The March-ers 2019 - Baby Talk #3

[Angelmiracle]

Thread 3 mamas

Also. Thanks to the people who answered about the food. I've got some Ella's in as well but just wanted to sense the vibe ha. Looked like a mad woman in the supermarket the other day because I was ranting to myself about a) why some baby foods don't just have the food they say in them. Like Apple and pear isn't just Apple and pear. And b) why they sell reduced sugar rusks?! Surely reduced sugar should be the standard and then extra sugar should be the additional one?

I have a lot of issues with eating and weaning is my worst nightmare. I know I need to do it so that he doesn't end up with the issues I've got but I'm just praying I have some miracle child who eats everything because I'm really not sure how I'll cope with a battle. This is honestly the only bit of parenting I've dreaded

We're going to do baby led weaning. We have a book by Gill Rapley which seems to be good and for my own peace of mine me and DP are booked onto an infant first aid course for 10th september. We'll start with his first meal the same day. Probably start with some steamed veg in finger sizes then move onto whatever we are eating within reason.

Having issues here too with sleep..I think we have hit leap 5 and I think I'm actually delirious with lack of sleep. He whines all day long now. Gets bored of a toy after a couple of mins and reaches out for something else. He sits unaided for a while now but still not strong enough for me to be able to leave him to it so I'm sat on the floor with him bashing things most of the day. He fights every single nap. Won't be put down so I have to sit with him hitting me, scratching, nipping, planking, rolling onto his belly until he eventually gives in. No longer goes to bed when he did and is regularly awake from 3pm til 10pm and he is exhausted too but just fights and fights. Wakes every 10 mins during the night which is no exaggeration unfortunately. I wanted to cry last night from sheer exhaustion. If I pass him to anyone other than me or DP he screams and sobs. That's new in the past week. Only at home so far but dreading it being elsewhere too.

Oh and my hair starting falling out loads around 3 months after birth. So much so that I went to the doctors as I didnt know it was normal. Its just starting to slow a little but after a shower was grim!!

Sorry to just come on and moan, hes doing really well with sitting etc and I'm so happy but just so tired..

@WhatALearningCurve hope LO is feeling better soon, must be horrible to see him feeling poorly x

@whatalearningcurve Actually, he poops like once or twice a week, but that's been going on for about two months now. HV is telling me this is his normal pooping schedule and GP is similarly unhelpful. It would be normal if he wasn't uncomfortable, right?

@melissa112 I think we all understand the need to moan on days like that. My LO is fighting the naps a bit as well, but as I'm boobing him to sleep, I'm still having more successes than fails. But it's definitely getting more difficult. I'm sometimes boobing+holding hand (so he's not distracting himself with hitting, petting, scratching and finger-twirling)+ shushing+ rocking. Honestly, I have no idea how I'm ever going to get this child sleeping and napping on his own.

@Sheeni argh. I just wrote a whole long message and then accidentally closed the app. Basically I was saying that I think this is one of those moments where mum knows best.

If he seems uncomfortable then maybe it is trapped wind. Usually my little one goes every other day. Sometimes he goes every 4 days and is fine. Other times it's been 2 days and I know he's in pain. The other day he actually had 4 dirty nappies which had never happened.

If he seems uncomfortable then maybe try some water? Like less then an ounce. Anything there trapped will soon be untrapped......

@Sheeni thanks. It's hard to imagine them being able to be put down to go to sleep or sleep in their own room at the minute isnt it. Sounds like your LO could have trapped wind from what you describe. When DS has it we do some leg cycles and push his legs up towards his chest gently and it does seem to help. They do have a baby massage actually for trapped wind but I've forgotten it. May be something on YouTube?

I'm getting concerned about lack of eye contact from LO. He gives great eye contact from everywhere apart from when he is being held. When I'm changing his nappy, lots of eye contact and smiles. Playing on the floor with him the same. Singing to him he'll give eye contact. Basically most places he will give eye contact but as soon as hes on my knee he wont. Does it with everyone else too. If hes on my knee he'll make eye contact with DP sat next to me and vice versa. Is this something to worry about? Hes been giggling since 10 weeks, always smiles at me and smiles and makes eye contact with strangers. Not sure if hes just too close and over stimulated on my knee or whether it's a flag for something else?

@melissa112 Sadly no leg bicycling (which he hates and fights with all his power) and massage is helping with it this time. We're seeing the GP tomorrow about something else, so I'll try and check about this, too.

Looks like he might have thrush, but he's got none in his mouth yet and my nipple is OK at the mo, too. He's just got some rash on his penis, that's it. But it's still there after a week of nappy cream. Anyone heard of such case? I only know about the thrush in mouth....
We're home alone this evening and I managed the evening routine on my own for the first time. I know many of you do that every day, but I'm so proud of myself, especially as he didn't nap since 1:30pm, and the GP called in the middle of the bath. I was dreading it so much.

@Sheeni DD has been exactly the same so windy squirming in cot and awakening at 3.30-5am which isn't like her. Should maybe give her some gripe water since you mentioned infacol. Her dirty nappies are now 6 per day it's like she's a newborn again! I'm thinking now it's due to her tooth cutting through yesterday...

