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July 2016 #2

998 replies

Bluebell20 · 19/08/2016 04:28

A new thread as we (hopefully) move towards longer sleeps and lovely little smiles!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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141
Cheery1 · 14/09/2016 08:03

P.s. cookies I'm 5'1" regarding Ergo baby and fairly small build (though not all tg har small currently, stupid cakes!)

Cheery1 · 14/09/2016 08:05

P.s. Hi elfen!

P.p.s gorgeous baby pics!

July 2016 #2
July 2016 #2
July 2016 #2
Cheery1 · 14/09/2016 08:06

Posted pics of my chubby little funster!

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 08:08

Blue - you know Ru best, you know what works best for him with feeding and how you're comfortable. I agree with noodle maybe that position will be better when Ru is a little older and has better head control. I'm no good for BF positions, as I formula feed, but we've found keeping Logan more upright after his feed helps to get his wind up as the pipes are more open IYSWIM

noodle - Logan was NOT happy, he hates the heat. But once we'd got him comfy in a nappy and muslin combo (so fetching I know) he was much happier.

However, I got woken up to the dulcet tones of my son grizzling cos he needed to poo, and he did. But now he's having a wibble with his wrist rattles on making lots of noise and beating up his cube.

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 08:10

P.S. Hey cheery! If you want to give the odd bottle, I know there's a few bottles that have teats like a nipple, but honestly we've had the best success with MAM and Nuby bottles - the MAM are anti-colic and you can sterilise them in the microwave. Very handy for the odd bottle! Also, if it means you get to do you bits too it's a good thing!

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 08:29

P.P.S If any of you do end up formula feeding exclusively, the perfect prep machine is my lifesaver...

Cheery1 · 14/09/2016 08:50

Thanks Elfen! We've got the Avent bottles so will try those but will look into Mam - the mam dummies have been a life saver and Mo loves them :)

Cheery1 · 14/09/2016 08:51

P.s. Friends that are formula feeding swear by the perfect prep! It's supposed to be amazing!!!

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 08:58

IIRC Cheery the mam teats fit the Avent bottle tops - my mum has had to switch teats as little man wouldn't take the avent ones. The perfect prep, it's my lifesaver, best 60 I ever spent! (Got it on sale and had an amazon voucher towards it) It's so simple, choose the oz feed, hot shot of water, put in powder, top up with cold water - perfect bottles! So good for little man who gets hangry - and it means I can make up a batch and chill them for this weather knowing the formula has had the hot shot and lessened the nasties.

primarynoodle · 14/09/2016 09:30

Elfen you may have just saved me a shit load of money! Is it the avent Classic bottles they fit?

Cheery1 · 14/09/2016 09:36

What size teat would you use for a 9 week old?! He's pretty greedy!

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 09:44

Yes noodle that's the ones

cheery I'd get 1s and 2s and see how he gets on. My guzzler is still on 1s as he can't get 2s right yet

socktastic · 14/09/2016 09:45

I'll agree on perfect prep machine! Best purchase ever! Adam doesn't wait for his bottles. If a bottle isn't ready to go when he wants it then there's hell to pay! I also bought a Brita filter jug for my mums so I can make up his bottles the same way as the prep machine does it.

Does everyone make them up the exact way the prep machine states? I put the powder in first now before the shot of hot water as I found that if I put the water in first then the powder just clumped around the scoop or the formula pot.

I'm still using no 1 teats at nearly 12 weeks but since we're on comfort milk I should really think about increasing to no 2! I have a few avent bottles too and bought no 3 teats for them - didn't realise their no 1 teats were just up to 1 month!

socktastic · 14/09/2016 09:47

Channeling his inner farmer today!

July 2016 #2
tams13 · 14/09/2016 10:03

I'm with you all on the perfect prep! I didn't want it at first (mil bought it before dd was born) because we were planning on bf and I thought it would go to waste if bf worked as it wouldn't be used. We're just on formula too so it's been worth its weight in gold given I've got a hangry baby too.

We use the MAM bottles and love them! Didn't realise the teats fitted other bottles though - thanks elfen.

