If I thought time was flying in my life before, adding this smiley little dude into our lives has made it pass at warp speed.
Can you believe Ryder is (almost) SEVEN months old? Insanity, I’m tellin’ ya. I figured it was time for a little check-in around here since it’s been a hot second and I want to make sure I document some of these baby days with my sweet boy so I don’t forget them. I can barely remember what happened two days ago right now so I hope you don’t mind me writing way too many words about our little guy so my mom brain doesn’t forget just how much I love squeezing and kissing Ryder’s chunky little thighs or how much I can’t get enough of the way he smiles with his whole face and body when I coo his name or kiss his belly.
Since the day we brought Ryder home from the hospital, I’ve said he somehow has a peaceful presence in our house which I know – I know – is a really strange thing to say about a baby, but this little guy is just a roly poly ball of joy and contentment. I’ve repeatedly said how much I hope and pray Ryder’s demeanor sticks with him his whole life because right now he’s just so darn happy and excited about everything. If only we all bobbed through life with a smile on our face and a peaceful air of joy around us! Ryder is laid back in the best way and his go-with-the-flow personality feels like a blessing to our family.
We joke that Ryder is a baby with a serious case of “FOMO” (fear of missing out) because he is a big-time observer and wants to watch and be involved in everything. He never seemed to take to baby wearing when I wore him facing in, but the moment we switched to facing out, he was all about it! Ryder wants to see the world and be a part of it all!
As far as physical changes, Ryder’s baby mohawk has morphed into some kind of a crazy baby combover. His dark brown hair fell out and was replaced by fuzzy light brown/dark blonde hair with the exception of his mohawk which simply grew out into a wavy, flowing combover that cracks us up. He has one tooth (bottom middle left) and loves to put anything and everything in his mouth. By growth chart standards, he’s a small little guy but seems to carry all of his weight in his chunky thighs and little baby bubble butt which I think is just the cutest thing in the world. (I told Ryan that Ryder has my body type. He’s a total “pear.” Ha!)
Ryder’s eye color still perplexes us and we’re not sure what color his eyes are to be totally honest! He has dark eyes that we’re currently deeming “hazel” because they’re mostly brown but they do have flecks of green and even some deep blue. I’m curious to see if they change at all because right now we’re not sure where his dark eyes came from since almost everyone on both my side of the family and Ryan’s side of the family has light eyes.
A quick note: In today’s post I’m mainly focusing on Ryder but if you guys are interested in a postpartum update from my side of things let me know. I initially started to include that in this post but it got incredibly lengthy and kind of overtook this post so I cut it out. I’m happy to dive into all that good stuff (navigating life with two kids, post baby body stuff, etc.) in a separate blog post if you are interested!
Sleep
Nighttime sleep took a dramatic turn for the better when two things happened last month: We transitioned Ryder into the crib in his nursery and began sleep training after the four-month sleep regression hit us hard. Ever since then, nighttime sleep has been a billion times better and Ryder seems happier and is eating better during the day, too. Clearly we all needed some decent sleep around here!
I kind of feel bad that I didn’t share a baby update when we were in the middle of horrible sleep and wake ups every 2 to 3 hours for two months but it pretty much would’ve read like this: “We’re up a million times a night and if you’re wondering how things are going, I’ve caught myself putting dirty diapers in the laundry machine. The end.”
Now that we’re on the other side of the four-month sleep regression, Ryder will generally go to bed between 6 and 7:30 p.m. and sleep until anywhere between 6 and 7 a.m. Of course there exceptions to this — like when his first tooth came in and I wasn’t sure what was up — but we can usually get back on track with sleep within two days after a rough night. I said this in my post about sleep training last week and I’ll say it again — I know baby sleep ebbs and flows so I’m not expecting sleep to be this great around here forever but right now I am soaking it up and hoping it lasts!
When it comes to nap time, we’re just now beginning to see longer and more predictable naps emerge. I remember this happening around six months with Chase as well and I’m both excited for more of a schedule and kind of scared of one at the same time since we have two kids to cater to this time around. To those with kids napping at different times: Are you just home a lot more? Does one child nap on the go a lot? How do you navigate nap time with more than one child? I’m still definitely learning over here!
