Mum to 8 month old - completely shattered

[2021ishere]

My baby DS is 8 months old and I’m shattered.

Things are easier now than they were in the newborn stage, but boy do I miss the days when DS was only on milk. Why does no one talk about how time consuming and full on weaning is? I feel like all I do now is cook and clean for DS. Plus there’s so much to fit in, with the two solid feeds a day plus 4 milk feeds and 2 naps. I’m dreading when he goes up to 3 meals in a few weeks time - there will be even more cooking and cleaning! I’m trying to cook different fresh recipes everyday and it’s killing me. DH and I lived on oven meals and takeout before so it’s a total lifestyle change!

Then there’s playtime - DS can entertain himself for about 5 mins before crying and needing me to play and interact. It’s exhausting! I don’t know if it’s his age or his personality or both.

Is it normal to feel totally exhausted and is 8 months a hard age? When do things get less tiring or do they never?

I have a 9 month old and a nearly 4 year old

Firstly stop beating yourself up, songs like you're doing amazingly

Make one meal a day a pouch or similar. DD always has something like yoghurt/ baby porridge in the morning

Can you batch cook a bit and freeze?

It gets so much easier. I can't remember when, but I found this stage hard with both kids. I think once they get some language and more movement it's more fun!

Yes and no honestly - I hated the weaning stage but found it much easier once on solids only. I would suggest buying a simple cook book, Jamie Oliver has a few ones for beginners and try getting into cooking for the whole family, might make it more enjoyable!

But as far as the attention/playing it got much worse, they can run away, empty cupboards, generally cause mayhem. On a positive note though - I found it more enjoyable past the 12-14 month stage although you cannot put anything down without it being touched/knocked over!

Do you have help with the cooking/cleaning?

Definitely easier if you cook the same or similar meals for you and your baby. I often make sure I have leftovers for lunch the next day. My DS is 12m now and while dinner is always a conventional meal, lunches can be a random assortment of foods... Yesterday for example his lunch was carrots (leftover from previous dinner), peas, grated cheese and a clementine. Not my finest creation but nutritious and really quick to put together when he was hungry. Sometimes I opt for toast and fruit for breakfast rather than porridge or cereal just because its less messy and I can clean it up quickly. Rice and cous cous are big favourites of DS but I make sure to serve them on days when I have time and energy for the massive clean up afterwards😂 I always have bags of frozen green beans, peas, sweetcorn and spinach in the freezer to add a quick veg when I'm stuck for ideas or time. Also tins of kidney beans and chick peas are handy quick meal ingredients. I used to clean the floor after each meal but mostly now I wait until the end of the day and just do it then.

Mine is 10 months now and suddenly much easier again. I don’t know why but he suddenly plays much more independently. 8 months was hard - I think he was teething or leaping or something but very clingy... Foodwise, I think you’re being too perfect. Having not cooked much before for yourself, you’re maybe overcompensating for your kid (which is lovely btw)! The weaning books and instagrammers don’t help and feed on this lack of confidence in new mums, I feel. Food doesn’t need to be beetroot & mung bean risotto with homemade low sodium cheese and apple baby scones to be nutritious. Notice how the same people selling you weaning cook books are also the same ones selling you a mush of peas and pear in a little expensive packet!! I’ve always loved cooking & think I have a balanced healthy diet but I also doubted myself when I saw what was suggested in the books & social media. However, then I shook myself and did this: I always have in one or two fruit and vegetables that I know ds will like. I chsamge them so there is variety. I cut up a few portions all in one go and steam them together until soft enough. Keep in the fridge to supplement anything we have. I always have yoghurt, peanut butter avocado etc for healthy fats and I have some store bought snacks. So if my normal adult meal isn’t 100% good for ds, I’ll take whatever I can from the adult meal and pad it out with the pre-cooked veg. Give him some yogurt or avocado. So sometimes meals can be a bit if a mixture of random stuff. He’s still getting a range of food and it’s healthy, it just doesn’t look like a cook book. It also might not be totally balanced over one day, but I’ll make sure I balance out over a few days. Also, he has porridge for breakfast every day. I make enough for 2 days and add a little hot water to the portion for the second day when I take it out the fridge. But yeah I also do find it one more thing to think about and in combination with two nap days and winter I found it hard too. First wake window is short and you’re getting ready for the day. Second wake window is lunch and try to get out before it’s dark - it’s a squeeze and then last wake window was dragging on forever. It’s suddenly got much easier again as ds is happy playing. Finally you’ll find your dc will get better at eating, so can eat more of your stuff (or you worry less), pincer grip gets better so more foods become possible. Hope that helps a little sand things get easier for you soon.

