June 2020 Babies-Six months on: mobile babies, feeding adventures, and still sleepless nights! 3rd thread

[UKtoSK]

Hi everyone! I made a new thread as we were at the end of the last one. A new thread for the new year! I changed the title as we don’t have newborns anymore!

Using size 3 aldi premium atm couple more weeks and she'll be in 4s
So aldi size 4s have a tendency to leak? Good to know as i tend to stock up each time i go & i was going to start buying them soon 😂

I'm using Asda's Little Angels size 3 at the mo, generally pretty good. I don't change her over night and if I don't change her within the 12 hrs she will leak, especially if she's fed loads

Last night when she woke at 11 I changed her then to see if it would help with her sleeping having a fresh nappy on. She did go to sleep for 3 hrs after, longest she's done and it did mean I didn't mind sleeping in longer as I knew she's wouldn't leak.

Tempted to do the change again tonight if she wakes this side of midnight, she did get really upset and cry a lot though as I think she just wanted the boob!

@Smiffette I’ve been doing the same thing. I stopped changing her overnight if she wasn’t pooing and she had a big leak so I started changing her once half way through the night regardless.

We don’t have Aldi here but we’ve been using Huggies Nature Made size 3 for a while because someone gifted us a big box and we had ran out of our others, though she’s only just about 6.5kg now. No matter what size or brand of nappies I try we always seem to have big poo explosions, but generally I’m happy with these huggies because at least they’re nice and soft. A friend gave us some pampers active baby and they feel really hard when there’s wee in them. Are they the same there? Apparently they’re better or worse depending on what part of the world they’re made in/for.

@Zoey92

Using size 3 aldi premium atm couple more weeks and she'll be in 4s So aldi size 4s have a tendency to leak? Good to know as i tend to stock up each time i go & i was going to start buying them soon 😂

They're just a completely different type and for us not tight enough on the leg holes. No leaks from Pampers Active last night.

Hi All, haven’t posted in a while but I’ve been keeping up with the posts.

We use either the Sainsburys little ones nappies or the Asda little angels nappies both in size 4 and she goes to bed around 6.30/7.30pm and she wakes up for the day at 6.15/30 we don’t change her overnight and we haven’t had any leaks so far 🤞🏻
Oh how I wish that meant she sleeps through the night though lol! We’re lucky in that she doesn’t wake up for feeds through the night, but she will normally wake up around 30mins-1hr before bed (I read this means she is over tired but I’ve tried adjusting her wake windows and this still happens) and if we’re lucky she then will wake at 11.30pm & 4am and then up for the day sometime between 6-6.30am
But if we’re unlucky like last night it was bed at 7pm, awake at 7.30,8.30,11.30,1.30,2.30,4.30 & then 6.15 🙄😴
But then we had her in her own room overnight for the first time last night so I’m hoping it’s just an adjustment period and eventually she will sleep better.

She’s desperate to crawl and will roll on to her front and rock on her hands and knees for ages before getting frustrated/upset. She can shuffle backwards, but that isn’t good enough for her she wants to be able to go forward. She loves standing too and will do this with me just holding her hands. I feel like she’s in too much of a hurry to grow up 😢

I’ve also had to learn that she just does things her way and does not follow any of the timelines for leaps or development and she never really had a sleep regression, but at the same time sleep is still not amazing. She does nap in her cot but for a loonnng time this was only 30min naps. She was doing well having two 1.5hr naps and one 30min nap per day, but then that all went to shit today too (I’m guessing because of last nights antics) so she’s had two 37 min naps so far today 😫

I feel like a total cow but I’m so jealous of my friend who just had a baby. She had the most smooth birth ever, with only using a TENS machine, no tearing or anything and was discharged later the same day and the baby has taken to breastfeeding like a dream and so far sleeps really well. Literally the total opposite to my experience of the early days. I know I should just be happy for her and I am, and everyone has their struggles some where along the line, but I feel a bit cheated that she’s had this perfect start to motherhood that i didn’t have.

