Freddie's 9 Month Update
16 Apr 2017
- 10 comments
Writing that post title made me sad. Nine whole months. How? When?! My sweet baby boy is nine months already. I didn't even go a full nine months of pregnancy, so it actually means he's officially been out longer than he was inside of me - if that makes sense? Just a little strange thought I had the other day. Anyway, back to the update. It's unreal how fast time is going. I honestly do think it's mainly because I have the two girls. We're constantly doing something every single day, which can be exhausting but it's the way of life. This time last year I was around 25 or 26 weeks pregnant, getting all excited about meeting our baby boy. It truly has been the best nine months, ever. Although it would be nice to have maybe one more baby, I know Freddie is our last, and he does make me feel as if our family is complete now. He has filled that missing piece. I couldn't imagine having another baby now.
The eighth month has been somewhat, challenging. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but it's turned out for the best. It's mainly about his sleep during the night, and I've gone into more detail below. Otherwise, things have been good. We're not seeing the health visitor now until mid-June which seems like such a long way to go, but in reality, it isn't. I'm already preparing for Freddie's first birthday. I'm so excited but sad at the same time. I don't want it to come quickly. I want time to slow down a little, so I can still enjoy my baby as he's little. There are a few posts that have been scheduled across the next few months about first birthday ideas, gift ideas and what I'm planning for his birthday.
SLEEP
His sleeping started to get worse. He's always been up every 1-2 hours, sometimes 3 but not very often. But, for roughly three weeks straight he was up literally every single hour. It was exhausting. I decided to put him in his big cot, which was hard for me but I knew I had to do it one day. I miss him being by my side in the snuzpod but I guess we both needed the space. I was hoping that it would help, but it didn't. I decided it was time to stop picking him up every single time he cried, and so that's what I decided to look up on sleep training and different sleeping methods. I ended up deciding on doing what I did with Mia when she was around his age. I was nervous to do it because Freddie is so attached and he is the baby who just loves his cuddles or wants comfort constantly.
I've got him into a routine of the same bedtime each night. He will be fed and put down around 7 - 7.30pm. The first night he woke up around 8-9pm and he didn't settle until three and a half hours later, which was exhausting and quite stressful because I just wanted to pick him up and cuddle him. However, he was having little breaks and actually falling to sleep in between his cries. I could tell there was a difference in his cry. I knew all he wanted was to be lifted and to feed on me (he was no way hungry). I kind of failed that night though. He woke up 1 am and because I was so exhausted, he ended up sleeping in my bed - oops!
The second night - I had my first ever full night sleep. He was put down his regular time, he did wake up around an hour later but soon settled after half n hour. He slept from 10pm until 6.45am which was just amazing. It felt so strange waking up knowing I hadn't been up in the night. But I was still shattered. Since then he hasn't slept through, but he's gone to just waking up twice during the night instead of hourly. I can cope with that. He still wakes up during the evening and so we have to do the sleep training but he does eventually settle and will wake up between 1-2am and again between 5-6am.
He's also improved during day naps too. He will have one or two naps during the day. Some days he will still have 30 minutes naps, and when he does a 30 minute nap, he will have two naps that day. A few days he has been napping for at least an hour and about three times he has actually slept for two whole hours. He is such a happy baby when he's slept for that amount of time. I've been putting him in the pram to sleep instead of his bouncer, and I think that has made some difference too.
FOOD / BREASTFEEDING
Freddie is still breastfed, and it's been cut down - a lot. He still has a feed 2-3 times during the night. He will also have one before he goes to bed and in the morning. He will also have one or two feeds during the day, usually before sleep but there have been some days where he just falls asleep and misses a feed.
He has three meals a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. He absolutely loves his food. He's getting much better at trying a few new things. He loves his yoghurts, hash browns, bananas and pears. He's such a messy eater and is hilarious at eating his bananas each morning. He loves his food!
