May 2020 Babies

[MarshmallowsOnToast]

Still waiting for my little man to arrive but starting a thread ready. Can't wait to catch up with all the other May 20 mums.

Huge congratulations to those who have already met their little ones. It's been quite a scary time to face giving birth recently and you've all done amazingly.

My third baby was born end of May so thought this might be a helpful place to post as I don't know anybody else with a baby, let alone one the same age as my daughter.
If I'm being honest I'm finding my maternity leave really isolating and boring. Babies can do so little at 4.5 months and not sure really what I can do with her?
Tried a music class but due to Covid it's crap really. Go for walks now and again. Go shopping and for a coffee occasionally but money tight.
Can't be bothered to make new mummy friends as back to work Feb.
She does nap, but usually for no more than 20 mins at a time.
Tbh every day feels a bit like groundhog day and I think I should go back to work early?

My LO is 5.5 months old and we took the dummy away last week as the amount of times we were getting up in the night to put the dummy back in was ridiculous. We went cold turkey last week and after one bad night of sleep (woke up once but took an hour and a half to get back to sleep) the sleep has hugely improved. She’s been a good sleeper but the restlessness has improved and she’s so much happier in the day. We only used the dummy for sleeping so it wasn’t a huge change for her compared to an avid dummy user. We did have to rock her to sleep but I didn’t feel comfortable taking away the dummy and leaving her to cry in the cot. We’re slowly training her to fall asleep in the cot again, I don’t like CC so taking it slowly.

I’m a bit odd in that I’ve quite enjoyed my maternity. We’ve been to a couple of classes but I’ve got quite a few friends that live nearby who are mums as well so haven’t felt isolated etc but I fully understand how other people can feel that way. I’ll admit I’ve had to sacrifice loads of my ‘maternity leave plans’ but I’m going back to work soon so will be kept busy. I found that my LO changed lots at 5 months old so maybe hold out until then and make a decision after?

@Rebecca612 Thank you. I think it would be more bearable perhaps if my friends also had young ones but being an older mum my friends all have much older children (my other two are 10 and 13).

Could I ask what classes people are going to? I sort of found the music one pretty pointless all masked up and having to sit on a "naughty mat" socially distanced!

@Nicknamegoeshere we went to a music class and really enjoyed it but we’re now in a local lockdown and about to be out in a national lockdown next week so no more classes for us! We planned on starting swimming classes in the next fortnight but that probably won’t go ahead now either ergh!

Honestly for me my LO changed so much from 5 months - really interested in everything, starting to get a little personality and sense of humour. I’m gutted I’m going back to work soon as she’s becoming so fun to be with. Do you have Sky? I went on catch up/on demand and downloaded the baby club episodes and that’s basically like some baby classes at home? X

We are going tinytalk online classes, which is quite good. I did sing and sign with my first but there is no one running those in my area this time.

We have been doing baby sensory here. It’s not my favourite class to do but it’s face to face and don’t have to wear masks. I did a music class with my first but they aren’t doing classes because it’s not financially viable for them with the restrictions. Such a shame. I think it’s about time they re opened children’s centres etc. There must be so many parents out there that are struggling and all the normal resources have gone. You have to weigh up the risk of covid or the risk of massive mental health issues. I would say the latter is more likely for most people.

We've been to baby sensory too! I went with my eldest and loved it but it just isn't quite the same now with the restrictions.... I can tell though that my baby loves seeing other babies and the activities so I'm going to keep going 😊
I'm not starting weaning until 6 months but I can tell he's sooooo ready for it! He is so interested in watching my eat, it's so cute!

Does anyone else get so frustrated with baby cloth sizes? M is already getting snug is some of his 6-9 months whereas different shops swamp him 🤷🏼‍♀️ Next sizes are TINY!!!!

I've decided being a SAHM isn't for me - I'm really not enjoying it this time around. It's boring, mind-numbing and isolating. Covid has made things so much worse. I'm wanting to go back to work asap so really hoping a childminder can have baby.

Any advice re returning to work as smoothly as possible? Baby 5 months in about a week. EBF but will express (hopefully!)

(Rebecca612 here - changed my username) I’m going back to work next week as me and my husband are doing shared parental leave. Baby will be 5 months and 3 weeks old when I go back. I’m using my annual leave so only going back for 3 days a week for the rest of the year and working from home the days I will be working. I knew I was going back so I weaned the baby off breastfeeding at around 3/4 months. Also weaned her off the dummy successfully ready for easier nap and night times. I’d love to have another couple of months with her but financially it works out better if I go back earlier and my husband takes some time off with her.
Will you be able to go to your place of work or would you work from home? You could slowly start to reduce your breastfeeds and introduce a bottle of expressed milk soon if that works for you?

