September 2014 - 6 months already?!

[holls2000]

new thread!

Kitkat - yeah, I'll be your weight loss buddy It'll be great to have someone to do it with! I'm going to try doing a seven minute work out, walk more and stop eating crap mainly chocolate.

What really frustrates me is that I got to just two pound over my usual weight, and I've put on ten pounds since then by just being overindulgent and weak willed.

Sensitive question for those of you no longer breast feeding... How much have your boobs changed now? I've deflated massively Never thought I'd consider a boob job, but the idea just keeps floating around in my head

Ah Acorn, I remember now! I might try the coconut yogurt. Fruit and veg feels like it is getting a little boring! I can't given her baby rice as it causes constipation, and all of the baby porridges have milk in them, so I'm struggling to come up with anything else.

Cookie, so sorry the flat didn't work out for you.

I'm also trying to lose a stone in two months. I lost 4.5lb on my first week of slimming world, very pleased with that. As I'm eating out for the next three days I don't think it will be the same next week!

I've downloaded the 7 minute workout app, thanks for the recommendation, & hoping to give it a try tomorrow. Thinking I could do it while DS has his morning nap & still fit my shower in.

Team could you give normal porridge made up with soya or almond milk? DS has normal porridge made with cows milk every morning for breakfast, sometimes with added fruit if I've got something suitable to hand. DS also likes toast fingers, we use cream cheese but you could use jam, marmite, peanut butter etc.

Re allergy to washing liquid. I don't have any experience myself, but a friend of mine uses soap flakes (I think that's what they are called?) for her son with allergies and eczema. They seems to be gentler.

Glad to hear you are less anxious about your son being mobile Red. It's an exciting time!

My absolute favourite baby age is 12-18 months, talking and real interaction in the world. As Jay mentioned, I am cherishing and enjoying every stage this time. I have loved the newborn stage and the young baby stage. DD continues to become more adorable as she gets grows.

We are moving our two sons into their new shared room over the Easter holidays, they're excited about bunkbeds more than anything. Then we need to get around to decorating the room that is currently DS9's to be suitable for baby. So she might actually move out of our room maybe in the May half term holidays. Depends when DH and I can get around to decorating her room (not sure skater boy decor is relevant for a baby irl!). She's slept 7.30-7.30 five times this week, so she's getting ready for her own room.

Oh, kitkat, I forgot... I'm another with a baby who had dribble spots. There seems to be nothing we can do other than try to keep it dry. I have been putting some sudocream or similar on before bed and that calms it a little. I can't wait for the dribbling to stop!

Topsy, sounds like we need to achieve exactly the same!

team they are baby porridges that don't have milk in I can put up links to some if you'd like? Use to care for a lo who had dairy allergy.

Flat didn't fall through just haven't completed yet so three weeks with my parent yay! Lol

Oh, that's a relief cookie!

Yes, any links to dairy free stuff would be great. I was wondering about trying normal porridge, just made up with her milk and maybe adding some fruit, but I don't think she will be ready for the lumpy texture. Could I just blitz some oats in a blender to make them finer?

Nice to see you back cookie, and glad everything's ok with the flat .

cow and gate banana and strawberry

fruity muesli in a jar

These are both dairy and soya free. Wasn't sure if you needed soya free?

no crawling here. not even quite sitting up unattended yet.

cookie me too on weight loss. 9billion stone for me.

Just had first night out. mil babysat. she is an angel

Just read this and found it interesting. Although the author , Linda Palmer, is a chiropractor and I have my doubts about this branch of science (!!!) having dealt with one, I still thought you ladies may be interested too.

"Reduce cortisol releases
When babies are allowed to cry without receiving a nurturing response, they release a large amount of the stress hormone cortisol into their systems. When this is allowed to happen regularly, their brains develop permanent, life-long patterns of increased cortisol release in response to stress. These excess stress responses are coupled with abnormally low base levels of cortisol. This abnormal cortisol-release pattern is strongly associated with depression, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases in later life.

In addition to the permanent modeling of brain receptor responses, chronic cortisol elevation makes babies more susceptible to illness. Incidentally, mothers release cortisol when their babies cry, too, increasing their own susceptibility to frequent illness, heart disease and depression.

In contrast, affectionate, responsive care induces the release of positive bonding and health-promoting hormones such as oxytocin in both mother and child."

team I use readybrek as its a lot less lumpy than normal porridge. And weetabix. I mix both with oat milk.

I tried scrambled eggs because DS had some off a spoon from DH's plate. So I did one eggs worth for him and of course he refused to eat it. Won't try that again for a while because I don't like them and it just goes in the bin if DH isn't around!

We are in a bit of a rut with breakfast to, baby porridge and fruit, sometimes toast if he can be bothered to chew. Any ideas?

I've been thinking about yoghurt, they all seem to be jam packed with sugar. And the plain ones just taste sour. What yoghurt is everyone else giving to babies please?

I have weetabix for breakfast most days. Have tried DS with it but he wasn't keen, think he prefers the creamier texture of his porridge.

