September 14 babies - bring on the weaning!

[KitKat1985]

New thread for the Sept 14 babies. :)

Cumbrian - Sorry missed your post earlier. I do have to be careful when making Jessica 'fly' at the mo. as well as if I lift her above my head I do often get drool all over my face. Bleugh!

Fate - Me and DH call her Jessica which I personally prefer, but I'm kind of resigned to the fact that she will get called Jess occasionally, and of course, when she's old enough to decide for herself, she may well prefer Jess so we'll see how it goes. Thank you for the thoughts re: daytime napping. I think you're right and she's just not ready yet. xxx

Holls - Glad B is okay. xxx

Red - Glad in a way it's not just me. It took some time bloody ages to get the night-time cot routine going but we've done it now and generally she goes down first time with Ewan the sheep after her milk feed, but if I do the same thing in the day she just either wakes up (if I put her down asleep) or screams if she's awake and I put her down. I thought yesterday she would just wear herself out in the end and nap in the cot but nope, she fought it all day, and was invariably a right grumpy madam in the end. It's just that I would love to have an hour or two each day with her asleep in her cot so I can slob out get some housework done. But when she sleeps on me I just end up stuck on the sofa (usually desperate to pee).

Ladies I'm in need of some reassurance. I've had a cold that's been lingering on for three weeks and I'm really struggling with the night wakings. I'm so tired and people keep saying 'if you give him formula before bed he'll sleep through'. DS has been ebf to this point. So I did it. I gave him formula and he went straight to sleep. I'm hoping either a) I'll get some more sleep tonight or b) I can tell people, 'no it didn't work'. So it's win win right? And I've only cut out one bf so will make no difference to my supply and DS is still getting all the goodness of my milk for the rest of the day ( and night if he still wakes) I text MIL to tell her, I'm really close to her and love her very much but she hasn't replied which is so unusual. She is very pro bf. So now I'm doubting myself and thinking I shouldn't have done it. Tell me I'm being silly and it's fine and he's my son so I can do as I please all things I already know :(

Honey we give Jessica hungry milk formula at night and I bf her the rest of the time. We both sleep better because of it and it hasn't affected my supply at all. Your DS will still get all the breastmilk benefits in the day, but you'll both benefit from the extra sleep. Please don't beat yourself up about it. xxx

It was hungry milk as well, just because it was all I had in the house. I bought emergency formula when I was pregnant and bought the wrong one, baby brain! Does she sleep through? Is scenario A likely?!

She doesn't sleep through at the moment (we did go through a phase of her only waking once a night though, but as she's gotten older and her appetite has grown we've gone backwards a bit), but she definitely sleeps longer on it than she does on breastmilk. xx

Honey, don't feel bad at all! I've heard it works for some babies, but bit all. Fingers crossed you get a good night!

Lil, when are you going to the Woburn cp? I'll be really interested to hear what you think if it as it is closer to us than the other ones. Have you been to any if them?

There's so much going on on thus thread, I'm finding it difficult to remember everything I wanted to say when reading over the posts from today!

DD is utterly in love with Captin Calamari. She is also quite partial to her Whosit too. The jumperoo is a big hit, as is her piano play gym. For playing, she just loves anything that involves fart noises!!! She's just started making them herself and looks very pleased with herself indeed when she splatters me with dribble.

I was only asking about when you class then as sitting so that I can fill in the section in the red book! With so many other things it is really clear when they do something for the first time, but with sitting it seems like she needs to do more than accidentally balance for a couple of seconds?! She's now managed 27 seconds before toppling over, so she's getting there.

We will be waiting til she is 6 months for the weaning, and will have to wean dairy free. For those of you super mummies who are already puree-ing and freezing, how are you storing it all? Is it possible to freeze it in ice cube trays and then transfer the cubes into a bag? Will they all freeze together in the bag? Or do I have to go out and buy loads of little pots for it? I'm trying to save money now I'm going to be part time when I go back to work

MIL has replied. Phone was on charge in different room. I really should have more faith. She's fine and has inspired me with 'it's going to work!'

