June 2023 Babies ☀️ (Thread Six)

[ireneadler101]

Thought I'd start a new one as the old one is full!

I'm 37w exactly and definitely starting to feel more Braxton Hicks (they woke me up last night) but they don't seem to be getting more intense/frequent. Also a bit of lower back ache and general bump tenderness, plus I think I've lost a small bit of my mucus plug. Think this is probably normal at this stage and just my body gearing up for labour but am quite nervous as have a c section at 38+3 and hoping to last till then! Second pregnancy but last baby arrived at 36w so feels like uncharted territory!

How is everyone else feeling?

Lovely updates- congratulations @toomanysausages ! It’s also nice to hear about everybody’s Christmas ideas. We’re trying not to go too mad but I keep buying toys when I really need clothes. DS is moving into 12-18 month clothes now. I’m seem to be constantly emptying his wardrobe of things that no longer fit.

We usually aim for 3 naps a day - a 30 minute morning nap, an hour and a half after lunch and another 30 minutes in the afternoon. I don’t know if it’s enough but I really have to work hard to prolong his lunchtime nap - usually having to rock him to sleep again after 30 minutes. This morning he fought his morning nap though, so I gave up.

His sleep is hard work again at the moment. We’re up pretty much every 2-3 hours at night to be resettled with his dummy and he feeds once. The last few nights, though, he’s been desperate to wake at 5am and will only stay asleep if we pick him up and hold him. I hope this doesn’t continue as I’m completely exhausted. He slept better as a newborn.

Thanks all! A little earlier than planned but very excited 😁

Sorry to hear your lo has been poorly @BobbySD345 hopefully she's on the mend. When we are a bit ill dd hardly eats.

Glad to see from the comments that we are fairly similar on naps. Some how I managed to disturb Dd at about 8ish so she treated that a power nap. She went to sleep at midnight last night. Seem to be back on track with nap timings today though 🤞

Is anyone's lo crawling yet?? My lo was shuffling backwards for the last 2 weeks and today she's attempting crawling forward and actually getting somewhere. She's only just turned 6 months! She's been grabbing phones and remotes for weeks but today she was also making pinching / scrolling movements on the screen 😆. She's been so quick with movement and keeping her neck upright and standing etc, but has no interest in food at all!

Oh my goodness @tigerlily0 what a clever little thing! Dd can sit up and that's it. She tried to pick things off of patterned bed cover today though. I think dd may be behind on some things as I had barely put her down (completely my fault but I just adore her and she is pfb) so I'm trying to get her sitting and doing a bit more independently with her toys/things she thinks are toys.
Did you have to "show" your dd how to crawl? Or was she starting to rock?

She's literally just starting crawling today and it's so cute to watch, my other 2 didn't crawl at all and went straight to standing and walking around 11 months so I'm very surprised. She's just learnt it herself, first with rocking and then the forward crawl my OH and daughter have been putting things in front of her and she's learnt to crawl to it. I'm really going to have to watch her now.

Then sitting up from laying down- again she's just rocked herself and held her balance and just sat up. I'm quite emotional actually feel like she's already growing too fast and won't need me soon 😭

I feel like I'm so behind on this thread. I've loved catching up and seeing so many lovely baby pictures. 🥰Also congratulations to those expecting again!

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas with their families! 🎄 🎁 I'm sure nobody is thinking about buying more toys right now but wondering if anyone has anything they'd really recommend or anything that their babies are loving?

My little guy is 7 months now and I cannot believe how the time is flying by. He's well into weaning and likes most foods he's tried (Christmas dinner was a hit!), although orange seems to be the exception! He's been scooting backwards since around 5.5 months and within the last week has started crawling forwards on his hand and knees (although he still doesn't get far yet). He's also able to get into a sitting position by himself now, but is still a tad wobbly at times, so I need to have eyes in the back of my head! Has anyone's little one not got teeth yet? Despite having lots of teething symptoms for some time now, DS is still toothless. I love the gummy smiles so not complaining but was expecting teeth by now, especially since his older brother got his just as he turned 6 months.

Feeling a little lost tonight. DD is in her own room for the overnight sleep. Not sure how it will go. But I miss her being next to me. 😥

How is everybody doing?
@DrinkingAllTheGin how has it been going in her own room?

DS is just over 6.5 months. He had two teeth for Christmas - they cut through on Christmas Eve - so he has a little toothy grin now which is very cute! He is rolling but hasn’t worked out how to move around at all, even though he desperately wants to be on the move, so he still just lies there and shouts until I move him. He’s started sitting up for a few seconds, if I put him in position, but is still super wobbly!

Just wondering if anyone has any good food ideas? I’m still giving him puree as I’m terrified of him choking but I need to start with finger food soon but I’m terrified!

Well it didn't work initially, we decided to wait and try again when day routine was more normal after Christmas.
She has now been in her room and sleeping through for 2 weeks ish and its going well. Down at 6.30 and awake around 6am.

