December Random

jenkar01

Well it is hard to believe it but December is upon us. So that being said, figured we would start new random thread.


My random question is when do you stop swaddling your LO? We still swaddle X at bed time, he is 3 months old, and didn't know if any of you still do. He seems to still like it for bedtime and he still fits in the sleep sacs. Plus it is what we use to make sure he stays warm at night. Just curious.

Sbrown721

Our LO sleeps so much better in a swaddle! We swaddle him at night and for naps. He is 10 weeks today. You're not supposed to swaddle once they can roll over because they won't be able to roll back over when their arms are pinned down in a swaddle and they could suffocate. You can put them to sleep in a sleep sack after that. 

rock1cherry

We stopped swaddling after one month i think. She seemed to stop liking it so we gave it up. But her startle reflex is strong and she wakes up because of it. I'm thinking I may try the halo swaddles again but with arms or one arm out.

jln27

I was actually thinking about asking this question myself! last night was the first time we let Sylvia sleep with her arms out in the halo sleep swaddle. every time we tried to swaddle her arms down she would wake back up and scream. she's beginning to roll over anyway, so I don't think it's too early.

BabyBoyH92016

@rock1cherry My LO started to hate the swaddle so we stopped at around 8 weeks. I bought Merlins Magic sleep suit which muffles the startle reflex. He seems to like it and I think we are getting longer stretches of sleep. Plus it's adorable. He looks like a sumo wrestler in it. 

jellybiehn

I think we stopped swaddling early too, around 7 weeks maybe? She hated having her arms in and would struggle until she had unswaddled herself. She was always too small for the magic swaddled blankets with the Velcro so we only used it once over another blanket on a particular trying night.

jellybiehn

Hey ladies. Just putting it out there for breastfeeding moms who have annoyingly started their periods--watch for a supply drop! In hindsight the signs were there last week with suddenly not sleeping through the night, shorter naps, and frequent but shorter feedings. Even being fussy during feedings is apparently due to hormones. Looks like the drop is due to decreased calcium levels after ovulation and that it can be offset by taking a combo calcium and magnesium supplement. Am going to try it next month to see if it helps now that I know. Apparently the breast milk can actually start tasting different as well and baby might refuse it but I haven't noticed that myself.

drabong88

Have you ladies started your period already? I'm 10 weeks post partum and still haven't started mine. Just curious if you have already had yours when did it start. 

jellybiehn

Ugh this is my second one so I think they are here to stay. I was hoping the first around 7 or 8 weeks was a fluke and that maybe the mini pill would stop them. No luck. I think mine came back early even though I am breastfeeding because I was pumping more early on and I didn't have baby on breast every 2 hrs? Who knows maybe I'm just lucky! 

rock1cherry

I'm 11 weeks pp. I started the pill like three weeks ago. I had very very light spotting one or two weeks into taking the pills but nothing since. And no period. Not sure if it's coming with being on the pill or if it will come when it wants to. 

jenkar01

Ditto to what @rock1cherry said. Had a light one for about 5 days two weeks into taking the pill but nothing since and that was a month ago.

madmyluv

I'm still swaddling and my baby is 11 weeks. It really helps with helping her sleep longer stretches. We will try the merkin magic suit around 4 months same as we did with my other daughter 

lilaros

I'm not 100% sure if I had my period or not, but I am thinking no.

At 4 weeks postpartum, I had some bright red bleeding for about a week. I saw my doc at that time and she said it would be highly unlikely that it's my period that early, seeings as I am exclusively breastfeeding and 4 weeks is within the realm of normal bleeding post partum. She said I probably just overdid it.

Then at 8 weeks pp, immediately after having an IUD inserted, I had bleeding again. I thought for sure it was a sign I had my period back, but this has lasted for 4 weeks now which is way longer than any period I've ever had! The literature my doctor gave me at my IUD appointment said that this is normal following insertion. I'm guessing that I haven't started my period yet but who really knows.

I asked one of my friends who is a labor/delivery nurse about this stuff, and she said a good (but not always foolproof) way to tell if you are having your period is that the blood goes from red to brown. Post partum bleeding and spotting usually goes from red to pink. I thought that was interesting!

jln27

11 weeks postpartum tomorrow, have paragard, no period yet. just started exclusively breastfeeding about a week and a half ago.

