August 2021 Babies - They Had To Be Gorgeous, Just Look At Us

[PurplePansy05]

Welcome to the chattiest post-natal club on MN!

We spent a year together chatting about all things pregnancy and baby...

...we've tried and tested countless baby products...

...exchanged hundreds of tips...

...talked about all the big things in life, all the little things, the good times and the tough times...

...we had a good laugh together 😁...

...and somehow we now have gorgeous 3 month old babies without looking a day older ourselves 😅 (must be that good laugh!)

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 💖

Sorry if I've missed anyone, please join in! xx

@Ready2020 we do nappy changes in the dark 😂 we have a small night light in the bedroom and I usually grab some wipes and a nappy from her room and bring them and change her on our bed then leave her lay there for a few minutes then pop her back in her bed

We seem to have had several extra hungry days (they seem to continue) followed by a day with lots of sleep, napping better during the day and now baby looking tired but not falling asleep easily like he normally would. Whatever has been going on it's been more than a fortnight here and it will be longer than that. He's still asleep now thank god so not waking up in the middle of the night for anything. xx

I use Pampers Premium Protection for night time and I find they are totally fine to go for 12+ hours as they have a little mesh on the inside which helps keep the wee/poo away from their skin. We would still change for a poo at night but if I'm going to have him in a chaotic environment that I might not notice a poo for a while (e.g. sling on bus to pick DS2 up and back again or all around supermarket - supermarkets don't have toilets here) they work for that too.

He has sensitive skin and we change after 2 hours in the day, with my others I would leave them 4, maybe even 5 hours if they hadn't pooed.

I find that their feeding and sleeping will go in cycles. We'll have a few days where he wants to feed all the time, then a few days where he sleeps constantly and then suddenly he'll have grown out of his clothes. Or there will be an unsettled few days where he seems really frustrated and interested in neither feeding or sleeping alternating with periods of alertness and it will feel like we are on the cusp of a new skill. We got it when he was learning to reach for/touch objects for sure. Sometimes the "leap" is a bit more subtle and you can't exactly work out what it is, but you can usually notice something has changed. So I always think of them as growth spurts/developmental leaps, a bit like wonder weeks (but I think that was disproven) - if it serves as a good reminder that these phases are temporary and also just part of normal growth/leading to something positive, then apps/books like that are useful. If it's making you stressed to read about the cloud weeks or sleep regressions etc coming up, then don't.

For the past maybe 5 days DS has gone from sleeping at least 5 hours, sometimes 6 to waiting every 2 hours again. I feel like I have a newborn again and it’s exhausting. Has anyone else had this? He’s 14 +3 weeks

Like @BertieBotts I use the pampers premium and do find they are fine for the 12 hours at night. During the day she gets changed more often and if she is dirty at night she definitely gets changed.
Dd hasn't exactly slept since 4am she's cluster fed pretty much constantly and on the couple of times I've managed to put her down she's slept at most 20 mins and usually only that if I held her hand 😴

@PurplePansy05 the thing is I don't think she meant it to be nasty. She genuinely looked concerned! She caught me off guard just as we were literally heading out the door so I didn't really think quick enough. I almost was like 'why would you say that?!' but didn't any to start anything so settled with a plain and simple 'I don't give a fuck' and left.

Hi ladies,

My DD has got a cold. Her eyes are abit watery and she's sneezing.

I've put calpol saline nasal spray in her nose, using olbas oil on a tissue, given her calpol. Lots of love and cuddles. She's feeding ok too. I've also turned on the vicks humidifier at home.

Is there anything else I can do? Just abit worried ...:(

@Whatshouldbemyusername When Leo had a cold I used Snufflebabe and the Calpol plug (although only for an hour a day, it's quite strong). Extra bf, cuddles and sleep help. He also slept a bit more reclined in his buggy/N2M and DH braved the snot sucker once, but I don't find it necessary tbh it put me off for life. I actually took him to the GP and she said to look out for poor appetite, high or low temp, lethargy, rash or breathing issues (such as particularly heavy or irregular breathing or wheezing chest) as symptoms of concern, otherwise they tend to just fight them off. You're bf her too so there's a good chance she's getting antibodies from you. I'd say practice good hygiene which I'm sure you do anyway and don't go overboard, you've done plenty already. Hope she feels better soon ❤ xx

@PurplePansy05 thanks babe. It's just worrying. She's feeding ok. She's even woken up and babbled quite abit. I've fed her abs she's fallen asleep. Keeping an eye on her.

