April 2015 thread 7: Our viable, wriggling bumps have us walking belly-first into the new year!

[BrixtonBunny]

New thread xx

Hello all!

I think you've just got to do what works for you... I can't put baby's cot in our room because we don't have room to fit it in (one downside of our lovely super king size bed is there is no bedroom space for anything else)
I've decided we'll probably just reuse the moses basket we used last time to save money, but buy a new mattress for it. Baby is supposed to be in your room with you for the first 6 months, but I found DD outgrew her moses basket by about 4 months - she's not a big baby by any means (actually currently quite small for her age, but average when she was born), so I wasn't unusual in moving her into her own room when she was about 4 months. Certainly not in my postnatal group anyway!

I'm not personally crazy about co-sleeping and will try not to do it for various reasons, but I found in the early days, you probably will bring baby in with you at some point - DD had some sort of moses basket sensor that meant she opened her eyes as soon as I lay her in it I eventually discovered swaddleme swaddle me wraps helped solve this problem so I'll be using these from the start with DS and hope against hope this resolves the problem!

I've bought hardly anything, I'm lucky in that I've got a fair bit still left over from when DD was younger (although she's still a baby herself!), but still loads of mattresses, sheets, etc I still need to buy. Don't fret just yet

No BH for me, but then I didn't last time and ended up induced. So maybe you BHers are fortuitous really!

Oh yes plenty of fitted sheets! I got a mattress with a zip off top so I can be washed in the washing machine and it was dry after a few hours.

If I remember correctly the minimum recommended weight for a sleeping bag is 4Kg PenguinPoser, mine were 3.996 and 4.145 at birth, so no probs there!! You can get the 0.5tog ones for spring/summer so they're still covered but don't get too hot so I found them perfect.

Wow thanks everyone - lots of advice and opinions that are all worth taking in! I suppose (hopefully) it will just come naturally and we'll figure out what's best for us. Completely forgot who just posted about the King size bed as I wanted to reply to everyone - but yes we have a king size bed too with little room either side- doesn't help that on my side we have the airer but we'll figure out where else we can put that! And that's where the cot will go. Talking of cots.. When do people tend to buy them?! I know with the whole pushchair thing they say to not keep in your house etc.. Old wives tale maybe? But I'll go with that anyway and keep that at my mums when we eventually buy. I'm looking at the Cosatto .. the "Giggle" one I think? It is navy and white stripes if I remember rightly. My partners step-sister in law has just had a little girl and she has a Cosatto travel system.. The 3-in-1.. So definately top of the list at the moment x

I got my cot on eBay, lasted my two and my friend currently has it but said I can have it back in time for this baby and will buy a new mattress.

I think 2.5Tog will be fine particularly if like me you turn heating off at night, can just have sleepsuit with no vest under it and still use that sleeping bag until nights get warmer. I think they only come in 0.5, 1 and 2.5 anyway.

We've not bought anything yet, although the Christmas haul has given us a few things we know we needed... we know what we want to buy in terms of furniture, I think, but redecorating the nursery is job one. I'm basically taking the line that if we set ourselves up with the Really Basic Stuff (place for baby to sleep, car seat, things for baby to wear), then we can add stuff on as we discover we need it rather than end up with Stuff We Don't Actually Use. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Also, conversation I never thought I'd have - explaining the difference between a sleeping bag and a Snuzpod to my brother over Boxing Day dinner. That was interesting.

I've just washed our current stash of baby clothes (then at least they are done and I won't need to do millions of washes nearer the time). So sweet to see those tiny clothes hanging up!

25+4

One thing that everyone I have spoken to has said is "buy things second hand as it's not worth buying things brand new!". There's a second hand baby goods shop near us that was recommended by partners step sister in law so will take a look in there for the cot etc. I say etc because I can't think of what else we need at the moment! (laughing nervously!) But will buy the pushchair brand new as I want a 3in1 travel system and it will be my first, after all :-) George at asda have some lovely baby clothes in at the moment! There's some nice clothing in browns and greys, thinking of getting them rather than the typical blue clothes. For a girl I was going to buy yellows and purples rather than all pink. Although with being expected in April... what sort of clothes do we buy?! It's a funny month.. I always remember my mum saying it snowed one April, so it could still be cool. Or then, with this country you never know, it could be warm! X

I so badly want a furry all-in-one outdoor warm pram suit thing with teddy bear ears that I've decided it will still be quite cold in April...

Question for second (or more!) timers - when do you think we need to buy a pram? Planning on using a sling as much as possible, especially when baby is tiny, but it seems like it would be easier to buy one before baby comes just in case? We're fairly certain of the model we want, but don't know when is best to get it if we'll be slinging all the time x

Hi all, merry Christmas!

More new names, hello!

