MSE Newborn to 1 year Baby Club 1

wendz86

I have loved being On maternity leave, only 2 months left off :-(. I go to a few groups and have made some really good friends. I go to baby and toddlers on a Monday , under 1's on a Wednesday and music thurs and fri. I also try and take her swimming once a week. When she was about 7 weeks I took her to the music group and she fell asleep near the end but I kept taking her and amazing how much she has come on . Also I joined a surestart group for mums with babies up to 20 weeks, was fab to chat to people going through the sane thing.

Is the legal thing for bfing really only up to 6 months? Poppy only has a couple of feeds during the day so rarely feed her when out now but I still would . I just cover with a muslin, people think you are just cuddling baby half the time . I have had some nice comments from older people too and never noticed any bad looks.

SVsandy

Hello. Just found this thread. Really nice to see the names from the pregnancy thread! Can i join? My beautiful baby girl Neve was born on the 16th Oct at 6lbs 6ozs.

SmlSave

Theres no law against feeding a child of any age in public places but you have more powers against an establishment should they ask you to stop if your baby is under 6 months. If that makes sense!?! The wording is very confused.

Im enjoying my time off too :-) mil comes over mondays, nct coffee wednesdays, breastmates on thursdayand theres always things to do and people to see!

gizmodo_2

Lauralou wrote: »

Kira Congratulations:j:j
Can anyone recommen any good toys for a 2week old? Midwife said they do like bright lights. How do you play with your LO when they are still quite young. Midwife said its ok for them to be on there tummy as long as i'm with her. So i'm thinking tummy tme on playmat with maybe a nursery ryhme CD playing in the background?

One of the best toys we got were these:
http://www.boots.com/en/ELC-Loopy-Links_1111941/
They are cheap, light, link together, make a noise when thrown around, you can hang them from pushchairs, baby gyms, even just have one on it's own for LO to hold. My DD loved her 'rings' and actually still does at 11 months They were the only toy she could really hold or play with from an early age - maybe not as early as 2 weeks though!

As for your mum, if it were me I'd love a meal out at Loch Fyne Otherwise I like the other suggestion of getting some from photobox. They do some lovely things.

Lauralou wrote: »

How do you get with breastfeeding in public? Just starting to think about getting out more. At the moment we are just going for walks but starting to think what to do when out in town as there is no where to go to change and feed. And where she is on demand dont know when she will want another feed.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

When you say town, I assume you mean like a shopping center? Unless you're in the middle of nowhere you'll hopefully be pleasantly surprised by the number of places to feed and change your baby. In all my nearby shopping centers there are facilities in the actual shopping malls.

John Lewis in Reading has probably the best I've seen. They even had water for you to drink.

Debenhams, not so good, but still provide chairs.

Boots have feeding areas - not too comfy in my Boots though.

Mothercare is usually quite good and if I don't know the town, the first thing I will do is locate the Mothercare.

I did get to the point where I didn't mind feeding in public, but I only had to do it a few times, once was on a bench outside in the cold at Hampton Court. On the airplane (that wasn't the easiest). At the airport. Once at a pub - that was horrible actually because DD was only about 4 weeks so I was inexperienced and the table opposite me was full of young lads, I didn't have my car and the place was full, so there was no quiet corner to go to. Oh and in parks and stuff when on walks. Hmmm I've done it public more than I realised. I'm really really prude and DD used to fling herself off my boob exposing me to the world, so I think if I can manage it then most people can! You do just get on with it, even if you are a bit uncomfortable.

gizmodo_2

Wonder_Womble wrote: »

Does anyone else find being on mat leave a bit tedious? Katie is fab, but I'm used to working full time and now I have all this free time that seems to consist of changing nappies, feeding and winding, laundry etc. I thought I'd love not going to work, but I miss the social aspect of it. OH and I have been looking on the internet for some local baby groups for me to join. How does everyone else fill their time?

