Newby In Need

[Rachel :O)]

Hi, first time poster here...looked on google for an appropriate site and am hoping I've come to the right place. Since my son was born in January I have been feeling instincts that are at odds with what I know is the norm and what I would have done having qualified as a nursery nurse many moons ago! Things such as not wanting to put my son down in order to 'not create a rod for my own back' by having a baby who wants to be held all the time and not subscribing to the 'leave them to cry' school of thinking, etc, etc. I then found that others too want to go with what they feel is right rather than what we're told is acceptable baby care. However, I'm easily put of my stride and feel worried if I think I'm doing the wrong thing. Anway, heard today that at six months the baby no longer needs night feeds once they're weaned. My son is still in our room and spends most of the night in our bed and to be quite honest this means I'm not really aware how often he feeds after the first waking where I get him out of the moses basket, whip off his growbag and snuggle back down for milky munchys and sleepytime. As a kind of aside I've started to think maybe my milk has increased since he's been sleeping with us and not just by us though I could be mistaken. Now I'm worried that the norm is to not feed him if he wakes once his weaning foods are increased and yet I have no problem with feeding him to sleep even if he's not hungry as I see it as more than a feeding excercise. I know we're told not to feed them to sleep but this feels so natural and right. Am I way of track with this or do others go against the flow with this as with other stuff? Any advice gratefully received...sorry about the lengthy first post...thanks for reading, Rachel

[Seren]

Hi welcome to the group

I would recomend reading (if you ever get the chance) Debroah Jackson 3 In a Bed. well worth a read re bed sharing.


re the breasfeeding I'm not the best person to make comments on this as although I did breastfeed, mind stopped after 6 months, I can't quite remember how and when

Hopefully Trogette and other will have some tips for you.

Marths Sears also has some interesting easy reading books on Attachment Parenting, worth buying secnd hand or getting from the library.


HTH

[Rachel :O)]

Thanks Mama B, appreciate your reply...re. Three In A Bed...I've recently read it twice...what a fab book!! Thanks again...will look up those books...Rachel

[Seren]

there was another book can't remember if I still have it will look it up, but there was another thread on here where some interesting books were mentioned.


I also believe that there is an AP yahoo group, but I didn't get on with it sorry to say as there were a lot of Amercians on it and it did seem to get rather "deep" and difficult.

Have you a sling or a wrap?

[Rachel :O)]

Absoltely...a carrier was a bit of a must for me as I'm partially disabled so was likely to use one more than the buggy we have. Started off with a structured carrier which I found awkward to use, then bought a baby bag which is a bit like a structured sling...great but puts a lot of strain on one shoulder as they get heavier...now very happily using a Close Baby Carrier by TCK...it's brilliant! Very handy for keeping the wee man safe when I'm zooming through the park on my mobility scooter with dog in tow. Whish I'd had it from when he was born...do you use one?

[Seren]

i'm down to 3 now!

Dd doesn't like to be carried much now, she loves walking!

I've got a coorie, Ellaroo MT, and Ergo, oops just remembered an Angeltail Stunning Pink Ring Sling.

[Katiequiggle]

I am a strong believer in what feels right for you and what works for you is the right thing to do. You can't go far wrong if you follow your instincts and if you're happy and babies happy I don't see a problem.

Enjoy your baby while he's a baby, he'll be running round giving you cheek and leaving mess everywhere before long.

Welcome to Mumszone by the way.

Kate

[Tess]

I am a strong believer in what feels right for you and what works for you is the right thing to do. You can't go far wrong if you follow your instincts and if you're happy and babies happy I don't see a problem.

Enjoy your baby while he's a baby, he'll be running round giving you cheek and leaving mess everywhere before long.

Welcome to Mumszone by the way.

Kate

agree entirely with KatieQuiggle on this. :yes:
my dd2 still comes in to my bed when she wakes up for a feed at whatever time and is usally still there in the morning., shes eating more solids now so really should be satisified but if she wakes up and wants a cuddle. of course shes going to get one :wub:

[Netty]

Hello and welcome - and I agree too - go with what feels right for you. Use a carrier/sling all the time. if that works for you.

Current 'advice' is not to start weaning until 6 months - so I would keep on with the b/feeds if I were you. Dd fed until she was a least 12 months (mainly at night). ...

