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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?
DC rookie mom says
I’m expecting my first this winter, and the OB has mentioned that I should select a pediatrician soon. I’ve got no idea how to do this and don’t have local friends with infants to ask for recommendations. Any guidance on this? And if DC moms have specific recommendations, I would be particularly grateful. I’m delivering at Sibley and have Blue Cross insurance. TIA!
Ashley says
Most pediatricians are happy to meet with parents before a baby is born to see if you’re a good fit. I would start by calling a few in your area and scheduling a meeting. Basically just get a feel for whether you click–you’ll be seeing a lot of this person over the first few months. I remember googling “questions to ask prospective pediatrician” and “how to select a pediatrician” and asked a few of the recommended questions. I highly recommend finding a doc near where you live. Another important thing (to me) is hours. Our current pediatrician only sees patients 10am-4pm for scheduled appointments, which drives me insane because I’d rather schedule routine checkups at 8 am or 4 pm to minimize impact on the rest of the day. If you’re willing to share your area in DC, maybe others have experience in that area?
Legally Brunette says
I highly recommend Chevy Chase Pediatrics (which is in DC, near Sibley). Dr. Ahlstrom is one of the most kind, warm doctors I have met, and is always super accessible if you have a question. I love that it is a small practice. Also easy to get in for same day sick visits, and they offer Saturday hours.
With that said, I don’t know if they take BCBS. What you will find is that many peds practices in DC either don’t take insurance at all (which is crazy) or else only certain insurance plans.
Ashley says
We actually go here too! We see Dr. Bennett.
Anonanonanon says
No specific recommendations on practices (in the area but have Kaiser), but here are some things I learned the first time around:
-Look for a practice with a 24/7 nursing line
-Look for a practice that offers same-day sick appointments (you would think all would, but plenty do not and take a “well if you think it can’t wait, then go to the ER” attitude which is frustrating, because when you’re pretty sure your kid has strep you shouldn’t have to wait for days or go to the ER)
-Look for a practice with evening/weekend appointments (these were a life-saver with my first. There are times you realize on a Friday that your kid might have an ear infection but really can’t take off of work, so it’s nice to be able to call and get them in the next day on a Saturday morning)
-Ideally, a practice with separate well/sick waiting rooms. You have so many checkups the first 18 months, it stinks to be surrounded by children who may be there for the flu, norovirus, etc.
Usually, this is all offered in larger practices. The downside of a larger practice is it can sometimes feel like your kid has slightly inconsistent care. My son had asthma, and I kept feeling like I had to re-explain his medical history every time we saw a new doctor for a sick appointment. However, I decided it was worth it for me to get to avoid urgent care and ER waiting rooms, where he was bound to catch something worse than we were there to treat!
Most of this can be found on websites for pediatric practices, and most of them offer tours and visits for expecting parents. I’d look for something close to your home/daycare.
Anonymous says
I agree with all of this so much. Our pediatrician (and DH and my primary care) is all part of a university system in the Midwest. The nursing line and on-call pediatrician at the hospital are always available for phone calls. Same day sick appointments are HUGE. Another benefit of our university system that is much less a big deal and uncommon I assume is that the affiliated children’s hospital has its own ER. To help with the consistent care, we go to a clinic that is not the main, hospital location.
Anonymous says
I agree with what to look for. Calls to our pediatrician’s after hours number are returned by the actual doctors, which I love. They aren’t big enough to have separate sick and well waiting rooms but offer physicals at different times than most sick appointments, and especially try to schedule newborn visits at different times. They also have an online patient portal that I can use to get them to send me daycare/school forms.
Tunnel says
This. Same-day sick visits, weekend hours (including Sundays), and a 24-hour nursing/physician line are so important. We recently moved and our I did not realize that our new pediatrician does not have Sunday hours. This meant having to go to urgent care to get antibiotics when my infant’s foot got infected over the weekend. Both of the practices we have gone to have allowed us to pick one main pediatrician for all of our child’s well-visits. But for sick calls, you have to pick from who they have available that day. I didn’t find myself having to repeat my child’s medical history very often.
Sal says
So DC is absolutely insane and unlike where we moved from many practices have waitlists for new patients and some don’t take insurance (insane!). I’d join a neighborhood parents listserv now (you can google a lot of them or if you tell me the neighborhood I may be able to tell you it), ask for recommendations, and then call and see if they take your insurance and are taking new patients. Try to get one convenient to you b/c you have to go there a lot in the beginning, ask how easy it is to get same day appointments when your kid is sick, and I’d just stop there. You can always switch if you don’t like them.
rosie says
FWIW I think that there are different policies for new patients generally versus newborns. A doctor may have a waitlist for new patients but still take on newborn patients, at least that has been our experience.
potato says
Some things I like about our ped (not in DC)
o. Open sick hours every morning
o. Sick and well waiting rooms
o. I feel like the doctors respect me. This is so hard to quantify, but the fact is that as first time parents we take our LO to the doctor more than necessary, and we ask a lot of basic questions. I want to feel that the doctor takes our concerns seriously (and we switched peds because we didn’t feel this at a different practice).
