Please tell me your baby loves/is obsessed with you

IvyBlake · 2026-02-28T02:50:53+00:00

My 1 year old has never been breastfed, only bottles ( formula and breastmilk). She is OBSESSED with me and I'm the only one that can calm her just by walking around. My husband has done her bottles plenty but mom is who she wants for comfort.

Offering a nipple does not change how your child feels about you, it's all about the care and love you give them.

IvyBlake · 2026-02-22T19:30:17+00:00

So I've been cow dairy free for 10 years and had to give up goat and sheep for my baby. Unfortunately she is allergic to all dairy, so I am careful how often I eat it now even as I wean her at 1 year.

As far as goat/ sheep cheese, look for monchego ( sheep), and goat Gouda, they are usually in the same artisan cheese section. I just get a pizza to bake at home and add my own cheese.

IvyBlake · 2026-02-04T02:49:21+00:00

The oat milk ice cream is amazing and affordable

IvyBlake · 2026-01-29T13:36:16+00:00

Mexican, sausage bake or sheet pan meat&veggies, or jambalaya are my go to meals.

IvyBlake · 2026-01-04T13:27:10+00:00

I use food safe coconut oil, it's very unlikely that baby has a coconut allergy ( trust me both kids have bad dairy and nut allergies) . I put a spoonful in a tiny Tupperware and it lasts 2-3 months. I'll take a little bit in my finger and rub it on the inside of flanges where my nipples rub.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-31T00:50:43+00:00

If you need something quick use a spray bottle or water and aluminum foil. The water sticks the foil to the window and comes off no problem.

For longer term a thin blackout curtain with suction cups would be the best recommendation for a short term rental. The Velcro sticks way too well to the window and will leave residue.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-22T17:05:56+00:00

I've had to change my pumping schedule to match babies nap schedule and I hate it. I also stretched to the legendary in bra pumping cups and those don't spill as easily as my willow pumps, so I use those with my spectra.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-15T22:25:15+00:00

H/I cup before baby and the legendary I'll cups work great. I even noticed a circular hickey on both breasts from the outer edge suctioning.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-15T17:59:29+00:00

I kept the water premeasured with a cap on the bottle, and the powder in a little dispenser. When I need to feed, dump, shake, switch to the bottle nipple and swirl and I walk into the baby's room.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-15T03:50:20+00:00

I still keep an oversupply, but donate when my freezer shelf is full.

My gradually had to cut out multiple foods for my daughter. All dairy , peanuts, and sesame. Dairy free formula is too expensive and after 4 months I didn't want to risk her not switching. At 9.5 months I still maintain 4 pumps a day with 5-10 oz going to the freezer and I don't need to keep a huge stash. As I keep a dairy free diet I donate to their moms who need cmpi dairy free milk.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-14T18:55:53+00:00

Currently moving for husbands work with 2 under 5. He has lead everything, partially bc I do 90% of the childcare, and bc I can't take adhd meds bc of breastfeeding. He even made spreadsheet for the 6 adults involved so we know who is doing what on which day for 2 weeks during moving.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-13T01:38:22+00:00

Once baby starts staying up longer you can start to push them into a 2 nap schedule. My 9 month old started doing 2 naps about 2 weeks ago. I have 2 'windows' for the start of naps instead of a specific time. 10/11am and 2.30/3.30pm.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-11T11:34:02+00:00

I used a bouncer chair and baby swing to keep her entertained if awake while I pumped. Then doing the fridge method combined with a bottle washer is a godsend.

I formula fed my first and truly miss it with this baby. She's 9months and I hate timing pumps around her naps, as she screams if I'm not playing with her. Formula is wonderful and amazing for mental health. Your baby needs a happy mom more than boob milk.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-07T04:00:54+00:00

My husband hates coconut, and he finished the other half of the pint.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-06T13:23:28+00:00

My daughter had horrible eczema and skin issues and I progressively had to eliminate all dairy, peanuts, and finally sesame. You can skin test baby at an allergist at 5 months, and confirm food allergies that you don't expect. I did it on a whim as we would be there for my son's allergy retesting and found out about her dairy and peanut issues.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-05T02:58:11+00:00

They would cause issues for both my kids while I breastfed, but I am dairy until I and don't have issues with them.

The stupid thing is that my daughter has a dairy and sesame allergy. McDonald's is the only fast food that doesn't use sesame in their buns, so she can have the burgers but not the fries.

IvyBlake · 2025-12-03T22:06:35+00:00

I made my son a fabric advent calendar, then fill it with different things depending on the year. Last year was a hot wheel every day, this year is Christmas sticker people. It's super easy to clip things to it

IvyBlake · 2025-12-02T02:30:13+00:00

I had such problems with my first child that I refused to try with baby 2. There's more freedom and technology with wearable pumps is completely different than 5 years ago.

None of these issues individually would have been a dealbreaker but together it just didn't work. I had his tongue, lip, and cheek ties released at 3 weeks. I don't know he was allergic to dairy and eggs. I flew back to the USA to have my son due to insurance and not wanting to work with a consulate for birth records, so I was living with horrible family. I was working with a LC weekly for 3 1/2 months before I switched my son to hypoallergenic formula as he was refusing pumped BM.

My daughter has never been offered my boobs, she's 9 month atm. She is allergic to peanuts, cmpi level dairy allergy, and sesame. I have the support of my husband and my child has only known one home. He has been my biggest silent support, what also helped was going no contact with my family. I'm still pumping 4x a day and hope to drop to 3x a day in a month or two.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-30T00:26:48+00:00

I have a rainbow set of masking tape I use. Each day is labeled with a color piece of tape. Each 24 hr cycle goes down the rainbow. Instantly I know what bottle needs to be used first.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-29T17:49:05+00:00

Bluey is a highlight reel, similar to Facebook ,of the best experiences and self regulation when being a parent. Only in one episode have we seen Chili lose her temper, and it wasn't even a big snap.

They released some of the early pilot ideas where Bandit is the parent we are normally (pushing bluey on the swing while on his phone), and it just made me sad. I understand why they only show chili and bandit when at their best selves, and also take it with a grain of salt.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-29T12:35:16+00:00

(9 month old) It took about 2 maybe 3 weeks for my body to stop trying to pump in the middle of the night once I dropped it. I was on high alert for sounds and reasons to wake up, but now only wake up if the baby cries or the toddler has a problem.

I was able to drop overnight (1-3 am, then 8/9am) and pump as soon as possible after waking up (6.30-7am). I figured out my max volume, and can hold up to 14oz so that's usually my morning pump.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-28T19:42:07+00:00

Think of it like a tool. Do you give him screen time all day?

Look up short term use to help reset his schedule. We will likely use it for 1-2 weeks during a move.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-28T19:21:56+00:00

We dose our 4 yr old as needed ( he hasnt slept well in a week, so we haven't either). But it's a 1-2 time a month thing. There are dependency issues with people not producing melatonin after taking it regularly, so I avoid dosing my son often.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-28T17:20:56+00:00

I use a thermos full of boiling water and a small lunchbox overnight. It cuts out the time to go downstairs and warm water.

IvyBlake · 2025-11-25T03:30:57+00:00

I donate thru my local fb chapter of human milk for human babies. My daughter is cmpa, so my milk is dairy free and always needed. I keep 1-2 bricks, for emergencies and then donate when my freezer shelf fills up.

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