I meant, she wakes up 30mins-1hr after we put her down for the night

@Gigitree our naps have gone rubbish lately too and always used to be pretty good. He has started having just 35 min / 40 naps. I'm wondering at what point they consolidate their naps maybe to just 2 longer ones. I'm so tired of battling and being worried about naps and nap times. Pre baby I would never have guessed that naps were such an ordeal!!

I wouldnt feel bad about feeling that way about your friend. Think it's completely normal. But I think I've realised that no baby is good at everything/ each stage, so a baby that is good at sleeping in the early stages might have a bad regression suddenly or one that's a bad sleeper might be unaffected by teething as much. Just think its swings and roundabouts!

I'm not having much success with weaning. Started him with a couple of weeks of veg puree, he wasnt that interested. Tried a week of banana porridge and he would have a couple of teaspoons but probably with a lot of cajoling. I tried him with smashed avocado yesterday and he seemed to like it a bit more but today he just cried. Feel a bit frustrated, he doesnt seem to have any interest in food / opening his mouth etc. Anyone else? Am I going wrong somewhere?

Just catching up. Sorry I've been so absent again lately. By the time Christmas holidays started I was just so worn out and worn down by everything that I had a break from even thinking about social media and messaging people, and now I've been playing catch up. Sorry that I'm not going to be adding names but I don't want to go back through to find the right name 🙈

Sleep:
Charlotte has been a bit all over the place. She'd got to a good place (1 or 2 wake-ups) before the regression and then it hit and it was horrible. We started the LO programme, which she did mostly follow and that seemed to help a bit and at least she would sleep in the crib/cot without me and give me a little break. Over the Christmas break, she dropped the 3rd nap unless her other naps aren't long enough, but has been settling so much better at bedtime and mostly giving me an evening. Naps the last 2 days have been awful with 3 30 mins, and sometimes taking lots of rocking and crying for them to happen (yesterday an hour to get to sleep, she cried herself to sleep even after calpol, then only slept 28 minutes), which I think is teething related.

Our rough, current routine is wake between 6 and 7 (sometimes a feed just before 6 and back to sleep, and other times not).
Food about an hour after wake. Just started giving porridge for breakfast.
Nap between 2 and 2.5hrs after wake up, and usually 30-60mins. I was following LO and waking at 10 but not recently, as she's dropped the 3rd nap and seems to be waking a bit earlier.
Food about an hour after wake up. A little bit of porridge or veg mash typically. Maybe some yogurt or baby crisps.

Lunch time nap again 2 to 2.5hrs after wake up and generally 60-120mins (mostly likely 90). Food between 4 and 5pm, aiming for going up around 6:30, but sometimes a bit earlier or later, depending on whether a 3rd nap had to happen because lunch time nap cut short.
Then, she wakes between 30 and 60 mins or 1.5 and 2 hours, sometimes once in both sections, and then she can be every 2-3 hours again, or do longer stretches like before the regression. Seems a bit hit and miss. Last night I had a 6hr and 4hr stretch, but the night before the evening wakes were every hour and then every 2-3 hours during the night. I am so glad I've had a bit of evening time recently. I was really struggling and the bit of time in the evening really helped/is helping.

Regarding sleeping in the pram, Charlotte was awful for waking up as soon as you came inside or within 10 minutes of returning home. I have discovered though, if I stand outside with her (although it's quite cold now so haven't done this since before Christmas) she will sleep longer, even if I do bring her in before she wakes up herself.

Oh, and Charlotte moved into her own room just before Christmas day (the Tuesday I think).

Food:
Not started BLW yet as still not very stable when sitting and don't want to risk it, but she is loving the food so far. We've done alpro yogurts, Morrisons own brand ready brek style porridge, veg mash and fruit puree pouches. No issues with poo yet, though definitely getting more solid, especially today. She's also had a bit of flatbread as she kept stealing mine, and some baby melt crisps.
DS2 had issues with constipation when we first started weaning, but it eased when we cut back on the amounts we were giving him and increased again at a slower pace.

Crawling:
Can crawl properly backwards - bum and tum in the air - but not forwards. Is definitely frustrated by this. Also gets on hands and knees and rocks for a while, and can turn and is rolling backwards and forwards to help her get around. Lots of frustration when she gets 'stuck' and cannot go any further backwards, and after a while gets bored and wants to sit up, but still needs support. She is getting better at sitting at last though.

