with dinner.
Generally if someone tells me no, they're ok - I'll take their word for it.

Two minutes later, I heard a huge howl, and a familiar tinkling noise. His earlier statement was fallacious.

Albie was obviously overwhelmed and ashamed by his accident on my very expensive cow hide rug (can I just point out this has now had pen, vomit, poo, urine and a variety of food items all over it) and he was in tears.

I won't deny, I felt really peed off (scuse the pun) and Usain bolted with the closest kitchen roll to mop up the what seemed to be the never ending pool of urine.

There are multiple reasons a child may regress:

Addition of a new brother or sister to the family
A urinary tract infection
Stress or anxiety
An abrupt change in routine
Starting at daycare
Being teased or disciplined for an accident at daycare
Having an unpleasant experience using the toilet
Any other major life change

Take into consideration any of the above points, I won't bore you to tears with the culprit to ours (no 7, if you must know and please refer back to our other potty training posts).

Although this time, I'd like to think Albie was just so absorbed with his trains he just simply didn't want to miss out on anything.

The Huggies® website recommend going back to basics as the best way to overcome a period of regression.
If you team with plenty of support and praise when appropriate, revert to your earlier routine of regular potty use and marking progress together on a reward chart.
Remind your little one to go to the potty when they're busy playing and look out for signs that they need a wee.
If the accidents go on for more than a few days, or if it's upsetting your child, going back to Huggies® Pull-Ups® for a while can also help.


Don't give up, there are always set backs, keep encouraging and praising your little one. Then when you're back on track, make the night shift the next hurdle....

*This post is sponsored by Huggies*

Having spent a lot of time with my friend who has recently been through a miscarriage (her second) followed by intense IVF, that subsequently failed, I really feel her pain.
Not indirectly from the above, but the way people treat her situation.

Do you remember the scene in SATC Movie 2 where Carrie and Mr Big are sat at Stanford & Anthony's ostentatious wedding and a couple at their table ask when they intend to have kids?
'It's just not for us," Carrie says.
'So it's just going to be the two of you?" the female says, her voice dripping with pity (I'm not quite sure this is the exact quote, but something along those lines and she was definitely patronising and disapproving).
But what if it wasn't 'for us', and that was just a facade.
It wasn't. But what if?

Imagine if Carrie was one of those mothers feeling a failure and judged for having to resort to IVF (obviously there is absolutely no reason to feel that way) and had retorted; 'Actually you nosy bitch, we've been trying for the  last five years. I spend practically every day looking at babies, praying that one day I'll have one of my own, and now you've gone and spoilt this evening for me - mazel tov!'

*downs G & T*.

What I'm trying to get at is that we've all fought our own battles to get to motherhood and don't need others judgement on top of that.

Some have it easy to conceive, yes, but then they're the ones who probably spend the entire nine months honking up, or with cankles the size of Hilary Clinton (soz, Hils). Then becoming irascible old moos while inhaling prawn curries slopped over chips to ease the sickness - because that's normal to feel better, right?
It would be nice to think that was their penance for falling so easily - but every one of us has been tested along the way regardless of conceiving, pregnancy, bump or child and it's never cool to be jealous, right?

Prior to my son, I miscarried. I lost the plot, I became a recluse. I eventually met someone new - and he was born a year later. Obviously it was all too soon for us - because we're now separated. I didn't even know I had fallen with him, and when they say it's when you're most relaxed or not thinking about it - well there we go.

As my gin friend I formerly refer to forgoed her favourite past time in favour of fresh mint tea (I thought it was only fair I join her and quite frankly think we've both had a skinful of it now).
I watched her body put into an early menopause to produce the healthy, strong eggs she needed. Her already ample bust ballooned, night sweats ensued, tears, anger, frustration followed - and there was nothing I could say or do to make it better.
But through it all, she had so much time for everyone else, including me - and children, and kept a cool exterior throughout. I became fiercely protective.

Why do we fight our motherhood battles alone? Why don't we open up and stop all the awkwardness and bashfulness - it's a painful and uncomfortable subject whether someone wants or can't have a child, but the likelihood is, you call out to one of your sista's - she'll holla back.
It's something we can all resonate with -  every single one of my new found friends had experienced miscarriage or IVF - even both. For those idiotic few who are so wrapped up in their own pregnancy  - perhaps our honesty of what we're going through would put paid to the ignorance.
It's so easy to be caught up in a baby bubble with all the excitement. For you, it's just a picture on Facebook, for someone going through IVF it's a knife through the heart each time.
She's very open about her journey - and how it's on hold for a while. It's intense, people need to know why you may not be yourself at times.
Like I said before, there's nothing to be ashamed of - it just seems every else makes a big meal of it.

A few weeks ago we spent a day with her rosy-cheeked earth mother chum recreating a bus scene; by this I mean lining up seats in the middle of a cafe in front of everyone while she (the friend) jovially bellowed wheels on the bus. I begged gin bud not to see her again, or at least for a while - for my own sanity too.
I'm surprised she didn't cry, because I wanted to out of sheer embarrassment.

