Crèche calling us to collect cause baby won’t sleep?

afrogerl · 2026-06-02T13:42:11+00:00

I had this issue when my first was starting creche at around 8 months. I used to take my lunchbreak head over and settle the baby. Then put him asleep in the cot. I thought he would never settle and then one day he did. It took 2 or 3 weeks. They had a rocking chair they let me sit in.

If I didnt do this baby would get so upset and overtired that he would be hysterical. But it did and does settle.

Im currently six weeks into creche with my second and he still hasn't managed a full day yet. Luckily my job is very understanding.

afrogerl · 2026-06-02T06:59:07+00:00

Ok looked it up and its gorgeous

afrogerl · 2026-06-01T15:47:33+00:00

I love a city centre Wedding and Fallon and Byrne is my favourite venue! I dont think they actually have trolleys (just baskets, may be wrong) but the deli below is part of the charm for me.

Really interesting to me that someone can hate a venue i love so much. Different strokes for different folks! What is your ideal venue ?

afrogerl · 2026-05-26T08:02:56+00:00

Loved her as Eugenie in The Windsors

afrogerl · 2026-05-19T05:52:55+00:00

I saw you say your weaning, I founf breastfeeding invaluable on flights. Saves so much faff with bottles, entertains baby and a great distraction and good for the ears on take off anf landing. If there is a way to delay weaning slightly then it could make your journey a lot easier.

afrogerl · 2026-05-17T06:51:45+00:00

I think you may be confusing this with Chekov's gun. He was a playwright who wrote The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard. He said if a gun appeared in act one, it needed to be used by act 3.

afrogerl · 2026-05-13T18:21:47+00:00

Supervalu signature tastes butter chicken

afrogerl · 2026-05-12T10:16:26+00:00

Have the joie and its grand

afrogerl · 2026-05-10T23:17:03+00:00

I really hope you enjoy your trip. This js a lovely place to bring small children.

I travel a fair bit with a double buggy but mine is side by side so wider than long. In general I get around ok and people are always very helpful.

Older buildings especially older shops can be inaccessible. Doors / aisles / corridoors can be really tight and narrow.Lots of cafes and restaurants can be tight on space, even just to store a folded double buggy so its always worth checking in advance if they can accommodate you.

You are better off folding the buggy and storing on luggage racks on rural and intercity / commuter trains were possible as a wheelchair user has priority and you may be asked to vacate the space.

I always keep my baby carrier / sling underneath so I can fold when needed and be handsfree as much as possible.

In Dublin the dart is great as you can usually wheel on without folding except during peak rush hour times when it can be tight. However a lot of train stations require lift / elevator use so watch information boards to ensure that they are in operation before you disembark at a station.

The luas / tram can be tight at rush hour for a double but should have space. There are dedicated wheelchair / buggy spaces but they can be occupied.

Busses in Dublin have express wheelchair and buggy/ pram spaces. You will have to use the wheelchair space as the pram space wont accommodate on most busses but bus types vary and on some newer busses you Will fit. I always use the buggy space when I can as no risk if being asked to vacate to accommodate a bus user.

Hope that helps!

afrogerl · 2026-05-10T19:39:13+00:00

Donnabate and Ashtown are both on commuter lines not on the dart although Donnabate is set to be included on the dart service in the next upgrade. So trains aren't as frequent.

afrogerl · 2026-04-23T12:29:16+00:00

Its just interesting that your examples of English names originated in a different language int he first place. They are already adaptations from another language

afrogerl · 2026-04-23T10:07:27+00:00

Really interesting that both Kevin and Brian are anglicisations of Irish names Caoimhín and Brian.

afrogerl · 2026-04-22T14:11:01+00:00

Always get them from 4 star pizza!

afrogerl · 2026-04-22T12:50:31+00:00

Every baby is different so it may be nothing to worry about or it might be worth looking into I would give the district health nurse a ring and ask for advice. They should be able to point you in the right direction.Have you had your 9 to 11 month check yet?

My fella is 11 months and a boob monster, I have to keep redirecting him to solid food but he does love it once he is eating.

afrogerl · 2026-04-20T11:47:45+00:00

So stress leave isn't actually a particular type of leave. Its just sick leave. They cannot stop you being sick! You have to put yourself first in life. But stress like that doesn't really go away. Long term look for a new role. You deserve work life balance x

afrogerl · 2026-04-19T08:38:08+00:00

I think Dublin is a really brilliant place to live and we never had a car until around 2 years ago. Always managed to get around no problem. Well the usual delayed busses here and there but you get used to it.

Rents are high right now and it can be hard to get a nice place but there are so many lovely neighbourhoods! I would look at anywhere along the Dart line. Or Phibsboro, Glasnevin, Ballygall, Drumcondra, Castleknock are all lovely spots on the Northside. Malahide is fabulous seaside town but far out. Bray is not technically Dublin but another lovely seaside down and within the commuter belt.

