To all the Dads out there - Page 2

Pia · 29-09-2006, 11:02

Reading these lovely posts makes me feel a little sad that my little boy doesn't have what your kids have.

My boyfriend buggered off when i was pregnant and didn't give a monkeys, still doesn't but hey ho..

**Russ B** · 29-09-2006, 11:26

Sounds like he's better off without his father....

Halcyon · 29-09-2006, 11:38

My Girlfriend has got a son already and his Dad left them without money or anything. He was never there for her and was selfish and cared only about himself. He has never wanted to be part of it and with an atitude like that, I am glad that he is not around.

I want to experience all of the things you have been mentioning in your posts. It seems like such a great thing that changes you in such a great way.

Just out of interest, how long does the period of sleepless nights go on for when they are born and need feeding?

foreverwar · 29-09-2006, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pia

Reading these lovely posts makes me feel a little sad that my little boy doesn't have what your kids have.

My boyfriend buggered off when i was pregnant and didn't give a monkeys, still doesn't but hey ho..

But he's got a great mother, which makes up for having an *ssh%le father

While the nuclear family is good, love is what makes children grow, and you obviously adore your little one - and at least you aren't disturbed by snoring at night.

**Graham M** · 29-09-2006, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Just out of interest, how long does the period of sleepless nights go on for when they are born and need feeding?

It depends... but can be anything up to 18 years

Halcyon · 29-09-2006, 11:42

LOL

I'll bare that in mind.

foreverwar · 29-09-2006, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

My Girlfriend has got a son already and his Dad left them without money or anything. He was never there for her and was selfish and cared only about himself. He has never wanted to be part of it and with an atitude like that, I am glad that he is not around.

I want to experience all of the things you have been mentioning in your posts. It seems like such a great thing that changes you in such a great way.

Just out of interest, how long does the period of sleepless nights go on for when they are born and need feeding?

Until they go to Uni

- only joking - it depends.

We were lucky, and both kids slept thru from about 3 months. There's a lot you can do to help with the sleepless nights - if the baby is being breast-fed, express milk (her, not you

) so the other partner can do the "during the night" feed occasionally - also, the partner can do the last/first feed, to let the knackered mum get to bed early/lay in a bit later.

It's all give and take, but getting stressed about it usually makes the baby stressed, which means more disturbed nights.

Good luck.

**Chris** · 29-09-2006, 11:49

Sleepless nights is a bit of a myth in our experience. You get broken nights for sure, but we never had a single night of no sleep, with either child. I think 45 minutes or so is the longest they were ever up in one go and that was when they were unwell.

The real problems begin when you don't properly structure their day and let them sleep too much in the daytime. It's easy to do, because they are happy and asleep and it gives you time to get other things done. But while babies need lots of sleep, they don't need 24 hours of it ... even a newborn is awake for about 8 hours in every 24, and if they don't have those waking hours during the day, guess when they'll have them ...

A routine which ensures they nap and feed properly during the day will ensure they sleep soundly during the night. We used to wake ours between 10 and 11 at night for a late feed. This ensured they didn't wake by themselves for a night feed until maybe 3am, which in turn meant they were only waking once in the night. Without waking them, they may have woken naturally between 12-1 and 5-6. This also helps them get used to taking all their nutrition during the day and ensures that they will do so, as soon as their bodies are able to cope with that. As a result, we had unbroken nights from 11pm-7am from age nine weeks with the boy and eight weeks with his sister. They slept 12 hours from 7-7 at about six months.

Halcyon · 29-09-2006, 12:00

Great info.

Thanks.

Jules · 29-09-2006, 13:02

This thread is lovely, the way you men melt over your kids is wonderful to read

Russ don't beat yourself up over thinking about going to the States a lot of lesser men would have gone where as you chose to stay so good on you

Chris I loved reading about your little lad prodding you on the nose lol and top marks for taking the time to sit and talk to him about the bus

Pia your lad is better off without a dad than with a useless one and I am sure he is not missing out on anything as you seem to be a great mum

Halcyon having kids will change your life beyond belief they are nosy, messy and often smelly little things that cost a fortune but you really wont care lol
Oh and just a thought my son was 5 before he slept through the night despite trying everything possible but this is very rare

Are they worth it? Well I think so 100%

TheDaddy · 29-09-2006, 13:18

I think that they are worth it, more fun than a dog anyway

Tbh I don't think Russ's experience is unusual, when my wife told me she was pregnant with out first I didn't take it to well, I think I sort of went into shock at the responsibility and worry of it all, whilst I didn't do anything as drastic as think about running away I certainly didn't enjoy it as much as the second.

That was sound advice from Chris about the feeding as well, thatâ€™s what we did and touch wood we have never had a sleepless night either.

Nugget · 29-09-2006, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

As a result, we had unbroken nights from 11pm-7am from age nine weeks with the boy and eight weeks with his sister. They slept 12 hours from 7-7 at about six months.

You spawny git

gooner4life · 29-09-2006, 15:38

I bricked it when I found out my missus was pregnant, not ashamed to admit I cried my eyes out, I was 23 and thought I was too young for the responsibility.

Throughout the pregnancy it was worry after worry but when he was born and I held him for the first time, gave him his first feed it felt absolutely amazing, this little person, a real baby was having his first cuddle, his first taste of milk, it is a real humbling thing to happen to you.

2 years later and I wouldnt swap my little soldier for the whole world and everything in it, he is my entire world, he is like my best friend, i rarely get time to go out with the lads anymore but that is mostly my choice, i'd rather stay in and play with my son, he's got an amazing imagination already, we sit and play with toy cars, footballs, toy trains and he does something new everyday.

**Russ B** · 29-09-2006, 15:59

The gutless bloke who do a runner from their unborn kids have got no idea what they're missing and sadly, they never will know.

grandmaster · 29-09-2006, 16:01

The only thing to worry me and i suppose still does is how i'm going to provide for my family.

When i found out she was pregnant i did'nt know what to do.
My head was up my ar**.
But once i got used to the idea it was great.

Now he is 4 this year and a right little character.
He really makes me laugh.
We don't go out much anymore but i dont mind that too much.
Ry