@cosymama2020 Aw good luck with your return to work - sounds like you have it all planned out really well

I've never tried her on expressed milk as yet but I know I need to try it. We bedshare and I'm planning to bf her until she self-weans as I did with my other two. My middle son was 3 when he stopped and that worked well for us.

The biggest issue is I can't work from home - I'm a primary teacher! So she would be totally without me from around 7.30 - 6pm on my work days. I think my boobs may explode!!!

Ahh no! Well there will always be a workaround for the feeding, can either express or switch to formula if you’re comfortable doing that. Have you started looking for childcare yet? We’ve got a nursery lined up for next Feb but I’m dreading it - I want to be with her everyday at the moment 😂

How is everyone? Cannot believe my little one will soon be 6 months and weaning!! Anyone else weaning?

Yep, 6 months here and weaning. Just having one meal a day at the moment, normally at dinner time as it’s difficult to fit the others around naps and school runs! Doing well and seems to enjoy food so far.

Just catching up with everyone.

Started weaning here a few weeks ago. It’s been a disaster basically as it seems like he is allergic to several things so having tests done.
I tried him on formula again after he rejected as newborn, and he had anaphylactic reaction. Also to several fruits, bread, baby porridge. So he’s now living off breast milk , and root vegetables basically.
I have gone dairy, nut and gluten free also in the past week as they think he’s reacting still a bit to those through milk and that’s why he’s been sleeping terrible and so unsettled daytime as well if not held. We will see if it makes any difference.

@Caspianberg Oh I feel for you! I had the same with my first. When trying on porridge he never had much and then when I gave him a yoghurt we had a rash on his face, and discovered he has a dairy allergy. He is now 8, and we are still dairy free and it has gotten easier. He was meant to have a skin prick test this year but that hasn't happened as of the virus.

I am a bit apprehensive about weaning my daughter and have so far ordered all jars with out dairy. She is totally different to him though and is on the high 40s percentile so hoping she is ok with dairy...

@Raindancer411 - thanks. I’m hoping it’s just dairy as that’s more manageable. It’s it’s multiple things then it’s going to be more awkward. He’s had a blood test which should check for all allergies even environmental like dust and grass, so that should give us a clearer idea when results come through

@Caspianberg oh no!!! What an absolute nightmare for you, I hope you're all ok? I've been pretty much cows milk free since M was about 6 weeks old. He doesn't have a full blown allergy, thank god, so I do have a little chocolate, but there's definitely a strong intolerance there. It's so annoying and I'm not looking forward to weaning because I know I'll worry about what to give him! How are you finding restricting your diet?

Trying to negotiate my return to work hours and I can't bare the thought of going back. I can't imagine loosing so much time from my baby :(

@november90 - it’s a bit tricky as I am avoiding everything basically until results so can’t swap cows milk for almond or oat for example until results back. His reactions have been throat swelling up, hives and swollen in general so need medical attention so I just can’t risk it. Have been told we should have results by the end of the week so not much longer.

Good luck with getting work hours that suit you and your family.

@Caspianberg what a nightmare for you. It’s always been my biggest dread having a baby with allergies. Well done you for changing your diet so much, I would find that so difficult. Hope the tests give you some answers soon x

How're all the may baby's and mummy's doing?
My little boy had a raging temp today and the doctors sent him to a and e who tested him for Covid :( I feel really sad about it! His temp shot back down with ibuprofen (calpol made no difference) and now he's his normal happy self! What a day!!

@november90 - oh bless, it’s not nice when they are ill and need medical treatment. Especially Covid related right now. I’m sure he’s probably just teething but it’s best you know 100%.

Morning all!

Hope your all doing well. I can't believe our little babas have been with us for more than half a year!!

@november90 poor little M! Hope he is on the mend soon! Xx

A question for those of you with 2 or more children- what is the age gap of your little ones? My husband has started mentioning baby no. 2 as he wants them close together as he didn't have that when he was a child( his brother 8 years older) so never "played" together etc. Also how have your found the older children with the newborn. We aren't thinking now but i still worry Ada gets jealous/upset when the time comes! Also we know you can't plan it massively but just wanted your take on it! 😘😘

There’s 4 years between my 2. It’s been really good for us. It took a bit of adjustment for my eldest as he had always had our undivided attention for 4 years, but on the other hand he’s old enough to be able to help and understand that sometimes the baby has to come first. Considering we’ve lived through lockdowns, covid and starting school, he’s been amazing x

@november90 hope little one is ok

@May2311 There is 8 years between mine and he loves her, hoping it stays that way lol I like the fact I had one to one with him and now can with my little girl (as he is at school)