Then come the invites for birthday parties with the side note of: 'But I can imagine you don't really want to come to a children's party as you don't have any of your own.' For FUCK sake, least said, soonest mended, eh?
A social event is a social event - they're a really nice couple so would feel as comfortable dancing to a Take That tribute band with cheap chardonnay as they would to Peppa Pig, some party rings and some fizzy pop. Why just presume it's NOT their scene? It always has been and always will be - with or without child.

The two of us sat through a meeting the other day, a heavily pregnant woman chatting about herself and hypo-birthing yada yada, her perfectly coiffed chelsea blow-dry, tan, bump, cashmere clothing - then she looked us both up and down, found a middle ground with me as I have a two-year-old. But my friend? I am sure she guest-i-mated her age as mid-thirties, asked her if she had kids, then automatically filed her into the 'doesn't want them' and Carries-wedding-guest-friend reaction and carried on wittering to me. I was FURIOUS.
Again, an ignoramus presumptuous idiot - which resulted in me apologising on her behalf as we left the coffee shop (thank fuck she paid for our fresh mint tea).

Why is it SO hard to ask someone you know is going through IVF - are they ok? How is everything - what have they been up to? It's ok they won't make you feel uncomfortable and start wittering on about they've had more prods pokes and pricks than Helen Wood (Rooney's bit of strumpet/BB Bitch) in the last month. But likelihood is they'll appreciate you're thinking of them, if they don't want to talk about it - they certainly won't.

I remember a few years back when a colleague was going through IVF - there was salacious gossip stirring around the office like it was some dirty secret - and I felt terrible for her. She's the one laughing now - she has three beautiful boys.

So next time you ask someone childless how their dogs are, realise how insular you sound...

No rabbits, hymns or mouthwatering Easter chocolates for me.

The only jesus I was involved with was the one I cried out each time I checked the thermometer - and that was every, ooo, two seconds?

This is a random post, but hopefully helpful - because I panicked when I realised my little one had the highest temperature I'd ever seen - 41.6 at its worse.
I'm not a shit, thoughtless mother leaving him to suffer - I called the NHS helpline 111 constantly - but as everyone and their dog seem to have some sickness bug/virus - unless your finger is hanging off - and even then you'd still have to wait - you've got less chance of getting an appointment than Peter Rabbit shitting chocolate eggs.
I took him to the doctor who brushed it off as a sickness bug/virus and that was that.
He only said 'no' for the last five days, and didn't walk about at all. It was horrible.

It started with sickness - it's ended up with average temperatures between 39-40 and me staying in for  five days. Yay.

So here's some top tips if god forbid, the lurgy comes to get you.

DRINKING

They won't be eating, they'll be off milk and really fussy.
Apple juice. What a saviour. Just like you would have Lucozade to build your strength up, give your little one a sugary, sweet number to make them feel slightly human again and give them some energy.
The doctor actually advised this by the time I got around to visiting him, when it was mothers instinct anyway. Boom.

SYRINGE

On a drinking vibe - if they're not drinking and refusing water, milk, even apple - yet they'll take medicine (Calpol, Ibuprofen etc) why not trick them, and syringe some fluid into them.
So that my son didn't get dehydrated, I made a mix of water and dioralyte (rehydration drink) and managed to get 3/4 5ml syringes down him, followed a little while later by apple juice. I felt happier knowing he had accepted some fluid.
On any empty stomach medicines are rendered useless because, well, if you have an empty stomach they'll just come back up. Or there's the likelihood your stomach will over produce acid, which ends up being painful on its way along.
When I'm ill I refuse the aforementioned, along with fluid - so I'm not surprised my son is as stubborn as me and just wants nothing.
Syringe the fluid in - it's the way forward and will give you peace of mind.

ICEPOLES

Wow. This literally saved us. Albie was refusing all food including crisps and chocolate - which any right minded kid would normally snaffle if wafted in their face.
To cool him down my initial thought was a juicy orange or lemonade lolly,  my good friend Astra suggested ice poles and I recoiled in horror (E numbers). I was wrong.
It was the ONLY thing he took.
If your child has a respiratory virus they'll feel snotty, rotten with a sore throat - so think something soothing. Melon also did the trick. You could freeze some if you prefer to go down the healthier option - but doctors orders - sugar is needed.
After no movement at all, he suddenly sat up and slowly ate one, then another a few hours later.
The sugar hit, although I wouldn't normally do, gave him some energy.
He cooled himself down with TWO, yes two - who am I to argue? He was then bouncing off the walls but woke up the next day with a ridiculously high temp.
As he was so exhausted he slept through the night anyway, but as the flu/cold part of the virus came out towards the end - I spent two days up and down with him all night.

