The March-ers 2019 - Baby Talk #2

[Angelmiracle]

Thread 2 for all our newborns ❤🤗👣

@melissa112 www.mothercare.com/tents-playhouses-and-play-centres/uv-sun-tent-/133014.html

You can get sun tents for babies. If you google "sun tent baby" there's loads that are cheaper and also different styles because that Mothercare one is very "tent like" but you can get smaller ones

@WhatALearningCurve thanks for the idea! I'll have a look around for some less tenty ones!

@melissa112 I saw something on Facebook that looked really good. I'll try get the link but if I can't I'll try and explain. You get a fitted cot sheet and put it over the pram. Wrap one end around the hood part and the other around the handle of the the pram. Looks brill

@melissa112 sorry. I ment for the shade in garden

🌞🌞Hot Weather Mom Hack 🌞🌞

For all those trying to keep the sun off their little one this is a great tip - use a fitted crib sheet over your buggy!

This creates shade while also allowing air to flow and keep our tiny ones cool. I also have a toddler board and she fits under here too while I walk. If the sun is beating in one side you can just pull the sheet down a little more on that side to provide more shade. Please note that white cotton has a very low spf, about 5 I think so please use suncream too. Maybe using 2 sheets instead of one as Ella suggested in the comments below would increase the spf too. If going out in the sunshine for long periods of time I would recommend getting one of the purposely designed products. Using blankets to shade your buggy can create a furnace internally as airflow is compromised, but by using a fitted sheet and pulling over the buggy handle bar you are creating a large canopy and airflow is maintained.

This hack didn’t cost me a penny either so a total win win.

Update: I’ve been sent links to a few products that are for sale that do this but the story behind this is I needed something a few weeks ago when I had to collect my daughter at preschool at midday. My walk involves walking over a very windy bridge so a blanket just wasn’t going to stay on. Also living in Ireland I am completely unprepared for sunshine so I needed something in the house that would work and I only had 5 mins to come up with something before I had to run out the door. This was my solution, the response so far has been amazing, thank you for all the positive comments and thousands of shares.

Hope you all stay safe in the sun and are enjoying this amazing weather. Xx

Please tag in any pictures you have using this hack, it would make my day to see it in action!

⭐️Please share this post with any parents you think could benefit!⭐️
Please note if you share you have permission to share this post not your own version with my images, a bit of manners please!
Thank You
Rachel Ryan

@melissa112 this is the pic looks really good

@BadBadBeans Sorry to hear that you've also started having appointments for your health stuff - me too. It's really sucky isn't it? But I guess we just have to get on with it, although can completely identify with what you said about breast feeding. I was very ambivalent about the whole thing, I think partially because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it for very long so would have found it quite convenient if I hadn't have been able to do it. As it it as I've really enjoyed it and have had no problems so it's sad to think that I'll have to stop.... do you know if it would be before J is on solids? I've found some sort of solace knowing that for me it will be Sept so we can start baby on solids and he probs won't need as much milk anyway then and 6 months is WAY longer than I envisaged doing at the start.... try to focus on the positives of the breast feeding journey even though I know that's hard :)

@melissa112 yes, that's the one we have although we've obviously not used it yet beyond putting him on it after he's been changed so can't really comment on whether it's good!! We paid a similar price. On the hands washing topic, firstly, well done for realising that you might want to start doing something about managing your anxiety - that's a big step in itself. Can you ask your health visitor if they have anything for new mums? Mine gave me a lot of info about counselling/therapies they have available for mums in the area who need it - this was in relation to my upcoming treatment, but I assume they've got support available for everyone. In terms of the physical act of washing your hands, can you think of it that you also need to help build up his immune system so every time you don't wash your hands again just to be sure, you're actually helping him to build up immunity? I imagine your house is very very clean but as he gets older he will be around people/families with not so clean houses or who don't wash their hands as often so you need to help him to stay safe by building up his immunity to germs in addition to protecting him from them.

@Jenlou1992 sorry your period is back :( I haven't had one yet and pre pregnancy they were pain free and quite light so I hope they return like that too.

Omg, this weather is so awful. Especially when you have a little heater who refuses to sleep anywhere else than on you 🔥🔥🔥
How's everyone else coping?

@kee80 thanks for the post of how to create the shade! How did you get on with the sun when you met your friend the other day?

