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I like the fun palm print on this Old Navy blazer — and if you need to look professional and want to wear a blazer in the summer when it’s deathly hot (and/or you run hot), this is a nice option. The blue palm print will hide the wrinkles better than solid colors, but this also comes in black and white. It’s $36 and is available in sizes XS-XXL. Linen-Blend Blazer for Women Here are a few linen-blend blazers in plus sizes from Old Navy. I wanted to include their jersey knit blazer and ponte blazer in my Corporette roundup of blazers under $50, but they were sold out at the time — so I’m glad to see them back. This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!Sales of note for 5.5.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase (ends 5/12); $50 off your $200+ purchase (ends 5/5)
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- Eloquii – $19 & up 300+ styles and up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Shirts & tees starting at $24.50; extra 30% off sale styles
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Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – 40% off everything & extra 20% off select styles with code
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- J.Crew Crewcuts – tk; extra 30% off sale styles; kids’ styles starting at $14.50
- Old Navy – Up to 75% off clearance
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
anon says
This is really cute and I am a big fan of linen-blend blazers for summer. I have a white Gibson blazer that I have worn to death and is one of my favorite work pieces.
OK, I know we discussed Primary’s clothes recently. While I don’t want to spend that much on basic tees and leggings, the reversible sundress that keeps popping up in my Facebook feed is adorable and I love the color combinations. Any idea how their sizing runs for dresses? I’ve heard their sizing isn’t very consistent across styles/colors.
Anonymous says
I asked this on the last thread and was told it runs large. No personal experience though!
FWIW I find their leggings to run TTS and to be of spectacular quality – thicker and more durable than the Gap.
anon says
That’s good to know. My 2-year-old has gotten lots of holes in her leggings this spring, most of which I’ve bought at Oshkosh, Carter’s and Old Navy.
hoola hoopa says
FYI, Hanna Andersson leggings are by far the most durable. LE are better quality than mall brands and you can get them for a similar price if you pay attention to sales. About 80-90% of LE survive through the second child. HA can go on indefinitely. (Kirkland are same as HA, so keep your eyes out for them if you are a Costco member).
Pogo says
Is Gibson gone now? Or at least Gibson blazers? I LOVE my Gibson ponte blazer but the elbows are getting shiny (it’s probably five years old at this point and really should be retired). But I can’t find it anywhere, or a suitable replacement (Old Navy ponte is not a Gibson blazer…)
Anon says
I hesitate to give this away, but if you wait for a tent sale it’s less expensive. I got a bunch of stuff for like $4 and $6 earlier this year and just bought in a bunch of sizes. FWIW I find the one pieces fit my normal weight but sort of short baby much much better than other brands, and last much longer. I estimate they’ve been washed 20x and are not pilling, whereas cheaper brands look terrible.
Paging mama feeling overloaded yesterday says
Had a crazy day yesterday and saw your post this morning. Just wanted to chime in that you’re not alone feeling this way! In addition to the great, great suggestions from other readers, I wanted to recommend a few books that have really helped me with this issue–
Say Goodbye to Survival Mode– Crystal Paine
Hands Free Mama– Rachel Macy Stafford
The Sweet Spot– Christine Carter
Some of these have some Jesus in them, but they have great advice. I basically have been reading self help books on this topic since I went back to work after maternity leave. They all say the same things, essentially, but hearing them over and over in slightly different ways helps me stay on track.
anon says
I’ve heard a lot about Rachel Macy Stafford, although I’ve never read her stuff. Thank you to everyone who responded with such kind comments and good ideas yesterday. Sometimes, knowing you’re not alone helps.
ElisaR says
I was home with a sick baby so I missed yesterday’s convo – but I totally feel you. I find it hard to verbalize at times but you are not alone at all. Thank you for bringing it up and I just put those 3 books mentioned on my Amazon wish list so thank you to the other commenter as well!
Betty says
Anyone know if any similarly themed podcasts? Or great podcasts in general about working parents?
anon says
I am a huge fan of The Mom Hour for general parenting topics, although the hosts are both WAHMs, which means some of the advice about daily routines just doesn’t apply. But about a year ago, they did a three-part series with some WOHMs and I found some useful tips.
Kelsey on The Girl Next Door podcast is a working mom, but listening to her honestly makes me feel worse about myself because she manages to work in a nearly identical job to my own, has a ton of hobbies/outside interests, and is still chipper and happy.
Onlyworkingmomintulsa says
I had my 2 year old in one arm and laundry basket in the other going down the stairs last night, couldn’t carry everything, so I put my iphone on the top of our laundry basket. I’m sure you can all guess what happened next, got distracted and the iphone ended up in the bottom of the washing machine. Not through a whole cycle, but while it filled, ARGH!!! It’s sitting in a bag of rice right now, but I’m doubtful it will come back to life. It’s a 6s plus, anyone have any luck reviving after water damage? Our contract is up in November and my husband and I were going to get new ones, so I will need a refurb til then. Any reliable sites to check out?
bluefield says
I have no experience with a 6s, but I have a lot of experience with rice. I think I dropped the same phone in water 3-4 times, each time I used the rice trick, and it revived each time. It eventually broke because of water damage (circuit shorted out) but that was several months after the last water incident. You might make it to November!
Anonymous says
I thought this was leading to “”toddler and I fell down the stairs”, so at least it’s just your phone?
Pogo says
Agreed!! That sounded like a scary leadup.
I know people who’ve dropped it in the toilet and the rice worked, but that’s a much shorter exposure time than the wash.
Onlyworkingmomintulsa says
Oh my gosh, sorry about that! Yes, this is clearly a small, annoying problem : )
Lyssa says
I thought that, too! Glad it’s not that.
I don’t have any experience drying it out, but I’d like to plug the LifeProof cases – they’re fully submersible and really good for drops as well. I’ve had 2 and am really pleased with them. Love to be able to use my phone without worrying about splashing children.
Anonymous says
Our local HEB (grocery store) has a “drying tank” that you can put phones in. Worked for me – might be worth checking out?
Cornellian says
I am probably missing this in the earlier “pumping at work” threads, but… what do you do when someone knocks?!
I have very insistent knockers in my office who will knock, immediately try the locked door, then knock again and try the door with more force. Since I work with a small group I thought most people would probably figure out why my door is locked, but I suppose I need to try something else. Once I yelled out “on the phone” which was pretty obviously not true… Should I get a sign? I feel like that makes pumping in to more of a “thing” than it needs to be.
Anon says
Do you have assistant who sits near? Mine just usually pipes up and tells the knocker I’m on the phone. If she isn’t there, I just don’t answer and I think they assume I’m on a call.