[Bay-Bee]

I am a strong believer in what feels right for you and what works for you is the right thing to do. You can't go far wrong if you follow your instincts and if you're happy and babies happy I don't see a problem.

Enjoy your baby while he's a baby, he'll be running round giving you cheek and leaving mess everywhere before long.

Welcome to Mumszone by the way.

Kate

I agree with this as well. Just follow babies lead. WELCOME TO MUMSZONE! smiledance

[Fudge Cake]

Hi and welcome to mumszone,

i agree with the others, do what feels right for you and your baby. My son is 2yr and still comes into my bed at night - i didnt breastfeed so cant help.

[Rachel :O)]

Thanks everyone for your replies...really appreciate the support! As to the breast feeding...certainly not gonna stop...just bit unsure about the whole not needing to feed at night time...but I hear what you're saying about doing what feels right. I guess it depends as well on the reasons why you feed...maybe he won't need it nutritionally but then I think there're more to breast feeding than nutrition. Thanks again...Rachel

[smirnoff]

hi rachel!
do what is right for you, you wont go far wrong if you listen to your instincts and do what is right for your family!!!

welcome to mz!!

[Fudge Cake]

my son bottle feed in the night until he was around 10-11mths, cant see why it should be any different for breastfeed babies?

[shazgh]

you sound like you are a fantastic mum and your little one will benefit from you not listening to others saying what you should and shouldn't do.

it takes someone very strong to stick to their guns, and no-one knows what your son really needs except you.

Feeding through the night, 6 months is way to early to consider stopping it yet. I am doing just that with my 16 month old just now but more because it is a habit which is stopping her getting a good sleep, so she now lasts til 5am without feeding.
if he is sleeping with you and settled and you are all happy then why change it, he will grow out of it when he is ready. I would have been delighted if i had a settled co-sleeper, instead i got a wriggler who is happier in her own bed.

[Rachel :O)]

Thanks for all your replies...really helpful and encouraging!! I'm happy with how things are and as long as it's not to anyone's detriment then I'll just keep a low profile when such discussions as sleep, etc arise! Many thanks, :o)

[nicholamarie]

hi and welcome.

i also agree with everyone else. you have to do whats best for you and baby and do what comes naturally and for most its to cuddle/feed/sleep with baby when they need us.

[colourart]

Most of its been said, but i just wanted to say keep going with the breastfeeding, mine breastfeed to 10 and 12 months, 6 months is still very young. They have a lifetime of not being babies, they are little for such a short time.

If your baby is breastfeeding at night still, and you're happy with that keep it going. I'm assuming that at 6 months your baby has just started weaning, so he might still need a night feed. I used to express breastmilk and use it to make up ds's weetabix, that way although the feeds were reducing because he was weaning, he was still having breast milk.

You sound like you and your baby have a lovely strong bond, good for you.

Welcome to Mumszone btw.

[Rachel :O)]

Thanks for those comments...I certainly don't intend to give up the breast feeding...kind of thinking of going till he's maybe two as I've heard it's still helpful for toddlers to breast feed. I think the idea I got from the group I was at on Monday is that they just don't need feeing at night cos they're getting enough nutrition from the solids...mind you I don't quite get that cos breast milk is supposed to be their drink as well as food and who's to say the little one won't get thirsty in the middle of the night? I think it's just another thing I'm doing which is more to do with attachment parenting than what is more commonly seen as the 'right thing to do'. I think I'll try and find a group like LLL where I can get some support with this style of parenting; not that I'll give up the breast feeding group...they've been fantastically helpful! (Not sure if fantastically is a real word but never mind!) Thanks again...this seems like a really supportive site... :o)

[baby-bean]

Hurray for you! You sound like you're doing a really good job, trusting your instincts in the face of well-meaning advice is hard. Breastmilk is an infant's main source of nutrition until a year, and it's so much more than that too.

[Rachel :O)]

Thanks baby-bean, really appreciate that...I do find it hard sometimes to go against the flow...I end up worrying I'm getting it wrong...but my instincts and common sense are telling me that maybe I and others are not so way off track. And I so agree about breastmil being more than nutrition! Thanks again, Rachel