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Tips on Finishing Breastfeeding

9/23/2018

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I have had so many people asking me on tips on weaning off or stopping breastfeeding so I thought I would do a little post to hopefully help. Obviously everyone is completely different and I am in no way an expert or professional just a mama to a little girl who Breastfed for 10 1/2 months.


I know when Emelia was tiny I always said I would breastfeed until 6 months and then finish. However, 6 moths rolled around and neither her nor me were ready so I decided to carry on. We had been lucky and breastfeeding was a breeze, and at that point she fed amazingly and it seemed pointless to stop breastfeeding to go onto formula. I wasn’t working etc so had all the time to laze around feeding her. Emelia was definitely not one to take a bottle in those first months to be honest it wasn’t until I completely weaned that she agreed to have one. I was her bottle her nutrients and her pacifier all in one she needed nothing else! I don’t know if its because she seemed quite early with her stages but we got to 10 months and she was showing signs of walking real soon. The out and about feeds had become impossible, she was too wriggly and just way to distracted with everything going on around her. The only way she would nap is with a feed and she wouldn’t do this if there was something else to watch!  This meant we were either housebound so she could have her feeds and naps or we payed the price when it came to bed time and she would feed EVERY hour through the night to make up for the lack of feeds during the day. This was when I knew I was ready, it wasn’t anything to do with the feeding aspect but I knew both of us would be happier and more rested and enjoying the summer if we wern’t restricted with feed times etc. To be honest she had cut down greatly at this point so it would have only meant really one feed during the day but, I knew if we were to wean it needed to be an all or nothing kind of thing.

My top tip from stopping is to literally do that. Stop. That way there is no confusion for little one on whether they are allowed to feed from you. Emelia didn’t get upset or try and feed from me once when we finished breastfeeding and it was so much less scary then I ever imagined it to be. We were both ready for definite. When she did want some milk she went from being fussy to actually taking it and because she wasn’t attached to my chest she was easily and freely able to look around and then nap! The feeds were more efficient because she wasn’t distracted and therefore she was fuller and happier. I will add that for about a month after I stopped I was still pumping to reduce the chances of getting mastitis so Emelia was still having some breastmilk. My supply gradually stopped by 11 months and I moved her onto formula because I could barely get an oz through pumping but, would you believe I still got mastitis! which you will know if you’ve had it is no fun and games. So that was it really!


  • Stop completely to avoid confusion
  • Pump to reduce chances of blockage/mastitis (you can even mix breastmilk with formula/milk to get them used to taste)
  • Find cup/ bottle and use the same one/style for every “breastfeed” so they understand the new routine​
  • Make sure you are ready in yourself to finish


Obviously every little one is different and I do feel as though Emelia took it really well but on speaking to plenty of other breastfeeding mums I have heard no horror stories from them finishing. Perseverance is key and if your strong about it, it will likely go well. The prospect is always so scary, and I know that certain times before when I considered finishing breastfeeding I felt sad as to opposed to determined and ready so you will 100% know when the time is right.


Happy Boobing

Robyn x

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5 baby items that weren't actually a waste of money!

9/10/2018

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Ewan the dream sheep
I have mentioned him before on posts, but this little guy deserves another mention! 13 months on we are still using him and he does not disappoint. I guess he's become a bit of a comfort toy just with the added bonus of a warming night light, and lullaby, white noise or heart beat function. He stays on for about 20 mins once one of his feet buttons are pressed, and then switches off once the timer is finished. As soon as he is switched on Emelia seems to recognise the sound and associate with sleep (has done since small) and although she doesn't self settle she is more soothed and calmer and if I lay her down without him playing she instantly wakes up but not if he's on. I definitely think a longer option would be a great development option for Ewan the dream sheep though for those difficult wake spells!
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Nursing pillow
I didnt buy one of these to begin with but wish I had of had it because it was amazing for supporting Emelia whilst feeding and also just for laying her on when I needed my hands free for 5 minutes ! Mine wasn't anything fancy I picked it up in an Asda baby event for around £8!
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gro egg
We were slighlty skeptical about this product thinking it would definitely end up being completely unnecessary and that the good old card thermometer would do the trick. Well actually it has proven to be very handy in knowing what to dress Emelia in an evening with just a quick glance  and also if she wakes in the night and the egg is too cold or hot it can sometimes determine why she woke so settling is easier. Also the egg works as a soothing  nightlight which is good.
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Tommee Tippee prep machine
We haven't actually used this for long because I exclusively breast fed until 10 1/2 months but! With Emelia seeming slightly intolerant to milk we have continued with formula for a little longer. Any how for the very small amount of bottles that we do ( maximum 2 per day) this is so handy for our very impatient little girl! I can imagine it to be so so handy for completely bottle or combined fed babies that are having several bottles a day. Just set the dial to the oz bottle required press the button and you are presented with a perfect temp bottle. Easy! I know this has been in the press lots but to be honest as long as you follow instructions use correct filters change and clean regularly I don't think there would be any issues.
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Car mirror
I actually love having this ! Like most new parents that panic over every little murmer or the fact that you would irrationally think something had happened to your baby if you couldnt see them for the duration of your car journey. I was that mum and Reggie was definitely that dad. We still use this mirror and Emelia loves watching us in it ! So handy to keep an eye on them and give you that little bit less stress. Win win.
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Robyn x
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Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Review

