Break-the-bank Prams.. showboating or necessity?

intersting topic...

i dont post on here anymore but saw this on the homepage earlier and it got me interested in peoples opinions (i was checkig emails by the way lol)

we spent over ??900 on our pram (emmalunga edge combi in white leather limited edition) and i love it for me it was about looks more than the practicality at first as have a car but when i tried it out and compared it to the silver cross i originally wanted (i like big tyre wheels more than buggy ones) i just HAD to have it.

my dd was quite big but was still in the carry cot til just over 6 months as its quite a bigger and wider than most carrycot - we did have a few probs when she went into buggy mode but my hubby adjusted the straps by removing them and doing something or another lol and now she looks comfy in it and i love it although i much prefer how it looked in carry cot mode. i liked the white leather alhtough quite impractical and there are admittedly quite a few other brands which do white leather alot cheaper (have seen a few around) so i guess in a sense my was about the branding but i dont care i admit to being fairly materialistic - at least i was until i had my dd as now i dont have the money as i want it all to go on her and to provide for her (also not returning to work so while we lived comfortably before we will now be facing a bit of a struggle on one wage)

the comment someone made that wowbabies quoted does apply to me a little...i wanted the biggest house i could afford, the nicest car etc although i prefer to have many cheaper pairs of shoes as opposed to one very expensive pair haha. im not saying because something is better just because its more expensive but i want the best i can afford in life and im not ashamed of that. I have a tt which i dont think is that flash but it was my pride and joy until my dd came along obviously and that has now been relegated to hubby who is going to get rid of it for something more manly haha while i now have a practical car and yes its a 4x4 haha. i think if you can afford things then other people shouldnt judge - all we have had is comments on how much things cost eg the cars, our house, our wedding which we also spent quite a ridiculous amount of money on but its OUR money which we work hard for so why shouldnt we spend it how we like.

We dont go on expensive holidays or loads of nigths out (talking before baby here) which lots of other people spend their money on but we wouldnt think twice of say going out and spending ??100 on a nice meal out - its about personal opinions and preferences and if you cant afford something then i think its silly to do if for the sake of it or get in financial difficulty - i was just in a position to afford the pram i liked whatever the tag (i also went for boori furniture as it was what i prefered again not in relation to the cost)

as i said though now with having dd we will have to cut back alot and wont have the money to spend as we have been so a change of lifestyle its about priorities and budgeting. When we had the wedding etc it was all about how we were mad to spend to much etc but who are other people to judge?

i thnk each to their own whether it be ridiculously expenisve and pointless or cheaper and practical whatever someone choses to spend their money on its their choice at the end of the day.

and for the record i dont regret anything i have spent alot of money on and would do it all again :lol:

Sorry i cant sleep haha which is why i decided to post on here again x

goodbye...

Thanks ladies....

Glad i could be of some help glimmer )

I havent been on here to post but have been popping up as i get email notifications of private messages so been reading those. man its so quite in here now - i guess everyone sticks to facebook or the nest?

anyway its a shame but it does seem that everyone is winding down from here now - cant believe they are all about the 8 month mark now - wow!

megan is doing great still on 3 bottles but shes hit or miss with what she takes so in next month i reckon we'll be down to 2 - she is still all blw apart from cereal/yoghurt and eats most things she really enjoys her food and will often have a wee 'chat' and giggle then pause and gobble some food lol. when she is in the bath and sitting up she has worked out she can 'slide' backwards on her bum and is now trying to bum shuffle when sitting - she is also trying to crawl and is determined to move and gets frustrated she cant go anywhere - she gets up on her hands/knees then looks all confused but she 'commando' crawls so dont think we're far away fromt that and now she is trying to pull herself up to stand on anything and everything - she cracks me up everyday. im so proud of her and so lucky to have her in my life. we have all shared such a journey on here and its so sad to see it so quiet in here now - just think how we were last year at this point - i was at the 'magic' 24 week point its gone way to quickly.

anyway enough waffling i hope you are all enjoying mummmyhood as much as me and that all continues to go well with you and your los whatever direction life takes us in and good luck to all of you ttc again now or in the near future.

