February 2019 babies - thread 2

[Celebelly]

New thread, ladies!

@sunday38 - it was Brill. It wasn't the baby I was worried about either! 🤦‍♀️

@sunday38 I'm actually finding poos easier in the reusables. He kept exploding out of disposables but no leakage yet with reusables. They seem to absorb more of the liquid. Then stick the nappy in a bucket until wash day and ideally hang outside to dry. We don't have any stubborn stains yet. The few we did have were bleached by the sun. I'm a total convert. They've also got the added advantage of holding up super skinny ds's trousers. 😂

We were having so many poo explosions with disposables. Literally daily up the back or front and requiring full outfit changes. Zero with reusables! I was so wary of cloth nappies as I thought they would be a lot of work but now I'm a total real nappy evangelist 😂 and no nappy bags stinking out the outside bin for two weeks! I hadn't realised they are basically as quick to put on and off as disposables. I think I still had terry towels and safety pins in my head!

It seems I’m not the only one with a noisy baby then @sunday38 & @Lookingforadvice123. DD has been a little quieter over the last day or two so I’ve managed to get some sleep at least!

Unfortunately it's not explosiveness that's the problem, the smell is horrendous and I don't think any amount of washing or sunlight would be enough to remove dark green tar-like poo stains from cloth!

Yikes! That sounds unpleasant poor little thing. I really hope you find something that works soon. 😢

My LO has suddenly become a very wriggly sleeper and managed to kick me in the head this morning from her side sleeper.

Have you tried @sunday38 ? It's surprising how much sunlight can get rid of!

I know this is going to sound awful but....I could literally cry at the thought of another MIL visit.

Am I being really unreasonable/hormonal....

• MIL usually arrives at noon and stays for 5-6 hours at a time. DH is at work so only two of us plus DD. I find this way too long even although it’s only once a week. My parents usually stay for around 3 hours.

• During each visit I am expected to make lunch (proper lunch and not just a sandwich etc) and multiple teas and coffees. I don’t make lunch for my own parents so resent the fact that this is expected. Surely she can have lunch at home beforehand?

• MIL has medical condition which can make her feel faint and unsteady on her feet. Hence I’ve asked her not to walk about with DD (in case she takes a turn for the worst) and to just have a cuddle on the sofa. She completely ignores me so feel that I need to take DD from her which then causes tension

• She asks to babysit ALL the time. Eventually I asked her to look after DD for an hour or so whilst I attended an appointment. Returned home to find out that she hadn’t changed dirty nappy (baby looked cosy so didn’t want to move her), medicine not given at time specified by me so DD was hysterical by the time I returned, MIL had decided that LO didn’t ‘look’ hungry at her normal feeding time so only made up a 60ml bottle even although I had pre made a 180ml bottle for feeding! WTF!?!

I could list many more examples but I’m exhausting myself never mind you lot!

I actually don’t want her near my baby which is probably completely unreasonable but I can’t stop feeling this way. Actually p*ed off at the thought of her visit this week 😢

Rant over....for now!

That's sounds pretty awful @bubblybrit. I don't blame you at all for feeling like you do. I think I would just refuse to run around after her. Have you spoken to your DH/DP about how you feel? What does he think?

Luckily my MIL only visits about once every 2 months and that's enough!!

@maxiflump1. I’m just so sick of it all. I dread the weekend phone call to arrange a visit 😢 My DH did say that he would speak to her but it would just cause so much awkwardness. Not sure what the solution is but it’s so frustrating as my parents don’t cause any fuss at all x

bubbly could you be 'busy' a lot during the week therefore she could visit at the weekend when your DH is home? Or invite her for a coffee at 10am but specify you have a group/class/lunch with friends and are going out at 12?

@sunday38. I think that’s what I’m going to have to do. MIL is very child like and will likely have a hissy fit but I just can’t hid my frustration any longer! I’ve literally just found out that she has booked a medical procedure (not urgent nor life threatening) when DH has taken annual leave for the summer. She thinks that this is great as she will be able to stay with us whilst she recovers...eh no!...I’ve looked at recovery time and most people are in and out the same day with very little side effects. She is going to ruin our time off even if she doesn’t stay as will expect daily visits and to be waited on hand and foot 😢

@bubblybrit she sounds well out of order. When we have guests I offer them a cup of tea and they all say they will make it and mine. If they didn't I would say well you know where the kettle is. My MIL is worried she visits too much and she comes less than twice a month. I would have a word and sod the awkwardness. She'll have to get over it if she wants to be part of your life.