What are people doing with water/fluids at meal times? I have a selection of different cups but am not sure which is the best to try or whether I should just keep trying all of them. I have the 360 Cup, for example, but I have no idea if she's actually getting anything. I also have a doidy cup, Tommee Tippee first one which has a silicone spout, and we have normal sippy and open cups. I've been given cooled boiled water.

She won't entertain a bottle so DH help not rrally possible for long periods or settling to sleep just yet, nor is leaving her, and I have no idea how the return to work is going to go without bottles, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

My hair loss seems to be slowing but I'm still struggling with my back. I have an appointment with the physio on the 18th and really hoping we can still keep it a face to face one even with lockdown.

We had a good Christmas and New Year - we'd already planned to not do much, and the quiet was nice. So glad DS2 is at nursery again from tomorrow as I've just felt completely pulled different directions trying to care for the three of them these past few days.

This is Charlotte at 6 months. She's 7 months old on the 9th.

Oh, and @SRS1311 don't worry about weaning. Some babies just take a little longer to be interested. It doesn't do them any harm to wait any longer as they're meant to be getting most of their nutrient content from milk until between 10-12 months anyway if I remember correctly.

@SRS1311 have you tried BLW instead ?

@Gigitree that's tough but I understand where you are coming from I had a smooth ride with BF and I love it but I would swap any 'struggle' to have my lovely mum here. We always want what we can't have and someone else always wants something we have. Do you think you'll have anymore children ? I feel disappointed all the time my birth ended in a section I so hope I can have natural next time x

@HaichMal look at all that hair love it!
I would just choose one cup and stick to it or you might confuse her ? Also you can give tap water after 6m if you wish x

Wow been away from the thread for a few days so just caught up. Going to start just chill mama sleep training next week as the 6 wakeups a night are really taking a toll on my mental health. Freddie is loving BLW, finding it so fascinating seeing him work out different textures. Starting to dread going back to work in April now that we are back in lockdown, hoping restrictions have eased a bit by then.

Not surprised @Cornishbumpkin it's to tough my lo is up 1 or 2 hourly but she will now nap in the cot/ pram / car seat through the day so things a lot better there.
V jealous you have got that course i can't afford to buy it at the mo if there's any amazing obvious tip pleaseeeee share it with a fellow knackered mum I would be eternally grateful! X

@Gigitree your unlucky night sounds like our most nights! It’s so exhausting. I guess it’s reassuring that it’s happening to so many other people too. That it’s something developmental and not something we have done wrong? I blame myself a lot and it doesn’t help that everyone my husband talks to says their baby slept through after 100 days and he asks what’s wrong with our baby and it feels like he thinks it’s my fault for doing things differently to the “Korean way”. Also don’t feel like a cow! Totally normal. I really resent my friends with good sleeping babies lol. I’m sorry that you didn’t have the start to motherhood that you imagined. I’m sure her experience seems perfect to you but it’s probably not. Some people just aren’t honest about the difficulties with having a baby since there’s so much fear of judgement if you don’t immediately take to it and love every minute.

@SRS1311 we are just taking it slow with introducing solids. Letting her get little tastes of things here and there but not planning for her to really eat much yet. So far I’ve given her mashed banana with a spoon and some sticks of cucumber to play with so she can experience both ways. Today I’m planning to try steamed carrots. Spoon feeding courgette made her gag so much she vomited so that’s why I switched to BLW style sticks and she likes that much better.

@Cornishbumpkin please let us know how you get on with just chill sleep training. I asked in a Facebook group about sleep because I’m going crazy right now and a few people recommended that programme.

@HaichMal thanks that's reassuring. Charlotte looked lovely- it sounds like shes really coming along!