Anonymous says
There are two separate choices: choosing a practice and choosing a physician within that practice. All the questions about hours, a nursing line, do they accept unvaccinated kids, etc. are practice-level questions. I assume you have more choice in DC, but in my small city there’s really one practice (multiple physical locations, but all affiliated with our city’s hospital system and all with the exact same policies).
Selecting a doctor is all about finding someone you click with. My biggest advice is be open to change. I really loved our ped when I met her pre-baby and she was hugely supportive of my decision to combofeed and gave me a lot of great support in the newborn days, but as my daughter got older we realized our ped was incredibly aggressive, bordering on crazy, about developmental milestones. We saw a different doctor once when she wasn’t available and liked his laidback attitude a lot more, so we’ve informally switched to him (we never formalized the switch but we schedule all our well checks with him).
CPA Lady says
Agree with this.
I did not pick a pediatrician ahead of time. I kept meaning to get around to it, but I ended up picking a practice off a sheet of paper the nurse handed me after I gave birth. I based my decision entirely on closest proximity to my house. Various pediatricians from this practice did rounds at the hospital and I picked one I clicked with. We’ve been with him ever since.
Because there are a ton of doctors at this practice, we’ve seen a bunch of them over the past five years, mostly during sick visits when we couldn’t get in with our main doctor. Some I’ve loved, others not so much.
I can get super into researching things to death, but this was something I was really chill about, and it has worked out well. Like Anonymous said, you can always switch.
Anonymous says
Our pediatrician’s office opens the phones at 7:30 a.m. to make same-day sick appointments, which has been incredibly helpful.
Anon says
I have seen a family practice for myself, switched my husband into once we got married, and so when we had our kiddo it wasn’t a decision so much as a foregone conclusion that we would have our daughter see the practice since they have a board certified pediatrician on staff. For “routine” sick visits, she’ll see whoever’s available, but for well checks or more serious illnesses I always have her see the pediatrician. Things I love about my practice (in Fairfax, likely too far for you): 1) never had trouble getting an appointment (for me or anyone else) same day if needed, 2) M-Th they are open late (until 6 or 7), 3) very responsive to after hours calls (as a new parent you will probably make a lot of those, and that’s what they’re there for, 4) matching personalities (very laid back generally, practical advice, pro vaccines, also a parent of wild and crazy heathens with sleep problems – so no judgment) and 5) the family practice – it’s nice that the family is essentially a patient so if e.g., we have a cold going around, we’ll all get counseled and treated rather than just the kid, family history is all in the same place, etc.
blueberries says
Have a call with your potential pediatrician before birth to make sure you click and have a similar approach. It also helps if your pediatrician sees a lot of families like yours. AAP recommendations are based on the general population and it can be helpful to see someone who knows your situation and can better tailor advice.
Having access to a pediatrician after hours and on weekends is hugely important, as is access to same-day appointments during business hours. If there’s a good pediatric urgent care near you, then you shouldn’t need your pediatrician’s office to have extended hours, though.
I’ve found advice from a nurse at the practice to be great, but after hours nurse lines are often run by separate companies and are uneven in quality. Make sure that there’s a physician on call 24/7 so you don’t have to go to the ER at 2 in the morning for something borderline because the only advice you could get was from a low-level nurse reading a script.
Anonymous says
I’ll be the dissenter about nurse lines. I find them totally useless, because every time we’ve called them they’ve told us to go to the ER/urgent care (for illnesses that turned out to be, respectively, a cold, a stomach flu, and gas). I think people are so litigious that they just CYA and tell you to seek immediate medical attention for any symptom. Now that DH and I are more seasoned parents and our baby is a toddler and feels a little less fragile, we never call the nurse line. We just make our own judgment about whether she needs care at home, a trip to the ped during normal office hours the next day, or a trip to urgent care immediately.
Anonymous says
On the other hand, nurse line is very useful for asking the dosage for Benadryl when your toddler is stung by a wasp on the weekend and the medication label says “under 6: do not use without physician’s direction.” Nurse can quickly as the doctor the dosage and let you know!
rosie says
Childrens Pediatricians and Associates. We see O’Brien at the Foggy Bottom office and have been happy generally. Same delivery hospital & insurance. They are affiliated w/Children’s National so have records sharing, etc., which has been useful for us. I got recommendations from my PCP and picked based on who had availability to see us when we were getting discharged.
Some things to ask/consider:
– vax rates at the practice
– hospital affiliation
– availability of same-day sick appts
– availability of evening/weekend appts
– if there is a way to ask questions (patient portal for less urgent, nurse line for immediate advice)
Anonymouse says
Other things to consider:
Whether they require patients to vaccinate on regular schedule
Whether they offer any lactation support if you plan to breastfeed
Whether they round at your delivery hospital
What there overnight coverage is (within same practice, or a larger group which often means not only a different doctor, but not having access to medical records)
Where they stand on breastfeeding, cosleeping, developmental milestones, etc and seeing how that matches up with your views
Deema says
Honestly, I found ours on Yelp. They had a perfect five-star rating, and they have indeed been awesome.
