Feb 2010 July thread! - Page 3

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Yep, and that's the issue here - our Snugride is a 2004 and is a smaller version. It fit DD until she was almost a year, but our new wee man is long-torsoed and his head is at the limit. We thought about asking our cousins if we could buy their larger bucket seat now their DD is in a convertible (and FF at 11 months because "her legs were too long" *sigh*) but then I figured that I wouldn't be able to easily haul DS around in a bigger bucket anyway.

The feet aren't such a big deal - they tend to scrunch their legs up in the car anyway, but the head is important. I'm of two minds whether I prefer the bucket seat or the Roundabout in terms of practicality - DS rarely stays asleep once the vehicle is stopped so the bucket didn't help him stay napping, but it was easier to get him in and out of the house - what with him and DD and the stuff we often bring it's often 2 trips. Although I'm sure if we lived in an apartment, I'd find a way to make it 1 trip! I keep the bucket in the truck though so that when I use the stroller I can hook it on top and he can be looking at me rather than at a bunch of legs.

[Ninetales]

I don't carry Elsa around in her bucket but it is useful when we're just running in and out of several places, so I can pop it into the stroller frame without unbuckling and rebuckling her.

I can't believe how big she is getting. I weighed her the other day and she's almost 18 pounds.

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

I don't carry Elsa around in her bucket but it is useful when we're just running in and out of several places, so I can pop it into the stroller frame without unbuckling and rebuckling her.

I can't believe how big she is getting. I weighed her the other day and she's almost 18 pounds.

With her starting put so big, what do they consider a good growth rate?

[Ninetales]

Good question. My doctor has seen babies born at 11 and 12 and says that they tend to stay at the low end of normal as far as growth rate so we assume she will too. She seems to be doing that - 18 lbs at almost five months is something like 99th percentile but thst means she's only gained 4.5 lbs in that time, which is pretty low.

Basically I'm supposed to pay more attention to the rate than the number.

[flavorfull1]

Got the Britax Boulevard and DS loves it. He actually cried when I took him out today lol. Easy to install, he fits perfectly, super sturdy and better last forever

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

Good question. My doctor has seen babies born at 11 and 12 and says that they tend to stay at the low end of normal as far as growth rate so we assume she will too. She seems to be doing that - 18 lbs at almost five months is something like 99th percentile but thst means she's only gained 4.5 lbs in that time, which is pretty low.

Basically I'm supposed to pay more attention to the rate than the number.

See, that's what I was wondering. We're watching Caleb's growth as you know, and while not as big as your LO he was larger than average too (9 lbs. 11 oz.) He's now around 16.5 I think, which means that he's in the 50th percentile for weight and gained between 6.5-7 pounds since birth - but part of the concern was that he dropped from the 90th or so to the 50th. So we're still watching to see if he's just leveling out now that he is out of the womb or if there is anything to be concerned about.

[Snapdragon]

anyone have any opinions on "the miricle blanket" swaddle blanket? I had one in my closet that I just pulled out this wk. We swaddle ds on top when he is in the swing. He recently outgrew one swing and we got a bigger one. the new swing didn't hold tight the regular blanket we used to use to swaddle cause the straps were different. So we tried the miracle blanket.
Well, it holds him closed all right- so much so that I refer to it as the straight jacket and it makes me quite uncomfortable to use! But when ds is in it I check his body over and he seems totally relaxed everywhere. And he sleeps good long sleeps in it- so I guess it is fine with him.
do you guys think it is too tight/restrictive? or is it really fine to swaddle a baby that thoroughly? I am still on the fence about it.

[NicoleS]

I know generally they say not to swaddle once they start rolling...that being said my second DD was swaddled until about 9 months, she wouldn't sleep otherwise. She got too tall for any of the store bought blankets so I ended up going to JoAnn's and getting some lightweight fabric to use.

[Mommy2Austin]

Lots going on around here.

Tennessee has been put on hold (I'm silently rejoicing ) Michael finally realized how much of a strain and risk it would be to just up and leave. So we used our money to do other things and plan for Tennessee in the future.

Today we found a house to rent It's literally less than a mile from work Michael bought me a sweet little scooter to drive to and from work! We're saving nearly $200/ mth in gas by making this move and me driving the scooter leaves Michael with the van to do as he pleases with the kids! It's a 3/2 mobile with about an acre fenced in completely, we can keep the dogs and the chickens! The landlord is looking to start a community garden for the 4-5 mobiles on his land and was actually excited that we have chickens! He's a single dad of a 13 yr old girl and super duper nice (as well as great with the kids.)

The rent is $800/mth which is a bit of a climb from $525/mth, but between the gas savings, paying off Michael's mom and my raise once I pass the FDLE exam we'll be more comfortable than we are now!

One weird thing is I'm on my period again. It started about 3 days ago and its only been about two weeks since my last one. Hopefully it will even out on its own, but it bothers me to have my once clockwork cycle be so wonky.

