***December Snowflakes 2012 Parenting***

[scoobydrlp]

Coco - glad LO is doing well with the stretches! They really do make a difference. I know it's a struggle when they resist, but it's worth it. I've also noticed that when Camden falls asleep on my shoulder or chest and I turn her head opposite her preferred position while she sleeps she ends up so much more likely to turn that way the rest of the day. It's a great way to stretch without her even noticing.

Kelly - good luck with your appt, I sure hope they can figure out what's going on!

I would just like to say that we have sucessfully weaned from swaddling, hooray!! It was way easier than I thought. The first night I put her to bed with both arms out and she woke up 2 hours later, so I put both arms in so she would sleep the rest of the night. The next night she slept through with arms out, and last night she slept all night with just her fleece sleeper on because it was warm in the house. Our weather is so weird right now, it's cold again today so I have her in a terry cloth sleeper and a fleece sleepsack with sleeves overtop. I guess when it gets hot out I'll either use a thin cotton sleepsack without sleeves, or just have her in a sleeper by itself.

Also she has mastered the art of reaching out and grabbing things. She's been working on it for a few weeks but has gotten really good at it all of a sudden. It's so fun to watch them develop!

 

[toothfairy29]

Hello girls!! I haven't logged I'm for a while and have missed loads!!

Scooby... Really glad all is well.

Gorgeous photos.... We did make a good looking bunch of snowflakes didn't we!?

Honey bee... Nice to see Ava at last! Can't believe how well she stands!!

Coco.... I totally agree with the others. Joseph only goes 2-3 hours in the day and only slightly longer at night if I'm lucky.

Am interested to see how we all start weening. It's changed a lot since I had my teens here in the uk. I feel guilty eating infront of Joseph as I swear he chews every bite with me!

Just lately I'm struggling to get Joseph to nap more than 30-40 mins?? He has maybe only 2 little naps a day now?? Am worried he's not getting enough day time sleep but doesn't seem to be anything I can do to keep him sleeping?

 

[bbygurl719]

hi ladies its been a lil while since ive posted.. my one year old has the belly flu n my poor baby angel has bronchialitis.. she has to have breating treatments.. imma attach a pic.. i had her wighed yesterdy n she is 11lbs 1 oz.. shes getting so big compared to when she was born @ 4lbs 8 ozs

 

[Beanonorder]

Wow there's been a lot to catch up on!
Bbygurl Amber and Angel weigh exactly the same! I'm just now moving properly into 0-3 month clothes! Although she does still fit into a few newborn ones!!

Coco to add on to what the others have said - I have to supplement Amber and she still only goes three hours between feedings during the day!

Glad those with medical issues have had positive news.

Lolly I loved the pics - the poem made me cry!!

AFM, our return to China went well and we're settling back in now. Yesterday was our anniversary. We had a nice, quiet day.
I have to go back to work on Monday I know I should be grateful its only a few hours a day but I'm still sad about it.

 

[scoobydrlp]

bbygurl - so sorry your LO is sick. Hope the breathing treatments are helping!

Bean- welcome home! Sorry you have to go back to work, it's hard being away from LO when you've spent every moment with her up until now. It does get a little easier as the days go by.

 

[bbygurl719]

Yeah we just started in 0-3 month stuff too like two weeks ago. We had to switch sleepers from newborn to 0-3 cuz she's long. She still fits in the newborn Indies but I have so much 0-3 month stuff from my 16 month old that I decided to pack away all newborn. How much did amber way at birth. I figured angel would always be the smallest of our group since she was only 4lbs 8ozs. So in 3 months and 2 weeks she has gained 5lbs 9ozs. I think that's a good weight gain.Since yesterday @ 10:15am her first breathing treatment she's had seven others and she's been such a trooper. She just sits there while I hold her. But I just gave her one n she screamed the entire time it broke my heart. It scares me that she's going to scream everything. It took all my might to hold back the tears.

 

[cookielucylou]

Updating my bit as not been on for a while. Hayden is now 4months old, its shocking how fast its gone and how much he has changed. He is still teeny and on the 0.4th percentile but he is definetly very happy, recently been phasing out his nb/0-3month stuff and moving him into 3-6month but some is still pretty big on him.
He can roll over from belly-back as he hates being on his front but hasnt quite mastered the other way yet. He is grabbing for things now and is very excited when he holds things himself.
It is fan seeing my 2year old with him and they seem so well bonded, hayden smiles and laughs at him everytime he is in view.

 

[Beanonorder]

Ah bbygurl that sounds rough. I'm sorry you have to go through that.
Amber was 3.25kg at birth so about 7 pounds 2 ounces. But she lost weight between 4 weeks and 6 weeks - she was almost back at her birth weight. Since starting to supplement her she is gaining very well but still needs to catch up to others her age! But to be honest I love that she's stayed small and petite!

