Any other expectant Dads?

[Sslink]

I can't remember if I posted after my daughter was born, she's now 10 weeks old and growing at a rate of knots, exclusively breastfed and comfortably within the 75 centile.

8 Week vaccinations along with her first cold made Christmas and New Year a bit of a damp squib, along with the Missus getting Mastitis due to the little one not feeding as much due to illness, but all is well now.

The wife would definitely recommend Hypnobirthing - Breathing your baby out, as others have mentioned in this thread before, it sounds silly and hippy but we're both convinced it was the best thing we ever learned. She pushed once (by accident because she was so out of it on the gas/air) and the labour only lasted 6 ish hours. Obviously the experience will be different for everyone but I can't believe how simple and stress free the whole experience was (After the quickest most measured drive of my life to the hospital...)

We've had very little in way of 3rd party support as both sets of grand parents are roughly an hour away but we're coping, there have been some stressful times, especially when the sleep deprivation hit, but just trying to remember to be kind to each other really helps.

[Merry]

Technotronic said:

Can anyone recommend any 'travel size' puzzles/games/toys that are good for keeping a 2 year old entertained please?

We would obviously not like to have to resort to him watching anything on a phone/tablet. Certainly not at this age.

Thanks

You're fighting a losing battle, especially in the car. I've been here.

A two year old doesn't really have the dexterity for smaller travel games, and would presumably be strapped in - all that would happen in our case is something would go missing and much rage would happen that we couldn't do anything about. Assuming that such journeys are relatively rare and it doesn't come out at home I can't see a problem with a tablet here.

Saying that now they're a little older both of mine don't usually bother with a tablet or games, they enjoy just looking out of the window. My boy will sit for hours in the car without a peep. He's actually better on a long journey than my wife is.

We did have some good success with colouring books, matchbox cars and stickers on plane and train journeys though, where you're not quite as strapped in and have a table. Again puzzles and games were too much of a faff in terms of losing bits and dealing with the fallout of that.

All of this depends on what your child is like of course.

[ooid]

Technotronic said:

Can anyone recommend any 'travel size' puzzles/games/toys that are good for keeping a 2 year old entertained please?

Same issue here and I can't keep him occupied more than even 20 mins so found the solution similar to what I do with my dog Tiring him out before the journey, playing balls running and etc.. once in the car just sleep. Same with the plane journeys, we try to tire him out at the airport than hope for the sleep coming in. We sort of survived around 3 hours flights but have no idea how to go beyond that.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

the usual approach for a two year old is to spend loads of money on toys or a tablet , pack it all and then they fall asleep within five minutes of starting out.

I did used to dread longer journeys with a two year old but if timed right they are a doddle.

If they are timed badly my kids tended to just watch the world go by. Just make sure you are well provisioned with food and drink.

The biggest threat is milk because if the child wants milk and you give it before the journey, some kids are likely to throw it up in short order.

My son did a great journey to Gran Canaria, on the last leg of the journey he threw up all his milk in the back of the transfer minibus. we did not think as it was ten to midnight, ten mins from the hotel. I was so horrified I gave the driver 60 euros in cash.

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

We find that ‘travel lap desks’ are very useful for keeping ours entertained, although at two years he may be a touch too young. Worth a try though.

[The Moose]

We're planning a 4k mile road trip in a few months time (over 11 days or so). While we don't have a 2 year old, I am sure we will face our own challenges

[malks222]

things that we’ve found useful, that seem to hold my daughters attention for longer than 3seconds

magnetic books
https://amzn.eu/d/1PjF3aU


kinda modern etch a sketch type thing https://amzn.eu/d/7FEcKRX

[Register1]

So close now.
Less than 3 weeks to due date.
However appears our little boy will be a week early

[fiatpower]

At our consultant meeting yesterday the decision was made to induce this Sunday! The baby is quite large so there is a risk of Shoulder dystocia so we had the option of a caesarean but the consultant said if it was her baby she would try naturally first. She was very reluctant to say that though and just kept saying it was our choice. When did things change to us having to decide what to do? I thought in the case of a consultant led delivery that they would make all the decisions on what is best for mum and the baby.

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

With each of our three the midwives and consultants were fairly assertive with their opinions but also respectful of my wife’s wishes, a good balance really. I suggest there are few or even no circumstances outside of an emergency where a consultant will make a decision for you, it’s not their place to do that.

[Jambo85]

Fiatpower, hope everything goes well for you! Would agree with Unexpected Item's reply that it is correct that it's your wife's decision ultimately and all they should do is give you the facts and guide you as best as they can. Only thing I'd add is that your wife can change her mind - for example if induction doesn't give the desired result then she can still opt for a c-section.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

Register1 said:

So close now.
Less than 3 weeks to due date.
However appears our little boy will be a week early

Make sure the hospital bag is packed or, at least you know what to grab when the call comes.

For my 2nd the call came when we were apart, I was at home alone and the missus was out. Therefore don't do what I did and assume someone else will know how to pack the bag.

[Wadeski]

For travel games, if your kid won't play with complex ones, it's really just a case of what keeps their attention. All kids are different.

My kid is obsessed with the singing / dancing plush toys that play a song and wiggle when you push a button. Keeps his attention for ages. There's all kinds and they are under twenty quid so quite good as a "long journey present".

You might think having a song on repeat for a long car journey is annoying, but honestly your brain blocks it out or you just listen to the radio - and its better than screaming.

[chopper602]

My son had his first flight (transatlantic too) at just over two years old. He was wide awake and played with the inflight entertainment for almost the whole journey and was fast asleep for the last two hours and right the way through the immigration and rental car to the villa. He's joined by a sister now and they're both great sleepers (they're now 24 & 21)

[Ed28]

Another here, due 23rd of Feb!
How can one small human need so much stuff? I think we’ve doubled the contents of our house in the last couple of months!
More clothes than me, more towels than me!

[Blown2CV]

Ed28 said:

Another here, due 23rd of Feb!
How can one small human need so much stuff? I think we’ve doubled the contents of our house in the last couple of months!
More clothes than me, more towels than me!

Well I mean they don’t, and everyone finds that out themselves, but you just try and tell a nesting mum that!!

[Jambo85]

Ed28 said:

More clothes than me, more towels than me!

Unless you regularly st/chunder over yourself this is probably the way it should be

[ooid]

Fiatpower,

I would personally get a second opinion *if you can*. We have been told there might be some complications for induced labour, not sure if that's still the case ? Have a look at here.

https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-we...

Obviously I'm no dr and you should not listen to strangers on the internet but second opinion from an expert would be great. It would not be a suprise if NHS tries to avoid C*section (costs)...Although C*section also has its complications and again, 2nd expert opinion always ideal!

[the-norseman]

Does anybody elses kids sleep on their front with their knees tucked up like some kind of yoga pose? our 18 month old has been sleeping like this from about 10 months. looks so uncomfortable..

[The Moose]

the-norseman said:

Does anybody elses kids sleep on their front with their knees tucked up like some kind of yoga pose? our 18 month old has been sleeping like this from about 10 months. looks so uncomfortable..

Yep!

Face down, butt up.