July 2018 babies. It's a learning curve!

[WomanFormerlyKnownAsKarateGirl]

I couldn't see a post-natal group, so I've started a new one - sorry if there already is one!

KarateBaby is now 9 weeks old. This evening, I've finally got round to starting the bath, book, boob, bed routine. I put her in her crib in our room at 6:30, and haven't heard a peep since. Although I keep going up to check on her as we don't have a monitor (should I get one...?) Remind me, what did I used to do with my evenings before I had her?!

Given that Mr Karate is at work (and hence, quality time as a couple is out of the question), I know I ought to do some housework but I absolutely cannot be arsed... I feel like a right lazy cow

Cup of tea and some crochet it is!!

How's everyone getting on?

Hi everyone!! Just chucking my update into the mix at 16 and a half weeks .. utterly amazing how fast time goes!? How has it been nearly 4 months!! I find the days go by quite slowly when I am battling with DD to go to sleep for her naps, but fast when it all falls into place (rare!)

Feeding is BF but this month have introduced some formula feeds so i could have a break here and there when doing bedtime routine.. unfortunately i have an utter hatred of expressing, I dont even produce half a bottle from one feed and a mishap with some of my stores meant Formula was used... and actually it works wonderfully for us because I dont have to do anything to make that milk for usage!! Haha

Routine wise in the day trying to get naps in are my bugbear ... I try to get her ready for sleep at the first sign (yawn/eye rubbing) but she strains and cranes her neck to look around her if i am trying to rock/cuddle, she would put the french resistance to shame the battle she puts up! However at night she seems to go down fairly well.. we’re look to have her asleep by 7pm and we get 2-3 wakeups before we go to bed between 11-midnight and then a further 3-4 overnight but she usually sleeps in until 9-9:30am (as do i!!) so it seems to work out!

Long post but i have the eldest in my friend and nct groups so everyone gets to get advice and knowledgeable nods of memory from me and i get to plod uncertainly through the next leap and growth spurt!

Hows everyone getting on!

Hi @ BeardofZeus, I remember you from the antenatal thread. Glad all is well with you. We’re also just past 16 weeks. Formula sounds like a sensible approach for the bedtime feed, means you do actually get a break too rather than spending that time trying to express the next day’s bottle.

I’m having just as much fun with naps as with my older DC who was a veteran nap dodger. Fortunately we get quite a few in on the school run. However DS is currently asleep on my lap as he woke up screaming from being asleep in the cot...turns out that 30 minutes just wasn’t enough and he had some milk and promptly dropped off again.

The less said about nights the better! We have similar wake ups to you BeardofZeus except the day starts at 6am! DS has just figured out rolling back to front though so am hoping an improvement might come soon...

Im another one with a non napper!!! Seriously what is wrong with these babies?! If someone offered me a nap id take it in a heartbeat!!!

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't checked this thread in a while!
@RaspberryBlonde Things are good thank you. She's so much better now I'm dairy free. Her weight gain has been slow, however, since we both went dairy free. We are now having to do fortnightly weight checks. She loves feeding though, and gets so excited when it's feeding time 😂.

@Flatwhite32 awk bless ive went dairy free too!!! And my little girl is far better for it!! Even though the dr brushed me off with her rash is normal (ive near heard that before for a newborn to have a rash and it be deemed as normal!) and its just colic (which she didnt have!! How are you finding going dairy free?

It sounds like things are going much better than they were @Flatwhite32, even if gain is slow at least you're going in the right direction. Stopping dairy seems to make a big difference to lots of babies.

Having our 16 week jabs today having been sent home earlier in the week as DS had a very slight temperature. He's been super grumpy this week which isn't like him and trying to gnaw my hand off every chance he gets so think his gums must be bothering him.

@tiredmoma I don't like it very much and I'm struggling to maintain my weight (I'm now under 8 stone. A nice problem to have, I know, but it affects the way I feel!). However, it's worth it to see DD so much better. It does mean I probably won't BF past 6 months though, as I can't afford to lose any more weight really.

@RaspberryBlonde DD had her 16 week jabs on Monday. She was very out of sorts on Tuesday, but fine by Wednesday. Hope the jabs go ok!

My little one has her 16 week jabs on wed!! Glad your little is vack to normal again @Flatwhite32 and i hope yours go okay @RaspberryBlonde im hoping ill lose some weight with being dairy free as ive a good bit i could do with losing!! And yes @Flatwhite32 i wish i had that problem!! But there are down sides to everything!!! But you will do anything for our babies and 6 months is still a great achievement and you should be proud!! What milk will you give baby then?

@Flatwhite32 I think it can be quite a common side effect, my SiL went dairy free for the same reasons and lost a lot of weight (although she had been trying to lose weight so wasn't a problem for her in the same way it is for you.). It's hard to replace things like cheese as well. I know I would find it really hard to do, I have great admiration for you giving it a go.

DS did well with his jabs but is now running a bit of a fever, he's due another dose of calpol in an hour or so. He doesn't fuss about taking it but then just gently dribbles it back out of his mouth! Don't think he had anywhere near a full dose. I hope yours go OK next week @tiredmoma

Thank you @RaspberryBlonde hopefully he will be back to normal tomorrow

How are you all managing to do anyrhing? Or even eat a decent lunch? Its okay when its the weekend as dh is home and can help but during the week some days I really find it hard to get a drink or go for a pee never mind anything else?!

