Newborn and baby advice

Elamsmom, how did the water go? Did you fool her??

Adri, the first (and last) time she had wheat was a piece of flatbread, which she wolfed down like a little piggy, when we were out to lunch a little while ago. But she broke out in huge red welts (not blisters) and her face was all puffy. I honestly thought we were going to have to rush her to hospital. So I've been like the Wheat Police since then. But I'm sure she'll grow out of it soon. Some of the organix snacks have wheat in them and she's had one or two of those, so maybe she's already over it. Or maybe it's just when she wolfs down a lot of it.

Emily was really good at brushing her teeth in the beginning but the last few days she's started throwing huge tantrums when I've tried. So now she's just been playing with the toothbrush and I've resorted to the toothies wipes in a bid to try keep the peace. Gosh, these tantrums are really getting out of hand, and I'm struggling to handle them. Apparently the best thing to do is to ignore them. Pretty difficult to do when she's in the bath or on her changing mat (on a chest of drawers), which is usually when the little monkey throws them.

To make my life more exciting I have now realised that my entire day revolves around shit. Seriously. If Emly wakes up and she's had a poo everything runs according to clockwork and happy baby's back in bed by 8am, which gives me time to do my own thing (Moomie) until she wakes up at around 10 and we're good to go for the day. If not, she's back in bed by 8, sings until she's done the poo, and then calls me to come and inspect it, and then will not go to sleep. Consequently, the whole day's buggered and she skips her late afternoon nap (3.30pm) and is a nightmare by the time we do the dinner/bath/bed routine. Who would have thought that all these dreams and ideals of motherhood would be given a hard shake-up by one little poo.

What are you giving your little ones to drink? Emily has a bit of water, but not enough, and sometimes her lips look so dry. I've tried diluting a bit of juice (more water than juice) and she loves Apple and Peartiser, and drinks some Rooibos in the morning, but otherwise naddah.

Hey ladies, wow I've missed a lot... Havent really had much to say, but it seems like everyone is doing well.

I introduced a toothbrush when james started solids (one of those silicone ones) so that he gets used to me brusing his teeth. I have toothpaste on standby (I bought a fluoride free, xylitol containing one online) for when he finally actually gets some teeth though. I brush orning and night. Hes still bfding at night, but I read a study that said tooth decay with bfding only occurs with other food particles in the mouth, and since I brush after his last meal the night feeds are fine (they put a human tooth into a cup of human milk and after 20 days it still had no signs of decay). James also doent drink out of a bottle at all. He only gets water and its from a cup. I also think genetics may help. My husband and myself both have no fillings or dental histories, so I can only hope...

James is eating like an champ now. He loves all vegetables except brocolli and polishes of food like a vacuum cleaner. The other day he ate a platter of roast vegetables like they were sweets:) I've been getting quite a lot of flack from friends over not allowing him any juices, refined carbs or tea though:) I'm also giving him cows milk now with his meusli and weetabix...

Adri: LOL @ "how did I teach her!!!!" I didn't TEACH her anything! She did it all by herself. She also rolls around all over her campcot and often land up with her body across the cot (she is getting tall now so sometimes her face is all pressed against the mesh!!! ...but somehow she manages to still find her bottle-without even opening her eyes!!! The classic one is when she gets up on all fours WITH EYES STILL CLOSED, and sometimes falls back to sleep with her bum sticking out & on on her knees!!!

I would love to take the credit, but up to this point, I can humbly say that I have not "taught" my LG ANYTHING! Everything, she just does on her own.

Am definitely going to give the water a try tonight. will let u all know how it goes.

@Elamsmom, I would give it a go if I were you, maybe she is so sleepy she doesnt even notice. Maybe not You are so lucky that she takes her bottle herself. I've tried putting the bottle right in front of Kara that she sees it when she wakes up, but she sleeps so wild that she moves to the other side of the cot away from her bottle then it doesn't help. How did you teach her to take her own bottle?

Aww, so sweet that she sticks her tongue out! I have a hard time brushing Kara's teeth, she grabs the toothbrush and is not happy when I take it away!

We don't eat that early either... but what I did start doing is taking a bit of tonights supper and keeping it aside so she has it the next day. On the odd occassion we have dinner ready by 1820 and then feed her and just eat later. So far so good.

Thank Goodness Tayla dropped her night feed all on her own at about 5 months... now she wakes for just the dummy! And we don't put her down with her bottle cos she tends to forget to swallow every now and again and I've been too scared that she'll choke... so she has her last bottle after her bath... then off to bed

Hi ladies

Thanks for the advice/responses. I think for me, what scares me more than the dependancy thing is the rotting teeth!!! I'm going to give water a try.

Lack of sleep has not been a problem in my house for a while now. (*thank goodnes!!!*) Well, she does wake up, but then she reaches for her bottle and suckles till she falls back to sleep by herself...I wonder if she's going to know the difference btwn milk and water??? From everyone else's experiences, clearly they do!

Bought her a toothbrush (for 0 -3yrs) and milk-teeth toothpaste yesterday. brushed her teeth when I got home. TOO CUTE!!! she kept biting the toothbrush & sticking out her tongue. at least that helped with the brushing of the tongue!

@ScribblingAl - forgot to ask...how did you pick up on Emily's wheat intolerance? Shame man, must make things a bit harder but I guess it's something she will outgrow?