The Fowler Family: Grayson's Sixth Month

Grayson's sixth month was from July 27th to August 26th. This month was busy for Grayson, he began to roll from back to front, sit up and pull himself across the floor (like a cross between an army crawl and an inchworm)!! He is ALL OVER and loving it.

I can't believe this little bug is half a year old!!!

Growth:

He hasn't been officially weighed in a while, but he weighs abut 14.5lbs on our home scale. He is solidly in his 3-6 month clothes and all the 0-3 have been packed away. He is doing so much this month, it is crazy that he can roll all around now. Rolling front to back only moved him a little bit, but rolling back to front now means that Grayson can easily roll off the bed. Can't leave him alone for a minute now!! Grayson is also starting to sit up more and more. He is still way bent over, but he holds his balance for a good while!

Breastfeeding:

This month I finally had to get diflucan for the thrush in the left breast. I hated to do it, but I wasn't able to kick it on my own & things were getting super painful. Thankfully it never bothered Grayson or had an impact on our breastfeeding. By the end of the month, Grayson had been exclusively breastfed for 6 months! This is the recommended length of time to exclusively breastfeed, suggested by both the AAP and WHO. After six months, table food can slowly be introduced. Tim and I have decided to postpone solids for Grayson since I will be out of town for most of Grayson's sixth month. "Food before one is just for fun" anyway!!

my hungry little guy, and an awesome latch!

Co-Sleeping:
Tim was gone for the first little bit of Grayson's 6th month. While he was gone I added a pool noodle to the side of the bed under the covers. The noodle makes a ledge and prevent Grayson from rolling out of the bed. I am still careful to keep him close, but this just eases my mind.
Grayson is still on the same evening schedule. He goes to bed around 7pm and eats when we go to bed, then wakes up a couple more times throughout the night to eat. I am thankful that he does so well at falling right back to sleep 95% of the time (seriously, he only has wakeful periods at night once or twice a month).

proud sub baby! (There is a propeller on his booty!!)

Cloth-Diapering:
This month Grayson tried on his swim diaper for the first time. He was starting to outgrow his AppleCheeks in size one and I was concerned that the AppleCheeks swim diaper wouldn't fit by the time we went to the beach in his 7th month. Thankfully it fits much differently than the actual AC diaper and he had plenty of room to grow. It is seriously adorable.
This month I got my first BumGenius 4.0 pockets. The previous pocket diapers I had tried were a poor fit. I don't know if it was Grayson's size at the time (I haven't used them in a few months) or if they were just too cheaply made, but they leaked awfully. The 4.0s are my new favorite. Since Grayson is so sensitive to moisture I change him very frequently. The BumGenius 4.0s are such a good fit and they pull moisture away from his skin, so Grayson wears them when we are out of the house and I need to go longer between changes.
Otherwise he still wears the prefolds at home. He still wears the fitted diapers at night, but I am having a good bit of trouble keeping him rash free. Since the moisture stays against his skin all night, he is red in the morning. I have tried the BG 4.0s at night, but he is a HEAVY wetter and when I stuff the pocket full enough to contain his pee, then I can no longer get a good fit around the legs.

Trying on his swim diaper. I think he's ready for the water!

Babywearing:

Grayson tried riding in the Tula on my back for the first time in his sixth month. They recommend you wait until baby has good torso control to attempt a back hold in a soft structured carrier. Sometimes people do them earlier based on their comfort, but I wasn't even comfortable once he had good torso control. It scared me to put him on my back by myself. I just can't get his legs in the proper position.

I need to go to the next BabyWearing International meeting and get some advice - because I still don't put him back there without a spotter.

All-in-all though, this month he tried it for the first time & he liked it. It is also nice to have him back there because I can do more with the front of my body.

I also started using the Ring Sling more this month. I finally got the hang of how to get it on quickly and adjust a good seat for Grayson. It is also easier to sit down while he is in the ring sling, it feel more natural than the Tula.

my little back rider <3

Support:

I think I forgot about support in my last update.

My mom was here for half of Grayson's sixth month. This was obviously the ultimate support, to have her here in the house. She would take him in the morning so that I could get some extra sleep. And he was all about playing with Dede.

We also spent some time with friends, and it is always good support to spend time around other mamas.