She is eating a mix of mash, puree and finger food. Lots of veg! Last night was macaroni with a veg and cream cheese sauce, and some grated cheese on the side plus some mashed butter nut squash.
Avocado is a firm favourite.
Breakfast is shreddies and fruit.

@hoppyhops

Finger food wise we have done crustless toast fingers with cream cheese or smashed avocado. She sucks the toppings off and munches the bread a bit and as soon as she's gummed it into more of a dough we take it off her and give her a fresh bit. Brocolli florets are great as they can hold them and munch the top bit. Sweet potato fingers were a hit. Ella's Melty sticks are brilliant for out and about as they're long so easy to hold and melt so no gag/choke risk. Cucumber sticks are great if they're teething. I let her suck the seeded bit off and then take it off her as she has 2 chompy teeth lol. Banana but split in the baby safe way - maybe google how to do it as it's hard to explain on here haha but basically you use your finger down the middle to split it? Hope these suggestions help :)

Our DD is over 7 months now but still refusing to sit. We can place her seated but she throws herself backwards. It's exactly what DS did too. Or she leans forwards and then face plants lol.

We are finishing her room this weekend and aiming to get her in there in the next 2 weeks. She sleeps so soundly in her next2me though we don't have any wake periods 10pm to 8am most days. Sort of thinking do we want to change a good thing lol but she's getting too big for it now she's a right chunk !

@Hoppyhops

Sorry forgot to add this. Think I've maybe mentioned it before but with DS someone once told me the rhyme 'loud and red go ahead, quiet and blue, I need help from you'. Always stuck in my mind and it's so helpful as DD is just starting the weaning journey and there have been a lot of gags and red faces but invariably if I keep a close eye and wait a few seconds she sorts it out herself. If she bites a chunk out I just take my finger and sweep it out so she doesn't choke. Sit close and keep an eye. Sweep if there's an obvious chunk of the food come away but otherwise if they're gagging it's usually because their reflex is so far forward and/or they don't know the texture.

Also another helpful tip someone told me with DS a few years back is when starting the weaning journey, don't strap them into the highchair. As long as they're safe/there's a bar between the legs or a tray etc and you are nearby if they're a fidget, it means if you are concerned about something lodged in their throat and they're not solving it themselves, you can whip them out quickly and help.

Have a look online for baby pancakes and frittatas, egg muffins etc. They're good mushy finger foods too.

Hope this helps x

@Hoppyhops, those first toothy grins are the cutest! 🥰 My DS is coming up to 8 months in a few days and still has a gummy smile! 😍 His big brother cut his first teeth the day he turned 6 months so have been expecting them for a while - still no sign yet!

Movement wise, he's still crawling around and getting into a sitting position but has now learnt to pull up and seems to prefer being on his feet. I bought him an activity table which he can pull to stand on and takes the odd step (while holding on for dear life 😂) to reach the toys further away. He's not learnt to sit down safely so have to be on the ball. He tries to stand up using anything though and can with most things that are the right height/have something for him to grip on.

I'm not ready for him to ge in his own room just yet and remember the transition being really tough with DS1 so not rushing things this time around.

In terms of food, he pretty much just eats what we're having. He has no issues and haven't had any chocking issues. I went to a weaning class where it was explained that until around 18m they have a higher gag reflex to prevent chocking. Gagging can obviously be a bit scary but I was told it's completely normal and not to intervene unless baby becomes unresponsive (which is extremely unlikely).

Hi all :)

My daughter is breastfed and has a dairy allergy. I stopped dairy when she was 2.5 months old due to nasal congestion, nappy rash, sick, frequent poops etc...and she's just turned 7 months.

Is anyone struggling with weaning/allergies?
We flit between no symptoms (rarely), to spit up/sick numerous times a day, and her poops are often big and runny.

We are taking weaning slowly by only trying one food at a time, but it's so hard for me to know if her symptoms are a food allergy through something I've eaten, something she's eaten, or just "normal" when starting weaning?

We are under a dietician but to be honest I don't find her that helpful.

I think what I'm asking, is for those whose babies don't have any known allergies, did weaning affect your LOs bowels or cause increased spit up/vomit?

Thanks!

@hanhanc66 Sorry to hear you're having to deal with allergies !
DS is now 4 and still dairy free. He's not allergic but has an intolerance and as soon as we started weaning him we knew something was wrong. He had terrible eczema and respiratory issues. Constantly wheezing and coughing. He also had bad constipation. We ended up going to Dr Bakshi in Birmingham, a private consultant, who can do allergy tests on little ones as we wanted to rule out other things like eggs and check whether it was a proper allergy to milk. This might be an idea? All DS prick tests were negative and we continued to cut the milk as a test as he said it did sound like milk intolerance. He was much better after that but it's pain. The food costs a bomb and eating out is a faff. Kids parties are a nightmare because he misses out.

Have you noticed an improvement since cutting dairy out? The dietician always told us dairy stays in the body for around 8 weeks so it's a long slog !

This time round, DD is 7 months and tbh she has had a lot of vomiting and runny nappies since we started weaning. I questioned allergies or intolerances too but we are sticking at it for now as she doesn't seem distressed by it.