Ryder is still a pretty great on-the-go napper and will fall asleep easily in his car seat or stroller which has been a big-time blessing these past few months. However, now that longer naps are kicking in, as of last week I’ve been trying to be home more often for his naps — at least for his morning nap since that’s his best one — so he can sleep in his crib. This can be tricky with Chase and preschool drop-off in the mix since Ryder seems to naturally want to sleep when we need to leave the house for preschool. One thing that helps: A morning cat nap! Lately he started naturally slipping into a morning cat nap routine where he’ll fall asleep for a 30-45 minute nap within an hour of waking and that seems to carry him through to his longer morning nap which is working well so far.
Ryder’s morning nap is usually between one and two hours but more often than not, it’s much, much closer to an hour. He’ll then be up in the middle of the day for preschool pickup and playtime at home with Chase and then I try my hardest to get him to nap at the same time as Chase in the afternoons. The trickiest time of day for Ryder is anytime after 4 p.m. This is when I feel like it’s “all hands on deck” to keep him entertained and happy and he’s much less likely to be his content little self in the early evening. The witching hour still seems to happen over here and it’s definitely the most draining time of day for me as a mom, too, since Chase seems to be his neediest then as well.
Eating
I waited until Ryder was around 6 months old to begin introducing solids to him because I was waiting for him to achieve certain developmental milestones. (See this post for more detail on this!)
Ryder has a serious interest in food and wants to grab basically anything I’m eating if I’m holding him in my arms as I’m snacking away. Gone are the days when I could sip a smoothie or eat a sandwich with him on my hip because he’ll grab and grab at my food and immediately start whining if I don’t share the goods. This is such a stark contrast to our experience feeding solids to Chase and I’m double crossing my fingers that maybe — just maybe — Ryder will be a naturally good eater. Who knows!?
So far we’re feeding Ryder a mix of real food and purees and he definitely prefers purees. (Carrots, sweet potatoes and apples are his current favorites.) When it comes to putting food in front of Ryder, he loves to smack it around on his high chair tray and smear it all over the place. Sometimes a little bit will actually make it into his mouth!
At Ryder’s 6-month appointment, we had our pediatrician’s blessing to let him try peanut butter and I think we discovered his new favorite food. At first Ryder looked confused by the thick, sticky texture and then it was almost like we could see the moment he realized the glorious flavor of peanut butter because his eyes lit up and he was all about it! He smiled and got all grabby when the spoon would come near his mouth so we just let him gnaw on his lightly coated peanut butter spoon and he was in baby heaven.
Breastfeeding
When it comes to nursing, we’ve definitely hit our stride. I’ve basically been feeding on demand since Ryder was born and this continues to work well for us. During the day, I’m nursing every two to three hours which may seem like a lot but Ryder is an incredibly efficient eater so I’m not nursing for hours on end. (A nursing session rarely lasts longer than 7 minutes over here.) Chase was the same way so I am kind of used to a lot of relatively fast nursing sessions during the day and it seems to work well for us.
One obstacle related to nursing has been Ryder’s need for a distraction-free environment during nursing sessions. To get Ryder to nurse for an extended period of time, I try my best to nurse him away from people and excessive noise. (Yes, this can be complicated with Chase in the mix, but Chase now knows that when Mom is feeding Ryder, he needs to play quietly by himself for a bit. Does this work like a charm every time? Nope. But he mostly listens and gives us a little space.) I’ve also found that I can NOT talk when I’m nursing. The minute I say anything, Ryder will pop off my breast and stare at me with his big gummy smiles and getting him to latch again can be a bit of a process because he now just wants to be involved in conversation and play.
Oh and we’ve officially entered the phase of breastfeeding where Ryder’s hands like to explore and grab at my face, hair, neck and nose as he nurses. It’s adorable and so sweet to watch his little hands move about but if I’m not paying attention, his little grip will hurt when he finds my cheek or nose and grabs on tight! Seven-month-old baby strength is legit!