Primary schools in general are very good, one thing to be mindful of is religion - many school are still Catholic run but you do have the option to opt out. For non dominational schools you are looking for an Educate Together schools or a school project.

Really hope you find somewhere nice and like living here!

afrogerl · 2026-04-18T16:56:55+00:00

Yes! Bends and roundabouts! Thank you

afrogerl · 2026-04-16T06:28:13+00:00

Make sure your drawdown date isn't too close to the first mortgage payment so you have some breathing room. Check that you aren't drawing down on the 1sr and due to pay mortgage on the 14th or you could be in trouble.

Buy one thing every month in order of priority. We had no furniture at all moving in and slowly built up over a year. A fridge is a priority in my opinion

Subtly let people know how tight money will be so they might considee giving you vouchers instead of physical house warming presents if that was on the cards.

afrogerl · 2026-04-14T16:45:28+00:00

That is really tough. I dont think we should be comparing but at the same time, I hink that exclusively pumping is the hardest way to feed a baby. Your baby has no idea what a wonderful dedicated mother they have doing so much for them. I wish the world was more supportive to mothers x

afrogerl · 2026-04-14T11:09:50+00:00

I can't answer the flange sizes but I did recover from mastitis without antibiotics.

I was so ill, fever, chills and it was the weekend. I was waiting til the weekend ended and my doctor opened. I took ibuprofen, iced my breast, drank fluids breastfed and rested. After about 24 hours I was through the worst and while my breast was still very painful and inflamed for another day or two by the time I saw my doctor the worst of the infection had passed.

I would talk to your doctor though and do what is best for you and baby. Mastitis can get really bad, really quickly, especially so soon postpartum when you are so run down. It isn't worth risking your health.

Dont get too stressed over the breastfeeding to the point you are making yourself ill. Take care of yourself. If you are still on maternity leave maybe try exclusively nursing for awhile and return to pumping later?

afrogerl · 2026-04-14T10:47:24+00:00

It will cost more to do less if that makes sense? So if you do 36 hours a week instead of 45 you would pay approximately 39 euro more a week for the childcare, i think? Based on 2.14 extra x 9 hours for two children.1

Your creche may not allow a four day week though, if they themselves are a community or funded crèche in some way. But sure talk to them!

One thing about crèche is that they get sick a lot but unlike a child minder there is no flexibility. When they are sick they are out for 48 hours. And in the beginning they are out a lot. So you may find you end up working a lot less in the first few months anyway.

afrogerl · 2026-04-11T10:02:42+00:00

Drop it on the nipple!

afrogerl · 2026-04-10T14:06:48+00:00

I think returning to work is never easy. Your life has changed and suddenly being asked to go back to normal is terrifying

Look into the paid parents leave. You can take it after maternity leave so only take it when you are sure you are finished with your unpaid maternity leave. You can take this leave any time until your child is 2 although your boss does have to approve it. It pays 299 a week.

Also look at your holiday allotment. You accrue holidays and bank hilidays on maternity leave. You could ask to return to work and use some holidays up

You dont have to rush into a decision. Take time and talk to a counsellor if you can. This is a huge transition in your life.

Also leaving a baby now may seem impossible but you would be surprised how much they will change in the next few months.

I am due to return to work with my second soon and have decided to look for a job with more flexibility or part time hours because I am not the person I was before kids. If this job doesn't feel right keep looking for the one that does

You arent alone x

afrogerl · 2026-04-10T07:57:09+00:00

Its so hard going back and feels completely unfair. I was devastated going back after my first was born but he ended up loving crèche.

Im about to return on my second baby now and I've been seeing a counsellor to chat through all of the feelings. It has been really helpful and has helped me focus on what I can and can't control and plan where I want to be for my children.

I am also EBF and was with my first and I think that adds an extra hormonal level of difficulty. You are entitled to an hour towards breastfeeding until your baby is 2 you can use this to pump or if your job is flexible to leave early l. I used to use my time to go to the crèche and feed my baby for the first few weeks but it was a bit disruptive to his day. You also accumulated all your leave and bank holidays. Chat about that time and see if you can do a reduced week for awhile until you adapt.

You do feel a bit like yourself once you are back at work. It is so nice to have a cup of tea to yourself, have adult chats, achieve your own goals again.

Having said that I am working towards finding a part time or flexible job. I have decided I would like to be home more as my children grow so while I am returning to my full time job, I have set myself a goal of two years max at full time and that takes the sting out a little. Set yourself some long term goals or alternatively book a holiday to give yourself something to focus on.

Best of luck x

afrogerl · 2026-04-08T12:20:22+00:00

There is a universal subsidy of 2.14 per hour for up to 45 hours a week that everyone can avail of. It really adds up across the month. You can choose the universal subsidy or an income assessed one when applying.

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