It's just worrying me. My husband had to go to work today so it's just me and her.

He's gonna get snufflebabe on the way back home. She's even peeing and popping so I guess that's a good sign.

Hope you and Leo are well.

My god you all have good babies! If I leave DD in a wet nappy all hell breaks loose! She needs it changed asap🥴😭

Any advice?
Rohan now dislikes the car seat, he will scream and cry which makes him very hot and sweaty. Which makes him uncomfortable and therefore continues to cry!
Not sure what I can do, he is in a Joie i-gemm 2. We have taken the newborn insert out.

Do you need to raise the straps up to the next level perhaps?

You might try it with the insert back in. I think that flattens out the curve a bit? I find the Joie Gemm seats are all really curved so might be uncomfortable. However, it's also just really common for them to hate car seats and it's nothing to do with comfort, it's just them freaking out because they can't see you.

Try singing to him in the car or get some battery operated dim fairy lights and wrap them around the headrest of the seat his car seat is on. Or a toy that wraps around the handle and dangles things down to play with.

@Smallbean27 my DD hates the car seat too. She will cry unless someone is in the back with her

Also car seats are made of polystyrene so they can get quite warm, make sure they aren't overdressed in there or if you put a blanket on top that it's not folded too many times as they might just be hot.

Thanks @BertieBotts they are quite curved without the insert. I will try it back in but move the straps.
He has mirrors and tried singing, when he's starts crying he only stops if he tires himself out and falls asleep.
Yeah, he only has 2 layers on max in the car seat.
@Ready2020 glad it's not just me!

@lucyrp what nappies are you using? Maybe she can feel it’s wet, that’s why she doesn’t like it? In the early days I touched the inside of a wet nappy and I was really surprised that it felt dry to touch, so imagine that’s more comfortable for the baby? I’m really impressed with pampers, bit gross but might be worth feeling?

For over night we use pampers, I think they’re called super dry or something- green packaging and they don’t have the wee stripe on them, but they have lions and koalas on them. They’re great as baby sleeps 10-12 hours per night and we won’t wake him up to change.

So it’s okay to attach toys to the car seat? I want to do it but I didn’t know if it compromised safety so have just left it. And di most people sit in the front (obviously if you’re driving alone you have to!) I’ve always sat in the backseat, but I feel a bit queasy in the back…

Anyone else’s baby like rolling over on the changing mat? Makes the nappy change so much longer, I want to encourage the rolling so dont want to stop him! it seems his favourite place is on the mat mid change 🤷🏼‍♀️ Maybe when it’s not a novelty anymore he’ll stop!

@Inmypjsagain oh no I always sit in the front unless she's upset! We have a mirror attached to the headrest in the back though so can see her in the rear view mirror or if you turn around! Will try feeling the nappy?

@Inmypjsagain I sat in the back until we got a car mirror, and now I always sit in the front. But he likes being in the car seat (so far anyway!). No rolling here yet but DS loves kicking his feet out while on the changing mat so I usually let him do it for a little while (until I get bored!). He also loves having his feet out so he can look at them 🥰

We don’t change at night unless it’s a poo poo which she’ll do mid feed, we use to when she was newborn to take a feed as she was SGA so advised by HV but nappy change really wakes her up. We use reusable nappies, tots bots bamboozle with an added liner and she seems happy enough.

I’m very jealous of you all having LO who sleep for a long period (albeit not at the moment with the leaps) what’s your trick, DD and wakes every 2/3 hours if not more and needs resettling often. Any sleep past 4am is a bonus. I can’t see her sleeping through any time soon unfortunately.

Is anybody considering moving LO to their own room before 6 months? Reason I ask, I really do think I disturb her, I’m forever tossing and turning in bed so I’m sure I wake her. It certainly wouldn’t be now but potentially 5 months?!

DD can roll from front to back and was trying from back to front but seems to have stopped the practice. She just generally becomes all legs on the change mat! Can't get them out the way.

I'm getting my hair done tomorrow, the full works. It'll take ages so my mum is coming to the house to look after DD though my OH will be there too but working. I'll be away over 3 hours! Hopefully she'll last with needing a feed.... the bottle is there if needs be.