Rosey and hiding my dd went straight into a swinging crib by my bed and has always slept well - we have been lucky. Some disagree but from day 1 we always put her straight down after a feed - and back out again for cuddles if she didn't fall asleep of course - to get her used to falling asleep not on us, who knows if this helped or we were truly just lucky. This only started because I was ill after having her so overnight the midwives did all the feeding and so of course she was just re swaddled and put back in the crib from day one and never learned anything else. Of course I did sometimes indulge in a sleepy cuddle, it's the loveliest thing in the world

She grew out of the cot at 4 months ish - wouldn't be swaddled any more - we moved onto cellular blankets only - and got her arms stuck through the bars etc. At 4.5 months she went into her cot for the space and loved it - stretched out with a beautiful smile! That meant she moved out of our room into her own at 4.5 months but it was fine.

Friends who tried a Moses basket had to move them out much sooner.

So my newborn sleeping experiences are that Moses baskets don't last and many mums don't like not being able to see their babies from the bed - you sometimes have to sit up to see over the edge... And equally I know my dd loved being able to look through the bars and see we were there. That's an advantage of a crib and they are a bit bigger too. I've got no idea about Snuzpods and what have you, sorry... No experience there.

We swaddled her until she was about 8 weeks old in wraps with a sleepsuit beneath and extra blanket on top if needed - she was an April 2013 baby so same time of year. However when she was about 8 weeks old there was a ridiculous heat wave when it was 34 degrees for a week or so and we couldn't get the bedroom below 27 degrees - all the monitors flashing red! But she just slept in a nappy, or in a vest. She's fine!

Re buggies - ours took 9 weeks to order, arrived with a week to spare... (Uppababy vista, love love love it. Never underestimate the value of big wheels and a big basket and being able to face your baby to you!) so make sure if you are ordering new you know the lead time. If you are using a sling then it's less urgent BUT if you have a C section you would be advised against long carries/walking distances, you will get sore and would be grateful for the pram I would think. We took dd out at 3 days old and just carried her on our shoulder out shopping etc but for going for walks we used the pram. We also went visiting relatives at 9 weeks old, and used the bassinet for the pram as her overnight crib (the Uppababy one was ok for this, some do say they are not suitable for overnight so check if it's important too you). It was a bit narrow really for overnight but we managed until she was about 4 months old. We used it in the day time for her naps downstairs too instead of buying a Moses basket for downstairs and that worked really well, until we moved to a sheepskin rug on the floor or settee at about 4 months. So we got loads of good use out of our pram from day one. Reminder to self, must buy a buggy board in the sales!

cinnamon my BHs do that to me too, don't hurt but all balls up and I do feel peculiar. I remember it from last time. Sort of short of breath and my heart thumps, and a bit of fuzziness in my chest - almost a bit dizzy. Mine only got slightly uncomfortable in week 36/37 last time, which I think were pre labour really - up until then they were just as described above. The morning I went into labour was my second day of contractions in the morning feeling a bit uncomfortable, but they settled the day before. Let dh go off to work... Dragged him back an hour and a half after he had arrived!!! In fact I had a thread on here called something like "If this is prelabour it is f***g painful!!!" Because the first time I rand the labour unit as a ftm of course this is what they said it was... Turned into a "live birth thread" as someone put it! Lots of people held my hand, the support was amazing. I don't agree with some of what people write and how some people behave on MN but when you get the right support it's incredible. I really felt very touched.

Well, what a lot of talking. Dd is napping so I think I will too...

Hope everyone is feeling better. Being poorly at Christmas is rubbish!

24+5

Hello all! Quiet here at the moment as DD is napping and DH is ill so tucked up in bed.

banana I have some crop top bras (with feeding clips) from Jojomaman, they are non wired and stretchy so I found they worked well for pregnancy and first few weeks of feeding when your boobs vary a bit. I'm planning to get some nice feeding bras too in about week 6 once I see how feeding is going and what size my boobs are.

brixton where do you plan on the baby napping in the day? I found the pram carrycot was the best place other than on me so might be worth getting one pre birth for that reason? Also if you have c section or bad tearing a sling may not be feasible for a few weeks... And, iirc, some prams have quite a long lead time, it can be a few weeks from order to receipt. So all in all I'd say get it pre birth... appreciate that is another thing to move though!

catsofa I am a sucker for anything with ears...DH mocks me for it but has admitted they are very cute.

rosey agree about second hand! A few exceptions which are recommended to buy new are the cot mattress, car seat, and some breast pumps, but otherwise I'm a big fan of second hand. So much baby kit gets only the lightest of use.

Bedding - well DD is a cold person so has a sleeping bag AND a blanket (and vest and PJs too) but that's unusual... I am a cold person too so guess it's genetic. Bonjour thanks for the swaddle recommendation, they look really good, I will try them for dd2.