@Sheeni my friends LO got thrush in her nappy area when she was teething, could it be something like that that's bothering him? That's definitely something to be proud of (doing the routine alone). My DP worked away all last week and I felt the same. Especially when LO may have been overtired and the timing of the GP visit!

@melissa112 oh you must be exhausted that's such hard work! I was hoping DD was settling following the 4th leap/sleep regression but now we're onto teeth cutting

Yeah the hair loss is drastic isn't it? Some mums apparently don't experience it. I bought some of the 90's style scrunchies out of h&m yesterday as they're not supposed to break your hair the same ☹

@Brobot my hair is the same! Apparently it's normal but it's getting everywhere!

@WhatALearningCurve start with something simple / easy to digest like a single type of veg for example. Some start with baby rice / porridge. Take it as quickly as baby and you are comfortable with. If you're worried about baby having issues you could go down the baby led weaning route. That way baby is in charge and all you have to do is provide the food, keep an eye out for choking and clean up. They eat as much or as little as they want or maybe just play but without us dictating to them what they "should" eat. The Beginners Guide to Baby Led Weaning group on FB is a great resource for it (recommended by one of the others on here but can't remember who).

@Jenlou1992 we had a rough night last night after a steady few nights. Bad periods come and go.

@Sheeni sounds like a good win to me! Sometimes the simplest of things can feel huge when we haven't done them before.

We've hit separation anxiety! Left LO with the in laws so hubby and I could go out for a date night and she cried for 2 hrs before collapsing exhausted. They tried everything to calm her poor thing. It's not like she was with strangers either, she sees them twice a week at least! As soon as she saw me she stopped and laughed, little bugger. Tried a short one on Wednesday and exactly the same problem. Hope it passes soon as I go back to work in 4 weeks! @melissa112 sounds like you've got the same hurdle. Not sure about the eye contact, possibly he's got contact with you so looking at other people is more exciting?

@Angelmiracle tooth cutting doesnt sound like much fun! Hopefully now its through things will settle down a little. Ha at least the 90s scrunchies are comfy, I attempted hair down yesterday and remembered exactly why I've had it tied back for months, the grip when he pulls.my hair!

@HidCat I joined two groups on FB. One is called Baby Led Weaning UK and the other is Weaning and Baby Led Weaning for Beginners UK. Both good. I didnt expect the separation anxiety for a few months yet so was shocked when it happened. Like your LO, as soon as he was passed back to me he was all smiles. Weird thing he is holding his arms out to be picked up then screams when they oblige. Outside our house ot at others houses he is fine, so far anyway touch wood!

He doesnt give much eye contact when sat on my knee even if it's just us two. I'm trying not to worry as in general he gives loads of eye contact to me, babbles, takes turns talking, giggles, smiles etc and wants to be picked up but just dont understand why he doesnt really want eye contact when being held. DP isnt concerned at all as he's giving eye contact most of the day but I just dont know what is normal. Maybe I'm just overthinking it

Sounds like we are all having some sleep issues right now 😂 I can't remember who has said it but I empathise! LO has been fighting naps and sleep for past 2 days and I also think he might be teething.

If anyone knows any really good baby led weaning books or a Pinterest link with a template or something, send my way. :)

Hope everyone is ok. I’m so tired had a really bad night last night and now tonight I can’t sleep even though I’m shattered
It’s dd2’s christening on Sunday and my other daughter starts school on Monday so I think my mind is in overdrive of things to do.

Weaning is going ok here she can’t get it in quick enough, only thing she has not liked so far was scrambled egg she kept spitting it out. Her poos have been interesting and very frequent since we started.

@melissa112 my MIL commented just last night that J is only interested in looking at anyone who isn't the person holding him! She thinks it is political. He doesn't need to look at his holder as they are already pandering to him!

Shocking sleep here. By 3am yesterday I had slept for 90 mins, and then he was up again in less than an hour. Set for a similarly bad night. Currently feeding him back to sleep.

Our night last night was the worst one yet! He was up every 2 hours and took half an hour to go to sleep every time- which he spent pulling my hair and gauging at my eyes.
I'm absolutely exhausted today and feeling like such a failure.
Does anyone else's LOs throw tantrums? Ours arches his back, holds his breath until he goes red in the face then screams with I would say gritted teeth but gritted gums (?! 😂). If youre holding him too close he smacks at you. You put him down and he screams as if you've just smacked him! I've never seen anything like it and wondering if it's normal or not.
I've cried more than the baby this morning!

I'm with you all on the sleep.
She's still sleeping through but it's so much harder to get her settled in her cot now. I'm having to stand up rocking, shushing and patting her for about 20 mins then have to slowly put her down! Also the past couple of mornings she's been waking between 4-5am when usually it's between 7-8pm. The day time naps are pretty much non existent now. I have to rock her and pat her holding her quite tight and close to me to get her to drop off other wise she's kicking, scratching and pulling my hair whilst crying!!
When she does drop off it's maybe for 30-45 mins.
Please say this is a phase

I know this is horrible from me, but I'm kinda glad I'm not the only one going through this for a change.
LO fell asleep pretty well, but I couldn't fall asleep for 4 hours and couldn't reach the charger for my phone either, so 3 hours of those were pure staring on the ceiling. 😒

@Sianlouise432 I have the Gill rapley baby led weaning cook book on kindle. It has a good summary of BLW and lots of recipes or she has an original BLW book that has just had a revision which is meant to be more thorough. All the Facebook groups I'm on recommend her books.

