September 14 babies - bring on the weaning!

[KitKat1985]

New thread for the Sept 14 babies. :)

I see GPs tending to prescribe Metanium quite a lot at work so that's a good recommendation Kitkat. Also Bepanthen. I always use a basic barrier cream overnight ( zinc & castor oil etc) and use it throughout the day if there's any sign of nappy rash starting. And having as much "airtime" as possible, altogether we've managed to dodge any bad cases of sore bottoms.

Sleepless Dd has stupidly sensitive skin so is prone to nappy rash. Daily nappyless time and making sure her bum is dry (using tissue if needed) after changes and before barrier cream and new nappy go on have made a world of difference. It might pay to go to the GP and get some timodene to get it under control first if it's really bad, bleeding, etc.

What is a barrier cream?

Nursery settling down session was not good, ds cried a lot and was very clingy. Nobody is there under the age of 1; I am already doubting my decision.
Who else is sending their LO to nursery and when?

Misog has yours started any nursery as yet?

I'm still working 3 days a week ATM Nazly so she's doing a day with each of the parents and one with sister in law, I need to sort out a childminder ASAP really for the other two days when I go back full time. I much prefer the idea of a home from home type place for her while she's really small than a nursery type place, I know they both come with their pros and cons but a childminder suits us better. I can understand how a nursery would equally seem better for those in a different position though.

I am very lucky with Em in that she will still go to pretty much anyone as long as they are smiley, I know they get more clingy at a certain age though so will need to find someone and introduce her soon.

I'm still feeling awful with my thyroid thing, the Drs answer to me saying I'm really struggling with work, baby and everything is to sign me off work which I don't want I just want them to make me better!

Nazly, a barrier cream is anything that creates a barrier between skin and any possible irritants ( poo and wee). Zinc and castor oil is a good old fashioned one(and inexpensive for a huge tub!) as is Sudocrem but I remember that someone has mentioned being allergic to the zinc oxide in both of these so that could make things tricky.

DD will be going to nursery but not for a very good while yet (sep/oct) and I'm dreading it already. Hope your LO settles in okay.

DS will be starting nursery in June. I am dreading it. Still haven't started looking properly but have been saying I will since December. This has just reminded me though, that I need to contact my boss and confirm I can go back part time!

Nazly R has been At nursery since January. He's the youngest there by quite a while - the next youngest are 14mo and mobile. However he always comes home smiling and talkative and there are so many toys there. Apparently when they do activities with the older kids, they put him on one of their laps so he doesn't feel left out - they sent him home with valentines cookies he had "made" the other week

DD will be going to a childminder from October/November. We looked at nurseries but the ones round here basically have little pens for the under 2s and they reminded me of a dog crate so we've gone for the 'home from home' option for the first year or so. After that we'll start doing nursery as well

Aw sleepless, that sounds lovely!

Dumb question alert. I have bought some veg to puree ready for when we start weaning, but do I puree it with anything? Formula, water, normal milk? Or just on its own. I mash our own veg with butter, but I am guessing I probably shouldn't do that! Sorry, I am sure this is obvious, but its all new to me!

Sleepless your LOs nursery sounds great, and Apples of the ones round here have pens I'll also be using a childminder until DD is a bit older.

Cumbrian most of the veg I've done have had milk (breast/formula) or boiled water added to get the right consistency, think I've used milk for most.
Received a great little weaning guide from Cow & Gate in post which has lots of "recipes" for the different stages. I signed up with loads of baby companies online when I was pregnant and keep getting lots of useful bits and bobs through post.
I'm sure you could still sign up?

Fate Awww bless. I still haven't reached that milestone with my 12 year old DD, although I have been waiting....
Some of her friends started around the same age as your DD.
I expect I will be the same as you, although I've accepted N is growing up fast. In the summer holidays she still played with Sylvanians...now she wears make up and has had two boyfriends since starting secondary.
I have had a few moments recently when I've looked at her and thought "wow you're beautiful" ...not in a "my little cutesy girl" way but more "bloody hell you look like a model" type of way, and I've been experiencing this realisation that my trendy hipster days are over and now she's kind of taken over.
I think I'm finding the growing up thing with the older two easier now I have baby J..but god knows what I will be like as he grows up !

DD will be starting nursery in June, but mornings only as I'm returning to work halftime. Luckily the nursery looks great and it is only a five minute walk from my office! I'm still nervous about it though. I'm about to start slowly getting DD into a routine that will work with the routine they follow at nursery and the hours she will be going.

Last night was semi-successful. She woke four times to feed, but slept well between feeds and then was very unsettled from 4am until waking at 6am, so I've been up since 4am.

They really should have a tired emoticon on here!!!

Thanks Zan, I will try that once I get a new blender, one I had has died today!

DS rolled! I was so excited. Came back in the room and he was the other way up. He can't get back the other way though which is a slight issue as he seems to enjoy demonstrating his new found skill for me and then screeching because he doesn't like tummy time.

DH missed it which is such a shame because we are even on holiday at the moment so he's not out at work but he has had to go out for the evening. He's gutted

nazly it was my recipe of chicken and pepper not to exciting but E enjoyed it. I mixed it today with a ice cube of sweet potato it went down well.