I’d also focus on proximity/convenience, since you’ll be visiting often during the first few years.
Katarina says
I asked my OB for a recommendation. She recommended three, and indicated one that she used for her children. I went with that one, and have been mostly happy. I looked up his reviews, and most of the negative reviews were because he pressured new parents into vaccinating their babies, which is a plus for me. I have been not entirely happy with the return of phone calls. They have early morning walk in sick visits, which I like. These are with a nurse practitioner, but they will escalate to a pediatrician if necessary. They have a nurse’s line, but I only used it once and wasn’t overly impressed. There are no evening or weekend hours, but I am okay going to a pediatric urgent care.
Another question says
I have a related question, as I find myself in the same position as OP searching for a pediatrician. In doing some initial research, I’ve seen some concerning language on pediatricians’ websites concerning vaccinations. This is along the lines of “we allow our families to adopt a customized vaccination schedule” and “we respect family choices as it relates to vaccinations.” My husband and I both believe very strongly in vaccines, and we would like to avoid a practice that encourages otherwise. My questions: how common is this? And are we reading too much into this language? We are in Los Angeles.
SF says
What part of LA are you in? Tribeca peds in silverlake has a reputation of being vaccine-flex but most we looked at have strong vaccine statements (like larchmont peds). One or two we looked at would do shots each visit (so one shot a visit instead of 2-3), but still relatively on schedule. Long story short, there are lots of options in LA, many of which are strict on vaccines. FWIW, we go to Slolinsky’s practice but see Dr. Carly Alexander who we LOVE and followed from larchmont peds.
Anonymous says
“One or two we looked at would do shots each visit (so one shot a visit instead of 2-3), but still relatively on schedule. ”
Babies should get numerous shots at each of the standard 2 month, 4 month and 6 month visits, so either the ped is adding in a huge number of unnecessary office visits (super inconvenient for working parents, plus not fun for baby) or they’re vaccinating significantly behind schedule. There’s absolutely no science that supports delayed vaccination schedules or suggests that it’s not safe to give a baby or child multiple shots in one sitting. It’s all part of the anti-vaxxer ethos.
AnonLaywer says
I’m still pregnant with my first, but also in an area with a high number of anti-vaxxers (Portland, OR). That would definitely be red flag with me. I imagine those doctors would be relieved to have patients who are happy with traditional vaccine schedules, but it feels like they’re disregarding basic science in order to play nice with fringe beliefs. I did just put us on the waitlist for one practice that said something like “we understand many families are concerned about vaccinations and in our experience, it’s because a respectful physician has not taken the time to sit down and talk through those concerns with them; we offer appointments to do that” while still making it very clear that they encourage vaccination.
SBJ says
Can’t speak to how common that is, but no, you are not reading too much into that language. Our pediatrician’s office (Bay Area; affiliated with a hospital system) explicitly states on their website that they do not support alternative schedules or not vaccinating by choice. I would keep looking-I’m also firmly in the camp of vaccines are extremely important and I wouldn’t want to visit an office that felt otherwise.
Anonymous says
You’re not reading too much into it, it’s a huge red flag.
Lala says
Most people I know use one of the many Children’s Pediatricians and Associates offices in the area. They are fine- not great- as they are often oversubscribed and the back office stuff gets behind. However, they have early morning sick hours, open on Saturday, a nurse triage line, many doctors/NP etc. If there is nothing better in your area, they will get the job done. Also, most hospitals have a ped on staff that will discharge your infant and then you can take them to the ped of your choice a day or two later.
ALC says
I use them and have a mixed review — I have loved all of the doctors I have seen, but it can be hard to get an appointment in a reasonable time and their office folks can be hard to get a hold of.
Anonymous says
Reposting from late Friday:
My 17 month old’s daycare teachers told me they’re stopping her from finger-sucking at school (except at nap time). Apparently they’re doing this by physically removing her hand from her mouth if she doesn’t take it out when they tell her to. Does that seem harsh to anyone else? I know kids who are 3-ish and still sucking thumbs/fingers may get teased, but I didn’t realize it was a problem at this age. They told me they’re telling her to clap her hands instead, but that doesn’t seem to me to serve the same purpose at all – she claps with delight when she’s happy, the finger-sucking is definitely a self-soothing thing when she’s tired/hungry/overwhelmed. I know I’m probably an overprotective first time parent, so just want to get other perspectives on this.
HSAL says
I also had a finger-sucker and I would have definitely asked them to stop if they were taking her hands out of her mouth. I think 17 months old is way too young to “get” it. My mom tried that briefly (before we were concerned about it) but it ended up turning into a game for her, so I don’t think it will work as they’re intending
Our dentist wanted mine done by 4. We started working on it shortly after she turned 3, but nothing worked until we used the Orly no-bite nail polish. She was only sucking out of habit at that point and it literally worked over the weekend.
Anonymous says
Tell them not to! “No, my daughter can suck her fingers if she wants to. Do not remove her hand from her mouth.”