Sandrag313

FYI about the bleeding. I got my a really heavy period around 9 weeks pp or so and then 8 days after it was over started bleeding pretty strongly again. I thought I popped an internal c section stitch so I went to the ER and they said it was just hormonal changes and I went on birth control and the bleeding stopped.

hejo2016

LO is 12wks and still swaddling at night. She seems to love it, hoping the transition out of swaddle doesn't suck!
i thought I was getting my period a few wks ago, but it was fairly light. I think it was just hormonal and not an actual period. With my middle child I didn't get one until 11 mo pp I think? I don't remember with my first...

CDE20

We stopped swaddling at 11.5 weeks only because she kept breaking free and was trying to roll over. The first few nights were really rough. We've had some decent nights and some more rough nights but I feel like I sleep better, even if I am awake more, because she is safer. 

Sbrown721

10 weeks postpartum here. No period yet. I'm on the mini pill. I take it every morning at 5 am...annoying that you have to take it at the exact same time each day. I wake up at 5 am on weekdays and take it right away so now I have to set my alarm for 5 am on weekends too 

jellybiehn

Hmmm either this was the shortest period ever or this really is looking more like a hormonal shift this time. Last month was definitely more period like. Maybe the mini pill is doing the trick. Either way there was still a drop in my milk output that has seemed to have picked back up again. I figure since I'm trying to avoid too much dairy anyway that it won't hurt to keep taking the calcium to try and avoid another dip. Fingers crossed no more periods for a while!!!

CDE20

Is anyone else's LO preferring one parent? Baby has had a few meltdowns wanting me instead of Daddy. I feel so bad for him when that happens. I never expected it to happen this early.  

drabong88

@CDE20 there has been once or twice where LO was so upset and crying and only calmed down once I was holding him. I think it's just because I have been home with him these whole 10 weeks so far while my husband has been back to work since week 2. Also I think because I have been with him that long I know how to calm him down and am starting to know what his cries mean and I think my husband will need some more time to develope those instincts. 

BabyBoyH92016

I've been wondering how and when to start teaching your baby independence. For the past 3 months I have done very minimal around the house in terms of cooking, cleaning, errands, etc., in order to give my LO lots of attention. I was told you can't spoil a baby, but now that he's 3 months, I am afraid I am going to end up with a very needy child. It's become very wearing on me. I hate to hear my LO cry, but I can't constantly be holding him or playing with him. This week has started out badly. I'm not sure if he's going through a growth spurt, but I feel like we have regressed some. Normally when I put him in his swing to nap, he may whine for a few minutes, but will then peacefully drift off to sleep. Now he's been crying and it's been taking him longer to fall asleep. The first time it happened I thought he was hungry, dirty, or sick, but I've ruled those out. I noticed that if I come and sit next to him, he'll calm down and eventually fall asleep.

My second question is how has Daycare changed your LO? Mine is scheduled to go next month (he'll be 4 months). I'm currently talking to my employer about going back part time so he'll be home with me on some days. I was wondering if daycare has made your LO more needy or less needy? 

Sbrown721

@BabyBoyH92016 Aside from you being tired and not able to get anything done around the house I don't think there's anything wrong with your son wanting to be with you as he drifts off to sleep. Alphamom.com talks about a 2-3-4 sleep schedule that you can begin around 3 months. This may be helpful for you.

Quite frankly, I miss the days I could be by my son as he drifted off to sleep. My son is 10 weeks old and this is my second week back at work. I truly believe it's harder on the mom than it is on the baby. We chose a wonderful daycare and he is happy when he sees his teacher each morning. Daycare hasn't changed my son as far as I can tell. He seems a bit overstimulated when I pick him up (he doesn't really see me. he kinda just looks around everywhere bc a lot of parents are picking up). However, when he gets home all he wants to do is be at the breast for at least a half hour. That's even if he's eaten 10 minutes before I picked him up. I think it's more comfort than eating. Very talkative after that. That's about it.

molosmiles

My daughter is definitely preferring me over anyone right now. she's 10 weeks. She'll let other people hold her but if she is upset or tired she'll cry until I hold her. even with her dad and he used to always soothe her so quickly. 