And now let’s move on into some of Ryder’s current baby favs…
Seven Month Baby Favorites
EAT/SLEEP/DIAPERING
- Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit (My go-to for dropping the swaddle)
- Chicco 360 Hook On High Chair (The best for feeding Ryder at our kitchen counter top. I also have him sit in this and play with a toy or two when I’m prepping dinner because he likes to be in the action.)
- Rock ‘n’ Play (Ryder still takes his morning “cat nap” in this)
- White Noise Machine
- Wubbanub Pacifiers (Bless these things! The little animals attached to the pacifiers are especially great for helping Ryder find his pacifiers in his crib during nighttime sleep.)
- OXO Perfect Pull Wipe Dispenser (Hands down the best wipe dispenser out there. Makes it easy to get wipes out with one hand which is especially handy when babies get extra wiggly!)
ON THE GO
- BOB Duallie Stroller (Our absolute favorite for long walks around the neighborhood and walks without perfectly paved sidewalks. This stroller glides like a DREAM for its large size and is incredibly easy to steer.)
- BOB Duallie Stroller Organizer (If you get a double BOB, get this handlebar organizer! It’s amazing and huge and holds tons of stuff without getting in the way.)
- Chicco Bravo for 2 Double Stroller (Perfect for travel. Folds up easily and Chase LOVES the standing platform/fold-down seat! Great if your older kid likes to hop on/off the stroller a lot.)
- Stick On Sun Shades (Love these because they’re easy to move and adjust as the sun changes in the car.)
- JuJuBe Be Quick Wristlet (I swear by this thing for making it easy to change diaper bags or just grab the essentials — diapers, wipes, a spare onesie — before heading out the door)
- Stroller Blanket (An underrated necessity during winter months. We tuck this all around Ryder both in the stroller and in his car seat!)
PLAY
Most of the below favorites were hits with Chase, too, (hand-me-down toys for the win!) but we have a few new-for-Ryder toys he is loving as well!
- Sassy Wonder Wheel (The perfect $7 high chair entertainment toy! Suctions on and doesn’t budge!)
- Baby Einstein Activity Jumper (Just as big of a hit with Ryder as it was with Chase!)
- SmartNoggin Development Light-Up Rattle (Is it just me or is this the new “it” baby toy right now? I see this thing everywhere! Ryder lovesss it!)
- Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Music Toy
- Sophie Teether
- VTech Sit-to-Stand Walker (Ryder cannot use this as a walker yet but loves sitting in front of it and banging on it right now)
- Baby Einstein Octoplush Toy
- Nuby Ice Gel Teether (Put this one in the freezer and then the cold parts feel good on baby gums!)
- Fisher-Price Rattle ‘n’ Rock Maracas
- Topsy Turtle (I get this as a baby shower gift for almost all of my friends. It somehow seems to absolutely captivate little ones in their car seats!)
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Very interested in a postpartum post!
I am 8 months postpartum!
my baby loves sweet potatoes also!
sweet potatoes, squash, and pears are his favorites at the moment!
Loved reading this!! My little one has been loving eating as well! Sweet potato is her favorite for sure. I had stocked up on some purées and we’re using them but I think we’ll be heading toward pieces of food soon. She gets soooo messy because she insists on holding the spoon haha!!
This is such a fun age for sure. Our favorite new thing is sitting and playing with toys (much preferred over tummy time lol). And she just loves her big sister. And I love watching them together. Melts my momma heart ♥️
Ha! YES! Sitting up and playing is way more fun for them than tummy time for sure!!
Thanks for this post – loved reading it! I’m pregnant with my second so am always eager to hear all about how things are going with a second. Would love a postpartum update – it’s always so helpful to hear others’ experiences! And OMG- Ryder is the cutest and just looks SO happy!! 🙂
Your little one is just so cute! Yes, please do a post about navigating life with two young kiddos. I have an 11 year old stepdaughter so she is more help than anything with our 2 year old. But, we are going to start trying for another little one and I’m a nervous wreck about navigating life and naps and everything else with 2 young kiddos!
