8 month check - how things have changed!

[mumnosGOLDisbest]

I've just had DD2s 8 month check and was surprised at how much advice has changed in 4 years. The HV was lovely but untill today I felt I knew enough about babies being a mum of 3 but apparently not. DD is 33wks and i'd just like to compare against some similar aged babies.

1)Does your DC sit unaided yet?
2)Do you give DC vitamin drops to prevent rickets?(BF babies)
3)If you BF, when and how often? DD seems to BF more and eat less than HV would like.She eats 3 small meals and BFs about 4-5 times a day (no night feeds usually).
5)I didn't dare say we cosleep as she wasn't impressed that DD usually doesn't fall asleep on her own in her cot.

DD is happy and healthy and developmentally fine. She sleeps and eats well so I'm not concerned just a bit surprised and curious :)

they wouldn't like DD then! when it's been really really hot, we've had to dress her in full length sleeves, tights or trousers and socks, or full babygrows with the mitts over her hands, because her eczema is worse when it's hot and she scratches any bare skin.
(the mitts for her hands are to stop her scratching her neck and head)
it basically makes it look like she's dressed for freezing weather!

Poor thing. My DD would happily stay naked all day. She's going to hate winter!

DD used to like being naked. :(

conorsrockers I just had a HV rant on another thread! Why this obsession with getting them to drink less milk?! Breast milk is so full of perfectly balanced nutrients. Of course they need to be eating some food too by this age but it really doesn't matter if it isn't much... Will answer questions when not on phone, my I just turned down this check on behalf of my ds

I love answering questionnaires about my DS (nearly 10 mo)

1)Yes he sits and at 8 mo was crawling and cruising (can't get used to that expression) everywhere.
2) I do give him vitamin drops
3) He has recently cut right down on bf in the day, apart from sometimes to help him nap. But he feeds loads in the evening and at night and from 4am. I still feed him on demand. Not sure I've ever refused him a feed. Maybe once on a crowded tube.
5)We co-sleep and no he can't self settle and anyone who tells me he should by this age will get at the very least a catsbum face from me.

And he likes to be naked too!!

apparently DD can't self-settle even when I'm not there and it's nearly 11 o'clock.
DH was in charge yesterday evening, and when I got home, she was just crying with exhaustion, under his armpit, snuggled all cosy. She just couldn't manage it.
I got into bed, put her on my boob and she was asleep within minutes.

although I think DH might have starved both of them all evening - he gave her a plum and about 2 oz of expressed milk, and he had a fried egg sandwich himself. all evening. (he said it's because she was being needy and demanding

Is the 8month check everywhere in england? DD is 9mo and I didnt know about it

No it's sometime between 8 and 12 months I think

I feel much happier now and have decided to use this thread as DDs 8-12 month check, which she has passed with flying colours :)

The new healthy baby criteria are:

1. Your dc may be sitting unaided at 8 months but might not be.
2. You can give vitamin drops if you like?
3. Your dc should be throwing,smearing,squishing and putting some food in their mouth eating some solids and drinking as much milk as they need/want.
4. :) your baby is fine.
5. They can sleep, whether it's on the boob, in a cot, with you.
6. You decide what dress/lack of is appropriate.
7. You feel confident making decisions as you are the mum and mumnosbest (i know there's a k)

Dd is 11mo day after tomorrow.
1)She sat unaided at about 5.5/6mo
2)Yes. From about 6mo. HV advised to when I started weaning.
3)I ebf until 6mo then introduced meals/snacks over 3 months. I started dropping bf when we got to 3 meals a day. Now DD is bf morning and night, she has 150ml of formula with midmorning snack (yoghurt) and midafternoon snack (fruit wedges). Otherwise, with lunch and dinner she has water.
5) We didnt/don't cosleep bit DD had reflux until 6mo so I had to hold her upright after every bf so she pretty much slept on me during the day for the first few months. When we started trying to move away from feeding to sleep at about 4-5 months it got easier to put her down to sleep for naps. She was in her own room at 8 weeks and we all slept so much better for it!

DD also slept in her tummy from 4mo after she had a really bad cold. Again, made her sleep sooooouch better for it too.

Sshhhhh! Don't tell my HV!