Tiddler's Development Spurt and Operation Baby-Proof

In the last 10 days or so there have been some truly amazing changes. Tiddler has had a physical development spurt...

Tiddler has been ill for about a month, give or take a couple of days and I think the enforced time at home (chicken pox) has done her the world of good. She has been quietly biding her time.

In the last 4 or so days her sitting is coming on really well. She still needs some support but she is able to sit really straight now for quite a while. It makes her look so grown up! She is turning into a little girl...

She is beginning to see the benefits of sitting, she is enjoying the enhanced interaction with her toys. Its an absolute joy to see.

She has also begun to master her own little "crawl" technique. Her shoulders are too weak for her to be able to crawl, and her arms too weak to commando crawl but somehow she is travelling  I think the strength of her legs caterpillars her trunk forward. Its very hard to describe, but seemingly effective. We had been told she wouldn't be able to crawl and so I had assumed this would also mean she wouldn't be able to travel either. Bit naive of me really- but in any case it now means I have to baby-proof our lounge!!

Her feeding has also improved vastly. She is still not the world's greatest eater- to be honest when it comes to food she can take it or leave it. She has only cried in hunger a handful of times in her life. Literally. (This is also something the Drs believe is highly unusual and potentially an indicator of other problems). In the last few days she has started to eat bite / dissolve foods- you know the sort- they look like crisps for babies! This is fantastic- I have been trying these intermittently for nearly 5 months and until last week she would react as if I was feeding her glass. I am so excited by this as it means she will be able to graduate on to lumpier food.

We are due to receive a feeding chair from Occupational Health on Monday so the timing is great. I am hopeful that with a large tray and ideal seating position Tiddler will now turn into an eating monster baby! The chair we have at the moment does not have a tray and we cannot get it near a table.

Onwards and upwards- it is incredible the difference a week or 2 can make. Will keep holding myself back a little though, just in case. I know that it is often a case of 1 step forward, 2 steps back. In the meantime, we need to embark on Operation Baby-Proof.

It never rains but it pours

This week has been really really tough. I have been struggling with Tiddler as she has started arching at almost every position change. So, this makes putting her in her tumbleform (feeding chair), car seat, pushchair, etc etc very difficult. She has also started to sleep pretty badly, and yep you guessed it, she arches when you try and put her into her crib too. Now the last few days have taught me, through bitter experience, that she will relax but you have to distract/ tickle etc. This is quite hard to do on your own when dealing with a wriggling child!

I have had a bit of week healthwise too- had to have ultrasound on Monday to check that a cyst I had during pregnancy had gone- apparently it has- and yesterday I had to go to the Breast Clinic. I had noticed changes post-Tiddler's arrival and upon the 3rd GP visit I was referred. All very scary, they use the C word and you can't help but ponder the "what ifs". Although I had been reassured that a serious problem was highly unlikely it has still been a very difficult and stressful week. I have, apparently, got Periductal Mastitis. So there you go! I have to go back for an ultrasound- they are going to be on first name terms with us there (Tiddler has had 3 or 4 ultrasound scans herself!).

Childcare for things like hospital appointments is really tough without having family nearby. At the moment with the way Tiddler arches etc I wouldnt know whether a babysitter / nanny would even work with us?! Am I over-analysing and panicking again!?

I have been desperate for help with Tiddler. I have called everyone! Some have been helpful, but without a diagnosis or a label to quote it sometimes feels as though I am trying to prove entitlement. The Occupational Therapist has gone to ground again and so we are still awaiting a play seat.

However, its definitely not all bad. Tiddler has really come on with her sitting and I am hopeful that she may get there in a couple of weeks. That will make life a lot easier as at the moment I just can't leave her safely anywhere. Then I will just have to try to get her to sleep during the day... aghhhh the Holy Grail...

Lying, or rather not lying

More frustration today. Further to my bath seat rant...(we are still no further forward with that, I am waiting for the Occupational Health person to return off holiday).

Tiddler has always arched her back and neck. It looks awful, and we have put it down to reflux in the earlier days and thereafter thought it was a learnt movement. I have read elswhere recently that other children with Hypotonia also arch, so I have no idea as to the cause...

Anyway... last night she was lying on her back on her playmat and she arched her head right back- Tiddler's Daddy rushed to correct her as I can honestly say it looked like her neck was going to snap. The momentary panic and horror at how it looked literally brought tears to my eyes.

I spoke to our Physio today and she said that Tiddler would probably have self-corrected if we hadn't intervened and may not do it again, but that we should probably not leave her alone lying on the floor if we can avoid it. WTF??? She can't sit, I can't leave her in a chair as she arches and twists... she arches out of a Bumbo.... and now, now she can't be left lying on the floor???? Well how does that work then? How do I go to the loo/ prepare food/ answer the phone? I couldn't leave her for long at the best of times, but this really is like having a crawler or early walker but without the crawling and walking! The physio is lovely and normally very helpful, but I have to say this did not go down as one of our most constructive conversations.



I have all my hopes pinned on a Baby Bjorn chair- apparently they are impossible to get out of... we are borrowing one tomorrow. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, I shall also be crossing my legs as I clearly have to limit my loo breaks...