Pandemic babies virtual baby group - all welcome!

[Ahorsecalledseptember]

I wondered if any other ‘lockdown mums’ fancied having this as a place to chat?

I had my baby in mid December. He’s an absolute darling but it’s been a bit of an uphill battle, from OH being banished from the hospital while I was left pretty much alone for seventeen hours, to virtual HV visits and all in all not a huge amount of support which isn’t ideal with a new baby, although obviously I appreciate it’s a difficult time.

I did an NCT course over Zoom and I have realised how reassuring it is when people say ‘yes my baby is the same’ so here is a virtual baby group.

I have just fed baby and am expressing milk as now is apparently the optimum time. Breastfeeding didn’t work for us but I still want him to have my milk, but I do need to top up with formula. I’ve ordered some “lactation tea”, no idea whether it will work or not!

How are the other ‘lockdown babies’ faring?

Definitely - although I am getting a bit fed up of the same walk! Must find somewhere else!

@BecLJ things I've tried so far entertainment wise:

• mirror play
• play gym
• reading books (me reading)
• tummy time, short ish sessions throughout the day
• walking with the sling
• walking with the pram
• going into the garden to look at shrubs/bushes/listening to birds
• pick a boo
• listening to music/sing along (me singing, him listening)

Usually I manage to fill up the day with those.

Hi all! I had my DD early Dec. I have a DS and add already but they are now teenagers so in many ways I feel like a FTM again! I also have a 6yr old step son.

I am breastfeeding and although hard work as feels she is constantly attached to me I am pleased things going well and she is gaining weight which health visitor describes as good growth. I was trying to express some with manual pump but most the time I try to get jobs done when she’s settled or too tired if at night. My partner lets me get couple hours of undisturbed sleep a night so he gives her 1 bottle of formula which I feel I shouldn’t give but feed myself but I’m often so tired I rather have some proper sleep.

I do feel guilty that I have brought my baby into a pandemic world which we can’t access normality but I try to look at the positives too like being able to spend more time just a family but would love to properly introduce her to family and friends.

Congratulations on your DD!

Gosh, we are struggling with sleep today. He slept well last night (for a newborn!) but then he woke up at 10 for a feed and then had an appointment with the osteopath.he’s struggled to nod back off ever since. I ended up walking for over an hour (in the rain!) with him in the sling - he slept but I was soaked and wet and cold! Then he had another feed at 4 and wouldn’t sleep after that, so his dad is giving him a bottle of expressed milk now while I express more. Sigh.

I hope he sleeps tonight.

Hey how's everyone doing? X

Hi @Laur89 doing ok, lockdown with a 4 month old is pretty relentless though! I'm lucky that I live close to my mum so we have a support bubble- don't know what I'd do without it.

How are you?

Hey hope everyone is ok! Can be a bit hard with not regularly seeing friends or other family. DD was born end of October and then lockdown started so we just got one support bubble. Can't wait for this to be over so she can see other family and friends!

Does anyone use the easyfit chicco baby carrier? I've used it for the first time today but I feel her hoody/jacket makes it a bit harder to put her in it and feel like she's squished in me, but if I loosen it it'll be too loose! What would you recommend for a baby to wear in cold wet weather in a carrier? I want to get used to wearing it for when this is over and DH goes back to office (live on top floor and I can't get the pram down myself since it's too big).

Hi! I had my baby 12 weeks ago and finding lockdown hard. What are you all doing to for play time with your baby? Im worried he is missing out by not going to baby groups. We have a play gym and he likes kicking around on that and batting the toys but worried i should be doing more!

I have a 5 month old and we’ve just been going out for lots of walks. He loves looking at the trees and being in the fresh air, but I’m also at a loss of what to do when we’re at home. He gets so bored of our house and toys only occupy him for a couple of minutes before he gets bored of them too. Poor babies 😔

@Strawberries4days I dont have that carrier but I use an Ergobaby one. I put my DD in a cardigan and light raincoat and a hat (over her usual clothes). I read that your body heat and the sling itself count as layers too. My carrier has a hood you can pull over the baby's head if it rains.

@YellowVelvet111 it's so hard to entertain small babies all day! I try to take her on a long walk each day. At home we do some online baby classes, read books, tummy time, watch people / the weather out the window, (which she seems to love), usual toys etc.

I also take her around with me doing things like putting the washing away or tidying and just narrating it all to her (must drive my DH who works from home mad!).

This week I started doing couch to 5k up and down my fairly long living room DD just watched me from her bouncy chair and seemed to be entertained by it

I worry that when we do start to see wider friends and family that DD will be overwhelmed after having such a small number of people around her for her whole life / no classes etc.

Hi all! I had my little one the day before the first lockdown so she's now nearly 11 months old!

I can't help but feel sad that her first birthday is likely to be in some sort of lockdown as well. It just feels like we've lost so much time that we should have been surrounded by family and friends!

For all of you with younger babies, I would definitely say 4-9 months was the hardest in lockdown. I found going out for daily walks saved my sanity! I used to go out for hours (although I was fortunate that the weather was better then), now she is able to sit and play a little bit more the days have become a little easier!

@Strawberries4days I have a carrier and use it everyday for dog walks, I dress my DD normally and then use a star wrap (I picked one up second hand on eBay for quite cheap compared to their usual prices) and find it is brilliant because it keeps their hands, feet and head warm without adding any bulk!

My baby 9weeks and usually sleeps 9-12 (making up for the time she awake through the night!!) so I get housework done then and later in day she plays on her mat or baby gym and I read her stories, play lullabies, get some little baby toys out and let her feel the textures/listen to sounds from shaker type toys.

I just cannot get her to sleep between 10pm and 3am. It’s so frustrating! Try swaddling her, feeding her just she keeps going and will not give in.

@BecLJ my DD is 6.5 months and I’ve found that now she’s in a more regular nap routine it’s easier to break the day down into short segments (plus solid foods take up more time!) So our day usually goes - wake up, 2 hours play with DH before work, first nap - then 2 hours when we do a breast feed, a purée meal followed by a wipe down and getting dressed (food goes everywhere!) and a short play/look at books, second nap - then a breastfeed and often a walk when she might do third nap in pram or else come back for third nap at home, then only 1-2 hours to go until bathtime, during which we have a second solids meal and also usually do a bit of an online class/sing nursery rhymes/do tummy time etc. Then the bedtime routine starts! Hang in there, it will get more structured

@BecLJ glad I’m not the only one finding it hard! I’ve been using the huckleberry app for naps which gives my day a bit of structure but I have to force my baby to nap In the sling or pram which means I don’t really get a rest myself! In the early weeks I didn’t realise how much sleep they actually need!

Hello! Can I join? DS is 8 weeks and is a joy. But I’m sick of doing endless laps of the local park in the cold and frankly am finding being a mum in lockdown a bit lonely.

I’ve also got a nap refuser, so any tips to get him down in the day would be great! @YellowVelvet111 like you, sling/pram naps work but are tiring for me...