Mums Running Club

Janie I have a similar problem with milk supply in the evenings, worse if I have had a busy day or not eaten/drank properly.  I give the girls a formula feed at 7pm and it really chills them out, have also started giving them formula at 10 30 ish (we also do the wake or not debate!) to rty to get them to sleep longer as they have got into the habit of waking every 2 hours and I am knackered!  Not sure if it helps or not yet... some nights great, others not.  I express at 10 pm and use this milk during the day if I am outmso I can feed one and someone else the other.

Worryingly had to use the expressed milk at 4pm as a top up today.... hoping it was just cos I had zilch sleep last night and didnt get to eat lunch til 3pm!

Mitchie Moo, when did you start to use cups for your two?  We got a sippy cup as part of our steriliser kit and Kit gets very excited when I give it to him.  It's the sort much like a bottle where they have to suck quite hard to get something out, and he does OK with it except he hasn't yet worked out that he needs to tip it up quite a bit to get the water out.  A lot usually ends up down his front!  Have also bought a more conventional spouted beaker but it's not a 'no spill' type so if he tips it upside down the water just floods out.  Any recommendations for a good first cup?

AP, I won't pretend to you that the wedding wasn't stressful.  I enjoyed it, but felt that I couldn't fully relax and let my hair down because I had to be responsible for Kit.  In retrospect I'm a bit cross with hubby as a) it was MY brother's wedding and it might have been nice if I could have been the one with the hangover the next morning for a change, and b) he just got completely wasted without even considering what would happen if I did too, so I had no choice but to remain pretty sober.  I did have a headache for much of the next day but I think that was down to the sudden adrenaline slump and lack of sleep with hubby up and down being ill all night.  It's hard to socialise and relax when at the back of your mind you're worrying about where you're going to change your baby and how you're going to fit his feeds and naps around the service and speeches.  There were absolutely no baby changing facilities at the wedding venue - had to change Kit's nappy on the floor of the disabled toilet.  Luckily it was clean but not what I needed all dressed up!

MM, how did you decide how much solids to give the boys and how quickly to increase them?  I'm following Gina Ford's weaning plan but Kit always finishes his solids completely so it's hard to know whether I'm giving him enough.  He sometimes takes a small top-up of milk but I'm not sure it's a good indication of whether he's still hungry or not as he sometimes doesn't seem overly keen on his milk.  Last night his 'dream feed' consisted of 3.5oz and he went through fine, but I expected him to be very hungry for his 7am bottle.  He eventually took 6.5oz but didn't seem that interested/hungry.  He's never been exactly desperate for his early morning feed, regardless of the amount he takes at his late feed.  He's never taken more than 7.5oz at a feed except for taking 8oz the other night at the late feed, which I put down more to habit than to necessity as he'd had a good 7oz plus solids at 6pm.  He loves the baby rice mixed with fruit and would probably take twice as much as I give him but am trying to follow the routine as laid out.  If I gave him more I'm sure he's eat it but just not sure he needs it if that makes sense?  I don't want to cut his milk out too quickly at this stage.  Weaning is actually more complicated than I'd first thought - on top of this I have to work out when to make the food less pureed, when to introduce finger food, and when to start using a cup instead of a bottle!

Enjoy the breastfeeding/bottle feeding while you can - it's so much less complicated! 

Minks - it sounds pretty awful I do hope my husband doesn't end up being ill because he's the one driving back to London the next day and I don't fancy having to hang about all day while he gets his act together! It does amaze me that we are often expected to change our babies in toilets...on the floor. I was in M&S yesterday and Hector was hungry so I asked the lad on the check-out if there was anywhere to feed him, and he said 'the toilet?'. People have funny ideas about what's acceptable.