Amber has been sleeping pretty well but tonight is just a disaster so far. I battled to keep her awake through her feed and she went down so easily. But within an hour she was awake. Now she's sleeping on and off about every ten minutes!

 

[Kelly M]

bbygrl, sorry to hear about your lo. Hope she gets better soon!

Cookie, glad Hayden is doing well! Sounds like your oldest is bonding well.

Bean, going back to work must be hard. I can imagine how you feel. But being back with your oh must be nice too.

Carter's appointment went well. He had a shot and didn't even cry! I was so surprised. He just smiles at all the nurses and dr. and they all can't get over how happy he is all the time. He weighs 17 lbs and 4 oz and he's now 27 in. long. He has grown 1 3/4" since his last appointment only three weeks ago! He's getting long.

Our ped says if he is showing interest in food that we could try some solids. Apparently the american academy of pediatrics has changed their stance on starting solids at six months and now say that if baby shows signs that he's ready to eat solids you can start them as early as 3 to 4 months. I'm not so sure we want to start it yet though. He's growing so well on just bm. But I would love for him to sleep longer than three hours at a time at night. I'm so torn on what to do! He definitely watches us eat with a lot of interest. Anyone else started foods yet?

 

[cookielucylou]

We are not starting weaning until 6months as we are baby led weaning. Also I believe there is some research that shows their gut isn't mature enough for anything other than milk until about 6months.

 

[Kelly M]

We are not starting weaning until 6months as we are baby led weaning. Also I believe there is some research that shows their gut isn't mature enough for anything other than milk until about 6months.

I've heard so many conflicting stories and apparently the new recommendation is to start when baby gives signs they are ready. But honestly, I think food before one is just for fun. And it is fun for sure! We actually did try giving Carter some avocado today and he seriously loved it. He didn't spit it out or make funny faces at all like I expected he might. He smacked his lips and wanted more. Lol. I don't know if I'm ready to start solids all the time but he is definitely ready. It would only be in addition to his breastfeeding, not supplementing but it's like the beginning of the end already and it makes me sad. Here's the video of Carter trying his avocado today: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=808912641076&l=250067727495681803

I was planning on waiting until six months but he was so interested in food so I gave it a try. I am kind of hoping it might help him sleep through with less feeds at night but I doubt it.

 

[scoobydrlp]

I'll be interested to hear what everyone else is doing as far as starting solid foods. I hate the thought of starting at 4 months because she still seems so little, and it feels like she's growing up too fast

 

[Kelly M]

Scooby, same thoughts are going through my head! I kind of want just a couple of more months of exclusive breastfeeding but I'm so on the fence right now. He's getting so big so quickly! But at the same time, it might allow dh to feed him and for me to get some time for myself because there are days where I feel like I'm just a milk machine, ya know?

 

[ocean_pearl]

The WHO recommends only breast milk for the first 6 months so I will follow that

 

[ocean_pearl]

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/

 

[Chloe597]

My ped said the same thing about solids -breast milk only.til 6 months, unless she starts eating every hour non stop, then start introducing foods. She also said they no longer recommend rice cereal as a first food because it is a simple carb and with all the obesity in America it just doesn't make much sense to expose them to that. So I will wait as long as gabby will let me, or 6 months.

Bbygurl, I hope those breathing treatments help!

I have to get gabby checked out by a neurosurgeon and a cardiologist. Dr said she thinks it's nothing, but just to be safe. Her head is a little oblong, which I was initially told was the classic sign.of a breech baby. Anyone else have a breech baby and experience this? She also has a heart murmur, which again she said 5% of babies have perfectly harmless heart murmurs, and its most likely nothing. I don't know what I would do if something was wrong. All of these specialists freak me out!

 

[cookielucylou]

Ocean-pearl thats it, i knew i had read about it somewhere. I dont really see the need to rush them onto solids anyway.

 

[Kelly M]

I'm certainly not trying to start a debate here or anything but my ped says there is some very recent and brand new information that the aap put out saying they are going back to recommending solids at 4-6 depending on baby's development. This article explains it a bit: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/starting-solid-foods-during-infancy-beyond-the-basics

When they say people start solids too early, I think they are referring to people starting their two month olds on cereal. They also recommend starting with rice cereal though which I don't think we will do. I think avocado is a great first food. There's no harm in waiting to six months though. We aren't really starting solids yet either.

 

[daydream]

Our ped said the same as Kelly but also said to wait until he's showing he's ready to eat. As in grabbing your spoon begging for food. He said some people rush into it at the first sign of interest. The babies really need to show continued interest and readiness and be able to sit up really well first. Given that, we are going to try to wait until 6 months unless he's showing he is really very ready before that. And at that point te solids aren't a real source of nutrition, it's still mainly the breastmilk.

I am excited for that time though! I can't wait to make him food and see him eating

 

[Kelly M]

I feel like a bad mommy for trying it out now. But he took to it so well. If you watch the video he makes the cutest smacking noises!