Sbrown721

Ok, super random question, but I've honestly wondered about it since LO was born...we have cute sleep n plays (onesies) from Target. I don't now, but I have worked at daycares for years and I always preferred changing a child that was in a onesie than a child that was in a shirt and pants.

With that being said, do you dress your child for the day in a onesie/sleep n play? I think it's totally fine, but sometimes I doubt myself. DH is always surprised when I tell him that LO is ready to go for the day when he is in a onesie...

jenkar01

X lives in his sleepers. Unless we are going some where special or I randomly decide to dress him up, he is in a sleeper. We don't really go anywhere much because it is so cold and bugs are going around. He doesn't go to daycare because my in-laws watch him here at the house. If our house was warmer, he may chill in a long sleeve onesie but 95% of the time it is a sleeper. I don't feel bad about it and never will. It is what works for us. Besides he is a long lean 3 month old so trying to find bottoms that fit him is hard. Legs are too long for newborn but waist is sometimes too small for 3 months.

molosmiles

@Sbrown721 I do both. I dress Ellie in shirts and pants more than I did my oldest. She lived in sleep and plays. I do find it quicker to change in the sleep and plays, plus I feel like they are warmer. I received a ton of hand me downs with Ellie so I have more of a variety. 

Sbrown721

Thank you! Great to hear that I'm not as lazy of a mama that I thought I was!

jellybiehn

Most days our little girl hangs around the house in a short sleeve onzie and a pair of socks. Its quite the look. If we go out I throw some pants on her. I usually change her out of her sleepers when she gets up from her first nap. This is usually when I decide I should get out of my jammies as well. I don't know though, as soon as it starts snowing I may have to buy some adult flannel footy pajamas and we can just both hibernate in our jammies all day together! 

hejo2016

All about the sleepers too! So cozy! 
LO definitely needs mommy time after daycare, and I'm happy to give it to her. And some babies just need more reassurance and connections throughout the day! I'm totally in the camp that you can't spoil a baby.
speaking of babies, my first daughter is 8 today, so crazy how time flies! I've been thinking back to her birth all day.

drabong88

Yesterday I didnt change my LO out of his pajamas and to be honest I stayed in mine all day too. Usually he gets changed after his morning nap but it was rainy and cold yesterday and we had no where to go so we just stayed in our comfy clothes and cuddled! My husband looked at me a little funny when he got home from work and I was still in the same clothes lol. But they were so comfy and warm 

jenkar01

I love that my LO wants to nurse off of me shortly after I get home even if he just ate. Let's me know he missed me. And to be honest I miss nursing him so much.

jellybiehn

Anyone else had the thought 'am I going to have ANY hair left?!?'

I know its a normal post pregnancy thing but wow am I shedding a lot.

hejo2016

Omg hair is coming out in clumps! I feel ya

Sbrown721

Not yet! When does it start to happen?

jenkar01

I was told usually 6 months post partum but every mom is different.

drabong88

I didn't even know that could happen! Although I have thick hair and am always shedding so we will see if I even notice more coming out. 

hejo2016

With all 3 babies, mine fell out starting around 10wks pp

molosmiles

Omg...hair everywhere. mine started at 9 weeks  pp. I have thick hair and am used to losing hair a lot but PP hair loss is the worst!

BabyBoyH92016

Help! Serious sleep regression happening at 13 weeks. My LO goes to bed really easily. Very little soothing required, and no tears... maybe some whining.

All of a sudden this week he starts full on crying when I put him down. At first I thought he was hungry, dirty, or sick, but I've ruled those out. This is happening night after night. So now we have to rock and soothe for a really long time. He's also waking up more frequently.

Anyone else experiencing a sleep regression or have insight? We were doing so well with sleep this really really sucks.

drabong88

No advice but I have read alot of articles about babies going through a possible sleep regression around 4 months. Some of them said it was just because they are learning to do so much more that they just don't want to go to sleep.  I'm hoping we get lucky and it doesnt happen to Dylan since he is Such a good sleeper but I'm not getting my hopes up.