We went for his first immunisations yesterday evening; it was horrible. Poor little fella cried like I've never heard him cry before, real sobbing and his little eyes were looking right at me as if to say 'why did you do this to me mummy?' I was nearly in tears myself and almost walked out after the first injection! Luckily he calmed down fairly quickly and I held him on the walk home. He's being quite quiet today and wanting holding, but no fever at all. Off for his BCG tomorrow, the doctor did say it's not as bad.

The wake or not debate - it was up to hubbie to wake James to give him a 10.30 feed (expressed milk).  However, James hated being woken, Hubbie hated waking him, I was awake throughout.... the worst was when he didn't even try as 'he looked so peaceful'.  (Anyone who has expressed milk will understand... All that effort I went to just to have the milk left in the fridge....') so we gave up and by 2am I was quite happy to get up to give him a feed.  Feeding then suited me whilst a 10.30 feed killed me as I was too tired.  I think the 10.30pm feed is great and would certainly try it again although it did not work for James.

Ella's Kitchen - I've used these when out and about.  Very handy, James loves the green one.  You just squeeze it straight onto the spoon so there is no need for bowls etc.  Also what is not eated can go into the fridge.  With jars etc, you need to use a separate bowl if it is a couple of meals worth.  Downside is you can not tell how much you have fed them as you can with a jar.

AP Glad Hector was ok after his jabs.  It is much worse for you than for him!  Poor bloke in M & S - answering that probably wasn't in his training!  I guess you weren't that tempted by their feeding room then! 

AP, sorry if I made the wedding experience out to be awful.  It wasn't - I just found it impossible to really relax and enjoy myself in the way I would do if I didn't have Kit to consider during the day and also the following day.  Hubby did get his act together sufficiently to drive home on Sunday - but only because my brother's new in-laws had a family get-together so we could all see the newlyweds off on their honeymoon, which didn't happen until 4pm.  I too have been surprised at the lack of baby facilities when out and about - I'm afraid that I just try to plan my outings around Kit's feeds and pray that he doesn't do a poo while I'm out!  Fortunately he usually poos during/after a feed so I haven't been caught out too often!

The first vaccinations are awful; I remember being almost in tears too.  I think it's the way they look up at you full of trust while the nurse jams that needle into their little thighs - you just feel as though you're betraying them.  The nurse kept reassuring me that a few tears now was far preferable to a sick baby later on - she said she'd worked in various hospitals looking after some extremely ill babies and it was just heartbreaking.  I have to say that after the first injections it does get easier.  Kit was very quiet for the rest of the day after his first ones and just wanted to sleep - he also wanted lots of cuddles and he isn't generally a very cuddly baby (much to my disappointment as I love cuddling him!)

Ploddingalong, thanks for recommendation re. Ella's Kitchen sachets.  Good point re. not knowing how much they've eaten though.  The Plum Baby ones look quite nice too. 

Hetty it's good to hear that you have the same issues.  Been trying to drink loads of water but sometimes it's so difficult isn't it?  It's bad enough with one never mind two!

I'm hoping that I'll be stronger than I would have been with the immunisations now.  Having gone through all the blood tests, canula changes and iv antibiotics with Ted in SCBU I hope that it may seem easier in comparison...  That's my theory at least, bet it doesn't work like that in practice!!!  It's so horrible to see them upset when you feel responsible isn't it?  We've got another couple of weeks yet before our jabs, kind of wish we were just having them at six weeks!

Ploddingalong - sounds like your hubby is like mine...  That said, the 1030 feed does seem to work for Ted at the mo, otherwise we're up again at 1200 then 2.30 - 3.00 and then 4.30 - 5.00.  Not great, I'd rather dream feed him and get on with it!

