Babies Born~September 16th-30th 2009 #1

[bon]

Hi all

This is the first time I have posted in here! I haven't really been on BB much lately. Well, Isabel is now 7 weeks old, she weighs a bit over 5kg now and I don't know how long she is. I can't believe how much she is growing! She is on formula, and drinks about 150mls every feed. She seems to be starting to form a pattern with her feeds now, and she wakes up at about the same time each night for a bottle which is good. She smiles all the time, and I love going to get her in the morning when she wakes up as she always gives me a huge smile. She is just an absolute delight, we all adore her. People ask me how I am going having a newborn again and I tell them she is easy compared to her older brother and sisters!

[Now we're 3]

HI

Have posted this in general also but didn't know if it was more appropriate here.

Just wondering when and how often you bath your baby? My little one is eight weeks old today and am trying to work out best time to bath him. And how often?

I am currently feeding every three to four hours but not always on demand as will wake him to feed if he goes over. I have read some suggestions that the bath should take place before the night feed but think this probably relates to a baby that is sleeping longer through the night ie who has dropped at least one feed rather than at our stage. I have also read not to bath either before or after a feed which on either 3 hrly or demand feeding routine doesn't seem to be possible.

What does you find works for you? Should I just wake him a little bit earlier for one feed say in the evening and bath him and then feed?

Any advice would be great.

TIA

[AngelaK]

Hi Tia,

My little girl, Emily, is 9 weeks old today. What we do is usually give her a 'full' bath every second day, and just a wash on the change table with a face washer every other day as I don't think she needs a full bath every day at this age.
I have found that giving her a bath around 6 / 6.30pm & then a nice massage & a feed, she will usually then go down for a sleep around 7 / 7.30pm. She is now starting to sleep through until 12 / 1am. Having her bath or wash before her night time feed I think starts to set a routine that it's now 'bed time' and she then goes down for her longer sleep. I think it lets her get used to differentiating between day & night.

Hope that helps, I'm interested to hear what the other ladies say, but I find this works well for us.

Angela

[katiej26]

Hi everyone,
was hoping its ok to join this awesome group... My little angel, Abbey Rose was born on the 27th Sep weighing in at 3.7kg, 53.3cm long. She is the apple of our eye and our first bubby. I went into labour on my birthday (the 26th) and a bit selfishly hoped that she wouldnt arrive on my birthday! Abbey made her appearance at 10:12am the next day.

I'm so glad to read that everyone else is going thru similar things. Although i admit Abbey is a pretty good baby. Smiling lots and lots. But boy does she Fart! at least the wind is coming out! She is a pretty good sleeper only waking around 4ish for a bum change and a feed, then sleeps thru till about 7:30ish. But i give her a dream feed around 10:30. Have trouble settling her some days for her night sleep, she is such a sticky beak and wants to look at everything.

Can get hard some days, cause i pretty much have her on my own until 10pm. My hubby and i own a service station, so he works long hours, and i find it frustrating when she is crying her head off and he is bouncing her around and not trying to settle her. Like this morning. Grrrrr, all she wanted was her dumdum and bed, not danced around the house.

We had a few wind issues early on, but now i've learnt my lesson after the second night we had her home and she screamed for about 3 hrs straight.

Have any of you had your bubby go a week without pooping? Abbey finally had her explosion this morning - lucky me!

Anyways, hope to catch up with you all soon, and will be great to get to know you all more

[~Leanne~]

Hi all, what size clothing are your bubbas in now? I just put a 00 on Joshua and I really don't recall Katy being in 00 until she was about 4 - 5 months.....
He's growing up way way too fast!

[Just Me]

KatieJ - Welcome to our group and congratulations on the birth of Abbey Rose. We are a bit in newborn la-la land at the moment so it has taken a while to get on here and welcome you to our group. Look forward to getting to know you more over the coming months.

Leanne - DD2 is wearing 000 still and she was 9 weeks old yesterday. 000 is fitting her really well at the moment so I think we will be moving into 00 just after Christmas.

AFM - We are soooo sleep deprived at the moment. I don't know if DD2 has been sick or just had very bad wind (my other 2 have been sick). She is crying until about 2am, sometimes 3am, every night. I am co-sleeping with her atm as it is the only way that we have been able to get her to go to sleep and stay asleep. She does sleep for lots of 20 mins and wake up SCREAMING. We haven't been able to do the sleep routine with her because she just screams. I am feeling a bit over it at the moment. Extremely tired and overwhelmed. I have done this before and I know it gets better so I am clinging to that. I am still enjoying her heaps though and I just adore her. DD1 was very similar, but I don't think I enjoyed her that much but I think it is a self confidence thing. I feel a lot better about myself this time around which has helped me bond with DD2 better than I did with DD1.