Nazly I didn't need any extra liquid for the fruit puree I made, but mixed some leftover ebm in with a couple of the veggie ones because I had it in the fridge (god knows what guests think!). If dd didn't have reflux I'd use formula if I didn't have any ebm, but the specialist was clear that it was best to either switch to formula then wean, or wean while still ebf and then switch to formula (I'd always planned to switch at some point, just not sure when...).

For playtime, dd loves peekaboo, being eaten, singing nursery rhymes, dancing, rolling around like we learned at baby yoga, blowing raspberries, reading books, chewing Sophie the giraffe's face and THE JUMPEROO. It's her fave!

holls what's a discovery nix? Sounds good!

Honey if it gives you a few nights of sleep then you'll feel better and be more likely to shake the cold. If you have been ill then your milk supply may have been down slightly, and may have contributed to him not sleeping as well too. Vicious circle.

DS has stopped taking his bottle before bed at night - and his sleep has gone rubbish. However he did take it last night, and bingo he slept better.

I'm not convinced its breast milk v formula that makes a baby sleep through, more how much they take in the feed before falling asleep for the night. Therefore if you are breastfeeding and your flow is slightly slower before bed they fall asleep before they eat enough. Well that's my theory anyway. The research doesn't support the suggest that formula fed babies sleep better though.

Also if you give your son a few bottles of formula it doesn't mean the end of breastfeeding. You aren't too far from weaning either. You've done the hardest bit imho. I REALLY wouldn't worry about it at this point.

apples sorry discovery box. basically she filled a box with allsorts - a maraca, wooden toys, child's wooden spoon, ribbons tied together, bubbles, balls that light up. It's great to watch him explore.

Thank you red :) I was just having a parenting wobble, I'm usually pretty good but I think it's because I've done something I originally said I wouldn't and I'm normally very stubborn and don't change my mind so I was in a bit of unusual territory. I'm feeling better now. I will report back tomorrow and let you all know if it worked!! If it doesn't I probably won't bother again. At least I know he will take formula, and a bottle from me, who knew?!

honey wobble away! I think what you did was absolutely fine.

fart noises! THATS what he is trying to do! I thought he was doing car noises and was q impressed...actually he was just trying to blow raspberries!!!! hahaha.

b is taking huge amounts -3 weeks ago 800-900ml a day was normal, then he was ill so went to 650-850 being normal. the past 4 days have been over 1000ml a day. however last night he woke at 5am and yhe usual dummy trick didn't work...he howled so I gave him a bottle and he had 240ml and went back to sleep!!!!

Oh you are a bunch of great mums; I loved reading the play time stories; So many of them similar to mine, and so many I have learnt for the next few days... I specially loved the way some of you described it; it is lovely xx. We also do fly time; it is great. I tried something else yesterday which may be soon for some here, but it was great for us and he loved him; put him standing on my feet; each one of his foot on one of mine, he faced outwards, I bent and took his hands to support him when standing, then started walking through the house; as if he was walking; never thought he would be that excited and pleased...

Hon you have done the most difficult part; And you have done it brilliantly. I would not worry about a bottle of formula when you are sick; and you know I am probably even worse than you in promising myself to stick to breast milk.

But with regards to sleep I absolutely agree with Red's theory. When you breastfeed at nights, you have your worst supply of the day, and the baby is tired and breastfeeding is hard work, so it is more likely for them to fall asleep and not get enough milk in. Regardless of whether it is formula or expressed breast milk, if it comes from a bottle, neither of these issues exist...
My routine is after putting ds is bed, I have dinner with hubby and have some tea, water, etc and rest a bit, then I express while watching or reading something. I normally only get between 100ml and 150ml, then I leave it in the fridge and the next night he has it before bed, in addition to breast feeding. Should say here if I was feeling poorly I would never do anything like that, i.e. I am not recommending this for you just want to say I agree with what Red prescribed.

