August 2021 Babies - From Santa to Solids, Hohoho!

[PurplePansy05]

Here we go again!

I'd do another delightful intro, alas I've lost count which thread this is now and we all know our LO's names anyway 😁

So instead I will just say, Merry First Christmas together to you and your LOs! 🎄❤🎁

May the sleep regression pass as soon as they see Santa later this week...

...May they love weaning and may our kitchens survive...

...May 2022 be full of blessings for them and for us ❤❤❤

Oldcomers and newcomers welcome, as always! 🥰

Oh and no teeth here yet either! Watch him be super late like his brother lol

@Magik01 it is a weight off, I just hope it leads to something fairly regular, which it does have the potential to. Yes, doing the Etsy shop and website shop. It's not quite set up yet but hopefully it will be after the weekend (needs to be really as the wedding fair have asked for my website for pre show adverts 😱) I won't post a link here because I've aired way too much of myself on here and I don't ever want it to be liked 😂 but I'll happily PM you a link and anyone else who wants to have a nosey. Happy to do you a drawing at a discount but I'll let you come to me if that is something you'd like as don't want you to feel awkward 😂

Oh! Thank you to those who mentioned wetabix - gave some at lunch with some banana and it was a hit! I probably wouldn't have thought about that yet if I hadn't read the chat on here. I'm sure he'll change his mind next time I offer it but we shall see!

@sarah13xx sorry your MIL is so unhelpful, some people clearly don't realize how gutting it is to have any baby free time taken away last minute (even if that time is just going to be used on a nap or catching up with chores it feels like a big deal lol)

Also glad to read that a lot your babies are still not sitting unsupported or don't have teeth yet.

People always seem to show off about how early their little ones do these things and i was starting to worry Ivy was the only one who hadn't yet!

For weaning we are doing BLW though more through necessity since DD hates being spoon fed and wants to put everything in her mouth herself. It's been going ok but i was super stressed the first week

I'm finding Alex is being sick a lot when feeding solids at the moment even with purée. So I don't know whether it's the phlegm from covid that's bothering him. He's been really curious with his tongue today exploring his new tooth or teeth -can't tell if just one or both lower teeth are through. We had to give him some neurofen about halfway through the day and he was a lot happier after that so I think the second one is close if not here already. He had a great time gumming on some cold cucumber this evening.

Yes @Daffodil21 shoot me a PM when you get it up and running and thank you for the lovely offer ad well!

@BertieBotts glad your all feeling better re covid but oh no about Alex! Hopfully the phlegm doesn’t last long. Can you get anbosol in Germany?

@kagerou your not alone don’t worry! My first son didn’t get a tooth until he was 9 months old, didn’t sit unaided until 7/8 months (I think!) and didn’t crawl until he was one! 😂 To be fair it was easier as I could put him down and know he wasn’t going anywhere fast!

@Daffodil21 I must have missed the post earlier, what sort of thing will you be doing on etsy?

I'm so envious of people who have the skills for a side hustle lol

@Magik01 will do! Going to be a busy weekend!

@kagerou hand drawn wedding venues/houses etc and also invitations with the wedding venue drawn on it, that sort of thing

I think the teething gel is prescription only here or over the counter at a pharmacy, as I asked my doctor when DS2 was younger and he was a bit reluctant but did prescribe it. They seem happier for us to give paracetamol or neurofen so that's what we do. I don't know if the gels have the same ingredients here. Also things like cold veg sticks to chew on and teethers.

@Daffodil21 oh wow that sounds lovely

Oh @BertieBotts you've just reminded me. @sarah13xx @Ready2020 and anyone else in Scotland - I got anbesol free on minor ailments yesterday

@daffodil21 I would be interested in your work! Let me know when your up and running.

Ladies. Burning questions from a FTM.

1. How long do babies need to wear hats?

I know obviously in the winter they do. But in say March/April when they're 9mo, will they still need cotton hats, newborn type, when out and about? Or should they only wear light summer hats on sunny days?