Cornellian says
She’s down the hall, unfortunately. I may ask her for ideas, although I know she hasn’t had a pregnant/pumping lawyer before.
You know how if you’re in a scary place you’ll sometimes pretend to be on your phone? I thought about pretending to be on a conference call, but I’m afraid my phone would ACTUALLY ring and the jig would be up.
Lurker says
Can you put DND on so it looks to other people as if you are on the phone? We can see on our phone who else is on the phone so we don’t bother them. DND puts that notification on here.
AIMS says
I’ve not answered. Other times I just yelled come back in 5 minutes.
Cornellian says
I did that yesterday and I think the offending coworker who tried the door three times (BUT ALSO HAS THREE SMALL CHILDREN, COME ON, DUDE) figured it out because he was very apologetic later. Maybe I just need to take out my coworkers one by one with interactions like that.. I only work with 20 people and 5 of them for sure know I’m pumping.
Anon in NYC says
A coworker has a hanging door sign that isn’t at all cutesy. Something like, “Busy. Come back in 30 minutes.” I’m not sure if that would be too subtle for your office (sounds like it!), but I’d bet you could find something like that on Etsy.
lsw says
Ugh. I hate this – happened to me also. I ended up buying a small whiteboard and writing “available at 2:10 pm” or whenever I would be done pumping.
Anonymous says
What if you put a post it on your door that said ‘pumping – available at 11’. This is what we do at my office if we’re on a longer call ‘conference call – available at 2’ or whatever. It’s casual because it’s not a formal sign. Alternatively, I would speak to the insistent knockers directly if it’s just one or two people. Let them know that if the door is locked and you are not answering, you are pumping and not available and that you cannot stop pumping to answer the door because that’s not how pumping works. Some people really are that dense. Someone once posted here that a co-worker asked how come the working mom couldn’t just pump before work – literally no concept that pumping is like peeing – you need a break to do it or it’s coming out one way or another.
Also, repeated knocking like that is super rude. Sorry you have to deal with that.
Anonymous says
Depending on your co-worker situation, I would tell the most egregious offender. I had one co-worker who was awful at this, and one morning, I just flat out told him I was pumping during the day and to please call or email if he needed immediate help and my door was shut. He got flustered and awkward, but I just moved on. It was fine after a minute or two, and he stopped coming to my office for like a year without calling first :)
H says
I honestly can’t imagine this happening at my work place. Do you not have an instant messaging system? I would probably put some sort of sign on my door.
Pogo says
Agreed, this is so rude. If someone’s door is shut I never knock – I look on their calendar or instant message status and see what they’re doing before I even go to their office, so I never just drop by assuming they’re available unless…. they’re actually available. I can’t imagine what could be so pressing as to require the repeated knocking rather than setting up a separate time to talk, or instant messaging a “hey, I need to chat with you about x when you’re free”
HSAL says
Honestly, after repeats I would yell “oh my god are you serious right now?” and then speak to that person directly later. Who tries to open a locked door and then knocks again? Read the room, people.
My assistant was also really helpful – she once stopped a maintenance worker who was going in the ceiling of the neighboring office. He definitely would have opened some of the ceiling tiles to my office. Surprise!
Cornellian says
OMG, that is a hilarious image. In my old skyscraper with pre-war historically protected windows, men would come in to your office, clip their body harness on to a hook and SWING out of the building to clean the windows. I’m imagining them stumbling in now.
Betty says
I had the same guy in my office. My secretary sat down the hall. I got rather brazen about it and put up a cartoonized picture of a cow with the words “Busy. Do not knock. Yes, that includes you.” I found that the knocking and subsequent stress (thanks, big law) would totally shut my production down.
Newbie Momma says
I just yelled PUMPING and they went away. I’m typically very private but something about being the only female professional in my office makes me feel like an evangelist. I’m loud and proud about telling people I have to pump if they ask if we can meet/where I’m going/what I’m doing etc. I only pump two or three times a day, and the questions stopped after a few weeks. Now I just have to say — sure we can meet, but I need 20 minutes first. And no one knocks :)
Redux says
I’m an evangelist, too! I talk about it plainly if it comes up, partly in an effort to drop the stigma for those who come after me. Some people find it really jarring and will stammer an apology, but I feel like those people will be better at their next interaction thanks to my plain speak. It has been my experience, too, that after a month or so of calling it like it is, I get way fewer questions/ pushback/ awkward apologies.
Rainbow Hair says
I sort of split the difference between explicit and cute with a “Working Mom” clip art and I think the text of the sign was “Working Mom [clip art] Please come back in 20.” I didn’t want to be super explicit, but that got the message across. Our doors don’t lock so I wedged a door stop underneath from the inside and hung my sign *from the doorknob* thinking you’d have no excuse for missing it that way.
Annie says
I have a little sign that just says “busy” that I tape on the door when it’s locked. I think it gets the point across while still staying in my comfort level.
NewMomAnon says
A coworker gave me a hotel door hanger that said “Privacy Please” to use when I was pumping. It hung on my door handle and would fall off if someone tried the knob, so pretty obvious. Other co-workers just stick a post-it on their door that says “privacy” or “do not disturb” (which is also fairly common in my office if someone is hosting a webinar or in an important conference call).
LegalMomma says
I’m pretty sure I’ve told this story before – but it is relevant so – enjoy. (Also a good time to write this as I am currently pumping!)
I have a “Do Not Disturb” sign on my door handle. I also shove a chair up against the back of my door since it does not lock. About a month back from my first maternity leave, one of the partners knocked and then immediately tried to open my door. He was very vocally confused as to why he couldn’t get it to open. The secretary who sits across from me (and is probably the loudest person in the office) tells him you can’t go in there right now. Partner’s response “why not?” Secretary: “because you can’t” Partner: “but why not?” — repeat several times. Finally the secretary announced in this half yell “BECAUSE SHE IS PUMPING!” Meanwhile I was sitting in my office quietly dying of laughter.
I was later told by the same Partner that I should switch my sign to “Come in and get sued”
All that to say, A sign will work for most people; but don’t be surprised if there is at least one totally clueless individual.
Pumping what? says
Hah! Serves him right for insisting! This reminds me of the story of a friend who’s a high school Spanish teacher.
She was pumping in her classroom during her lunch and prep time, and locked the door. A (boy) student kept knocking insistently, then yelled “SENORA, I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE!”. A colleague from the room across the hall came over to him and explained that his teacher was pumping. “Pumping what?”. She told them, and he ran off, beet red!
AnonHere says
I had a large post-it note that said “PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB!!!!!”. I only got a 1-2 knocks.
