May 2005 babies - part 2

[logic]

Hello! How is everyone? Dd is finally sleeping in her own bed - yay!

Don't worry, northstar, it happens to everyone. In fact, I don't know anybody who's baby hasn't wriggled off something or tripped down some stairs.
They are getting so strong now aren't they?

whoops! I mean dd is almost there! (ds isn't too keen on the idea of her having his old seat!)
Welcome to babiesrcool! I'm a relative newbie to the site too. When is your lo birthday?

hi babiesrcool....Well we had a really good christmas day. DD was spoilt rooten and loved it !!! LOL everytime someone came though the door she looked at them for gifts..!! Even the gifts that we dh & i!! ...Taught her well .

Glad everyone seems to have enjoyed christmas,even you got there in the end maddison !!! Aww dd is saying anything yet..well nothing that makes sense. Oh well she has 2 bottom teeth so I suppose we can't have it all!!

DH & I ordered off kiddicare yesterday a car seat and baby/stair gates and a play pen. The car seat is the brittax Isofix duo seat,play pen is a basic one but as dd is rolling everywhere we thought it best to have something so I can at least have a few minutes to make her meals without running in and out of the room!! The gates are lindam ones.

About the use of the car seat..we have no idea when we can use it from but dd can sit for a while unaided, she is 19lb 2oz (prob more now after her turkey dinner!!) and her current car seat like littleb said can hold her until 13kg..but she looks too big for it! Mmmmm will see when it arrives. Nothing like forward planning!

Anyone else gutted that christmas is now over..? . xx

Ooopppss....think I best change my name... good suggestion maddison btw!!!

Done!!!!!!

Hello and welcome Babiesrcool! We are a friendly bunch and I'm sure you'll settle right in Do you have a DS or a DD? Or maybe both!

We have been using our forward facing car seat for a while DS2 was 22lb 13oz when I last had him weighed almost 2 weeks ago - I have muscles like Wonderwoman now lol! The checkout operator in the supermarket last week thought he was a year old judging by the size of him!

We still don't have any teeth yet - thank god, I was thinking earlier today that as soon as they come through I'll have to whip the formula out! Maybe we'll still be able to breastfeed when he gets teeth, I don't know, I suppose we'll just see how it goes.

The weaning onto solids seems to be getting better every day, he actually eats every bit of food that goes into his mouth, except when he's had enough and blows the biggest raspberries I've ever seen from a baby!

I'm also getting very broody again, someone please tell me I don't want another baby yet

Thanks for my welcomes. I've one dd her birthday is 7th May. I can not believe how quickly she has changed from a baby and developed into such a funny little girl.

Maddison - has he given you a weetabix sneeze yet? Has to be experienced to be believed!

Anyone got any recommendations (other than calpol) for teething relief? dd has spent much of today screaming poor lamb. It's been a slow start but I think all 4 front teeth are now coming through in one go.

lol Tiggerish, I haven't given him weetabix yet but will make sure everything is covered in plastic when I do (including me) I was toying with the idea of giving him readybrek, purely because we have some in, but I haven't for 2 reasons: a) because I haven't expressed any milk, just haven't had the time and b) because I wasn't sure if he could have that yet. If anyone knows could you let me know please?

When DS1 was teething he was lucky in that it didn't seem to bother him much, we used an antiseptic called Bansor which had a lovely mint flavour and just kept his mouth clean if nothing else. I have tried to get it for DS2 but can't find it anywhere so I got some Anbesol which is in a small bottle and numbs the gums a little. If I remember rightly you can also get it in a powder form. You can also get Calgel, but imo the gels don't seem to work very well. HTH

Sorry Tiggerish - just read the part about products other than Calpol I must make it my New Years Resolution to read posts properly...

Maddison - I've been giving Tesco's own brand Ready Brek. Checked the label and there dosn't appear to any salt or sugar in it. Someone will tell me otherwise now! Have used EBM if I've had any or boiled water otherwise. Sometimes put mashed up banana in it as well. Have avoided Weetabix so far since caused quite a few stomach aches for my eldest. Are you still breastfeeding?

I don't like fromage frais because it is full of sugar and artificial ingredients. Read this review of Danone Baby Fromage Frais on ciao .

