This evening my 8 month old ate with us as always, a tasty dinner of creamy salmon and pasta. We started Baby Led Weaning when she was 6 months old and I’m so glad we did this. She breastfeeds as much as she likes which is now 4 hourly so I dont have to worry about how much milk to give her balanced with how much food.
She sits at the table with us, drinks water from her beaker when she fancies it and chooses what food she wants to start with and what to finish with, she eats as much as she would like and now signs “more” if she would like more food! Its just so easy. Considering we had such a rough start with breastfeeding and it took 5 months to establish (read my story on the bottom right of the homepage) I couldn’t have imagined how easy it would be now.
She is not fussy with her food in the slightest and I’m so pleased I dont spend hours pureeing everything or taking it with me. I just order off the kids menu or take a couple of rice cakes for her to snack on, she’s good to go! I’d highly recommend Baby Led Weaning, especially if you’re breastfeeding as they compliment so well.
Tags: Eating
Categories: Eating, baby
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My son is 21 months and his second birthday is coming up very
fast. He has changed so much over the last few months and
can now communicate effectively his needs and wants most
of the time! I still find it amazing that there is now a little
person in front of me and my baby has grown up! I keep asking
myself is now a good time to have another child??
Categories: Uncategorized
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I’ve been attending some swimming classes with my daughter and on the last day of term we had Andrew from People Photography come and do underwater photography! The photo of Baby A. clearly shows her eyes open, holding her breath and ‘swimming’ underwater! She’s only 6 months!
underwater swimming photography
It’s amazing that babies enjoy being underwater (suppose it reminds them of the womb) and they seem to be in their own little world that they are quite happy in! It was fascinating to see that even babies that were unsure or were bordering in tears on the surface, just looked happy and natural in the photo when underwater.
Andrew was snapping everyone in the class for an hour and kept holding his breath for each child! Andrew said afterwards that babies can hold their breath for up to 2 minutes, more than the average adult!
We have another underwater photography opportunity coming up in a few weeks time and I’m looking forward to seeing what difference there is in Baby A’s confidence underwater and what difference it makes to the photograph we get then!!
Andrew Clarke www.people-photography.net
Baby Swim Eton http://www.swimbaby.moonfruit.com/#
Tags: photography, swimming
Categories: baby
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I’ve read The Baby Whisperer and Gina Ford and Jo Frost recently. They pretty much say the same thing about the routine for a 6 month old. The only problem us that my 6 month old won’t fit into any of their routines! I’ve tried to get her to stay awake for more than an hour and a half at a time but she simply can’t do it! Poor lass gets all upset, miserable and whiney, which makes for a horrible day for us both!!
Having put the books back on the shelf to gather a bit more dust and I’ve decided to just let my baby lead her routine. Sometimes you’ve just got the trust your baby that they know best!!!
Tags: Gina Ford, jo frost, routine, sleep, supernanny, The Baby Whisperer
Categories: Routines, baby
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I can highly recommend nhs direct for their support when my daughter was recently unwell. They prioritised my call, ensured I spoke to an appropriate health person, listened to exactly what was happening, asked appropriate and intelligent questions and gave me the advice and support I needed. Whilst doing all of this they calmed me down and kept a peaceful tone at all times. I was especially impressed to be asked if I could talk and if my baby was safe and with me at the time of speaking. What a caring, lovely thing to ask. They always said to call back anytime if I became worried or her symptoms changed. Exactly what I needed to hear.
I was very panicky as her temperature was so high and being a weekend my gp surgery was shut. I didnt know how much to worry so I rang them rather than bothering my out-of-hours GP. It turned out that I did call my O-O-H GP and saw some one who checked her over. All was fine, Just a high temperature, but a little concerning all the same.
Just in case you are concerned for my baby after readig this, she’s back to her usual self after a weekend of an unexplained high temperature.
THANKS NHS DIRECT!!
Tags: baby, Colds, nhs, temperature, unwell
Categories: Colds
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The pain of teething babies
My daughters hand emerged from her mouth red and sore, her eyes screwed up, her cheeks puffed out and her bottom lip dropped, she took a deep breath… and she cried. The pain of teething.
Poor little things. It starts so early on for some babies, my daughter has been teething since 3 months, one day she simply cried all afternoon, she cried whilst feeding, in her sleep and all the rest of the time. I thought someone had swapped my baby at the baby group earlier on! .. And then a light bulb – maybe she was teething.
Parents will do anything to help their baby feel better, I went out and bought calgel teething gel straight away, I ordered a soft teething ring to keep cool in the fridge and was looking for other things to help as well! I had some recommendations for various homeopathic remedies (I’d rather see a homeopath to get the dosage etc right for her) and then something radical – a teething necklace. Something they chew on we all think. But no, a revolutionary new way of painless teething. A necklace (for boys and girls!) that they wear continuously (unless swimming) with safety features on the clasp, the aim is to absorb the acidity which can prevent dribbling and pain.