No, I loved it. Had the full 12 months and went back to work 2 weeks ago

You have to join some groups...did your HV not give you any info about any groups?

When DD was 4 weeks old I went to a 'new mums' 4 week course and they made us write down our contact details which they then photocopied (with our consent) for everyone to have. Today I keep in regular touch with about 6 of those mums and their babies. One girl lives a few doors down from me! I've made new friends and it's been great.

Over the summer we went for picnics, walks, met at the pub garden, had meet ups round each others houses, then a couple of us tried out Geocaching which kept us busy over the summer and some of the others would just join us for the walk. We went to sure start groups too, although they aren't really my thing so I only go if I don't have other plans rather that like some who go every week without fail. There's Rhymetime at the library, our rhymetime has a cafe meet up afterward next door so you get to chat with the mums while the babies play.

When the babies started moving we went to soft play (been trying them all out). It only cost £1 for <12months. Bargain really. We also went swimming. I went swimming on my own to with DD.

Loads of things to do

alison2020

Sometimes I find the days tedious, especially if I'm tired. I dont enjoy being a housekeeper and maid!!!! But at least i have a bit more time to get the chores done then if i was working. Think i might struggle a bit when i do go back in September. I am kept busier now though wih the walk to school with DD and she has gymnastics on weds, I'm starting baby massage on Thursdays and do baby swimming on Fridays. I was bored to death on first maternity leave and didn't join any classes. Have found this maternity leave more busy with a second child and joining classes has been a real boost!!! I've met up with work collegues about 6 times already and email them frequently as we get on well.
Oh and OH has took a DIY notion yesterday so now have all the furniture from living room shoved into the family room. OH has removed the fireplace and hearth and carpets. And has started steaming off the wallpaper too! The soot went everywhere and place is filthy! Hope he doesn't take long to finish it!

mirrorimage0

katchambers wrote: »

I
mirrorimage0 - thanks for adding me to the list, this is also my first baby!.

Kat x

no worries hun, kira is enjoying new mummy cuddles at the mo so stepping in, x

mirrorimage0

birth list

:female: Hunnybugs1 - 22nd Feb 2011 - Chloe Ann - 3rd baby
:female: Sammy_Girl - 19th March 2011 - Esme Rose - 1st baby
:female: Wendz86 - 19th April 2011 - Poppy Summer - 1st baby
:female: Liley9- 4th June 2011 - Daisy May- 3rd baby
:female: Tsstss7 - 7th June 2011 - name tbc - 3rd baby (14, 4, 7mths)
:female: Koalamummy - 18th june 2011 - Annalisa - 3rd Baby
:male: SmlSave - 23rd June 2011 - Jacob - 1st baby
:male: Claireloo - 26th August 2011 - Leo - 1st baby
:female: *Dee* - 4th September 2011 - Niamh - 1st baby
:female: twinkle - 15th September - Evie - 3rd Baby
:male: Alison2020 - 15th September 2011 - Daniel - 2nd baby
:female: little angel -19th September 2011 - Lily - 1st baby
:male: Fosters1 - 4th October 2011 - Aydon- 1st Baby
:male: Bella2121 - 7th October 2011 - Oscar - 2nd Baby
:male: Flower08 - 7th October 2011 - Noah - 1st baby
:male: Winnie in Pooh - 8th October 2011 - Finn- 2nd baby
:female: Loumac - 10th October 2011 - Sadie Amelia - First baby
:male: mirrorimage - 10th October 2011- samuel - 3rd baby (12, 9yrs,13 weeks)
:female: Leannekr - 13th October 2011- Ava-Mae- First baby
:female: SVsandy - 16th October 2011 - Neve -
:male: Mancbird- 19th October 2011 - Finlay - 1st Baby
:male: Kandboys - 27th October 2011 - Jacob - 3rdbaby (7yrs, 3, 11 weeks)
:male: TinyTink - 7th November 2011 - Theodore - 1st baby
:male: Missymoo81 - 14th November 2011 - Roo- 1st Baby
:male: Lynn11 - 4th December 2011 - Ryan Iain -
:female: Corncob82 - 5th December 2011 - Eva Lily - 1st baby
:female: mr_knight - 5th December 2011 - details tbc
:male: Katchambers - 5th December 2011 - nathaniel - 1st Baby
:male: MoneySavingMamma - 6th December 2011 - Name Tba -
:female: Wonder Womble - 7th December 2011 - Katie -
:female: chucknorris69 - 9th December 2011 - Name Tba -
:female: Blue Monkey - 11th December 2011 - Betsy -
:female: yummymummy79 - 13th December 2011 - Eleanor Victoria -
:male: seafarers_wife - 13th December 2011 - Benjamin -
:female: Lirin - 19th December 2011 - Rose Lira -
:male: phoenix dragon - 19th December 2011 - name tba -
:female: Sammy85 - 22nd December 2011 - Cora Rose -
:male: KeelyKat - 24th December 2011- Lewis - 2nd Baby
:female: Jenjade - 25th December 2011 - Ellie Harrison - 2nd baby (DD1 9yrs 04/02/2002)
:male: KimmyMarky - 27th December 2011 - Henry -
:female: Mrs Giggly - 28 December - Evangeline -
:female: Mimi Arc en ciel - 31st December 2011 - Amy
:female: LauraLou - 3rd Jan 2012 - Erinna - first baby
:female: Kira000 - 13th January - Claudia Jasmine -