Anon says
So we just got a treatment plan for our daughter that’s going to require weekly half-day hospital visits for the next 4 or so months. (I’m the poster who vented last week about how a partner in my firm chastised me for getting upset after getting her diagnosis). My husband will take some but most of these visits will fall to me.
Do I bring up that I expect to be out frequently? I’m inclined to just not say anything until someone brings it up but I’m not sure if that’s the best way to handle (and if my distaste for the firm is clouding my judgment). I don’t want to make it a bigger issue than it needs to be. Fwiw, of counsel in a regional firm. Not huge on facetime; more of a just get your work done place. Had a complicated pregnancy that required a lot of time off. No one officially said anything during that time but there were some off hand comments made that made it clear that partners weren’t happy (even though most of them knew I had serious complications).
Anonymous says
This is exactly what intermittent FMLA is for. Will you need just the half day for the hospital or to take the full day off to be with her after? I know that in many firms you would be looked down on for taking such a leave, but I think you should very seriously consider it. This is obviously incredibly sensitive and scary situation, and your child needs you (or your husband), and anyone who is not sensitive to that should STFU.
Also, I’m so so sorry that you’re going through this and I hope the treatment is effective.
Anon says
Just out from around 1 until the end of the day for each appointment. Not an expert on fmla but I believe I’m out for the year due to my maternity leave. And it’s definitely the type of office that would look down on me for taking it (working on an exit strategy but that’s another issue).
Anonymous says
I agree with this. For the first time, book the full day off and half of the following day. Decide from there how much time you will need to book off. The office will survive without you.
Calendar the times as out of office immediately and talk to your supervisor/manager about your need for FMLA.
NewMomAnon says
Is it possible you are reading too much into what people are/might be/are not saying? I was super self-conscious about being out and unproductive during my pregnancy and afterward when things were Very Bad at home, and tried to hide my absences. I got some weird comments from supervisors and co-workers and took that as confirmation that people were being catty. But after I got through the worst of it and started telling people, it turned out that (almost) everyone was just really worried about me and trying to figure out what was going on so they could help….
It’s ok to admit that you’re struggling. It’s ok to lean out of one thing so you can lean heavily into another. If it turns out your supervisors have problems with you leaning out for a while, there are other employers who will accommodate that as an investment in a future loyal employee. And if your current employer let’s you know they won’t accommodate intermittent FMLA, take full FMLA now so you can find a new job.
avocado says
So sorry to hear this–sending good thoughts to you and your family.
It’s important to set firm boundaries about what you can and cannot do during treatments. In the beginning, I’d tell people you are unable to work at all and won’t be responding to e-mail or phone calls. You can still actually do some work, just don’t tell people ahead of time so they don’t have expectations about what you will produce, and don’t make calls or hit send on any e-mails you write. I learned this the hard way. I once tried to take a conference call from my kid’s hospital room. Instead of being grateful that I was participating in the call, the other participants were annoyed when I had to put the phone down briefly to talk with the nurse. During that same illness, other co-workers were angry that I wasn’t as responsive or productive as I was when I was in the office. More recently, I got in trouble for not being responsive enough while out recuperating from pneumonia, even though I’d told people I was not available. This happened because earlier in the illness I’d tried to get critical tasks done, so people thought I couldn’t possibly be that sick.
TN says
I recently had to do something similar for my son’s medical treatment, although not for 4 months. I let my immediate group know by email, and included something to the effect of, “I will be available by phone or email until 1 pm, then out of pocket until I sign back on in the evenings, per usual.” But that was a dig at the fact that I do tons on work at night that I’m not sure that anyone gives me “credit” for since its not in the office. To me, that showed that any delay would only be a matter of hours and they should deal.
Anonymous says
ARGH. Yesterday was K “graduation.” I moved a bunch of stuff, and was able to make it there with plenty of time. Got a great seat, and saw my kid bopping down the aisle — gave her a big kiss both to and from the stage. She saw me during the whole ceremony (waving, HUGE smile, no fear on stage, etc.). Felt like supermom. After, there was a class party on the playground, and I stepped away to take a call. I assumed that the ceremony was done, and/or didn’t read the materials closely (equally probable). Turns out, the individual classes did private “diploma awarding” ceremonies, and I totally missed the whole thing. Each kid got called up individually, handed an award, then was instructed to go find their families for family photos. Then, the families went and ate a big picnic lunch with their kids.
Putting aside my hatred for these “graduations” that show up in preschool, K, etc., my child totally reasonably expected to see me during the ceremony. I think it was almost worse that she knew I was there, but then, suddenly gone for the individual part (like, my husband wasn’t expected bc they talked beforehand about why he couldn’t go — we don’t make every school event, but definitely set the expectation ahead of time so they know what’s going on). She is still just so super sad about it all, and I feel like a total @$$hole. We talked a lot about how it made her sad when she couldn’t find me, and I told her that it would have made me feel so sad if I was in the same situation. I told her that it made me sad I missed seeing her get the award too. We talked about what she did when she couldn’t find me for family pictures (found *best friend’s* dad, and asked him for help with lunch), and that’s why it’s so important to be kind to friends and that friends are so important when we need someone to be kindn to us. We even talked about how she kept from crying during the ceremony when she didn’t see me while getting her award (counted to 7, imagined us going dancing and cooking in the kitchen). And I suggested we send the helpful dad a thank you note, which she loved.
So, on the whole, important lessons were learned, and I’m thankful for the resilience she showed. But, dang, she holds on to things FOREVER, and remembers things FOREVER, and she was still so down this morning. I still feel down this morning. She is a shy, sensitive child, and has come SO far this year. I feel especially bad that she was SO happy and confident when she saw me in the morning that it seemed to make the pendulum swing even farther in the other direction. Ugh.
Anonymous says
I’m so sorry. This sounds like something you could beat yourself up about forever – and I hope you don’t. You addressed it really well with your kid. You know your daughter, but would she appreciate something like a special ceremony with you and her dad this weekend? Perhaps you can make her a special award and she can come up and receive it from you with Dad watching and clapping. You could talk about how Dad was disappointed to miss it too and wanted to experience it. Maybe even make your own picnic lunch or go somewhere special for lunch.
You handled this really well. I’m really sorry it happened.
Anonymous says
That’s a great idea to do something special with dad included. Maybe I’ll get flowers as well, which she loves. I just started a new job, and I’m not sure I’m managing everything well so that certainly doesn’t help my sadness/anxiety over the whole thing.
And thanks all for making me feel better and assuring me that I’m not a monster/my child will not be a serial killer. Of course, Facebook is full of everyone else’s sweet photos of their K grads, and I’m having that Facebook moment where I keep thinking WHY CAN’T I GET MY ARMS AROUND PARENTING AND WORKING?! Of course, if you look at my profile, only the best parenting win moments show up. If I was really honest, I’d post this fail, but my mother in law would eviscerate me!