Ted has been VERY active today.  He's so much alert which is wonderful and really starting to respond to you.  That said he was fighting sleep so badly today (thought of you AP!) that he finally collapsed at 6pm and has now completely thrown himself out of sorts.  Just left hubby to do the honours as I'm done for!

hello ladies and babies

thanks for all your info and updates - you're all doing so very well - and isn't it fabulous to sound off on here - keep it up

anyone know of anywhere to get scratch mittens? ones that stay on and are a bit longer than wrist length perhaps?

little Jacob is now managing to pull them off and hence is stratching his eczema at night (just as various places are healing)

GMx

Kit only took 3.5oz at 10:30pm tonight so hopefully we can drop the dream feed in another couple of days.  He's had 31.5oz of formula in total today as well as two lots of solids so we need to cut his milk down a bit before he turns into a fat bloater - he definitely looks chubbier although he's only gained 3oz in the last week.  He shouldn't need the dream feed now but it's just having the faith on our part to leave him and see what happens!  The last time I tried it he was 4 months and it threw his sleep pattern out completely - he woke every hour for about 3 nights and hubby and I were exhausted!

Janie, it's so great when they start to become more alert and responsive, isn't it?  Kit has just discovered that he can scream which I have to say isn't so good!  Hubby says "No, Kit!" very sternly which he of course completely ignores and it just makes me giggle!  Kit seems to be a very happy and contented little chap though - he smiles at everyone and is always very alert and animated.  He refuses to roll from back to front though - think he just can't be bothered, as he easily rolls from front to back if we put him on his tummy.  He almost rolls from back to front when he's on the changing table and tries to reach the box of Pampers wipes behind his head - am going to have to be careful!

Hello all,

It's super chatty on here now, great! It was Hector's two-month birthday yesterday, blimey, where has that time gone?! 

Minks - you didn't make it sound that bad, I suppose I'm just a bit aprehensive about this weekend myself. We had one of Hector's little friends (and his parents) around for dinner last night and he cried quite a bit (the fighting the sleep thing again) and I imagine he'll be equally unsettled by Saturday...at least the music and partying will drown out his wails!

Did anyone else see the campaign for immunisation on the news this morning, fronted by Tony Robinson? How timely! He put it in such a way that it seems totally logical and necessary to have immunisations.

Off we go for his BCG this afternoon. When you read the booklet, you realise this is just the start - it seems to go on until they leave school! 

Oh, and a baby-changing recommendation...We were at the NFT yesterday (not seeing a film unfortunately - anyone know of any parent and baby screenings?) and I used their baby changing facilities - very clean and spacious and there is a loo, so you can go yourself without having to leave your pram or baby with anyone.

Hmmm, maybe I should start a review of changing/feeding facilities!  

I find Sainsbury's baby changing the best, currently - as well as Heston Services on Motorway ... both have an adult loo cubicle in baby changing room too.  Very spacious, lots of surfaces ... and even freebie nappies, wipes and paper towels (changing mat liners).

Waitrose not good.  Tesco good (sometimes).  Marylebone Station good - once you can find guard to open it for you since it's kept locked.

The worst are pubs - no space in cubicles even to put a baby mat down ... you'd be better off in the pub itself on the floor.

Went to a 'Pottery Cafe' when Jacob was 6-months old ... with 3 other NCT mums and their babies ... lovely hand and foot prints on cups and plates ... but the baby changing facilities were non-existent ... just a cubicle loo.  So changing Jacob involved me perched on loo, him wriggling on the floor.  Particularly nasty nappy, me restraining Jacob, him wriggling and screaming, poo everywhere - me exhausted, was a nightmare for everyone.

Thx Minks for socks-on-hands idea ... so simple, but so effective (hopefully, will try it tonight).

GMx

Louise is asleep just now, bliss!  Am braving the new mums group at 2pm though it always seems to be a gorgeous day on a thursday and I kind of resent being indoors.  wonder if I could suggest a walk?

Janie, just on the 10.30 feed thing - for extra ammunition - we have been feeding Lou around then or actually more like 11pm but last night she fell asleep at 10 having been screaming earlier and so I had stuck her on my boob at 9.30.  we didn't wake her and so I ended up having to get up at both 3am and 6am.  Normally we have one awake time at 4 or 5 and that is her til about 8.  So I am never ever again skipping the top up feed.  I'm shattered today!  (I know I know, I'm lucky it's just been the one time!!)