I gave DS some of my omelette the other day Ella, he wasn't fussed either way but it's a good finger food for lunch time so I'm going to try again next week & make him his own little one with cheese & see how we go. I really want to try him with boiled egg & soldiers but don't think they're supposed to have runny eggs yet.

We went out for dinner today & it was the first time DS was in a highchair in a restaurant & he was so good. He was trying lots of veggies & was very happy that there was his favourite avocado in the starter. He was due a nap but was far too happy to bother with that. We're out again tomorrow for lunch but it's right in the middle of his long nap so not sure how well that will work. He might get his first taste of pasta if he is awake as we're going to an Italian. Really hoping he likes it as it's so easy to do & I've already made some sauces up for him.

We use ready brek for DD for breakfast too, mixed with formula but you could mix with anything (including dairy free milk).

Nazly - That article has been the champion of anti-sleep training for eons. It's been well and truly rubbished for the fact that the children the study related to are neglected and abused children. This is (completely understandably) unsupportive to a mother at the end of her exhaustion spectrum with a child who will not sleep, given that most sleep training involves some crying.

Saying that, I am not a fan of CIO. But I have been there with a non-sleeping first born and so am completely empathetic with Mums in that situation. I would hate to have read that when my DC1 was a baby and I was desperately hoping for her to sleep. To be compared to neglected and abused children is appalling.

Much the same kind of sudo-science can be found in Sarah Hockwell-Smiths article about self settling in babies and toddlers. Her whole article could be summarised as 'use a dummy and your baby will sleep alone without crying'. But instead she seeks to make mothers of non-sleeping babies feel bad about the fact that they would quite like their children to sleep alone without screaming.

I've tried whizzing up some porridge oats to try DD with for breakfast. If she likes it I might invest in some Ready Brek. I also will be getting some coconut milk yogurt today, so might try that for her tea. Let's see if we can get away from puréed fruits and veg only!

I was just about to say a similar thing to fate about the article nazly posted. The science behind the claims aren't exactly wrong, but they only really apply to more extreme cases of neglect or abuse. So certainly not valid for any of our babies!

Hope you've all had a lovely Easter!

Red, have you tried eco laundry eggs before? They're often very good to use for sensitive skin www.ecoegg.com/product/laundry-egg/

Team, I'm still bf but have been wondering what my boobs will be like when I do stop! Eeeek.

I've collected J's christening dress today:
m.marksandspencer.com/mt/www.marksandspencer.com/occasion-lace-dress/p/p22329159?extid=ps_gglpla_UK_Gen_,Kids+_PLAKids+--%3E+Baby+Up+to+2+Yrs+--%3E+All+Baby+Girls+--%3E+Dresses_M&S+Lace+Christening+Dress+IVORY+18-24+Months&ef_id=VAoG5gAABK1AtSF0:20150406154432:s&jsrl=stop&un_jtt_redirect

Got a 6 to 9 month one which does fit now. Christening is on 3rd May so not long away. I hope it still fits on the day (she'll be nearly 9 months). The next size up would probably look massive on her though.

Accidently went to Thorntons while in town too.... 60% off easter eggs my poor waistline

We've washed everything in Lidl washing powder as suggested by friend and it seems to have improved (crosses finger)

DS has had eggs a couple of times now - he's had pancakes and omelette - well a tiny bit as he's still being a bit of a nightmare with food.

I forgot completely that this was possibly not the best idea until after the first time. DB was allergic to eggs as a child which makes it doubly bad of me. Thankfully, no problems at all.

I'm yet to brave nuts though. Which DB has a more severe allergy to and never grew out of.

DS is now taking fruit purees. And will finger food (though not much goes in his mouth). But veg is proving a bit crappy, though we fooled him with cauliflower burgers yesterday. Ha!

We've had two teeth come through this weekend, so he' been grotty.

I picked up a fitbit for £20 on clearance from Boots for some bizarre reason (they have been advertised over the weekend for £80!). It shows how much you sleep and how much you wake up. The last two nights showed I had 17 restless periods and woke ten times last and had 14 restless periods and woke 9 times the previous night. So its proven to DH just how little I have been sleeping and why I am so grumpy and tired at the moment.

I'm hoping the lack of sleep and the teeth are connected.

Red that sounds like a very bad nights sleep you're having! I dread to think what it would show for me.

For nearly three weeks now I've been trying to cut out a 3am feed for DS. And it's not working!!! I thought if I stopped just automatically feeding him then he might give up waking at that time. But instead he is just really unsettled between 3 and when he wakes for the day around 7. So I'm exhausted because I'm not getting enough sleep. When i was feeding him he was going straight back off to sleep and sleeping until at least 7 so I was getting more sleep. I'm thinking of giving up trying and just feeding him again. What do others think? He's not starving, but it is a quick fix. But then I've done this long maybe I should persevere? Hmmm right now I just want more sleep.

Blimey, I think a gizmo that documented my sleep would be highly depressive reading. Sometimes when I'm sleeping badly I turn the bedside clock around so I can't see it. Psychologically if I don't know when, what time, how long and how often I woke up, then I seem to feel less tired.