@mrssunshinexxx my aim is to move onto BLW but with him showing no real interest I've not pushed it yet. I gave him some slices of avocado with the smashed avocado and he ignored them lol I think though he doesnt like being spoon fed and would prefer to do it himself which is part of the problem, I think he will prefer BLW

@UKtoSK must be so hard in a different country / culture. But that's been the good thing about this group, its reassuring to see different people going through similar things and you know it's not just you or your baby. With the weaning, I think ours are almost the same age so probably at similar stages. I think maybe hes not quite ready for full on food yet. He can sit, but needs support and he still have a bit of the tongue thrust thing. Like you say, probably just need to be more gradual!

@HaichMal aww her hair is lush! you’ve reminded me about water 🙈 bottle refuser have been giving expressed milk in a mam starter cup but it’s a few sips and loses interest, wondering if a free flow would be better?

Jamie sits up fine but seems to be struggling with his hand eye co ordination so misses his mouth and drops food . Chews like a champ if I hold it for him though & throughly enjoys being spoon feed fruit and veg lol. We introduced meat in a blended cottage pie last night & he seems ok . So glad we’re not the only ones on 5+ wake ups still!

We used a brand of pampers but they seemed to have been discontinued , we tried the new active fit and leaked . So we’re on pampers pure atm which are fab but ££££

@mrssunshinexxx Good luck on ttc! Sorry for asking but are you still breastfeeding have you got your periods back then?

@srs1311 me too! I didn’t realise how important naps were nor how difficult they would be to achieve and how you have to get the balance right of enough daytime sleep so they’re not over tired but not too much so they’re not under tired! Who knew important this all was!? 😂
Thank you, I know deep down no one has an easy ride, I think it’s just hard because she’s the first person close to me to have had a baby since I had Grace so it was easy for me to pretend our experience was the norm but when I hear about her experience I just feel sad that I didn’t get that. But it’s not the end of the world, Grace is healthy and happy and that’s the most important thing (plus us all getting enough sleep 😂)
Sounds like maybe it might be worth taking a step back even for just a few days and see if he’s more interested in a few days time? Or even offering at a different time of day if that’s possible? He might be too tired/not hungry enough and therefore not up to trying something new.

@haichmal re: crawling Charlotte sounds very similar to Grace with the getting frustrated etc. Part of me can’t wait until she’s cracked it because she gets so grizzly when she gets frustrated with it, but then the other half of me knows I’ll eat my words when I’m having to child proof everything and run around after her 😂
We have one of those munchkin 360 cups and grace will bring it up to her mouth but she doesn’t really seem to “get” what she is supposed to do to get the water out. I’ve taken the middle runner bit out a few times just so she can get the understanding that there is water in there and she loves taking a mouthful and then dribbling it all down herself instead of swallowing 🙄 not sure if I should persevere with the 360 and she’ll get there eventually or perhaps try something different.

@mrssunshinexxx yeah you’re so right, it’s easy to look at other people and wish you were in there shoes but everyone has their own hardships to deal with.
Still on the fence about if we want another or not. Grace was such a grizzly difficult baby for the first 4 months and I have/had PND so I’m not sure if I could cope with another. But then at the same time I always wanted 2 kids and I would love for Grace to have a sibling so I just don’t know. Also it would be nice to be pregnant/have a baby NOT during a pandemic 😂😂 good luck with your TTC I know it’s easier said than done but try not to be disappointed that yours ended in a section, it was the best thing for you and LO to have the best outcome possible and that’s all that matters❤️

@cornishbumpkin I’ll be interested to see how you like the just chill baby course. I tried the early months one (0-3 or 3-6 months I can’t remember) and I wasn’t that impressed tbh and ended up getting a refund. But people rave about their courses so maybe the ones for slightly older babies are better.

@UKTOSK yeah I shouldn’t really complain it’s far better than some people like yourself have to cope with, there’s all ends of the spectrum isn’t there? On the flip side there’s only my Grace and one other lady’s baby in my NCT group who doesn’t sleep straight through! All the rest of the NCT group have got amazing sleepers and most of them have been sleeping 7pm-6/7am straight since 12 weeks 🙄
Don’t blame yourself, I know it’s hard (especially when you’ve got unhelpful people saying she should be sleeping through after 100 days) but all babies are different and some take longer than others to get there with sleep. My eldest nephew was consistently an amazing sleeper from the get go and my youngest nephew has always been a terrible sleeper, but my sister did everything the same with him as she did her eldest, so it just goes to show you’re not doing anything ‘wrong’. I know that doesn’t make the sleepless nights any easier to bare but hopefully you can stop being so hard on yourself.
Thank you, I think it’s human to be jealous over these things but yeah exactly some people just try to put a shiny filter on things even if they’re struggling too. That’s why I love this group as everyone is so honest about the good and the bad!