Oh and Tristyn is ------------------ this close to crawling. I can hardly believe how fast the time is flying. Austin will be old enough for kindergarten next August...and my little Steven is gonna be grown before I can blink.


As for swaddling Nicole/Katie I say if thats how baby sleeps best than keep doing what works. I'm an adult and I still wrap myself up in a blanket. I also sleep on my tummy. My oldest sleeps on his back and my middle sleeps on his tummy. Tristyn does a bit of both, but much prefers her tummy. None of them ever liked swaddling much. I'm a live and let live person when it comes to things like swaddling. It doesn't cause any harm. And it gives you a little more sleep

[aramat]

We swaddled daughter #2 until almost a year (9 mos maybe?); she fell asleep quickest that way. I don't see any ill effects from it...

I swaddle Juju tightly because she sleeps best that way (or rather, she transfers to her bed best that way), will probably loosen the swaddle as she grows.

[flavorfull1]

swaddling- just recently, Malachi would not go to sleep without swaddling. Weird, he used to hate it so I just didn't. Now he needs it to settle down enough to sleep. I had just asked my sister the other day about how old they recommend being the limit for swaddling. She thought it was some time around being able to roll over. Well, that night Malachi rolled over and was face down sleeping swaddled. He could very easily move his head about and even rolled back on to his back. I have now gotten a system of swaddling to sleep and then unwrapping once he is down to sleep and then he will roll over on his own. Still sleeps best on his tummy, no way would I mess that up and roll him over. He barely sleeps 2 hrs at a time anyway.
So after my rambling....I say whatever works, go with it.

[Snapdragon]

I guess I was asking specifically about the "miracle blanket" which is a type of swaddling blanket that goes really tight and snug- anyway- I think I am okay with it. We don't use it for every sleep just in the swing.

[flavorfull1]

sorry katie. I do swaddle him REALLY tight. I don't know how tight the miracle blanket is but we swaddle very tight.

[NicoleS]

We had a miracle blanket and it wasn't that tight IMO? I could get a regular blanket tighter.

[Snapdragon]

maybe it isn't too tight- I hope not! It's just that we used to just use a blanket and it came undone a lot. In the miracle blanket it is like- committed to staying swaddled. And he does seem relaxed in it, it is still just me wrapping my adult mind around the concept that this is actually a friendly thing to do to my LO, kwim?!

[HappiLeigh]

Originally Posted by Katie34

And he does seem relaxed in it, it is still just me wrapping my adult mind around the concept that this is actually a friendly thing to do to my LO, kwim?!

I've heard that before about the miracle blanket. I don't have one, but my DS still can't sleep without being swaddled. It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep him that way, though, and his sleep is suffering. I looked at possibly buying a MB but I heard he might be too big for it already, or outgrow it soon, so I didn't.

Our six-month real-estate listing expired and we still haven't sold our house. We've taken it off the market to talk about it and possibly switch realtors. I know it's a slow housing market right now, but I hate having the move hanging over my head. As this baby gets bigger and more aware of his surroundings, I just want to have a little space dedicated to him. Not that I think babies need their own rooms, but just in our current space this baby seems like an afterthought, because I've always assumed we'd move soon and deal with his stuff better there.

We're totally doing the 4-month sleep regression thing, too. Oy. My formerly easy-peasy, laid-back baby now needs a nipple in his mouth every time he even stirs at night, and if I just try to pat him and/or replace his paci instead he SCREAMS at the top of his lungs like I just poked him with something sharp. C'mon baby, mama needs a little sleep!

[Snapdragon]

happileigh I don't know how big your LO is but the miracle blanket seems like there is plenty of room to grow imo. It just has these long flaps that wrap around a few times to hold the swaddle plus arm flaps also.

[Snapdragon]

double post

[SunRise]

Happyleigh, that is too bad about your house not selling. Can you list it privately while you figure out what to do?

I guess Lucy is also in that 4 month sleep regression... She seems to need to eat every 2 hours all night long. She slept much better and for twice as long before. This has been going on for a week or so.

I have this nice swaddle blanket; it is fleece and velcros shut (We haven't used it for a few months). It was snug and stayed together, but would be to hot to use right now. It is the Halo Swaddle and Sleepsack.

[Snapdragon]

Kind of a funny thing:

Backwhen we were all pregnant I remember I was reading a few parenting books at the end of the pregnancy. I mentioned "baby wise" and someone said- burn that thing! etc. And I said- I am just checking out all the options or whatever.
Well wanted to report that I was just cleaning out old books from my shelves to collect a give away pile. (we have a cafe that has a free book swap shelf). And I found that buried in the shelves. Never used those ideas in there at all
And I have a fireplace where I sometimes burn scrap paper and I took the book and put it in the burn pile. who was that who I was having that conversation with back then about it?