All I know is that within 48 hours of my daughter having hers on she was back to the 3 month old that I knew and loved!
If you found anything that worked for you please let us know so that we can tell other mums. Email Louise@thematernitynetwork.co.uk
I have two necklaces I am happy to sell to Maidenhead mothers for £15 each. SLightly cheaper than being sold ont he website. The website is: http://www.tearlessteething.com/ If you buy a necklace please mention the Maternity Network on the phone or email.
Tags: baby, pain, teething
Categories: teething
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Enjoyed the fitness class. dont think that a postnatal fitness class is going to be easy! Especially if your baby weighs over 9lbs! Lifting a baby time and time again over your head is heavy work! I was amazed at quite how hard it was to remember to interact with baby, breathe, lift and tuck in my tummy all at the same time - I know we can multitask but thats hard! I actually found it easier once my baby was asleep and I was able to do the exersizes without her!
Make sure if you sign up to a postnatal class that the instructor is qualified in postnatal exersize. Sarah El-Howary is a pre and postnatal trainer in Maidenhead. Visit her profile on the Online Directory
Categories: Fitness
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Tomorrow I have my first baby and mother fitness class. OMG I feel like I’ve said yes to something far above my capabilities! My baby is nearly 5 months and although my matabolism is fast enough to bring down my figure rapidly to a non-pregnant thinner version of what I was before I had A, its certainly not a fitter me!
For example I daren’t try out a mini trampoleine just in case – well, if you’ve had a baby you’ll know what I mean! Its safe to say I need to do some ‘floor’ work! My back is shot to pieces, my neck only turns one way and my shoulders look like I’ve been folded in half!
Also, it may sound silly but I’m worried we’ll be lying on our backs weight-liting our babies and I’m concerned i’m going to end up with sick in my mouth – and it won’t be mine! Best keep my mounth shut if we do that exersize!
I’ll let you know how it goes! If you’re interested in some personal training or to join a mummy and baby class for fitness check out our online directory
Louise Prince, Founder. The Maternity Network
Categories: Fitness
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I’ve always championed complementary therapies for babies because they react so much faster than adults and normally don’t need many treatments to see a difference. Today I’ll tell you about my daughter. A was born 37weeks 2 days, vaginal breech birth in hospital. Within 6 days of her birth and at home she’d choked and gone blue and limp. I have first aid training with babies due to my NNEB daily nanny work but still I screamed at my husband to phone 999.
Within a few seconds she was fine and crying hard – relief. Ambulance not needed and glad my hubby hadn’t found the digital phone yet! 5 minutes after the event I was still sitting on the floor holding my baby and rocking back and forth when the CranioSacral therapist arrived. I’d booked her when A was born because she has forceps to deliver her head. Now it was more necessary in my eyes because A had reflux and was holding her breath when she was sick. The therapist gave me lots of time and even a cuddle to soothe my rattled nerves. She helped me off the floor and took A in her hands. She spoke softly to her and A began to relax visibly. The CS therapist spent 50mins with A gently following her movement through her spine by holding her head and bottom in her hands.
A slept long after the session and fed well. Her reflux had a marked improvement for the next few days too. I think she worked her magic on me by soothing my daughter. Amazing therapy.
See our CS therapists in the Online Directory.
LOUISE. Founder, The Maternity Network
Categories: Uncategorized
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They say a pregnant lady’s hair becomes thicker and more lucious (something simular to the herbal essences advert apparently!) but I didn’t notice any amazing change in my hair when I was pregnant! Then, once baby is here one loses the luciousness and it becomes limp and lifeless – and starts to fall out. Too many L’s for my liking! Now I’m not complaining that the lifeless hairs are falling out, but I am complaining about the amount at which it’s clogging up my shower filter! Just running conditioner through it I’m getting hand fulls of the stuff – lifeless or not I’d rather keep some of it on my head! At this rate I’ll be able to make a wig by the end of the week from the hair I’ve lost – and then I’ll have to wear that wig cos it’s all fallen out!
If you’re postnatal and you’re losing hair its all quite normal – apparently even the the amount I think I’m losing! It’s to do with hormones. What isn’t?! Eostrogen levels drop after the baby has been born when the placenta leaves with its pregnancy hormones it leaves your body to get on with recovering. Losing hair is not normally a cause for concern – unless you are concerned about bald patches appearing, in which case you could consult your GP – or wear a hat!
In my case I’m sure the shedding will slow down, and I’ve read that it can take a year. Super! In the meatime I’ve got the hair ready for a wig to be made, introduced a better filter in my shower and have finally had the time to leave my daughter at home and get a hair cut in a salon – its only been 4.5 months without a cut!!! Herbal Essences Advert - here I come!
LOUISE. Founder, The Maternity Network
Categories: Uncategorized
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