One income family of four - can we get ahead even after pay cuts?

[Deleted User]

@Bluegreen143 it was stressful at the beginning because there was threats of referrals and hospital admissions. They've calmed down now because they can see that I offer her a balanced diet but she chooses not to eat much of it. We haven't seen the health visitor since March, because of lockdown, and it's been lovely and peaceful. 

MagicCat

Good work on the present bargains @Bluegreen143!  I'm a big fan of eBay for the kids presents though S is getting a bit fussy now.

@mumtopinkdinosaurs so sorry to hear that, I've got similar issues with my eldest. I remember when he was about 2 1/2 following advice from a well meaning but I now know totally clueless health visitor to only offer what we were eating or nothing and he didn't eat anything apart from a little bit of cereal at breakfast for 3 days, it was awful, I'm so angry with myself looking back for doing it but you do follow advice given by people who should know. We're under paediatric dietetics now and they've been really supportive but there's only a couple of appointments a year. 

I found the site @Bluegreen143 mentions upthread had some good ideas, if you haven't come across is also like a website called 'your kids table', it's written by a paediatric occupational therapist and there's lots of stuff about sensory issues (my son is being investigated for this as a possible cause of eating and other problems) and picky eating.

Sorry @Bluegreen143, getting a bit off topic there! Hope you have a good day

[Deleted User]

@MagicCat our health visitor keeps telling me to give her milk. She hates milk. I have tried every way possible to get milk in to her. She'll eat yogurts and sometimes cheese, but not milk. I was very much of the mindset that we all eat the same. We all sit down at the table when possible and eat the same thing. She point blank refuses anything thats not breaded for dinner. I'll offer her something like toast or a banana but I won't let her have the crisps that she demands. There's a lot of autism in my family, so that's always at the back of my mind. I'm hoping that once she starts school it'll sort itself out like her sister.Thank you, I will check that out today. Any advice is welcome. Sorry, @Bluegreen143 I've hijacked you diary.

Bluegreen143

No worries ladies! I love chatting about both food and little kids so it’s always welcome here 🙂 hope you both have better luck with the kids’ eating soon.

Today I took the kids for a rainy walk near the river. They love paddling and throwing stones in 🙂 didn’t get much done during Bambi’s nap as she woke early then I cuddled her back to sleep but couldn’t put her back down! Ended up dozing holding her in the armchair (would never do this with a tiny baby, she’s 19mo) as I hadn’t taken my phone up with me. Oh well, it doesn’t happen very often now as she usually naps great in her bed, and as Monkey was well looked after by Red I thought why not. Meant she was in a great mood later having had a decent sleep and I’m always conscious at her age there might not be many cuddle naps left.

Started sourdough brioche buns tonight for burgers tomorrow and also started marmalade (you leave it to soak overnight before boiling up tomorrow). Bit concerned as I didn’t realise the enormous vast quantities the recipe would make. I’m not sure I have enough jars! Also think I will need to decant some into another pot to cook in two batches as my big jam making pot is 3/4 full and it will likely boil over if I don’t. Hope it tastes nice as I think it’s going to make about 12 jars 😂

Red ordered a new sealing ring for the instant pot which is £6.50, fine as we do need it - our instant pot gets loads of use (made tonight’s risotto in it then chicken stock after). I’ll send it over from our house/garden budget.

Crocheting a blanket as a stash buster, it’s like a never ending granny square... quite an easy pattern which is good as I’m not a very experienced crocheter... I’m more practised with knitting. Forgot how quick crochet works up in comparison though 🙂

sonyarita

You have just reminded me that I need to get back to my knitting! At the beginning of the year I bought lots of nice wool and needles to practice but kind of fell by the wayside. I suppose my new frugal me should be knitting my winter jerseys and cardis 😀

Mumoffourkids

I have a child who has to see the paediatrician every year, although her appointments are because she doesn’t grow. She eats really well but is just tiny. She is four at the end of August and is still wearing age 18-24 month clothes. Age 2-3 year clothes just swamp her. She starts school in September and her uniform is just massive on her. I think she was supposed to see the paediatrician in March but no appointment yet. 

Baileys_Babe

@Mumoffourkids my dd was like that, but we were never referred to anyone, which looking back is odd & I didn't question it as apart from not growing she was physically active, good vocabulary, no problems with her appetite. Then when she was 6 she started growing and now at 11, she is the average height for her age.

I hope this causes no problems for your daughter.

warby68

Bluegreen, you're doing so well.
The diary and being conscious of the relative value of what you spend on seems to be really effective for you.
You seem to get a lovely lifestyle with a lot of 'quality' out of a relatively modest income - if you keep Red on board (he seems to be the treat master ) I have a feeling you're going to nail this.

Mumoffourkids

Baileys_Babe said:

@Mumoffourkids my dd was like that, but we were never referred to anyone, which looking back is odd & I didn't question it as apart from not growing she was physically active, good vocabulary, no problems with her appetite. Then when she was 6 she started growing and now at 11, she is the average height for her age.

I hope this causes no problems for your daughter.

My daughter was referred because when she was around 3 months old, she actually lost weight one week and dropped off the bottom of the charts. When she was born she was only 6lb 12 and was born on her due date. We first saw a paediatrician when she was six months old and he said if he had seen her earlier he would have recommended weaning early. They think she just has high metabolism and no matter how much she eats, she just doesn’t grow. Everything else is fine apart from some physical stuff because she is so small. However, she was never going to be a giant as I am only small myself and her dad is small, but she is at the bottom of the charts but at least still following the same line. Which reminds me, I probably do need to get her height and weight measured as they haven’t been done for a while just to check. 

[Deleted User]

Mumoffourkids said:

Baileys_Babe said:

@Mumoffourkids my dd was like that, but we were never referred to anyone, which looking back is odd & I didn't question it as apart from not growing she was physically active, good vocabulary, no problems with her appetite. Then when she was 6 she started growing and now at 11, she is the average height for her age.

I hope this causes no problems for your daughter.

My daughter was referred because when she was around 3 months old, she actually lost weight one week and dropped off the bottom of the charts. When she was born she was only 6lb 12 and was born on her due date. We first saw a paediatrician when she was six months old and he said if he had seen her earlier he would have recommended weaning early. They think she just has high metabolism and no matter how much she eats, she just doesn’t grow. Everything else is fine apart from some physical stuff because she is so small. However, she was never going to be a giant as I am only small myself and her dad is small, but she is at the bottom of the charts but at least still following the same line. Which reminds me, I probably do need to get her height and weight measured as they haven’t been done for a while just to check. 

Mine was 6lb 8 at 40+2. We expected her to be small though because her sister was 5lb 5 at 36+6. Although her big sister was small she followed the centiles. DD2 followed hers until she was about 2 and she's started to drop. We have been told that if she drops again we'll be referred. Which I don't mind. I just know there's nothing wrong. She's the same as your little one. Bright and articulate but doesn't stop moving. I'm very concious of not making meal times negative so I won't battle her. I need to follow @Bluegreen143's lead now and get back to cooking better. Which reminds me. Does anyone know a non tomato sauce for tuna pasta bake? Dinosaur2 likes the tuna pasta bake sachets and I'd like to create a healthier version. All the recipes I've found are tomato based.