@DeliberatelyGinger. My parents do exactly the same. They are happy enough to help themselves and usually make me something at the same time. You are right. Probably do need to say something. Just dreading the fall out as she constantly plays the victim!

@bubblybrit it must be hard dealing with someone like that, especially when they're your in law. I don't envy you. Hope to can work something out. I can feel myself getting riled on your behalf. Silly I know.

Thank you @DeliberatelyGinger. Always helps to have a little rant!

Hope everyone's doing ok?? Still in sleep regression here... 16 days in: hoping it gets better soon!

Anyone had any thoughts about weaning? I've been buying a few bits when on offer and will probably start at about 5 months as max is such a hungry baby. Will probably start on purée before going onto BLW. Have done it before but can't remember how I did it and still don't it a bit daunting!

@maxiflump1 - I'm really not sure if we're going through it or not? (I'm thinking I'd know?) but she's woken in the night the last few nights (only one night was for a feed though) which she hasn't done for ages?

Unfortunately we have a poorly boy too. His asthma has been bad and he threw up all over me this morning - nice! Hoping it's cough related and not a bug! 😩

The NHS guide to weaning on their website is really good. Just been reading it this morning! I'm planning to start as soon as baby can sit in a highchair stably and is interested in food!

Anyone got any highchair recommendations? I'm wondering if a chair that pulls up to our kitchen table is best so we can eat together 🤔

Also within ‘sleep regression window’ but she’s still only waking once although is changing by the day. Here’s hoping we don’t get any worse - my 3 yo is still a bloody nightmare at the moment. She’s worse than the baby at night!!!!

Weaning wise - will do BLW. Did last time too. Can’t be arsed faffing with purées and prefer to make all my own food generally.

High chairs - ikea one. Every single time. Cleans easily, cheap as chips. I’m not planning on starting weaning before I have to tbh. It’s a total pain 😂and the mess!!!!

Maxiflump l think we'll start weaning soon ish as it should help with the reflux issues and we haven't yet found a formula milk that this one isn't allergic to. DS1 was ready before 5 months and we started with mashed fruit and veg then added in finger foods at 6 months. Probably do similar with this one as I liked to combine BLW and some spoon feeding to get something in!

Detachable I had a similar one to this last time which DS1 fitted in until he was nearly 2.5.

www.argos.co.uk/product/7593187

Because you can adjust the height we were able to use it with our dining table when he was older but a tray is good when they are younger. I'd recommend one where you can adjust how close the tray is to their tummy, minimises how much debris ends up in their lap!

Thank you for the tips - I'd not thought about an adjustable tray!!

DS2 is only 14.5 weeks so not in the regression window wife yet but I'm nervous as we escaped with DS1! He's sleeping really well, around 10 hours a night, quick bottle then back for another 2-3. Last night though he did wake around 4am and chatted for 40 mins or so he didn't get upset at all and went back to sleep on his own, but it was tense going DH and I just lying there trying not to move.

I won't be weaning until 6 months either, it's one of the guidelines I really stick to (DS2 will be going in his own room after he's 4 months so don't stick to that one!). I did a mixture of mashed and finger foods last time, didn't have a blender so no purées. Have a blender this time so will do some purées for ease, but probably mainly mashed/finger foods. DS2 seems to have good fine motor skills like his older brother so hopefully he'll enjoy it. Agree though what a faff weaning is, especially the first couple of months when they're still having the same amount of milk.

Not looking forward to weaning here. Waited until nearly 6 months with my son and will be doing the same with DD. We did baby led which I did like at the time but my son is so fussy now I'm not sure if was worth it? I'll see how I feel in a few months. Might try a mixed approach?

Sleep is pants at the moment but not baby, my 3yo. He went through a 'wake up for 3 hours plus' phase last week and now he's ill so a really bad few nights. Fingers crossed for a better night tonight 🤞