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

@Inmypjsagain It does, but only if you leave items in it for longer IMO. My sense of smell is crazy since the pregnancy and I wouldn't say it's a strong smell if you take stuff out after say half an hour. But I can imagine if it's your migraine trigger that's very different, I have my triggers too and gosh, even a tiny whiff is enough to start it off.

I order online from Sainsbury's too, wish they had more large stores with kids' section.

I too heard that re weaning but the guide I received from HV says to introduce both, veg and fruit. As long as it's not added sugar but natural sugars and a balanced diet, I think it should be fine xx

And no, well, I had no reason to lick a Milton wipe . I wait for his toys to dry if they're wiped first too before I give them to him & generally prefer wiping with a damp cloth of we're home. Agreed it's the Milton water that smells stronger than the items that you've sterilised. xx

@magik01 how did the TT appointment go?

@Daffodil21 oh I bet he pulled a cute face when it tasted bad! What fox toy is this? Is it a fox comforter or a stuffed fox toy? Always looking for toys that are recommended! Lol at your husband trying it, you know I think I did as well back in the early days but I could taste the smell if that makes any sense? Then we switched to the mam brand so didn’t need to worry about it.

@PurplePansy05 maybe I leave in for too long then? I’ll double check the instructions. It’s a shame so few Sainsburys have clothes, a blogger I follow dresses her girl in the cutest outfits always from there! Am sure we’re missing out. Good to know re weaning. I can’t believe we’re talking weaning 😮 where has time gone?!

@Inmypjsagain Tell me about it, it feels like yesterday when we were talking about preparing to give birth. It's mad to think a year ago we all discovered we were expecting and now they're here and nearly big enough to start eating carrots 😭

I so get what you mean about tasting the smell, I get it with 90% of dishwasher tablet brands and they are my migraine trigger in fact! How interesting! xx

@Inmypjsagain I think my friend's mum got it from John Lewis but I don't think they do it anymore. It's a soft toy but also a teething one with ears that rustle.

Maybe I should let the fox dry before giving it to him!

@PurplePansy05 I know! I can’t believe it! And all those things lovingly researched he’s now outgrown… I keep seeing the august 2022 thread pop up in active and I feel 🤯 enough time has passed for new august babies!!! Also should have said it’s so nice Leo uses the comforters, like he knew what to do with them! Weird about tasting smell with migraine triggers, must be a thing! But having that with dishwasher tablets must be SO annoying!

@Daffodil21 sounds cute! I like all these rustley toys! Am wondering if I should feel more, feeling bad we’ve not really got him much for Christmas

Just thinking about the start of the thread and wondering about the ladies who stopped posting along the way, in case any of you are still lurking I hope you’re all doing okay! I was thinking about alittlexmasmagic as she started a consolidated thread this time last year. Anyway, just reminiscing!

I know @Inmypjsagain, I can't believe how fast it's gone! It feels for me like I have a proper little person now, rather than a baby who does nothing - how did that happen? I remember when he first stayed awake after feeding instead of dropping off at about 3 weeks and being so disconcerted 😂

Lots of sympathy to the sleep regression mummas - we're a week or so in now and knackered! I was unfair to DH the other day and basically accused him of not understanding and doing enough, which was totally just borne of my tiredness as he really is very good, but luckily all OK again. My sister's wedding is this weekend and my dress is navy blue - will match the circles under my eyes!!!

@biscuitcat I know! An actual expressive little human who interacts, I’m not sure why I still can’t get my head around it! I also think at this age they just look so cute, not that newborn but all chubby cheeks and big eyes! I do wonder what it’s going to be like when they’re moving 😬😬😬 oh no the eye bags, I’m sure we think we look worse than we do but if in doubt Bobbi brown’s under eye corrector is the best! I also saw the attached photo on twitter and it made me 😜

@Smallbean27 it went well! She took before and after photos so we could see as I was worried that maybe he didn’t have a TT and there be another reason for the slow weight gain. She said that it’s really frustrating that the NHS don’t offer a solution if it appears the baby is gaining weight at the beginning as a lot of babies do, and it’s only when the mothers hormones start to regulate and milk production is when you start to see the weight dipping and by that point they won’t do anything because of their age.

It was super quick, just a snip. He cried but only for a second and she passed him straight to me and he fed fine. Too soon to obviously tell if feeding has improved as I didn’t used to get pain anyway, however I do feel like he’s emptying my boobs more than before when feeding. I’d say injections are much worse than what that was, I was worried over nothing! When did you say your appointment was?

@Inmypjsagain I've actually been shopping on Sainsbury's just now and they haven't got the good bibs at the mo 😑 They must have all sold out, I've only bought them 3 weeks ago or so. However, I've discovered you can shop their baby clothes via Argos website too and it might be easier to collect from there if you have one nearer to you. Obviously I knew they have the same owner, I just didn't realise the TU brand was now available in Argos online.

Also if anyone's in need of another sleeping bag, JL have their winter themed ones reduced to clear and I just bought one for Leo for £10.50 - total bargain Can you tell I'm baby shopping this eve...

Also Tripp Trapp is now over £200 in its standard oak colour in JL, it's insane how much more expensive it's gone, it was so pricey already. My Uppababy has gone up by £50 since August too. Nuts! xx

@Fran919 @Inmypjsagain my eldest had a cuski when he was a baby, I used it when he was going to be moved into his own room. I slept with it for a few nights and then gave it him when we moved him. He still has it in his bed now and he’s three.

Also if they do get attached buy more than one! We had one for his nursery bag and one for home as with COVID his bag has to stay there for the week. I need to buy one for Isaac, they can be his Xmas present.