Loving this post! My kids are similar ages – my older daughter is 2.5 and my younger daughter is 7.5 months old. My take on the napping – I try for my baby to get one nap a day in the crib. If others are on the go, I’m okay with that. Lately, if she is extra tired, I just put her to bed early and she’ll usually surprise me by sleeping until her normal wake up time anyways.
I would really like to hear about managing the two kids. I tend to feel guilty that my oldest can be the most vocally demanding, and therefore “hogs” me more than my easy going baby does. I’m curious if anyone else made it through this dynamic! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your perspective! Do you follow @takingcarababies on Instagram? She actually JUST posted about naps and how trying to get at least one good “crib nap” a day is a good goal when you have to be out and about a lot!
I’m currently trying to decide on a double stroller (or if it’s even worth it for us). We have a little one coming in May and our oldest will be 2.5. He’s not a big stroller fan to begin with – but I don’t think we’ll be able to get by without a double stroller? How do you like the double Chicco? Does it maneuver well? Does Chase prefer that one over the Bob? I don’t want to waste money on an expensive stroller like a Bob just to have my oldest be over the stroller in a year (we have a hard time keeping him in it now)!
Chase was the EXACT same way about strollers when we had Ryder and I cannot recommend the Chicco stroller enough for this very reason. He was so into the platform and loved being able to hop on and hop off like a “big kid.” It was perfect for him and he also uses the pop-down seat on the stroller when he’s ready for a break/snack. It’s been a great fit for us!!
I am interested in a post partum post and how you are doing! Also, you mentioned in a previous post about how Chase woke up at night until 15 mo when you stopped nursing. More details on that would be awesome! I have a 14 1/2 mo old and she still wakes up at night – I think because I’m still nursing. Any tips on weaning would be helpful! You seem like you are doing amazing and I always appreciate your positive attitude about parenting!
I remember having to nurse my little one in privacy without distractions, or he would do the same thing. Just start looking around and my breast milk would continue shooting out! And while nursing, he liked to pull on my tank strap and then let it go so it would snap me. He’d do it over and over, haha! I remember the little exploring hands on my face, too. That was almost 5 years ago and I’m having a new baby in May!
haha! YES!!! they keep us on our toes, huh!?
“his little hands exploring my body” is a really weird way to put it. :-/
oh gosh — i hope you understood that i meant his hands just grab at me and my body when he’s nursing. in my mind, there’s nothing weird about a 7-month-old baby grabbing at their mom’s body but i updated the post to say i like watching his hands “move about” so it doesn’t read as “weird” since i can see how the word “explore” made it sound a little strange.
Why is it weird? He’s a baby. They explore everything. A body is not just sexual. It only has a weird connotation if you impose one on it.
Oh my gosh he is just the cutest thing!
Thank you, Allison! <3
He is SO cute! Thank you for showing how wonderful life is with two boys! Brothers are so special!
And that picture of your boys in their stroller is perfection!
He is so adorable and looks just like Chase!
We have 2 toddlers 16m apart and I kept my oldest with me for my second mat leave (12months here in Canada) I was going out every morning so my daughter was sleeping on the go for 30 mins either in the car seat or babywearing and I would put both down at the same time for the pm nap. It started around 6-7m. Now she’s 17m and my oldest is 2y9m and they are both still napping. They are not the best nappers, 1.5h at the most but it’s a break!!!
Im holding on the theses since I’m giving birth again in April and I would live for them to nap altogether. Wishful thinking!!
Hi Julie! I’ve been a reader for years now, and my kiddos are 2 years a part (now 5 and 3) so i definitely can relate to many of your questions related to this parenting journey! As far as napping, when mine were the age your boys are now, we were out many mornings a week (preschool drop off, play dates, grocery store, etc) so my youngest often spent her morning nap in the car seat. But I tried to always be home by 11:30/12ish in order to make lunch for my oldest, put her down for a good solid nap in the crib by 12:30/1, then put my oldest down for nap right after her. I know having an actual nap “time” isn’t for every one, but for me and several of my friends having “nap time is at 12:30/1”, that helped order the rest of the day around it.
