Dec 2007: Gummy grins give way to teething tyrants

[claraquitetirednow]

How about this?

Hello everyone

I think I've just caught up with all the messages!

Amani about your pizza - I hope you got some vouchers or something!

Lizzer - great news about your photos. I'd be really upset if I lost any of ours. They are all on the computer but we have backed them up on a dvd as well.

Skid - well done on even considering doing a phd with a 6 mth baby! Don't feel guilty about giving formula. Giving up bf at 5 mths was the best thing I have done. I learned to let go of the guilt of not making it to 6 mths excl bf because I feel so much better mentally and physically now that she is on formula. DD is thriving and in some ways seems better - she is less sick, has less wind and is more inclined to sleep during the day. I don't know if it is just coincidence.

My dd is getting on slowly with weaning. I feel a bit clueless (as I have about everything so far!). She has had baby rice, mashed banana, sweet potato, ordinary potato, carrot and petit filous. She doesn't seem too keen on ordinary potato or carrot but I think I'll try giving them again some other time.

When do you start giving them 3 'meals' a day? I don't know if I'm moving on fast enough with dd's weaning and don't know what to try next although she's 6 mths now so can have a lot more foods.

At the moment it's a bit like this:

on waking (6am ish) - 8oz formula
9.30 ish - baby rice followed by 8 oz formula
1pm ish - 8oz formula
4pm ish - mashed banana or sweet potato puree
6.30pm ish 8 oz formula

Hi Beckle! Sorry to hear you have been down,l but glad you are getting some help. Hope you are back on an even keel soon.
Louise - Don't worry I don't know what I am doing either!! Ds has been having 2 meals a day since Saturday, has been on solids, well baby rice, for a week and a bit.
I give him fruity cereal in the morning, and have tried him on some veggies mid afternoon, plus some baby rice. He has tried some broccoli and cauliflower at PILs yesterday, think he swallowed a bit but he gagged and threw it up!
Have made him some mashed sweet potato, and mixed some cauliflower and broccoli and blended that roughly. I've got a couple of whole broccoli and cauliflower florets as well to see if he wants to try that.
We have a highchair, the one from Ikea and he likes it! Probably because it is high!

Hello Everyone. Well I am on my own for four nights from tonight - well three nights on my own and one night at my parents. But although it'll be a bit of a PITA and hard work, I am not dreading it nearly as much as I did when dh used to go away when dd2 was a newborn. I am just keeping my fingers crossed she sleeps ok. Luckily for me, although she still wakes in the night (sometimes several times) it is just a case of putting the dummy back in and she's straight off again....

Louise - with weaning, just play it by ear. I looked at Annabel Karmel's book both times just to give myself some ideas and a bit of a schedule but did not follow it to the letter. Our schedule at the moment is: approx 6-7oz milk at 6.30, followed by breakfast (usually half a wheatabix with perhaps some apple puree and I use whatever formula is left over); some milk at 10ish (she is drinking less and less at this time so I had only been offering her 4 oz but this morning she drank almost 7oz); lunch at 12ish; another bottle of milk at 3pm; supper at 5pm, then a bottle of milk before bed at 6.30pm.

Hmmm looking at that no wonder she is so fat!

But it has taken me about 9 weeks to get to this stage as I started weaning her at 4 months so I did introduce different food and meals very slowly. I have now started introducing food other than fruit and veg so she has had lentils, cheese, fish etc and today I cooked up a chicken dish for her.

Bouncing turtle - have you given up on the baby led weaning? Is anyone doing it apart from Claireybee? I was wondering how people were getting on?

I'm doing a bit of a mixture, some purees and some BLW - I offered ds some broccoli & cauliflower florets, and he had a good attempt at eating them.
Problem with BLW is it can be a bit of a slow process and I'd like him to be eating a wide variety and plenty of solid foods when he goes to nursery. I think if I wasn't going back to work I think I would have waited a bit longer before introducing solids.