Apple can you describe again what they said about reflux baby and breast feeding/formula/weaning and why? I didn't get it; but I really like to know. Thanks x

Holls - I've re-introduced an 11pm dreamfeed for DD, after 2 weeks of not needing it, because recently dummy re-insertion at around 4am became relentless. I think she's a bit poorly, so hoping to drop it again soon. If your DS starts waking again for a feed, maybe a dream feed is a better way to go so that it doesn't interfere with your sleep.

Honey - Giving formula absolutely does not need to stop breastfeeding, even if given every night. Please don't worry. Your DS is unlikely to go from waking loads to sleeping through in one go, but I hope you get some better sleep tonight.

Red I agree that sleep isn't directly to do with formula/breast, but more to do with quantity of milk taken before sleep. Breastfeeding is so restful for the baby that they drift off to sleep easily and stop feeding. Milk via the bottle is more passive so baby drinks more in volume (I would guess anyway).

Well he just woke and screamed for food. So if anything is say he slept less. He can normally make it to at least half ten after going down at 7. I understand the volume theory, I bf him at 6/6.15ish before he had the bottle at 6.50 in the hope I'd really fill him up. Didn't work though. I so wish he would sleep longer, I'm so exhausted. I was so optimistic to, feel a bit deflated now.

Team - we are going 9th March. Haven't been to any of the others, this will be my first time, and will be sure to report back!

Honey - hope you have a more restful night and that you feel better soon!

Whoops crossed post!

I hope the rest of the night is better honey! It really is horrible being unwell and not being able to sleep when you want.

Apple, I'd also be really interested in weaning for babies with reflux. Although, I am starting to wonder if her reflux was a side effect of her cow's milk protein allergy. I've read this can be the case, and there's been no reflux signs since she started on the hypoallergenic formula. I'm thinking of starting to slowly lower her ranitidine dose soon, see how she gets on.

Right, DD is in her basket and currently zonked, so I'm going to try to get some sleep too before her awful period of the night starts...

Hope you all have well sleeping babies tonight

Hello, I had my dd on Sept 25th - I wish I'd known how difficult breastfeeding is, I had lots of problems,,,, sore, scabby nipples, tongue tie, not producing enough, she was hospitalised at 3 days old as she'd lost too much birthweight, had to give her formula as well as breast, I got so stressed that I wasn't producing enough but got lots of help from BF support groups, when I lived in London. Moved to Germany a month ago and a BF group is just starting so I want to go to that, even though I'm happy with feeding at the moment - mostly breast and one bottle a day. My well meaning mil lives down the road and today gave me a jar of pear puree to feed to dd, she only had 2 small spoons. Bit nervous about weaning so I'm happy there's this discussion forum for us.

Great, thanks for all the toy suggestions, off shopping on Sunday!
Jaykay the drum sounds really cool, I hope I can find something like this. Lol about the door bouncer, I can just imagine him. My one is always trying to climb over me when he is on my lap so might get some fun out of a bouncer.

Oh yes, in the past few days DD has discovered face touching. It is very sweet!

Last night wasn't too bad, until the unsettled time started at 4.30, and she then woke at 6.

Hope you all have lovely thing planned for this weekend? DH has a rare weekend off, so I'm really looking forward to spending some time together

honey how was your night?

stupid qu how do I dreamfeed??

we are looking at houses today and have a viewing on ours....

Well it didn't turn out too bad in the end. Woke at ten and two for a feed. Cried at 3 but dummy soothed him. Then he woke at 8.15. So the last bit was quite good! Seems odd it would be that way round. Maybe just a coincidence?

Sorry the formula didn't work for you Honey. xxx

Exciting Holls about the house viewing. I think at some point we're going to have to move too as I think (and I can't believe after the hellish points of this year that I'm even saying this) that eventually I'd like a second baby, and at the moment we only live in a 2 bedroomed place and it is full to the rafters, so ideally would need somewhere bigger. Except I'm not sure we can afford it.