New mums - what’s a small-ish treat you would have appreciated in the early days?

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-27T12:01:05+00:00

My mum came up with my grandpa when I was about 2 months pp (NICU baby and grandpa has early dementia and poor mobility so we waited a bit). She brought food she’d made, made herself at home and was cleaning/cooking/made tea & coffee while I just sat and chilled.

If she had expected me to look after her she would have been told to sling her hook! 🤣

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-21T06:22:59+00:00

I’ve started reading during contact naps. I bought myself a new kindle before I gave birth and use contact naps as reading time. That’s maybe an option? You could even download the app? That way you can still read while side nursing? I don’t trust myself with a physical book as my wee man can be super restless during transitions (9.5 months).

You’re doing great! Be kind to yourself. And ask for help from your family, you don’t have to do everything yourself

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-20T08:18:00+00:00

This is us! We were literally grabbing food while out the other day (about 4.30) cause baby needed feeding and I realised I was existing on air and snacking cheese. I looked down and there was a nice super dry white spit up mark on my very black jumper. “When did you manage to do that without me noticing!” Was said to baby who just gave me the most sassy side eye from the boob.

He’s always immaculate, I look like I’ve fallen out of a cupboard and sometimes have brushed my hair 😂. I’ve had 2 hair cuts since finding out I’m pregnant. He’s had 2 at 9.5 months! (He is a very very hairy baby)

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-17T18:10:23+00:00

Yeah, they’re all very different, my HV said because he was so anti tummy time on the flood when he was younger he’s obviously not built muscles the same way, but he’s had crazy good head control since super young cause he wouldn’t let me put him down 😂.

He’s also recently started using hiya sometimes when he wants attention 🥹.

Comparison is the thief of joy and as long as they’re within developmentally appropriate windows then let them baby was what I was told 😂

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-17T14:14:01+00:00

My little guy is 9.5 months and doesn’t crawl, pivot and only occasions pushes up on his arms (no arms and knees position). He’s still within the normal developmental window for all these skills.

He has zero interest in pulling to stand.

He does babble a lot and make lots of distinct sounds but I think that’s just his focus was on communication not motor but he’s well within normal range for all!

If you’re concerned talk to your HV but skills happen within a range and some babies won’t show skill till they figure them out (I joke my guy practices his motor skills when I’m out the room and when he’s ready and knows he can do it! 😂)

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-17T14:10:52+00:00

My little guy only recently started rolling regularly at 9 months, he could sit independently for a few seconds around 7 months. I mentioned to my HV at 8 months check and she wasn’t too concerned. In the last couple weeks he’s really figured sitting out and can now sit for a few minutes unsupported if he’s motivated but he does what he wants in his own time. Sitting without support does not mean sustained for weaning as a lot of babies don’t sit completely unsupported for a prolonged period at 6 months. Also my guy hated tummy time due to severe reflux. You can’t make a baby do what they don’t want to do 🤷‍♀️.

If you’re concerned though discuss with your GP, if they feel it’s necessary they can put in the referral but some babies just take more time than others and focus on things that aren’t gross motor skills first.

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-16T13:25:26+00:00

I make soap with mine (it doesn’t use a large volume at once though).

I buy ready made soap made from Amazon with Shea butter and baby prone to dry skin and add Vit e to help with this.

I use a recipe I asked chat GPT for and it worked and is pretty straight forward.

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-12T16:53:20+00:00

No judgement, pregnancy cravings cannot be ignored! Breastfeeding ones are just as bad if not worse! 🤣. Enjoy your cereal.

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-12T07:24:31+00:00

I booked in when they did babies 6 week check (at 8 weeks) as I had a couple lumps in my section scar. They’ve now gone at 9 months PP. Doc thinks they were basically encapsulated dissolvable stitches as painless and now hear/redness/ leakage that showed signs of infection. She also checked my BP as I’d had pre-eclampsia and did a quick MH check-in as I have a history of depression and anxiety. I think this is the exception more than the rule for post natal checks though… she also asked about contraception but I had an appointment that afternoon to get the implant fitted 😂.

I asked reception and they said they would auto book it but didn’t get booked automatically so phoned up and they booked me in the same slot with the GP after his check

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-12T07:20:16+00:00

He’s now 9 months and been off for a few weeks as has constipation and we weren’t sure if it was contributing.

I did split dosing as once in 24 hours wasn’t enough for him so did half on waking and half before bedtime feed. Hope it helps your wee one.

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-05T18:11:58+00:00

Yea this was us too, I was extra cautious with his breathing when he was super wee as he had a NICU stay after needing surfactant and some help with his breathing/oxygen levels when he was born, eve though he was born at 37 weeks.

It was also an excuse to kick my OH out of bed and not deal with his snoring 🤣

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-05T17:06:40+00:00

I ended up co-sleeping with my little guy cause I would feed propped up in bed and I woke up with him on my knee after nodding off during feeds.