Lots of braxton hicks here, since about 22 weeks. Had loads last time too. Not very comfortable especially if DD is on my lap at the time!

Ps my ds is very busy in there today, and lots of Braxton hicks for me today too. Must be something in the air!

Thanks daholster and minipie - that's a great point about daytime napping, and also about order / delivery time. We're also getting an uppababy vista so the carry cot part should come in handy early on! And you're right re: unforeseen circumstances like an EMCS - I should plan for all eventualities I guess!

BrixtonBunny We didn't have a pram with my others, just a pushchair that went totally flat but I agree I certainly didn't feel like wearing them in the first few weeks. Also, some babies don't like it so it may be more trouble than it's worth having them in a sling all the time! Mine napped in a bouncy chair in the early days and in their cot from about 3 months onwards but my friend just moved her Moses basket around the house for daytime naps.

Interesting daholster sounds the same then. I think my uterus must tighten when I run too as he kicked me for the first time while I was running yesterday and it hurt, guessing there's just less give there!

I am positively looking forward to lovely fragrant newborn nappies for a change from the products of DS's rancid backside

OMG it's too late for me to change my mind about having kids, isn't it...

It doesn't get any better when they are potty trained you still have to wipe their bum for a while till they can do it properly.

We don't have room at the side of our bed either due to getting a king size (although a double wouldn't have made much difference) and my side of the bed is right next to the radiator so I don't want baby sleeping there. He will probably have to be at the end of the bed or on my desk in the alcove (in moses basket or whatever obviously) once too big he'll have to go into his own room but needs must. My dad thought the cots with no side so you can link them to the bed were a good idea and said he old pprobably make something. Not sure if he was joking or not :/

Day napping will probably be in the pram which will have to live in our front room. It has the overnight sleeping bit so would be fine for in the day. Having such a small house is a real pain! No idea what I'll do with everything when he's too big for it as we don't have a garage or a loft or a spare room :(

I don't think I'll buy a sling and will attempt just getting some material from our local market to make one with like in the YouTube videos. Ill defo be using the pram more because of walking the dog every day and my back hurts enough just walking let alone with a baby strapped to me.
I don't really want him to get used to sleeping on me either. I worry he'll become a clingy baby but I know I'm probably over thinking. I'll just wait and see, baby's personality probably has a big part to play on how things go!

Dreading potty training... Dd is just starting to tell us with about 2 secs to go about a poo... So we aren't there yet. No idea how to manage it since I think she'll be ready around March but lots of things say not to potty train within 3 months of the newborn, they are likely to regress. But then if you don't take the cues then they start ignoring them again (mum is an early years advisor... mixed blessing!) and I don't want her to do that.

So maybe if she is really seeming ready we will just do it whenever and face the consequences - but I am not looking forward to the stinky stuff which is bad enough in the nappy being available in the open in a potty for plopping in the toilet, oh YUCK!!!

Brixton a pushchair is really handy for when baby falls asleep in the carseat and you can clip the carseat to the pushchair without waking them. I'm enthusiastic about slings but I still use a pushchair when it suits me: very useful for hanging shopping bags on and if you want to try on clothes in store then you wouldn't want to be wearing a baby.

Squatting if you want to wear a baby and a 2 year old using the same sling then a woven wrap would be best as you can't use a stretchy wrap with older children (apart from hybrid stretches like the Wrapsody). Does Victoria Slinglady do woven wraps of just stretchies?

My advice would be don't use a potty daholster! No transferring of anything and if you can get them happy ona toilet saves you carrying a potty! Ds1 hated the potty so went straight on toilet, we had a seat that goes under seat but now have a toilet seat with two sizes and as he didn't use a potty I haven't with ds2 or any of my minded children and it's worked well.

Ds2 self settled from birth Hidingthefear but absolutely hated he pushchair until 4 months, so despite being confused by people pushing empty pushchairs around carrying a baby we did just that quite a bit before we figured it out! He wasn't clingy at all but did love the sling when out ?? ds1 was horribly clingy and I hardly ever used a sling with him so you just never know. Each of them had their easy bits and their tough bits, they are absolutely totally different in every way so although I've done the baby bit twice I still don't feel prepared for this one!

Hi again everyone. For everyone that sort of knows the background to my whole in-laws story/pregnancy story, or in fact for everyone else who doesn't, I've posted a new thread in Relationships if anyone can try and help me. ;-( feeling very down tonight and not sure what to do. The thread starts as "can a relationship truly survive this?". Thanks in advance x

Ah well that's good to know then cinnamon will see what he's like when he gets here! No doubt I'll end up with a mirriad of unwanted advice from people when I don't ask for it nanny I'm looking at you