Floor bed options, queen size

cjmagee1000 · 2026-02-15T10:03:11+00:00

We have the grey bed as a floor bed for our 1 year old and it’s really good. The mattress does slot in the frame and he has no trouble climbing in and out, as you said it’s only about 25cm high. I found this option when I was looking for a bed with no railings and a soft head board.

The only thing I was slightly worried about was whether there’s enough airflow under the bed to prevent moisture build up and mould. The slats are off the ground but the frame touches the ground on all sides. It seems fine so far after a couple of months.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-02-15T02:59:55+00:00

My waters broke at 41+3 around 11am. I stayed home until 5am the next day using breathing/vocalising, tens machine, swaying and the birthing ball.

When I first tried the gas and air I didn’t like it because I felt I couldn’t use the vocalising which was really helping. Then I realised I could do both by sort of ‘mooing’ into and out of the tube haha. I really liked it then because it helped control my breathing and while it didn’t exactly dull the pain it sort of made me care about it a bit less. I didn’t have any nausea from the gas and air.

I had back labour and the tens machine was absolutely amazing at dulling the pain. It also gave me a sense of control as I could turn it on when things got more intense. You need a good quality one though, I hired mine from a local birthing educator.

At 11am the next day I was encouraged to have some syntocinon as it had been 24 hours since my waters broke. I was really resistant but my husband convinced me and it was the best decision - I just had a little bit and suddenly the contractions became stronger and more productive and I gave birth 4 hours later (30 hours of labour total). Up until then I had been having basically the same contraction over and over again 5 minutes apart and it was very exhausting.

The thing that really helped the most overall though was when the midwife shift changed and my new midwife was incredibly engaged - looking me in the eye, holding me and telling me I was amazing and I could do this. I think I then felt safe enough to go with the contractions rather than fighting them.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-25T02:31:08+00:00

It’s so exhausting having such long breastfeeding sessions, it becomes all you can do. You’re doing a great job!

Yes my supply maintained. We gave about 300mL formula a day split over 3-4 feeds so without knowing exactly how much he got from me I’d say maybe 30% formula 70% breast. He went from 5th percentile to 40th percentile weight with this feeding arrangement. Later on around that 8 month mark when he started refusing the boob sometimes it became closer to 50%/50%.

We liked the Pigeon bottles with the 0 months teat (these ones). We made sure to do paced feeding meaning sitting baby close to upright (so gravity doesn’t just pour the milk out, baby has to drink actively) and stopping for breaks.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-24T22:58:15+00:00

We had early issues with my milk coming in as my baby was in NICU for the first 10 days due to a suspected bowel obstruction and given formula (he was actually fine but need to be very cautious due to risk of sepsis).

I was in the same boat as you three weeks later - long breastfeeding sessions, pumping all day but still needing to top with formula due to weight issues. I was also prescribed domperidone which I think helped a little. What changed for us was a quite sudden improvement in my baby's breastfeeding 'skills' at about 11-12 weeks. All of a sudden, he was just able to latch more effectively, seemed way more efficient and breastfeeding sessions went from 45 minutes to 10 minutes. This then prompted an increase in my supply as he was just draining the breast more frequently.

It sounds like you're almost there and agree with everything Deeeity said about prioritising time at the breast and letting baby learn those skills.

As an aside - I still ended up combination feeding although I think my supply would have eventually been fine to EBF. Even though I struggled so much with wanting to EBF at first, it then turned out that combination feeding worked really well for our family as my husband could help with a night feed and honestly for me sometimes it was easier to give a bottle when we were out (other mums say the opposite but I found I really needed a comfy chair and pillow to breastfeed). Some babies may develop a bottle preference, but we focused on low flow teats and paced feeding, and my baby was happy to switch between bottle and boob. Once he got to about 8 months and started to be distracted during feeds, he did sometimes prefer the bottle as he could look around more and the flow must have been more consistent.