@PenguinHuddle

Definitely easier if you cook the same or similar meals for you and your baby. I often make sure I have leftovers for lunch the next day. My DS is 12m now and while dinner is always a conventional meal, lunches can be a random assortment of foods... Yesterday for example his lunch was carrots (leftover from previous dinner), peas, grated cheese and a clementine. Not my finest creation but nutritious and really quick to put together when he was hungry. Sometimes I opt for toast and fruit for breakfast rather than porridge or cereal just because its less messy and I can clean it up quickly. Rice and cous cous are big favourites of DS but I make sure to serve them on days when I have time and energy for the massive clean up afterwards😂 I always have bags of frozen green beans, peas, sweetcorn and spinach in the freezer to add a quick veg when I'm stuck for ideas or time. Also tins of kidney beans and chick peas are handy quick meal ingredients. I used to clean the floor after each meal but mostly now I wait until the end of the day and just do it then.

Yeah basically this, but you said it much better!

Do you batch cook and freeze as I find this saves time. Batch cook savoury muffins - 12 muffins will last for loads of meals if you freeze and then get out Pesto sauce again can make loads of portions if you freeze. Mine also likes porridge finger bites which if you make a tray of them last a while.

For a quick lunch he will often have toast with a spread e.g hummus or bean spread.

My 8 month old is very full on too and doesn't really play independently. Is tough!

You don’t have to make everything from scratch. Breakfasts are an easy one to do quickly.

Readybrek with frozen berries, zapped in the microwave
Fruit and toast
Greek yoghurt and berries
Scrambled eggs with cheese, microwaved
Batch cook scotch pancakes and freeze
Weetabix with fruit

I found 8/9 months a tough age too - my daughter screeched a lot and it's the worst noise ever. Teething and frustration with not being coordinated enough yet to do everything she wanted. And it is a slog preparing all the meals etc - but so great when she enjoys what I've made! She's 13 months now and it's easier.

Gosh you need to learn short cuts.

Cook yourself dinner but more than usual and freeze 5-10 baby size portions.

Do this everyday for a week and you’ll have about 60 frozen meals with 7 different meals and it’s not extra work as you’re also eating that meal.

For example, cottage pie, lasagne, spag bol, chicken stew etc

My 8 month old is hard work also

But food wise...
Breakfast: I just give porridge with fruit every day so far
Lunch : batch cooked food or toast/ avocado/ yogurt
Dinner: batch cooked food or what we are eating depending on what it is

I try and cook him extra of similar foods to us. Ie yesterday I made us a cottage pie, didn’t add any stock or salt until after I had removed half for ds. Dh and I had our portion. Ds I froze 6 mini salt free portions.

I do the same for any meals suitable ish, sometimes adapt or add extra veg to his. Then like tonight dh and I will probably have takeaway, so il just grab something out the freezer

I also add some extra finger food for him if cooking, such as il cook extra broccoli he can just have warm the next day or two alongside his meals or with some easy toast/ egg

That all sounds pretty normal. It’s easier if you all eat at the same time, even if that means changing your own meal times. Takes a bit of getting used to. But then it’s only one lot of cooking and cleaning up each time. But yes, it’s really tiring.