FEB 07 ***** A brand spanking new thread

[peachygirl]

Thought it was about time!!

FFT I've very recently introduced a formula feed for the dream feed at 11pm. I did this as DD seemed to be having a time of waking lots and it did coincide with the few weeks I have been back at work.
Initally she was going through til 3 ish on a BF dream feed but started waking at 1:30, then 3 ish and again at 6 ish. I think the FF has helped as she is going til 3 ish again (4 the other night) and for the 3 am feed my boobs are full so she is able to feed well then too, going back to sleep.
I have felt some guilt about it but know we are both better and less grumpy people for it. I have a box of feed and if I don't feel it has made a difference by the time it is finished I may rethink it.
I know if I was to express for that feed I may not get enough out. When I am feeding DD and expressing I get considerably less out and would need to spend longer expressing than when I am at work and miss feeds.
I initally gave her 5 oz as thats how much she takes from expressed milk during the day but upped it last night to 7 as on sunday I thought she could have had more.
This morning however I was so tired I got out of bed at 8.10 and was in school for 8.40

You have listed lots of things we do when I'm at home. DD also like the swings, watching mummy in the kitchen when sitting in the bumbo (on the worktop - naughty peachy)
Going to other peoples houses and playing with different toys is also good, singing in the library too. Also Baby Einstien DVD (very much in moderation)
I've heard from babydriver and marmite mad for the london meet up any of the others out there?? I will pay up on my CAT subscription and contact you soon.. probably not tonight..my purse is down stairs and I'm too lazy to get it!!

Hire an older sibling for a while, smudgemum. Watching big brother is DDs best entertainment, esp when he is playing with a balloon. Plus you'll win brownie points from a friend for taking her child for a while!
Think I might try a bottle of expressed milk I have in the fridge tonight for the dream feed and see what happens. At least I'll know how much she has had and how long that lasts her!

OOps its sallyally who wants ideas. And you already have an older one don't you?

Well nothing to add to the list of stuff to do with a 5 month old - apart from sloppering on Mums face, trying to eat any fingers that come within grabbing distance and looking at the tree outside the window. I tried the Teletubbies the other day and he as very interested and even talked to them!

We have a new trick - rolling! Since sunday he has rolled from back to front and then over again - of course the minute I got the camera out, he stopped - it has taken 3 days to capture it on film!!

Also another minor breakthrough last night - he slept until 6am from 7pm (with a 10.30pm feed)!! He always wakes at 3am - more habit I reckon as he refuses milk at 7am when he gets up as he is still full from his 3am feed. So last night I was awake around 2.30am so crept in and had a look - his dummy was out so I stuck it back in and crept out - not a peep heard until 6am when he woke - very hungry and demolished a 6 oz bottle! Will try the same tonight - not expecting too much though!!

WOW andyrobo thats great!! fingers crossed for you tonight

Cheers for the ideas .
Am I too late for the Midlands meet up?...We are in Coventry.
Well done to all you who are sorting out sleep routines. Henry still using me as a dummy for when he wants to get back to sleep. Still spends most of the night in our bed too.

sally, try contacting bienchein, she said she would sort the midlands meet up out.
I thin night timw routines are still all over the place for lots of us!! DD still end up in bed with us too. Our routine is really only emerging.

Not too late for a meet up Sallyally, we haven't done anything about it yet! I can do over the school hols but not sure about others?

Midland meet-up - I'm around for most of the school hols apart from 6 to 10 Aug.

Sorry I have been a bit slack to take up the reins, had dentist and orthodontist appointments for DS today as he needs braces. He will also have to have another two adult teeth removed as his jaw is too crowded and the corresponding lower teeth are not there (something must have gone wrong at creation stage). Not overly enjoyed at prospect.

Went swimming today and DD enjoyed being in the water; she is getting to like it more and gets also better at having a bit of water splashed on her face.

Most mum and baby groups have packed up here by now but I shall meet up with the German mums tomorrow and DP will prepare tea for us.

DD (and DS at the time) started to sleep through once they had a bottle of formula at night but it did affect me producing more breastmilk, so that was the trade off for us. However if your supply is good, I think you would be alright with a formula top up. Have you checked other threads as this is probably a really popular question?

Had a c/m lined up from Sept to take DD for a few hours every week but sadly she has pulled out, so will start the search afresh.

Hello all... Just back from our holidays in Grantown on Spey. We were staying in my auntie's caravan which might not sound very fancy but it's a lovely big family sized static caravan on a very flash campsite in a lovely area with masses of things to do. We have had a fab break despite it bucketing every day bar one. I've posted a few pics of Sandy having lots of fun at the safari park, on a steam train and on his first trip to the beach (don't expect to see any trunks though...it was freezing)

Sandy seemed to cope very well with the travelling and slept well despite the change of scene. Our only problem was the bfing... he just turned 5 months but he's already nearly 20lbs, we haven't started weaning yet and he's still fully bfed. However, he has just started to bite and pull away nearly all the time now. My nips are getting really sore.. they just don't stretch as far as he thinks they do ! I'm also getting really ludicrous cravings for sweet things and carbs in general, which I think is either from my ghastly PMS trying to reassert itself, or from trying to keep up with feeding a baby who looks big enough to be starting school (slight exaggeration maybe).

