Still struggling 7 months in

[Beetlejuice3]

My DD is about to turn 7 months old. She was very much wanted and is our entire world but I still feel as though things are still so hard and we’re getting no where, did anyone else find this to be the case? All my friends seem to have coped fine, even one with a newborn says she’s doing fine because she knew what to expect whereas my newborn stage was a whirlwind of colic and reflux.

Sleep- I feel like I’m getting naps and wake windows appropriate and following her cues but it can take up to 2 hours of a meltdown to get her to bed for the night. She did have a month or so of sleeping through but that’s out the window and she can wake up to every hour sometimes.

Naps- I’ve probably created a rod for my own back but she always napped great in the pram which she has outgrown and will NOT nap in her cot 😭

Solids- we’ve been trying solids and puree for a month now and she’s just not interested. Will chew the spoon but cry if we actually put food on it. No luck with a sippy cup or straw yet so haven’t managed to introduce a great deal of water aside from tipping it everywhere from an open cup

Feeding- she’s formula fed but had an aversion early on and will now only take a bottle from me in the nursery. We are trying to get her to take one from my partner as I literally can’t go out or leave her with him but she just rejects it from him

How am I supposed to go back to work or for her to go to nursery in a couple of months if she won’t nap anywhere but the pram or take a bottle from anyone or eat any solids.

Maybe a rant more than anything but I just don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere and it’s really lonely 😞

If it's taking two hours to get her to bed, then maybe she's not tired? Especially if she's waking every hour. There's nothing wrong with a later bedtime.

If you keep putting her down for naps, eventually she'll get it. I'd try every nap time. Or if it's too dreadful just contact nap.

Solids and cup - a month is no time. My baby didn't start eating a substantial amount until closer to ten months. We gave her a cup at four months; at twelve months she still tips it everywhere.

I think you need to curb your expectations a bit.

Re nursery - everyone says that their babies adapted fine and that when there was no other option they learned pretty quickly to eat what was given/sleep where they could.

Honestly I was exactly like this was mine was 7 months, although breastfeeding (a lot) and she would never take a bottle.
I think you need to adjust your expectations for food - it's only been a month. Mine only really started eating 'properly' when was about 13 months. Even now she's 16 months and she doesn't eat loads. She only got used to a cup after a few months - try the Pipette methods to teach straw use.
Just use the buggy, it really doesn't matter. Mine went to nursery at 11 months, she'd only even napped in the buggy/sling/contact. She did take a while to adjust to napping there but it was fine.
2 hours at bedtime is way too long, she simply isn't tired, Just don't even try bedtime til later. The waking frequently also indicates she's not tired enough. Now it's lighter, get outside early evening to keep her distracted - I used the forward facing sling a lot at this time!
You don't need to have them 'nursery ready'. In fact mine was about as un-ready for nursery as a baby could be. It was a big adjustment but that's always the case! I know babies who independently napped, took a cup, ate loads, and still all went out the window at nursery. Going to nursery has helped mine to eat more, breastfeed less, use a cup, sleep independently. Please try and relax and enjoy the last months of your mat leave. She will change so much even in the next couple of months.

Nursery - just try it with a positive mindset (because your baby might sense it if you’re anxious about it) and see how it goes. Mine never manages a proper nap in his cot at home, but somehow it works at nursery,. He also eats food there he wouldn’t eat at home.

Food - give it more time and take the pressure out, she will get there in her own time.

Sleep - that’s the one thing we still find tricky at 17 months. There are good times, but I won’t lie, we still often have nights with hourly wake-ups. I think there’s always something at this age, developmental leaps, teething, colds,..that impact sleep. You just have to ride it out.

It is tough, make sure you enjoy the good bits. I found that my DS was really fun to be around from about 6 months onwards, we went out a lot together, parks, playgroups, baby classes etc.

If it’s consistently taking her 2hours to go to sleep, have you considered putting her to bed later? It can’t be any fun for any of you. If she’s gaining weight she’s getting enough to eat. If she’s drinking plenty of milk she’s getting enough water.

Remember, a couple of months is a long time in a baby’s life-she’ll be a different person by then!

Babies change a lot in 2 months. In the meantime, for your own sanity, i would persevere with the cot naps. The morning one is the easiest, that's the one to start with.

I know lots of Mumsnetters would laugh at me when I say I let my baby's naps dictate my life but those hours of peace and silence kept me sane!! To know that I had guaranteed 1 hour of peace at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm (can't quite remember the timings at 7 months but it was roughly that) was my idea of heaven.

I wouldn't stress about nursery. Babies behave differently with dofferent caregivers and good nursery workers will have plenty of experience.