I much prefer to just get plain yogurt and add fruit puree. That is so much healthier in itself as well as promoting healthy eating (i.e. doesn't contribute to the development of a sweet tooth).

Of course there are lots of healthy eater who had forage frais as a baby, but I just don't think we need to be loaded up on sugar at 4 months old (which is the age this particular product os marketed for).

Hi Tinker - yes I'm still breastfeeding, I never thought I'd last this long. In the early days I kept thinking to myself 'I'll see how tomorrow goes' with the view of giving him formula at 6 months, but when I made it to 6 months I thought why give him formula when I'm able to still breastfeed. I'll express some and use it with the readybrek, thanks for that

Oh, me too Maddison. Have got this far so hoping can avoid formula as well now.

Welcome babiesrcool!

About the nutrition thing, I think we all just have to stick to whatever we are comfortable with. I allow fromage frais and I let ds have walkers crisps and cadbury's chocolate but no plastic cheese products will cross my threshold. I hate any cheesey puff straw type foods!

We had a lovely Christmas too. Dd had a baby walker and can propel herself around the living room now. We found out that she can eat toast when she rolled across the living room floor and took some of ds'! She's on three solid meals a day now but she does blow raspberries at anything she doesn't want.

I used to use calgel on ds when he was teething.

I agree with you logic on the feeding topic. I prepare dd's food myself and the odd occasion that I need to give her a "jar meal" it mortifies me ...I would rather know exactly what she is eating etc and also the jars don't tend to taste as nice of my cooking . BUT I am a sahm so I have the time to prepare my own meals....thats not to say Jars are not good it's just my own opinion.If I worked I am sure it would be a differnt matter!!!

Maddison sorry I can't help you with the ready break but I can't see why now..dd has weetabix and loves it !!! She also loves banana mashed into it. And yup I have had a weetabix sneeze..but this evenings petit filous (sp?) sneeze was worse !!!

About teething...we use calgel as well but dd seems to love "teething crystals". Nelson do them but boots also do their own range. I swear by them.

Does anyone have an advice about bottles...dd is now on x4 6oz bottles a day. The 1st and last bottles are not a problem but the 2 middle feeds are a struggle. I end up nearly fighting with her.! She has about 2-3oz per 2 middle feeds. Should I drop feed.?? But increase one slightly to say 8 oz..?? Are I right to be giving her bottles still while I hold her..??? HELP..!!!

sorry meant to say "can't see why not".... sausage fingers ...

Hi Shhh. We give 3 7 oz bottles each day. DS basically has three meals with bottles as snacks in between meals. So, e has breakfast, then mid morning bottle, then lunch, then afternoon bottle, then dinner, then bedtime bottle. Unlike his sister, he is quite a good eater and seems to lap up whatever I give him... thank God! If I had another fussy eater I think I'd have to take him back. Just kidding. He's my little angel boy and I love him dearly.

Hi all.
Shh re bottles: According to Gina Ford (who you may well detest) you should drop the lunchtime feed once protein is introduced at lunchtime. I think they should be getting enough as long as they're having about 20 oz total a day.
DD has a full bottle at 7 am and at 6.30 pm, nothing at lunchtime now and it can be hit and miss with the 2.30pm feed (sometimes 9oz sometimes 3) - that's the next one to drop according to GF.
I still hold her feeding milk, but let her help herself (sometimes) to water at lunchtime and with dinner at 5. She loves 'watering' everything else except her mouth.
Anyone else got one who does a squeeky bum shuffle in the bath? It makes the most horrible noise!
Yesterday was a day out of time - dd1 pulling dd2 in the sledge - huge roars of excitement all round.
Luckily I can't get involved in the ff debate - history of allergies in the family so trying to avoid dairy products, fish and eggs until 12 months - probably won't last cos dd2 has a healthy appetite. She managed a sly nibble of my digestive biscuit when I was on the phone to someone yesterday - reckon that's as sugary as ff so definitely can't preach!
Hope everyone is well - anyone heard from brighteyes?