I'm still making them with the shot first sock but also do my version of it with a kettle when we're visiting family. I just use tap water for the cold usually but have been using cooled boiled water this week at mil's because dh thinks the water is very different to at home.

bluebell Doesn't sound like the best visit to the bf woman. If you aren't happy then try something else or stick to what you know works for now. My friend was shown that position and loves it now. She said that it took a lot of practice though and only works if her baby isn't tired or over hungry.

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 12:08

tams my mum discovered that one, as he didn't like the avent teats on the classic bottles, but he does like his mams. I do shot first, but I've also kept some of the other scoops so if one gets too claggy I switch for a clean one.

julfin · 14/09/2016 12:45

MN

Sorry for epic post, but thought I'd share a couple of tips that I found helpful re BF and the Caboo (separately, not at the same time!)

Primary - ha, I read "grosswaddles" as "gross-waddles" rather than "gro-swaddles"!

Sock - re the car seat, we use the seat belts rather than the isofix (I've done it with two different brands, which both work the same way as each other, so I assume it's a fairly standard approach. It's hard to describe, but it's actually remarkably easy when you know how. Perhaps search online for a video?
Will you be folding up the pram and checking it in rather than taking it as hand-luggage? Worth getting a travel bag for the pram if you don't already have one.
Love the farmer look!

Elfen- welcome! What a happy bubble-baby!

Bluebs - I'm so sorry you didn't find the BF session helpful. That position sounds really insecure unless your baby has exceptional core stability for a young baby, and rock-hard abs! Either that or, as you say, you can't relax at all if you're having to bear his full weight and hold him on position. You certainly shouldn't feel guilty about not trying that method again - if you feel you've given it your best shot then that's all you can do. I know it's distressing when a baby gets trapped wind, but it's just an unfortunate fact of life and you mustn't blame yourself.
I've actually (through trial and error, and necessity) found two new methods that make my life much more convenient and stop me from being pinned to the sofa/bed for hours. Not sure if they'll work for you/Ru, but I thought I'd share them just in case. (Apart from the lying down position, I've stopped using all the ones that I've been shown by MWs/HVs/BF clinic as I find these better.) The first is to lie J on the cocoonababy (google it - basically a very firm and deep/high pillow that's shaped so as to support the baby). I then put the cocoonababy on my lap, and (with jasper on his back but tilted slightly towards me, and with a bit of careful angling of the cocoonababy) it means his head is in exactly the right position for him to take the boob. I guess you could do the same with a pillow but it might not be high enough so you might have to lean forward a bit. The great thing about this method is that, when J falls asleep, I can just lift the cocoonababy up and place it in the crib with J still on it - rather than doing an awkward which risks waking J up.
My second new method wouldn't have worked when he was really newborn but does now that he's got better neck stability and core strength. I stand up and cradle him in (say) my left arm with his head just below / in front of my right boob, so he's kind of on his back but leaning slightly to his left (ie towards me). Again, his mouth is in exactly the right place for him to take my right boob. The great thing about this method is that I've got my right hand totally free and I can also walk around - which means I can wander round the house and do one-handed chores eg clearing dishes from the table. It's an AMAZING time-saver - I can do half an hour of chores whilst also feeding. He also dozes off, at which point I can just do up my nursing vest-top again (with my right hand) and carry on with my day with him asleep in my arm. I've only discovered both of these in the last couple of days but I think they're going to revolutionise my time-management and productivity, and give me more free time on enjoyable stuff.
The third thing that I've discovered is regarding feeding whilst lying down. I do this at night, and often J and I both fall asleep and so I fail to transfer him back into his crib. Until recently, if I wanted J to feed from my right boob I had to lie on my right side, and likewise left for left. But I've just discovered that I can feed him from the left boob whilst lying on the right. (Hopefully because he's bigger and because I'm more experienced at angling myself, rather than because my boobs are droopier! 😳) This is good because if I'm lying on my right, then J is between me and the crib, whereas if I'm on my left then he's between me and DH. I've always felt he's safer if he's between me and the crib, because there's less risk that he'll accidentally get squashed or elbowed!
Anyway, these may not work for you, but worth trying?

