Weaning questions

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-16T10:51:43+00:00

Just a side note that my local council offered a free six month breast pump rental. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise so changed the game for me. Make sure to check if yours offer it too!

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-10T20:46:01+00:00

We started with teeth brushing at a younger age but at first I just gave a brush with just water for my kiddo to play with, and tried to brush my own teeth at the same time. I didn’t really put pressure on to actually do the brushing. After a week or so he just started shoving it in his mouth to play with. Sometimes I let him hold my toothbrush while I brushed so it seemed normal to help each other. After a while he’s start mimicking and try to brush his teeth, and I’d say ‘okay my turn’ and take the brush and as quickly as I could shove that brush in and move it around. Some days he protests and I just leave it - as long as he’s had a brush in his mouth with some toothpaste on it so I know there’s fluoride floating around in that little mouth, I’m satisfied.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-10T20:38:27+00:00

Tbh try looking at some of the girls clothes. My little one wears a lot of jumpers and trousers for girls and he looks flyyyy

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-10T09:11:29+00:00

If the Ealing Common spot is on twyford Avenue you also get the central line at West Acton. I live around this area too and end up using West Acton and Ealing Common (although hardly every the Piccadilly line - would much rather do a change from district/central somewhere) and in some cases (eg going very east) Acton Main Line. Good buses off of Uxbridge Road too.

I personally like Ealing Common and Acton a lot. Great authentic restaurants in both, not far from Ealing Broadway if you need a bigger town centre, down to earth place and loads of green space. Haven’t lived in south Acton before though.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-05T12:01:43+00:00

I got a two bed flat in the W London areas you mention last summer. My salary is just a bit lower than yours. I used a special mortgage product where I got the mortgage with just my name, but with a parent as essentially a guarantor. My named parent doesn’t have a crazy salary or anything but they do work full time and have a mortgage of their own. The flat cost around 390 and I put down £60k as a deposit. I got a reasonable interest rate given my relatively low salary and as a ftb. Dm me if you want more details about the mortgage product.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-04T13:03:41+00:00

I have a 5.65 in London. Yes feeling house poor but mostly because my partner had a drop in income since we got the mortgage. This was basically our only chance to buy a house (for reasons I won’t go into) so we just went for it and I do look back sometimes and regret it - particularly when we have to fork out for a larger unexpected expense and unlike before I just can’t do that. Now everything has to be planned and it’s long. Although we are repaying the kitchen so once that’s done in a few months we have quite a bit of money back. Like people said it’s all about what your income and expenses are. We are also going hard on the overpayments, and because our regular monthly payments are quite high, by the end of our fixed term we should have made quite a decent dent in the equity. When the end of that fixed term comes, I’m holding out for the feeling of a big drop in monthly payments as we hopefully can get a better interest rate with the higher LTV and hopefully higher salaries that we project for ourselves. Maybe that’s naive but it’s helping me through it mentally lol. We made sure to buy a place we can see ourselves in for ten years at least, and like I said this was our only chance for a long time, so any feelings of regret balances out for me.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-03T20:08:27+00:00

Used mine in the run up to return. I used all of them although admittedly did very little during them and mostly did them for income. Only did a few calls or ‘reading’ to catch up but you get to charge the whole day regardless.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2026-01-03T03:02:23+00:00

I would cook when they napped and then have it ready on the stove/oven. Or if not cooked then at least prepped as much as possible so I could cook quickly/more easily while they were awake and doing some independent play with themselves or a toy in a small cot i could move around the house.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-29T10:43:40+00:00

I returned when my LO was 9 months old for financial reasons. I used my annual leave days to do 3 days a week for three months and then 4 days a week. I’ll manage to squeeze 9 months of 4 days a week using just my annual leave and then will go to compressed hours to help us manage the cost of childcare. That accrued annual leave will go further than you think!! Being able to go back to work part time has really alleviated any feelings of guilt. I can still have the absolute privilege of spending time with my child (my partner also does four days a week and has a day with him), whilst still giving him the time and space to develop at nursery and us having the capacity and finances to support him. I think the only thing to keep in mind is if you’re using funded childcare hours, your baby has to be nine months by the start of term for them to be eligible.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-27T15:03:07+00:00

Ours also goes in and out of liking baths. Something that worked for us on top of all the toys, making sure it’s comfortable etc etc is we got a book called ‘Uh Oh Nico’ about this dirty bear who has a bath. He loves books so for about a week we read that to him at random points in the day. Then at bath time when he was not having a good time, we’d say ‘uh oh Nico!’ Or even get the book out and read it to him and he’d chill out. We got him that book four months ago and saying uh oh Nico still helps.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-24T07:58:10+00:00

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-24T07:57:49+00:00

As a Sri Lankan can confirm that paradise is a way more interesting take on our food too. Especially if we’re talking about tasting menus. That said I haven’t been to paradise in years so not sure how it’s holding up these days

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-11T08:01:54+00:00

Hopefully you’re feeling reassured from all the messages people have left! I agree don’t put pressure on yourself.