Skid, sounds like your ds is a born BLWer Mine on the other hand, is far too greedy and gets frustrated, shouting at me until I spoon stuff in! So I am now weaning the usual way, rough purees and mash with finger foods alongside-well if that isn't BLW then I don't know what is! We have a spoon each but tbh I put most of it in as he gets so cross waiting for it! It is amazing to me how he has taken to food and how much he can put away! Such a difference to dd...

I am crap at doing it properly though and have been introducing far too many foods too quickly-it's just whatever there is in the fridge really

Sleepwise there is some improvement...the past couple of nights he has woken at 11ish and 2ish for feeds and then is still cluster feeding from 4am onwards, last night there was less actual drinking at this time though so hopefully he'll cut it down soon.

Beckle sorry you have been down, hopefully you'll get the support you need. Sounds like Evie is blossoming though, isn't she one of the younger ones? And moving already!

Lizzer that is great news about your pics! DH has managed to fit all the wine into the shed thingy by the front door along with the lawnmower, god knows what the neighbours thought as they watched us load case after case in there! I went to a party yesterday and asked if it was just adults or kids too, the person having it said "the kids are welcome to come but there will be alcohol so I don't know if you want them around it" I was a bit seeing as they see us drinking (in moderation) most days!

Suey good to hear from you and glad you are managing to express while you are at work, hopefully Skid will manage it too. I really admire people who express successfully, have always found it really hard work but perhaps that is partly because I don't do it regularly.

Good luck on your own Clara!

Hi Everyone.

Good to hear your weaning stories. Is mine the only little bugger darling to not eat savoury foods. Have cooked lots of things like sweet potato which just makes him cry, carrot which he bats away with his hands, sometimes he'll have avocado. Give him banana or apple though and its always more please. Am still pureeing stuff and do sneak mixtures in so will put his veg in with some apple but I don't want him to develop a sweet tooth. He did like a jar I gave him of some veg stuff I bought when out and about but that's it. How can he be a fussy eater at 6 months? Anyone given toast? I tried giving some toast with avocado on it the other day, he did like it but I was scared of him choking.

Clairey, we've still got bad nights although half the time DH gives him boiled water to settle instead of me feeding him. DH has been up all night the last few nights because his bad neck means he can't sleep anyway, poor thing. Thankfully its a bit better today.

Yes I worry that Ds won't take savoury food, as he has been having sweet stuff to. But my friend's baby had loads of sweet stuff to begin with, and now at 9 months eats everything!
Bit worried about him today, he has had this little wheeze since Friday, which has gotten worse today. He has been a bit subdued and when he cries he sounds hoarse! Going to try and get an appt with GP tomorrow morning.

Beckle - I hope you can get some help soon and start to feel better

Clara - Good luck on your own

BT - Ds1 used to have loads of sweet stuff to start with, like fruit, youghurts etc but he started eating everything after a while and is fine now, Ethan will eat a mixture of everything.

I want to start giving him finger foods, what does everyone else give?
Bf's dd is here today, at least she's got her ready and fed her this morning and she's been no bother, just playing with ds1...i hope it lasts

hi fifi - finger foods - toast, organix carrot sticks, rice cakes have all been a success. banana wasn't as it was too slippery for her to hold.

Wizz, BT I really wouldn't worry too much at this stage, just keep offering the savoury stuff so they get used to the colour/texture etc even if they arent eating it to get used to the taste. DD had a great mistrust of anything green for ages but once she got her pincer grip and started eating peas she got over it. She didn't really eat anything leafy until this year though but I think that was because she didnt have back teeth so couldn't chew it properly (leaves don't gum down very well!)

Fifi along with the foods I posted earlier I just put a bit of whatever I've mushed for ds or whatever we are having on his tray. So for example yesterday he had potato carrot and apricot mush then pieces of carrot and asparagus. I also gave him a piece of lamb to chew on but he wasn't too keen!

I ordered this strawberry dress for my friends dd and it just arrived-is lush!

