MSE Newborn to 1 year Baby Club 1

savageHK

*delurks again*

We've got some friends from overseas who are going skiing in France in Feb next year. All going to plan baby will be about 3 months old by then. We'd like to go along, partly to see them and I know hubby will enjoy the skiing, I'm happy not to ski (never have yet!) and stay in with baby. Any thoughts on whether sharing a chalet with the friends (all bachelors!) would be a reasonable idea or a very, very bad one? I've got no baby experience at all but am leaning towards expecting a lot of noise and unhappiness when waking up at night at about that age. I know a lot depends on the baby, and if you have a colicky one I think all bets are off, but any advice you guys have will be much appreciated. I'm hoping to breastfeed and will probably follow the 'if it cries give it a nipple' approach, but not sure if that always works
If anyone can see any other flaws in my plan would love to know. I expect that having a passport ready will be one, how long does it take to process a baby passport?

Thanks again!

Sammie_03

Savage - it took about 2 weeks for noahs passport to be processed and sent back to me, we took him away when he was nearly 4 months. Babies don't have to have their eyes open or be looking at the camera but Noah kept crying which proved difficult!!
As for your holiday it's hard to say about baby waking etc as all babies are different at sleeping through the night again noah slept through since 3 weeks old but when we went on holiday he woke at least 3-4 times a night as I think he knew it wasn't "his bed" as soon as we got home he started sleeping through again!! Like I said though every baby is different.
Xx

fluffnutter

Triangle wrote: »

Joseph has his first injections this afternoon - feel a bit nervous!

I think I'm missing some important gene - injections don't bother me and the heel prick tests that Freddie's had so far (two - one to check for jaundice and the routine one on day 5) haven't bothered me either .

On the other hand, when he had his tongue-tie snipped I sat in the corner and bawled my eyes out.

Talking of passports, isn't it mad that a baby one lasts five years. If I took a picture of Freddie now I doubt you'd be able to tell it was him in five years time

fluffnutter

clarissa62 wrote: »

One query I have for all breastfeeding mums - is it normal that baby seems to be eating constantly during the day?

Also is anyone following the gina ford schedule? i was for a few days but finding baby is happier with my adapted schedule.

Re. the feeding - yes, it sounds pretty normal. Their tums are so small in the first few weeks that they get full (and empty again) very quickly. Hence the almost constant feeding. If your LO is putting on weight then you have no concerns. I assume he/she was weighed at 10 days and everything's OK? Freddie's six weeks and still has some days or periods of some days when he wants to be on the boob every hour, particularly if it's warm because he gets thirsty. Just make sure you get a good latch every time and perhaps use a nipple cream as constant feeding takes its toll on your nipples.

I'm not a fan of the Gina Ford approach I'm afraid, particularly when they're small. I also don't feel it's that compatible with BFing because you need to feed on demand to build up your supply. BFing has to be baby-led or you won't have the right quantities of milk. If you bottle-feed I guess Gina Ford might be OK, but IME most people who advise on childcare will say that BFing and trying to establish a routine (which is what Gina Ford's all about) don't sit that well together. TBH, your baby will find his/her own routine, and quite quickly too. Freddie's six weeks and is starting to have a definite pattern to his day and nights. I've not tried any approach with him other than feeding when he wants to and cuddling him when he cries. Like you say, you've already adapted things to suit you, and, TBH, that's the best way, IMO.

Sammie_03

fluffnutter wrote: »

Talking of passports, isn't it mad that a baby one lasts five years. If I took a picture of Freddie now I doubt you'd be able to tell it was him in five years time

It's crazy isn't it! Noah was around 8 weeks when I got his done and he has changed already! I imagine him at 4/5 using that passport but if that's the rules then it must be ok. I think they should update babies passports roughly every year until about 4/5 with a new photo but without the costs. Cant believe how expensive they are either!!
Xx

Queen_of_the_Hive

fluffnutter wrote: »

Re. the feeding - yes, it sounds pretty normal. Their tums are so small in the first few weeks that they get full (and empty again) very quickly. Hence the almost constant feeding. If your LO is putting on weight then you have no concerns. I assume he/she was weighed at 10 days and everything's OK? Freddie's six weeks and still has some days or periods of some days when he wants to be on the boob every hour, particularly if it's warm because he gets thirsty. Just make sure you get a good latch every time and perhaps use a nipple cream as constant feeding takes its toll on your nipples.