AwayEmily says
Also seems harsh to me. My thumb-sucker is 3.5 and we are going to try the no-bite nail polish in a few months — our dentist also said to stop by 4.
At her previous daycare one of the teachers would reprimand her when she sucked her thumb and it was awful for her — she cried about it several times at home. We ended up talking to the teachers and telling them that we were okay with it for now, and to please not intervene.
HSAL, any other advice? Mine does it for self-soothing, but also when she is bored. She sucks a LOT, so i’m worried it’s going to be a pretty tough lift. She’s also pretty anxious kid in general so the soothing function is important.
Boston Legal Eagle says
AwayEmily, no advice, but my 3.5 year sounds very similar to yours! He sucks his thumb to self soothe when he’s upset, to fall asleep and also when watching TV (i.e. relaxed). We tell him no thumb during TV, but the first two are trickier to navigate. We’d like him to be able to self soothe and we’re sort of waiting for him to have fewer meltdowns closer to 4/5, and thus need the thumb less? His dentist has been harping on us since age 2 but his ped was not yet concerned. Ugh, this is one of those bad habits that really bothers me but it’s also not hurting anyone so I don’t want to push him too much too soon.
HSAL says
Honestly, the nail polish was the only thing that worked. We reached the point where she understood she should stop, and she wanted to, but it was just so ingrained at that point. She did it unconsciously and when she was asleep. We tried band-aids on her fingers, which worked while they were on, but the constant daycare hand-washing meant they’d come off during the day. The nail polish was amazing. She was done after the weekend, and I think we reapplied one or two more times to be on the safe side. The taste lasted several days.
Anonymous says
Oh that breaks my heart about her crying after being reprimanded :( I don’t know that my daughter has anxiety, but she definitely represses her emotions at daycare and the idea of taking her only self-soothing mechanism away makes me feel really sad. She has literally cried at daycare only once and it was due to physical pain after a bad fall, so I feel like she sort of needs this comfort thing, you know?
Does anyone have a script for talking to teachers? I feel so awkward telling them they can’t discipline my child as they see fit in their classroom, but I would really prefer they not reprimand her about this.
HSAL says
I wouldn’t frame it as a discipline thing. Just say “I appreciate that you’re trying to help her stop, but her doctor and I aren’t worried about it right now, so please don’t remove her fingers from her mouth.”
Anon says
I’d be curious what their motivation is. If they are doing it because they think they are doing you/her a favor by trying to break her of a bad habit, and you feel it is too harsh, definitely tell them firmly that you would prefer them not to do what they are doing and you will work with her on your own time in your own way. (As a former mom of daycare attendees I know that conversation can be awkward).
I wonder if it’s partly a germ thing? Just because we all know kids get sick a lot in daycare situations, so from their perspective maybe they are concerned about fingers going in and out of mouths while playing and the saliva/germs then transferring to other kids more easily through toys and touching? (vs. sucking a thumb during nap when they aren’t actively touching things or other kids in the room?). I still think you can probably ask them to stop, but that might help the perspective of seeming like they are just doing it to be harsh?
Anonymous says
They gave both reasons when I asked them about it. The germ thing doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me because they allow her to suck them at nap time. Also I sort of feel like even without sucking her fingers, she’s going to get any bugs anyone else in the class has but maybe I’m wrong about that.
Anonymous says
It seems kind of futile to me, but if it doesn’t bother her when they do it, it probably isn’t hurting anything. I can understand the distinction between naptime and the rest of the time if the germ thing is the issue – they can just wash her hands after naptime, which is easier than washing them constantly.
Anon says
Wondering about online workout classes and subscriptions. Pre-kids I was obsessed with a few classes at the gym — specifically bodypump — and because I was obsessed managed to stay in decent shape. Post-kid I cannot. Find. The time. Especially as I would like to go three days a week. I am wondering if people have had success moving from classes to solo-online classes and what that looked like. I am mostly worried I am going to subscribe and buy equipment and then just sit in my pajamas instead. Classes were in part motivating for me because they were social and I could see other people coming and getting results. Anyone have any tips or advice here?
Anonanonanon says
I am the same way- HAVE to do classes or it’s not going to happen. However, I have had success with the Melissa Wood Health workouts. Check her out on IG and look at the workouts on her IGTV channel to see if they’re for you. They’re low-impact, sort of like mat pilates, with very limited equipment if any. I only do the ones that are 20 minutes or less-which is most of them- and have had great results. I now do a combo of these and a hot yoga studio that has a hot yoga class with cardio and weights, that lets you buy a pack of classes instead of a membership.
In terms of what it looks like, it’s kind of whenever I can make it happen/feel like doing it. If I telework, it may be around 10AM to re-center myself. if I’m in the office all week, it may be at 7:00 after the baby is in bed and the older kid is doing his homework, etc. She has some series that are only 12 minutes, so sometimes it’s when the baby is in bed and the older kid is showering. I just remind myself that something is better than nothing!
