MSE Parents Club Part 16

gizmodo_2

rach wrote: »

hi all

giz - that's good about the weaning thing, not sure exactly where you live but i know they are trying to promote it more here as the natural extension to bf. I know it's not for everyone for all kinds of reasons but works for us. it's also great to hear from delain and others that it works just as well when FF! the weaning session a hv did at the first time mum's group was all purees etc though she mentioned blw but only to say she didn't know much about it! i said a bit but we hadn't started yet i'd only read the book and sir m had started i think or was about to. i think all the mums there thought it was just me being hippyish again with my cloth nappies, bf a baby older than all the other ones there and then showing a lady how to use a sling :rotfl:

This was Frimley Park Hospital (Hampshire/Surrey border). How old did you BF till? I was going to give up at 6 months when I first started, now I'm looking at a year, and I'm thinking about carrying on the evening BF for longer still when I go back to work. Will see how it goes though. I'm far from hippy like but I know what you mean - I think people think I'm a bit wierd in my baby group because I do washable nappies, washable wipes, I always seem to carry the least amount of stuff with me (apart from today - was expecting a poo explosion so was well prepared with plenty of nappies and clothes). I don't use a sling though - they scare me! I worry I might not do it right and the baby will fall out! I've got a carrier but it's just too hot to wear the baby at the moment and TBH she's not too keen because she likes facing the world when I carry her, so until when her head is strong enough I think she will enjoy the carrier much more.

I'm currently trying to do a food spreadsheet so i can keep to the food budget better, must stop nipping into sainsburys with sir monster and coming out with £25 of stuff! I get £175 a month to feed us, though dh doesn't eat a main meal at home as he gets a hot lunch at work.

Ditto. I have a spreadsheet on google, I need to get back into it. I'm spending too much by adhoc shopping.

aless02 wrote: »

Ooo giz, do you leave nearish Brighton? We live 30 minutes away but haven't made it done there for a day out yet! lol...

I live on the Surrey/Hampshire border. About an hour from Brighton. I can't believe how little I've managed to do considering I've been on Mat leave for 5.5 months now. 4 months of that with DD - but I just seem to be busy all the time. But then even a trip to the doctors seems to take the whole day up!

Nephthys

Ooh CL - I just had a look at the Baby Banz - they look fab! Really want to get something like that for LO!

Hmph wish Isaac had slept for a while today - grumpy baby! he'd better sleep through tonight.

Nephthys

Yayy - other people who use slings and washable wipes (though still waiting for them to arrive)! I don't feel so weird now. Isaac usually falls asleep in his sling but took a real objection to it the other day when I was in Tesco. Think he was just tired though. I debated the cloth nappies but it never happened. Doesn't stop me lusting over them on websites from time to time!!

rach

go for the nappies nepthys, they are great. mine are all second hand (in great condition) so has hardly cost me anything and the resale value is almost the same. I love washable wipes too, need a few more now as poos are taking several wipes and more would be useful for wiping hands etc! what sling do you have?

slings are great giz, go to your local slingmeet, there's information on naturalmamas forum about them. I have a few and don't use them as much as i thought i would but still find them useful. L likes being on my back now as he can see lots, i'll see if i can find a pic! my main problem is that my dodgy hips hurt if i wear him on my front in the mei tai, the ring sling is ok though!

loads of my fb friends use washable nappies, might do a survey!

giz - L is almost 8.5 months old and I'm hoping to keep feeding til he's 1..maybe beyond.

Nephthys

I have a Napsack Baby (mei tei) - red reversing to brown. I love it. The first time i use it he was three months old and I wasn't at all comfortable which put me off. However, i kept trying - i had hip pain left from severe pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy so that didn't help and it didn't even occur to me that this was the problem. We have got used to it now. Thoughit is still a challenge tying it on while he wriggles!

Can't wait for my washable wipes! Have ordered some bamboo ones as well to keep in the kitchen for face wipes. He can be well messy when eating! Specially when he misses his mouth - messy baby! We have thought about it but my DH wasn't convinced. In fairness he has said if I still want them then I can get them for baby no 2 if we have one. Still working on him to see if he'll let me get one or two just to see what they are like. He might give in!

Giz - I am also keeping on feeding at the mo - LO is 8 months on Sunday. I am not ready to stop yet. Although have hit the added problem of biting. He has 6 teeth anbd boy don't I know it. Trying to stop him - he drew blood twice the other day. I'm not giving up though.

I usually express morning and night so I have milk for breakfast and for DH to give Isaac his bedtime bottle. However I'm lucky if I can get 2oz expressed at any stage now (gone are the times when I was producing 10oz from one side in one session!) so we have had to stop the bottle and i just do the feed now.

So question is - do I get formula for his breakfasts etc or do I use cows milk?

gizmodo_2

Nephthys wrote: »

So question is - do I get formula for his breakfasts etc or do I use cows milk?

That's a good question. At my weaning class she was telling us to use full fat cows milk for breakfasts. I thought you weren't supposed to give cows milk until they are a year old. But she said it was fine for prepping cereals etc. I wanted to double check this.

rach

cows milk is not to be a main drink until they're one but it's fine on cereal etc. L has own brand shreddies or porridge or other cereals for part of breakfast with cows milk. formula is only cows milk plus a few other things anyway!

i've never been able to express much so have just done all the feeds myself and he's had the occasional bottle of formula, though he refused it when i was out the other day and dh tried!

nepthys do you wear him on your back? i find it more comfy but i'm not v confident yet! you could get a few 2nd hand cloth to try from natural mamas or cloth nappy tree and sell them on for the same if they don't work for you

Nephthys

Haven't tried the back carry yet. I have problems with my wrists so not sure of my ability to hold him on and getting it tied. However I might get DH to try it with me and see if he prefers that. he is so nosy he was probably objecting to the fact he couldn't see so much rather than not liking it!

The only reason I considered formula was the added iron. Am going to talk to the HV when she does his 6-9 month check in 2 weeks. Am also going to talk to some of the mums at the BF group on Tuesday. More about the biting than anything - that really hurt!

I usually lurk every day but will be brave and try and post more. Thanks for your replies - maybe I can get the hang of this posting thing! I'm off to bed now - DS has been very restless this evening and I suspect I may be up round 4ish so going for some sleep now. Night!

rach

night nepthys. my friend showed me how to get the mt on the back by putting it on the sofa or bed, baby on it, then tie round your waist and you can stand up grabbing the shoulder straps and bounce him down. hard to explain but does work!

Make-it-3

Still breast feeding (ok only just over 4 months on) - tick
Washable nappies (terries so ultra cheapie) - tick
Washable wipes - tick
Planning on BLW (from 6 months+) - tick
Sling (although not using in this hot weather)- tick

So glad to find some like-minded mummies on here, my real life ones make me feel like a hippy too!