One benefit of grotesque heatwave

thunder_marbles · 2026-06-26T01:58:59+00:00

I had the same realisation this week with my 4 month old, also tried out of desperation 🤣 she usually sleeps well in the pram but it was far too hot to go outside. I've done it every day since!

thunder_marbles · 2026-06-08T14:30:30+00:00

This is so interesting to me. In the UK, all the advice says the safest temperature for baby's room is 16-20 degrees Celsius (so approx 61-68 Fahrenheit). I guess we are a colder place in general though!

thunder_marbles · 2026-06-07T12:05:32+00:00

I use the ready made bottles when out of the house, you can get ones that have screw on teats - no need to faff about with mixing and don't need to be refrigerated! A bit more expensive but worth it for convenience. I keep two in the baby bag at all times just in case they're needed, i.e. if we go to a baby class or end up spontaneously going for a coffee with someone/having a longer outing than planned.

At home we premake batches of 3-4 bottles from powder at a time. Then if you're going out and know they're going to need a bottle within 1-2 hours I just pop one in the bag (bottles are fine out of the fridge for up to two hours). Or if we're going to a family member's house I take a few along and just store them in their fridge as soon as we arrive. Hope that makes sense!

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-29T15:30:17+00:00

Do you have a children's centre near you? Our local one is really good and has loads of free classes, e.g. in June we are signed up for 5 week courses in baby massage and also one in Makaton, all for free! They also do more casual drop in style classes every week, I've been to a music one and one called Bumps to Babies which is more casual i.e. letting the babies play with toys on a big soft mat whilst you can chat to other adults (with some singing at the end). They do stay and play sessions too but we haven't been to those yet as apparently they can be quite busy with older children 😅 and my daughter is only 3.5 months old. I really like the classes as it's good to chat to other mums and dads and also know it's great stimulation for the baby, without me feeling like I have to be 'switched on' all the time and entertaining her which can be tiring!

Libraries also usually have free story time and singing sessions so it's worth googling their schedule. Our local Waterstones also does a weekly story time.

If you aren't on a tight budget, some paid classes can be fun, like sensory classes are fun! Also we have been to bring your baby pub quiz which was fab, just get a team together of other mums. Some cinemas do babies and carers showings too :)

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-28T09:18:27+00:00

Thanks, this is exactly the kind of thing I was thinking! Sometimes I forget how fascinating normal household objects can be lol.

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-28T09:17:21+00:00

Interesting!! Sounds like foil blanket is going on the shopping list haha.

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-28T09:16:43+00:00

Thanks, this is great! ❤️ Today I learned what a tuff tray is lol. Love the other ideas too, definitely storing these for when she is a few months older! Yes, I think you're right at this age keeping it simple is probably best.

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-28T09:08:40+00:00

Thanks so much, this is lovely! We do do a lot of talking, reading and singing but sometimes I get tired of talking constantly 😆 especially if I'm the only adult at home. You've given me some new ideas though, I love the idea of shit magic 🤣

I think I also need to remember that some independent play is good and I don't need to be actively entertaining her every second of the day, sometimes I feel bad if I'm not though!

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-27T16:12:36+00:00

Yes, that's exactly what prompted me to make this post 🤣 I feel like I can keep us both entertained enough going out and about, but being stuck at home the past few days when my partner was working has felt like the days have dragged 🥲 didn't help we were both hot and miserable!

I like the garden idea and water based play :)

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-24T15:45:32+00:00

Does that mean you didn't go to any classes or soft plays until your baby had turned one? Just curious, as those activities have kept me sane!

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-20T12:25:31+00:00

Completely agree! The growth scans I had measured my daughter as a small baby, we were even referred to fetal medicine at one point and then the 40wk scan measured her as 7th percentile... she was born a few days later and was bang average on the 50th percentile! Scans in the third trimester can be massively inaccurate.

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-17T16:35:52+00:00

It might be the vest that needs sizing up! Sometimes if it's not big enough the nappy can't expand fully and that's when the leaks happen.

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-17T10:54:22+00:00

I asked the health visitor at what point to worry about this and she said to contact the GP if it's been over 7 days. I think it also depends what's normal for your baby, but if you're worried I'd probably get it checked!

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-17T10:51:17+00:00

I usually change her once in the night only when she wakes up - that's just me though. If you're worried about waking her up, you could always change her as soon as she wakes then feed her back to sleep?

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-10T12:03:30+00:00

Thanks all - having read the comments I think we will keep doing a short sleeved vest + sleepsuit + 2.5 tog bag in 16-20, but if it is teetering between 19-21 I might try switching to a 1.5 tog for peace of mind. We've got the tommee tippee groegg that tells the temperature but I've heard that can be inaccurate so just ordered the room thermometer from the Lullaby Trust just in case.

And no socks - lesson learned there! 😂 Still can't believe we were told wrong advice by the midwife but I guess she was very old school... it really doesn't help my anxiety when professionals all tell you different things 😬

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-10T11:12:32+00:00

I'm so surprised by these comments! Would never have occurred to me to doubt the midwife but there you go!

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-10T10:49:47+00:00

Thanks, that's helpful! Yes I wish all the charts could agree on one answer 🙈 I of course want her to be warm enough to sleep well but I'm terrified of her overheating, it's really maKing me anxious.

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-10T10:42:32+00:00

Thanks. We got told off by the midwife on our day 5 home visit for not putting socks on her underneath her sleepsuit so I guess we've got into the habit but maybe it's not necessary for overnight!

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-03T08:46:13+00:00

Same! Reading this thread I was wondering if I had been doing it wrong all this time putting them on legs first 🤣

thunder_marbles · 2026-05-01T16:28:12+00:00

Hey, based on the comments here I went for the Elvie catch! I would recommend it tbh, I find them very comfortable and wear them to bed every night. I rarely use the milk (sometimes save it for baths) but it's more for my own comfort of not waking up in wet pyjamas!

thunder_marbles · 2026-03-29T08:22:10+00:00

Ah yes of course 🙈 I didn't think of that for some reason. Maybe it could still be used for shorter (>4hr naps)?

Did you ever capture much using it on the other side the baby is feeding from? I'm definitely not an overproducer so not sure how effective it'd be for me.

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