Anonymous says
You’re doing great! The flowers are an awesome idea. The important thing is that she knows you’re proud of her, not a picture of one thing on one day.
This too shall pass, and for everything K grad picture someone is posting, they aren’t posting a picture of some other parenting fail.
Cornellian says
That’s rough, I’m sorry. It sounds like you handled the fallout as best as you can and that your kid is resilient and knows how to problem solve, though!
anon says
I am so sorry this happened to you. It sounds like you did a great job handling it and talking through it with your daughter.
FWIW, I’ve found that preschools (and schools in general) aren’t always great about letting parents know the full plan. They’ll tell you to be there at 9 a.m. for a special event, but they often don’t communicate the whole plan or what’s actually happening during a cermony. An announcement at the end of the main program about next steps would’ve prevented the whole situation. I hate to be critical, but I’ve noticed that teachers aren’t necessarily aces at event logistics and communication. So, try not to beat yourself up too much; it’s not a total failure on your part.
H says
Awww, bummer, but I agree that you handled it really well. Maybe you could do something special with her this weekend.
ElisaR says
i am seriously impressed with how you handled it – i need to file this composed and classy reaction in my brain because i’m not sure i could come up with it on my own!
Cb says
Did you do newborn photos or family photos? I think I’ve been following too many mommy bloggers on Instagram and now I’m not sure if this is normal or not. I thought it might be nice to have newborn photos but am not sure it is worth the time/money?
lsw says
I’m not really a “baby in a bucket” type but I had a friend (who is a professional photographer for the ballet theater, so, an actual photographer) take some nice photos of us when the baby was about a month old. I wanted to make sure we had some really nice ones since I’m no great shakes at baby photography. It was also nice to frame some to take back to work and also give as gifts. Definitely did not do the pinterest-style shoot but was very happy to get some nice shots with the three of us.
Anonymous says
I say do them. I avoid because it felt impossible to organize and that it was just social media performance. I wish I had them done. I took tons of pictures of baby but so few pictures of me with baby and even fewer where I’m not wearing a bathrobe.
Ideally pop out to your stylist for a shampoo and style so you feel great. I felt so tired and schlubby post partum and that was a factor in feeling unmotivated to arrange pictures. Should only take an hour to get a shampoo and blow out so you can totally be away from baby for that long.
Pigpen's Mama says
+1
I didn’t do them because I was overwhelmed and thought they were too ‘ME ME ME’. I wish I had done them.
Anonymous says
There was a pro photographer who went around the hospital and we did those. I’m so glad we did bc those are the best photos from the first couple of days of my daughter’s life. We have a couple framed and I just love looking at them.
Cornellian says
Find out if your hospital has a photographer come around. I was in a wheelchair after delivery and couldn’t deal with pictures then, but I took the woman’s card and called her a week or two later. We only spent $350 for our shoot in Manhattan, and own all of the photos. You’re in the UK, though, right?
I don’t put pictures of my four month old on social media (and don’t plan to until he’s much older), but having professional photos to show family members and put on a birth announcement kept family members at bay a bit.
Annie says
+ 1. I made sure to make time for this in the hospital with their photographer and then didn’t worry about it otherwise.
RDC says
Our hospital did not have a photographer, so it’s good to look into beforehand. With kid #1 we did a newborn session at a studio and it was an ordeal to get there, coordinate around feedings, etc. With kid #2 I was able to book a session with a local photographer to come to the hospital for photos, which was much easier logistically. (Our photographer called that a “fresh 48” package since it’s within the first 48 hrs.) Kid #1 had more “posed” photos vs. kid #2 where they were more candid shots. Either way, they kind of look like blobs when they’re brand new. They look much more like themselves by 3-4 months (and they can smile!). I might consider doing a family photo session around then.
Anon in NYC says
I say do them. We had someone come to our house when our daughter was ~8 days old. We didn’t do ones in a studio with the props. We had a variety of outfits for our daughter (mostly because she kept spitting up). It was really nice to have nice family photos.
Anonymous says
We just did them and they were worth the money ($400). I actually posted on the main site for photographer recommendations since I’m in a HCOL area. We went an hour outside the city to find a less expensive photographer. Anyways, the pictures of my baby are gorgeous and I love our family pictures. We could’ve never done anything comparable at home. Our photographer was very experienced with newborns (does 2-3 shoots a week) and had all the soothing tricks in the book. Just as an FYI you need to do them in the first 10-14 days to have that squishy newborn look. It was a tiring day since we had to look nice and the shoot took a few hours since my baby wasn’t falling asleep, but I’m so glad we did it.
Anonymous says
Do them because as someone notes above, there won’t be a lot of photos with you and baby (particularly where you’re looking presentable). All of my non-pro photos with my son are selfies where I’m wearing almost no makeup. It’s nice to have a few where I have makeup on and I’ve actually done my hair – for framing, blowing up, etc.
A note re: timing – the best time to do newborn shoots is around 2-3 weeks. We delayed ours to 5 weeks and our son cried through almost all of the photos. When you only have an hour or two to do the photos, and you can’t predict what kind of mood your kiddo will be in, it’s tough. At 2-3 weeks, they’re sleeping so much that it’s much easier to get the cute photos with them cuddled up. We didn’t do the “baby in a bucket photos” (son was crying most of the time, after all), just nice photos with my husband and me. Also, kids start to develop baby acne around 1 month so if you shoot before then you can hopefully avoid that. Finally find a photographer who knows how to shoot babies – ours is a great wedding photographer (a friend of ours) but was kinda clueless as to how to style, pose, etc. with baby. It would have been nice to have someone who said “put baby here” and “look this way” – instead, we were frantically searching Pinterest for ideas during the shoot.
JEB says
We scheduled ours for two weeks, and then my husband got horrible food poisoning. So we did them around 3.5 weeks, if I remember correctly. My kid was awake the entire time, and trying to poop for most of it. No sleepy infant photos for us! We did get a few cute ones, and I’m glad we tried. An early reminder that things often don’t go as planned when it comes to kids!
rakma says
We did newborn photos in the hospital, and I’m so glad I have those. It was so low-key–the photographer has a relationship with the hospital, they pop in and ask if you want to set up a session, come back later in the day and take pictures for 20min, and then come back when the digital copies are ready. If you have that option, take it.
