*Baby Corner*

[Nessa 23]

ben was 7 11 when he was born and he reached 13lbs at 3.5 months. then he gained 3 lbs in 1 months, then another 2 in another month he's growing like crazy lately.

[caybee 21]

ben was 7 11 when he was born and he reached 13lbs at 3.5 months. then he gained 3 lbs in 1 months, then another 2 in another month he's growing like crazy lately.

Wow, 5 pounds in 2 months Is Ben as tall as he looks in the photo? I love his smile.

[Nessa 23]

i measured him 32'' the other day but i tghink it was because the tape was wrong lol. then i tried with a ruler and it's 25'' head against the wall then pull his foot, right where he's supposed to be. he was born only 18.5.

[Nessa 23]

what are good things for a baby to do at home? he naps, eats and when he's awake he's either on the floor with toys rolling over or he watches tv. today i went outside with him for a while so he can watch the peace and quiet of the country life, but that's it. sometimes i think he's not doing anything to help his development

[Eveline 9]

@Nessa: Really there's a LOT he's doing for his development. He sees things moving, shadows, trees, birds, you...he hears things, maybe a radio, the ceiling fan, the AC or whatever. He sees colors, feels structures etc. There's a whole lot he's doing it's just not that you actively have to sit there and teach him the ABCs or 123s just yet. I felt the same way with Adam until I finally realized that there will be PLENTY of time later on to teach him. I freaked out knowing that he wasn't hearing enough German but over time he learned the language anyways. I kinda lost track about exactly how old Ben is but maybe you can give him a spoon or just a little plastic bottle filled with dried corn or rice so he can make "music". Does he have a little activity center where he can grab for things? My kids never had one but I just gave them little plush animals they'd play with or a lid off of a bowl etc..maybe something structured with ridges etc... I'm sure you are doing great, he's exploring the world already, we just don't realize it as much.

[Nessa 23]

i usually put a blanket on the floor and some toys for him to grab and shake

[Eveline 9]

I just remembered. I have a little mirror from "Sassy" that i tied to Allie's bed and she loved watching herself in the mirror when she in bed. She could lay there forever and just talk to herself. http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Me-In-The-Mirror/dp/B000069670

Also, do you have a children's museum in the area? Ours here in Houston has a 'tot spot' for little kids up to 2 years old. They have tons of toys, mirrors, pictures etc to entertain babies and small children. Maybe that is something to check out.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

I agree with Ev, Ben is learning by the smallest things, things you dont even realize. Since Zaid was little the only things I always did and still do is repeat everything, sizes, colors, numbers, etc. It seems to be working well. Since he learned how to walk I always let him walk up the 5 steps to day care holding my hand and everyday i would count the steps as we walked up them, and then, one day, we walked up and hit the steps and Zaid said "1,2,3,4,5" They are little sponges and pick up so fast. As Ben gets older you'll see the little things he catches on to, its hard to tell at the age he is at right now.

[Nessa 23]

there's a mirror in the wardrobe thats in the bedroom. i put him next to it, he likes to watch himself. no museums, noting nearby

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone (All you VJ mommies!),

Thanks for the warm welcome to this baby corner vj thread and for your congratulations for my newborn baby..

Thanks too for your replies about your breastfeding experiences, which was helpful indeed!...

Here are my responses to your replies:

Eveline-Glad that you've never had a bad experience bfing and that you get a thumbs up for doing that in public too.. I hope I can do such at the USCIS office too if need be, and yes, I'll be sure to cover up. More likely than not, I'll be wearing a jacket or something (it's cold here already...) and just hide him in there. I've nursed before in the car/van, so no problems there...just pull over, and pull him out...lol...helps to have tinted windows in the back too. Will try and squeeze in a feeding before I go, or during the long carride there, as yes, he sleeps after I feed him. Lol...hopefully he doesn't need a diaper change after that though. Wow, how did your baby sleep for 5 hours straight? My baby still wakes me up throughout the night...Thanks for the tip about checking out my state laws...Just did that..and found out that NYS (where I am) is pretty bf-friendly. Will print out a copy of that though, just in case I run into trouble. Hmm...not sure about family bathrooms..not too comfortable with baby eating there...but as a last resort, I guess that would have to do. Hopefully, overall the USCIS office is friendly about me bfing...Not my fault that they make me go there..lol...Good luck and all the best to you and your little ones too!

Ant: Congrats on your baby boy and of course you can join here.

I am still breastfeeding and I do nurse in public (NIP). I have never had any bad experience. I think AnnaC here had a little confrontation once in a dr. office but so far whenever I NIP I got thumbs up from people.