Anonymous says
DITTO DITTO DITTO to Melissa wood health. I also was a 4x a week exerciser pre-kids, and post-kids I’ve topped out a once weekly yoga class. Since starting MWH, I’ve noticeably strengthened doing her videos 2-3 times a week, and because they’re 20-30 minutes each, I actually do it multiple times a week. It’s even motivated me to join a gym and wake up at an even more ungodly hour than before (did not think this was possible) to do some cardio a few morning a week too.
Anonymous says
I use Fitness Blender, which is mostly free, but I have paid for their workout programs (approx $10 each), which offer you a reusable schedule of their free videos. I love them and they have gotten me really fit. Try one of their 30 minute 8 week programs to start. I get up about 45 minutes earlier, spend at least 15 minutes procrastinating and getting dressed, and then get going and exercise for 30-45 minutes. I also run a couple days a week instead of videos. For me, i find it really helpful to ask, “am I going to regret doing this or not doing this?” Almost invariably, the answer is I would regret not exercising, so I exercise. Now it is a habit and I’m pretty religious about it. I do give myself a break on mornings after nights I have to work really late, and I didn’t manage this until my son was 2.5.
Mary says
I also use and love Fitness Blender. It’s pretty much all weight lifting or HIIT cardio, so if that’s not your thing you may not enjoy it. The videos are all free, but I’ve bought several of the programs because I like having them put it all on a calendar for me.
I also bought a lifetime pass to BollyX – it’s like Zumba, but pretty much all Bollywood/bhangra music and steps. They seem to have an ongoing sale for $49 for the lifetime pass. I can do a few songs to get my heart rate up. My daughters sometimes like to dance along with it too.
Legally Brunette says
I am also a huge Fitness Blender fan, I do the pilates and weight lifting ones at night after the kids are in bed, and I do the HIIT ones in the morning. It’s wonderful that they are free and easy to follow. Even if I only do it twice a week, that’s more than I was doing before. I am in significantly better shape now than I was two years ago, thanks to these workouts.
Anonymous says
I don’t have advice but in the same position. I loved bodypump and spin classes pre-kids. I found out this is because I’m an “obliger” according to Gretchen Rubin. I can’t keep a news years resolution or do home workout videos, but if I pay for a class or am signed up to do something with another person then I’ll always do it.
H13 says
After both of my kids, it has taken me until they are two to re-establish a decent work out routine. I am also a class person and I have found that is has taken a bit of a mental shift to feel like a 20 minute work out is enough (spoiler: it is). I used to feel like if I couldn’t put in an hour, it wasn’t worth it at all. Now I get up about 45 minutes earlier than normal and do 20-30 minutes of exercise, either Fitness Blender or youtube yoga (I like Fightmaster Yoga). Sometimes I can eke out 40-45 minutes if I get up when my alarm actually goes off. I try to walk at lunch when weather permits and sometimes, in the winter, I will even close my office door and do a 15 minutes pilates video. I would still prefer to go to a class (and do go 1x/week) but this keeps me active for now.
If you try another streaming service, let us know! I am tempted to try one too for some variety.
Anon says
I think Les Mills now has a streaming or on demand service – I haven’t tried it yet but I loved Body Flow in the (pre-marriage, pre-kid) days where I actually showed up at a gym.
qcgc says
What do you ladies use to back up photos from your phones? I haven’t done anything beyond iCloud syncing and haven’t even done that lately because I ran out of space. Should I just pay for more iCloud storage or are there other better options?
Anonymous says
I post the best ones on our family photo-sharing site (TinyBeans) and wouldn’t be devastated if I lost the rest.
Anonanonanon says
If you have a prime account from @m@z0n, they have “prime photos”. I back up all of my photos on there and haven’t run out of space yet (and I have filled up multiple cell phones)
Anon says
This – it’s unlimited photos for prime members. I finally paid extra for the video. I also do my prints from there, so it’s pretty easy to have it all in one place.
Anonymous says
I don’t use cloud storage. I download my photos to my computer and back them up on two external hard drives.
Anon says
Google photos
Boston Legal Eagle says
We do this too, and then at the end of the year, add our favorites to Shutterfly to make an annual album. If all of those platforms die, we can at least look at the photos in our album.
anon says
We do google photos (and pay for the version that uploads original files). We have a joint gmail account that all the pictures get uploaded to automatically. For us, it was the convenience of doing it automatically to one account that sealed it.
shortperson says
how do you do this?
anon says
So I think what we did is we created a separate gmail account, and then we put Google Photos on both phones (my husband’s phone and my phone, in case it wasn’t clear!), logged into that gmail account. There’s an option to automatically back up pictures in Google Photos on the iphone under settings (ours backs up automatically when the phone is connected to wi-fi). You can set it up on multiple devices (I also have it on my iPad, because I find it easier to go through photos on the big screen).
Em says
Additional cloud storage is only 99 cents a month. I upgraded 2 1/2 years ago and have run out of space since. I had great plans of further backing them up on an external hard drive but that has yet to happen.
