A million questions in one post

I haven't had much time to come on and ask everything I needed to in the past few days, so instead of flooding the board with my questions, I'll condense it to one post.

Here goes.....

1 - Food - He was eating 5 oz. every 4 hours for about 2 weeks. Since he turned one month ( ) on Saturday, he's been eating 5 oz every 3 hours. Should I up his ounces to 6 per bottle? He used to give us 4-5 hour stretches at night and now he's back to every 3 hours. I'm thinking he's hungry?

2 - Hand temperature - we have him in those fleece feetie PJ's from Carter's. When I go into his room at night (He's in the crib now with NO problems! ) his little hands are freezing! We have the heat on in the house and it's not cold in his room. Is there anything I can do to keep his paws warm? Should I put the mittens on him? His head is warm, it's justhis hands that are cold...

3 - Swaddling - should I start to swaddle him even if he is sleeping well? If we do swaddle him, do we keep the fleece pj's on him and swaddle over them?

4 - His face -I've mentioned that he has a case of baby acne. While he's sleeping, his face is perfect! Not a blemish to be found. When he wakes up and eats, it really flares and is very red and inflamed looking. I've been just washing his face with cool water 2 times a day (I use a little bit of Cetaphil every other day as per my doctor). I've noticed that his head now has a ton of pimples all over it. If he didn't have hair, you'd go running in the other direction. It's all whiteheads on his scalp. Could this possible be a reaction to his formula? If your child had acne, how long did it take them to outgrow it?

5 - Birth Control - I'm heading to my OBGYN in a few hours and I know that this will come up. DH and I don't want to use condoms and I really really really would prefer not to go back on the pill. What are my other options? (we did a LOT of praying before we were trying for James )


Thanks!

Message edited 10/13/2009 12:14:24 PM.

Re: A million questions in one post

okay - the one thing i can answer is the hands...

the hands and feet are cold much of the time...something about the circulation not getting there until later (or it's the last body part to get it properly or something)...

Re: A million questions in one post

Ok let me see what I can answer:

The hands - I'm pretty sure it's common for them to have cold hands. I wouldn't worry, it doesn't mean he is cold, and I wouldn't put mittens on him.

I would NOT swaddle him now if he has been sleeping good and doesn't need it. What I would suggest getting is a Halo Sleepsack instead. It's a wearable blanket. Their arms are still free. Jack sleeps in these still. LOVE them. I feel like he would be cold without this or a blanket and I'm too chicken to give him a blanket since he is ALL OVER the crib all night long.

ETA: I would up the ounces per bottle to 6.

Message edited 10/13/2009 12:23:38 PM.

Re: A million questions in one post

I only have answers for 1 and 3...

1. Sure, if he's eating more often offer him more at each feeding. 4 hours apart is ideal at this stage (if I remember correctly). With DD, I increased it by an ounce whenever I noticed she was emptying her bottles completely. I knew I had the right amount per feeding when she left a little behind (less than an ounce though).

3. If he's sleeping fine, there's no need to swaddle. It's one less habit you'll have to break later.

Re: A million questions in one post

I can try to help with questions 1-3.

1 - Food - yes, I would up his bottle if he is draining it and hungry in 3 hrs instead of 4.

2 - Hand temperature - DS's hands were always cold too. I think if the rest of him is warm, he should be fine.

3 - Swaddling - no need to swaddle if he is sleeping fine. I would go for a sleep sack.

Re: A million questions in one post

Great - thanks girls. He's been sucking his bottles dry with the 5 oz - tonight when I do bottles, I'll up it to 6 per bottle.

Oh - the sleepsacks go right over the pj's, right?

Message edited 10/13/2009 12:32:56 PM.

Re: A million questions in one post

Ok girl... I'll try and answer best I know.

1 - Food -

A - my Ped said if he's consistently finishing the bottle then up it a 1/2 oz. Feed him when he's hungry. If it's every three hours that good or every 4. Mason is pretty much clockwork. 7 Oz every 4 hours. He has 5 bottles... 6AM, 10AM, 2PM, 6PM, around 2AM.

2 - Hand temperature -

A -Mason's hands are always cold as well. They say babies have bad circulation. Plus, I still do and my hands are always cold. Doesn't mean I am. I leave him alone at night and hold his hands when he first gets up

3 - Swaddling - should I start to swaddle him even if he is sleeping well? If we do swaddle him, do we keep the fleece pj's on him and swaddle over them?

A - never swaddled. Mason moves around a lot so hated it. He turns now so I put the fleece and a onsie underneathe.

4 - His face -
A - Mason had baby acne and totally went away a little after a month. Now his face gets chapped b/c of the weather. I put some lotion on it and it seems to help. Plus, he's drooling and turning so his face is in his drool


5 - Birth Control -

A - can't help you there either. My Doc gave mr BC and I haven't filled it yet. Just doing the pull out... or whatever.

Re: A million questions in one post

Posted by scarletbegonia

Great - thanks girls. He's been sucking his bottles dry with the 5 oz - tonight when I do bottles, I'll up it to 6 per bottle.

Oh - the sleepsacks go right over the pj's, right?

Re: A million questions in one post

Posted by Diana1215

Posted by scarletbegonia

Great - thanks girls. He's been sucking his bottles dry with the 5 oz - tonight when I do bottles, I'll up it to 6 per bottle.

Oh - the sleepsacks go right over the pj's, right?

Yep! They have cotton and fleece ones.

Re: A million questions in one post

I can try and help with 1,2 and 5.

1. I would up the bottles to 6. Sounds like he might not be getting enough to keep him satisfied but that is just what my PED told me when i asked the same question.

2. We have the same thing with DD. We put DD in the fleece sleeper sacks and she is nice and toasty in side but her little hands are always like ice, PED again says that is fine. Sometime her hands disappear in the sleeve and i will usually lave them there so they can warm up.

5. What about the IUD??

Re: A million questions in one post

1- My ped told us to keep an extra ounce on top of what they normally eat in each of the bottles. This way when they're ready to move up an ounce, you'll know.

2- Totally normal for babies' hands and feet to be cold. You don't need to put mittens on them.

3- If he's sleeping well, don't bother swaddling. It's one less habit to break when he gets older.

4- Not sure what to tell you. I'd ask the pediatrician or a dermatologist.

5- This is important! DH and I couldn't agree on a form of birth control which is how we ended up with baby #2 I think we're going the IUD route (for similar reasons that you described about you and your hubby).

Re: A million questions in one post

1. I would try giving him more.

2. Totally normal. An infant's hands and feet are always cold. They are the least "important" parts. As they develop more, their circulation gets better.

3. I wouldn't start swaddling if he is sleeping fine without it. It will become something you need to break later.

4. Baby acne is totally normal. However, if it only occurs after he eats, I'd ask the ped about it.

5. I use the paragard IUD. No hormones.