"Oh, she's not crawling yet, but she's nearly one"
OMG Corelly - I'd want to smack them in the head - how insensitive!! I absolutely HATE it when people comment on babies progress etc, I have learnt since being a Mum that a babies development is soooooo individual normally anyway, let alone the differences being braced months on end also creates. Next time someone says something reply "Oh, so you haven't developed common courtesy yet, but your nearly (insert appropriate age here)" hehehehe. I hope DD has a wonderful birthday this weekend - how are you celebrating? What an exciting time! I am in full birthday-plan mode atm, have sent out invites, we are having a combined 1st Birthday/Naming Day so I am meeting with the celebrant tomorrow to work through our ceremony, very exciting!

Josie - we are in a DB brace also, the only other thing I can recommend is that we actually had a thin toddler pillow for our DS that we had under his head and shoulders as well as the rolled up blanket under his legs, this seemed very comfortable for him. I recall reading that another idea to try to increase comfort is to put a doona or something under the babies bottom sheet (almost to create a pillow top effect) and this increased the comfort factor, but you don't want it to be to soft that they sink in to it too much as then you'd create a SIDS risk. Although my DS sleeps pretty much 12-13 hours over-night, its not uncommon that I may have to resettle him a few times, even if its just with the dummy, I think sometimes the brace stops them from shuffling around to find a comfy position and wakes them unfortunately. I agree with Corelly, sleep when-ever you can. Or co-sleep if thats something you want to do, we find this helps on very unsettled nights.

We are going well, I've returned to work so DH and DS are enjoying their time together as DH is currently as SAHD until July. Bailey will be out of his brace in time to start childcare which was my goal so I am very happy about that. He is getting around with his bum shufflely crab like movements, or backwards crawling (more just pushing himself backwards), no commando crawling here, just leaping on things from a sitting position. We have 64 more days in the brace, I really cannot wait, I have bought a few outfits for Bailey that he will be able to finally wear - very exciting!

Best wishes to all our DDH familes out there

Naomi