As far as nursing at the USCIS office goes. I'm sure you can do that. If you can and if you feel more comfortable just bring something to cover up with or wear a jacket that lets you kinda be covered if you have to pull your shirt up. As far as nursing during a carride goes...maybe you can squeeze in a few stops but sometimes babies just sleep. We went to San Antonio from Houston when Allie was 8 weeks old and she slept 5 hours straight. I didn't have to nurse her once.

Check your state laws and maybe print out the part where it says that women can breastfeed their babies whenever or wherever they are. Sometimes there are family bathrooms but I don't know just how family-friendly a USCIS office is.

Good luck to you..all the best and congrats again.

Chnst-Yes, I am determined to stick with breastfeeding, even though it has been challenging at times. I understand that there are prejudices and dilemmas with it, but in the end, it is the best for my baby and me to do such...and who cares what others think...it's my baby..not theirs! Glad that you didn't have any problems bfing in public either. Oh my, it would be hard to do that on a plane indeed, be it that it was in cramped quarters, but either way, glad that that experience worked out well for you too. Good idea about the blanket, as that probably has more coverage and keeps the baby warmer too. Likewise, I bf in the car too, and it has worked well there. Yes, there are some people who are uncomfortable watching someone bf, but if one does it discretely, and it is not against the law, they should be respected. I think to myself too: Would you rather see a crying unhappy baby, or a happy bfed baby...Think I would choose the happy baby there. Sorry to hear that your US family does not support bfing. Surprised to hear that though, as many people in the USA bfed babies. You and your baby shouldn't have to excuse yourself just because of their attitudes, nor should you have to be critized for bfing longer than 6 months. Lol..as for you MIL telling that you that bfing makes your son sick...not true at all..it's the opposite actually, as bfing makes babies healthier instead of sicker. Have you ever thought about explaining more and giving more information to your MIL about the benefits of bfing? If she learned more about it, maybe she wouldnt be less opposed to you doing such. I haven't encountered such people where I am yet, but who knows, I have yet to encounter such. Either way, like you said, I agree, ignore them, and do what is best for the baby and mother. And I agree too, those who were never bfed and/or gave up on bfing have their negative opinions, and so be it. And the same with other issues too, like you said. Everyone has an opinon..but it doesn't mean it is always right...So do what is right for yourself and your baby, no matter what anyone else says! Good luck and all the best to you and your little ones too!

Ant: welcome! congrats for sticking to breastfeeding. And welcome to all the prejudices and ethical dilemmas associated with it. I was never really comfortable about nursing in public. I had to do it on a plane a few times but I personally just feel awkward exposing myself, even with a cover. I tried the nursing cover but I found just a blanket works just as good. If we went out, I usually bf-ed in the car or pumped. I do understand that there are people who are uncomfortable watching someone breastfeed and this should be respected as much as it should be respected if a mother decides she needs to feed the baby right here, right now.

Unfortunately my family in the US does not really support bf much. Just having to excuse myself and the baby to a bedroom was awkward enough at feeding times. Also nursing past 6 months was considered "more than appropriate". I actually once was told by my MIL that breastfeeding makes my son sick. If you have people like that in your environment, you need to learn to ignore it and do what you feel is best for your child and most importantly for you. I think only people who never breastfed or didn't bf for more than a few weeks have the stupidest opinions about mothers who do choose to. But it's the same thing with other issues, there are always people who will try to tell you how to do it right. Oh congratulations on your new baby!

ZaidsMommy-Thanks for the greetings. Good luck and all the best to you and your little ones too!

Welcome to baby forum and congrats on your new baby boy!

Caybee-Likewise, I bf in the car/van too, and have no problem with such. Lol..it's too bad though, that my husband can't do the biometrics, interview, and oath for me while I bf in the car! Lol..I'm the immigrant..he's the USC...but I'm the one that has to bf the baby! Yes, I find the car/van (especially with its tinted windows) is a good place to bf, and works out well. Just pull over, whip it out, and feed..no fuss, no muss...Glad that bfing in the car worked out for you too. I don't know how bfing will be in the building either, so I have yet to find out if it ever came to such. Likewise, the waiting areas in our local office is small and not too many people, so hopefully it shall be ok there. Similarly, I haven't fully nursed in public either (except for in the car), but hopefully when I have to nurse somewhere else, it won't be awkward for me either. Lol..The USCIS office shall be a new experience there, for me and my baby indeed! Awkward and nerve-racking....But alas, it has to be done....Good luck and all the best to you and your little ones too!

Welcome, Ant.

I breastfed in the car with the windows outside the USCIS office when my husband went for his biometrics. This was the first time I'd nursed him outside of the house or hospital, and it worked out fine. I don't know about inside the building, though. The waiting area at our local office is pretty small.

I still haven't actually nursed in public, but I will park and nurse him if he cries and I'm a few minutes away from the apartment. It's not as awkward as I'd expected.