I'm really impressed at your doing all home-made food Shhhh, I'm using jars. Time is the real issue I suppose but ds is doing 3 sessions of pre-school a week next term so I might get more time to cook. Dd loves her bottles though and really prefers them to proper food. I have to make sure that she is dropped down to 20floz consistently as of next week because we are due to see the paed again mid jan. She is also on antibiotics at the moment because she has a hacking chesty cough which is keeping us all awake at night.

Two days in a row now though, ds has agreed to wear pants! It sounds so trivial and ridiculous but it's a major, major breakthrough. For a while, I envisaged myself sending huggies parcels to him in university...

thanks uwila and cab..I suppose re bottles its whatever suits. Think from next week will give dd bottles at 8am,12pm and then at 7pm. The meal at 4pm will be without milk...then if that doesn't work I will swap it with the 12pm feed. I think she should then get the 20oz without any prob. She does have dairy products so I suppose she makes up for it in other things. Cab you sound as though you are doing the same as me about drinking cups/bottles etc. Will carry on then...seen as you are a pro at it . Aww bet it was lovely taking your 2 out for walks in the snow..not much around in the northwest sadly. Well not by the time we woke ..Hope you all have a good new year.

Not heard from brighteyes...........

I know exactly what you mean about the wearing pants Logic - DS1 was an absolute nightmare to toilet train and am dreading it with DS2. But circumstances are different this time, I am now a sahm whereas with Ds1 I worked full time, hopefully this time things will be easier as I will be able to do things MY way and consistently.

Cab - we were out in the snow on Wednesday with our boys - DS2 stayed in the pram though, we still had great fun! I even went down the hill with DS1 on the sledge, I'm 27 FGS We took one of our dogs with us too and last year when it snowed he actually pulled DS1 along on his sledge but DS1's a bit too heavy for that now. But we had a wonderful time and sounds like you did too

I really must get my arse into gear with making home made food for DS2. As long as it's not spicy I normally give him a try of what we're having so I know for next time, maybe things will be a bit easier when DS1 goes back to school on 9th Jan, my NY resolution is to be a little bit, well actually a LOT more organised than I am now so I should be able to manage it.

Happy New Year to everybody, hope it only gets better for all of us

Logic I also meant to say I hope your dd gets well soon xx

We were up most of last night with poor dd, she had a hacking cough and a fever (about 38.3), so not high but still worrying, she saw the Dr yesterday morning as she kept being sick too, but he says she'll be ok. She's stopped being sick and her fever has gone now, but she looks so ill, all pale with red eyes and nose. Feel so sorry for her. we were going to take her to friends to see the new year in, but we'll stay at home now, nevermind - she might be awake to see it in with us!
I make all her food, but have been giving ff will try nat yog and purees though. I've had a weetbix sneeze, and coughs, it goes everywhere! dd will eat a whole weetabix, with milk and puree. She's on 3 bottles, 6oz at 7ish, we're working on dropping this one and increasing her breakfast, 7oz at 3ish, although this is sometimes split before and after her nap, then 7oz at 7pm. I think she gets plenty of dairy anyway as she has some cows milk in her meals and at breakfast and has cheese (mature cheddar!) and ff.
I use ambesol when teething its what my HV recommended.
We've just bought the top rated mumsnet forward facing car seat for dd, the Britax freeway, you can get it from Halfords half price in the sale (on the website) - did try it in the shop[ first, but different fabric in store so more expensive. Dd is still a bit small for it, but will be in it within weeks. My hv said she should be in it from 19lbs, I've also read they shouldn't be in a rear facing car seat when their head is above the back as the won't have enough support, dd is almost there too.
Have to get stair gates and backpack carrier now.
Happy new year from me and dd!

Thanks for all the info on teething products - i'll try the ambesol and the crystals next!
dd is also on 3 bottles. 7oz at breakfast, but half of that on her cereal; usually about 4oz at about 3pm and 4-5oz at bedtime. I try to give a ff or yogurt as well but even so she isn't really having the prescribed amount. She seems healthy though and is growing well so I'm trying not to fret too much.

Just remembered, I used bickie pegs with ds too, must get some for dd...

Happy New Year for tomorrow, everyone. We are staying in tonight. On Monday though, my diet starts! I have put on a few lbs over Christmas and I really want to be thin for my 30th. Anyone else got any New Year's resolutions?