BT hope your ds is ok xx

'mornin' all

Have dd off school today again-she's just got a virus, headaches and sickness (and she asked me "what's diahorrea?" and when i explained said,"oh i've got that too!") She's picked up every virus going this year, a part of me wonders whether its a stress related thing, she's had new house, new school,new friends and new brother all happen at once, its bound to affect her, though she's very happy about it all..

Food wise we do:
early morning bf
9am breakfast = toast (he's getting the hang of it but loves sucking off the unsalted butter!) or porridge (ds love's the plum baby one)
10.30 bf
12-1 lunch which is usually puree (either homemade or a tub), if he's still hungry a fruit yog for pudding
2ish bf
4ish tea which is usually some fruit puree followed by a bf
7ish little bit of baby rice
8ish 8oz bottle and bed

I'm going to start adding some finger foods too Fifi (other than baby biscotti/rusk type things ) Going to try broccoli florettes, boiled apple chunks but haven't had banana success either for the same reasons as claraQ! (I'll get some baby rice cakes now too thanks for reminding me Clara )

Wizz, I agree with bt that its too young to worry about the sweet/savoury thing and I guess just keep trying savoury (avocado on toast is another good tip, thanks!)

Beckle, sorry to hear you're not so good, I'm glad your hv is a good one and helping you out Take care and come and 'offload' here when you can..your dd sounds amazing

Clairey - I think that's an odd thing to say about children and alcohol too, i mean i don't think kids in pubs on a friday surrounded by pissheads are good but at parties etc its fine. We spent saturday morning/afternon sipping bucks fizz at a friend's breakfast party-was bliss

Anyone's lo only interested in 'standing' and 'walking' atm? obviously holding hands with you too..ds would not sit down if given the choice, for me its back breaking stuff! Also atm he likes sitting next to his bumbo, but not in it

So me and dp came to blows over the highchair debarcle! I wanted the tripp trapp or the ikea one. Turns out he doesn't really like the design of the tripp trapp (being a cabinet maker he has very strong views on such things) or the wood (ditto) and said, and I quote, "We are NOT getting the ikea one" (why I don't know, the house is full of ikea-the ultimate irony for the trade he is in!) SO we've ended up with a ridiculously expensive one that looks like an egg on a stick We did get a discount but Its not arrived yet but its going to last til he's 3 apparently which is good because we'll have another baby exactly then and get another 3 yrs out of it (this is dp's theory not mine)

Sorry for waffling, happy monday everyone!

Ooo Clairey, that dress is gorgeous- i do miss buying cute girly things, don't you?

Lizzer wow, that highchair! It does look quite good though, I like that you can use it as a chair for a tiny baby too-would save on having highchair plus bouncer cluttering up the house!

Actually I want it to entertain ds all day and change his nappy for that sort of money

lol lizzer - that highchair is a bit mad-looking - like it might take off into outer space at any second...

yes my DS also wants to stand and 'walk' all the time - very exhausting. DD was never like this - could it be a boy thing?

Hi beckle- good to hear from you and sorry to hear you're not too good - I hope the woman your HV has referred you to can help. I did some research on OCD and know how debilitating it can be. Great to hear your DD is doing so well though

clara - good luck for the four nights on your own. Know what you mean about finding two quite manageable now though - I was on my own last week as well and it didn't faze me at all - although I know just writing that is asking for it!

suey - sounds like you have the expressing down - I only have a manual pump so can't do it hands free but it seems to be working OK now that DS is eating more food - he only seems to need about 7oz mid-morning, then a BF at lunchtime and then another 7oz mid-afternoon so fingers crossed I'm going to be able to keep it up. Hope you're enjoying being back at work still.

fifi - I get the train to Newcastle (from Durham) all the time and it is fine but my pushchair is a Phil and Ted's (ie one sits on top of the other rather than next to each other) - I'm pretty sure you would fit a double on most (newish) trains and once you're on you can leave it up in the bit reserved for bikes. It is a bit of a hassle though but it would be great if you could make it - and I can see how beautiful you are in real life!

clairey - that's fantastic your DS has taken to food so well after your experience with your DD and I completely agree about just looking in the fridge and giving him whatever you find in there - no time to choose hand-reared organic superfoods with no.2!!