1. Am I being unrealistic to think that I could still bf DS on weekends and wfh days only when I return to work?

I've decided to go down to one breastfeed per day, the first morning feed. It's our special time together, we cuddle after, lots of smiles, and it sets us up for the day nicely. However, when I return to work, I don't think I will have enough time in the mornings to continue 😔 Is it doable at all to continue to bf say 3-4 times a week when I'm not in the office? I'd have to express on the other days, wouldn't I? Which won't work either 😔

Thoughts much appreciated xx

OMG if you come to Germany they need hats forever :o A naked head is unimaginable until about the age of 6 :o :o

I think in the UK I only did winter hats for warmth and sun hats for shade and never bothered with the cotton hats in between at any age. In fact I do that here too... screw the judgy old ladies.

Breastfeeding should be fine to continue like that when you work, you probably won't need to express either. Supply is much more elastic once you've got past the first few weeks where you're establishing it. Although it might depend on the pattern, I don't know for example if you'd be able to feed for 3 days, have a 4 day break and resume again. I guess just try it. You have nothing to lose. I suspect you'd be a bit engorged on the first day of the 4 day break, but maybe not.

I've nearly finished the car seat guide but it's ended up a bit of a beast it was too long to turn into an article for the blog so I've created it as a document you can read online or download. I will have to make a summary version cutting out all the waffle!

@Daffodil21 what is your Etsy so I can find it? :)

@PurplePansy05 it’s 10-17 degrees here and we have eschewed hats. It’s meant to be good for cradle cap for them to get sun on their skin. As he’s very fair we do always have a sun hat on stand by however.

Thank you both. Bertie, that's a good point re engorgement. It would likely be 3 days with no bf and 4 with which makes it awkward. Perhaps I could pump a little bit on day 1 of no bf to take the edge off. I guess I'll have to try it and see what works, I really don't want to be mega rushed in the mornings and drive to work like a maniac...or get stuck in endless traffic because I left 5 mins too late. It's a tricky one. Can you tell I'm not ready to stop bf, I had many days of thinking my life will be so easy when he gets to 6mo and now I don't want to let go. 🤦🏼‍♀️

@RandomCatGenerator Thanks for the hat comments too. I am thinking along the same lines, although I'm close to the coast and it's ever so windy here. The reason I'm asking is because I'm buying DS a new winter hat, what was supposed to be a 6-12m one fits him just about right now 🙄 He'll need a new one next month for sure so I'm thinking I might as well buy a lighter one now if needed.

Are everyone's babies in 6-12m hats now? Does Leo have a massive head? 😄 xx

@PurplePansy05 DS (5.5months) has outgrown 6-9 month hats. He hasn’t got an abnormally large head I don’t think…I think they’re maybe an item that is sized small!

Hats don't seem to be sized by age here so I am always baffled about what size to buy :o

@PurplePansy05 I would think it would depend on hair, if he doesn't have much he might still get a little chilly in spring (though he should be better at temp regulation by 9 months so it would be more comfy than necessary).

For BF would you be able to pump off a little in the evenings or even just hand express into the loo / sink at work? (I know it seems like a waste of milk to dump it but your boobs would thank you if they were getting engorged!).

@kagerou His hair is growing now, however some babies have a lot more than him which I noticed at our swimming classes (they're 6mo too). He's not as bald as he was a couple of months ago though

I really don't want to waste my breast milk if I'm making an effort to feed him for longer. And I really don't want to have to wear shirts or easy access tops to express a bit in work, I am so done with them! I'm not easily pleased, I know! But I would be very uncomfortable sorting my boobs out in work. xx

Evenings, maybe. That's another thing to trial 😊 - thanks xx

I have no idea about hats, Isaac wear knitted hats that my mum knits which have a good stretch to them so fit a variety of head sizes.

Talking about hair I had to cut his hair the other week!! It was that long and all in his eyes bless him. First hair cut at 5 and a half months. 🤣

DH really wants to cut his hair but I won't let him :o

Ivy has had her hair cut a few times and its still constantly tangling at night :/

Rowan is a proper baldy 😂 can't see him needing a haircut any time soon! Though to be fair I was too when I was little and I have loads of hair now!