We have our immunisation invitation for 10 Sept.  Don't get BCG tho.  Don't think anyone gets it here now, not even the teenagers.  I still have my scar from 3rd year at school!

yesterday we ventured into the centre of town, madness given festival still going on though it's a lot quieter now the fringe has finished.  It went OK!  Went to John lewis to feed her.  Their parent room is fab though naturally in true Claire style I created havoc.  Once again my bottle wouldn't fit into the warmer but I shoved it in.  Then put in the water to heat up the bottle and it overflowed cos the bottle was in so tight.  lou was screaming the place down all the while.  I then had a panic that maybe you weren't meant to use water with this particular heater - there were no instructions - so I tried to empty it after I had finished.  Of course it had practically no flex so I spilt it everywhere.  I am a walking catastrophe!

Oh Oh sounds from downstairs.  better nash as I want to eat before she wakes!

Just a last mad post before we depart for holiday tomorrow - getting a 4am ferry so that means leaving home at 1am - lovely!!!  My husband has been sooooo helpful in the run-up to, I don't think he's actually done anything to help me prepare as yet - not even packing his bag!  This is fairly usual for him as he cannot seem to focus on anything more than a day in advance of it actually happening. Usually I go with the flow but having spent all week washing and packing - around the needs of both Joshua & Scarlett - I was ready to thump him last night. I'd pointed out to him that I couldn't do EVERYTHING and then he went off on one about him being the only one to make sacrifices in this house!!!! Strangely I couldn't see his point of view...   I really don't think he understands quite how much organising is involved when taking a three-year-old and five-month-old on a camping holiday in the south of France!  Anyway, end of rant.

Minks, you should find that Kit will just slip into going through the night without too much bother. We stopped Lettie's feed on Monday eve and so far this week she has slept soundly until 7am (yesterday it was 7.30am!). Whilst I'm sure we'll get some blips, she really doesn't need the dream feed anymore as she is definitely porking out!  She is now my little pudding.

In my local area changing facilities are definitely variable - Sainsbury's good, Waitrose - big fat zero, M&S good & Tesco's good.  With a recently potty-trained toddler I am familiar with every potential toilet area in the vicinity. Negotiating some of them with buggy and toddler can be a complete nightmare. Especially if the 'want wee wee' cry goes half way round my weekly shop in Sainsbury's. The trolley is usually full with Lettie asleep in the baby section of the trolley. Thankfully nobody seems to mind when I wheel the whole trolley into the disabled loo - before I've even paid for the food!

Went for another club run last night, and it turned into another epic as we made the most of what was left of the daylight. We have a beautiful run around one of our local lakes and everyone wanted to get one last look before we are consigned to our pavement winter routes when the light goes. Unfortunately they all got carried away and added on an extra bit, the 7-miler became a 9-miler!  I survived it but pace definitely slowed in the middle as I hadn't managed to eat that well yesterday. Was pleased to discover that legs felt fine this morning, in fact raring to go so will look forward to an easy run once we get to France tomrw afternoon. My baby insert has arrived for my bike trailer too so look forward to getting that fitted in.

Good luck with the weaning Minks, Scarlett is doing really well, although she seems to hate carrots and apple, loves sweet potatoe & courgette??? and pear. It's ironic really as Joshua weaned really well and ate anything up until about 7 months ago. Now he eats virtually no vegetables and only selected fruit - despite my best efforts. I'm assuming it's just another toddler phase though....

Hope everyone's baba's continue to thrive, and survive all their injections. I know exactly what you mean about the wounded looks they give you - it was no better for me second time around with Lettie.

cragchick - have good hols - do try to get some 'me time' and hope that hubby of yours in more 'hands-on'.

