Really would like some help, feeling very overwhelmed

[UnsureMumma]

DD is just over 6 months, have no helpful family, no friends with young children (all older and don't seem to remember much when I ask) HV is different every time I go and I just don't have any confidence In them after a few things that have left me unimpressed to say the least. I have all these queries going round in my head and wondering if I do the right thing every day! DD is happy and healthy and good weight etc but I am stressing at present and can't seem to sleep well as I'm worrying etc.
I know I need some good support but I feel ok mostly it's just now as the weaning has started and things seem all chaotic and not enough time in the day to do it all...
Wonder if anyone can help and sorry for length of post (rant)
As I said, DD has started weaning and I don't think she's actually eating much, i do puréed stuff and some finger bits but I don't know when to give her? After a bottle and she's not hungry, before it and she's too hungry she cries. It seems good times are sometimes when she's napping!
I don't know how to continue or what she wants routine wise,
She is waking at 5.30 and I'm tired out so it's hard.
Ok so wakes 5.30
Bottles at 7,10,1,4,6.30 then bed usually all night to morning.
Usually naps every 2 hrs or so of being awake except now she waking early she has 3 naps and her last one she wakes at 3-3.15pm and stays awake to bedtime at 6.30 but she's so unhappy after 5ish but won't sleep before that ) unless I try even harder??)
So my worries are when to feed her and what to do about being grumpy in evening.
Maybe silly but I do feel I'm failing her somehow

Sorry again if anyone has actually read this far ;)

They are the exact same questions I had when DD was six months.

I never thought she was eating enough but she did fine as will yours

That's a lot of sleep for a 6 month old tho. I know my DD never slept well tho. I think 'normal' is a nice long nap in the middle of the day but there's no such thing as normal.

Ps, don't feel overwhelmed. You're doing great

Gosh your baby is sleeping well. I'm afraid I am no expert, but having just watched my daughter with her baby, I don't think the quantity of food is the important bit at this stage, as long as she is not underweight. I think the idea of her to like food and you to introduce new foods little by little so that if she has a bad reaction to any foodstuff, you know which one it is.

Ah I remember that feeling, how to give 7 bottles, soilds, naps, bedtime routine all in one day!

At around 6 months I moved ds onto a schedule of 2 naps and between 6 to 7 months he dropped to 3 bottles as he got more interested in solids.
The general advice is to give food an hour after their bottle. Start with just one meal a day with little tastes gradually introducing New flavours and textures. ( if you are making you own food check the banned foods for under ones - I think it's on nhs website.) then gradually over the next couple of months move up to 3 meals a day.
It really is more about tastes in those early months and you'll find she gets better with finger feeding herself as well with practice.

Personally I'd just start her day at 530 with her first bottle for now while you get a routine going, and go to bed earlier yourself. Once you are into 2 naps and some solids you can try to move her naps later, and but her to bed later in the hope of a later morning wake up.

Might be worth googling. Noob schedule - for some ideas on a schedule for her.

Good luck,

I am at the same stage as you and feel very similar. I have twins so it seems like I never have a minute between bottles, feeding and naps. I think you sound to be doing a great job but know it is hard not to feel overwhelmed by it all. I will detail my routine below for you so you can see what i do.

7am get babies up (they wake earlier but I put dummy in and they chatter in their cot and drift back off)
7-7.30 8oz bottle
8 baby porridge
9-10 nap
10.30 half 7oz bottle
11 4 cubes of veg puree per baby
11.15 rest of 7oz bottle
12-2 nap
3 7oz bottle
4 2 cubes of fruit puree with baby rice per baby
4.30-5 nap
6.30 8oz bottle
7pm bed

We call the hour between 5 and bath time the witching hour as they are so whingy and unsettled. I feel sorry for my husband as this is the only time he gets to see them and they are so grumpy. I think this is just how they are as they get tireder through the day.

Feel free to PM if you want, I know what you are going through.

Op don't fret too much over weaning spot on six months. Honestly if you can't fit it all in dont worry too much about it as milk provides enough nutrition at this stage. My son was not good with weaning and I eventually relaxed about it. My hv was adamant that he should be having less milk but how on earth does she know. Natures knows and my baby knew! He is fifteen months and still loves his milk. Maybe just pop her in the high chair at intervals with some healthy soft fruit/veg. She might be better ready at say seven months.

New mothers are bombarded with so much information it's overwhelming at times.

Hi - my dd is 22 mths now and eats like a little trooper - however I was so overwhelmed with weaning and naps. Please don't stress. She will sleep when she's tired - pounding the streets with the buggy or trying to impose a schedule will make you miserable and won't nec work. At this age it's just about finger food. If there's a mealtime when she's too tired and you all give it a miss it won't matter a bit. It's about building her confidence and pleasure in tiny mouthfuls. Please go out. Pack a banana and some breadsticks and go enjoy yourselves. Honestly in a years time you won't even remember why you felt so stressed. Just enjoy your time together - it really will all fall into place. Oh, and don't spend ages making meals....I learnt the hard way the rule that the longer you spend making something the more they turn their nose up or spit it out! A few mouthfuls of whatever is near to hand and is part of whatever you're making anyway is all that's needed. I def recommend the Baby Led Weaning book (I borrowed it fm the library - I wouldn't have bought it) a quick flick through enabled me to relax. Honestly it will all work out. X

(Forgot to say - if she's tired in the eve do a bit of baby led chomping in the am or at lunch and then leave it for the day. One happy go each day is fine and enough. Milk is still her main food. "Food is for fun until you're 1" as they say.)

Firstly, a hug and - you're doing so much better than you think you are. We all feel like we haven't a clue what we're doing much of the time and are probably getting it wrong. Routines are a classic thing which cause uncertainty and anxiety. With the benefit of hindsight x2 (my youngest is now nearly 20 months), I would say don't sweat the small stuff. Remember the longterm is the big picture. You want your lo to grow up being prepared to try new foods and not completely faddy, if possible. (I have one very faddy eater who refuses to try anything new). t really doesn't matter how much your lo eats at this stage. Remember 'food is for fun' until they are 1 year old, and then hopefully they'll eat larger amounts and meals. The main thing now is to make eating non-stressful, fun if possible - no harm in some little toys to play with and 'feed' etc, and give lots of variety. Even if much of it is untouched or discarded, don't be disheartened as at the very least she'll see or touch a wide range of foods and experiencing a variety will make her less afraid of being presented with new and different-looking foods. x