So Margot hit six months nearly a month ago now… six whole months of being alive. So innocent and sweet – and bringing so much joy into our lives. As well as sleepless nights, milk spewed clothes and an ongoing back ache from the usual hip carrying that happens all day most days. But its been incredible… so here is the story so far. How we have found it as a family, me as a mum and Vivienne as a sibling. The products I have loved the the equipment I swear by.
The Family story
I think it took us a good two months to find our groove. I am a routine-mum, I love a good help-book (Baby Whisperer my favourite) and so when Margot came along it was straight back to the E.A.S.Y. routine that worked so well for Vivienne. But not quite as simple, you have nursery school pick ups and drop-offs to consider, feeding Vivienne breakfast lunch and dinner on schedule, an over excited Vivienne at Margots nap time or bedtime…. It was much trickier. And I had to learn to be a little more chilled out – if she wasn’t having her milk at exactly 11am on the dot – it didn’t matter. The rules I stuck by and still do are – awake no longer than two hours at a time. Any longer and she gets overtired. After the first month we would never feed her milk in the night, she was ‘tanked up’ before bed at 6.30pm and given a dream feed between 10pm and 11pm. If she woke in the night we would settle her and leave the room swiftly. It doesn’t stop her occasional 5am wakes but she knows she’s not being fed and drifts back off. Wish I could do the same but that mind just goes into overdrive – as does the Instagram thumb! We dropped the dream feed last Thursday, accidentally really after we forgot it and she slept through until gone 7am. Tried it again the next night and she slept through again – the extra milk was leaving her filling her nappy each morning and hence the early wake ups.
The E.A.S.Y. routine is simple but not always easy to establish, the earlier you start the better – and once you have its heaven! So ‘E’ stands for eat, ‘A’ for activity, ‘S’ for sleep and ‘Y’ for you-time. We are on a four hourly schedule so she eats for example at 7am, plays until 9am and then naps – this is when I will try and shower/clean the house/tidy up or actually blog/shoot my outfit for you. Heres the link to the book I follow – its fantastic right up to toddler years… Baby Whisperer solves all your problems.
The Mother Story
I remember the feeling I used to get when I would drop Vivienne at nursery and skip back home to work… on my own. Yep I miss that feeling. With nearly three years between them I definitely got used to the freedom you have as your children grow older. Not having someone attached to your hip 24/7. So it was and still is sometimes quite hard always being with the girls. I just have to remind myself how precious the time is, and just hug and kiss and soak it all up as I am also so aware how quickly the time passes – soon I’ll have another bossy little three year old I am sure! And Vivienne six and even more of a diva! Oh dear! But the things I have found the hardest is loosing that me-time I got used to and I am not talking long lunches or mani-pedis, just the simple things. Waking up to a shower, being able to pop out for milk, being able to go the loo when I need to and not being tied down to feeding schedules. But having a baby again – oh it is just gorgeous. Seeing all the stages again – she’s just incredible, her smile makes me feel a million dollars – even better than a shower would! And this time next year I know I’ll have that me-time back. Nothing is forever – sadly.
The sibling story
Theres nothing better than seeing your babies play together – the look in their eyes when they look at each other, like real love. Margot just thinks Vivienne is the world, she’s obsessed with her. She just has to walk in the room and Margot will start giggling with joy. When Vivienne helps Margot up if she falls down it melts my heart – when she runs and gets her a toy or a tissue for her (forever) runny nose, just the sweetest. After a lot of reading up beforehand I wanted to be prepared for any sibling rivalry from the start. But with a lot of talking to Vivienne and making sure we are never giving Margot all the attention at home Vivienne has been very good with her. In larger family groups she can act-out for attention but she’s learning. She hugs her and plays with her handing her books and toys. She gets quite upset when Margot is upset I can see that sisterly looking out for one another thing there already. I am in no way delusional having two sisters myself – I know its going to be rocky but so far the foundation has been laid and its so magical watching them together.
Highly recommended….
The Snuzpod – such an attractive little bedside crib – we had it in blush and loved everything about it. You can rock it to soothe the baby, it comes with great handy accessories, perfect storage area underneath, great matching bedlinen and although we didn’t attach it to the bed you can – there are straps for different bed styles. Its a great size too – Margot was not a small baby and she was in it for quite some time with our house move and having to re-plaster and decorate her bedroom.
The Bugaboo Donkey – if you’re looking for a double buggy I highly recommend this. We have actually only used it as a double a handful of times. We mainly use the buggy board which is great and off centre so you don’t trip up. The side cart basket is perfect for your baby bag so when Vivienne uses the buggy board the bags not in her way. And then you have a giant basket underneath for all your shopping – whether thats food or clothes! The basket also makes the perfect place to slot the scooter into when they’ve had enough scooting and want to climb on. I love it! Its huge and takes up a tonne of space but I love it so much I am not ready to let it go quite yet. Plus Margot sleeps like a dream in the cosy-toes!!!
The Babyzen Yoyo – the best travel buggy ever ever ever! And hopefully eventually when Margot is napping less that this will be our only buggy as much as I LOVE the Donkey I am having to store it in the car boot these days as its so big in the house. This folds down like a handbag, is so lightweight and easy to use. My husband loves it too! But using the buggy board on it is a little tricky as Vivienne pulls on the buggy handle and it can topple back plus it weaves around a lot with the extra weight of Vivienne, so I tend to use just when I have Margot.