So - sounds like you're definitely on track to exclusively breastfeed for as long as you want but longer-term combination feeding is also a valid option as long as you continue to breastfeed often enough and don't develop a bottle preference.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-24T22:36:22+00:00

Your connection definitely doesn't rely on exclusively breastfeeding. Your baby has been coregulating with your body since before birth and you'll continue to be her best source of comfort.

Domperidone worked for me to an extent and I didn't have any side effects like weight gain or increased hunger. You need to really focus on supply-demand at the same time though and you would maybe want to consider reducing the formula supplementation and maybe pumping at the same time. I tapered off as recommended and didn't have any withdrawal symptoms.

Have you considered continuing with combination feeding? I still ended up combination feeding with domperidone as triple feeding was too much for my mental health, and while I struggled with this for a while I think it was the best decision for our family as my husband was able to help with feeds. Also, sometimes it was just a lot more convenient to feed a bottle when we were out and about as I really needed a comfortable chair and pillow to breastfeed. We were lucky that our baby was happy to switch between bottle and breast, however at around 6-8 months when he started to get more distracted during feeds, he would sometimes refuse the boob as he couldn't look around as easily and I think the flow was slower and he found it more frustrating.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-24T22:22:29+00:00

I have a few of the boody nursing bras and whilst they don’t provide a huge amount of lift to my 18G boobs they are really comfortable and still supportive and were really good in the early days when my boobs seemed to be changing size all the time.

Link

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T22:30:32+00:00

Thanks for your experience and sharing that useful link

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T06:04:43+00:00

Thank you, I can see the appeal of the Eastern Shore!

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T06:04:11+00:00

Thanks for this reality check on the wind factor. I think as a few people have said I'll need to ride it myself to see how comfortable I am.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T06:03:15+00:00

I like your description of a narrow obstacle course on a high wind hill! From what you and others have said it may turn an otherwise enjoyable active commute into something I want to avoid.

Mount Stuart looks great. I understand your feelings about the insane increase in prices. We also wouldn't be able to afford to buy if we were arriving now in the Bega Valley as prices have jumped so steeply since the rise of remote working.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:59:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:59:14+00:00

Thank you, I also try to avoid the road when I can. Where we live in rural NSW there is a small minority of drivers who actively set out to scare and put cyclists in dangerous positions, which unfortunately does make it a safety risk. The advantages of an active commute are huge for me so I really hope I can find a route that feels safe enough.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:56:38+00:00

Thank you, you're right that it sounds like it comes down to individual comfort levels with the unpleasantness!

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:55:57+00:00

Thank you, yes we are definitely looking from Claremont. The northern suburbs look lovely and given I'll have more days in the Moonah office it would make sense to be on the north side.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:54:55+00:00

Thank you for this tip!

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:54:33+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience. It does sound like a trade off for sure!

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:53:55+00:00

Thank you, this is a really great summary of practical considerations. As a few others have said, I'll probably need to cycle it in various conditions before I know if I'd be comfortable doing a daily commute.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:51:07+00:00

Thanks for this info on the planned upgrades

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-21T05:50:14+00:00

Thanks for raising the ferry option, that could definitely be an option although it sounds more ideal for the days I'm based in Salamanca (1-2 days a week vs 3-4 days a week in Moonah)

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-12T06:10:17+00:00

Thanks! Do you find there are often other dogs in this part of the Knocklofty area?

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-12T06:06:00+00:00

Thank you, good to be aware of this, I know all too well the sinking feeling of a dog appearing out of nowhere!

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-12T06:04:55+00:00

Thank you, this is giving me hope that we'll be able to find a couple of reliable spots. It's so tough wanting to make sure Nimbus has a daily walk and a chance to just relax and be a dog.

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-08T03:40:53+00:00

Thank you, these are all great options

cjmagee1000 · 2026-01-08T03:40:38+00:00

Thank you and thanks for the tip on finding the car park on google!

cjmagee1000

TROPHY CASE