How are all the first time mums doing? Has it sunk in yet that we created these babies and life is never going to be the same? I still get a bit bored in my days but as long as the weather is good I'm OK. Baby sensory and massage classes are back on and while I don't think DD cares if we go or not I do feel better getting out to do things. My mind has been wandering to when I go back to work though. I can't imagine just leaving her at a nursery!

Who is planning to put baby in their own room around 6 months? Or sooner?

Freddie hates the car seat too, especially since I’ve taken the newborn insert out. He cries so much he goes red, roasting and is sweating sometimes 🙈 Usually he stops when we’re moving though.

I kind of say it while clenching my teeth (if that’s the phrase 🤔) but he still sleeps 12+ hours every night, sorry sorry sorry 🙈 Since he started it he’s never gone back the way or even woken up once. I think the fact he sucks his thumb now really helps him because he can put himself to sleep. DH is away to London with work this week so I’m on my own for the first time (other than the usual 9-5). He only left this morning but I already feel like today has been sooo long 😂 The 5-7pm shift playing with him before bath time felt like it went on forever. Usually that’s when DH comes in, I have some adult conversation and it just flies in. I usually do more of the stuff directly with the baby and he does all the other stuff like cleaning, the dishwasher and sterilising bottles. Freddie’s gone to bed and I feel like the whole house is a tip and I have so much to do because he hasn’t done it 🙈 roll on Friday!

@Ready2020 I really don’t know what we’ll do. My friend put her little one in her own room about 4 and a half months. I’m a bit more paranoid than that though 🙈 I feel fine about leaving him upstairs because I’ve got the breathing monitor and monitor on to watch him so I know he’s fine. I just don’t know how I’d feel if I was asleep so I wouldn’t hear him from the other room if anything was wrong

Lol @Fran919 I spent ages on my typing so didn't see your post. I'm definitely going to be trying her in her own room end of January when she's coming up to 6 months. I definitely disturb her and I'd rather have to get up and go to her room multiple times and have my own room back (says me now....). I've got major guilt about doing it though tbh. I love waking up to her wee face but I will not be able to relax in my bed until she's not in the room.

I will say that our house is small so her room is across the postage stamp sized land to our room. This plus the monitor will make me feel a bit better about it.

@lucyrp sorry I know feeling the nappy is an odd suggestion! But I definitely felt better about longer change times after that! And we have a mirror for our car seat too but I’m still sitting in the back…. Thinking about it I’m probably doing it for me rather than him! We’re driving tomorrow so we’ll see what he’s like then

@Daffodil21 I’m going to sit in the front tomorrow and see what happens..! Ha the feet thing is so funny, he only noticed them the other but pulled such a face as if to say what are those things 😂 what is about changing mats?! He loves a chat on there too. I reckon he just likes not wearing a nappy!!! Also I can’t believe the rudeness of people!!!! I’m still a size bigger than pre pregnancy and I’m sure everyone must be thinking I look puffy but no one’s said anything yet, good for you for making the lady squirm, I genuinely think I’d have cried!

@Fran919 oh how are you finding reusable nappies? I had hoped to be using them by now but the disposable ones have proved too convenient so far! Also thought of washing the poo makes me a bit 😵
We have no real tricks for the long sleep, he’s just sleepy (I’m fully waiting a regression though and every night I think is it time for him to wake up 100 times?!) we did use itsminimatters routine for dropping a night feed and she says early awake time could be too late a bed time, I’ll try and find the insta posts and link them in my next post. We’re going to try and keep him in our room longer than 6 months depending how it goes, but it’s mainly because we don’t bother each other too much.

@Ready2020 we’ve only had one roll from front to back and it was accidental I think, he was rocking around and I think the sheer weight of his head pulled him back on to his back! Absolutely not sunk in for me! I was eating lunch with him in the bouncer looking at him thinking soon you’ll be walking talking and eating lunch with me? Blows my mind really! Enjoy the hairdressers tomorrow, I know it’s not really a break but it’s nice to break the routine!

@sarah13xx ohhh I don’t envy you- I’ll be in a similar position on Wednesday! Husband is flying to Switzerland (I think 🤔) for work on Wednesday morning, back Saturday morning. Hoping it won’t be too bad but I’m going to need to empty the nappy bin and I don’t like that job 😂