E will be going to nursery mid July but it helps that it's my nursery so he will be next door :)

Cumbrian that's not dumb at all; you can cook it with a bit of water then use same water, if you steam you can keep the water to use; but milk is a lot better, tastier for babies and better nutritions; if you are starting after six month you can simply use cow's milk. I can't remember if you are ebf or ff but formula is even better in terms of nutrition

I thought about childminder before he is 1.5 yrs old, but I have trust issue with leaving ds in somebody's home as there is no check and balance and you are extremely reliant on one person. I guess it would be different if you knew the child minder personally or had personal recommendations or you did not have trust issue like me...

The thing is I thought I am making it easier for him starting before separation anxiety kicks in , but he has already changed since a couple of months ago and is more uncomfortable with strangers...

Nazly I had the same reservations about childminders, but got some amazing recommendations and visited a few and was blown away by how professional they are. We've chosen one who is Ofsted registered and inspected, and she employs two other girls, so we won't be let down in case of illness. She takes 6 children at once as tailors their days to the stage they're at. Some of the projects her kids have done are so creative! She allows for unlimited settling in sessions, so said we could pop in for half an hour a week with dd for a few months before she goes if we like. I think I'll do a fair few sessions as dd can be a bit scared of strangers, at least at the moment.

We're going for a childminder for a variety of reasons. I like the home from home aspect, being able to go on little trips, increased flexibility, lower cost and the ability to find someone who has a similar outlook to us and being able to get to know the person looking after DS. We're still in the process of choosing but the one I saw on Monday seemed perfect, ofsted registered, does the free hours once he turns 3 so I don't need to worry about moving him, great references, only two other under 5s so plenty of time for DS etc. Just wish she lived my side of town but you can't have everything!

If your lo chest was wheezing would you immediately go to doctor?

Nazly no, I wouldn't unless they were choking with it. You could ring 111 if you're worried though.

Dd's having her worst ever night... wide awake since 1am!!!

Naz I would. That's a sign of bronchiolitis and as your ds has been ill for a few days now might even be a chest infection.

We were fobed off a few times with broncoilitis and croup then there was fluid on his lung and he just wouldn't settle. Hes still not right. But better than before.

I always say mums instinct kicks in and if you think something isnt right then your more than likely to be right.

Hope everything's ok nazly. I know it's too late now but when mine was wheezy I phoned 111 and they listened to him over the phone and made an out of hours appointment for him straight away. It was bronchiolitis, which we managed at home for a bit but ended up in hospital for a couple of days.

Nazly does he have a temperature? Maybe ring GPs for advice?

Sorry to hear about your bad night Apples. Jessica did that to me on Sat night and it nearly killed me.

DH is bloody ill again. Severe ear pain with tinnitus and dizziness. I suspect he's got labyrinthitis again (he's had it numerous times). Waiting for docs to open at 8am to get emergency appointment. Means he'll be phoning in sick again I guess. His sickness record for the past year (with his op and everything) must be appalling.

Whilst I'm here, I have posted in feeding but not had much response. Does anyone have any advice in stopping bf? At the moment all I've really gleamed is to cut down one feed at a time and persist with it. The past few days Jessica has seemed to be more receptive to having formula (from a cup) in the evening, so I'm thinking to offer formula only between say 5pm to bedtime tonight, and gradually only offer formula from earlier and earlier in the day (4pm onwards, then 3pm, etc). I think I'll deal with nightfeeds last because at the moment Jessica uses me to boob feed to sleep when she wakes in the night, so that's going to be particularly tricky. Anyone out there got any thoughts on if this sounds like a good plan? Or any advice?

Tuesday night was all kinds of horrendous. DS kept waking getting and getting upset, only to be picked up and fall asleep instantly and then wake again when he was put back. He seems to generally be really suffering with teething. He wasn't much better all day yesterday, wanting constant cuddles, refusing bottles and only wanting boob (which is extremely unusual). In the end we decided last night not to mess about and just bring him into bed with us at the first sign of upset as we were both desperate for sleep. In the end he was so much happier for it and slept better. And I've had one of the better nights sleep I've had in a while which is the main thing. He seems in a better mood so far this morning.

I think he is more evolutionary evolved to not want siblings!

Red that article is SO interesting! I wonder...

KitKat sorry to hear your DH is ill, it really puts the pressure on being a man down doesn't it. I think your plan for stopping sounds good, and I think it just takes persistence. I'm more than halfway through stopping bf atm, and we've been doing it for 3 weeks. I have to say DH put in the groundwork before I started by teaching dd to take a bottle, as there was NOWAYINHELL she was going to consider taking one from me. My friend just stopped last month (her ds is 8m) so I'm following roughly what she did as it worked well. We started in week 1 by swapping 1 feed, then 2, and now this week it will be 3. I started with the 10am feed first as dd seems to feed for comfort more during the evening/before bed. We feed to sleep as well and there's no way I could have swapped that feed out in the early stages of stopping as she didn't see the bottle as a comfort at that point. As well as switching those regular feeds, if there's a day I think the boobs can take skipping another one, I'll offer formula instead for that one. During the first week it was like she was drinking the formula to appease me, as she'd only have a few ounces at a time, but as of this week she's up to reaching for the bottle, shouting if it doesn't get to her mouth fast enough, and then smashing 7oz at a time. She's a total beast, but at least she takes it out on the bottle now instead of repeatedly punching and kicking me as she feeds!