MSE Parents Club Part 16

3onitsway

Hi Lillian. :wave: Congratulations.

You could boil the kettle in the morning, fill up all the bottles you'l need for the day and store them in the fridge, mixing and warming as and when you need them.

In the olden days when my biggun was a baby, you were allowed to make up all the bottles and store them in the fridge for 24 hours and warm and use when you needed them - but 'they' changed the rules and I believe you're not supposed to do that now.

lilian1977

3onitsway wrote: »

Hi Lillian. :wave: Congratulations.

You could boil the kettle in the morning, fill up all the bottles you'l need for the day and store them in the fridge, mixing and warming as and when you need them.

In the olden days when my biggun was a baby, you were allowed to make up all the bottles and store them in the fridge for 24 hours and warm and use when you needed them - but 'they' changed the rules and I believe you're not supposed to do that now.

Thanks - that's what I thought it probably meant. Boring....

sir_monster

Lillian I am not a bottle feeding expert as we only do a top up and sometimes in the night if unsettled, but you could use a cold water steriliser as things keep sterile for 24 hours in it prob with steam/microwave sterilisers as soon as you open it is no longer sterile. The only thing is you need to rinse bottles with cooled boiled water (i keep some in a jug)

Another thing you could do is boil the kettle, let it cool for half an hour and put the water in a flask so is at right temp for feeds? Another we do is boil it up, make feed and then immerse bottle in cold water.

lilian1977

sir_monster wrote: »

Lillian I am not a bottle feeding expert as we only do a top up and sometimes in the night if unsettled, but you could use a cold water steriliser as things keep sterile for 24 hours in it prob with steam/microwave sterilisers as soon as you open it is no longer sterile. The only thing is you need to rinse bottles with cooled boiled water (i keep some in a jug)

Another thing you could do is boil the kettle, let it cool for half an hour and put the water in a flask so is at right temp for feeds? Another we do is boil it up, make feed and then immerse bottle in cold water.

Thank you, some good tips there. I have a microwave steriliser but also a small one bottle cold water steriliser, so I guess it's a toss up between being MSE and doing the fridge thing, and buying a new steriliser!

weezl74

SusanC wrote: »

Strategies so far:
Personally my parents taught us a lot about finances because these things naturally came up in conversation and I would expect that to be a key way of passing on information.

We would also observe my mum checking prices in the shops and sometimes she would tell us something was cheaper elsewhere or she would point out the huge variation in cost per unit by buying different packet sizes so I think involving your children when you shop is another key way.

A third way is pocket money which teaches a child how to budget and also means they have to learn to make choices based on the fact they can't always buy everything they want. We currently give Alice 30p pocket money each week which she generally spends on small toys which I wouldn't choose to buy for her but don't mind her having. Sometimes she sees something she wants but doesn't have enough money in which case I tell her how much it is and that she can save up for it (which she actually did very impressively over the summer when she wanted a £3.49 garden ornament) or if it is a charity shop item which wouldn't still be there, we lend her the money and she repays us at 20p per week.

Thanks susan it's interesting to read your strategies. Useful to see how our strategies with a nearly 2 year old compare to 2 years later

gill_81uk

lilian1977 wrote: »

Ouch! Thanks Susan. It really stings just in one spot and nothing seems to soothe it. Sam has his 10 day check on Monday so I think I will ask the midwife to take another look at it then.

OH starts his paternity leave tomorrow - hoorah! Sam will nearly be 1 month old by the time he has to go back to work Is it sad that I'm really looking forward to taking him to the registrars next week?

I think my episiotomy stitches hurt for about 2 weeks. they were definitely really sore at 10 days coz the MW checked them for me when she came to discharge us. It was strange coz they had got a lot better but then suddenly really hurt again. I think they got better quite soon afterwards.

LOVE the two piccies of the gorgeous little babies - congrats to you both, and keep them coming

lilian1977

gill_81uk wrote: »

I think my episiotomy stitches hurt for about 2 weeks. they were definitely really sore at 10 days coz the MW checked them for me when she came to discharge us. It was strange coz they had got a lot better but then suddenly really hurt again. I think they got better quite soon afterwards.

LOVE the two piccies of the gorgeous little babies - congrats to you both, and keep them coming

Thank you for sharing - they do feel a little better today so hopefully I'm on the mend!

gill_81uk

I can't remember who it is having the BFing problems (MV?) - my life saver when I was first feeding Thomas was recording loads of Supernanny's on the freeview box and watching an episode every feed. Once I got better at it I was able to surf the net while feeding and I did loads of paid for surveys! In some ways I miss it coz I just don't have time to catch up/keep up now that a feed only takes 10 mins!

I remember finding it really tough (and I was fortunate enough to have no problems with it) but it does suddenly get a lot easier at 6 weeks imo and if you can persevere to that point then you won't look back.

If you do decide not to then don't beat yourself up about it and don;t let anyone bully you into something you don't want to do. There'll be loads if support and advice on here for you whichever way you go. All I would say is think it through carefully before you decide either way so that you don't make a snap decision that you later regret. (I know someone who really regrets not carrying on with bfing and equally someone who wishes she'd gone onto bottles sooner!) Only you and OH can decide what is best for your family.

I'm sorry if I haven't made much sense but I was up from 3.30 with a poorly baby and didn't get much sleep after that! Still waiting for him to decide he's tired enough for a nap as well! He's normally had a good hour by now!

CL

Hope you got on OK last night MV. Let us know how you got on.

On a positive note, I put my top in the cot and lay LO on top of it last night and guess what? She slept all night in her cot with no complaints! She only woke once at 4am for a feed. Heaven! She slept until 9am this morning. Thanks for all the advice. I also read on my Pampers e-mail about babies going through different stages of sleep than adults and that they may make some noises and move about while still asleep, so not to touch them unless you are sure they are awake. I did this too and the combination seems to work!

sir_monster

Well done to CL and LO getting couple blocks of sleep is bliss, I couldn't sleep until about 2:30 then t woke up went heating clinked on (can be sensitive to clinky noises!!) but wasn't really hungry as bf him but fell asleep after less than 10 mins then went till 7, then fed him. Any advice re daytime naps as he got tired at about 08:30 started drifting off and moaning but wouldn't truly settle so fed again about 09:30 as had to go out to look at a nursery for him, then fell asleep finally about 11 for an hour around sainsburys. Will prob need a nap in about an hour not sure to try rocking chair in living room or cot, what do others do?

Also re bfing I still feed in bed for last feed as easier, have tv in my view but not his otherwise he will watch it!!