Beautiful Babies born 2021 - The journey continues ❤️

[CherLW]

A continuation of our previous group…’Babies due September 2021’

❤️

@Bubbles1st is that the uk guidance? Thats so different to the guidance here. They say that after 6 months babies need more than just milk, but milk should be continued til a year. Our dr said, here we can start them at around 5 months, depending on the child, with puree for lunch, a few spoons to start, but we were told if she likes it we decide what she eats and Lilly decides how much, they eat until theyre full, not because it tastes good. Then a month after they have baby porridge before bed (thats where we are now), then next month she'll have porridge with fruit for dinner, then at about 9 month she'll have breakfasts, so 4 meals a day with milk as she wants. I Portion the puree like the ready made purees which is 190g for a 5/6 month old. I guess theres no set right and wrong cos every child will be different, i can tell if Lilly wants more as she cries and tries to grab for the spoon and if shes full she turns her head as if im trying to feed her the most disgusting thing ever.

@Scotti84 yes that's nhs guidance for baby led weaning, however with manufactured purée or porridge it could of course be different as they may have added nutrients.

Effectively as babies eat more the milk they take will go down but their own doing but until 12 months milk should not be substituted for food, if imagine that would be same regardless of the weaning type. However with blw in general the guidance varies depending what you read where, some people don't like it just like some people don't like the baby food route so finding what works for our babies is the best we can do and if they are happy and healthy then that is what counts regardless of the route we take.

It is a mind field though and interesting how different countries and cultures have such differences of opinions on what's best.

@Bubbles1st im confusing things even more then, i make my own puree so i know exactly whats in it, I thought that would be best as then she has something in her tummy, as my concern with BLW was that she wouldn't actually swallow any of it and be left hungry. We have been giving her things to try herself, but now i know milk is supposed to be the main food still, that puts a different spin on things. Think ill do a bit more googling.

Main thing is that they are happy and healthy though, like you said. It is a minefield! We get one thing down and the next pops up! Can't wait for potty training etc

Quick question to those that have started weaning: do you give them something at every mealtime each day or do you sometimes skip meals/days? Also, do you give them something new each time you feed them or just stick to a few things?

@GWhiteley my boy is on Ella's Kitchen/Piccolo and I do try different ones. But he definitely has favourites...chicken and cheese in particular!

@Noodles4Me did you mash the chicken & cheese up? Alyssa can't eat cheese as she's dairy intolerant, but the chicken sounds interesting!

@GWhiteley I always give breakfast and if he is awake so me at tea, not really doing any lunch yet.

I'm taking the baby swimming for the first time on Sunday.. stupid question but what do you do with them in the pool?! I'm looking forward to going but any tips would be appreciated! I've bought some swim nappies this morning and a little swimming costume (so cute).

Ahh lovely @bewitchingnight! We love it. At our classes we bounce up and down (holding and moving them in and out of the water), hold them floating on their backs, throw a pool toy and swim after it (holding them on their front), sit on the side and catch them as they lean in to the pool, sing songs with actions, kick, splash with hands, move along with a swimming noodle under their chest etc. She loves it!

@AdventuresAwait brilliant, thank you so much that's given me loads of ideas! I hope she enjoys it 🤞🏻

@AdventuresAwait I think you're in my class! Do you also put all the babies on a float and rotate around like some sort of cult altar?
@bewitchingnight you probably already know this but my top tip is don't change the baby before you get there, swim nappies are not waterproof, they will wee on your carseat. It seems obvious when you think about it, if they held water all the babies would sink like stones but it took another mum to point this out to me before we went. Maybe I'm just hopeless.

@PineappleSun, not yet! We haven't used floats at all. Do they sit on them?? I guess most classes are similar as there's only so much you can do! Xx

@PineappleSun laughing at the cult altar of floating babies. Thank you, I didn't know that about the nappies and would have made that mistake!

@AdventuresAwait it's one big float, all the babies perch on the edge held by the parent and you all rotate slowly around singing the wheels on the bus. I find it hilarious and horrifying in equal measure but seem to be the only one that feels like that.

@PineappleSun no we haven't done that! We sing but the babies are just held and we do actions xx

Also don't forget normal nappy for after swimming as I did yesterday 🙈 fortunately a swim nappy did hold up until we got home!

Can we talk 💩?

Before weaning my little one was going anywhere from 2-6 days without a poo. I wasn't too worried as it never really caused him and discomfort and when he went you knew it was the clear out of all clear outs.

Now he is weaning he is still only going as often or not as the case may be but there seems to be far less of it now it is more solid. He hasn't been now since Saturday AM. With the expectation of literally popping out some sweet potato chunks which I could have washed and reserved. No exaggeration they were completely formed. Poor little guy having to pass them.

Well this morning he is very unsettled already, he has finally gone back to sleep on me and it's got me wondering the difference between constipation and a blockage. If he still isn't digesting food and clearly swallowing big chunks I'm getting a bit bothered about the build up of actual undigested food he could be experiencing.

His tummy is still quite soft and he passes lots of gas (very stinky!)

Anyone going through something similar?

He takes a bit of water but maybe not as much as he could. The diet is varied. I want to see what I can try today and if anything helps before calling the gp tomorrow as I don't really want to get to a week and go into the weekend.

@Bubbles1st our poop is a bit different as we're on puree but as we started Lilly went every 4 days, now she goes numerous times a day but small amounts of playdoh style poop, so not hard but not as soft as it used to be. I think if its coming out as its gone in it means the stomach cant process it yet and to go a step back, maybe smaller pieces or cooked softer? I think theres some kind of baby teas that help with digestion, might be worth looking into that?

He has just pooped!

Hopefully he will start to go a bit more often the more mature he gut gets 😬 and at least I know when he shows sign of discomfort he is literally brewing

Good to hear he's managed to go @Bubbles1st with our first we sometimes had similar issues. The pouches of pureed prunes are so handy for constipation. You can also make your own if you prefer. I've stocked up on a few this time again

@MrsTD88 yes I might have to venture into the purée section and add them to his day to help keep him regular thanks

Happy Mother's Day everyone! Big special love to those who first one is today ❤️

Yay! You too @Bubbles1st! First one here. So special. Happy Mother's Day all xx

Anyone cracked getting baby to fall asleep in the crib yet? Lilly will only fall asleep on me and wakes if i put her down, day or night, same story. Ive tried leaving her to cry it out but she literally doesn't calm down and I can't leave her when she's so distressed she's red and can't catch her breathe she's crying that much, but i also don't want to wreck her chances of sleeping well later on. Im out of ideas

@Scotti84, I need the same for day time naps. Really want her to sleep in the cot but she gets upset. I also want her to get used to it as I won't be able to hold her so much aa she gets bigger or take her out in the pushchair each time. Help!
In the evening, I feed and then put her in her cot. She wakes as I put her down but if I hold her hand for a min she goes to sleep.