Take care and thanks,

Lx

goodbye...

thanks

Im soooo pleased to see you are pregnant (how did i miss this?!) Massive congratulations chick

I hope alls going well and continues to - it really is the best thing and makes all of the heartache a little easier to deal with!

how exciting xx

goodbye...

thanks emily...

i know no one directly said i was irresponsible but i know its what people think an 'oh my god she is endangering her child on purpose why doesnt she just cut the things in half' reaction will have been thought. i dont care what people think as i know its right but recently i have been reading posts - there was one about making bottles up and people were saying its ok to make their bottles up in advance as their babies have been fine but i see many babies who get sick cause of this and if you offer than opinion or one on early weaning and how i think thats wrong etc its always 'oh no my baby was fine' i know its the same with me saying my dd is fine with grapes - it doesnt mean children DONT choke or that there isnt a risk or that its right just because my baby was fine but it got me thinking...

we are all different as are our babies and while i used to value the different opinions on this site as thats the point i think there have been many 'debates' got out of hand and then the whole name change thing annoyed me and i dont like the new site layout and then i do seem to be in the 'minority' with a lot of things so dont feel there is anything valuable which i can take from posts now - nor offer so dont see the point in hanging around now. espec as this forum is so queit now...

anyway im not leaving due to a particular post or person or because i cant handle different opinions or take criticisms or whatever its just something i have been thinking about recently but have found this site a tremendous help in coping with my mmc, my ttc again journey and my anxious time during pregnancy so will be sad to go but i think the time is right.

Take care,

Lx

goodbye...

hi ladies

i know most of you are on facebook now (im not in the group) but just wanted to say im finished with this site now - i dont tend to have anything in common with the posters (more in baby) so have to do whats right for my baby whether others think im being irresponsible or dont agree or whatever) i know i can sometimes be 'opinionated' which others dont agree with and now megan is 7.5 months i think its time to move on...

thank you all for all of your help and support over the past 18 monhts and i wish you all the best with your continued journeys into motherhood and i hope all your los continue to delight and amaze you as they continue to grow and develop - how different this forum is from this time last year lol as its so quiet when this time we were all about 20 week scans and genders etc...

anyway take care ladies and all the best....

Megan and Laura xx

Can I give my 6 month old ...

its not a risk thats my point - maybe for your baby not mine.

we're not going to agree which is the beauty of this site - op asked if 6 month old could get grapes as she was worried about choking - i said yes (like many others) just that i dont see the need to cut them up into tiny pieces as she has never gagged on them or almost choked.

i do what i think is best for my dd and stand by that - you do what is best for yours - you are obviously more paranoid about the choking thing than me and while it may seem like i dont care about risks far from it but based on my dd and my working experience for me there may be a risk there but there is a risk in absolutely everything you just have to weigh it up and decide what is right for your baby,

this could go on and on and as i said if people think its irresponsible that i let my daughter eat grapes/cherry tomatos/any other randon thing which she has prob had that people dont agree with then so be.

anyway im going to bed now - i dont need to be lectured on the gag reflex v. swallowing/choking or sucking and chewing - your version of sucking and swalling it into mouth and lodging it in windpipe is clearly different to mine as demonstarted by my dd.

i want my dd to have a relaxed attitude to food and to be inqusitive and to take things at her own pace and not be super paranoid about it all - at the end of the day im there and watching her and what she does.
mummies will never agree on every decision we make so lets just leave it at that.

Can I give my 6 month old ...

you dont have to appologise - even if you did say i was an irresponsible mother it wouldnt bother me as i know im not and have a happy dd with a healthy appetite to show for it...

i wouldnt give grapes at 5.5 months but i did at 6.5 months and the title is 'can i give my 6 month old...' hence me sharing what i did at 6 months as was asked - im not advising anyone to give grapes whole (espec if they dont feel comfortable doing so) just staing that i do and i dont have a problem with it (for my dd)

yes with grapes there is a risk of swallowing whole but the gag reflex will kick in in most circumstances rather than bypass as if your child wasnt able to move food about and gag they wouldnt be ready for it so shouldnt be having grapes (yes i know children swallow marbles and all sorts when they are older or well established on eating) im not saying it doesnt happen but if you are with your child and they did swallow you would be there to dislodge it quickly but you have to base it on how your child does. i woukdnt advocate giving them early but with babies at 7, 8 months (and 6 if you have one like me ) who can do those things i wouldnt cut them thats all and i still think the cherry tomatos are no risk as she cant get a full one in her mouth (even now though she maakes a good attempt to lol) there is no comparison with these and nuts (which shouldnt be given under 3) and i would never give my daughter them until much older. also another point with grapes and cherry tomatos most babies tend to 'suck' at these before putting in mouth and have often 'squsihed' them (my baby, babies i know and babies whom i visit)

personally i would be more worried about choking with blueberries/sweetcorn/peas/raisins being so small which is why i have waited til now to offer any of those (and she is fine with them all)

not wanting to argue with you (although it prob seems that way) or anyone else or offend anyone and sorry for hijacking post but all babies are different and only you know what is right for your baby - my friend has a 10 month old who is still mainly spoon food and struggles with finger foods - neither of us are 'right' but i personally would rather be at the stage i am with my dd now than then.

anyway im going way o/t now and this thread isnt about me or a debate so shall shut up now lol.