@cardboard33 thanks for the advice on the anxiety issue. I've self referred to a Think something or other. Theirs was the online CBT course that i did when i was pregnant but it does say online that if you need further support after completing it then they can refer you to a face to face 1 on 1 therapist so hopefully they can help. I also will speak to the HV as she is coming in 2 weeks to discuss weaning. The funny thing is that my house isn't as clean as I'd like and that stresses me a little but not enough to draw me away from the LO so thats good. I had a little look online and there's something called contamination OCD which sounds just like what i have. How are you feeling about your upcoming treatment? Even getting to 6 months bf is amazing but i can understand that its upsetting to have to stop before you are ready

@Sheeni oh god tell me about it!! Its 23 degrees downstairs and baby is currently asleep in a vest. Its 24.1 upstairs at the mo so very worried about him tonight. It was 23 point something last night and he was in a 1 tog sleeping bag and short sleeved vest as recommended on the gro bag but just seemed too warm for my liking so he ended up just in the vest for a few hours after his feed at 11pm. I guess he'll wake if he's cold and I'd rather too cold than too hot. We just can't cool down our bedroom. It didn't get below 21 all night and we have our window open during the night as well as the landing and bathroom and our bedroom door open to create a breeze which is non existent! How are finding deciding what to put baby in? I get really paranoid and gro egg watch for hours...!

For people worried about what to put the baby in tonight I'd recommend this website

gro.co.uk/what-to-wear/

@WhatALearningCurve we use that site too, very handy. He did seem a little warm in the recommended 1 tog last night though. My gro egg has been on red for weeks!

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/baby/pushchairs-and-strollers/pushchair-accessories/outlook-sleep-pod-sun-shade/p/135407

Thought I would share the link for the sun shade I got in Smyths for holidays. It fits her car seat and pram quite universal. Theres a mesh panel so baby can still see out and a blackout panel you can use if they're sleeping and it prevents overheating.

We had a lovely family holiday in Majorca. DS had a ball and DD was great just in her usual routine even sleeping better through the day. Although shes home with a stuffy nose maybe from air conditioning. My throat is also stinging and hoarse from we got back I was blaming the flight but it sounds like it's going around.

DD had 12 week jabs yesterday. Cried sore this time as in couldn't catch a breath but stopped fairly quickly but after 5 mins in the car she kicked off crying badly I had to pull in at a Park and Ride car park take her into the passenger seat to feed her. I didn't know they got the Rotavirus drops again!! @melissa112 that makes me wash my hands an awful lot with nappy changes like contamination OCD you're talking about. I was highly anxious the 2 days after getting home from holidays. I was panicking that I couldn't get on top of things and feeling overwhelmed. Then getting really concerned with DS's behaviour but in reality its probably typical 6 year old behaviour. Hes finished school now for 2 months so I'm also anxious what our new routine should be getting the balance between occupying him but not neglecting DDs needs over it! Ive emailed regarding 3 classes for DD but so anxious to commit in case I have too much on my hands with DS off school. Am I just overthinking it? Can I bring DS to DDs baby classes?

DD has now been settling herself in the snuzpod at night without being fed to sleep and I started putting her in it for day naps which we are getting 2/3hours - victory! Def not looking forward to sleep regression.

Any BFing mums have a very painful let down reflex? Mine is so sore on both sides especially when my supply isn't as full as the day goes on and it eases after a good 3-4 mins into the feed however in Majorca no pain at all but came straight back as soon as we came home Its not thrush or mastitis and lanolin cream or cold nipple discs do not help.

@melissa112 day at the park went good. She was laid in her carry cot asleep most of the time I had the sun umbrella which shaded her quite well. When she woke up she really hated being laid in the carry cot, she really wants to be sat up looking around now. I converted the carry cot into sit up mode and she loves it now. She's not fully sat up just up a little and she likes her pram much better now she can look around. Anyone else's little one started in sit up mode of pram?

@Angelmiracle glad you had a lovely holiday, we've not booked anywhere yet but thinking of booking for end of August. When you book to go abroad with a baby will you automatically have a travel cot in hotel room or do you have to contact hotel or take your own? Never been away with a baby, ds was 4 before we took him abroad. Also regarding pushchair do you have to pay extra luggage for it? Thanks

@kee80 in terms of pram - on our system we still use the car seat most of the time coz he can't go in the seat for the pushchair yet and I feel bad putting him in the carrycot because I feel like he can't see anything ha.

But we bought a Joie Mirus to take on holiday and for my mum to use which is basically a newborn pushchair and he LOVES it - I assume because he's sat up in it - he even prefers being outward facing on it which I took personally ha.

In terms of travel cots - for Mexico it was a package holiday so the agent sorted it all out, for America we've rented a house (there's 20 of us going) so we just told the woman who owns it there's a baby going. I would assume if you're staying in a hotel then when you say who's staying then you'd put there's an infant staying and that will trigger the travel cot request?

