August 2021 Babies - Running on Caffeine and Baby Smiles

[PurplePansy05]

Welcome to the chattiest post-natal club on MN!

We have welcomed 31 gorgeous new babies together 💖💙 ...

We have filled up several more like a hundred threads in the antenatal birth clubs chat...

...and now we have finally graduated and officially moved to the postnatal birth clubs chat! 🥳

Graduates of the August 2021 (and thereabouts) thread:

@Smurf123 & baby Sophia 💖
@wimbler & her baby boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles & baby Ebony💖
@Inmypjsagain & her baby boy 💙
@PurplePansy05 & baby Leo Alexander 💙
@WinterBabyof89 & baby Rosie 💖
@Winecoffeeteamum & baby Emily 💖
@Ready2020 & baby Rowan 💖
@Magik01 & baby Isaac 💙
@Hoares3 & baby Ellis 💙
@Daffodil21 & baby Elliot James 💙
@sarah13xx & baby Freddie 💙
@MrsB2019x & baby Ella💖
@biscuitcat & baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername & baby Arya-Nyah 💖
@notinthestarsigns & baby Erin 💖
@Aaaaa1519 & baby Anum 💖
@Angelesque & baby Isaac 💙
@Millymay13 & baby Ethan 💙
@WolfMother326 & baby Alasdair 💙
@BertieBotts & baby Alex 💙
@RandomCatGenerator & baby Solomon 💙
@lucyrp & baby Evelyn Rose 💖
@HopefulB & baby Chloé 💖
@Mmr224 & baby Alasdair 💙
@Smallbean27 & her baby boy 💙
@Fran919 & her baby girl 💖
@Caz1226 & baby Dougie 💙
@Ava50x & her baby boy 💙
@dirtyfries & baby Frankie 💖
@ame88 & baby Lily 💖

Tagging @Dia12, @livingwithbees, @Sheisfee, @Alittlexmasmagic and @LottSE20 in the opening post so you know we're here as and when you wish to rejoin/share your updates 💐

Here we go!

Thank you @PurplePansy05, what a lovely intro!. Hope those that we haven’t heard from in a while are doing okay ❤️ I didn’t even realise there was a post natal section!

@Inmypjsagain In response to your post on the previous thread - I buy from Sainsbury's online. There's only a small one close to where we live and no clothes there either.

I have the Morrck blankets for car seat and whilst they are lovely quality, frankly, I don't think I should have bought them. DS fits best in his car seat without them, simply in his vest and babygrow/outfit. I feel this is the best and safest fit. In hindsight, I would have saved money and used a normal blanket over him if needed instead.

No snoods here.

Re bibs, sorry if that's a stupid point, but did you check their size? To my surprise some aren't universal. Only those from Next and M&S fit DS snug around the neck and prevent the issues you described atm. Once I looked at some other bibs and those we were given with matching outfits, they are all larger around the neck and some say specifically they are 3-6 or 6-9m. Maybe that's the issue? I don't tuck in any muslins under his now double chin, he wouldn't have it

I only have 3 blankets! Am thinking about buying more though. Will they need a warm blanket for the carrycot?

Shall I also buy one for the stroller seat or buy a footmuff instead? It's a minefield!

My NCT has improved too, I've now made some good friends through it and we see each other regularly! xx

@PurplePansy05 ah I was looking at Morrck, I saw there was sizing and lost interest. Thanks for your feedback on them. I think that’s what we’ll end up using a blanket too, as well having the car a good temperature. Thank you re the bibs too- I’ve just gone and checked them all, no sizing mentioned. I think it’s a lot to do with how much he fidgets when we burp him, up on my knees it’s not so bad. I’ll have a look for smaller ones on next website. Aw his double chin sounds adorable.

Oh and we have so many blankets because we were given most of them! I’m surprised that we got 3 different duplicate baby grows too and 2 of the same Winnie the Pooh teddies!

Footmuff, that’s what I called a snuggler. I think we’ll get one, I’ve seen nice ones on tiba and marl but I’m not sure when we need one? The pram we have is big and I can’t imagine him being too big for the bassinet!