It has been quiet in here, I hope everyone is doing well.

[tk1999]

Hey everyone!!

Wow the bubs are doing so so well - as are all the mums!!

Welcome KatieJ!

I can't rememer half of what I have read but I love seeing where your bubs are up to!

TG - love the new name... glad your sig line is there cause I was a bit perplexed at the moment LOL.

Meadsie - we don't give Caitlin a 'proper' bath everyday - she gets a wash over her face, vagina, bum each day and if she is sick or has a pooplosion then we have a full bath even if she only had one a little while ago LOL.

AFU - Caitlin now weighs 5.8kg and gained 100g in 4 days there at one point LOL. We are doing really well apart from the cloth nappy situation. She hates them... I have tried various fabrics against her skin and she screams blue murder... I have no more ideas and am currently considering selling my stash because it is not worth the screaming and me feeling guilty that I have nappies but can't use them... but then I think maybe she will grow out of it and actually not scream at one point so I am not sure! Not much else to report.

How is everyone going in the lead up to Christmas?

[Now we're 3]

Hey Leanne .....good thread was wondering the same thing

My little fella is mainly in 000s still but he is only little - 4.26Kg. He still fits some of his 0000 clothes just depends on the make / brand. Its very frustrating that they are all different sizes so some 000s I have bought him are just way too big still.

Main problem I have is getting little trousers/shorts to fit him. Even the 0000s are too big! They just fall right off his waist - the top part to the sets fit perfectly but not the bottoms.

Did anyone else have this problem or are they not supposed to fit - I am talking seriously too big for him.

Meadsie

[Just Me]

Meadsie - DS always had the problem with shorts and t-shirts. They come as sets, but often the t-shirts would fit and the shorts wouldn't fit until he was almost ready to go to the next size in t-shirts. I know a few people who have had this problem, moreso with boys clothes than with girls clothes. It is really annoying.

TK - That's disappoiting about the nappies. She might like them one day. Is her skin actually irritated or she just doesn't like them? I have found prolonged use of some brands of sposies also irritates my kids' skin so if you are using sposies instead, be careful. The only ones that don't seem to give them a rash over time are Woolworths Select nappies and Huggies.

AFM - Having difficulty with a nonsleeping cranky and very unhappy baby. Posted about it in the bfing support threads. I am still really enjoying her but struggling a lot because DH and I are not getting a minute to ourselves all day. DS is teething really badly as well and I think the lack of sleep, the lack of down time and missing my DH (even though I see him everyday but we don't spend anytime together because one of us is always settling DD2) is really getting to me a bit.

Sorry this is a bit short and not well constructed, trying to type quick as DD2 is crying ... again!

[Lisa]

Hi everyone

Sorry I haven't been around much... by the time I think to get on here, I get distracted and end up with no time to reply... I have been reading as much as possible though

Welcome Meadsie & Sam and Katie & Abbey :hugs: I look forward to getting to know you both better

TG - Love the new name honey!
TK - Anelise also doesn't like clothy's... what is it with our girls? I love seeing her in a clothy bum but she just freaks out... maybe I need to perservere more as there is definitely no reason I can see for Annie not liking them. I am bummed enough at missing out on putting some newborn ones on her 'cause she was born too big... I don't wanna miss out on clothies altogether.
Leanne - Annie varies between 000 & 00. Most of the clothes I have bought her for Xmas are 000 because they're a little more on the big side. Annie is tall & skinny so it is frustrating to put her in any suits as they swim on her in the body but are too short so she has restricted arm & leg movement in them... thankfully it is no longer suit-ish weather.


Me - Anelise is booked in to have an ultrasound done on her injured shoulder on Dec 29. She has a lump that just hasn't gone away and has the Dr's perplexed. I am really worried now. I am keeping everything crossed that she will be ok. She is such a happy & funny baby... she giggles at everything and is so ticklish that she usually giggles when I change her nappy or her clothes. She was babysat for the first time on Sunday by my sister who just loved looking after her as my sister has 3 boys... having a girl around was a lovely change for my sis.
We had a great time in Sydney seeing Pearl Jam... what a concert... even in 42 degree heat, it was a perfect day

[tk1999]

TG - her skin isn't irritated... I think it is that she can feel the wetness as opposed to the sposies??? Well that is the only thing I can put it down to... they aren't too tight, she isn't red or rashy... I have tried cloth liners that pull the wetness away from her but it doesn't seem to pull it away as much as the sposies do and that is when she cracks it. I am using Huggies. I found a place near me that sells boxes of them for $50 so am pretty chuffed with that!