DS seems to have developed about 2 months-worth in one weekend - he can now sit up by himself, babble, and eats everything in sight although not interested in purees - he ate a slice of cucumber, half a banana, a cracker, some toast, two cherry tomatoes and a bit of yoghurt for dinner last night!

Ds is fine, doc checked him over, she thinks he has a sore throat - too much shouting lol. She says just give him plenty of fluids, I did mention he only has BM and she said that's fine.
He rolled over today!!! Little tinker waited until I had just nipped upstairs though, came back down and he was on his tummy
Lizzer - that is a space age high chair! It's fab!
Clairey - that dress is sooo sweet! I so want a little girl They have some great wraps, going to treat myself to a couple for when we go to Spain in October. They do matching T-shirts as well don't they?
Mum is coming to visit tomorrow, must stop MNing and get on with house work!

Ive just tried Ethan on some toast and rusk, he wasnt having any of it, have also tried the banana without sucess

BT Glad your ds is ok... at him rolling when your not there though. Ethan still cant quite get over, when my mam came last night i was telling her how far he could get and lay him on his mat so he could do it...the little bugger angel just lay there laughing

Hi everyone

Sorry so little time to catch up again but I've read through all the posts. Especially lovely to hear from those that don't post v often - welcome back Suey and Beckle etc.

Weaning - I am having a nightmare I think! DD didn't like much food,especially purees so I mostly did BLW weaning with her but she was a bfing addict and I am sure 90% of her diet for the first yr was milk! DS has good bfeeds but wont tolerate any food yet (25.5wks) and gags if anything goes to the back of his throat. I tried him on baby rice a wk or so ago and a couple of times he seemed to take the food in and swallow but that was only 1 or two mouth fuls.
Is it a case of perseverance? SHould I just keep offering baby rice for a week or how about me trying those baby porridge now? I never used dried food with DD but Sister used them with her DD and she weaned beautifully and has always been a great eater. Any advice very welcomed.

We're getting ready for DS's christening at the weekend. We're having it down south so we've got an 8hr drive Fri night. Can't wait for all my family to meet DS and catch up with DD

hope everyone is well

BT glad he is ok.
I know, I have to really stop myself from buying stuff from them! They seem to do different things at different times but they are really nice ladies so if you emailed them and asked for tshirts and matching wraps am sure they'd oblige!

Keep trying fifi, the first few times he might not eat it but eventually he'll figure out what he is meant to do.

Skid yes I am relieved he has taken so well to food but typically I am never happy-with dd I just wished she'd let me feed her and now with ds I can't wait for him to do it himself! That sounds a fine dinner your ds had, v impressive!

DD did that walking thing too, had to hold her standing up all the time from a couple of months old and she was walking holding on at 5 months. TBH it was a relief once she could walk unaided, much better for my back! Luckily ds doesn't seem interested yet-he still likes cuddles all the time!

Loucee your dd sounds like mine was too. Um...I guess just keep trying with your ds, he may prefer something with a bit more texture, and he might find it easier to swallow than something like babyrice which I think can confuse them-they think it is liquid and so try to treat it as such then gag on it. Also the porridges have more flavour so he might prefer that? Good luck!

OOh I forgot, I asked the HV at the Bfing group and she says yes you can use cow's milk on cereal, but you need to heat it up first to kill any possible bugs.

Thanks BT!
oops ds is now crying cos I was eating a chocolatew biscuit and wouldn't let him have it!

loucee - my DS was the same - not interested at all and then all of a sudden will eat anything. It might be worth trying your DS with finger foods - i think that was the problem with my DS - didn;t like being spoon-fed. But keep persevering and hopefully he will eventually take to it.

BT - glad your DS is OK and well done to him for rollong. Apparently they often pass milestones when alone - don't know why