My partner was useless on hols - gite in France - was just home-from-home (in gorg. location), and he had the gawl (sp?) to say how pleased he was to have managed to finish 2x books and I'd only gotten through half of one of mine!

You lot with equal partners / hubbies who take on their kids in all aspects are so very lucky - praise them, + cherish them and rah rah for them.  Any tips pls pass on.

GMx

Goodness, this thread is so busy now I can't keep up!

Minks a bit late, I increased by roughly the amounts gina recommends in the book. I roughly started with the 5 month schedule when the boys were 5.5 months, and then did the from 6 month, so took a wee while to get to chicken, but then my two have iron supplements so the iron thing wasn't an issue.

I used the blooming marvellous cubes with lids, which take about 35ml, roughly two cubes worth, and I think I was giving them one of these each pretty quickly. I started mixing veggies after two weeks I think around their 6 month birthday. You can also do things like butternut squash and pear, which my two loved, but then they do love their fruit, sweet tooth like mummy!

Trying to decide whether to have a naming day for the boys combined with their birthday, has anyone else had one of these. Hubbie doesn't want to get them christened, wants them to make up their own minds which is fair enough I think.

Baby changing not too bad round here. My main issue is actually getting in the cubicles sometimes with the buggy. NT is worst their changing rooms have such narrow doors. M&S has great big disabled loo, with changing. Starbucks also really good.

P.S. Minks. I used a tommee tippee spouted cup to start with as soon as they started their solids. Yes it does go everywhere but it gets them used to it, big bib with arms required!

They did a study at our health centre and that was top as easiest for babies. I progressed to anyway cup pretty recently as SIL recommended it.  Takes a wee while for them to get used to sucking out of it, but its great for now.

Hi girls

I am enjoying reading your posts and looking forward to chatting more when my (third)baby is born (due November)..I know the NCT do some research into feeding/changing facilities - just had a supplement from our local newsletter might be worth looking into this in your area and AP I think it is a great idea to do some research on this! If we don't make a point and educate companies/staff things will never 'change' - excuse the pun!! Perhaps a few of us should write to some Head offices - I would think Waitrose might be receptive to changing things as John Lewis are so good. You never know!

I  can recommend changing rooms of clothes shops as alternative places to feed/change babe - not perfect but has to be better than a toilet floor!

See you in the Autumn girls -can't wait!

Sequin

PS Very envious of you back out running (hopeful too)...go for it!

Hi all, seems all is well which is good.  Ted's still having mad feeding/sleeping pattern, hoping it sorts very soon!  Hosted our NCT Bumps and Babes session today, 8 mums and babies - completely manic but good fun.

EF - sounds like you're having a nightmare with the feeding rooms, hope you get the bottle warming sorted soon!

AP - Think the baby changing guide is a great idea, Cardiff is very variable.  Mothercare has a fantastic feeding room with proper feeding chairs, a real treat.  M & S is smelly and horrid, mixed in the with nappy bins and changing and with a chair in front of a door that opens straight onto the queue for the mens toilet!!!  Newport only bas a feeding room in Mothercare and it's like a bus shelter!!!

Just to let you all know, as to be frank I'm done for! If anyone is still using Tomee Tippee breast pads they're currently half price in Tesco - much cheaper!

Janie - your M&S sounds a bit like my Tesco. I had to complain to the manager recently because it's a feeding and changing room combined and it stank of pee, with the nappy bin overflowing. I wonder if the manager would like to eat his dinner in a public toilet...Our local Mothercare has the fabulous rocking chairs, but very grubby, although I did notice they were closed this week for a refurbishment.

We went for the BCG yesterday and it was as horrible as the others - poor little chap howled and sobbed. The woman administering the injection had this 'scream and shout and wave your hands about' policy to suposedly distract the babies. Hector wasn't fooled.

So, we're off for our friends' wedding later (stopping the night at my brother's on the way to break up the journey). Have a good weekend everyone, not sure if the weather is going to be kind to us.

Take care

A xx