We did not do a newborn photo shoot after that, because I know too many people who paid for the session (or got it as a shower gift) went through the stress of dressing a newborn and getting them out of the house, and then the baby cried for the whole session and they were lucky to get one or two decent shots (of the baby crying.)
anon says
We didn’t do newborn photos for our first and I ended up regretting it. It’s such a fleeting moment in time and tiny babies are changing by the day. As a compromise, we had his photos taken at three months. In my posthormonal haze with my second, I ended up spending waaaay too much on her newborn photos. While the cost still makes me cringe, I do not regret it. I love those photos. (We didn’t do the full family photo shoot, though. Just her.)
Anonymous says
This. Actually exactly this. I had the exact same situation, except that we did take a couple of family photos as part of the shoot with my second. In retrospect, I wish we had done more of those, too.
Clementine says
We did newborn photos and new family photos. They are gorgeous and I absolutely treasure photos of me cradling my little man when he was just a tiny squish.
…Then we did six month pictures (mostly of baby but threw a family shot in at the end) and I love having photos of when he was at prime baby cuteness.
Now we’re on an annual family photo schedule. In order to keep from looking like total narcissists, I often swap out photos in the same frame from year to year.
HSAL says
I don’t really love the <1 week ones because all the babies look the same. I originally didn't want them but then decided to do a baby/Christmas photo shoot around 8 weeks and am so glad I did. I think right before or right after infant acne is the sweet spot. They still look like tiny babies but are more than just lumps in a basket.
Though apparently I didn't pay enough attention to other people's shoots, because I didn't realize they'd take pictures of me! I was wearing a nursing tank and no makeup but our photographer still managed to get some good shots of me.
H says
I did newborn photos and I love them, even 2.5 years later. I still have some of them on display. It is expensive, but I personally think it is nice to have professional photos. I also like doing a professional photo shoot every year simply to have nice photos of the family.
Anon CPA says
We’ve had them done for both of our children, and will for our third as well. The hospital pictures are not nearly as good as the ones we’ve had done in our homes, and I treasure the memories from those first early days! I don’t look great in the hospital pictures, and for our second they came and took them when my husband was out getting lunch or something. The professional in-home pictures include all of us and they make me so happy. We’re kind of picture-happy, though – we do newborn, three month, six month, nine month, and one year old sessions. My advice is to find a relatively new photographer (who is still good, of course), and work out a package if you’re interested in more than one session over the year. They are usually willing to give you a discount for a sure-thing like that!
The best time to take them so they’re still super sleepy and squishy is when they’re less than ten days old.
And this time? I am seriously considering having someone come do my hair and makeup beforehand. It will be nice to feel put-together. :)
Blueberry says
I never did them, but if it’s definitely not a silly idea. If it’s important to you to have nice-looking photos of your baby, then you may want a professional, because it is very hard to get a nice-looking picture of an infant. Personally, I’d wait until baby is a few months old (which I think is a cuter age) and more likely to be awake during the photo session (and mommy is more likely to be looking pretty…). It’s all personal preference, but I’d be more likely to frame a nice picture of the whole, awake family than a sweet picture of just a newborn sleeping. I would review the photographer’s gallery to see what they typically do, because many of them are unbearably corny, IMO.
Cornellian says
Also! If you care at all and are using disposable diapers, get one of those fabric diaper covers in advance. Then all the diaper shots look a bit more classy and don’t feature Oscar the Grouch or whatever. I didn’t even know these existed, but wish I had gotten one in retrospect (as stupid as it sounds).
avocado says
To me, the only newborn photos that actually look like my daughter are the ones from the day she was born. She came out pretty plump and her head didn’t get squished, so her facial features look recognizable. The pictures from day 2 through about 3 months don’t really look like her, more like a weird little alien or maybe an old man. Her hair fell out and grew in a different color, which then fell out again and grew in as her real hair color, and her facial features and expressions don’t look quite right. Once she hit about 3 months, she really started to look like herself, and I like the photos from that time a lot better.
NewMomAnon says
Seconding all the recs for taking advantage of the hospital photographer, if there is one. We hadn’t planned to do it, and the pictures were expensive (I think we had the option of picking one digital shot with all the rights for $25 or buying all 10 for $200, or something), but so worth it. Things were kind of a blur for several weeks after she was born, and all the pictures I took with my phone were AWFUL. The hospital newborn shots are beautiful and peaceful and frankly, irreplaceable. There was no other time in kiddo’s life when she was 24 hours old.
I refused to be in the pictures (popped blood vessels in my face and eyes pushing, not enough help postpartum so I didn’t shower for several days, none of my clothes fit because ex husband packed my hospital bag – didn’t want to trust an unknown photographer with that level of photoshopping). I kind of wish that I had at least done a profile pic with baby. All of the pictures family took of me with kiddo after her birth and for the next couple months are so, so painful to look at.
Cb says
Okay, you’ve all convinced me. There was someone I was considering for our wedding photos who also does what look like lovely at home family shoots 2-3 weeks after birth and it’s £150 for a two hour session and no sign of cheesy baby in a bucket or giant bow shots. I haven’t spent ANY of my baby budget so I think I’m going to splurge.
My maternity leave project is to get my wedding photos in an album (maybe in time for 3rd anniversary) so clearly I’m not hugely attached to photos but baby photos are different, I think.
US versus UK differences – do you know they discharge you within 4-6 hours after a normal birth at a UK hospital? If all goes well, I could be home the same day.
Blueberry says
What. 4-6 hours?! No nurses coming to check your vitals during the rare moments when you are sleeping? Your partner doesn’t have to sleep in a recliner next to your uncomfortable hospital bed? This sounds amazing! Now a whole new thing to be jealous of, in addition to the whole less-likely-to-die-in-childbirth thing…
Cb says
I know, I can’t tell if this is wonderful or terrifying? Partners can’t stay over so I think I’d rather be at home with my husband and baby than alone at the hospital with the baby. I have to have a doctor-led birth rather than use the midwife-led birthing centre so I might end up there overnight but it’s very normal to head home quite quickly.
We also have health visitors who come the days after birth to check up on you and the baby.
AIMS says
I initially thought I wanted to go home right away and was told at my (NYC) hospital that I could leave early if there were no issues. I ended up staying the full two days because I decided I wanted to sleep and not worry about taking care of a newborn. I sent Mr. AIMS home to sleep because we have a dog and because it made no sense for him to stay in the hospital when we were fine; he should get his rest so he could be helpful when we’re all home. Anyway, long story short – you are not required to stay any amount of time here either.
RDC says
Also they bring you food and wash the dishes! Our hospital had pretty decent food and the bed for hubby was ok. I was all about staying the full two days.
October says
Your baby might be, though. In my NYC hospital, the ped would not discharge the baby unless s/he was nursing normally and you could get an appt with your own ped within 24 hours.
Also, esp in light of the NPR/ProPublica story, I am more than glad to be under medical supervision for two days after such a major event.
