Sorry ladies, I need to get it off my chest but I would also like your opinions regarding Chloe and weaning, I don't want to think my stubbornness is clouding my judgement which ultimately affects Chloe.
Chloe has spent the odd day over the last 6 weeks at the CM (child minder) but basically minus this week she has stayed with her for 3 half days. Also, she spent just over half a day with her yesterday and obviously a full day today. That alone says to me that at the moment I know Chloe best.
Well, yesterday she had mentioned to Nij that she though Chloe might be hungry as she was always chewing her hands. Now to me this is not the be all and end all of 'she is ready to eat food', she drools for england so I still think its part of her teething (especially since a rubbing of bonjela helps reduce her hand chewing). She puts a few things to her mouth but not everything, I even said a while back to you all that I needed a cloth teether and Aimee mentioned one in boots, well its still the case, only a few items make it to her mouth . . . plus aren't babies suppose to 'taste' their surroundings to learn
I ranted at Nij saying no and that was that or so I thought!
This morning I dropped her off and the CM then mentioned to me about maybe she wants to eat, I left and she was saying to Chloe 'I bet you can't wait to try my shepherds pie . . ' Now I know she wouldn't feed her this but I was annoyed she was talking to Chloe about food like that, I though what is she psychologically trying to do here?!
I said to her want to wait and see fr myself as Chloe is still settling in and her routine is disrupted so I want her settled before I decided if it is weaning she needs or not. I then left as I had to get to work. I really wanted to rant that she is suggesting weaning when she doesn't even know Chloe this morning but B&B was down!
Part of her claim was also that Chloe wouldn't settle properly . . .erm well she is in a new place and the CM said she had tried rocking Chloe to sleep, Chloe doesn't like this. I had written down a whole page on how to settle Chloe and it said nothing about rocking her!
I moaned to my colleague (bet she missed me!) and then thought nothing more of it, just thought lets see how it goes.
Went to collect Chloe (who was asleep in a pram outside on her own which I was not impressed with I hasten to add! She was just waking up and was upset, if I hadn't of been there how long would she be on her own . . . the more I think the madder I get!!) and she started going on about weaning again. I let her say her piece, she was saying Chloe was unsettled in that she wouldn't sleep, she quickly drank her feeds and she didn't last very long doing an activity, she also sais she was really watching them all eat. Now in my mind is this 1) unsettled yes because everything is new so she has to get a new routine 2) there are other kids there and when things are going on or we are out and about she takes it all in and fights sleep, she is generally a nosey baby 3) erm she is JUST 4 months, how long is her attention span supposed to be for goodness sake! At home we play, read, play on something else, she watches me tidy, we play etc but I do have to change the task or scenery to keep her from getting grumpy 4) She has only eaten 2 feeds with CM, at home she would have eaten 4, again its because she is interested in what is happening 5) watching food, no she is watching people not the food! She took no interest in Nij's and my tea she was more bothered about making sure we were watching her being clever in her bouncy car!
So I said to CM I want to see how Chloe goes as she does this when we go away for the weekend etc, a change of place and people and she goes out of sync.
She started saying that baby rice would make Chloe sleep through. Chloe last night only drank 120ml, she normally take 90ml in two feeds. Anyway, am I right in thinking that it doesn't guarantee a full nights sleep as thats what she was insinuating.
I said to her Im not disregarding what she is saying but I want to wait until Chloe is more settled.
She started going on about a past parent who was going by a book and you don't need to wait until 6 months . . . I just said I know and I don't go by any book. She was also saying 'from her experience' and I just thought f-off! The last baby you worked with was 2 years ago and it does not mean that your so called experience is better than my decision. I might be a first time Mum but I am not daft and have young relatives!
What I really resented her saying was when she was saying 'Chloe would be happier' WOAH Emotional blackmail much?!!!!!!!
So yeah, she has agreed to let Chloe settle in but something tells me she has made up her mind and she will try and convince me no matter what.
I know in my gutt Chloe is not ready and I am not rushing her, if I think in a few weeks because of Chloe's actions/behavior then I will wean her. It wont be based on CM hearsay either!
Sorry its long!
I've been a little hesitant to try her in one because of the metal chains, cold weather and her love of chewing on stuff (I had visions of her sticking her tongue to the cold chain and me having to find a way to get her unglued...). Anyway, no tongues got stuck and she loved it- huge smiles and she seemed to like watching the clouds. She slept the whole way home too which was a bonus 
...without winter clothing 
Hope your sister and LO are ok Kte 
