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

@Daffodil21 Is this a relief reaction?

@lucyrp It could have been O, I wonder if you've started feeling it more after Evelyn's birth. This happened to me after my MCs, will be interesting to see what happens now, but I've had some strong twinges/pulling sensation and CM maybe on 3-4 days already and been thinking if I ovulated. Hormones are the craziest thing in the world! xx

Ikea toys are brilliant and mostly wooden too. We are in the land of wooden toys (Germany) and have quite a mix, the wooden ones do get played with but it depends on the child really and how imaginative they are.

I spent some money that my friends sent me on a Sophie la Girafe (I got the fawn one though instead of the giraffe) and he absolutely loves that if anyone is looking for inspiration.

I know we have talked before about the nasal aspirators did anyone use one or have any recommendations? Willing to try just about anything at this point.

@PurplePansy05 it's an odd one really! It is a bit soon really and I do need to sort myself out a bit first. There was a little bit of disappointment though I have to say 😂

I’m glad it’s not just me with a late AF but I can’t bring myself to test! Will give it another couple of days, could just be irregular periods even though I use to be fairly regular

I also said no to ‘plastic fantastic’ but seems to be all there is available at this age. Once DD is older I’ll be getting some Melissa and Doug toys as I think they look cute but agree with @BertieBotts ikea do some lovely non plastic toys. They do soft vegetables / fruit etc they were a big when I worked in early years education!

@Daffodil21 Aww I’m almost disappointed for you 😂🙈 I love pregnancy’s!

I still haven’t tested although feeling quite sick today but my crohns is also being a pain so I’m not sure what it’s down to. I need to try and sneakily go to a shop (that’s not my local one as I work there😂) without hubby knowing and test in the morning.

Maybe we will have run out of milk later? 😂😂😂

Thank you to those that have followed my clothing line! Anyone who orders and quotes MUMSNET10 can have 10% off 🥰 turn around is currently 4/5 weeks.

Xx

@Jessicapebbles ha yes maybe don't go to your local shop then 😂 they all look lovely. I'll definitely be placing an order when he holds his size for longer than a few weeks!!!

@Jessicapebbles Go 'get petrol' later 😂👌

Aww @Daffodil21, I know what you mean. I think if I found out now, firstly I'd faint as financially it would be a terrible time, but then I look at DS and he's such joy 🥰 It will come. Let's keep the faith in more blessings ❤ xx

@PurplePansy05 Good idea 😂🙈
I’d be happy but equally terrified as I’m not over the c section yet & the newborn bit is SO hard!!
And 3 kids under 4? Sounds a nightmare 😂😂

Xx

Stupid question: what is AF?

I finished pumping this week - three months and three days and no more BF for DS. It’s the right thing for us as a family, to give me more time with him, make me less exhausted, hopefully help my joints to stop hurting so much, not always have such sore boobs.

But I still feel guilty.

Thanks everyone one for encouraging me to take the baby on the train. We had a fun adventure and really liked the house. Alasdair liked the train (although he was too stimulated to sleep on it- he napped on me in the sling rest of the day!)

@RandomCatGenerator be proud of 3 months - that's so great. I'm sure it's emotional to stop though. I hope the transition goes well.

@RandomCatGenerator AF is aunt flow! And don’t feel guilty for stopping pumping! It’s so exhausting and if it’s the right thing for you and your family then that’s all that matters. Be kind to yourself, you’ve done fantastic to do over three months!!

@WolfMother326 what a gorgeous picture, Alasdair looks so alert. ☺️

Re wooden toys, mellisa and Doug do good ones but not necessarily for this age range, ikea do lovely soft toy fruit and veg as well!

@RandomCatGenerator well done for pumping so long! Fed is best and you have to do what works for you!