Kim says
I do it once a year, to my computer and an external hard drive. It’s shockingly quick to transfer every year – it takes me longer to find the cord!
anon says
Has anyone else had back pain in the youngish infant stage? I think it’s from lugging around my growing daughter, but maybe it’s just that I’m out of shape (she’s five months old). And still breastfeeding? I’m tempted to try out a chiropractor, but also not sure where to find the time. Any advice would be welcome – or is this something that’s not necessarily a given?
Anonymous says
Yes. Honestly it didn’t go away completely until my son got old enough that I wasn’t carrying him around all the time. For me, I think weak abs and giant boobs were also part of the issue.
Go for it says
Yes, go to a chiropractor! No need to suffer unnecessarily.
Ideally who is close by~perhaps nurse her in the office right before the appointment.
anon says
I solved this problem by getting stronger. I started doing body pump three times a week. I went from being barely able to lay my baby down without waking her to doing squats while holding and lifting her over my head for fun.
Nan says
Yes! So much back pain! Yoga helped me a lot.
Anonymous says
It didn’t get better for until I improved by core strength. Started with pelvic floor PT, then workout classes
rosie says
Yes. I suggest making sure your br* is supportive enough & doing PT for core strength and checking alignment. Turned out my pelvis was not aligned at all (unclear if it was from pregnancy, birth, or carrying an infant around), but PT was very helpful.
Emily S. says
Yes! Especially after a day carting the carrier car seat. A heavy diaper bag also stressed my back. Thermacare heat wraps helped my symptoms but it was only weightlifting (specifically barbell lifting) and yoga that helped me get stronger and have fewer episodes and pain.
Anonymous says
Yup. I had awful back pain after my 3rd and I attributed it to lugging the infant bucket + toddler. I eventually had a back spasm so bad I couldn’t move.
I saw a chiro and it turned out that my hips were out of whack which was messing up the muscles near my spine. In 3 sessions I was back to normal.
AnotherAnon says
Kind of for fun, kind of curious: If you were going to buy only one kind of jacket for your toddler, what would it be? Kiddo has a rain jacket but it just occurred to me that all his other jackets no longer fit. I’m trying to decide between a windbreaker and a fleece. I realize you will probably have very different answers from what I’m choosing: we live in Houston so it will rain almost every day, freeze maybe once, but won’t get below 60 during the day for most of the season.
Anonymous says
I would go with a fleece that can be layered under the rain jacket.
Anonymous says
None? Rain jacket and windbreaker seem sort of redundant and I don’t think a fleece jacket is necessary if it doesn’t get below 60. I’m in the Midwest but half the kids come to daycare in t-shirts the first spring day it hits 60 ;)
rakma says
We find the fleece to be the most practical. We’re in the northeast, so I buy one of those 3-in-1 coats, use the fleece for cold but not super cold days, the full coat for very cold days. Keeps the kids from getting overheated and sweaty.
GCA says
I would go with the fleece. You can layer under the rain jacket if it’s truly chilly (recognizing that it’s all relative, I guess this means 40s for Houston!). And you can always use other layers under or over the fleece: long-sleeved t-shirt, short-sleeved t with cotton sweatshirt, etc.
anon says
also live in Houston and last year we got away with north face fleeces for our twins. for those colder days they layered a sweater underneath. But last winter we did have some cooler days!
Anonymous says
I would either do a fleece with a rain coat or a combination coat. For fleece, I like Columbia Kids for the colors. For rain coats I like Eddie Bauer Kids and for a combination coat I like the North Face Warm Storm jacket (windproof and waterproof, fleece lined in body but not arms).
Anonymous says
Agree that rain jacket and windbreaker are synonymous to me. For never below 60s I’d go with a fleece, if you want something other than a heavy sweatshirt.
Personally, we live in the midAtlantic where it gets below freezing, but winter isn’t as harsh as further north, so love 3-in-1 jackets where the inner jacket is a carseat-safe windbreak layer with light insulation (great for cooler fall and spring days) and then there’s an outer jacket to add on top for when we’re playing outside in the snow or going for long stroller walks.
Anon says
I live in a similarly warm climate (not quite as humid). My son likes zip up hoodies the best.
shortperson says
we use a boden sherpa lined anoraks as daily jackets in our socal winter. we also have ski jackets for visits to actual wintry places.
EB0220 says
We live in NC. My kids have rain coats but in practice they don’t wear them much. I grew up in Houston and I barely remember having a coat of any kind (although surely I had something).
Io says
Polarn o Pyret has a fleece that snaps into a rain jacket. And into a down jacket. I buy them on ebay or on major sale, but they are super durable, will last several years of hard, muddy outdoor playing and can be passed on. If I had hundeds to blow on kids’ outerwear, I’d buy rain gear, snow gear and all their outerwear every year for my kid. (I do buy their thin wool socks for under-layers and will probably buy their wool tights for uniform wearing this winter.)
StrollerStrike says
Any advise on getting an infant used to a stroller? My five week old screams and cries every time we put him in the stroller bassinet. I baby-wear at home and shorter distances but would like to go on long leisurely walks
Annie says
Ugh I had one of those – no advice. She started liking the stroller at 6 month if that helps but we just got very used to babywearing.
