Eat All The Things

Another month gone... how the time flies!

Sproutling is five months old now and, while he hasn't learned any new skills in particular since the last update, he's getting better at those he already has.  He's more and more observant every day and his favourite thing is to grab all the things and put them in his mouth. Nom!

He seems much more interested in what we're eating lately, so I've been letting him nibble on fruit that I've been eating such as apple, pear, watermelon and strawberries. Today we even tried a bit of mango - the first in the season around here! I'm not planning on officially giving him solid foods to eat for a few more weeks, but I thought it would be good to let him try a few different tastes. By the way he grabs my hand to try to shove that strawberry in, I'd say he's just about ready already.

The last week or so has been a research time. We have been hiring a "travel system" Babylove car capsule and pram set from Hire for Baby for the last 5 months and it's almost time for it to go back. We acquired a car seat from a family member before Sprout was born so we've got that part covered, but we need to get a replacement pram or stroller in the next couple of weeks. Incidentally the Babylove travel system has been brilliant - I'll be sad to see it go.

There are so many strollers to choose from, and none fit our requirements perfectly. The "umbrella" type strollers look so lightweight and manoeuvrable, but they have very little space for nappy bags or shopping. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the big prams are just enormous! It's turning out to be a tough compromise - I have a feeling that we're going to end up with a big pram for full day trips and a small umbrella stroller for crowded places and around the shops.

If any of you lovely readers have any suggestions for a brand of pram or stroller you loved, please let me know! The Sprout will give a special Grin Of Cuteness to get you to spill the beans!

Nappy Hunting

Just a quick note tonight to let you know that the Great Nappy Hunt has begun for September 2011.

Aussies and Kiwis, just visit the Diaper Decisions site and register to take part, then go hunting for the icons for chances to win loads of prizes.  There are also plenty of discounts from all the sponsors during September!

There's also a North American version of the hunt - the Great Diaper Hunt.

Happy hunting, and I promise there will be a Sproutling update post soon.

Milestone Watching

It's been nineteen weeks now since our little bundle of Sprout arrived. Each day brings new wonder, new discoveries and gradual improvements.

Chit-chat

The googling and gurgling has now developed into a range of sounds - it's fascinating listening to him trying out all the different sounds he can make. Last week his favourite new sound was an "rrr" sound, so he spent a few days saying "errrrr, errrrrrr!". There have been some giggles as well so I have spent more than a little while making silly faces and noises to try to get him to laugh!

Milestones
Watching for milestones is frustrating - Sprout might do something amazing by accident, such as when he first rolled from front to back and made me super excited, but then I've spent the next several weeks trying to encourage him to do it again.

Many websites such as babycenter.com have extensive lists of milestones that babies may or may not reach at certain times. I have to continually remind myself that the lists are only guidelines - that all babies develop at different rates.

Sproutling can now push himself up with his hands and his legs when on his tummy. Sometimes it looks like he is trying to swim, but he mostly just wiggles around in frustration. The milestone sites tell me this happens around the fourth month so he's on track with that one. But he also could be swatting and grabbing at toys, and he doesn't do that much at all. If I hold a toy out in front of him, sometimes he will reach out and grab it but most of the time he just stares intently at it. Of course, if something ends up in his hand it will thereafter end up in his mouth - he's got that milestone sorted out well and truly. I guess I just need to remind myself not to worry and let him take his own time to learn.

Sleep
I know I keep banging on about sleep but there's something about becoming a parent that makes you realise just how precious sleep is!  Sprout has been a champion night-sleeper for a while now, but it's starting to get a little harder to get him to sleep in the evening. For one thing, he's more easily distracted while feeding. It also seems to take him longer to get into a deep sleep, so as soon as I put him down in bed, he wakes up again. Usually he will resettle himself without me picking him up again. Last night was the first time we actually put him down and left the room while he was crying - I hated it, but he did put himself to sleep after about five minutes of crying.

I still count myself lucky - I know there are plenty of people out there who have trouble getting their bubs to sleep and wake up constantly all night.

So, all's well in Sproutling's world at the moment. I'm in no hurry for him to start with the teething or on solids or, in fact, any of that rolling around business!