The Sleepyhead – does what it says on the tin – makes them sleep! We have just taken Margot out of hers actually as she was getting too big. We did consider the next size up but decided to trial without and she’s been fine so going cold turkey. But for young babies it gives them the security they love to feel as the sleep.
Ewan the dream sheep – we had to buy Margot her own one of these as I worried Vivienne would kick-off if we gave the baby her one. I also chose a different colour deliberately so there weren’t any upsets. Money well spent though. Seven months in and as soon as she hears Ewan she turns her head to the side, snuggles up and closes her eyes.
Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine – we bought this when Vivienne was a baby and was the best piece of baby equipment we purchased. Out of storage and cleaned up its proving incredible again. I think they’re much cheaper these days too – heard offers at Asda for about £40!!! Sure we paid close to £200!
Cybex Cloud Q car seat – this is amazing if you expect to be out a lot with the baby in the car seat as it goes completely flat. No more worrying about how long the baby has been in the seat for. A gentle warning though – it is a little heavier than most because of all the incredible safety features so with my nursery drop-offs holding the car seat I had to swap back to Viviennes old car seat after a few months as Margot was such a whopper I couldn’t manage her anymore.
Stokke tripptrapp – bought Viviennes second hand on gumtree and was the best purchase so Margot got a new one… went for walnut again so they match our Ercol chairs. In my opinion the most stylish highchairs and they grow with your child. We used the newborn seat at the start which Margot loved, now on the babyseat and eventually, like Vivienne, she will just sit on the chair part. I actually sit on it sometimes to work too, and makes a great ’emergency’ chair come Christmas!
Mamas and Papas chair – this was an impromptu ‘dash to the shops to buy’ purchase when Margot couldn’t sit up on her own yet but was getting upset on the floor. Love it! Used it at the start of weaning too and so easy feeding them as they sit in front of you on the table.
Jumperoo – love! I had a second hand one for Vivienne and then sold it on… my sister lent me her second hand this time… probably sixth hand by now who knows but as long as its cleaned up who cares. They’re fantastic pieces of kit!!
Jem and Bea bag – I had this from before Margot was born and still use it everyday. Its an investment piece so great if you’re having your first and expect more. When I had Vivienne I had a nylon iCandy bag that went with the buggy. Served its purpose but looked horrific after a few months. The Jem and Bea still looks brand new, nothing like a nappy bag, and I am always proud to use it.
Pacapod bag – I have a backpack version and my husband and I both love it. You keep everything separate so things actually stay clean and it looks good on men and women. Again its not the cheapest bag on the market but with baby bags I do think you get what you pay for. Bear in mind you will be using it everyday for atleast a year probably longer – and more than once if you have more than one child. Its a great gift for people to club together and buy at a baby shower too.
Humidifier – we have used this so many times for Margot now, when she has had a cold and now she is teething. It really helps her breathing when she’s all blocked up/runny nosed. We have the Vicks one and works so well all night.
iPad – there I said it shock horror – but when you need to deal with a newborn emergency, or even just separate bed times, having the iPad for the toddler is a god-send.
Baby skincare products…
This Works baby – I use the pillow spray for Margot, I just love it for myself and she does drift off well so I hope she loves it just a much. Such a beautiful scent too.
Aveeno – the hair and body wash is great for dry-skin, and I love the soothing wash especially when they have rough patches or nappy rash.
Weleda – I have been using their products on Vivienne since she was tiny and their new range is great for both the girls. I can wash Viviennes hair with it and she’s doesn’t get (quite as) fussy because of the colourful animal themed bottles.
Mustela cradle cap cream – used it once and worked immediately!
Little Aurelia – the most beautiful collection of baby skincare I have ever seen. I’ve been using the pillow spray on Vivienne, she loves the little drawings on the bottle. And the wash on them both in bath. It bubbles up if you run it under the tap – Vivienne loves to have a few bubbles in her bath but I have to be so careful as she’s had eczema in the past and I don’t want it returning.
Water wipes – the best – enough said. Buy them in bulk size to keep costs down like these from Asda. And use them for Everything!
Any baby questions please don’t hesitate to comment below and I’ll come back asap – i.e. the next nap time!
Ashley
xx
Lovely post, thank you! Always good to hear how others are doing it-my second daughter was born three months after Margot 🙂 x
Author
Oh thank you! Hope you’re doing good, the first few months are tough xx
Fab post, thank you! Have you used the Snuzpod without the Sleepyhead? We had a bassinet with #1 but thinking of using that downstairs and getting a snuzpod for upstairs. Can’t decide on the sleepyhead!
Author
No the whole time we used the snuzpod she was in the sleepyhead.. the sleepyhead is amazing though – when we stayed at my inlaws they asked about a cot and we didn’t need one we could just put her in the sleepyhead on a bed and she was happy – and safe! Xx
Great collation of recommended products, just the push I needed to buy Ewan the sheep for my little one!
Author
It’s great! I know Gro have launched one too that’s supposed to be fantastic and cry activated – an Owl of some sorts xx
Great post! I am have 3 weeks to go! I just have a question about what shower and shower products I should use for me after labour? Any recommendations would be great 🙂 Xxx
Author
Oooh I used an elementhal herbology one that was amazing and the bottles still going seven months in it’s huge but quite pricey. I did a post a while back about the essentials it might help. I was in hospital for a week so relied heavily on my wash bag comforts xxxx
Lovely thank you Ashley, I’ll have a look to see if I can see the post 😊👍 Xxx