HAND SANITISER

I'm totally grossed out he's been snotting and sleeping in my bed, I've stripped it all back and I feel a bit more relieved. I've aired every single room - and sprayed dettol spray on everything (including my pillows!) Hand sanitiser is a must for everyone after every sneeze, splutter and sickness - just keep washing, washing and more washing. No brainer really.

READING

My little one did NOT move for 5 days, just laid on the bed, the sofa, in someone's arms. It was heartbreaking to see. They need to sleep to power up - so constant wittering whether you, the tv, or someone singing will help calm them, entertain them and send them off to sleep. It really fills you with confidence of how interesting you are but hey ho - it's not about you it's about keeping them happy.

COOL SHOWERS

Cold compresses aren't a great idea - they can make the temperature drop too quickly so your child will struggle to regulate. It's best to keep them in cool clothes, but warm under a blanket or bedding.
At the end of the day, or start of the day give them a nice tepid shower. Whenever I feel shit - I love a bath or shower to blast it out. Same as your little one. Mine spent a good 15-20 minutes turning himself around/sitting down and enjoying the calming sound, refreshing feel of the water - it cooled him down.

CUDDLES

No brainer - it's all they want.

Over & out.



LN

It's like it's the elephant in the room, the dead mouse in his Ikea kitchen (more about that another time) or the floating shit in the bath.

Whenever my baby doesn't sleep well, I put it down to teething - darn teething, every time.

Wearily I trudge to his bedroom, rock him back to sleep, pop in the dummy, trudge back to mine with him in tow, you know the score - we've all been there.

However, the other morning, I had an epiphany. I had simply changed his nappies to a competitor brand.  Could this be the answer to his nightly awakenings?

Let me first say, I'm not averse to trying new brands, bargains, and basics. I'm not knocking the new nappies at all, they're affordable and keep those poo spillages/squashed packages in tact and are really great for the day.
But in the morning, they seem to be a lot heavier, and soggier than my favourite brand I have used from birth - Pampers Baby Dry.




So - after swiftly purchasing a new packet, of Baby Dry, unless it's pure coincidence - he's been sleeping through again. Strange, huh?

(Aside from the other night when we had a sleepover and he kept standing up and talking in the middle of the night as we were all in the same room!)

I wonder if any of you other mummies have experienced this, or indeed want to try my top tip?

I guess those little bums get used to the cushioning or feel of a certain brand - but Mum knows best.

Baby Dry £15 for 74 or 148 for £25

Lauren x

Thank god for Jeremy Kyle. If it wasn't for that show, I might never get up off my bum. Every morning I am rudely awoken at least three hours before I'm ready, and immediately the routine starts. I do it on auto-pilot: Change nappy, let cats out, prepare porridge, give fresh water, prepare fruit for the porridge, make my much needed tea, feed/observe my little one eating breakfast, remove porridge from floor, reheat cold tea, give cats dinner and water, make toast, make husbands lunch, unlock door for husband so he can fly out and not miss bus, wave off "daddy", eat cold toast and luke warm tea collapsed in front of tv, watch my little rascal and occasionally shout NO and get up when she eats the cat biscuits. Finally get up off bum with a jolt at 9.25am when the dreaded Jeremy Kyle theme tune comes on! 

DURING the first year of their lives a baby gets up to 15 colds according to my lovely GP. Although it's totally normal because of their weak immune system it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Combine that with colic, teething and tummy bugs and it can feel like a never ending cycle of illness.

To make sure you're prepared for everything that comes your way make sure that your bathroom cupboard is well stocked with the following essentials, as recommended by mum-of-two Natasha Harding.

Calpol 

Where would we be without it? There was a call for action to make it taste horrible to babies as some mums are giving their children too much of it. We say, stand away from the Calpol - when faced with a fractious, poorly baby it is often the only salvation.

ColdZyme

Colds generally begin in the nose and throat so if you can zap it early chances are you'll be able to ward off the dreaded lurgy. Although you can't use the spray on babies it's ideal for older children over the age of four - and also for mums, so you don't catch yet another cold from your little darling.

Nelsons Teetha

Teething is horrible for the whole family but Nelsons teething granules - a homeopathic remedy really seem to help. They simply dissolve in a baby's mouth to help provide instant pain relief.



Bepanthen

The fact is your baby is going to get nappy rash at some point - and girls are more susceptible than boys. I swear by Bepanthen. Not only does it stop nappy rash in its track but if your little one is sore it clears it up immediately.

Rescue Remedy

Some days it all seems too much and when you're not sure what else to do for your tot then Rescue Remedy may save your bacon. It's a combination of five flower essences specially blended to give comfort from tough days. It can be used anytime, anywhere and is suitable for the whole family.



Skin Salvation

Eczema is horrible and sadly exacerbated by many of the chemicals found in many body washed and soaps. If your child gets dry skin and/or eczema you should give Skin Salvation a go. It's moisturising and soothing. I've used it on my son's eczema and Lexi's cheeks when they get sore from being outside in the wind.

By Natasha Harding