Glad your NCT is better too, quite nice to have local people to do stuff with. I do worry we seem a bit cliquey at the baby sensory but I think people seem to avoid us 😬

Did anyone have much success with peanut? I’m part of a group of 10 on a WhatsApp chat but honestly I find it hard to fit in time with family, friends from pre baby life, nct friends, general baby stuff and another group!

@Inmypjsagain oh no that sounds awful about the girl needing a section due to covid 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was so ridiculously careful in my third trimester, cancelled my baby shower and everything (didn’t really want one in the first place) and had people implying I was being a bit over the top about it at work and a few comments from non-pregnant friends, but I’m so glad I was when I hear things like that!

So between 3-4 DD just wouldn't settle at all and I said some awful things to her then I looked at pictures of when she was first born before we left to go out and I'm now crying because of how big she's gotten already. She's fast asleep in her car seat while we wait for OH and I just want to get her out and cuddle her now 🥺

@lucyrp don't worry we've all been there. One of the good things about babies is they have no idea what you say to them!

@PurplePansy05 we're just using a blanket over him in the car seat - yesterday we had to wrap him up in it as it's getting chilly and he was so cute I could melt 🥰

In the pram we use the star blanket from Tuppence and Crumble - though he much prefers being held so doesn't end up spending much time in the pram anyway!

Thanks for the new thread I’ve missed so much!

Thanks for all the support regarding my vbac experience and recovery. Feeling better about it now as I can actually stop my flow of wee mid wee which is an improvement! The pelvic floor exercises are definitely working thankfully.

Must look at the Mori stuff. I think it gets “dirty” because it’s such soft fabric and it bobbles quickly. I’ve got a seraphine nursing hoody which does the same.

I love Sainsbury’s for cheap clothes. Dd has loads for nursery as they just get wrecked. I absolutely LOVE Zara for kids clothes. Dd is dressed head to toe in it most of the time 😂 haven’t bought anything for ds from there yet as the baby stuff is expensive for what it is I think. Agree about Morrison’s stuff stretching. It’s not great quality.

I buy nearly all vests and sleep suits from M&S as I think it’s by far the softest and it only gets softer the more you wash it. The coloured poppers are so helpful too. My mum loves jojo and often buys stuff from there for the kids. I’m not too keen on the style but it sells really well second hand.

Re: house temp I’m so bad at following the “rules” I just go by what I think is right. You know if they’re too hot or cold in my experience. Those gro eggs drove me mad. Especially in summer when it is impossible to keep it cool enough. Her room got up to 32/33 last summer overnight but she was fine with a fan. Dd sleeps better when it’s on the warmer side anyway and we’ve never had an issue. I’ve put ds in a long sleeve vest, sleep suit and 1tog tonight. Might change him if he feels warmer at the 10.30 feed.

Lovely opening post, thanks @PurplePansy05! I too did not realise there was a post natal section.

@Inmypjsagain - for muslins that’s don’t soak through, maybe try Cheeky Wipes? They’re little towel-like squares which I’ve found stay very soft even after many washes. We are mostly using them as reusable wet wipes but they may be thick enough, without being too thick, to do the job you’re after. I agree bibs always seem too big / thin.

On clothing, DS has a lot of gifted JoJo Maman Bebe and having taken the mick out of that name for years, I am so impressed with the quality and cuteness of their clothes. Beautiful and seem hard wearing too. Recommend.

I agree with others that Next are great - they wash really well without fading. I have some Next outfits that have been through my sister’s son and two or three of her in laws’ kids and are still looking good.

I haven’t had the bad experience others have had with John Lewis. Have some really cute rompers from them. However, I agree the sizing is totally inconsistent which is annoying - DS still fits some newborn items while others are teeny tiny, and the 3-6 month rompers vary from almost his size now (6 weeks) to hilariously large.

@sarah13xx oh it was really scary, I was double vaccinated and very cautious, she was cautious too but didn’t want the vaccine and now is quite preachy about it- I understand why! She’s young fit and healthy too- she had to have an early delivery, baby went off to SCBU and she was intensive care, really horrible but through it which is important.

@biscuitcat The star blankets are so cute and look like they can be used in a sling, will buy I think!

