MSE Parents Club Part 15

bexta

Hi, congratulations!

It sounds like you're doing a fab job with little man. I'm by no means an expert (only been doing the 'mummy' thing for 4 months), but the afternoon cluster feeding and favoured side is definately not unusual.

In terms of playing with, and interacting with toys, Sophie's only really been doing it since about 13 weeks (can't remember exactly) Before that, she was mostly interested in just observing everything.

Pop into the Parent's thread too, if you get time, as they're a friendly bunch with loads of experience.

always29

r.mac wrote: »

Question - going to london thurs 18th - sun 21st Nov. Will be in SW. Can anyone suggest LO friendly things to do while there? I use to live there, but this was very much pre-baby! :rotfl: Pre-DH as well! Looking to avoid the centre if possible as well as avoiding the usual Buckinghama palace etc as I've seen it ll before and LO too young to appreciate that stuff in this weather!

SW covers quite a big area but you can get around much easier (I've found) on buses rather than trains as only the main stations have lifts etc. Not sure about specific things but http://www.visitlondon.com/ might help. Also if you are coming down/ up on the train there are always loads of 241's http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

ladybirdintheuk

threemuttleys wrote: »

Hello all.

Im not sure im putting this in the right place, so please move if it is wrong.

Please be gentle as I am a first time mum

Alex is 4 weeks old tomorrow, everything is (or was) going ok..but im starting to struggle and im hoping some experienced mummies (and daddies can help)

Im finding it difficult to know what to "do" to entertain him when he is awake...im desperate to ensure that he develops properly, but most of the toys that are from birth, arent really suitable for a baby who cannot sit up, or doesnt yet have hand co ordintation. I play music all the time, we have a playgym, I lay him on his tummy for a few mins at a time, we go for walks with the mutts (sling) is there something I am missing?

He also seems to throw up an awful lot, pretty much after every feed, and when I get him up after a nap or sleep, he has puke all down his sleepsuit/clothes. I breast feed, and burp after every feed. On advice of HV he has Infacol (he gets very gripey/colicy) seems to help, and she also suggested a dummy (which we do use, tho he doesnt seem that interested in them)

Also in the afternoons/early evening, he doesnt nothing but feed...im wondering if my boobs are giving him enough? He will feed solidly off one, and then I will offer the other one. Very rarely takes it, so I put him back down (after burping) within mins he is crying to be fed, so ends up with the other one. What am I doing wrong?

Please help xx

Hi Three mutleys (quoting entire original post, as you have been merged in and I don't want you to get lost in the flow!)

Sounds like you are doing all the right things with him - do you have a bouncy chair too? Izzy used to like sitting in the boucy chair watching me do stuff

I've got no experience of siky babies (I was lucky to avoid that bit) but I'm sure someone else will come along soon with more advice on that one)

Constant feeding in the evenings is normal (but hard work!). It does slow down after a while, but in the meantime you will just need to adjust your routine to work around it i'm afraid. Make sure you have water to hand and that your OH brings you food! You aren't doing anything wrong at all - if you are continuing to feed him when he wants it then you are doing it completely right

ladybirdintheuk

Hi Strawberry Girl. (wow, there is a lot of merging going on today!)... I don't know about how old she will be before she is big enough to find it herself, but if it is causing you real problems I would be tempted to break the habit - 20 + times in the night is too much, and even at that age you do sometimes have to take charge of the situation yourself

What bedtime routine do you have at the moment? I would think you need to change it so that it doesn't include the dummy. It will take a few nights of hard work to get into the new routine, but will be woth it in the long run! If you tell us your current routine I'm sure we can help with what you could change and what has worked (and not worked!) for us here.

weezl74

always29 wrote: »

DP are both in shock!!

tell me it's not impossible having two under 18 months!:eek::eek:

Congrats always:T:T:T, and no it's not impossible, and there are folk here with tips, mel, me, EA, kristal... to name but a few. We'll all pass on our tips

SugarSpun

threemuttleys wrote: »

Alex is 4 weeks old tomorrow, everything is (or was) going ok..but im starting to struggle and im hoping some experienced mummies (and daddies can help)

Im finding it difficult to know what to "do" to entertain him when he is awake...im desperate to ensure that he develops properly, but most of the toys that are from birth, arent really suitable for a baby who cannot sit up, or doesnt yet have hand co ordintation. I play music all the time, we have a playgym, I lay him on his tummy for a few mins at a time, we go for walks with the mutts (sling) is there something I am missing?

