September 2014 - Into the new year!

[RedToothBrush]

Shiny New Thread for a Shiny New Year.

I have never had a good 111 experience :-) not the end of the world as it happens. I realise that babies are sick all the time but it was the amount and the fact that he really didn't want to eat at all and the fact that he is rarely sick. It might not have been urgent, I get that, but actually it scared me. The first time I called about b he was tiny and I was v worried....HV told me I had done the right thing. Sometimes you need advice :-)

Anyway, moving on.

Shit, posted too soon!

What stuff do I need for weanng?!

My List for Weaning:

Food of some description (essential)
Baby (essential, preferably your own and preferably hungry)
Bib (compulsory)
Kitchen towel or cloth to clean up with (essential)
Highchair of some description (generally essential but may not be needed immediately)
Bowl or Plate (optional- preferably one that won't smash - or hurt you when you are hit in the face with it)
Tray (alternative to above and prevents face smashing)
Spoons (optional)
Mug/beaker/bottle converter (optional)
Floor mat (optional)
Googles for you (optional protection against flying food)
Blender (optional)
Books (optional)
Patience, bags of (baby dependant)
Sense of humour (generally essential)
First aid advice on what to do in the event of choking

Feel free to add anything I've missed.

Apple you are sweet, but this actually makes me think I should be more careful, read more, write more carefully and most importantly read it again before posting... Also should ask people to remind me of mistakes... Having an accent may (or may not) be acceptable after these years, but writing incorrectly after ten years living here, studying, working, etc. Is not.

Kitkat I tend to agree with Fate, I would leave her for short periods with your other half, even if it is for taking shower, and I would try my best not to go and intervene if baby cries; soon your other half will get there...

DS is 23w and I think this week we will start proper weaning (after our hospital appointment tomorrow) ; he is getting too interested in food and has cried for having some a couple of times now; he can sit and puts everything straight to his mouth - 6m is stuck in my mind badly; but last night I was reading a weaning book and thought I should not be so fixated on the date, rather on my individual baby...

Things you need for weaning: I think it really depends on how you start and how much you want your baby to take the lead ... Things I bought and have used: high chair, a big plastic mat( i had one, I will order more soon) for below the high chair, bibs (preferably the ones with sleeves), bowls, spoons, if you are freezing there are little freezer boxes, and a beaker or cup, I think I am also getting a hand masher soon..

Tesco has sales on Tommee Tippee explora range (cheaper than online) and I really liked all I bought from the range (although I haven't used all of them properly yet) - they have a plastic mat with suction which you can put on the table and the bowls stick to it; I found that very useful... I can not decide whether I want a non spill beaker or just a simple cup, so missing that...

I have now made apple puree and carrot puree I will make broccoli later on today it is all the freezer ready for when I am brave to give him some.

Nazly your English is great, and lovely to read too, so don't worry about that! Having a reflux baby I'm desperate to start weaning so you've done very well to wait until 23 weeks. I hope we can hold out for longer, but even at 19 weeks it's difficult. Is your ds sick much with his reflux?

Thanks for sharing honey and red - you've inspired my own weaning equipment list, and sense of humour is right at the top!

Kitkat- afraid I don't have any advice for you but just wanted to say my dd is exactly the same. I left her with dh for 50mins for the first time last week (for a massage actually!) and she cried for the entire time and stopped immediate when I took her when I got back, he wasn't hungry (she also won't take a bottle). Cute in a way but practically not so good...I can't do anything without her! So our plan of action is dh starting to do more with her while I'm there, then taking 10-15 min walks with her in pushchair on his own, then when that works I will go out again first half and hour then build up. This sounds a bit soft/wet I know but I can't bear the thought of her screaming again for the entire time I'm out so we are doing slowly slowly! I'll report back if I ins a wonder solution! Good luck

So many typos sorry!

WoW; ds has weaned himself today! We have a hospital appointment with his paediatrician tomorrow so I wanted to double check with them before starting (pathetic ftm...?!)

But today we were in a restaurant for lunch and ds would not settle; he tried reaching my food, and got quite angry when I didn't let him have any- then despite the given advice, I gave him a piece of hard bread so he mouth it and keep quite; he was at it for a minute before getting frustrated... Just for a second I though I ask if they have baby food; and they had a few options; I chose creamy oat porridge and they brought it with a small metal spoon!