I am lucky that DD sleeps and settles well, I know how hard it is for all of you surviving on little sleep. I empathise and you have my sympathy and understanding

Am I the only terrible mother who gave her baby some chocolate at Easter?

DD is the first of my children not to take to a beaker. It's kind of thrown me because I wasn't expecting any hassle getting her drinking, not had a problem with the other three. After deciding that her recent hard poos are down to dehydration, I cannot get her to drink from any of the dozens of beakers/cups I have bought - so she's drinking from a bottle, for now.

I've always thought seeing a baby drinking non-milk from a bottle was, well, a bit chavy and lazy parenting really. I am now evidently eating my words. Working hard on getting DD drinking from a beaker. But getting a good amount of fluids into her is more important for her health at this moment, so I'm accepting it.

My DC3 went straight to a straw beaker, I see these in the shop for 12m+. These were the beakers his older siblings were using at the time so he used to find his brother or sisters beakers and soon learnt how to use them. Don't have any now, but might try this with DD and just leave a few dotted around the floor to find and investigate.

Honey - I'm all for the easy route. If feeding in the night gets you more sleep, then I say keep the feed. If you are bottle feeding could you make up a smaller bottle for the night and gradually reduce the amount available in the bottle? If breastfeeding, limiting the time feeding works in the same way.

Bear in mind that if your baby is used to having this 3am feed then the calories are part of his daily intake, so he needs them. If you are planning on dropping it you either need to be sure he needs fewer calories, or make up for the missed feed with an extra daytime milk feed of the same amount.

I think I'm going to have to try giving J a bottle of water too Fate. I'm bf still though so not sure if she'll even take a bottle but we'll see. She just spits water out. I end up trying to cup feed her water in the hope that some goes in but inevitably she gets soaking wet! She doesn't appear to be constipated though, probably due to the amount of milk she guzzles.

Also still feeding numerous times in the night and cosleeping. Maybe she's actually thirsty...

I always start her off in the cot but she wakes up crying constantly. 30 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes, is how it's going tonight. And takes a good while to get her down again. She is sleeping worse than ever before on her own. I don't feel too bad sleep wise though thanks to cosleeping, not that I want to do it. If shes next to me she can usually sleep for 3 hours before waking. One day I will get my bed back. One day.

I am having terrible time trying to get any liquid into ds, he does not like bottles, does not like formula, does not really like water although he has sips of water with his meal and so he is taking very,very little liquid. Really don't know what to do next.

Because of this I don't dare cutting any night feed although I feel my supply is being diminished... I am thinking of talking to a dietitian but they are really expensive... I can't think of anything else really to help...

Re article I certainly didn't mean that would apply to any baby here, the fascinating thing for me was that there is an actual physical reason behind the issue; I find any real chemical/physical evidence behind our emotions fascinating ; and of course as with many scientific studies studying the extreme is the way to find the underlying issue...

I'm breastfeeding so reducing the amount of milk is difficult...I tend to doze off mid feed and before I realise it he's detached and is also asleep! I fed him at 3 as soon as he woke last night and he immediately went back to sleep so that was good. But the last three nights he's been screaming for about an hour from 10.15 for no apparent reason. I also ended up in tears last night :( which I've not done for months.

With the replacing calories, I'm happy to feed more during the day but he doesn't seem to want it? Very distracted when breastfeeding now. How can I be sure he doesn't need the night calories? (For when I eventually pluck up the courage to try and cut feeds again!).

I've been persevering with a free flow sippy cup and he does seem to get it. But it's taken about six weeks of three times a day offering it. He doesn't drink much though. I give lots of fruit that is watery, so lots of melon and he will eat a whole satsuma in one sitting which seems to help get things moving.

Hi all. Sorry to hear of all of those who are still not sleeping well. Jessica has never been a good sleeper but we've recently managed to get down to 1 or 2 night wakings / feeds a night (plus a dreamfeed) which is a big improvement. Jessica almost certainly still needs the calories at night. She has about 300mls I'd say on average over her dreamfeed and night feeds (not to mention about 150-200mls at her pre-bed feed). That's on top of about 4 x 150-200ml bottles in the day (we've tried giving more in the day but she just doesn't seem interested). I think it's unlikely we will see an improvement until weaning starts to improve. She's 7 months on Sunday and still eats pretty much nothing. I've tried a pretty big variety now (various fruit and veg, pasta, bread, porridge, yogurt, meats, peanut butter, various jars and chocolate on easter sunday ) and she really isn't fussed about any of it, in neither spoon feedings or finger foods. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting quite disheartened now. Even the things she seems to like she never gives more than 2-3 tiny licks at / a quick suck then doesn't want any more. If I persist she just gets upset and starts crying. I really don't know what to do any more. On a better note first weight watchers weigh-in this morning and have lost nearly 2 pounds this week, which is a start. [The irony of the fact that I seem to spend half of my time trying to get Jessica to eat something and the other half trying to stop myself from eating something isn't lost on me).