I'm not a fan of the Gina Ford approach I'm afraid, particularly when they're small. I also don't feel it's that compatible with BFing because you need to feed on demand to build up your supply. BFing has to be baby-led or you won't have the right quantities of milk. If you bottle-feed I guess Gina Ford might be OK, but IME most people who advise on childcare will say that BFing and trying to establish a routine (which is what Gina Ford's all about) don't sit that well together. TBH, your baby will find his/her own routine, and quite quickly too. Freddie's six weeks and is starting to have a definite pattern to his day and nights. I've not tried any approach with him other than feeding when he wants to and cuddling him when he cries. Like you say, you've already adapted things to suit you, and, TBH, that's the best way, IMO.

Thanks Fluff - i'm feeling a lot happier now Gina is shut. I was also finding it difficult as didn't fit in with baby feeds. The reasurance that the constant bf feeds useful. We are getting baby weighed on sunday so will see how we get on.

*Nutella*

Savage - 3 months is a pretty good time to travel with baby I would've thought as they're not yet mobile or teething. I've been on a plane with my LO when she was 8 weeks and 11 weeks, and going again in a few weeks' time when she'll be just over 4 months. Like Sammie said, all babies are different so it's hard to predict how things will pan out - and whether BF works out as you're hoping; if not you'll obv need to bring steriliser, bottles and milk. As for sharing a chalet - I'd say it depends on the layout (as well as the baby!). If you can get a room in a quiet corner where the baby and the bachelors won't end up keeping each other awake, then it may well be OK. Here's hoping you don't get a colicky baby, but if you do, they're normally at their worst in the afternoons when the bachelors will be out skiing...

Passports - we did a fast track one, which takes 7 days and costs £97.50 (twice the price of a normal one). The 'official' normal processing time for a first passport is up to 8 weeks, but it would probably be less when you need it as it'll be an off peak time. For us, the biggest wait was for the birth certificate - there was a five-week wait to register the baby, and you obv can't apply for a passport until you have the birth certificate. This varies from place to place, and if you're lucky the waiting list is a lot shorter where you are, but you may want to check, and book an appointment to register the baby as soon as it's born.

Other than this, check if a cot is provided for baby (some places can do this), if not, look out for travel cot offers, e.g. Asda's next baby event. Make sure you check your airline's policy on bringing prams - some let you bring them to the gate, others require you to check them in. Baby milk is exempt from the liquid rules, so you can bring it in your hand luggage in containers larger than 100ml (same with a water bottle for baby), but you have to taste it in front of security. Expect the baby to be a bit grumpy and confused on the first day, especially if you fly at a time that messes up their naps/bedtime. I'd suggest bringing some things that they're familiar with from home - e.g. I bring LO's playmat as it folds easily into a suitcase.

I'll shut up now - seems this has turned into an epic post! Good luck x

sunshine_1988

Savage - we took Aiden on a cruise, which we flew to the ship, when he was 3 months old. We had his passport photo taken at 3 weeks and it looked nothing like him by the time we went lol!!

I think its a great time to take them, as they are not yet mobile so you dont need to chase them round your holiday destination etc. Aiden was really really good whilst we were away, we had plenty of fresh air and things to look at and the stimulation tired him out and he had really good nights sleep when we were away.

We had a colicky baby - he suffered really badly but at 11 weeks it had dissappeared :j

The only things which caused me some trouble were : sterilising - I was fretting about doing it the cold water way and it was fine I just took a big tupperware and milton tabs; and the pushchair: my OH is so funny about our pram and it getting scratched lol so we didn't want to take it on the plane - we bought a ladybird stroller type one for about £60 which the grandparents can use when they look after him.

I really enjoyed taking him away, its lovely when they are so little because everyone wants to have a look at them

xx

fluffnutter

clarissa62 wrote: »

Thanks Fluff - i'm feeling a lot happier now Gina is shut.

That's the ironic thing about baby advice books. Regardless of what approach they advocate, they all have the same prescriptive message, i.e. you MUST bring your baby up *this* way.

If for some reason, *this* way doesn't suit your particular baby (or you) the end result is that mothers feel stressed and inadequate. Practical advice is great, e.g. what to do if baby is ill, how often does the average BF baby feed, what should their poo look like etc. Anything more subjective, e.g. babies are happier if you do X, Y or Z, is open to interpretation and best left on the bookshelf.

Sammie_03

Just realised the boys books were meant to be back at the library on Tuesday!! They open at 2pm today so will have to nip then back this afternoon. The weather is quite nice here today so might walk.

Does anyone else's baby constantly fart when they stretch? Noah does loud ones then looks around as if to look where it came from

Xx