MILESTONES AND DEVELOPMENT
At the moment, Freddie bum shuffles everywhere or slides himself backwards when he's on his tummy. He's been trying to get on his all fours but keeps slipping because of the wooden floor we have. We're moving into the front room this weekend and going to buy a rug which will hopefully help him. He's trying his best to crawl but just can't get the grip and so everywhere he goes is bu shuffling his bum. He's also trying his best to climb up and stand against the sofa. He is getting really frustrated by it that he can't lift himself. He can do it half way but falls back down because he hasn't got his legs in the right position to do it properly, yet.
- Clap hands
- Says Mam
- Says Baba
- Babbles, a lot
- Does a noise when I tap my hand on his mouth (if that makes sense?)
- Rolls over, backwards and forwards
- Strong on his legs when we hold him up
- Easily grasps items he wants
TEETHING
I don't see any more teeth coming as yet. He's got eight teeth, and he does dribble, a lot. I'm forever changing his clothes or changing bibs. I haven't noticed that his teeth have been bothering that much this month.
GROWING / CLOTHING / SHOES
He's growing up so quickly. I've actually got rid of all his 6-9 months clothes, except for two outfits which I think look ok fit on him. I've replaced his draws with all his 9-12 months clothing, and I've realised I had no baby vests and hardly no sleepsuits. I bought a couple when I went shopping the other week but still need to buy more. They're so expensive nowadays. I'm planning on taking him to Clarks sometime this month or next, to see if it helps him get some kind of grip to crawl or stand. I've never put shoes on him, only little trainers twice when he was around a month or two and little slipper booties which I love on him. Otherwise, it's only been socks. Seeing as he's getting older and more out and about, I think it's time for some pram shoes or crawling shoes.
MEMORIES
I'm quite gutted I didn't include these in all the other updates I've done, but I plan to do it each month now. I thought it would be nice to include any memories or days outs we've had as a family.
- We spent the week at Bluestone at the beginning of the March which was amazing.
- Freddie, my partner and I went to Warrington to IKEA and then to Chester for Primark and Freddie was well behaved. He didn't cry or moan once that day.
- He says, Mam, a lot.
- He had one full night sleep, which felt amazing.
Linking this post up to; Sunday Best, The Ordinary Moments, KCACOLS, Marvellous Mondays
Hi! I'm Beth, a 20-something year old mum of two and pregnant with Baby#3. I am a UK Pregnancy, Parenting & Lifestyle Blogger.
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The sleep thing is so tough. Well done you. We had a similar struggle with our baby. He started sleeping through the night after we did sleep training, although this week he has started waking again. I'm blaming teething... Good luck. I hope it continues to get better for you. #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteJust that one night of full sleep makes you feel so different doesn't it! Well done you! Here's to many more sleeps through! #sundaybest
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous eyes he has. The time goes so quickly doesn't it. I don't think you understand it till you're a parent x
ReplyDeleteGorgeous eyes. I think the sleep thing is the hardest part of having a baby so fingers crossed for that. #SundayBest
ReplyDeleteLook at those eyes! Glad the sleep is getting better it is definitely the hardest thing as a parent #Ordinary Moments
ReplyDeleteI never really did updates like this for my two so I have no idea what mine did at different stages but it sounds like he does so much - he is such a beautiful boy! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie. I do hope you manage to make more progress with the sleeping. Being able to sleep through the night mmakes eveyone so much happier. You'll get there. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
ReplyDeleteAhh I remember sleep training mine. It's tough but when you keep with it you really do see a big difference. Happy 9 months little one! #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteHow adorable is your Son! Reading this had me reminiscing this stage with my Son (he turned 14 months yesterday). Enjoy them whilst their little as they grow up oh so quickly #KCACOLS
ReplyDeleteAhhh Beth he is SO CUTE! I love his elephant outfit too, gorgeous!! I hope his sleep settles for you soon, I remember the 9 month leap with Sailor being quite bad!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at #SundayBest, hope to see you again tomorrow! x