Staashi-I agree, bfing is awesome (though quite challenging at times). So far so good, as I've been doing it for 2 months or so (since my baby was born). If you don't mind me asking, why is it that you couldn't bf before? Sorry that it didn't work out for you, but nevertheless, if you did try, that's good anyways. Yeah, I agree about covering up too, as over-exposure anywhere is not very comfortable for everyone. Lol..funny story about the woman bfing at mass...Lol..at least one can say that her milk is "blessed" (just kidding)...Hmm..wonder if someone should have pointed that out to her, about being somewhat over-exposed? Good luck and all the best to you and your little ones too!

Breastfeeding is awesome if you can do it. (You all know my situation) The only time I can't stand seeing a bfing mommy (who doesn't cover) is during Mass - just my own pet peeve. That's the moment when I just shutdown right there.

ViMazzella-Glad that you love bfing your little one too, and hope you continue with that. Interesting idea about the bfing in the fitting rooms while shopping. And likewise, I bf in the car too, and find that quite comfortable. As the weather gets colder, I'll have the blanket with me too, so I should be well covered up ther for my baby. Good luck and all the best to you and your little ones too!

About breastfeeding, I'm doing it and I absolutely love it, I had to bf a few times when we went shopping ad I just go to the fitting rooms or to the car, I just bring a blanket with me.

Will keep you all updated as to what happens when I go to the USCIS office with my little one (and if I have to bf and/or diaper change there too). Hopefully I shouldn't encounter any additional problems while I'm there.....

By the way, speaking fo the USCIS...Have any of you brought strollers and/or carseats to the USCIS offices? If so, did you have any problems with that too? Just wondering...as I might have to bring such, since parking is quite a distance away....

Anything else I need to know about bringing babies (especially a 2-4 month old) to a USCIS office and with dealing with immigration officials about this?

Thanks again for your replies! I look forward to chatting with you all here again in the baby corner.

Good luck with your little ones and with your immigration journeys too.

Ant

Edited September 28, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[Eveline 9]

Nessa: How old is Ben? I'm so sorry I'm having trouble keeping track. I keep thinking it was April 30 but that was Chnst's Ben not yours. It sucks that there's no museum around. Not that it would teach so much more but it would probably be a nice change from home and work for you, too.

Adam did count to 10 in German today . I didn't know he can do it. I let him help me make pudding today and told him to put three spoon fulls of sugar in the pudding mix. Well, he only did little scoops and so he did 10 of them. he still needs a little bit of help and sometimes repeats the same number over and over but I'm glad that he does know how to count in German. Next thing will be colors...argh...so frustrating. I even did a colorblindness test with him on the computer one day because I thought he just couldn't see colors. Well, he did so I guess whenever he's ready to show me the right color he will do so. Right now it seems more like a guessing game even though he does come running every now and then and shows me his 'grien messi' (green knife in Toddler-German).

[Eveline 9]

@ant: I wouldn't worry about the stroller. You have to transport your baby in some way right? A baby carrier (sling, MeiTai, Ergo etc) would be good but then again, you might not want baby on your the whole time.

As for the sleeping. She slept 5hrs in the car...it was moving. Now she's almost 14 months old and still wakes up about 2 or 3 times at night to nurse. I don't know if i'm just used to it but it doesn't bother me at all anymore to get up at night, comfort a toddler (oh my...I don't have a baby anymore, they're both toddlers now..bohoooo) and go back to bed to sleep. I guess only one part of my brain is working then hehe.

[Nessa 23]

he's 5.5 months old

[Autumnchik 6]

Nessa, I agree with what everyone else said ... Ben IS learning a lot and being exposed to things. When Declan was his age, I would read to him, play music. He loved his baby gym (we had a Baby Einstein aquarium one and he loved to lay on his back and kick at the octopus. He alos loved mirrors and I had a fish mirror that I would put on the floor and lie him in front of it so he could look at himself. Declan was so fascinated with people. We took him to fairs and other events and he had a blast just looking at the crowds.

So, yesterday, we took Declan to Storyland again (this awesome little kid amusement park). We had such a great time. It was wonderful to see the joy on his face, especially when he rode the tractor ride (he got to sit in the driver seat and press all these buttons that make animal noise).

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Nessa@ do you have one of those gyms? we have a jungle gym and Sofia loves I although I feel that she outgrowing it, now she wants to move everywhere, grab everyting and put it in her mouth. She extremely active, and it's getting more diffiuclt just to change a diaper, sometimes I have to call my hubby to help me. Usually I'm alone with Sofia during the day and I get her fav toys, and let her just play, we watch Noggin channel sometimes but she is no that into the tv, We go out for walks everyday, the mall, the park, supermarket, and my fav ,the library. Do you know some other mommies in your area? have you looked for classes like Gymboree? music class etc?. Sofia has an activity center in her crib and a mirror, she absolutely loves it.