9/3/2018

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​Bugaboo Camelion 3 review


An honest review of the Bugaboo chameleon 1 year down the line
On finding out we were expecting I initially didn’t look at prams, this was something we did when I was pregnant the first time and unfortunately miscarried so I wanted to wait until further Down the line. The purchase of our pram was probably the most important thing on our to buy list and something I did not want to get wrong. I can remember my mum saying (who looked after children for 20 years) to always invest in a good set of wheels otherwise you would probably always hate it and also want to change it. I also knew I wanted to buy a pram that I would be able to use


Once we had our 20 weeks scan we began to buy a few bits and started researching what new prams were on the market and also what styles we liked. Although I had heard of the bugaboo prams I hadn’t seen that many out and about. We first came across the it in mothercare and reggie walked straight up to it and said yep I love this one! I have to say on seeing it I pretty much instantly fell in love with the grey melange fabric and quilted cream interior. The price ticket very much reflects on the quality of the pram and something that did almost put us off however with Emelia being our first baby I wanted to buy a pram I A. Would t want to replace and B. Could use again.
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There were several other prams we were debating between but we always came back to the bugaboo and I have not regretted the decision at all. It has been a dream. The bassinet is a brilliant size and Emelia stayed in he lay down cot till nearly 6 months and to be honest I think I probably could have kept her in it longer. She hadn’t out grown it didn’t seem uncomfortable or unhappy I just assumed that because she had been sitting since 3 months maybe having a more upright view would be better for her.

1 Hand assemble!
I can easily assemble the pram one handed. So on the odd occasion when Ive had to balance Emelia and precariously put together the pram its been very easy. Dissembling wouldn’t be as easy though and 2 hands would be required.

Pram Storage
The basket size with the bassinet attached is fairly small and there isn’t much access to it however once the next stage seat is attatched it is easy to get to and large in size. It features a draw string so items can be well hidden and secured underneath without the addition of extra bags.

A break not quite where you'd expect
The pram break is located on the side of the pushchair as to oppose as a foot bar. This usually throws people off if they are pushing the pram but because we know no different it does not bother us at all. The harness features a 4 point click in for safety and the seat can recline into 3 different positions. You can front face or parent face the seat. Emelia is 1 and although I put her front facing she is always turning around trying to look for me so I still parent face her the majority of the time.

Pram off roading
I haven’t had many issues with this pram on different surfaces. We did initially want to purchase the bugaboo buffalo which is larger in size and has the same size back wheels on the front but with the ability to switch the Camelion handle over so that the larger wheels do the work on harder surfaces if your just occasionally doing “off road” style walking we decided to stick with the Camelion. I’ve used the pram on sand, stones, grass and obviously tarmac and the only time I have struggled is just on very lose gravel (which I think most wheels would struggle) and if I hit a largish stone or dip in the road or path.

Expensive extras
I like that their is the option for a buggy board seat attachment if you have any more children and are not wanting to change to a double to accommodate. One off putting factor could be the expense of the accessories you may need for your pram. And just like everything else baby related you can pretty much get an accessory for just about everything! From cupholders to parasols, foot muffs and bags everything other than the chassis seat and carrycot is classed as an extra. To be honest a lot you don’t need. And those bits you do need there are plenty of universal products out there that would probably work just as well. We did purchase the bugaboo foot-muff simply because we wanted an exact colour match, but things like the parasol we have brought universal.

All in all so far this pram has been brilliant. It washes down perfectly and after a year of use the wheels are still in great condition and its not really showing any signs of wear.
Any questions please ask ! 
Robyn x
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