Lx

Can I give my 6 month old ...

and no offence meant back but i have never seen a child joke on grapes (i work in health visiting) im not an irresponsible mother or anything yes they can choke but they can choke on anything (hence the gag reflex) they should be able to 'chew' and therefore not swallow whole so you wouldnt give them as first food only when your baby was competent with lumps/finger foods and 'chewing' and swallowing my daughter was and i know a few of a similar age.

i see you also put that in your post so to clarify my dd was moving food about in her mouth fine - by all means cut grapes if you want but i dont see the need and i dont see how she can swallow a whole cherry tomato when she cant get it in her mouth fully?

just wanted to clarify like i said though she is fine with blueberries and raisins now too - im there when she feeds i dont see the panic personally but maybe thats why she is so confident with them too....

Lx

Can I give my 6 month old ...

hi,

my attitude is that there is nothing to be scared of and to just go for it and go by your child and how they are. my dd is now 7.5 months

i started weaning at 23 weeks with mashed and finger foods so she always had them and took to it well then started to refuse a spoon so now is mainly all finger foods and it depends what it is/what kind of mood she is in how much she eats and what she throws on the floor lol.

anyway sbased on what you asked:

Cucumber - would you peel the skin off?

nope i just slice it - she usually spits the skin out but will eat it if its very thin slices (sometimes i cut them thicker than others lol)

Cheese triangles?

nope cause of the salt in them - she just has normal chedder cheese cut into strips and i have given babybels recently but only one here and there.

Toast with margarine?

yes to toast but to butter rather than margarine as they need full fats til 2 and i cut it into soliders.

Marmite ( only a tiny taste as I know it has a high salt content)

prob not again due to salt and i dont see point in just a little but then its not something i like myself

Banana - I'm scared of her choking on this for some reason

yes i cut this into slices - i sometimes give her half a banana but she tries to feed the dog it if i do that lol.

Rice cakes?

yes i dont use jars or packets but do buy packets of baby snacks such as the rice cakes and corn rings etc as they are better some 'normal' foods she has been fine with the rice cakes since 6 months and since 7 months has been taking the bread sticks and crackers (that are meant to be from 12 months!) and she is fine with those (i dont go by ages as such)

Humous?

would prob use this as a sandiwch filling or for her to dip crackers etc in havent yet as i havent got round to making any as again something i dont eat - shop bought again can have lots of salt

Sandwiches - what would you put in them?

i cut them into small triangles with either just butter, philadelphia or banana and i have also given tuna and grated cheese on them (very messy lol) my dd also has 'toasties' and chews them.


Grapes - the seedless ones, are these too small as I'm afraid of them being swallowed whole!

my dd loves grapes - i swear she will turn into one! i have never cut them in half and have never peeled them either and she has been fine even when she sometimes puts a smaller one in her mouth whole she has no probs with the skin but sometimes spits it out if its a really big grape.

from 6-7 months my dd also had/has cherry tomatos (whole) strawberries (halved) raspberries and blackberries (whole) pieces of clementine and pieces of melon etc.

she has never choked she will occasionally gag (usually as she is a grubber and tries to stuff too much in her mouth at once lol) but its never worried/panicked me as they have the gag reflex for a reason its instinctive so they dont choke and as a result i give my dd most things - she also has pasta etc she can also eat blueberries and tonight managed some raisins. like i said she has had most things and as she refuses the spoon now (apart from cereal and yoghurt) i had no choice but to go down a blw route and now in glad i did, i just put something down and she'll attept to eat it - its amazing really and i wouldnt have thought she could manage half of it so your baby might surprise you and if they arent ready for it just hold off and try again in a bit.

sorry this is a bit long...

Lx

feeding routines

oh and she'll have yoghurt most days after dinner at night (the single pots of yeo valley natural yoghurt and will take between half to full pot normally i sometimes add fruit through,

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