Journey to a Family: Baby Update

Age: 22 weeks

Weight: He isn't due to be weighed again until the end of the month.

Feeding: He's been a bit fidgety with his feeding and he chokes on his milk often too. I tried him with a bottle again this morning and he didn't scream but seemed more interested in chewing on the teat and drank very little. Since I've been back on dairy he has had really explosive, watery and mucousy nappies, he's been more fidgety with feeds and his eczema has really flared up so I have no idea what to think! I'm waiting on a call back from the GP tomorrow to see what she suggests while we await our Paediatrician appointment in May.

Sleep: We had a few good nights where he would feed around 9, 1, 4 and then 6-7 with good sleep in between but last night he was wide awake from 2 onwards - he wasn't upset but certainly wasn't going to sleep. He would drift off and catnap then be wide awake again. Fortunately ALS had a late start this morning so around 7 am he took him for a couple of hours between feeds while I caught up on some sleep.

Routine: After battling with what other people think I've decided to stop caring and go back to a baby guided routine. I'm letting him just sleep when he's tired (although desperately trying to catch the sleep windows so he doesn't get overtired) and if that means a later bedtime then so be it - at least that way I often get to sleep until 9 am. It works for us and once he's older and in his own room we can work on bringing bedtime earlier ready for starting nursery.

Likes/dislikes: He's really enjoying sitting in his ClevaCushion and playing independently. He also absolutely LOVES BabyTV, which I limit to just a few minutes a day at teatime so I can get a hot meal - I watch it with him and talk to him about what's happening. He doesn't like the fact that he's not allowed my food and managed to burn his fingers earlier by lunging at me and sticking them in my dinner (bad mummy) - there's fortunately no visible damage and he calmed down very quickly so I think it was just a shock! Roll on weaning!

Firsts: First Easter - although too young for Easter eggs yet! First real attempt at sitting and he's getting stronger each day. First time being awake lots in the night (not bad for 5 months) not for feeding or reflux reasons.

Milestones: Sitting unsupported for a good 5 minutes or so at his great-grandma's house! He's so close to rolling back to front but just isn't quite there yet.

Things we did: We had a very busy Easter weekend! He saw ALL of his grandparents/great-grandparents in one weekend which hasn't happened since the first weekend he was born. We went to a friend's for a takeaway on Friday and he got to see his cousin. We went swimming and then had the gym squad round for pizza on Sunday. We went to the story/singing griup again which he loved too! We also went to ASDA and picked up a load of 3-6 month clothes ready for the transition as he's growing faster now.

Me: I'm trying hard to just do what's right for us as a family without worrying what others think but it's hard! I'm also trying to find time to keep on top of things like exercise and doing the washing - I was doing it when OJ went down at night but it's like he can sense that I've left the room so wakes up and then won't settle for ALS. In the daytime he rarely naps anywhere other than on me (and if I put him down his nap ends up short so I'm just letting him sleep on me in the interest of him getting enough sleep). It is getting slightly easier now he will entertain himself for a bit but it's not long enough to get a full workout in, plus I don't really enjoy working out at home - I do love my weekend gym sessions though! I'm keeping motivated though as I've signed myself up for a charity deadlift competition in May!