Cornellian says
I had a no-intervention birth at a birthing center in a huge Manhattan hospital and was discharged after 12 hours. There is definitely a move towards this in the US now, and ACOG just released something on this a couple months ago.
avocado says
About two decades ago there was a huge backlash against so-called “drive-through births” that resulted in a lot of state legislation, and then federal legislation, mandating that insurers pay for a minimum stay. Doctors can authorize earlier releases, but the insurance mandates have a big influence.
My ideal would be a big hot meal for the mother immediately after birth regardless of the time of day, followed by 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep (no wake-ups to feed the baby every 3 hours–somebody can give the baby a bottle just for those 8 precious hours), then discharge.
Anonymous says
This just shows how different and personal the days after birth are. For three days after birth, I woke up in a sweaty panic if I couldn’t constantly feel my baby (if my hand/arm fell out of the bassinette). 8 hours of being separate from her would have left me a sweaty nervous wreck.
NewMomAnon says
The difference between Europe and the US is that European countries provide at-home medical checks for mom and baby postpartum. The US shifted toward early release because it’s cheaper to send everyone home immediately after baby is born, and then require them to drive back into the doctor’s office with baby several times for jaundice and hearing checks, vaccinations, etc. Now most states require insurers to allow postpartum moms and babies to have a minimum hospital stay postpartum.
I’m pretty sure that if you announced you were going to birth and dash, the hospital would have to allow it. Neither mom nor baby are wards of the state; the hospital can’t make you stay there.
Cornellian says
Hospital can’t make you stay, but if you’re considering that, see how your insurance coverage feels about signing yourself out AMA (against medical advice). I looked it up beforehand just to know.
Momata says
I tried to birth and dash with my second. If he had been a she, we probably would have been able to. He was born 35 minutes after we got to the hospital (I was only 4cm when we showed up . . . that was exciting) and we were both totally fine to go home, except we needed to wait for the circumcision. He was born around 3am and we left around 6pm the next day, after his procedure was done and all were satisfied it would heal properly.
Anon says
I didn’t do them and don’t regret it. I have a ton of photos from my/husband phone. But I have only done professional photography for our wedding; it’s not something im really into. Do it if you want to!
Anonymous says
Hi everyone. I’m looking to buy an 18k/24k yellow gold necklace for me to wear with my kids’ initials on two discs (or one disc). I’m looking for something sturdy, but pretty, that I can wear every day and that has a serious clasp. Any suggestions as to where I can buy something pretty yet solidly constructed? Saw a bunch of options on Etsy, but they were gold plated (not great, as I can’t wear that in the shower) and they all looked pretty delicate (my toddler would rip the chain sooner rather than later). Any suggestions?
Blueberry says
I feel like the blog Cup of Jo has recommendations for this kind of thing frequently — maybe search there?
avocado says
Sarah Chloe does this type of thing in solid gold.
NewMomAnon says
Gemvara? You can customize so much on Gemvara that I bet you could specify the weight of the chain, and you might even be able to get a fully customized piece.
Pogo says
Loren Stewart has a couple of necklaces that might work.
If you’re going to wear it every day and want it to be solid, definitely going for 18K or even 14K. 24K is going to get scratched immediately.
mascot says
Have you tried a jewelry store? That was you can try on chains of various lengths, see different clasps, etc. Independent stores usually have lots of options to choose from in their catalogues and then you have someone to work with if it isn’t quite right.
anon says
Are you looking for a chain or the pendants or both? Sorry if this is obvious, but buying them separately might work better for you.
Anonymous says
Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will check them out!
ElisaR says
Not exactly what you mentioned because the initials are not on a disc, but I am a big fan of the Maya Brenner initial necklace that Kat recommended – I wear it all the time and I feel like it’s unique.
In House Counsel says
Check out Vrai & Oro for initial necklaces
AEK says
Potty training Q:
My Memorial Day travel plans fell through. I’m thinking of doing the 3-day boot camp thing. My son is 2.5, likes to use the potty, but still has issues knowing when he needs to go. My husband is out of town, so it would be a solo endeavor. Chicago weather will be nice, at least for Day One, so presumably he could frolic outside.
Should I go for it? I cannot imagine another 3-day weekend when this will be possible before the fall. Any tips if I do it?
Blueberry says
This sounds like the perfect time to me! We did a 3-day bootcamp at about the same moment in time/readiness with our oldest, and it worked like a charm. Highly recommend the book Oh Cr*p. It’s an e-book, so you can download it today. The only rub is that you are likely to need to stay in or near your home to be right near a potty for the first day or two at least, so you may get some cabin fever without having your husband around. Maybe a friend or babysitter can come for a few hours of relief and adult presence.
AEK says
I’m sure I’ll be inviting Peppa Pig over to help a little, yes. #badmommy
TN says
If he’s only 2.5, I recommend waiting until Labor Day unless you really hate changing diapers. My boys were already 3 and we trained them very easily with the boot camp method. In comparing notes with other parents (especially of boys), those who waited until the kid was close to 3 or already 3 had the best success with boot camp potty training.
AEK says
I am worried it’s too early, too, so your advice is well-taken.
One thing that’s driving this is that he moves to the next daycare room in late August, before Labor Day (when we might be traveling, anyway). He really likes and trusts his current teachers, who have been training him slowly for months, and I’m concerned that boot-camping right when he switches rooms will make it harder for him to tell the teachers about his bathroom needs and will be too much change at once, overall.
Blueberry says
I think I’m in the minority on this one, but I think if he’s into using the potty, that’s a good sign that he’s ready. My first kid “got it” and liked using the potty (although we could never really know how well it would take, as he was definitely still doing his business in his diapers unless we put him on the potty before bathtime or something), and he was almost completely trained after a long weekend bootcamp at 2 years and 4 months. My second kid is around that same age and is very much opposed to the potty, so we’re not going to try with him until later.
Asteroid says
We used the Oh Crap boot camp method with our then-21 month old daughter over a four day weekend (this past New Years). She had never used the potty before but we had talked about it a ton, read a book, etc. It worked. I was really surprised.
That said, I’m glad we had four days before going back to daycare because she really got it by the fourth day. She had occasional accidents at daycare (maybe one or two a week) for a month, primarily because she didn’t want to leave the table during meals. Evidently, she was afraid of losing her food to the other kids! I’d say she’s now been accident free for at least two or three months (although she still wears a diaper at night just in case) . We followed the book pretty religiously because I wanted a “Method”.
hoola hoopa says
I definitely say go for it!
Anonymous says
My son was 2.25 when we did a week-ish of potty training (Xmas “break”; I had to take off mornings as no sitter was available). He had been pretty steadily going on the potty when we asked, but never asked for himself.