@wimbler the copper M&S popper is so helpful! I love Zara stuff in general but I’ve not bought yet because the boys range isn’t as a good as the girls I don’t think. Think you’re right about the Mori stuff being that type of material. Im tempted to try their adult loungewear now..! Gro egg I’ve only heard bad things about- in that it makes people stressed because it’s always too hot! And yay for stopping mid pee! Glad it’s getting better 😊

@RandomCatGenerator ha I cannot say jojo maman Bebe without using an awful french accent, we’ve got a load from there too! Quality is great I think. We were also given some joules stuff which seems quite similar (never shopped there before!) thank you for the suggestion re cheeky wipes- it’s a really good idea. I actually was too stingy for cheeky wipes because I decided theyre pretty much flannels, so bought a whole of heap of flannels to use instead which I washed and put away and forgot about! I’ll get them out because they’d be perfect, thank you! Glad JL was good for you, am hopeful we got a bad pack then (it was the any day range thinking about it so perhaps quality not as good?)

definitely going to try Next now. Has anyone bought from baby gap? No shops near me so can’t give stuff a feel.

Love cheeky wipes too! I found when he was first born I’d change his nappy and wipe him with a water wipe then dry him with cotton wool but the cotton wool was so fluffy and would stick to him. Over time it actually got all stuck round his bits and needed peeling off all the time, didn’t look comfortable at all 🤦🏼‍♀️ So now I just use the water wipes then a cheeky wipe to dry him off after. They are basically just small pieces of cut up towel though but at least once you’ve bought them they can be used again and again.

@Inmypjsagain it sounds terrifying! was exactly what I feared could happen and had to continually argue with my work on it because they claimed I was at no higher risk than anyone else 🙄

@sarah13xx I gave up with cotton wool, fluff everywhere! I got primark flannels, I know they’re primark but they’re so soft, I got 2 neal’s yards one too and primark are softer- I’ve got a small make up bags that’s waterproof so I’ve just made my own cheap version 😂 and ugh sorry to hear that about your work, I don’t know if you followed the old threads when a few of us had issues? My work said that when life reopened they only had to adhere to social distancing guidelines, but those were removed, so they didn’t have to do anything and I could be back client facing in the office everyday… I was pretty paranoid anyway in a full office with no windows that can be opened, with people taking the tube and bus in… It worked out okay as freedom day got pushed back but it was so stressful. I know it’s rare but it still happens!!!

Ha every time we pass Jojo Maman Bebe my OH and I put on a fake French accent.

James Bond was amazing btw, definitely go see it! DD was good for her granny today and they had fun I think though not as much naps as I'd like. It was nice to get some switch off time, though it was confusing. I missed DD but the time away made me miss my life pre baby but it also kinda made me more anxious now as I forgot about baby things for a short while but then suddenly had to get back to that head space... anyway I'm rambling again!

Been chatting to OH about what kind of parents we want to be at this early stage. He thinks that while co sleeping is fine it can lead to too much attachment if done too long. I'm confused as before we were getting into a kind of routine for feeds but having her in the bed leads to her feeding when she wants during the night for comfort. I feed her as she wants during the day but at night we were going for set feedings. I'm conflicted between wanting to enjoy my time with her, our only child, but wanting to establish a routine for night feeds.

I got a room thermometer today and it's sitting at 20 degrees C in the bedroom. It definitely gets colder during the wee hours though so I think I'll start putting another layer on her soon.

I now can’t say Jojo maman bebe with out saying bebé like moira from schitts creek (which btw is such a great show. If you’ve not watched it I’d really recommend. So funny!

I love cheeky wipes & started using them when dd was 9 months and wish i’d started sooner. She’s nearly 3 now and the first set we have is still going strong. They’re a bit grey but are fantastic at cleaning poo! The specific hands and face ones are great when they start weaning too. I hate using baby wipes on faces. I got ours at the baby and toddler show which is actually on again near us next week. I got a good discount too

We went to a ceramic cafe today and did ds’s footprints. We did dd’s at the same age and will give them as gifts to grandparents again. Such lovely keepsakes.

Had my shower, made myself a cuppa, got myself a mini cheesecake and settled in bed to watch MAFS final live (been watching the next day), only for a massive technical glitch where they played yesterday's episode followed by a load of adverts and then they just put first dates on! Not impressed as stayed up specially!!!!

@wimbler saying bebe like Moira from Schitts Creek appears to be a major part of my conversations with DH…

And I’m glad I’m not alone in putting on the overblown french accent when saying JJMB!