Lisa - LOL I am sorry to hear Anelise is the same with cloth... but also glad to have a compadrae out there IYKWIM! I have been able to put Caitlin's newborn ones on her but not long enough to take many pics... she cries before hand LOL. Hope all goes well with the scan . How was the concert? I am so jealous... so so jealous!

AFU - we are off to swimming tomorrow for our third week. If today is anything to go by it should be good weather for a dip in the pool! I tried taking our chrissie pic today but the light was crap so am going to try again tomorrow. We haven't done our Santa pic yet... so many things to do LOL

[Lisa]

TK - OMGosh the concert was AMAZING! Ben Harper did the most beautiful cover of INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart" And he & Eddie sang David Bowie's "Under Pressure" & "Indifference".
The rythym guitarist (Stone) sang his song "Mankind" and they also performed my all time favourite Pearl Jam song "Untitled"
Check out my pearl jam photo album on FB if you like. You may get more jealous though My brother got a Ten Club ticket at the last minute from a friend and got to touch Eddie twice! That makes me totally jealous!

[katiej26]

Hurro again, good to see i'm not the only one getting distracted easily! Abbey is only just in 000 clothes (mostly singlet suits cause its so damn hot!), but still wears 0000 shorts and T-shirts. Its frustrating when different brands are different sizes. Although its more frustrating that i got lots of gorgeous onesies and wintery kinds of clothes given to me, and she didn't get to wear them, cause the weather went from cold to hot in the space of a day. (from when i went into hospital to when i came out!)

Abbs had her 6-8 week check up and weighs in at just over 5kgs now and is very healthy. However the MCHN said that she has a fairly noticeable flat spot on her head which i think is an after effect from sleeping on that side. She got a massive lump from the vacuum and took a few weeks to go down, and so favours the side that wasn't puffy. She also has a tight neck and has given us some stretches to do with her. The last thing she noticed in the examination is that Abbey has a slighty fused labia. From what i've read in some other threads its nothing to worry about and should come apart on its own... Hopefully....

My Dh and I also managed to take bubs to the movies with us on Tuesday and she pretty much slept thru the whole thing. Thankgoodness for the sling!

Hope your all keeping well!

[Me+him+bub]

Hi everyone!

so much to catch up on!

welcolme newbies!

my boy is in 0's now and is 6.5 kilos and 61cm long he is bigger than my friends 6 month old! i just can't believe it! he was only 8 pound 2 at birth! he now sleeps from around 7 or 8 until 4 or 5 in the morning which is great! i also graduate from uni in one week! YAY! life couldnt be better at the moment! i do have my down days where i still grieve the vaginal birth I dreamed of through the whole pregnancy but im slowly getting there, sorry for the me post! oh and one more thing i got my period 28 days exactly after have my bub, then the 2nd was exactly 28 days after that im now 2 days late which has only ever happened with my 2 pregnancies we used condoms but im a bit nervous still ive always been like clock work and am no longer breastfeeding so i dont know whats going on!

[Easha]

Hi All,

Finally have the time to get on and post. I playing single mum at the moment whist DH is away - I raise my hat to any single mums out there - hard work by yourself.

Jaida is in 0000 which she is just about growing out of only because of her cloth nappy though. They fit perfectly with a disposable.

Interesting situation with some bubs rejecting cloth nappies, Jaida is quite happy with hers and actually has never even complained about a dirty/wet nappy. I use the baby beehinds which have boosters I can add to the nappy. When Jaida has her long sleep from 7-4am I triple boost it and the outside of the nappy stays really dry and only the boosters are wet. We do use disposables when we are out but I dont like the way they dig into her skin although she doesn't complain.

Just Me (TG) - hope a breakthrough comes for your sleeping problems. Jaida reverted back to her newborn patterns and its killing me (will elaborate below) although she does sleep solidly. Hugs for you.

Pearl Jam - sooooo jealous although I went to the last concert and it was awesome

Hello to all newbies

AFM - interesting/difficult few weeks for us. I took Jaida for her 6-8wk check up and we found Jaida had only gained 200gms in a month. I was advised to increase her feeds so commenced waking her at 9pm for an extra feed but for whatever reason she reverted back to 4 hourly over night (she slept from 7-4am before) so I have been exhausted as I am used to getting sleep during this time. I am feeding Jaida 3 hourly during the day instead of 4 and am allowing her to wake for a feed herself now rather than me waking her. So last night she woke at midnight and then 5am. She better have put on a whole kg give the amount of time she is spending on the boob LOL.