Re wooden toys - they have their place and there are some nice (very expensive) ones out there but let's face it kids love the big chunky bright colourful plastic ones! Plus many of the older plastic ones really do stand the test of time so they can be reused over and over. Our jumperoo we have got second hand. Lego duplo lasts forever and rarely breaks. My mums just pulled out a box of toy story toys and the box of army men that ds is loving when he visits them - yes they are plastic but they have been being used for 12/13 years now (they were my brothers and dm is a childminder so they've been used regularly and now they are for ds to use) whereas I don't think all the wooden toys last just so long - depends on the make.
In saying that ds favourite "toy" right now is the planks of wood left over from our garden fence and empty Amazon boxes which he's been using to make hot wheels monster truck tracks and air jumps out of 😂 so we have a mix of wood and plastic going on

@RandomCatGenerator you're a complete superstar for managing pumping this long - it must be so intense and so much work, you should be incredibly proud

@WolfMother326 glad it went well and you liked the house 😊

We were at a friend's little one's first birthday party today - it was lovely but so loud!! Rowan was the littlest baby by quite a long way and my goodness they learn and grow a lot in a year! Though bless him, it was so loud and busy that he just really struggled to get to sleep and then only napped for a tiny bit so we had to head off as he was getting so overwrought - he totally clonked out in the car and we took a longer journey back to give him more of a nap

@RandomCatGenerator I had really hoped to be able to pump for any length of time really, never mind make it to 3 months. The faff, sterilising and just general discomfort all got too much for me quite early on and I decided I’d be a better mum giving him formula then spending all my time pumping. 3 months is bloody amazing!

@biscuitcat he was the youngest in his class this week. You go round and say your baby’s name, age and something they’ve done this week.. it’s all very cringe! But it was only due to this that I realised how little he was compared to everyone else. He’s just sat there wobbling about staring at the lights and the rest are diving in the bucket of things she sits out for you 😂 they definitely get so much more out of it if they’re a bit older

Was also in the wooden toy camp! I’m an infant teacher so I despise the ‘plastic fantastic’ crap I have to wheel out at school but unless I’m willing to spend hundreds of pounds buying nice wooden toys for them we just wouldn’t have anything. But between the fact there isn’t really much that isn’t plastic for their age and the fact we go to his little friend’s house and she has all this bright coloured, singing, flashing stuff out which he’s mesmerised by 🙄 I have very little choice but to jump on the bandwagon and buy it

Lovely pic @WolfMother326!

Thank you so much for lovely words on pumping - I really appreciate it, you’re all so nice and it means all the more because you’re all at the same stage as me and DS. You guys are so great x

Sorry to multiple post…

On wooden toys, I’m not a purist - I think it’s right to be pragmatic about this and go for what the kids like within reason and what will last. I despair at some of the garishness of some of the bright stuff in our house - eg the Tiny Love play gym - but it’s easier for babies to see and engage with than elegant muted colours…

One brand I really like for wooden toys is Fairkraft Creations - fairkraftcreations.com/ They’re an Indian social enterprise looking to retain traditional skills in toy making, and I think are planning to expand internationally. Their stuff is so pretty - Ive sent my nephew and niece some toys for Christmas and bought some for DS when he’s older!

@Jessicapebbles did you manage to 'go and get petrol'?!

@WolfMother326 lovely pic! Glad it all went well.

@RandomCatGenerator three months of pumping is brilliant! I found managing to time pumps really difficult and that was with DS being mostly formula fed while I was doing it. Really good going!

Does anyone else spend their dirty nappy changes saying 'no don't put your foot in it!' or is it just me? 😀

Off for our first swim shortly... thanks for all your tips!

I have a predicament that I'd like your opinions on ladies...

I have 20 days of holiday to take "before" I return to work as such. With this I was going to take it as a whole extra month after my maternity leave which would mean I don't have to go back until mid June. But I've been thinking.. should I take a days holiday every week for 20 weeks which would mean I only work 4 days a week and save at least £160 a month on childcare ? 🥴 I feel like I know this is the best option if my boss agrees to it but I've told myself since I've been off I'm not back until June so going back in may will be hard work 🥲

IME, if you do that you won't end up saving on the childcare, it's too tempting to keep them in and enjoy the free day :o

Haba do some nice wooden toys for this age group. And the Sophie I mentioned is natural rubber which is just an alternative to plastic. We have all kinds of toy materials. I have to say though we have some Brio (wooden) train tracks which are nearly 30 years old and still going strong.