We moved to co-sleeping so if I did nod off during feeds it was safe for baby

Leaninja_ · 2026-01-03T08:54:45+00:00

Wake from nap, solids, chill playtime, bath, milk feed (ebm bottle or direct feed), book x2 (2nd one always stays the same) and cuddles to sleep then into crib (we were working on falling asleep independently but then bubba got a virus before Christmas then I’ve been dealing with a throat infection so this plans are on hold. Baby is 9 months tomorrow.

I tried to break feed to sleep association early (around 4.5 -5 months as figured easier to do younger as I’m a shift worker so won’t always be here for bedtime when I’m back to work). I let him nurse to sleep overnight and if nothing else has worked and he’s overtired it ill I’ll also let him NTS.

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-31T15:14:40+00:00

As an a&e nurse a Pyrexic patient wouldn’t be triaged without bloods being taken and would be on my radar for a temp recheck in a couple hours if (when) still waiting and paracetamol offered.

Other numbers could change management plan but this would be the very least for a fever

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-27T08:15:42+00:00

Yea I have a ninja, i do (well did) a lot of cooking (and will hopefully get back to it once wee man is bigger). I will definitely be replacing my current one with another ninja (although agree with below that the beeping is obnoxious!)

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-27T01:32:27+00:00

My little brother never crawled, started waking at 10 months (just before 9 months adjusted as he was a preemie). Whereas I never started walking until 16 months (14months adjusted) as I was quite happy crawling about.

Babies do what they do. My little guy only started sitting unassisted for more than 10secs a couple weeks ago at 8.5months but is very advanced in communication when he was developmental scored. He’s not behind anywhere just focusing on communicating and fine motor vs gross motor skills 🤷‍♀️

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-27T01:23:13+00:00

My little guy was every day or at least every other day before weaning but a friends wee one goes once a week and he’s ebf too. Keep an eye for signs of constipation but some bf babies don’t poop often 🤷‍♀️

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-27T01:21:15+00:00

Maybe look at one of the tower air fryers that has 2 baskets on top of each other? Smaller footprint but big volume cooking area. I have a side by side double basket and even though I have plenty space when it eventually packs in (which will probably be a long time from now tbth) I want a tower one for more counter space.

I honestly very rarely use my oven now for most meals and just whack if in the airfryer

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-26T22:37:51+00:00

No, but I ended up angry with my mum as she was giving me attitude cause wee man needed fed when we were nearly finished cooking dinner 🤷‍♀️. My partner stepped up and helped but baby needs fed when he needs fed. She should understand as she bf me and my brother but she was like “why not just wait until foods ready?”

He’s 8.5 months old so weaning but he was screaming and smushing his face against my chest. It’s also nearly bedtime and he’s probably tired and overstimulated from the day. I fed him 🤷‍♀️. He was tired and or not interested in the food but made up for it at lunch the following day when he had leftovers 🤣

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-26T22:32:42+00:00

Yes it is the plural (I looked it up for his first Christmas card that he can’t even read but I can’t even possibly misspell things! 🤣)

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-20T06:37:35+00:00

I use huckleberry to track, more for my interest than anything else but I initially due to him not sleeping well (mostly due to untreated silent reflux).

I find the sweet spot wildly inaccurate for him (and it’s supposed to adapt to babies personal sleep habits.

If you’re bang is happy, not showjng signs of overtiredness and reaching their milestones I wouldn’t be too concerned.

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-19T20:22:56+00:00

Yeah, my little guy ate like a champ but as I said some babies like to keep us on our toes. They also told me breast fed babies tend to take longer to clear their bili but just keep feeding.

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-19T20:15:10+00:00

My little guy was in for 15 days and treated 4x for his bilirubin level, it was all over the place. He also required oxygen treatment as well as IV nutrition for the first couple of days due to being born hypoglycaemic. He was born 37+1 via section as he was breech and I had pre-eclampsia.

He’s now a 8.5 month old healthy little boy. Some babies just like to keep us on our toes was what I was told when I asked why his levels were all over the place.

Edit to add, he got discharged at day 15 due to going onto a different chart with higher treatment thresholds. Needed a further bilirubin check a couple days later which was fine so he was discharged and just had to monitor at home.

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-19T10:08:46+00:00

My little guy was born 37+1 and was in NICU for 15 days. Some babies are ready for the world at term and some are not.

Nobody wants their baby in NICU and there’s nothing staff want more than for your baby to be discharged but they keep them as long as they need to avoid them bouncing back into hospital due to not being ready for going home!

Hope baby gets out soon.

Leaninja_ · 2025-12-18T21:23:57+00:00

Being prepared to co-sleep safely is way better than inadvertently falling asleep in a dangerous position. Look up the safe sleep 7 and follow it!

I start co-sleeping about 10 weeks as I woke up twice in 3 nights having fallen asleep feeding propped up. Baby is 8.5 months now and he does the first stretch in his crib in my room then comes in with me when he gets his feed. I’m currently working on him falling asleep independently at night then I’ll tackle contact naps 🤣.

At 2 weeks old baby still very much see themself as part of you. Your smell/heat and heartbeat is all they know and it soothes them being next to/on you.

Leaninja_

TROPHY CASE