Due Dec 2023 - part 6

[Nclktnntt]

Follow-on from part 5 heading into delivery and motherhood.

Heya @Charlielechat thank you, what about if your LO refuses any nap altogether? My LO went 2.5 hours in the end. He won't settle into a cuddle because as he's falling asleep he fights it. By then though I do do a contact nap so he at least gets some sleep and we reset for the next one.

He's not crying when he does this, he just gets miserable and arches his back and gets tense and won't play either because he's tired and it ends up being a cycle 😢

If our girl won't nap then the only way we get one is in the carrier walking around. She would probably fall asleep walking in the pram too but it's less consistent and only 30 minutes max. For naps we do a 10 minute routine that seems to help her go down (although will caveat she's always been a big sleeper). 5 minutes of lying in the dark bedroom looking at a ceiling galaxy light (with dummy in if fussing), 5 minutes of being jiggled/carried around to the song "Fast car" in her swaddle which gets her drowsy. That song seems to be a very strong sleep association now. We've removed dummy for naps as she was just waking up to get it put back in so much and wasn't getting a good quality nap at all, and actually did it without a fuss and now sleeps much better.

@Nclktnntt i know it’s not ideal but have you tried to get your LO to nap in the pram? We’ve recently started putting my LO down for naps in the next to me but usually one nap a day will be in the pram, I either take her on an actual walk outside or I push it back and forward in the kitchen until she falls asleep. I can usually get an hour out of her in the pram! I also use huckleberry app but I don’t pay (the paid version was better but I’m poor on mat leave 🤣🤣) but I look for when she’s been up for an hour and a half (ish) and I start calming down and thinking about a nap. It does help to follow the wake windows in my opinion!

My first was a bit of a nap fighter. Got really bad around 4 months old. Only way was the sling/carrier. If he was really bad then sometimes hoovering with him in the sling helped, also would do pram walks or occasionally car ride as he liked to sleep in the car.

@Nclktnntt he hasn't done this too often, but when he has fought sleep I just give up and either feed/play/change him. Like others have said walks or car journeys are good for naps definitely! I find getting out anywhere in general is so much better for my mental health during the day. I love days where we have baby classes, otherwise I'm at home all day thinking about his naps 🫠
Another wee note on the Huckleberry app - even with the free version the homepage shows you really clearly when all of your baby's last feeds/sleeps/nappies were, so you can keep an eye on your wake windows that way.

Mine is 16 weeks. Previously easy to nap around 90 min mark. Now his wake windows should be 2 hours, and they are. He won't go to sleep until 2 hours are up. But he's also a right grouch for that extra half hour 😅. It's like his energy hasn't quite caught up with his brain. He's also trying to roll and keeps grabbing and knawing on my hand ... so I guess he's just trying to do way too much at once.

I also highly rate the huckleberry app! My LOs wake windows are 1.5 hours - 2 hours and she’s normally ok at going down if I pay attention.

We start winding down about 1 hour 20 or so. Currently naps are about 30 mins but will occasionally get a longer one about an hour.

Thank you all, my fail safe options used to be the pram or the carrier but they're hit and miss now too 🙈 or he'll have 10 mins max. Occasionally I'll get longer. The carrier doesn't work in the house though anymore sadly 😥. I should have just gone and got some fresh air though yesterday, I just got into a state that I struggled to get out of. I couldn't put him down to get changed out of my pyjamas, so walking weren't on my mind but I should have just put my long coat on and trainers and be done with it 😂

He's currently contact napping but I've not had breakfast yet and the minute I move he jumps out of his skin. It's like he's such a light sleeper in the day at the moment. But he's napping at least. Thankfully the bad day doesn't bleed into the night just now, so we just start fresh everyday lol.

On another note - has anyone found small 3-6 clothes? Our LO is 12 weeks and getting too large for 0-3 but not quite big enough for 3-6 bless him.

Different brands. Asda george is smaller than next and TU. Also H&M have 2-4 month clothes. So if currently in asda 0-3, I'd say the next, TU and H&M would likely fit well. If its the bigger 0-3 then try asda george 3-6 as smaller.

@FlyingHighFlyingLow thank you, it's M&S 0-3 and next he's outgrown - the M&S I think are bigger so I'll look in H&M for 2-4 and see how they size up l. thank you.

Yup, I'd recommend H&M 2-4 months and asda George 3-6 in that case! Just having to move mine up to 6-9 because he's a long boy 🙈😂 he's not even 4 months until this weekend!

@Nclktnntt Asda and Tesco sizes definitely run small, so worth trying their 3-6. I’ve always found Sainsburys to be huge, so 0-3 would probably still fit comfortably.

