6 Month Doctor's Visit

For the grandparents and friends who are interested... here's what we learned at Nathan's 6 month well baby check up this morning!

Nathan's Stats:
* He's now 23lb, 2oz and 29 1/4 inches long! Thats in the 100th percentile in both areas!
* His head is now 17 inches in circumfrence. Thats still in the 50th percentile.

Other information:
* He got his 6 month shots... plus a flu shot, today. Woo hoo. He did not think it was so wonderful.... after his 4 week booster for the flu shot, he'll be done with shots till he's 1 year.

* Dr. McCleod still thinks Nathan might have acid reflux because of his congestion, cough, spit up and constant crying at night. She wanted to give him Prevacid to try but was out of free samples and didn't want to stick us with a super high prescription bill just for something that might work, especially after she found out we paid $50 for the last prescription trial.... So she told me to put him back on Zantac for longer than we tried last time and see if that helps.

* Nathan currently takes 40-45 oz of formula a day. Usually five 8oz bottles and one 4-5oz when he doesn't have solids (which he hasn't lately because of the rash...). She said 20oz is average, 30 is on the high side for this age. 40oz is way too much. So she asked that we try to cut back by having him eat more solid foods. So we'll move to two meals a day. That will save us money on formula, too!

* The rash on his back, that has begun to show on his belly, is most likely eczema. Its not an allergy to anything... which is good because I've changed his soap and haven't fed him anything but formula... his laundry detergent never changed.... so I was starting to be baffled by the rash. The doctor gave us instructions on what to do for the eczema.

* She said when he's ready we can start introducing pureed meat - yum. And a little wheat (like in cheerios) won't hurt at 8-9 months.

* We can start him on a sippy cup anytime - but I think its still a bit too early. He gets the idea of holding his bottle, but hasn't quite mastered that skill yet. We'll soon give it a try... with water to start :)

* She didn't have much advice on the teething and not sleeping... outside of what I already have been told from other moms. She said Motrin may help. (It didn't last night!) And said his crying at 12...2...4...5...6...7am... is either night crying, acid reflux or a habit now since its always the same times. Lets hope its acid reflux and not a habit!!!

* Nathan woke up pretty congested today, too. His nose was soo full of green goop I was surprised he could breath! He had no fever and he's not acting sick... his nose is just a big green mess! Gross!!! The doctor gave us a prescription for an antibiotic if it doesn't clear up on its own by the end of the weekend. And she assured me that shots were safe as long as he has no fever. That information wasn't new to me... Nathan has gotten sick just days before every appointment for shots! So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that he woke up today with such a congested nose.

I think that's about it. Nathan is slowly recovering from the shots. He seemed to take them worse this time than in the past. But he's sleeping now and, if its like the last two rounds of shots, he'll be fine later today.

Happy 6 months, Nathan. You get 4 shots and a congested nose. Poor kid.