how do other mums to little ones manage?

jopsey

I have only got one 19 month old but boy is this the hardest job ever
I was too not interested in playgroup's but it stopped me from going in-sane and I met some really good friends who I think the world of and so does my son ,give it a whirl

Bexstars

Hiya

Im a stay home mum to my 10 month old daughter. I think my getting into a good routine that suited us as a family early on really helped.

our routine pretty much goes like this

8am breakfast
10am milk
12.00 lunch
1pm afternoon nap (she will sleep till around 3 or 4pm)
4.30pm Dinner
6.30pm Bath
7.30pm bottle and bed

I make her meals from scratch and have since she was weaned. I have found annabel Karmel fantastic for meals and I have her book the complete baby and toddler meal planner. There are also lots of recipies on her website. I find what works for me is when I make a meal for her, I make a good few portions and then freeze in tubs so I always have meals ready in the freezer for when time doesnt allow cooking. As she has an afternoon nap this gives me time to either get the house in order or to make us something yummy for tea or just to have a couple of hours to myself. I have looked for some baby groups in our area but there arnt any so most days its just me and my daughter unless were out visiting family but I love it!

hhannahh

I have one of Annabel Karmels book - its great, when i was weaning my daughter who is now 2 i couldnt live without it as i was a first time mum and didnt have a clue what I was doing! I still use it now. She has a website: http://www.annabelkarmel.com/ I think you have to register (which is free) to view the recipies.

Hannah x

PS. I dont know if anyone has this trouble, but my daughter hardly eats! She hardly likes anything!

pigpen

I have 6 children blowing up balloons with the pump until they fly off all round the room so it si utter chaos in here. I have 1 just gone out to do the papers and 1 getting ready to go do a carol concert. I have to do dinner. I have done NOTHING all day so I need to get the washing machine, the dryers the dishwasher and the bread maker.

If anyone wants to find it easy at their house come spend a week at mine lol.. you'll be delighted to go back to your house for a rest!!

I'm not by any means saying it is easy with one child, but I will say after number 3 it does get easier!!! I really struggled with 2, one was hyperactive and the other had hip dysplasia and was constantly ill and screamed day and night for months on end. It does get easier.. or rather they become more use aorund the home and can 'help' (used very loosely) do some jobs.

If visitors complain about the mess.. point them in the direction of the sink, the vacuum cleaner and the washing machine and tell them you'll have a cuppa while they are at it!! lol.

I hope everyones day is improving!

chewy62

I find eating and mealtimes the most stressful of anything! Trying to think what to have and hope they eat it is anightmare!
My 4YO son isn't too bad as long as I hide the veg and he likes fruit, but my 2 YO son hates fruit(well, has the odd bite of an apple!), and also seems to have gone off most teas at the mo. All he seems to want are Weetabix and Rice Krispies!
My 4YO was like this too so I know it gets better but I always worry that they are eating well. Does anyone have same probs?

janeloz

I find being a mum the most rewaring experience ever. All I ever wanted to be was a mum, I had no career dreams really and feel I have the best job, so much so that I home educate my two sons so spend 24/7 with them more or less, and although I only started with home education this September, so far its the best decision I've made in a long time.

This is only my first post, but really wanted to add to this topic.

Thanks

Jane

emccormack

You're doing well as a mum. My partner and i have a 1yr old, 2yr old and a 3yr old, we had to get help from home support which helps parents with younug children get them placements at creche etc, this really helped our sanity as we never got a minute to ourselves, and double buggy and toddler and shopping round the supermarket was hell. We eventually decided I would be breadwinner in house and i got a job as a support worker, which i love, but i do miss the kids like mad, as i was use to staying at home, but having a job and being able to treat them is great. :T

lorientgirl

There are no supermums and no one can love your children as you do and that's what they need most.
There is no right way to do it only "your way". As long as you are spending time with the kids they will be fine.
But because we love our kids so much we are always worrying about whether we have done enough or could do more or should try this or that.
There are industries making lots of money out of the fact that we would do anything for our children and play on our feelings for them.
I think that we need to give ourselves a break and a pat on the back sometimes otherwise you end up feeling you'll never do enough.

hhannahh

chewy62 wrote:

I find eating and mealtimes the most stressful of anything! Trying to think what to have and hope they eat it is anightmare!
My 4YO son isn't too bad as long as I hide the veg and he likes fruit, but my 2 YO son hates fruit(well, has the odd bite of an apple!), and also seems to have gone off most teas at the mo. All he seems to want are Weetabix and Rice Krispies!
My 4YO was like this too so I know it gets better but I always worry that they are eating well. Does anyone have same probs?

All mine wants to eat is cereal too! and the odd sandwich. She wont touch veggies! the only way I get fruit down her is buy putting it in porridge or getting her to eat those fruit pots, they do custard fruit ones now and Organix do an apple and vanila flavour which is nice and sweet! (they dont have sugar in) But at the mo i am trying the they will eat when they are hungry method, they say that they will always eat when theyre hungry, hmmm - but i think she would rather starve than eat anything I cook!

Mermaid

chewy62 wrote:

I find eating and mealtimes the most stressful of anything!

... SNIP ...

Does anyone have same probs?

My two sprogs are very slightly built (both in 9th centile or below), and sometimes go through a non eating phase which I used to find worrying. Now I just let them get on with it. Making a big fuss about them not eating would be counter-productive and I'm sure that they are quite smart enough to use any anxiety over food to manipulate me (bless their little hearts!).

I make sure that I provide 3 good meals a day. I also provide snacks about halfway between meals, such as cheese cubes, grapes, bananas, raisins, 'Pom bears' or carrot sticks. Some children just prefer to graze. Mine swing from only snacking to devouring everything I put in front of them at meal times. They might not eat as much as usual if they are coming down with an illness or have teeth coming through.

Make sure you try a good range of foods to make sure they don't get bored with the same old food. Also, make sure that your toddlers aren't drinking too much milk, as this can fill them up at the expense of them eating. This can lead to anaemia which will make them tired and prone to infections (been there, done that ).

Obviously if you have any serious concerns about your child's weight, talk to their health visitor or doctor. My health visitor used to comment upon their weight (which stressed me out completely) and suggest feeding them more, now she's decided that they are slim!

HTH

Mermaid