FVNC says
You might just have to give it time. My first kid loved any containment device (stroller, car seat, bounce seat, etc.) from day 1; my second shrieked at the top of his lungs for a couple months until he could finally sit in the stroller upright(ish) without the infant bucket seat attached. I also had visions of long walks with him, but that just wasn’t going to happen.
JTM says
5wks is really early – back then my kid didn’t like anything other than babywearing. She didn’t like the stroller, carseat or swing. Maybe try a different carrier for a longer walk?
AwayEmily says
Both my kids HATED being in the carseat in the stroller but liked it when fully reclined in the regular seat with an infant positioner (the summer infant snuzzler, I believe). I think we started both of them at around a month and a half. We never would have thought of trying it but our brilliant pediatrician suggested it.
anon says
If he doesn’t like the bassinet, you could try attaching the infant carseat. He may just want to be more snug.
NYCer says
This was going to be my suggestion as well. We never used the bassinet – we have the Cruz, and just used toddler seat with infant insert, which is also a lot more snug than the bassinet. I would recommend trying that or the car seat like anon mentioned above.
Anonymous says
+1 we were gifted a bassinet attachment and my baby hates it because he moves around too much. Ended up having to babywear him for liken 3hrs straight once because of it. Bassinets are cute but I don’t think many people find them that practical (of course some do).
twin working mom says
twin moms: any good books out there about early childhood development and twins? I am hoping for something more research-oriented – even a collection of journal articles or whatever. I read “what to do when you are having two” and was underwhelmed. Kids are coming up on a year.
Anonymous says
I would love something like this, but haven’t been successful in my (admittedly cursory) searches. There seem to be a ton of twin books for infants and then for school-age, but nothing about the toddler/preschool development level, which seems like a oversight because for my n=4 or whatever, twin social-emotional development from about 15 months on is really different than for singletons.
Anon says
same here, so if you ever find anything please post an update. do you have suggestions for twin school-age books?
Anonymous says
all of my twin books have about 150 pages for 0-1, then 20 pages from age 2-adulthood.
Anonymous says
When do your peds make flu shots available? My ped is telling me they won’t have them in until mid-October. I thought flu season was hitting early this year and we’re traveling the first week of October, so I’m debating just taking her into CVS (she’s old enough now). Why does CVS receive a batch of flu shots before a pediatrician’s office?!
SG says
My ped and family doctor had them mid-Sept. My OB weirdly did not so I saw the family doc. I would guess it’s regional but we’re in the SE where it still hits 90 midday…
Anonymous says
It definitely varies, but I think it’s completely random, rather than regional. My ped’s office gets them in late August, usually, whereas my sister lives in a colder climate and her ped doesn’t have it yet.
Anonymous says
Our pediatrician always gets the vaccine in later than the retail pharmacies do. I prefer to get the whole family vaccinated at Target anyway because the pediatrician’s office is inconvenient and full of germs.
Em says
I just called (thanks for the reminder) and they have them now. Now to track one down for me…
EB0220 says
Interesting. Our clinic does them the last week of Sep and first week of Oct.
rosie says
It seems like maybe shipments got delayed this year. Our local pharmacies have had them for awhile. My PCP had limited quantities and just got more end of last week. My OB did not have last week (which seemed unbelievable…). We have an appt for peds this week for it (mine is not old enough for pharmacy).
If your kid is old enough for CVS, what’s the downside? Apparently some insurance pharmacy benefits for the flu shot are only w/certain pharmacies, but in our case that contract was with CVS (whereas our grocery store pharmacy would have to go through medical benefits)…so CVS is probably fine.
Cb says
I’m in the UK and got mine this am but the kid ones aren’t available until sometime in early October
Anonymous says
Ours does early September. Used HSA money to just get mine done at the same time
Emily S. says
Ours always has them in early September, and they ration if need be, so that infants and most vulnerable kids get them when the supply is low. For the past 3 years, I’ve had them done at the peds, but I’m thinking of Target for the older daughter just for the convenience.
Irish Midori says
I just went to the ped this morning for a well-visit, and they said they won’t get the flu shots for a couple more weeks. They seemed exasperated by it, so maybe it’s not normal for their supply to be delayed. Drugstores are advertising that they have them now, though.
anon says
I think it’s a bulk order thing. CVS gets to order them for the entire country.
Anonymous says
About 12 weeks postpartum with #2, and pretty sure I have postpartum anxiety/depression.
Do I make an appointment with my PCP or Ob?
CCLA says
Either would be a good place to start. Hugs. I went to OB around that time for the same reason, and they wrote a script for zoloft and recommended therapists in the area.
Deema says
Whoever can see you first.
H13 says
I would say whichever can you sooner but definitely loop in your PCP regardless. I went to my midwives with PPA/PPD and they were very clear that while they would prescribe something for me, it would only be for three months and I would have to get the rx elsewhere after that. Honestly, the person I saw (and had never seen during my pregnancy) kinda sucked.