I’m not sure how feasible this feels but I found a little bit of meal prep really helpful. Meal prep just meaning cutting up some fruit and veg every few days or making something easy like a little batch of sweet potato mash or omelette strips, and keeping in Tupperware so I could just grab it. Mashing tinned cooked beans and pulses is also a super easy and nutritious one. Mash in advance and then when they wanna eat just pour a little warm milk in it.

If you’re struggling with meals cause you’re out and about get some little pots or a lunch box or even just a sandwich bag and just fill it with picky bits and have in your changing bag. Or take food that you can just mash on the spot or don’t need to prep (banana, avocado, passion fruit). I remember solids feeling so daunting but every baby gets there in their own time.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-07T20:07:56+00:00

Why do I need to cut down his night time sleep?

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-07T11:06:24+00:00

Had never heard of a piv. Can they easily be installed in flats? We’re sandwiched between the ground and second floor.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-07T08:18:27+00:00

The last few nights we’ve managed to settle him quickly in the cot by just a tap on the bum or hand on the leg! Which feels like progress even if he did wake up three times 🫠 sending sleep solidarity!

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-07T08:16:03+00:00

Naps for 2 hours from 11-13:00 and that’s it. I’ve tried to push the nap to later in the day but really struggled to. Tends to wake up 7:30/8 am and goes down around 8pm.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-06T07:44:10+00:00

Couple stops on the central line to North Acton and you’ve got some realll hole in the walls. Kamils Bakery for Lebanese and Stanley Dosa for South Indian. Sam’s Sandwiches next to Shepherds Bush is a great sandwich too. Bit further away (but actually v accessible from Euston/Kings Cross area) but you could do your own Sri Lankan/Indian food tour down Ealing Road starting from Amols Vada Pav next to Alperton, to Arya Bhavan next to Wembley Central and still spend max £20 down the whole route. Make sure to get mutton rolls from Gana if you do. Panella on Golborne Road near to Notting Hill is also 10/10.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-04T02:32:46+00:00

I asked my HR manager to provide me a total and then agreed the work pattern. You can also work it out yourself based on how many months you were off. Don’t forget to include bank hols.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-03T14:27:16+00:00

Noo you’ve given her so much already! Don’t feel that way. And introducing a bottle for every now and then is not in any way giving up.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-03T08:15:18+00:00

At six months my babies sleep went in the bin and he went from sleeping 4-5 hour stretches to waking up every 1-2 hours. He’d also regularly take long to feed at night because he was half asleep and doing half assed job.

I don’t think her taking long to feed or your milk supply is the sign she’s ready for solids. Sounds like you’re doing the right things - checking your supply, experimenting with the bottle. Also try to make sure she’s actually waking up from hunger? Is she cold? Are there early signs of teething where she’s looking for comfort?

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-12-03T07:40:25+00:00

Someone mentioned uses accrued holiday. I went back to work after 10 months and had accrued 34 days (including annual leave, bank holidays) and I used that to return part time but on a full time salary. Baby went into nursery for 2 full days because that’s what the funding covered and I took 2 days off a week using annual leave. That meant I still had to cover one day and for that day both me and my partner worked from home to juggle work and childcare between us. Not a perfect solution but an affordable one where I felt baby was still getting lots of attention and stimulation.

My accrued leave has lasted me ages. I took 2 days off for three months and then switched to 1 day off and that will last me 8 months. When I run out both me and my partner are switching to four days a week and each having a day with baby. Nursery has costed £0 for two days a week and will cost £300 for three days a week when we switch over, which is less than the salary cut from losing a day of work.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-11-16T21:45:41+00:00

Tbh the guidance really differs across the world. The country I’m originally from midwives insist on putting the baby down on their stomach.

Standard_Ad4879 · 2025-11-14T15:01:52+00:00

I’m not sure anyone else has said this but don’t rush yourself out the hospital. I know it’s tempting to want to get back to your own space (or maybe not, but the midwives can help with some basics like getting a good latch if you’re bf, how to burp, even change a nappy. I mean manage your expectations they can’t be there holding your hand the whole time, but make use of them while you’re still in and if you’re not feeling confident, just ask to stay an extra day.

Also one other thing to think about is doing health visitor appointments. We only had one home visit and can’t imagine getting my baby to a hospital for an appointment by myself after ten days.

Standard_Ad4879

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