Finding time

[user1498028015]

Just wondering how you mummies find the time for three meals and snacks a day?!
My DS is 9.5 months and we do groups and swimming etc on every day but Thursday!
I'm finding it hard by the time he gets up to get breakfast in if we have to be there by half nine. Same with afternoon classes.
We do food on the go but not sure that's a great idea as want him to get used to sitting up to the table for it.
We are BLW by the way xxx

I take it you eat breakfast lunch and dinner as well?

Why is a 9.5 month baby doing so many classes? Bit extreme

A snack doesn't have to be much and definitely can be bad on the go. As for meals, breakfast first thing before getting dressed (normally at some point between 7-8). Lunch- normally a cheese sandwich or something similar about 12 and then tea at some point between 4-6.30 depending on when DH is home so we can eat together (I would make the afternoon snack bigger if we are eating with DH so it's more like supper). DS pretty much always eats breakfast and tea at the table but for lunch, unless it's pasta or something like that I don't worry. DS is now almost 3 and I have got a lot less strict about it over time.

Not bad! Where did that come from?! Meant had!

I don't really bother with snacks, and just get up early enough in the morning to do breakfast in time to make any early morning appointments. I'd also choose classes that mean I could fit lunch in easily around naps and so on. If we miss a meal due to a different nap time one day, then I don't tend to stress about it.

Are you doing a morning session, then coming home for lunch and then going out again for an afternoon class? If so, that seems far too much to me for a baby. I would stick to one activity per day, preferably at a similar time so you can get into a daily routine. Also, when does he fit in naps if you're doing morning and afternoon sessions?

Breakfast needn't take long - tiny bowl of half a weetabix / ready brek / porridge or just a banana if you want him to feed himself.

I was a bit like this with my first - we never managed to get anywhere before 10am. When my third was born, the first was at school so I had to get 3 children up, dressed and fed and ready to leave by 8.30 every morning, yet somehow it seemed easier than the first time!

I find it hard! We do three activities in a week but even on the days we have nothing it feels like making and clearing up food, and the interminable amount of time it takes for her to eat any, takes up half of the time leftover between milk feeds and naps! I don't bother with snacks but we end up eating a lot of snack type stuff to make it easier - bits and bobs of fruit, cheese cubes, stuff on bread, etc. We also eat mostly the same stuff which helps (although my diet has been a bit odd of late - pretty healthy though!) I don't find it easy.

Green tulips I definitely didn't ask for your opinion on that.

Thank you so much for your honest and helpful answers. I don't do two classes a day for those who are worried about my baby! He thoroughly enjoys all the sessions we do and they are totally relaxed and fun for all. 😊
But I am grateful to hear other people find it hard too! I'm not great at eating lunch to be fair so i know I need to improve which is why I was seeking practical advice and support.
I think it sounds like just being more strict with myself and not stressing over missed meals. I wish my DH was home early enough for us to all eat together. That would be the ultimate goal! X

Thanks agatha fluff and beauty 🤗🤗🤗🤗

I found at this stage it was difficult to fit in all the meals plus milk feeds. It gets much better once they aren't really drinking milk during the day any more and when they drop a nap too. Also snacks aren't compulsory, if they eat 3 good meals they aren't necessary. Try not to stress about it too much, so long as they are growing they'll be fine if they miss the odd meal.

Thanks welsh!! Nice to know I'm not alone!
It is hard I feel like I'm always feeding him or rushing somewhere! Waiting for that magic moment he wants less milk. We are ebf too so think that makes it feel much more intense.

Waiting for that magic moment he wants less milk
Me too! She's been really slow to take to eating so that feels a long way off - and also means every meal seems to take ages to just get her to eat a tiny bit!

They must all get there eventually, right...?

Remember feeling the same way at that stage! What with naps, milk and going places! It will get easier once naps are dropped etc!

As others have said - don't stress about missed meals at this stage. Obviously your milk is the main form of nutrition until one anyway. Don't bother giving snacks unless it's convenient for you e.g. I only have snacks if we were in a cafe / having a break whilst at soft play etc.

Not sure on your baby's routine but I found it easiest to do an early lunch around 11ish before his second nap, then do dinner after he wakes up from second nap.

Also did BLW and loved it!

I didn't do solid snacks at 10 months (I remember talking about it with my hv at her 10 month check) because my ebf DD would have lots of milk feeds still.

Breakfast was something like porridge fingers or banana pancakes (5 minutes to make and not too messy to eat), so lunch was just something on toast or in a wrap (hummus, cream cheese, peanut butter) plus fruit/veg sticks and maybe yoghurt, so that's only 5 minutes to prep as well. Then just whatever for dinner.

Oh forgot to say - my hv said I ABSOLUTELY MUST start giving her snacks but I ignored that until she had less milk and seemed hungry mid morning. She was a good bit older by the time she needed a mid morning snack. She's almost 3, picture of health, perfect weight for her age.

Thanks ouch and zzz! It's good to know it's just a kind of phase! I think I'm stressing too much! (Like I do about everything. Can you tell I'm a FTM?! 😅) but I should make and effort to make it in our routine more.
But I do think the guide lines are a bit crazy for snacks etc. From what everyone is saying I won't worry about them until he shows interest.
We live BLW too!! Have seen a definite difference in how much he eats recently which means I am decided I'm a fan! Before then it was going on the floor and I wasn't sure!!
Crispie. They must. Am hoping they do it themselves and we don't have to take drastic action!? X