He also seems to throw up an awful lot, pretty much after every feed, and when I get him up after a nap or sleep, he has puke all down his sleepsuit/clothes. I breast feed, and burp after every feed. On advice of HV he has Infacol (he gets very gripey/colicy) seems to help, and she also suggested a dummy (which we do use, tho he doesnt seem that interested in them)

Also in the afternoons/early evening, he doesnt nothing but feed...im wondering if my boobs are giving him enough? He will feed solidly off one, and then I will offer the other one. Very rarely takes it, so I put him back down (after burping) within mins he is crying to be fed, so ends up with the other one. What am I doing wrong?

Please help xx

Hello and congratulations!!

First, you're doing nothing wrong. A tiny baby doesn't need much in the way of stimulation, as they get older they start playing and interacting a bit more but for now he'll probably just be happy enough to watch you.

Some babies are sickier than others. Mine was never a puker, but a friend of mine had a burping poncho she wore because her baby would always puke all down her. Every time. It's usually just the excess milk - they don't know when their little tummies are full and drink more than they can hold, and the rest comes back up.

Cluster feeding in the evenings is also very common, as is refusing one breast. You can either wait a little while and offer the other one or try different positions. Most babies find feeding lying down much easier, and it's easiest for you as well especially with sleeplessness.

Last thing: don't feel guilty because your baby was crying and you didn't hear - it won't be the last time and he's already forgotten about it


Edit: I've no idea about dummies, Wee Beastie still likes hers and Santa will probably take it next Christmas if she hasn't already had it removed.

got-it-spend-it

Hi threemutleys. As others have said, all the feeding things sound normal to me. My LO was a sicky baby, and would be a bit sick after every feed but as he put on weight fine, no-one was worried about it and he grew out of it when I introduced solids.

No dummy advice, strawberrypud, except that a friend of mine stopped her LO having a dummy at four months and didn't really have any problems with it. I think it's probably harder when they're older to be honest.

I've bought H some lovely new soft bedding in Ikea today in the hope that might help his sleeping. Desperate, moi?! :rotfl:

tiamai_d

Threemutleys, it can seem like they are doing a large sick, but because breastmilk is absorbed so quickly, it means he has gotten lots. Dummies help with wind I found and a few of us used infacol. Someone even had to write it on their boob to remember and give it before a feed. Was that here or did I make that up? I'm sure I read it!

tiamai_d

strawberrypud wrote: »

My 5 month old has a dummy to help her get off to sleep but it is creating more problems than helping. While she is trying to fall asleep she constantly puts her hands to her mouth and knocks it out and she is too strong (and dislikes) being swaddled so I have to keep popping the damn thing back in for daytime naps and nighttime sleep. Also I am up upto 20 times during the night to replace it. I am actually being referred to a physio and am on painkillers for chronic neck/back pain because of this very problem!

I tried putting her down for her nap this afternoon without it and just a favourite toy but she screamed for an hour until I relented and gave her a dummy.

If I carry on with this how old will she be when she stops knocking it out of her mouth/can replace it herself or how do I go about breaking the habit?

Any advice would help x

You have a choice, a few days of cold turkey and sl;eepless nights for you.... or lie for a few hours holding it in till she learns sucktion to keep it in. You can keep pulling it out so she has to clamp down on it or suck to get it back.

I chose the teaching her suction. :rotfl: It won't be long before she can get it herself.

always29

weezl74 wrote: »

Congrats always:T:T:T, and no it's not impossible, and there are folk here with tips, mel, me, EA, kristal... to name but a few. We'll all pass on our tips

hi weezl - was going to hunt you out! how'd you cope (am sure it's you but sorry if not!) with two under 2 and washable nappies??? All the practicalities are swimming in my head this afternoon! And how am I going to get a double pushchair on the bus (tube a total write off now). And can I get DS in a bed at 18 months as really really can't see the point in having 2 cots for about 6 months. I could be as much as 8 weeks or as little as 4 weeks - maybe should ask for a dating scan too. And thanks to tia for the tip about VBAC team at hospital - it's a big one so there may well be one.