I am bad for forgetting to have drinks @tiredmoma. But otherwise my technique is taking DS around with me while I do stuff. Occasionally in a sling but he has a chair in the kitchen and a lightweight bouncer that can be moved from room to room so he sits and watches what I’m doing. I can usually get about 15 minutes as long as he’s not tired or hungry and I chat or sing to him. Not enough to do any big jobs but enough to keep on top of laundry and unload the dishwasher.

I’m quite lucky with DS in that he can sometimes be sneaked down when he’s asleep so I do a bit of a blitz in that window. I could never do this with my DD who would always wake up. Plus to be honest I would leave him to grumble for a couple of minutes while I made lunch because I get awful headaches if I don’t eat properly. I know what you mean though, it’s amazing how quick the day goes.

Poor DS has had a temp on and off all day, he doesn’t seem to react well at all to jabs. Hopefully as Flatwhite32 said it’ll have passed tomorrow,

So am i!! Ive been having headaches lately i know thats why not good when your bfing either!!! Im lucky if she takes a 20 min nap and this past week she will happily sleep on me but as soon as i try to put her down shes awake n in bad form really hoping this is a phase n it will pass very quickly as im totally drained!! My kitchen isnt big enough to have anything in although i do put her nest or swing in the living so that she can see me in the kitchen sometimes shes happy enough and other nope!!! Suppose it just takes a good bit of time to get used to it all dosent it?!

How were the jabs @tiredmoma?

After screaming she was okay and had a good sleep while i shopped had coffee and read!! Purposefully went shopping to help her sleep however when it came to feeding time she was so unsettled and screamed a cafe nero down!! No matter how much i tried to settle her so we packed up and left and as soon as in the car she was cooing and laughing away to herself!!! Wee witch!! Today she had a big nap for 1.5 hours (her normal is 20mins) and been in decent enough form however a little bit gurny at times! Thanks for asking

That’s good @tiredmoma. Glad it’s over for a few months now though.

How’s everyone dong on the sleep front? DS is up about every 3 hours overnight which is not great but would be manageable if my DD hadn’t also decided to get up a couple of times a night. I think she feels left out that everyone else is in the same room. So I’ve been a bit of a zombie this week.

@flatwhite have you tried probiotics? Helped my EBF reflux baby. Couple of scoops in expressed bottle once a day. I used Proven Probiotics brand, they have specific one for BF babies....I don't have July 2018 baby so not sure how I ended up here but hope that helps.

@RaspberryBlonde awww no way!! Hope they both settle down soon ohhh sleep has been fun in this house this week!!! I think the 4 month sleep regression has hit!! Once she gets over to sleep at night shes grand the odd night she was woke up playing but i leave her and she will go back over however getting her to sleep at night has been a bloody nightmare she will scream for ages then she may fall asleep while you hold/cuddle/rock/feed her but as soon as you out her down bam shes awake and its started over again however each night has been getting slightly better thankfully!! And naps during the day have been hard from she was 7 weeks!!

I find as soon as one element of sleep is sorted another goes to pot tiredmoma! Woke up at 2am to find DD had made her way into bed again. I don’t mind except that when I get up to get DS for his feed she rolls into my space so I can’t get back in!

Happy New Year everyone - hope that the little ones had a lovely first Christmas.

Gearing up to start weaning here in the next week or so. I’m planning to do BLW as it worked well with my DD, so basically it will just be giving DS a couple of bits of whatever veg we’re having to chuck on the floor try.

DS has developed a new hobby of wanting to stand up all the time. It’s very annoying as he refuses to bend his waist so won’t sit on anyone’s lap. He’s also just started rolling which is hilarious as he looks so surprised when he does it!

How are things gone nag for your return to work @WomanFormerlyKnownAsKarateGirl. Hope it all goes ok for you.

Happy new year to you too @RaspberryBlonde hope you had a nice xmas!! My lg was a bit overwhelmed by it all!! Hope the weaning goes well!! Im starting to get myself ready for it too we have a few weeks yet i had been worrying about her not being ready by the time shes 6 months however the pst day or so im worrying ill not be able to hold off!!! Shes a wee starvo atm ohh im dreading the standing stage atm we either want to be laying on our back so we can play with our feet and trying to roll (can only get onto our side) or try sitting supported

Currently sat on the sofa like a zombie while lg plays happily cooing and caing as she decided 5.45 was a perfect time to get up!! We normally sleeping till around 9! (Lucky i know but this is gonna kill me if its a new thing!) send coffee!! 🤣

Wow, 9am is amazing. I think the latest I have ever been allowed to sleep since kids is 815 and the eldest is 5 now!

Have been experimenting with giving DS some veg sticks to play with. He has enjoyed waving then about and licking them but no actual eating. He's now interested in hair at the moment...

Hair pulling is not fun!! It is cute though when they wave them cute little fingers of theirs through the hair all puzzled 🤣