Lilia is starting solids tomorrow (I wanted to wait until six months but she is five months and I feel she is really ready - my health visitor agrees) so I want to get into a routine to keep her in. Not only for that but because she is in her own cot as well (she is doing REALLY well guys - stayed down from 11-12ish until 8ish!).
So I have decided that our routine is going to completely change, which will be hard at first but totally worth it.
WHAT WE DID BEFORE - Lilia would wake up in the morning at varying times - 6ish-8ish usually. I'd give her her feed and then get her back to sleep. We'd then wake up around 11ish. We'd get up and play a little before she has her afternoon nap around 1-2ish. She'd then stay awake from 3-4 until around 6ish, where she'd have a bath before or after. She'd go to sleep in the night whenever she wanted - because we stayed in bed so late in the mornings, I wasn't tired in the nights so I usually stayed up 'til like 1am. Then the routine would start over. She was sharing my bed with me when we were in this horrible routine. Don't judge me from this routine - I am young and I am learning. Now we are in a much better one so please, no hurtful comments on my parenting.
WHAT WE DO NOW - Lilia still wakes up 6ish-8ish, and depending on whether she had a feed 4+ hours ago or not, I will feed her (usually she wakes up for her last feed around 10,11ish). We then get up completely and go downstairs. She goes in her bouncer for me to have my breakfast (I usually put cartoons on to entertain her while I eat as she hates being ignored or bored) and when I'm done we play. Usually 1-2 hours later she will get tired again because she is used to going straight back to sleep, plus she is still only little. So I put her up in her cot for a nap and have a shower, get dressed, wash and sterilise bottles (if I have time!) etc, before she wakes up. This nap usually doesn't last very long, around 1-2 hours, 2 hours at the very most. After her nap we chill out for a while; Lilia stays in her chair and I will either go on my laptop or do some chores or something. Then we play and I put her down for tummy time for her to learn to roll over (she is NEARLY there - she gets onto her side, but can't get further.. I have photos to upload for a whole separate post of rolling), I sit near her and talk to her/encourage her, etc. She will then get fed; for her next feed I will now be giving her baby rice. I just feel that this feed (being around 12-1ish probably) is a good time to start her on solids. We will both be not as tired as we would in the morning or night, and I will definitely be more patient with her as she learns. She usually likes to have a nap after her bottle feeds around this time, so she'll probably have a nap in her cot after her rice feed too. After her nap we play until it is time to feed her. I feed her and try to keep her awake until her feed after that. In between those two feeds I bath her. Her last feed downstairs is usually around 9ish, then I put her up in her cot. She stays there then until the morning. She does sometimes wake up for her next feed, but not all the time. If she does, I will give it to her - along with a cuddle - then get her back to sleep.
I love this routine and think it will work wonders in teaching her how things go as she gets older!
So yeah, this post makes it known, but I'll say it anyway.. LILIA IS STARTING ON THE BABY RICE TOMORROW!! I'm SO excited. It's just a major milestone, it signifies how much she's growing up and I just can't believe it! I will be taking lots and lots of photos :) I can't wait! I had my heart set on waiting until she was six months - I felt like I HAD to do it because that's what is said to be best since I didn't breast feed for very long - but she was ready earlier. She's having 7oz of milk and it fills her for a little while, but she doesn't wait four hours to have her next feed. I tried giving her 8oz, but she just leaves the extra ounce anyway, so I think she's definitely ready. Oh well, she may not be the 'best' age, but she's only a month out and I think starting now would be better for Lilia as a person anyway, not as the majority :D
Probably post tomorrow about rolling over and solids! Photos will be included.
She's growing up so fast! :') There is no 'right' or 'wrong' time to really start solids, they suggest between 4-6 months is the ideal time to start but it all depends on the individual baby. By the sounds of it Lilia is ready and of course you would know she is as you're her mum. The only reason they suggest waiting until 6+ months is really because of food allergies, but as long as you are not giving her lots and lots of different foods at once to try you should be right. And if she does have an allergy you'll be able to trace it back to the one food you gave her.
ReplyDeleteHope she enjoys her baby rice tomorrow!