We’re I guess 5 months into it, and he’s finally gotten pooping in the potty down (as of a month ago), but he still won’t tell us he has to go. We just prompt him at regular intervals. Works for pooping and pee. After we did our week of potty training, he went to school in underwear only. Of course he has accidents still (mostly in the first 3 months) and we are still diapering for naps/bedtime. Otherwise he’s good to go.
Also – you can always try this weekend, evaluate in 2 months whether he’s still having constant accidents (multiple times per day) or just once a day (reasonable, IMO…). It’s fine to say “this isn’t working as expected” and go back to diapers for a bit.
Rainbow Hair says
Thanks for the “this isn’t working as expected” advice, though I’m not the OP. Daycare is really really pushing potty training for my Kiddo, and I just don’t think she’s physically there. I’m gonna give them this week and next and if it’s still 100% “accidents” in her unders, we’re gonna call it a day and try again in a few months.
Anonymous says
My DH and I don’t always agree on parenting choices, so it’s nice for us to say “let’s try this and see, and re-evaluate at X point in the future.” It lets us agree to try one specific way of doing things (potty, bedtime, what to do in the middle of the night), while acknowledging that neither of us knows exactly what’s best.
Good luck! I’ve read that taking a break from potty training can also take the edge off for your kiddo, and that re-introduction will likely go more smoothly.
PatsyStone says
Consider that even if you never spend 3 days of your life devoted to the potty, your child will still be potty trained at a reasonable age. Truly, even the WORST parents have potty trained kids.
I think there is way too much merch and drama about this. My son was the lasy one in daycare to be done, but once his teacher and I agreed (3yrs, 3 months) he has been 100% diaper free. He just couldn’t/or didn’t care to before then. Of course, now I think I’m sort of genius, but I am really glad I didn’t spend a glorious weekend laser-potty focused. If teachers push back, let them, but even they know the real deal.
Anon says
Such true advise. All kids potty train eventually!
FWIW we potty trained my first at 23 months I’ve rlabor day weekend. I was tired of diapers and she was interested. Most critically, she was in a good “phase” where she was obedient and a great listener. We were hunkered down at home, rolled up the rugs, loaded her with liquids and took her every 5-10 min all of day 1. Cheered, cheered, cheered when she went. End of weekend she was really into it. Took the momentum into daycare and she only had a few accidents that week (all pee). One poop accident the following weekend, and she never pooped in underwear again. She relapsed and had a rough October- at daycare only. We attribute this to the teacher turnover and the issue was she was holding it and not telling anyone–until I picked her up or she just exploded with pee :-(. We had a family vacation that pulled her out of daycare for a week and she was perfect on the trip. And fully potty trained at daycare when she returned. So, she was trained fully by about 25 months. We waited until 2.5 for night training but she had ONE accident when we took off the diaper and from then on she was fine.
She’s 4 now and every once in a while she’ll be so distracted she will have an accident. But there are kids in her preschool class that are still in pull-up and I can’t imagine that, only because mine is so stubborn and so independent now- won’t even let me help her in the stall.
All kids are different.
water tables says
I am feeling really overwhelmed by water table options. I figured I’d just go on craig s list and buy something used, but it seems like people are selling them for not much less than used. Does someone have one, preferably at Amazon or Target, that they loved? My son is only 11 months but is also obsessed with standing and splashing so it seems ideal for this summer.
anon says
I say this with love, but you’re really overthinking it. A water table is a water table, despite what the Amazon reviews would have you believe. FWIW, we bought about the most basic thing imaginable and it’s been going for 5 years strong. Having fewer bells and whistles has been a good thing, IMO. My kids are less likely to get bored/tired with it because they’re constantly rotating in their own toys and cups. Fewer features = more creative play.
Pigpen's Mama says
+1
I did the same thing — took me weeks to decide. The Finding Dory one? Paw Patrol? I went with the most popular version on Amazon – Swirling Seas or something once I realized I was way over thinking it.
Kiddo loves it, but within the first day she drew on it in chalk and I managed to break off a tab on the tall tower (still works as intended though).
Consider getting a cover (I think a fire pit cover) as well.
RDC says
+2. We got a super basic one used and it’s been great. Kiddo is indifferent to the “features” and mostly just likes filling it up with the hose and then splashing the water everywhere.
anon says
If you have a patio end table of the right height (or can buy a cheap one), how about just putting a large shallow plastic storage bin on top? Very low budget and reusable for storage in the fall. You can also have multiple smaller bins with sand, water beads, etc. that can be swapped out for variety.
NewMomAnon says
Umm, a big flat rubbermaid bin with various beach toys and kitchen implements (measuring cups, spoons, basting brush, etc), placed on an Ikea coffee table I found on the curb has worked great for our house.
Bonus: in the winter, I use the bin to store summer clothes and beach towels.
GCA says
+1 if you put it on the floor, kiddo can climb right in. Bonus!
Annie says
Is there a buy/sell facebook group in your area where you can post to see if anyone’s selling at the price you want? Where we live that usually inspires someone to sell who wouldn’t have bothered to post it themselves.
Anonymous says
How much are you seeing them for? They are being sold at my local costco for $47. I have no idea if that is reasonable or not. It looks like a fun one, we plan to get one.
water tables says
Thanks! I love the idea of a super basic one without a lot of cr@p. My kid’s most fun toy right now is splashing his hand in a doidy cup so I don’t think we need a lot of bells and whistles. My most important feature is a lid, I think.
The bin would probably work well for future years but right now my son would find that a personal invitation for repeatedly knocking the bin to the ground.
AIMS says
Big Lots has them for $20. Shipping brings it up but if you have one near…
http://www.biglots.com/product/sand-water-wheel-play-table/p510025375?zcp=PD_PLA_go_Toys_ActivitiesGames_510025375&product_id=510025375&adpos=1o31&creative=148601892382&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CO_dnrG8i9QCFZGFswodhEUErg
hoola hoopa says
I would pick on that has an attached mill/spinner (must have) and a slide (optional). Don’t pay much attention to the hand held accessories, as you can use sand/bath toys just as well. It’s nice to have a mix of scoops and floaters.
Ditto the one at Costco. I gave it a quick look on our last visit and it looked like a good one.
H says
I don’t think you can go wrong so just get something within your budget. I recently bought the “duck pond” at amazon and my 2.5 year old LOVES it.
Rainbow Hair says
We are long-term borrowing the Step 2 Wild Whirlpool from my parents and kiddo is crazy about it. We all love the spinner thingie.
