September 2014 - Into the new year!

[RedToothBrush]

Shiny New Thread for a Shiny New Year.

Honestly I don't think you have to do one or the other. I think both have advantages and disadvantages so I think we will do a mix of both in the end. Since one has benefits for tastes before texture and the other has benefits for texture and self exploration I think we'll just confuse the issue. Its not like DS hasn't already gone down the route of non-conforming with food.

We have already bought a bunch of baby fast food jars and baby rice with the intention of using them as well as cooked from scratch food. I'm realistic about how pureeing will be a faff and me and DH frequently do have ready meals ourselves. Yes in an ideal world I'd do everything from scratch, but I know its just not going to happen, so I'm not even going to worry about it from the word go. Everything in moderation is generally ok. I'm certainly not going to worry about my parenting because I don't bust a gut trying to give him fresh everything. We live in a world where ready meals are part of life, so I think incorporating them into a balanced diet is generally a good thing.

We have about 8litres of breast milk in the freezer, so I'm also looking forward to getting rid of some of it as part of the weaning process, more than anything else. Especially since our freezer is tiny and only has a bag of frozen veg and some roast beef apart from the milk atm.

We haven't looked at highchairs yet. Our table is a bar table with stools rather than a conventional height table so high chairs are too low, so I think we'll have to look at portable seats, but I'm wary because I don't know how safe they are in comparison. I have to get a bowl/plate/bib yet.

Ever the rebel here, I'm afraid.

oh crap hadn't even thougjt about high chairs. bumbo with tray to start maybe.

back to tv. scandal. brill.

I think I'm going to do similar with DS as I did with DD. I started with purées and then when she hit 6 mths (I started her at 21 weeks) her lunch was finger foods.
Also as our diet is now more child friendly I'll be giving DS what we're eating for dinner as soon as he's 6 mths.
The one thing I would say is a waste of time is baby rice. Baby porridge tastes better but isn't too different to the rice.
As for a high chair we are going to get a booster chair that attaches to our dining chairs like we did before (our first one broke on a flight back from the states). If we had more space I think I'd go for the Ikea high chair. Great value for money and easily collapses for travel.

Thanks all for info regarding tv- I am now into googling and ordering something soon..
We may get the ikea one; But I am going to try ds in a few before making any decisions - oh so glad he is here and we don't need to buy it hoping he will like it!!! Like before he was born; for now the snug chair with table will have to do - snug is so good, it has been a life saver and I'll have ds having snacks in it as it is closer to floor and will mean less mess.

We won't be able to have family meal time either as dh gets home late, but I intend to try to sit and have whatever he is having whenever he eats; I really like BlW idea, but I do intend to use spoon when necessary to help, so I am not a BLW fanatic!!! :)

I try to avoid baby foods as much as possible; just our food(which means we have to adjust our way of eating for good) I also intend to avoid food jars in home as much as possible (only when out and about if necessary)
These are my ideals; We'll see how successful I am going to be

I am reading Easy Weaning by Sara Patience; it is good, but I have only started recently
anybody else is reading a good book on weaning that they can introduce?

If I didn't already have two highchairs in the garage, I would definitely go for the IKEA one. I wish we'd just bought that initially.

With my first child I went for the baby jars of puree mainly because me and DH weren't eating especially healthy meals at that time in our life. But now I have four children I cook a meal from scratch every day, mostly anyway. So it is much easier for me to give baby what we have. I'll be baby led weaning for things like veg, fruit, pasta, bread, sandwiches etc. Babies always struggle with meat so will puree that in order to allow for protein. But most mostly proper food.

I am hoping to do a combo of both. But we will see haha.

Anyone elses lo got bad wind from the bottom? A keeps farting really loudly, and it smells quite bad too. I thought he had poo'd a couple of times today. He doesn't seem to like it either, crys whenever it happens.

Hi everyone, as we're doing (re) introductions I thought I'd take the opportunity to name change. I signed up to MN as InBl00m while pregnant but it doesn't really fit any more! TiredHag would be appropriate right now but I've gone with something more trivial and less literal this time

So anyway:
I have 1 DD born 9th September, two weeks early. She weighed 5lbs 10oz when born, and was 10lbs 5oz by 6 weeks. She is a big eater, so I'd love to wean her a bit earlier than the suggested 6 months, but will wait until she can sit up properly. She will be our only child. I wasn't sure I'd fully made that decision before she arrived but now she's here I can't imagine having any more.

I'm 31, relatively recently moved to Yorkshire and work in publishing. Also a West Wing fanatic, though thinking about taking a break from it to watch House of Cards in time for the new series in Feb. Would also recommend Deadwood and True Detective, boxsets-wise

One interesting fact: I'm a speed reader.

Hello Apples While we are talking name changes and usernames:

Question to All: Is there a story or reason behind your username?

FATE are the first letter initials of my four children. DH and I think it's quite an apt word, it is fate that we have our four wonderful children.

My username used to be SeptemberBabies because 3 of my 4 children have birthdays in September. Plus my birthday. It makes for an expensive month!

I had a hamster called honey and the number is linked to my address. I now don't actually like my username but wasn't sure about a change. I'm no good at thinking of new names and I know some mnetters get a bit suspicious about name changes. You've taken the plunge though apples, maybe I should join you.

