Cubbies are Toddling ! ! !

What is 'Toddling'?? 

From thefreedictionary.com/toddle

"toddle [ˈtɒd^əl]vb (intr)1. to walk with short unsteady steps, as a child does when learning to walk"

3 weeks ago during cubbies 1st Birthday, cubbies were only able to toddle few steps.  Within 2 weeks, they are able to toddle for quite a distance before falling down.

Only manage to take a few shots of cubbySyuen when the other 2 was taking their nap (cubbySyuen refused to nap).

Was shocked with his strength, he could lift up my tumbler (filled with water) and toddle with it. 

From this progress, I guess they should be able to walk when they are 13 months (corrected age 11 months, cos they are 2 months preterm).

Before this, we were still thinking to get them a push-walker...

But now, we can save $$ on that!!!  

However, it is time to consider 'Baby Harness'.  I'm sure they will start to toddle or walk around when we bring them out.

Should we get the one with backpack??

               Or just the normal safety strap harness??   

Any recommendation???

Playpen for Triplets

Our long awaited playpen has finally arrived!!!

Why do we need a playpen for Triplets?
The triplet cubby-babies are getting very fast in their crawling and sensitive towards the surrounding. They enjoy exploring to the nearby coffee table, the nearby wiring, table cloth and so on via crawling or cruising. We used to put pillows, bolsters, and cushions to block their way, but now, they will either crawl over it or hold it as support to stand which may result in tumbling down.

With this Lindam Safe & Secure playpen, we could put all three of them into the pen.  However, triplet cubby-babies cry after some time because they had been used to having a large area to roam about.

playpen which can accommodate triplets

Hence, we remove the confined playpen style into a room divider which is the actual intention in buying this playpen. This works better as their play area remain the same, but in a more secure condition. And for us, there is lesser areas for us to child-proof.

Using it as room divider

This playpen shouldn't be use with the intention to cage them. It is just to isolate the not so secure area for explorative babies.

Feeding Preemie

4th Oct 2010 

Today is my pregnancy EDD, which means cubbies r officially 40 weeks.

Cubbies are born premature at 32 weeks. although they are not micro-preemie, they r still consider preemie with low birth weight of 1.8kg (Hung), 1.6kg (Syuen) and 1.1kg (Juin).
There are many new learning for parents of preemie. This time I'll share on Feeding!

Feeding a full-term baby is so much differ fr a preemie. I once took for granted (n i think most ppl hv this same thought too) that all babies r born wit d capabilities to eat/suck. 
What we found out during cubbies stay in NICU is tat we need to teach preemie to suckle!

1) TUBE FEEDING
During d 1st few days of stay in NICU, cubbies r fed using tube where d tube r inserted from his mouth into d stomach. D first sight of d tube make me tears as they r so tiny n yet needed to insert d tube. So, our first feeding lesson in NICU is to learn how to feed them using d tube.

2) SYRINGE FEEDING
We introduced syringe feeding to stimulate the baby's sucking action.  We had to control or fingers when pressing & releasing the breastmilk into bb's mouth while encouraging bb to lick & suckle. 

3) CUP FEEDING
When Hung is ready to learn sucking, he was first introduce sipping fr cup. Till now,i m still very raw to cup feeding,i'll end up pouring all out instead of feeding.

4) SUCKING
Hung did not know how to suckle fr breast. Hence, I was taught how to give him cheek massage, lips massage and tongue massage to stimulate his sucking movement. It seems that bb learns sucking movement in mummy's womb during week 33. But Hung was born at 32 weeks, hence there's a need to give him time to develop the ability to suck.

5) SWALLOW
Then we need to teach Hung how to swallow. Even during cup feeding, Hung will tends to keep all milk in his mouth without swallowing.

6) SUCK & SWALLOW & BREATHE
When Hung had mastered d sucking & swallowing skill, he needs to be stimulate to perform both d action n synchronize wit breathing. What a tough process for just a simple action of sucking milk.

I still remember there's once when i was BF Hung, suddenly his face turned blue. Since we're reminded on this, I quickly unlatch him fr d breast and gave him few slaps on his feet to wake him up. He was fine after that.

Preemie r known that they hv the tendency to forget breathing, regardless it's feeding, crying or even laughing. Even till now,we still need to b observant on d changes in bb face during feeding, to ensure bb remembers to breathe & swallow.