Sorry for the long message, I hope I managed to reply to everyone who tagged me :-)

@Mj2196 yeah still BF and my periods came back after about 6 weeks but I think it's because I went on contraception x

Thank you @Gigitree ❤️ I know you are right but sometimes it's hard for our minds to Agree, I am probably insane to be wanting such a small gap but I'm hoping it will all work out I want to give her the best gift and I'm hoping that's a sibling v close in age x

@Gigitree I understand. I've had such a range of emotions about other people's pregnancies and newborn experiences for all 3 of mine. With Charlotte, I finally had the labour experience I wanted with a water birth, no feelings of loneliness or panic due to the speed things were happening, but I've been lucky with all 4 labours (I had an MMC before Charlotte) really in that all have been natural and none have had complications.

We have a 360 as well, and she has chomped on it but no idea if she's managed any water from it or not. DS2 liked his, and it was much less mess than a sippy cup as it didn't dribble out (though it does make mess if it gets banged on the table or dropped on the floor) and he moved onto one without handles when he got older. Not sure how much it helped learn to drink from an open cup though. She had the doidy cup again today, and she was definitely drinking from that, and seemed happy to do so. I'm just worried about the mess if she wants to try it herself! I might try the 360 without the lid bit for a while and see if we can do the do in combination or something.

Whenever people talk about their NCT groups, I'm amazed how often they say so many of the babies are sleeping through so young! I don't know whether the members are lying or there is some magic going on. DS1 did sleep through from 14 weeks, but we had feeding issues resulting in tube feed top-ups for a month, was on medication for years due to a strawberry birthmark on his lip, I had PND and was very lonely, and our relationship was going through a rough patch, so maybe they're struggling in other areas? DS2 started sleeping through around 7-8 months and I'm hoping Charlotte will be the same or at least before 1. However, I know loads of people with babies/toddlers not sleeping through or not sleeping through regularly, or going to bed late or waking early, so I've always felt one of the lucky ones.

@mrssunshinexxx they are families in my August 17 group who have had very small gaps and coped. One of my friends in that group had a similar gap and 2 under 2, and is now expecting her 3rd. My SIL had a 13m gap, as did another friend. From what I understand, the first months can be really difficult, trying to balance everything because the older one may not have enough understanding of why they don't have all your attention etc as they used to, and you have to spend a lot of time with the baby while being super tired, but that they do improve and there are lots of pros once you get passed that bit.

Thanks @HaichMal that's reassuring
I'm just going to put no pressure on myself my husband will be able to have a couple weeks off hopefully and I have 3 best friends who all live really close who I know will help me if I need it . I just hope I can manage a natural birth as I couldn't imagine anything worse than that age gap and recovering from a section again x

Random question for the ladies that drive. Do you ever drive alone with baby on a journey of, say, an hour? Even driving 10 mins alone with baby in the back of the car is so nerve-wracking for me.
How do you guys do it?

My older daughter's school is a 25 min drive away if traffic is normal so regularly have baby in the car for best part of an hour to do that journey and back. Same with when we were allowed to see people in the summer- probably travelled half an hour somewhere and back.

I don't think I have done an hour journey on my own with her but there has been nowhere to go really. We did take her to Scotland in the autumn but we took turns driving.

What is the issue you are having? We use a dummy in the car and if journeys can be done at nap times obviously that always helps.

Normally, my husband and I are in the car when we go places. Person not driving stays in the back with the baby. But once in a while, I've needed to go somewhere with baby and I just get so worried about the fact that I can't see his face.
It's only legal to have baby at the back of the car, right? I'm not really going anywhere during lockdown. Just feel so limited in that I always have to drag husband along to places, even when trying to meet girlfriends (again, not during lockdown).