I don't know if this helps but just sharing our experience with both children. Happy to chat if there's anything you wanted to ask and good luck 🙂

@BobbySD345 thanks for your reply!

Yes her nappy rash cleared within a week (it was honestly awful, we were referred to the tissue viability team it got so bad!), poops went down to a couple a day from 10-15+, and her face cleared up. I "think" her reflux improved but we have never had a day where she hasn't been sick. I'm not talking projectile, but we can't not wear a bib or have muslins to hand :(

I'm now 4.5 months dairy free and not finding it too hard any more (although I can't wait for a cheese sandwich, the simple things!)

DD doesn't seem too concerned by the occasional spit up/sick but I think as she gets older it's bothering her a little more than it used to. And the runny poops have never really stopped.

Her weight seems to have slowed down the past 6 weeks or so which also concerns me (although the HV aren't concerned). She put on really well the first 6 months and although she hasn't lose weight, she hasn't gained much recently. Although they say this can be normal for breastfed babies.

On the 2 occasions I've trialled dairy her only additional symptom seems to be nasal congestion. My gut is telling me there's something else (maybe egg) so I'm wondering whether to cut that out of my diet rather than trying weaning her directly with it....

I think being an allergy Mum makes you second guess every symptom against everything you eat, and everything you put in their mouths as well!

I did consider a private allergy check so may look in to that more....

@hanhanc66 It was a few years back now but I think overall we spent around £500 for 2 consultations, prick tests and a chickenpox vaccine that he administered. To be honest it was worth every penny.

It does sound like dairy was definitely an issue as there's improvement but it would be handy to know if it's a proper allergy as this helps you understand how careful to be as little one gets older.

@DrinkingAllTheGin Glad it has worked well for you this time around - 6.30-6 is absolutely amazing! We’re still awake numerous times through the night so I’m not even bothering to move him yet until he’s more settled - hopefully not too much longer🙏🏻🙏🏻

@BobbySD345 Amazing tips- thank you so much! The high chair thing is so simple but something I was stressing about incase I couldn’t get him out quick enough. Hope the transition into her own room goes well for your little one!

@B1993 Lovely updates! He must be keeping you on your toes, trying to stand. I can’t believe that we’re all at this moving stage already- it really is flying! The thing about the higher gag reflex in babies is also really reassuring, thank you!

Happy Birthday month babies! Dd still isn't sleeping through the night Any walkers yet?

@toomanysausages I completely forgot about this thread!
Freddie isn't sleeping through yet either. He turned 1 last week! He's only just learnt to crawl properly so is now speedy speedy. No sign of walking yet!
Can't believe they are 1 though where did the time go!

Zachary turned 1 two weeks ago! Still isn’t sleeping through, only just started crawling so think it will be a while before walking!

Matthew won't be 1 until the end of the month but he's still not crawling let alone walking. He's getting there though, he can pivot round and roll all over the place. He's been referred to physio as he's so behind with gross motor skills and not standing but he's doing really well in all other areas! Sleeps through the night most nights until around 6:30 although occasionally wakes for milk around 5am.

I can't believe we'll all have 1 year olds soon. I hated the new born phase and it felt like forever but now I'm loving this stage and it's just flying by 😭

Aww so nice to hear all the lovely updates.

DD will be 1 on the 19th and she’s still commando crawling atm. She hasn’t quite mastered standing up yet but I’m sure she’ll get there. She only got her first teeth in last week! She is no where near sleeping through the night. Her sleep has gotten worse as she’s getting older 😩 but she’s a happy baby most of time so that’s good

@toomanysausages how’s your pregnancy going? When are you due if you don’t mind me asking?

Is it just me, or does it feel like they grow up so fast? Maddie's first birthday is next Friday, and I've been crying the past few days. Where has the time gone? I don't want to go back to work full-time (though I have to), but she's so ready for nursery and really enjoys the company of other babies.

She's advanced in many areas (except speech—no proper words yet), and she's been walking on her own for the past 2-3 weeks. Ladies, brace yourselves for lots of bumps and tumbles 😅

My little one is 1 at the end of the month and I go back to work tomorrow - been crying on and off all day but I hope that means tomorrow I’ll be fine!

He’s making no attempt to crawl - he bum shuffles everywhere instead, he’s pulling to stand and staring to cruise along the sofa, but this morning he threw himself off, past my arms and straight into the fireplace 🙈 He has a big red mark above his lip now- awful! After months of horrendous sleep, he is now sleeping through most nights so I hope that continues now I’ll be back in work.

I’m also pregnant with baby number 2, due in November, so the months seem to be flying by!!

Nice to know it’s not just mine not walking and sleeping through, the babies we go to classes with all seem so advanced!

Anyone else just solely giving cows milk now? Zachary has taken well to it in the day but his night feed which used to be formula went terribly last night, he usually falls back to sleep straight after his bottle but he was awake 2 hours last night with the cows milk 😩 he’s not the greatest eater and still mainly wants puréed stuff.