I do quite like that he's a big boy... I get a certain pride in having grown a whopper (I make him sound like a prize marrow!) but I always feel a bit embarrassed when people assume he is older than he is and are surprised when he doesn't crawl or sit up properly by himself yet (nearly though) and that he's not been weaned yet.

Suis - love your pictures, he looks like a lovely, bonny, healthy baby to me. You must be so proud to see him growing up through all your hard work and he must be only taking what he needs. I am quite envious of mums that have managed to continue BF as I still have issues with feeling guilty about stopping even though it wasn't my decision in the end.

We had a few people at the weekend tell us that Abbie looks a bit chubby which I laughed off saying all babies go through that stage but found quite upsetting the more I thought about it and began to feel paranoid that we are feeding her too much. I actually got her length (25% line) checked on Monday so the HV could compare it to her weight (50%) and at 20 weeks and 14lb 10oz she is slightly larger weightwise than lengthwise but they told me not to worry and that things will even out soon.

We went on a miniature steam train and also to the beach (too windy and cold to linger)on holiday, must sort out the pictures.

have finally gotten round to putting some photos on my profile - off to have a coffee now!

Marmitemad...please, please don't worry about the chubby baby comments. Some people have no brain! I remember Harriet (DD) at this age and she was like the michelin man...big smile, no neck and rolls of chubbiness all down her lovely little bod! Henry is the same. Once she started crawling and especially walking, she started to slim down and now has a beautiful athletic figure that I'd love! Trouble is people are becoming obsessed with childhood obesity and forgetting that babies and little people often have a bit extra and it's healthy for them. Often they get very chubby just before a growth spurt. The worry is that parents will start putting children on low fat diets and cause them all sorts of problems. Grrrrr!! Rant over!!! Our GP told me at Henry's 8 week check to be careful about the amount I was feeding him as he is on 98th centile!! Asked how I was supposed to monitor how much breastmilk was coming out and she back tracked and said to carry on!! . He is 5 months now and 21 lbs and a very happy healthy chappie. I have no worries. Stick your tongue out at anyone who suggests otherwise x

Hi all, The bottle feed top up at night was a wash out - the expressed milk had gone off ( probably had been hanging around for a week) so I warmed up a bit of formula and DD wouldn't take it at all even from DH. So I ended up doing two bottles and all the washing up only to bf her! I'm not sure if it was bottle refusal or formula refusal so we'll have another go over the weekend some time. DD is a chubby bub too and DS went huge at one point. Totally agree with everything Sallyally says - before 2years unless you are giving them lots of biscuits and sweets etc they are just drinking/eating what they need and no need to be concerned re chubbiness. DS has really slimmed down only recently at 2.5 years.
We're around all weeks of summer except last week of July and last week of Aug for a mids meetup!

I can identify with you all. My DS was 10lb when he was born and at 20 weeks weighed 19lb 9oz and measures the length of a 9/10 month old. I'm so fed up of people exclaiming "he's huge". Like I dont know he's bigger than average!! Suis you're doing really well not weaning him yet - I started at 18 weeks. I can't believe how quickly they grow up. My LO has woken up more frequently over the past few nights. I feel like a zombie! Can you tell - I'm starting to waffle!!?

Peachygirl did you get my email?

Yes daizydo I got it! I'm just getting to sending one back to you I vote we start talking dates next week.
I just recieved some nappies I bought off another mumsnetter. They are in good condition but have been well washed and are a bit crunchy (like towels go) what do you nappy experts suggest is best to soften them up again??

Thanx peachgirl, I received your email! I've heard that white vinegar is good to soften up nappies, but have to say its not worked with me! So if you do find out please let me know!

I've started another thread asking how to get banana out of clothes - its not looking good, so if anyone can give me their pearls of wisdom I'd be grateful!

Wow - some lovely sized babies going on here - we are lagging behind somewhat at 15 lbs 8oz! My friends 1 yearold is 20lb 10 and she has a friend who has a five month old who is 19lbs + It is all relative to me - my DD who is now 5 was a hefty baby with the rings and rolls of fat and she has been 3 stone 1 lb for the past 6 months but keeps getting taller! You cant win with some people - they are either moaning that your baby looks small and underweight for their age or they are big bonny babies - doesnt matter to me - people say T is a big baby - he is only n the 25th centile so is less than average but is quite long - also when he is in his car seat he looks like he is filling it, but there is a newborn wedge under his bum to soften the angle, so once that is removed (book says around 4-5 months!!! - may do it next month when he is 6 months!) he will be lost in it!

Well after his marathon sleep on Monday evening, he was back to form on Tuesday - well 4am, and then last night it was 5am but I was awake form 2.30am waiting for him to wake up!! It was warm though so maybe that was stopping me from sleeping. Will see what tonight brings!