Anonymous says
I called my pcp who got me into therapy and a psych appt stat.
Anonymous says
I chose the person with the better bedside manner. For me, that happened to be the OB, but the first priority should be getting the earliest appointment possible.
Io says
My pediatrician had a list of therapists to call. You might want to check with yours.
AnotherAnon says
Have any of you gone from being a morning person to being a night person? I used to get up at 4AM. Yeah I was tired, but I got through the day and got more done before 9AM than I could accomplish for the rest of the day. Now, my most productive work time is 1PM-4PM. I can also log back in from home and actually GSD, which a couple years ago, when my son was an infant, would have been impossible. Maybe that was just sleep deprivation?
Anon says
Q on body changes after no. 2. After no. 1, my hips and rib cage never went back to their pre-baby stage. I was thinking of refreshing my first trimester fall wardrobe with a few new blazers and flare cut dresses (non-maternity) (and to blend in the eventual changes to maternity clothes (which folks have seen before) as I show early and have been on an updating streak over the summer as well). Thoughts on whether I should expect further widening of my rib cage and hips for baby no. 2, if I already widened for baby no. 1? I like to keep clothes for a while, so debating the merits on whether buying now or just updating my meager maternity wardrobe once I start showing and waiting for post-baby to update.
Kim says
Every pregnancy is different. I had pelvic-widening with my first so it hurt to walk, but not with my second. If money is an issue, wait until post-baby to update. But if not, refresh a little bit now because after baby #2 you will not have time to shop!
Anonymous says
I would wait for post baby to do a big wardrobe update. Your body may go back to the way it is now. Or it may not. Changes tend to be more drastic (and permanent) with each subsequent baby!
Irish Midori says
Shout-out to Oster’s Cribsheet. I’m about 1/3 through the book, and it’s so far my favorite parenting book. Also I’m finding it enjoyable to read, and I generally HATE parenting books. Wish I’d had it for my first two.
Anonymous says
I didn’t like it… I felt like on every topic she just said “here are the risks, here are the rewards, you should do what you prefer” (which is sensible advice but I don’t need a book to tell me that) and her risks and rewards were just common sense, like “if you room-in you will see your baby more, but you will also get less sleep.” Um, duh? I also find her tone kind of smarmy and she uses parentheses way too much.
Irish Midori says
Some of the topics were like that — very common sense. But there were a lot of topics where it was reassuring to read “there’s no study to support that claim,” even if it was to have an answer toward well-meaning advice-givers. There’s so much aggressive crap advice mixed with real concerns that it was good to get a more empirical explanation.
Anon says
Has anyone done pelvic floor PT and what was your experience like? It’s hard to get an appointment at a time that makes sense for me, so I was also wondering if devices would be a good alternative (one that seems pretty good is the Elitone). If you did do PT, did you use any other therapies? Would you use something else to help you maintain strength?
Anon says
Site here: https://elitone.com/
Anon says
No, definitely go to the pelvic floor PT. Don’t just start using devices on your own. My problem (that prevented me from comfortably walking around the block and lifting my infant and doing the stairs in my townhome) turned out to be excessive muscle tone in pelvic floor combined with weak abs. It was literally the opposite of what most of the advice online said (kegels! v@ginal weights! squats!). There are hundreds of tiny muscles all wrapped up in pelvic and spinal stability, just let the professional evaluate you.
Signed – hate going to doctors, spent six months in regular PT with no improvement after giving birth, considered suicide, went to pelvic floor PT who saved my life.
octagon says
+1 – definitely get evaluated. You may be able to use a device as extra support but for me, turned out I was doing a kegel all wrong and also had some tightness in one of my hip flexors that had to be relieved before my pelvic floor would cooperated.
Anon says
Thank you! will definitely get evaluated.
Anonymous says
Dear small human does not wish to keep shoes on during school and it’s causing issues – can anyone suggest shoes for kids with sensory issues?
Cheers
shortperson says
my niece with sensory issues will only wear crocs, sometimes with seam-free socks. i think you just need to experiment with what each kid will tolerate.
Io says
Not sure about sensory issues, but I much prefer barefoot or minimalist shoes for me and have had trouble finding good outdoor toddler/preschooler options. If ou can get your kiddo to let you know WHAT fells bad (does the tongue bunch, is the toebox too narrow [most common toddler complaint IME], is the sole too stiff or the ankle unflexible [both prevent standing comfortably on tip-toe]) then that should direct you a bit more.
Right now we’re going with Tom’s (thin sole, slip-on, but narrow toebox). And Bogs (or Bogs dupes from Target) for rainboots and cold weather (not snowboots). Splay Athletics is a new brand that I’m looking at for our next pairs, wide toebox and thin sole. The Merrill Bare Steps have a soft leather upper, but the sole only has one way flex.
But if you just need indoor shoes I’d look at Soft Star — they’re leather,made in Oregon and designed to be gentle and comfy for growing feet. It looks like they’ve added some outdoor options, but they make great classroom shoes.