Thanks for all the weaning advice.. will come back on tomorrow and read it all properly when I’ve got a minute. Just getting to bed now and it’s nothing to do with the baby 🙄😂 Been doing orders all night to post out tomorrow and it’s actually easier to just keep going and be a bit tired the next day than try and get a few short bits done during the day while he’s there. Feel like I come on here, empty my entire brain then don’t have time to come back again for days 😂 but I’ll be back with a notepad and pen tomorrow…

@sarah13xx so glad it's going so well for you!!!

Well done @sarah13xx, fantastic effort, just don't overwork yourself now especially just before Christmas Great to hear it's taken off 😄 Re emptying your brain, tbh, there's a lot on everyone's mind right now with young babies and everything that comes with it, I mean, we've filled like 10 threads before you even joined, so you know 😅

Ladies, absolutely not rubbing it in because I know plenty of you are now in the regression stage, but we've been trying to start early nights with Leo and last night he fell asleep between 8 and 8.30pm, woke up for a feed at 10 and then straight back to bed and he's still asleep 😭 I'm so happy I could cry!!!

Maybe a one off, maybe he's still too little, don't know yet. But he has always been a much better night sleeper and a poor napper, so maybe we're moving in the direction of me regaining my evenings and him becoming a bigger, more independent boy now 🙏😭

Anyway, message of hope is that it gets better post regression, so hang in there! He even naps during the day too and self-settles much better, I am shocked xx

@PurplePansy05 @Daffodil21 thanks! Just putting myself through it until Sunday since it’s the last day I could get them done and posted out. It will be worth it when I get the money for them but I need match sticks for my eyes this morning!

That’s great he slept so well 😊 fingers crossed that’s it from now on!

@Daffodil21 I’ve not licked a Milton wipe but they smell horrific, I always try and give it a couple of minutes before giving the toy etc to DD.

@sarah13xx well done you! X

@Magik01 glad it went well for you, we’ve got ours this week and I’m surprisingly feeling nervous, how is your LO this morning

@PurplePansy05 sounds like a win!

We’ve had a small win, DD woke for what I assume was a feed at 2am, went downstairs to make it and come back up and was asleep, woke up 6 and had a big feed and now down for a nap.

@PurplePansy05 brilliant!! I hope it becomes a regular thing. We're still on the late to sleep here - he's just so awake in the evenings! But last night he woke just before 5 for a feed and he's still asleep now.

I honestly don't think it makes any difference if you start with fruit or vegetable 🤷 haven't noticed any differences in the older kids I know anyway.

Also worth noting the advice to start with fruit and veg (and sometimes rice) rather than meat, eggs, grains etc dates from back when people used to wean at 3-4 months and it was thought that you needed to start with gentle or easy to digest foods.

If you wait until 6 months that isn't really necessary, you can still start with those if you want to, but it's not really evidence based at that age and some people say it's better to start with foods which are iron rich like red meat, dark green veg, pulses, eggs and dairy. Grains (bread, pasta, etc) are worth waiting for because they get very little nutrition from them due to them being too hard to digest. White is better than brown when they are tiny, but do watch salt content, as white breads etc tend to have more salt added because the taste is bland.

If you have allergies in your family it's a good idea to go slow when introducing potential allergens but otherwise the research has changed on this in the last few years, they used to say leave the allergens (eggs, gluten, dairy, peanuts etc) until later, but they now say earlier is better (just not before 16 weeks) in terms of preventing allergies. You can't give whole nuts as they are a choking hazard but smooth peanut butter is fine, or peanut puffs (like wotsits with peanut powder) can be bought from polish stores.

If your baby has had formula they have already had dairy as well.

@magik01 glad it all went OK! Hopefully you will notice a difference.
Ours is on Friday.
@Fran919 hope your appt goes well.

That’s amazing @PurplePansy05! Hopefully you are past the sleep regression so here’s to hoping mine isn’t far behind! 😂 the last three nights we have been putting him upstairs to sleep around 8ish as well (previously he would stay downstairs with one of us). Even though I’m still having to go up a few times to settle him it does feel like we are also getting our evenings back.

@Fran919 I was really nervous too, mainly because I hate the cry when they are in pain! But honestly I think he hated her in his mouth more than the actual snip. He’s been fine ever since. We did have a bad night the night of the procedure but that might be coincidental due to the regression? Who knows. Also he will now take a dummy! Before he wouldn’t, it was like he couldn’t suck it and just gagged, so I’ve caged and thought it could help settling him at night. Was in two minds as got so far without one but nevermind.

@Smallbean27 good luck for Friday! Have you and Fran gone through the nhs or private?

Ah im glad it went well @Magik01 and @Smallbean27 hope yours does too.

I’ve gone private through my health insurance so it’s not with a TT practitioner / feeding consultant per see but an ENT consultant - To be fair he specialises in TT and some of his reviews are from parents who have been turned away by the NHS saying it’s mild etc but comment he did a full assessment so that’s all I can ask really

Hope your TT appointments go well, girls!

And hope the regression passes quickly for those of you going through it right now

Christmas miracle continues here, he's just down for the second nap of the day, self-settled again. I don't know what to do with myself! Off to finish off my Christmas food shop! xx

@PurplePansy05 the bibs are tumble dryable! Not tried them yet as they arrived today and I haven't washed them yet, but they're really nice and a good price. These are the ones:

Nuby Bandana Teething Bibs, Pack of 3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DJ249SC/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabc1862HPN9004Q9Z998D4T??encoding=UTF8&psc=1