mirrorimage0

r.e. Breastfeeding in public, doesnt really bother me, just chuck a muslin over us and no one can see. what i found really useful was uying a couple of long vest tops as its winter so when i pulled my jumper up then my side and belly was still covered iyswim. have fed in mothercare changing rooms which was really nice, rockers and all sorts. pub, tesco clothing deprtment on a random stool, standing up in school playground waiting for ds2, middle of shopping centre on a bench, B&Q's that was fun lol

r.e. maternity i must admit i am a little bored and dont get out as much a si should but i have two other little darlings to run around after too and to be honest i find it much easier when my life is stuctured, i e school runs, work, dinner and so on. its probably just cause its winter and all my friends always moan that i hibernate in winter anyway, so i tell them its because i have to save my energy for summer lol

katchambers

Wonder_Womble wrote: »

Does anyone else find being on mat leave a bit tedious? Katie is fab, but I'm used to working full time and now I have all this free time that seems to consist of changing nappies, feeding and winding, laundry etc. I thought I'd love not going to work, but I miss the social aspect of it. OH and I have been looking on the internet for some local baby groups for me to join. How does everyone else fill their time?

Womble - ask me in a few weeks if I find it tedious, I've been lucky to have my hubby with me for the last 6 weeks! He works at the Open University, and they get a lot of holiday there, plus paternity leave and christmas so he was able to take 6 weeks off, which is lucky actually as I ended up needing an emergency c-sec so he has been my driver bless him! He goes back to work on monday so am feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement.

I do have lots of plans next week, and some of them are ongoing, so hopefully these will give you some ideas sweety:
Surestart centre - they have a baby rainbows class ( and other classes, including baby massage which I am also signing up for).
NCT Postnatal drop-in groups.
I have a friend who is also on maternity leave so we get together once a week, I also have 7 NCT friends all on maternity leave and all have babies same age so we get together 1-2 times a week, usually at each others homes or go for a walk/lunch.
Local library reading group.
Swimming lessons for babies we are joining waterbabies.
Gym - I'm joining virgin active as they have a creche, so I can work out, go for a swim and sauna/steam and a little me time. If you have lots of money, David Lloyd is even better, I can't afford that tho
Baby cinema - if you have an Odeon near you, some of them run baby cinema club! Mine is 40 mins away but am hoping to try it out soon!

Hope some of these ideas have helped hun

Thanks to everyone who have given me ideas of what to do at home with LO.

Kat x