Big girl, little chair.

We have a lovely little wooden chair in Poppy's nursery and yesterday I sat her in it for the first time.  I expected her to get bored quickly but she sat there as good as gold.  It is so strange to see her sitting, she looks so grown up.  Here are a few photos of my big girl in her little chair.    

Young teethers.

Most babies get their first tooth around six months, prior to a tooth cutting through your baby may be fretful and difficult to console or they may be unaffected.  Poppy had bright red cheeks, chewed everything (especially her fingers) and could be quite grizzly.  She started teething around 3 months and her two bottom teeth appeared at 4 months, some babies get teeth even earlier than this!  What we found difficult was that she was too young to hold ring teethers.  A fab product I have recently come across is the Gummee Glove.  I've put a link to their website below, you can also find them on Facebook and twitter. Essentially it's a glove you can put on your babies hand and they can chew the attached teething ring.  

www.gummeeglove.co.uk

The teething rings are available in pink and blue and are detachable so can be sterilised.   The glove also comes with a laundry bag which can be machine washed.  They are £12:99 and delivery is free!  

Maternity wear for spring.

I have found a lovely bird print maternity top for you, which will look great in spring.  To put with this a great value for money, cosy, versatile maternity cardigan, to keep you warm in the mean time.

http://www.next.co.uk/g956s2

http://www.next.co.uk/g952s3

Poppy, otherwise known as....

Poppy

Baby girl

Sweet pea

Kit Kat (chunky)

Madam

Poppygale

Pop-alop

Popsicle

Chickpea

Her chunkiness

Poppy Lynn where you been

Sweetie

Treacle

Cheeky

Cheekle treacle 

Chunky thighs

The cub

Broccoli chops

Girly

Little chomper

Little peach

Little moo

Punky

Monkey

You will start to call your baby all sorts of silly names, or maybe that's just us......

Toothy pegs.

After a week of restlessness, pink cheeks and chewing everything Poppy's top front teeth have come through!  Teething can be a very difficult time for parents because there is not much you can do to help your little one.  We found letting Poppy chew chunky bits of cucumber helpful and well as her Sophie la giraffe teether.  We did buy teething rings but found them a bit bulky. Don't be worried if your baby goes on a nursing strike either, we had this when Poppy's bottom teeth came though, it soon ended once she was hungry.  If you find your baby is struggling to sleep I recommend a little Dentinox teething gel.  Simply rub onto the gums and it soothes instantly.  

As for breastfeeding with teeth.  The bottom teeth no problem, the top teeth.... ouch!  At the moment I am very sore so will let you know what happens.  Good luck with your teething babies ladies!

Tongue Tied

Breastfeeding can be tricky, awkward and painful to begin with but before long your efforts should pay off and it should be easy, calm and enjoyable.  Make sure you talk to your midwife if you are really struggling and having difficulty latching, because there is a chance of your baby being tongue tied.  Luckily this was not the case for Poppy and I but I know of a new mum whose baby was tongue tied and this made feeding difficult to begin with.  

If your baby is tongue tied a procedure may be carried out to aid breastfeeding.  The babies tongue will be snipped so that it can latch properly.  This is called division and is painless and quick.  

Click the link below for more information of tongue-tie in babies.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tongue-tie/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.tonguetie.co.uk/

If tongue tie has affected you and your baby you may be interested in signing a petition to ensure babies have the division procedure carried out within three days of birth.  Babies that have trouble latching may have difficulty gaining weight, take in more air when feeding and leave mum very sore and open to infection. I have attached the link to the petition below.  If any one has any advice for new mums with tongue tied babies, please feel free to comment.  

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36614