The other thing we were advised to change was the amount of time on the boob. Jaida used to spend 1.5 hours and her feeds were getting longer - not shorter. Was advised to stop at 20mins per boob but the poor love wouldn't have a bar of that. So we were both stressed together. Have decided to yes get an extra feed in but also follow my own instincts - to much advice can do your head in !!

What else..... DH got a promotion so we are moving from Syd to Brisbane in 2 weeks !!!!! Given DH is working alot of the move will fall on my shoulders - how I will pack a house with a 10wk old in 2 weeks I have no idea but I am sure it will work out - has to as the removalist arrives on the 16th.

So might not be posting often over this time.

Got to pick DH up from the airport so speak soon

[Now we're 3]

Hi

Just wondering how much play time you are giving your babies (though I know they can all be different).

Having just recently changed from a really strict feeding regiem (sp?) of every three hours during the day (slightly lower weight gains) I am struggling slightly to know how much play give my little one. He doesn't feed to sleep so is normally awake and alert after the feeds (apart from late evening and at night). I normally play with him for a little while either on my lap or else give him some time on his play mat. Once we've played for say 10 mintues or so I then put him down - however a lot of the time he doesn't go to sleep. In the mornings he will normally be content to lie there and look at his mobile and but in the late afternoons he is unsettled and I never know if he is hungry and looking to cluster feed or just overtired.

Should I be playing with him for longer now - he is 10 weeks old tomorrow. I am leaving him go to 4 hours during the day inbetween feeds so don't want to have him up so much that he will fall asleep right before he is due to feed again. We don't have any real routine as such yet but want to make sure he is getting at least six feeds in each day.

Thanks all

[Taurean]

Hi

Just wondering how much play time you are giving your babies (though I know they can all be different).

Having just recently changed from a really strict feeding regiem (sp?) of every three hours during the day (slightly lower weight gains) I am struggling slightly to know how much play give my little one. He doesn't feed to sleep so is normally awake and alert after the feeds (apart from late evening and at night). I normally play with him for a little while either on my lap or else give him some time on his play mat. Once we've played for say 10 mintues or so I then put him down - however a lot of the time he doesn't go to sleep. In the mornings he will normally be content to lie there and look at his mobile and but in the late afternoons he is unsettled and I never know if he is hungry and looking to cluster feed or just overtired.

Should I be playing with him for longer now - he is 10 weeks old tomorrow. I am leaving him go to 4 hours during the day inbetween feeds so don't want to have him up so much that he will fall asleep right before he is due to feed again. We don't have any real routine as such yet but want to make sure he is getting at least six feeds in each day.

Thanks all

Just crashing your thread girls as I've been watching Meadie's progress Hon, the best way is to work on 1.5 hours awake time then back down to bed - this includes a feed, nappy change and play. We learnt this at the 'day stay' we did at sleep school the other week and it works beautifully. Keep an eye out for his tired signs (yawning, clenched fists, disengaging/looking away, jerky movements) and get him ready for bed but generally at his age, 1.5 hours of awake time is plenty. Two hours max. I find my DD is so much easier to settle following this time frame. She'll generally be happy but showing a few tired signs around 1.5hours and by the time she is swaddled and has her dummy in, her eyes are getting heavy. Sometimes I have to work on settling her once she's actually in bed but often there isn't much fuss. Give it a go, it really does work a treat!

PS: I put Izzy down for a play after a feed. She either plays on her mat/play gym or in her rocker or we might go for a walk. We often do a bit of chatting too. I stop play time when she is either bored, is showing tired signs or it's been 1.5 hours since she woke up.

[Now we're 3]

Thanks Taurean the only slight problem i can see with this is the lenght of time Sam takes to feed. including change time we are always at 1about hr 15 minutes this didnt then seam to give a lot of play time - hence the 10 minutes of play i had been doing.

Now i may be missing the tired signs - i am looking i promise but he doesnt seem to demonstrate them - he is always looking around checking things out so difficult to tell if that is disengaging. Doesnt really do clenched fists. May sometimes yawn and movements dont seem particularly jerky. When i do put him down quite often he wont actually go to sleep preferring to talk away to himself. Now what i do do sometimes (during day only) is put his mobile on if he is grizzling slightly when i put him down. This has 15 minute cycle and he will stare at that even after it has stopped going and be happy.

How long do Izzie's feeds take these days? I understand that in general he should be a bit quicker at feeding at this stage - though the problems we had in begining will be partially to blame here.

Cheers