Also agree with trying H&M 2-4, although I’ve also found their sizes slightly on the longer side at times (for example, my toddler is almost 3 years old and is in their 18-24 bottoms, and she’s pretty average weight/height!)

Also if your LO is long but slim, I would also suggest vest extenders like these , which I found really useful with DD1 when she was between sizes.

Thank you - I'll take a look at H&M, I'd been gifted a couple H&M things and found the trousers/bottoms to run up small on him - think it's because he's got chunky legs lol.

Will look at Asda and Tesco for sure then. Thank you ladies

Hey everyone, how are we all and our little ones? Those who have had their 3rd sets of vaccines, how was your little one with them?

Hey @Nclktnntt - how are you getting on?
We’ve had the last lot of jabs, it wasn’t too bad but the night was unsettled. I’m so glad they are over until 12 months.
We just had our first sleep through the night!!! 10.50 dream feed until 6.45 this morning! I woke up a few times in that period as he was fidgeting and I was expecting him to wake up but he kept settling himself back to sleep which is amazing. I’m not expecting a repeat but would be very happy if it becomes his norm…. I just need to repeat everything that happened yesterday lol!
is anyone starting to think about weaning?

My little one had his a few weeks ago he was ok a bit sleepy and a mild temperature.

We’re getting on ok. Definitely in a 4 month fussy phase. He’s desperate to be up and seeing everything and he just can’t quite yet. He’s also had some more unsettled nights. Did think I could maybe feel a tooth the other day but can’t see anything so don’t think he’s teething. Our sleeping through stopped and he’s up 1-3 times a night. Totally manageable at the moment. Crossing my fingers it continues.

Have thought about weaning a bit @SMG1992 im excited as it’s lovely seeing them try new things but also the mess is unreal and my eldest has some allergies that became apparent at weaning so mildly anxious about it too. I did blw last time as eldest wouldn’t tolerate spoon feeding and didn’t like anything mushy 😂

Morning! @Nclktnntt the 16 weeks were the worst for us as she had a bit of a temperature, but very minor and she was fine the next day. Glad they’re done though!

We are definitely having a 4 month regression. Gone from sleeping through to waking a couple of times a night.

Does anyone have any tips for daytime naps? I’m trying to get her to do a couple in her cot, but she hates it to the point she’s crying real tears before settling. I’m worried I’m creating negative associations with the cot? Or do I need to power through… it’s so hard to know what’s right!

@Nclktnntt how are you getting on? We’ve not had the 3rd jabs yet but I’m already dreading them, they seem to completely unsettle him for the best part of 2 weeks!

@SMG1992 I’ve just started this week giving my lb tastes of things on his lips and will probably try him with a few purées over the coming weeks. He’s 20 weeks now. The idea of him waking up at 6 months and be able to try solids after only ever having milk scares me😩

It's been a while since I've posted on here, hope you ladies are all doing well. Can't believe my little boy is 4 months old 😭 hope your bubs are all doing well.

Need some advice, I had my little one on December but I've not had a period since. I am formula feeding and only breastfeed to sooth to sleep.

I'm no spring chicken so I would like another baby. It took me a year to fall pregnant with my little boy. I was living abroad for a couple of years with my first and I had a gyne. My gyne has prescribed me Clomid to start ovulation (I took this in 2021 and first cycle I fell pregnant but 7 weeks later had a mc) I am yet to have a video call with my gyne but in the meantime, does anyone know if you can start clomid without a period?
Have you ladies started your periods yet?

@RG84 my hasn’t started but I’m EBF so I’m not expecting it yet.

The ladies I know who are formula feeding seem to have theirs back - could you push for some blood tests?

Its probably completely normal but if you want to get the ball rolling on TTC number 2, no harm
asking!

@Mushroo thanks for your message. I have hormone blood tests on the 9th May (annoyingly that's the earliest appointment I could get) but I know here in the UK they don't move as fast so I'm not sure if they will give me medication to induce my period.
So frustrating..I have a call tomorrow with my gynecologist who's based abroad (I was living abroad for 2 years).
I'm not even sure what I'm asking anymore lol 😭

My girl is almost 19 weeks so would like to start weaning soon.

What is everyone starting with? I was thinking of starting with some green purees such as broccoli, spinach, etc.

I haven't done this before so am I right in thinking you shouldn't introduce too many new flavours at once or does it not really matter?

@chloesl1808 I really recommend charlotte stirling reids book, how to wean your baby- it's got all the info you'd ever need on weaning, and loads of recipe ideas for baby and also the whole family. I used it with my first baby and it was fab.

@Cindy1802 i also used this. Also really like Rebecca Wilson’s, what mummy makes book in fact we have a few of her books. Also thoroughly recommend Bibados for all of the mess!