September 2014 - 6 months already?!

[holls2000]

new thread!

I'm also quite short, I feel your pain regarding reaching into the cot, it is no fun. Definitely worth a massive effort to get sleeping sorted before lowering the base or taking the sides off. These independent minded children are hard work!

I hunted for a long time to find a drop-side cot bed to replace our cot for DD. I was offered 4 cots from friends who were getting rid, but turned them all down for a drop-side one. They don't seem to be around anymore like they were 10 years ago when I last bought a cot. Eventually found a John Lewis drop-side cotbed and I'm definitely glad to have it.

Thanks apples and ella - he is such a little poser, he pulls some great expressions in photos. I only have to put a phone infront of him and he pulls off a pose - he has obviously picked this up from my older two and their selfies .

red You certainly have your work cut out - but your DS does sound amazing though. J is currently rolling around and he pushes himself along on his back but he seems so far off of walking and crawling. My daughter walked at 11 months and my eldest son at 14 months - so think it will be a while yet.

june I'm not sure about the weights as don't have my red book to hand, but am sure your health visitor would have mentioned if they thought it was too low.

It's self weigh clinic. I have searched everywhere for my red book, FC it is here somewhere!

June if you Google it you can find the weight charts from the bank red book online

June, this site uses the WHO data... www.infantchart.com

Thanks for the suggestions on our 4am issue. I don't think it is daylight that is waking her as it is still pitch dark. And there's not enough room for a mattress on the floor. Last night was slightly better, so I'm hoping things continue to improve!

How much milk are your little ones having now? DD is no longer interested, and I'm worried about her having so little milk. During the day I try to give her 5oz bottles, but unless she is going to sleep she just spits it out. I'm now down to three bottles through the day and 1-2 overnight. She's probably averaging about 15-18 oz in total across those. It doesn't seem enough?

We still have the opposite problem here - although Jessica is better with food she still prefers her milk and I'm actively having to cut it back to give her more of an appetite for meals. I reckon yesterday she had nearly 40oz, and that's a reduction for her! I've managed to get her down to 4 x 6oz bottles in the day / before bed, then another few oz in a dream feed. So that's still 28oz so should be plenty, but she's still waking up for night feeds. Last night she had 2 bottles in the night as well (in addition to her dream feed). She's a milk monster! Any ideas on how I can start to wean her off the night feeds?

Team I think the official advice for formula at their age is 3x7oz bottles a day, so 21oz over 24 hours. If your DD is taking about 18oz over 24 hours then she's not far from the recommended amount so I wouldn't worry too much. xx

Oh and the fact that madam fusspot will only drink the ready-made formula means her milk cravings are costing us a small fortune....

My milk monster wants feeding three times a night at the moment. Took him ruddy ages to get the hang of feeding and now he doesn't want to stop. To add insult to injury he wont take a sodding bottle or cup now either.

kitkat that must be costing you a fortune! What would happen if you just offered the powder stuff? Do you think that might reduce the amount she takes and maybe she would eat some more food? Just an idea, it might be completely impossible to implement though!

Lots of great comments re clothes :) Ive bought some 'girls' leggings for DS. Why they were advertised as girls I've got no idea.

red I met a mummy with an 8 month old who reminded me of you and your LO. Baby was crawling all over the place and pulling up on chairs, tables, stairs etc. Can also say 'mum', 'dad' and 'dog'. Isn't it incredible how much they can differ at the same age?! Mum seemed to be taking it relatively in her stride, she has an older child (school age) at home so is very aware how ahead her youngest seems to be and was talking about how she had to frantically baby proof everything quickly. Apparently baby was crawling at 4 months!! She to was of the mindset 'she is a pita before she should be!'

For as long as I can remember a fully weaned baby/toddler, through to 2 years old, should be having at least a pint of milk a day - so 20 oz.

My DD is now fully weaned. I make up four 8oz bottles a day - breakfast, lunchtime nap, bedtime and 11pm feed. She doesn't finish all the bottles though.

I have also had a child who refused all milk as a drink from being weaned. We just made sure he had a dairy-rich diet with lots of cheese, yoghurt, milk in foods etc. So if yours isn't drinking much milk, swap pureed fruit for yoghurts to get more dairy in baby's diet.

LillyBugg - yeah it is costing us a fortune. We do a big shop about every 7-10 days and our bill for formula alone is usually over £40 each shop, not including baby food which is on top of that (which until very recently was pretty much all going in the bin) so I reckon we spend nearly £50 each shop just on milk and food for Jessica. Before when we've offered powdered milk she just refuses to drink and keeps crying until she gets her 'proper' milk. Bloody fussy madam! We need to cut it down somehow though - both because she needs now I think to be getting more of her calories from food, and honestly we can't afford to keep this up. I think the most logical way to do this is to get her off the night feeds but I don't know how to do it. I think either we just cut down how much we give her at night until we reach a point where we can cut it out altogether, or we offer her milk from a cup instead at night to make milk less appealing. Has anyone else found a way to cut out the night feeds? xx

Yeah Ella I think I'm going to cut back the milk over the next couple of weeks (I think it may be a bit too much of a shock for her if I stop all the night feeding straight away) and then offer water instead. I sense some sleepless nights coming on.....

Well done on joining WW. I joined about 3 weeks ago. You can look me up if you like on their website - my name there is DietingbeforeIhit30 :) xx

J is exactly 7 months old today .

Had the little man weighed, he's 18lb..so exactly average weight for his age.

He was a real little charmer at weigh in - smiling and chattering to all the ladies that work there. He was also smiling at a newborn in a way that he smiles to his favourite teddy, bless him.

Sleeping is a lot better - I haven't been removing him from his cot, just propping him up for a feed (thankfully he's naturally windy) and he now only wakes a couple of times a night. This is so much better than the 2 hourly wakings.

I have been safeproofing the lounge today - I've stuck those rubbery things on the corners of our furniture and moved a few bits. My older kids are horrified by the Lindam safety corners and think they look like "nipples or condoms" and have asked if I can remove them if their friends come round. Sadly, No.....

quickly on the milk thing. b has about 5oz when he wakes up, 5oz on his weetabix, and between 5-8oz before bed. my hv said as long as he is having dairy in every meal not to worry!

b has started having a night feed but hope its just making up for when he was ill. hv suggested water in night once he is back to normal.

question - does teething lead to runnier nappies?

jay lol at the nipples/condoms on corners!!

holls Haha...i wish they hadn't said it because now everytime I look at them I can see exactly what they mean .

holls According to my Heath Visitor, teething does lead to runnier nappies.

holls yeah teething gives runny, acidy smelling poo. Delicious! How are B's ears now?

Jay what are these furniture condoms you speak of and where can I get some??

Also, what's happened to Nazly?

On cutting out night feeds, DDs having about 18oz throughout the day, along with 3 big meals and an afternoon snack. We cut out her last night feed about 3 weeks ago (think I'm right in saying she's one of the oldest here as an early Sept baby) by settling in the night and not offering anything rather than feeding.

Apples, I have added a pic of the condom corners - although I nicked it off the internet as I didn't want the kids and DP to see me taking photos of them .
I got them from Tesco today - they were on offer - £2.50 for a pack of 4.
They are called Lindam Cushion Corners. Unsightly, but necessary in our house !

condom corners is better name!

thanks apples, ears better I think - certainly no temp and antibiotics finished so fingers crossed. now he is just happy then squawks - teething I guess? sporting lovely red cheeks at times! I calpolled at lunch and he had a 2hr nap so am blaming teeth!