Hahaha! I recently found myself telling a friend that I have no idea what the rest of the world does from 1-3 everyday because we’re prisoners to naps.
Oh my gosh Julie!! He is so cute!!! I absolutely love reading your blog posts, especially on Chase and Ryder! 🙂
Ryder does look like such a happy little guy! I’m still trying to keep afternoon nap time with my almost 3 year old but I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread!
Ryder is just precious! My little girl is two days younger than him and it’s been so fun to see his updates since they are so close in age. As with him, after 4 is our trouble time with the last nap, curious though because you said his bedtime was 6-7:30…when he misses his 3rd nap of the day how does he do with an earlier bedtime? Does he still sleep as good that night? Love reading your updates!
Ryder is such a cutie!!! God bless him and Chase! Please do a postpartum post! I’m 2 months postpartum with my second and lots of things are different this time including my body. Would like to know how it went for you this second time!
Yes to a postpartum post. I’m 2.5 weeks postpartum with my second. My toddler is 22.5 months and I would love to get some tips for handling two. Thanks!
Adorable boys 🙂
Yes! A postpartum post would be nice! My 3rd baby is about the same age as Ryder so it’s nice to hear how other mamas are doing, just to relate you know?
Totally agree on the 4pm “witching hour”. we just try to keep our baby as happy as possible to make it through till bed time. I feel bad but she is usually in bed by 630, because she really just wants to go to sleep! This too will pass 🙂
JULIE. He is seriously ADORABLE. That picture of him smiling at the dr’s office, I can’t even handle it. So stinkin’ cute I could eat him up! I can’t wait until our little guy can sit up on his own – it’s such a fun milestone! I laughed out loud at your description of him being a pear shape. Hilarious. Baby bodies crack me up!
You inspired me – my son is the same age as Ryder – 6/18! Today I gave him some peanut butter on a baby spoon and he LOVED it.
It was the perfect day to do it to because he had a ped apt for a booster flu shot so I figured he would be at the dr’s anyway — if he had an allergic reaction, they would know what to do! I got that tip from Hilaria Baldwin.
He is so adorable!!! His personality reminds me of my second, who is just about 18 months. He’s so easy, while my 3 1/2 year old girl is such a complicated handful.
Naps seemed to be a different times for the first year and then as the baby started sleeping more regularly, I would work around his naps to try to get my daughter to sleep at the same time. There was always a bit of overlap. The good news is that they will sync eventually since they are fairly close in age. Now they both nap after lunch (well, that or my daughter doesn’t nap).
Love reading these updates! My daughter is just a few weeks older than Ryder, she’s 7.5 months old now and we haven’t fully done any sleep training. We are actually planning on her move to the crib this weekend. I agree with so many of your favorites, the merlin suit really is magic! Although we are considering changing to the amazing blanket (same as the ones that the blog, Glitter, recommended). We tried it in our little crib and think the space was too small for her to really move. The suit, really helps her to stay in one place. So with Ryder sleeping through the night, have you removed all night time feedings after initially putting him down or do you still do the dream feed? (with the exception of sickness or teething)
So sweet – love reading your updates as I have two kids similar ages. 🙂
Julie – I read your post this morning and laughing at you throwing a diaper in the laundry bin. I just went to throw in laundry tonight and cane across a diaper. I’ve never done that before. Too funny!!
Would love a postpartum post! Also I can’t believe Ryder only takes seven minutes to nurse! What an efficient little guy. How long did he take when he was a month or two?
PLEASE be careful putting a 7 month old baby in a Rock N Play. He needs to be in a safe place by this age.
Thank you for your concern! I would never want to jeopardize his safety in any way! I definitely do not leave him in there alone/unsupervised — he is currently only
taking his morning cat nap in there and it’s when I’m literally 3 feet from him either in the kitchen or doing my daily devotionals.
Wow.God bless him, I absolutely love reading your blog posts .Thank you
Would love a postpartum post as I’m currently 9 month postpartum!