So much of planning for first time weaning, and all I read about when during the day to do it, and preparing soft plastic spoon and big bibs and making sure the first food is home made, and what vegetable combination it could be & having the camera ready & etc.

He decided by himself it was time in the restaurant... And he couldn't get enough of it! So a nervous dh thought he had enough for first time and took him away from our table to distract him!

Last week I thought we have 4 weeks to very very slowly start on taste and texture of food before weaning at 6m... But ds had other ideas! Be prepared ladies!

Hey just wanted to say thanks for everyone for their advice / experience with Jessica being clingy. Once DH is a bit better I'm going to try and gradually build up the 'mummy-free time'. Aisha if I find any miracle solutions I'll share with you too!

Really interesting about the self-weaning Nazly. Jessica has been looking increasingly interested whenever we eat so I wouldn't be surprised if she did something similar at some point, though I'm trying to put it off at the mo as I think she's still a bit young (just over 18 weeks).

In other news I gave Jessica tummy time earlier (which she hates) and she did her first roll (from front to back)! She was so pleased when she realised she could 'escape' tummy time. She's not yet repeated it though. xxx

DS is currently sitting on my lap unassisted and unsupported.

Can't roll yet...

kitkat b rolled out of tummy time today for the first time. typically I tried to get him to do it for dh and nope....

wow red that's amazing. b still v nuch a supported sitter! !!

We gave Elijah his first taste of food today and he did quite well. Although pulled the cutest faces!

Nazly - I didn't know your first language was not English, your written language is amazing.

I can't think of any prep I'll be doing for weaning. I have highchairs and children's toppers for dining chairs. I have bowls and spoons. Long time for me yet though.

One thing to add to Red's list:

• A dog (brilliant for hovering up dropped food!)

PS - Holls - I was at doctors or phoning NHS Direct all the time with my firstborn - don't let it worry you! The staff are usually great and really patient. You just must have had a grumpy member of staff.

Thinking about it, I don't believe I have dialled 111 at all. I have called NHS Direct when it was the 0845 number, but not needed to since the new 111 line opened.

Fate, thank you

Apple, ds reflux was pretty bad at the age of two weeks as I explained, but it became progressively better; based on doctor suggestions we reduced the dose of Gaviscon little by little ; he is still having it, but only double doze in 24 hours; he brings up a lot of milk, yes, but that does not bother him much (it bothers me!!) he also still has some sign of pain and discomfort during the day when feeding... He is much better at night... But he is gaining weight and is generally doing well.

After I discussed the circumstances with the gp I decided to hold of and do not wean early but continue on Gaviscon... i reported the details here... :) how about your LO? How severe is the reflux?

Thanks Fate. I am getting less anxious but I worry more at weekends. b is fine in himself but definitely not eating as much this weekend. a friend said her lb had a similar reaction after last jabs so hoping its just that. will see how tomorrow is and am seeinh hv on tuesday anyway so will see effect on weight and ask her. he has been more refluxy but maybe because I have made him have milk he didn't want? he isn't off his food just having smaller amounts!

I had to ring nhs direct a lot a fee years ago and they were always amazing.

I think you are right Fate - and it was sat night so v busy.

nazly re checking with doc...I check a lot of stuff with hv before I do it! I would like her to move in thr week I start weaning!

Its an eventful day here.

DS just made a big, important discovery.....

.

.

.

.

...his boy bits...

I'm not looking forward to that day!

Red we had that discovery a few weeks ago but he seems to have forgotten about them again now!

DS has taken to holding the bottle all the time & when it gets to a certain point he can hold it properly & feed himself so I'm thinking of either getting the handles that go on the bottle or a cup. As most of your babies are older than DS I was wondering what you've done and what has worked best for you.

Does anyone else have a baby that thrashes loads in their sleep? DD has always thrashed about a bit when getting off to sleep, but would zonk and sleep soundly. For the past two nights she had thrashed about almost constantly, so I've barely slept. Last night I tried putting her in her Moses basket to see if she would thrash herself to sleep and she thrashed so much she woke herself up. It to me 20 min to get her back to sleep. Through the night I ended up getting up to rock her to sleep three times as she couldn't settle and she was waking herself up. Any ideas? I'm going crazy here!