Hi Nicky
We had a really good night thanks. I only had to go into Emma's room once at 2am to help her turn over as she'd got wedged up in the top corner of her cot on her tummy! She's like a different child today, really happy and giggly!
I think the dream feed thing is up to you. Can't remember if you've said but are you breast feeding or bottle feeding? If you're bottle feeding and you're sure he's getting enough in the day I would probably drop the dream feed at the same time as losing the dummy otherwise he may get confused that sometimes he can have something to suck and not others at night time. Does that make sense? I don't remember Emma having more than 4 feeds a day after she slept through at 13 weeks but who's to say I had it right anyway?! Lol! I'd say give it a go and if he sleeps through then he's obviously getting plenty of food. Keep in touch and let me know how you get on. I'm always happy to chat. xx

Hi Lucy.Yes ive heard that some people have done this, but it sort of makes sense what you say.Here comes another question!!!!(oh god i hear you say!!) do you think a dream feed is a good idea, or should i just try and give him his last bottle at 730/8pm.Its just that they say that the dream feed will stop when they take less and less of it until it eventually stops, but at his age he still needs to have 5 bottles a day.God this baby thing is hard work, or maybe im just getting to old.
Luv Nicky x

Hi Lucy, no youre not patronizing me at all, like i said im really rusty and dont have a clue bout anything.Thanks for your tips, they will come in handy. Yes he has had his bath and been fed, he was fast asleep with no dummy, and then i set his flipin musical toy off!!!!! needless to say, it woke him up. So at this moment he is crying, but i want him to try and settle himself without the dummy. But me being me, will be up there in a mo.
Thanks again, and i hope i dont bug you too much, so i will apologise in advance, sorry.
Hope Emma has a good night, and you too.
Nicky

Oh yeah, one other thing. I hear a lot about people who feed their babies porridge or baby rice just before bed to fill them up in the hope they'll sleep through but I don't believe this really helps. If their tummies are busy digesting a meal when they are put down for the night, they won't get truly restful sleep and they can end up with more disturbed nights instead of better! I always fed Emma at normal meal times. 8am breakfast, 12 o'clock lunch, 4pm tea and bedtime bottle between 6 and 7pm. Even at 14 months she still eats at pretty much the same times. xx

Hi Nicky
I've replied to you here for now as the messages only allow a limited number of characters! Crikey! 4 babies, surely it should be you advising me?! Lol! I started weaning emma at 13 weeks (which is when she started sleeping thru the night) which as you say is deemed to be really early but she was nearly 9lbs at birth and always had a good appetite. I started with baby rice at lunchtime (after her milk) and then started making pureed veg like carrots with swede or sweet potato or brocolli and cauliflower and freezing them in ice cube trays. I found that Emma liked the veg best when they were mixed with baby rice to make them creamy. I did the same with homemade fruit purees too as they seemed to be too tangy for her but she loved them mixed with baby rice. I carried on like that till she was 6 months (just increasing the amount and the variation of fruits and veg) and then I started to puree up our dinners like roast chicken or cottage pie or spag bol (with homemade tomato sauce not bought) and fed her those. I hope this is useful, I don't want you to think I'm patronising you! Have you given little one his bath yet? I had to put Emma down fully dosed up with teething powders and calpol tonight! Look forward to speaking to you soon. Lucy xx

Hi Lucy,
I think i will just come directly to you from now on cos you are such a great advisor.I will do what you have recommended,he really loves his baths and i cant wait until he is better to give him one cos that could be ages away.
While i have you here, have you got any tips on weaning? Josh is 4 months tommorrow and am thinking of trying him out.He is showing some signs of being ready, like when we r eating he will cry until i put him on my lap so he can see and watches everyone eating, and before he got ill, he was polishing off 7/8oz of milk each time,but struggles a bit now with his cold. Believe it or not, he is my 4th baby, but after a gap of 10 yrs,im a bit rusty,but i do remember weaning my 1st at 3 months, and the other 2 at 4 months, but all this government recommendation is doing my head in!!!!
Cheers Nicky x

Hi Nicky, it's me again!! (Lol!)
It's fine to give them a bath when they have a cough and cold, the steam can sometimes help to shift all the mucus off their chest. Just make sure the bathroom is nice and warm and that you have a big thick towel warming on the radiator for when it's time to get out so he doesn't get cold. I sometimes get Emma dressed in the bathroom after her bath as it's warmer than her bedroom which she likes quite cool.
Take care. Lucy x

Does anyone know if its ok to bath a baby when they have a cold and cough?