Cheery (and Cookies and others?) - with the Caboo, I found out at my sling library that you have to have it really tight. As in, so tight that you worry that you're squashing the baby, and then tighten it some more. (Disclaimer: please don't actually squash the baby.) Also, the straps' crossover should be in the small of your back (or not far off), not up high. You should be able to kiss the baby's head without bending your head too far down. And his head should be supported at the sides by the sling and at the back by the outer wrap. Sorry if you knew all this already, but I didn't - and now that I've adjusted the positioning, J feels so much more secure. I still couldn't/wouldn't unload the dishwasher or other bending-over tasks, but it's much more secure for general moving/walks. I wore it for a few hours the other day and it seemed safe and comfortable.

Cheery - yes likewise J is really thirsty in this hot weather and is currently feeding every two hours. I'm going to resume my expressing efforts when it's cooler - I think it would be unsuccessful /stressful before then.
Hope the jabs go ok!
Love the photos - gorgeous baby. Who's the red character in the third pic?

Can't remember who was asking about nightwear in this heat, but J has been wearing just a loose-fitting short-sleeved (not sleeveless) romper suit / babygro thingummy, nothing more. He seems warm. I've been nekkid, so I've been following the "what you're wearing plus one layer" rule.

J has been very chilled and happy the last few days. According to the Wonder Weeks app he should be becoming "stormy" not "sunny" at the mo. Maybe that's just on its way... 😬

2 months today and still as gorgeous as ever 😍

julfin · 14/09/2016 12:46

Here he is, having a little ponder.

July 2016 #2
elfen101 · 14/09/2016 12:59

It was meeeee who asked jul! Logan was in his sleeveless onesie, first under a muslin, then as it got colder, under his blanket.

AnnaT45 · 14/09/2016 13:45

Welcome elfen lovely boy and cool name!

sock Re car seat and seat belts. They tend to all work with a seatbelt. My maxi cosi has instructions on the side and it's straightforward. If not there are videos on YouTube. I've used them more than I should admit in car parks with buggies! Grin

sock and juf gorgeous bubs!!

juf great tips! lying down feeding and one handed feeding are how I sleep and look after dd1!
My main motivation for BF is you can do it one handed and you can just leave the house without bottles. I should prob say it is fit health reasons but I'm more practical than that lol! I'm interested in the cocoon baby though... I've tried feeding on the sleepyhead but it's not be successful. Maybe I'll try again as i want her to sleep on her own a bit!

Re clothing.. Gracie is in nothing! I'm just leaving her in her nappy. I'm in south east and it's really warm here. She sleeps next to me and it's warm in the bed but I keep checking her. I always check tummy and back of neck to get the indicator of how warm they are.

Just to add to the warm weather fun I had dd1 insisting on sleeping with me too last night. So me in the middle then the two girls either side in just nappies! It was hot!!! And yes to extra feeding. Annoying but I'm drinking loads so understand how they feel.

Diets gone to the dogs today... Three pieces of toast, bowl of cereal and packet of French fries so far... Want. More. Food!!!

AnnaT45 · 14/09/2016 13:49

Forgot to say blue- sack that position off. If it's not working don't stress please. Re wind. Gave you got gripe water? I give it after feeds and it really helps. That and a wind mid feed as well as after. You're doing so so well please don't get upset. Look at all you've achieved xx

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 14:47

Anna I'm down in the south east too, now we're not going anywhere Logan is back down to nappy and muslin, as long as he's comfy, I don't care.

Just been making up a batch of bottles, too hot to faff about making one by one and he doesn't mind them cold luckily. And we had a nice nap where I was woken by a smiley giggly boy

socktastic · 14/09/2016 15:56

Has anyone changed their pram into a buggy yet? Adam is nearly too big for his pram now - it's a very slim cot part and he's a chunky monkey so definitely won't be in it for long but at the same time I'm not sure he's ready for the pushchair part. Confused

beckslovestimmy · 14/09/2016 16:19

Sock I've had Ben in the pushchair seat but of the buggy last couple of days because we've got a buggy board for DD and she won't fit with the carry cot. We've got the oyster. It reclines quite far back (not flat though) and he seems fine. He's been mainly asleep in it on the school run. I like it because he's strapped in. I worried with the carry cot that he was rolling around and slipping down when going up and down kerbs.

elfen101 · 14/09/2016 16:26

I've got Logan in the buggy bit but it does go flat so he can sleep in it, he's quite content snoozing in there