DS has gone down in his room after a day of snot, many many dirty nappies and a lovely cough which makes him sound like a seal. Bets on how long before he ends up back in his co sleeper crib tonight?! Last night it was two, I think earlier tonight. And I can see DH just going straight for the sofa which means I'm in for the long haul alone. He does work really long hours though :( and I'm not too tired yet so don't mind too much.

ds has started crying at bedtime. hasn't done it before. teeth? isn't producing as much wind so perhaps a bit of trapped stuff? hmm

seeing hv tomorrow so fingers crossed for weight being nearer usual centile. or I will be back tomorrow stressed. prepare yourselves

Kitkat your discussion of the day post is still going strong - reminds me we have a blood test at 9:30 tomorrow; who arranged it? Surprise surprise, dh! I say why 9:30, he says it is after rush hours!!!?

Holls you are funny :) giving us warnings,,, relax, he'll be fine, whatever his weight is going to be

Right, ds is 5 months today (corrected 4m1w) and I am thinking of starting him on some tastes tomorrow; I don't want to start weaning properly just start using clevamama thingie so he can taste one thing everyday...
Reason- he was unsettled today but I feel it was more of hunger; (is there a growth spurt @5m ish?)
Also he now sits (semi aided) , pick and puts EVERY THING in his mouth, and has become interested in our food. A couple of days ago dh made me a sandwich and was giving it to me while ds was sitting on my lap; ds thought it was being offered to him and brought both hands up but I took it and started eating while watching tv and he was watching me eat; he then grabbed it after a while and pulled it and put it in his mouth and started eating it eagerly - In felt so mean to take it away, but it wasn't such a smart idea to start weaning on ham sandwich was it...
He is still not eager on everything, i.e. He still does not grab everything he sees on our plates... But I am sure he will be there soon

I am excited to be offering him other tastes and watching him discover them; but I am at the same time very sad that this loveliest stage of his life , when he only has milk, he smells of milk, even his poo is sweet smelling and he is very baby ish is ending soon...

P.S. Nervous about tomorrow's blood test; it was awful last time

oooh Nazly that's exciting I can't wait to get weaning. let us know how it goes!!!

Yes Nazly I'm amazed that's still listed as a discussion of the day! I'm not really replying any more though as I started it in a very light-hearted way and a few people took the whole thing a tad seriously and started arguing, and I can't be bothering with that! I suspect Mumsnet will change the discussion of the day topics today anyway. Hope the blood test goes well today!

My Mumsnet nickname was chosen because:

1. A lot of names were already taken.
2. I like Kitkats.
3. I was born in 1985. Not very original really.....

My username 'story' - last half of first name and first half of maiden name just stuck .......
DD is ferociously chomping on fists at the moment and we have v runny poops here.
16 week jabs on Thursday @ 9:15!!!! No one to blame but myself for the early appt but I prefer getting to get out the way so I don't spend half the day dreading them and more time to gauge afterwards if they've unsettled her (luckily she was fine with 8 and 12 wk ones )

User name:

Toothbrush was the first thing that came into my head (didn't want anything relating to me) and the colour made it mildly more interesting. Its not even my favourite colour.

Exciting aren't I?

Lol I am lilone because I am little, therefore that is what people call me.

Now that, red, is exciting!

I love cookies - simple really :)

Elijah is desperate for food, I am gonna pop to the shops after his class this afternoon and grab some veggies for him and me.

I so need to loose weight :(

Nazly: Reason- he was unsettled today but I feel it was more of hunger

I know you are possibly quite precious about breastmilk, but starting solids/weaning early would be more unhealthy than formula milk would be.

I don't wish to dismiss your exclusive breastfeeding, which you are right to be proud of. But exclusive breastfeeding is not more important than your baby's health, wellbeing and happiness.

You mentioned earlier you thought your DS was high needs. Most of these signs of a high needs baby the same signs for a hungry baby.

If a bottle or two of formula would settle and satisfy your baby so that he was not so high needs, would you still want to wean early?

Did any of you see the Right Diet programme on BBC2 last night? Well worth a watch. MN have made a discussion on it, one of the discussions of the day too as they have a web chat with one of the researchers from the show.

Its definitely food for thought if you are thinking of trying to loose weight. I think some of the principles would be useful for everyone, whether you need to loose a lot of weight or a little (And probably are worthwhile even if you are breastfeeding too).

Username story - I am cumbrian, but I no longer live there. Not terribly exciting, couldn't think of anything when I was registering.

Holls - hope your hv visit went well

I didn't see it red, but always looking for good things to watch on iplayer. I will look out for it.

hv was fine. from 15lb 5oz last week to 16lb this week. thank god. height has dipped off curve a bit but not so worried about that. jabs given calpol followed quickly.

Mmmm Fate, thanks; I thought about it, but no- I don't think so... i have learnt by now when he is hungry and when not; he has been quite satisfied with milk till now; he feeds and then pulls away by himself; I have an extra supply of at least 50ml every night ( but interestingly enough during growth spurt I don't; so I immediately know he is having one and my body has to adjust and produce more milk) and he has been putting weight on quite well, climbing the percentiles and is quite chubby.

I do want to avoid formula, as I have done so till now, but I am not fanatic about it- however, I have learnt till now that if I let it, my body will adjust and catch up with the supply to match the demand and if I offer formula it does not;

My aim is to go breast feeding plus solid food for the first year if it works, but as you rightly mention ds health comes first.

I wanted to start the tastes with him because I feel he is generally ready and has all the 3 signs, but as he has not reached 6m I wanted to just try tiny tiny amount just so he learns taste until he is older... Also I am really hoping that proper weaning will start at 6m (not just starting on tastes at 6m) so it helps with his bl##dy reflux... I will not start proper waning at least for one more week when we see the specialist...

But I do understand where you come from; thanks :) it may well be that I have to add formula to his diet at 6m when I start to work as when I am tired my supply is not very good...