@wimbler what style have you got for the ceramic footprints - would love a photo? I’d like to get DS’ done but couldn’t find a style I liked.

@Daffodil21 Oh you're kidding me, I was just going to catch up on MAFS! Livid 🤣

@Inmypjsagain I bought from baby GAP and also the Cath Kids range from Cath Kidstone. Both fantastic quality - go for it. JJMB and Joules good too.

@wimbler Zara Kids! How did I not think about it?! Half of my wardrobe is from Zara and yet I didn't click. Maybe because I've not been shopping in person since covid hit and their website is rather...unique 🤣

Cheeky wipes - of course! I forgot. Good shout, they're definitely thick enough to prorect from the sick. I use them a lot but mostly for wiping DS when he's having a bath.

@Ready2020 Perhaps go with the flow, with what feels right to you right now? It doesn't have to be so black and white re your parenting style. Also it's so good to sometimes detach yourself from all things baby. I'm dying to see the new Bond.

You guys made me laugh re JJMB pronunciation and Schitts Creek, I love it! 🤣 xx

Oh @Inmypjsagain the vests I bought from JL are definitely the Anyday range 🤦🏼‍♀️ Bugger. I'll see how we get on. I think the rest is from their other ranges though.

The copper popper is not just the M&S thing, I am pretty sure DS's other babygrows have them too, possibly from Next.

Also re Morrck sizing - I think they possibly do it because these are the only blankets tested for safety with car seats and so the sizes match the size of the baby for the right fit in the seat. However, the 0-6m size 1 is very generous on DS so I'm still not sure why they couldn't just make them one size.

@biscuitcat These blankets are half the price of Morrck and just as nice. Great find!

@Lucyrp we've all been there, don't worry. Give her cuddles and all will be well 😘 it's tough sometimes, it really is. Don't be too harsh on yourself. xx

All of our sleepsuits have the different colour popper and they are mostly Asda and Tesco. They do seem a little on the small side compared to prior brands though

@PurplePansy05 I just kept talking to her rather sternly like what do you want 🥺🙄 and she continued of course, imagine if they turned around and answered us when we're asking them these ridiculous questions 😂 omg the Zara website don't even get my started on that. I also find in my clothes from there the sizes are all over the place so wonder how baby sizes are ?? Xx

We say bebe like "bee-bee" as I follow a page on Instagram called bebe snuggs which do bunny style comforter/muslins and that's how they say it 🤣 my friend is obsessed with them and owns like 20. I'm not quite there yet and only have 5 although they are great for sick now we're on the topic of thick cloths for sick!

@Daffodil21 tesco I've found are tiny! DD is out of their newborn and uk to 1 month sizes already and in 0-3 where as most other sizes she still fits newborn and up to 1 month. She's only just turned 9lb 15oz this week though

@Daffodil21 I saw there was a big issue with E4 tonight 🙈 I watched the first week or two but missed an episode then just never went back to it. I thought they’d gone all bachelor usa and were doing the final actually live (pictured studio audience, the lot) til I realised what you meant by live 😂

@Inmypjsagain when I bought some stuff from primark (mainly muslins) when pregnant I thought I’d never use it but it would do for a back up since it was so cheap. I’ve ended up using it all the time! Oh no I don’t think I was on the chat then. It’s ridiculous how pregnant women have had to fight their way through the pandemic having to justify why they’re higher risk when it very clearly says on the nhs website that they are. My boss would look at me with that stupid confused face people do when they literally couldn’t care less. Like it wasn’t her baby so she hadn’t bothered to stop for two minutes to think about it (and she’ll be shocked at the end of my mat leave when I don’t return 🤣). I haven’t even heard from her since I’ve been off at all. I thought managers had some obligation to message every so often asking how you were doing or at least a congratulations message or something 🙈

@sarah13xx I quite my job because I wasn't being taken seriously as a pregnant woman. My boss was asking me to go and do site inspections on a building site every two weeks from 23 weeks pregnant during the pandemic. I wouldn't have been keen without the pandemic! He didn't listen when I said I wasn't happy to do it and kept pushing me to do it, so I quit. As a result I've been on maternity leave since May 🙈

@lucyrp mine has been in 3-6 months since about 6 weeks in the supermarket sizes 😂