@kee80 oh and for the plane - when you say there's an under 2 with you, it will say what you get to take on board for free. Usually as a minimum infants seems to get - 10kg hold luggage and then either pram / travel cot / car seat for free in the hold. Better airlines will let you take 2 of the 3. As long as the pram folds flat in one it should be free (which is why we bought the Joie) and you can use it up to the gate

Hello ladies. Just wondering if anyone's got any advise.
LO is 13 weeks and has started refusing his milk over the last few days. So far today (since 8pm yesterday) he has had 3 bottles. The first he drank 3 oz, the next 2oz and the most recent 1oz. He seems alright in himself and has had 2 wet nappies so far today. But I'm very conscious that this isn't enough... especially in this heat!!
Worrying ourselves crazy. Has anyone else's LOs had a similar phase? He's currently teething so not sure if that's got anything to do with it.

@assumeitwassomethingclever It could be the teething, apparently babies eat less then.

I have a question, too.
My LO has been scratching/touching the top of his head for the last couple of weeks, pulling hair (he's got a bit more in that one spot). Anyone else had the same with their LO? I can't see any eczema or cradle cap that could be itching him.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever I have a milk refuser over here. It's completely hit and miss as to whether he eats or not. I've just been telling myself that as long as his nappies are normal then he must just not be hungry because when he is hungry and eating normally he cries when he is hungry so I think they just go through stages. If he was fussy but refusing to eat then I'd probably look into it more?

@WhatALearningCurve thanks for that. I just feel it's going to be a lot more stressful going away with a baby!

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever my little one has days like that. Some days she will finish all or nearly all her bottles and others she will just take between an oz-3oz she's seems fine when she does

@kee80 I nearly had a breakdown preparing for Mexico but it was totally fine. If you have any questions about how you'll do anything there then let me know!

Also - another lifesaver I found apart from the sterilising spray I posted before was they travel sized wipes in Aldi. So wipes with 24 in a pack which were great for on the plane and day to day

@kee80 I booked the hotel directly through their website and under their special requests I typed in a cot for baby. It was ready when we arrived but even if you get there I'm sure it's easy for them to provide a travel cot. We booked with easy jet so you can bring a changing bag (we got 1 of those Land backpacks off Amazon for £20 fits loads of items and loads of pockets). Plus 2 items for hold so we brought buggy and the car seat which we took to the gate as it has wheels. I got a Baby Bjorn miracle baby carrier off Ebay for £10 I used to carry DD onto plane. Have never used one before must say its fantastic and she fell asleep in it till we boarded! I brought practically all her summery clothes 3-6 months and brought so much unworn home but easy to pack her things. Plus the mam bottles and dummies sterilise in the microwave for when we gave her expressed milk. We booked an Aparthotel so we'd have fridge microwave and kettle. She was really easy but as @WhatALearningCurve said you still panic thinking what to bring. Every day I kept her in a full length UV Spf 50 swimwear from M&S and Monsoon with matching hats and used that Outlook shade. Only had her in rompers dresses and shorts for dinner in the evenings.

@Angelmiracle and @WhatALearningCurve thanks so much for the advice, made me feel a little less worried. Sure I'll come back to you both for more tips/advice nearer the time

With BA you get an extra hand luggage bag plus a 23kg hold bag for babies even if you don't buy a seat for them, in addition to pram/car seat/whatever combo which seems very generous. We aren't going away until later this week though so I can't say if they're good or not though!! @kee80 with travel cots it probs depends as we had to specifically say that we wanted one at the place we are staying at and it's then an extra £5 a day, but we'd rather pay than have the hassle of taking ours. The other hotel we are staying at in August is free for babies but you need to let them know if you want a travel cot when you book as they've only got a certain amount. Also very worried about the heat as whilst it's just a European city break to test the whole plane thing, the area is currently suffering with near to 40 degree temps so hoping it cools off as we go through the week.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever mine also went off milk when they started teething. Tbh his whole body system seemed to change and he went from pooing a couple of times a week to 5+ times a day, usually directly after a feed. I spoke to the health visitor last week and she didn't seem concerned but think will make an appointment to see GP too on Monday as I don't want to dismiss the onset of poo (it's also sometimes green and streaky) as just teething.

Also, does anyone have any experience of those microwavable steriliser bags from boots? I was looking for that spray mentioned a few days ago and came across those which look to be better (for what I'm looking for) as then it'd be easy to pop pumps etc in them on holiday. We've already got some mam bottles and dummies.

Sorry for extensive posts, keep seeing things that I meant to reply to...

@Angelmiracle in terms of taking your older child to baby classes you should probs ask the course leader as it'll depend on their insurance. For my baby sensory (which does have a summer session, @melissa112!) they specifically said in the sign up emails that they couldn't have any older siblings under 5 for insurance reasons but you can bring over 5s as long as they sit next to you for the entire session, presumably as opposed to doing their own thing at the back etc.