Peachy, the crunchiness might be washing powder build up - you could try washing them several times without any powder - or just leave them on the washing line outside in the rain for a few days!!! My nappies are a bit crunchy but they work just fine and I use fleece liners so they feel soft. Once you're weaning you might want to use liners if you're not now - the proper poos not nice!

Well I am now the proud owner of 2 buggies/prams. Had a slow and wet journey to Putney, doing 30mph most of the way as it was raining so much. Got to Putney where it wasn't raining . Went in to look at buggy and then got chatting to Egg when dd decided to do a poo and guess what I had left the change bag in the car, by now the heavens had opened, ran out to car to find the road was 2 inches under water. Loitered in a garage for 10min with a non English workman then decided I had to go as Egg would be thinking I had abandoned dd. Shoes filled with water but managed to get bag from car. Got back to Eggs house and then had to remove my shoes, socks and trousers which was very (luckily I had a towel as we were going swimming later). Egg loaned me some socks but I had to put my wet trousers and shoes on for the journey home, which was dry but took ages as loads of roads had been closed off by the police/army due to flooding.
thanks for the reassurances about weight, I think dd is perfect as she is but did start to worry a teeny bit about overfeeding. will have to come up with a clever retort for future comments.
its raining and thundering/lightening here again . Glad I wasn't on the M4 during the landslide .

Good to hear that our babies continue to grow, and that complete strangers continue to seem to think they know better than mothers...! Some things never change. For first timers, sadly this is something you'll have to get used to.

Things going OK with us. E has been enjoying his finger food. Can't say that anything other than microscopic quantities are going down yet, but he seems to really enjoy sucking sticks of food to get the different tastes. Broccoli tonight was a big hit. Does seem to be affecting his digestion though - last 3 mornings he's woken at 6am with monster farts and then power poos, not really my idea of an alarm call!

Other than that not much to report. We didn't get washed away today, but it was a close run thing.

FFT do I need to buy special fleece or can I just cut up fleece fabric??

I'm off to mums we had torrential rain here yesterday so braving the M1 today.

I'll be in touch about the meet up VV soon and ....WOO HOO schools out for summer!!!

hi everyone.

all the pics r lovely. what cute babies we have. i will put some more on soon but i have fluffed up my camera

ds2 is now 23 weeks. has 2 teeth and is 24lb so so long tho. no one believes me when i say he is 5 months
he crawled for the first time yesterday but i screamed so loudhe stopped straight away and looked at me oddly.

after being advised to wean at 4 months due to size and hunger of him i have now been told to stop all solids til he is 1. his formula has been changed and he has been diagnosed with intollerances to dairy soya gluten wheat

has anyone any experiences of food allergies?

would really appreciateany advice.

have a good weekend

Glad to hear babies are all growing well, sorry to hear about the food problems bubblebell, hope you get some good advice/help soon.

All is well here, DH and I had a night off last night . My parents slept at our house and we stayed at their house, so we went to the cinema (Shrek 3 is v funny) and the pub, got in at 1.30 and slept till 9.30! We were a bit silly though, in our tipsy state we managed sex for the first time since DD2 was born and I haven't been taking my pill (didn't see the point when we couldn't do anything anyway!) so I really hope we're not going to end up with 3 under 3! DH surprised me though by saying it wouldn't be the end of the world if we did! Watch him change his tune when it becomes reality!

Woohoo - our first crawling baby congrats bubblebell! DD has been making moves onto her knees which is a shock to me as DS didn't get mobile with cruising until 10 months. I really couldn't handle a crawler just now though.

I only have experience of my own food allergies - namely nuts - so DS (and DD when she gets food) won't be getting them until they're a lot lot older or perhaps never. I was very careful to introduce solids slowly to DS at 6 months + as I knew there was a good chance he'd have troubles since I have asthma/eczema etc. Are they allergies or intollerances? Many babies grow out of food intollerances by the time they're 1. The longer a 'problem' food is delayed, the less likely it is to cause a problem. So I can see why they are saying not to wean until later. Though 1 seems a bit extreme as there are loads of foods that are highly unlikely to cause any sensitisation to them/others. Most veg is OK (though spinach can be a problem) and many fruits are OK (though kiwi, strawberrys, citrus can cause trouble as well as exotic things!). Gluten/wheat is a known trouble maker as is dairy, eggs and soya.

I would ask to be referred to a paediatric dietician who will know best. It's likely that you could introduce 'safe' solids slowly without causing sensitisation to them or other foods. You do have to be careful though - my friends DS had cows milk in a sauce at 6 months and took a horrendous anaphylactic allergy. It was the 2nd exposure to it that caused the trouble. They've still been weaning, but now at almost a year I think he's still only really on fruit & veg and perhaps some wheat now.

The allergies forum on here is quite good. The one on babyworld is very good as there are a lot of people with a lot of experience in this.

Waffling now... but can I just say "24lbs! wow!" My DS is almost 2 and weighs about that lol. But my ones are shorties so quite chubby by comparison!