Appointments

[NicoleS]

I'm just going to copy/paste this on my various boards, so just skip to the parts you're interested in...

Took both boys to the pedi today - Caleb for his 2 month and Shane for his 2 year.

Shane was 29 lbs. 2 oz. (60th percentile) and 35.25" (75th percentile) so holding steady to where he has been. Our pedi doesn't do head circumference at 2. He is now 2 lbs. heavier than Athena! Developmentally he's on target - a little ahead verbally and a little behind gross motor, but nothing to get excited about either way. I also asked him about PTing - because unlike the girls at this age Shane shows absolutely no interest. He said most boys aren't ready to PT until closer to 2.5-3, so to put it on hold for 6 months or so (unless he shows interest sooner) and then try again. And in regards to his wheezing - the good news is that it is not his asthma flaring up - his lungs were totally clear. The bad news is that it appears he really did inherit DH's lungs - down to the seasonal allergies. So we are trying him on Nasonex until summer. We also got a lifetime supply of albuterol, LOL! He was a trooper for his shot and his blood draw (lead test and CBC) and didn't cry at all.

Caleb was 13 lbs. 8 oz. (80th percentile) and 24" (75th percentile) and his head was 17" (off the top of the chart - anyone surprised?). He's actually about 3/4ths of a pound lighter than Shane was at 2 months, but is holding steady to his growth curve/percentiles. The pedi thinks the weird green poo a week ago was likely just a virus - apparently something has been going around. He recommended we start a Vitamin D supplement (can anyone think of why I should do that with summer and sunshine coming on?) but other than that said everything looked good. Poor baby was not pleased on getting his shots, but nothing mommy can't fix.

Caleb goes back in 2 months for his 4 month checkup and Shane goes back in 6 months for a 2.5 year checkup.

[Nicole730]

What a coincidence, DS has his 2 year check up today and DD had her 1 month check up.

I don't know here you live, but according to our doctor, anyone above South Bend, IN could get sun all day year round and still not get enough vitamin D from the sun. He said there was study done, I'm going to look for it one of these days. I'm a way bigger fan of the sun than I am of taking vitamins.

For DS's 2 years: He is 50th % for weight @ 26lbs and 75th % for height at 35". He didn't really say what was going on as far as him being ahead or behind in anything. He just had a checklist of stuff, like runs well - stack blocks - puts two words together...DS can do everything he said, so I'm thinking he's right on track. DS hated the doctor's office though. He started saying "all done" the second we walked in. Poor kid. Plus he had to get two shots, but he was happy to get a sucker after (his first sucker!).

DD @ one month was 50th % for height and weight @ 21.5" and 9lbs12oz. Her head was in the 25th %, it looks tiny!

DS is going to have to do the lead draw and bloodwork at one of DD's appointments because the lab tech today didn't do kids (we see a family practitioner)...apparently the regular one is on vacation.

[NicoleS]

Hmmm I'm in Cleveland...I'd be interested in seeing that study, because I thought I remembered reading on Kellymom or someplace similar that they only needed about an hour of sunlight a week. There's even an article on here about it: http://www.mothering.com/politics-vi...upplementation

A natural alternative to vitamin D supplementation is exposure to sunlight, but how much sunlight? To make enough vitamin D, a baby in a diaper needs a total of only 30 minutes of sunlight a week-less than five minutes a day. Fully clothed and without a hat, a baby would need two hours of sunlight a week, or about 20 minutes a day. Medium to darker skin tones need a little more time in the sun.

We'll easily get that much with summer coming on.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by NicoleS

Hmmm I'm in Cleveland...I'd be interested in seeing that study, because I thought I remembered reading on Kellymom or someplace similar that they only needed about an hour of sunlight a week. There's even an article on here about it: http://www.mothering.com/politics-vi...upplementation



We'll easily get that much with summer coming on.

I've always heard that too. And I think I'll choose to believe it. We actually got a nice amount of sun last week, it was wonderful. I'm pretty sure that sun exposure has to be without sunscreen on, right?

[feministmom]

pak....trying to build up my milk bank for when when I go back to work sometime in may

Yay for positive visits to the ped!! Miranda has her two month visit next week...I can't wait to see how big she's gotten!

I'm interested in the sun/vit D issue, too....I am also curious about sunscreen. I'm in Nj and when we go out, I try to keep Miranda in the shade....luckily she likes the stroller and I can hang a light, muslin wrap over the top when staying in the shade isn't possible. But I also like to wear her in the mei tai. I can put a hat on her to protect her scalp, but I worry about her little legs and feet getting burned. It's been waaay too hot this week to put pants on her....any ideas? Could using california baby sunscreen really be that harmful?

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by feministmom

Could using california baby sunscreen really be that harmful?

I asked my ped about this with my son, because I knew I would have him outside and sometimes in the sun before he was 6 months. He said that it is just because the official recommendation is no sunshine before 6 months, so the sunscreens have to say not to use it on little babies. Our ped okayed sunscreen, but said try to keep him out of the sun as much as possible.

I know DD will be out much more often than DS was, because we'll be out there with him. I got some Earth's Best organic sunscreen that I will use on DD.

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Nicole730

I've always heard that too. And I think I'll choose to believe it. We actually got a nice amount of sun last week, it was wonderful. I'm pretty sure that sun exposure has to be without sunscreen on, right?

I think so, yes.


As far as the sunscreen issue, I just don't take them out for long periods when the sun is at its peak - we'll go out in the morning and the later afternoons. Plus all of my kids have a darker skin tone than I do thanks to DH, so they don't burn very quickly. I really only bother with sunscreen if I know we are going to be out in the middle of the day in direct sunlight.


I don't think I'm going to bother with the vitamin D. It just goes against my gut feeling that breastmilk is perfect, and it is going to be summer here so we'll get outdoor time. If it was winter then I could see the concern, but by the time it is winter again we'll likely have had to switch to formula, which is fortified anyway. I guess I'm a bad mommy, but I really don't worry about vitamin supplements until they are 18 months or so and starting to become picky about food...