Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask mumsnet what's normal or not?

21 replies

Hotmad · 07/01/2014 19:06

Is this normal in a 5 week old DD, I asked my health visitor today and she said ' she's alive isn't she?' ( AIBU to think this was a flippant remark?)
Also she said I need to 'socially integrate myself more' to discuss with other mums what's normal. (does she know how difficult it is to get out to places at 5 weeks!!!)

Anyways, is it normal
for baby to sneeze quite a bit?
To make noises at night when she sleeps? Almost like her throat is being cleared?
To cough now and again but not be ill?

Also how would you treat cradle cap in eyebrows only?
Thanks so much for ur time!!

OP posts:
BoundandRebound · 07/01/2014 19:08

Yes it's normal

Also normal for health visitors to be witches I'm afraid

Dollslikeyouandme · 07/01/2014 19:09

Yes all normal, I think that you could use a bit of baby lotion or Vaseline on her eyebrows.

Your HV sounds charming.

stargirl1701 · 07/01/2014 19:09

Yes, that is all normal. Advice is to leave cradle cap alone but I picked DD's off

Congrats on your LO Thanks

pictish · 07/01/2014 19:11

All normal.
Olive oil for the cradle cap. Wipe on, leave to soak, wipe off. x

Goldmandra · 07/01/2014 19:15

Vaseline or olive oil on the eyebrows for 24 hours then wipe gently in the direction of the hair with a face cloth in the bath.

The HV sounds unpleasant. Sneezing is common in babies who are a bit snuffly because it clears their nose.

The cough can be checked by your GP. DD2 had a night time cough a this age due to a house dust mite allergy. I really had to up my game with hoovering and dusting Blush

WhenSheWasBadSheWasExhausted · 07/01/2014 19:16

All normal, your HV is right about listening to other mums (HV always gave me conflicting advice - most of it was crap).

Dollslikeyouandme · 07/01/2014 19:18

Also google is your friend. I found babycentre website helpful.

CrohnicallySick · 07/01/2014 19:18

The coughing and sneezing- was she born by c section by any chance? DD was, and subsequently had a lot of mucous, the doctors said it's because babies born vaginally get the mucous squeezed out during birth, and c section babies don't. It improved by 2-3 months though.

Kafri · 07/01/2014 19:22

All perfectly normal - both the DD symptoms and the attitude of HV Grin
I've fobbed mine off as often as I can get away with.

WRT getting out and about. Do you have a local NCT branch. They were my saviours and I still go to groups with 1y DS now. They have a bumps and babies group which is pretty much what it says on the tin. You'll make new friends and also learn more about other stuff going on in your area. Our groups are held in people's houses so it's always a relaxing friendly atmosphere and when I turned up with a refluxy/colicky/screaming mess there was always someone to take him off my hands for 10 mins and hand me a hot cup of tea! Can't praise them enough.

Whoever coined the phrase 'sleeping like a baby' never bloody had one. Babies sneeze a lot to clear their tubes.

Cradle cap - we used baby oil but olive oil works well. If DD gets it really bad doc can prescribe stuff but it's rarely needed.

StuckOnARollercoaster · 07/01/2014 19:22

I was told that the sneezing is because their nasal passages are just developing, so it's very easy for particles in the air to be breathed in and the response isto sneeze them out as they irritate. Mine is nearly 7 months and still sneezes a lot even though she doesn't have a cold.

MetellaEstMater · 07/01/2014 19:22

Absolutely the norm. Very snuffly baby may also follow a fast active labour as less time to clear.

FanFuckingTastic · 07/01/2014 19:23

All normal stuff, just take HVs with a pinch of salt, not everything they say is gospel. Other mums were helpful, but only when you can get out and about comfortably. I remember when DS was ten weeks old being chuffed that I managed to get ready and out before noon, most of the time in the first few weeks was spent at home just settling in with each other. I found breastfeeding group really helpful, if you are and if you need any support.

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 07/01/2014 19:23

All normal. Ds had crusty eyebrows but soon cleared up with some olive oil. HV doesn't sound helpful but mine is crap too (not bitter at all about absolute waste of time visit today and judgey snippy response to me admitting co sleeping.) Other mums can be much more supportive.

Madratlady · 07/01/2014 19:28

My ds does all of those things. Apart from the sleeping at night [knackered emoticon]

Iwannalaylikethisforever · 07/01/2014 19:29

,
Like everyone has said
HV gives lots conflicting advice
All sounds normal
It will take more preparation getting out and about with 5 weeks old baby - but necessary, I feel crazy and start talking to myself by Tuesday when everyone else at work school ect.

summertimeandthelivingiseasy · 07/01/2014 19:45

Cradle cap - I found that the wet/oil combination of johnsons Baby Oil Mousse got it off really quickly (mine were still getting it at playgroup and I tried all the nasty creams, but this was best).

Health visitor - mine was rubbish - used to sit in the sitting room drinking multiple cups of tea - didn't know how to get rid of her (this was when they used to 'visit' a couple of times). Her bossy officious replacement turned out to be really good though.

Someone once told me to keep a ready packed bag at the door, so that I could get out when the moment was right. It was good advice. :D

Original poster
Hotmad · 07/01/2014 20:41

Thanks guys, really appreciate ur answers. I should of told HV that I'm socially integrating on mumsnet!! Seriously though, is it just my area that hold clinics etc at 9-11.30am? I just about have got my baby cleaned up for the day by 11! It is nice to know my baby is doing things other babies do too, last nite I couldn't believe how noisy yet asleep she was!!

OP posts:
CrohnicallySick · 07/01/2014 20:50

Oh yes, I brought it up at my children's centre (via an anonymous questionnaire) and now they do things in the afternoons too. So might be worth mentioning to your HV that you're finding it difficult to attend mornings- other mums will be feeling the same. Also check out neighbouring towns if you can get there easily, I much prefer the children's centre in the next town and go to way more stuff there.

I second the advice to have a bag packed- hell, DD's over 1 and I still have it ready!

mameulah · 07/01/2014 20:54

I just have to say that I love our Health Visitor.

Sorry you are having a hard time with yours.

NearTheWindmill · 07/01/2014 21:06

Oh, I remember mine telling me it would do me good to mix with mothers at her grubby clinic and wait in the doctors to see her for up to an hour with all the sickk people waiting to see the doctor

Noisy sleeping - normal. Sneezing - normal. Cradle cap in eyebrows - normal. Moronic HV's - normal.

If you are ever concerned about your baby's health or development, go straight to your GP.

Congratulations and good luck

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 07/01/2014 21:08

Get "What to Expect the The First Year linky here. It was my bible for my first born.

But yes, all normal.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page