@Wineandchoccy glad weaning is going ok. Are you doing baby led? Think I remember you saying you were. What did you start off with? It sounds like you have a lot on your mind. Hopefully this time next week with the christening and first day of school sorted you'll get a better night sleep x

@BadBadBeans oh I'm so glad that you said that about J doing the same when someone is holding him. Makes me feel much better. Did you get a better night last night?

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever sounds like we are going through the exact same thing. The eye gouging and smacking! What is that all about. He did it so hard that it made me shout out in pain and then he got really upset about that! And yes to putting him down and it sounding horrendous. He's been like this about a week and a half now after a two week break where he was a little better after the 4m sleep regression which lasted about a month. This new phase seems to follow exactly when leap 5 was supposed to begin. Hes now grumpy all day too the past few days. Nothing makes him happy. I thought he had cut a tooth today and was happy as thinking at least it was just that. But I've felt it and theres nothing there 😬 leap 5 still has 18 days remaining apparently... joy. Just know you're not alone and hopefully this phase will be over quickly

@kee80 sounds like you are going through it too. I can't believe the fighting they do for naps, and yes ours have decreased in length too so we spend more time.getting him to sleep than the nap lasts. Hope it passes soon for you too!

@Sheeni I think you've had more than your fair share of sleep troubles so glad you are escaping this one, not that I want anyone else to be going through it! Typical isnt it that when you feel so exhausted that sometimes sleep is harder to come by. I'm glad he slept better for you and sounds like hes more comfortable now so maybe has got rid of the wind or whatever it was?

We're trying a new tactic of getting him to sleep upstairs in his snuzpod for his nap instead of downstairs as hes way too big for the moses basket now and I still havent pulled my finger out and got a travel cot. The plan is to put him in his own room in his cot for naps when he turns 6 months but judging by our current grumpy phase I'm not sure this will be an easy transition! He's just dropped off so hoping that the unzipping of the crib side isn't enough to wake him... here goes nothing! If this I works I dont even care that I'll have to camp out up here in bed. I just want him to sleep finally!

@melissa112 yes we are, her 1st taste was bread from a fish and chip shop that she pinched
We just give her bits of what we are having she has had pasta with tomato sauce, macaroni cheese, lots of different fruit and veg, mash potato and a tiny bit of gravy, Yorkshire pudding,
Only thing so far she has really not been impressed with is scrambled egg.
Tonight we are having curry I am cooking her a strip of chicken, rice, naan bread but no sauce just yet will also do a few carrots or something with it

Hi again, still asleep. I've managed to make and... wait for it... drink (!) a cup of tea!! Not sure how long my good fortune will last but I'm making the most of it and googling travel cots...for those that have one, where do you find sheets that fit? I.dont think I've ever noticed travel cot sheets anywhere! Think @WhatALearningCurve and @BadBadBeans dont you both have Aldi ones? It looks good (and doesn't cost an arm and leg!) but not sure where to get sheets for it?

@melissa112 funny you should say that, I downloaded that cook book last night haha. I also got flavour led weaning by Zainab Jagot Ahmed. The recipes sound so yummy cause I like my spice haha.

@Wineandchoccy haha well they do say give them what you have 🤣 I think we're doing BLW too. I'm a little nervous. Did you start off with 3 meals? I'm just worried about what sizes to cut everything mainly! Like a strawberry for instance! And pinwheels.. the Facebook group I'm on is obsessed with them and its actually something I can make but do I cut them in half, quarters, who knows! Is it basically finger sized for things that can be? Will DD just eat rice with her hands? Sorry for all the questions!

Getting round to posting at long last as baby is bouncing in the jumperoo and big brother is having a rare nap (though he has been awake since 5:15 this morning so no wonder).

I'm starting to think about weaning and wondered whether to buy a BLW book since we sort of did mostly purees last time. You'd think by second baby I wouldn't have to wonder about these things. My first was totally not fussed about food for ages but little one has started to stare while we eat and now has progressed to crying if he sees us put food into our mouths 😂

Sleep is a complete mystery at the moment. He goes to bed at 6pm (if we can get him to that even!) Because he's just so knackered. He now either wakes around 9/9:30 and I feed him or I dreamfeed him about 9:30/10 when I come up to bed anyway. We've been having 2 or 3 wake ups from then until morning until the other day when he slept all the way to 5 which was amazing. Last night he only did 1 wake up then up at half 5 for the day when his brother woke him. No two nights are even very similar so you go to bed having no clue what's going to happen.

@kee80 yep, the sleep/nap fighting is real. My LO has gone back to sleeping after about an hour and a half of wake time. 2 hours seems to be too much at the moment bless him.