Paging Town and Country Mom says
Thanks so much for the suggestion. I may sign up (or more likely, get my employer to offer it :D)
I posted my email too late last night :anonmom26 at Gmail dot com
Pogo says
Bizarre pregnancy emotional breakdown of the day… I started crying because I can’t find a pool to work out at.
After getting off pelvic rest when my PP finally resolved, I’m back on because of PGP/SPD/pelvic instability (thanks for all the recs the other day btw – already saw a chiro and started following the exercises in the book!). So for the last two months of my pregnancy, I really want to swim.
I’m finding it nearly impossible to locate a public pool in my area! I belonged to a gym in the city with a pool and swam there, but since we moved to the suburbs it’s impossible to find something. In the town I grew up in, we had a public town pool that was very nice and reasonably priced. It now seems that where I’m located, pools are either 1) gross/sketchy (like, I googled one and the first thing that came up was a pedophilia incident… no thanks) or 2) private/hard to get into and expensive.
Has anyone belonged to a pool club? Is it worth it? Around here the going rate is about $300/month. It feels so pretentious, but after touring a really dismal option today with murky, dirty water I’m kind of ready to be pretentious.
Anonymous says
Can you only join for the last 2 months of pregnancy? How much is $600 in your budget? How often will you be going?
avocado says
Do you have a YMCA or JCC nearby? We live in the suburbs and have both, with indoor pools. Not fancy but clean, family-friendly, and under $100/month.
Pogo says
I am going to check out the Y. My concern with that was actually having open swim lanes… its very crowded and many of the lanes are used for kids’ lessons and swim teams (which makes total sense, but I don’t want to pay for something I can’t reasonably use).
Anonymous says
What about a nearby hotel? Often times they have a day rate or a fitness club membership.
Pogo says
That was the gross one I just toured today! Really disappointing considering how much they were charging.
Blueberry says
Do the high schools near you have pools? I pay $6/visit to go to the pool at my local high school. In any case, if this is your best option and a splurge but not a budget-buster, do it. Those last 2 months are hard, and swimming helped me a lot.
Pogo says
This is a good idea – would be nice if I could use the local high school, since we do pay taxes towards it! I’m not sure if they have a pool though or if they use the Y like I mentioned above.
GCA says
What about local universities with pools? Check if they offer memberships to their pool & fitness center.
Pogo says
Only for alums – that was the first thing I checked!
Meg Murry says
Not sure if you’ll see this since it’s late, but are there any therapy/rehab places with pools? You might be able to get your doctor to “prescribe” swimming/water walking for you, and possibly use HSA/FSA money for it or you might even be able to charge it to insurance. In my area there are couple of places that are combo gym/therapy center run by the local hospital chain, apparently you can get a discount pass if you are prescribed some type of water therapy.
Along the same lines, there is a retirement community in my town that apparently will allow you to buy membership to their pool, fitness center & super warm therapy pool – with a similar loophole that you need a doctor to write you a note in order to be eligible. They don’t widely advertise this, it’s generally only known through word of mouth – and the other quirk is that there are only lifeguards for limited hours, and the rest of the time you have to take a second person with you in order to use the pool.
But otherwise, I think the private swim club sounds like a worth-it expense if it’s the only exercise you can do. Do they offer a lower rate if you sign up for a 6 month or 1 year membership, etc? If you plan to take more than a 6 week maternity leave, swimming might be a good thing to continue once you get the clearance to exeecise.
Booster car seat? says
I have 3-year-old twins who have outgrown their convertible car seats. In our main family car, we now have 2 Diono harness booster seats. Over the next few months, we will be changing our drop-off/ pick-up routines so that they will be regularly riding short distances in grandma’s car and my car, which is rarely used now as I take public transportation to work. So we will need 4 more booster seats. We are lucky that we can afford top of the line (Diono, Britax), but is it really worth it to spend $1000 on these things that they’ll only be in for 30 minutes/ week? I’d appreciate all advice!
Anonymous says
Nope? Probably not. I’d go with a well-rated set of $50 booster seats on Amazon…
October says
This may be just a terminology mix-up (“Booster” seats are for use with the regular seatbelt), but kids should be in 5-point harness seats until minimum 4 years, and really more like 5/6. The switch is a function of size and maturity to be able to sit up straight and properly with a seatbelt.
That said, top-of-the-line seats are not safer than other approved seats, so whatever you choose is based on personal preference/comfort. I would definitely go cheaper for at least the backup grandparent seats.
Anonymous says
This.
Get a two sets of Graco Tranzitions seats – they are car seats that eventually convert to high back and then backless boosters. But they are great because you can use the 5 point harness setting for a really long time and they are narrow like the Dionos (17inches) so if you put them middle and window, an adult can still sit at the other window. They’re on sale now for $80 at TRU USA so for $320 you can get 4 seats. They’re like $250 Cdn – so jealous of US car seat/booster seat prices.
My 5 year old is still in a 5 point harness with the Tranzitions (she’s the second tallest kid in her class) plus both the pediatricians on my street have their similar age kids (one 4, one 6) in 5 point harnesses as well. In my jurisdiction, the minimum for boosters is 4 years old, 40lbs and 40 inches tall – kid must meet all three. But that’s the minimum – kids can’t safely be in a booster until they can maintain seated position even when asleep, otherwise the seatbelt can displace.
Anonymous says
Just echoing the previous poster. Not to be snarky about it but a 3 year old isn’t ready for a booster. There are forward facing 5 point harness car seats that later transition to a booster. Think of car seats in the following stages: 1) bucket seat (technically optional) 2) rear facing seat which converts to forward facing 3) forward facing seat which potentially converts to booster 4) booster.
You should be looking at a forward facing car seat with a 5 point harness that converts to a booster seat.
This page outlines readiness for a booster well: http://csftl.org/harness-or-booster-when-to-make-the-switch/
hoola hoopa says
It’s absolutely worth paying for larger 5-pt harness seats! As others have said, they are far too young for a booster even for short rides.
I highly recommend a seat that converts from harness to booster, as it will be the last seat you need to buy. I have britax pioneers (love) but have found evenflo to make very nice less expensive seats. The Snugli and Chase are two of their options that can be used with a 5-pt harness and booster and bought for <$100 each.
hoola hoopa says
PS – what you want is called a “harnessed booster”.
RR says
I’m assuming you mean seats with 5 point harnesses because you referenced a harnessed booster. But, no, it isn’t necessary to spend a fortune. There are very safe seats at every price range. We loved Britax for my twins’ convertible seats with 5 point harness (we had Boulevards and later Advocates, and yes I felt like I should own a share of Britax). Our twins didn’t outgrow those until they were 6–even then they didn’t really “outgrow” them–they were just ready for a booster. Our boosters are Graco high backed boosters (not suitable for 3 year olds, but for the future).
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