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I nursed both kids through hot and humid summers. Tanks like these were my uniform.
This basic tank is perfect for layering or wearing alone. The front clips allow for easy nursing or pumping access, the shelf bra provides light support (although I usually needed a nursing bra as well), and the padding prevents leaks. The straps are even convertible so you can wear it two ways.
I found my tanks so comfortable that I wore them long after my kids stopped nursing.
These tanks are $19.99 at Target and come in fresh white, heather gray, and black. They’re available in sizes XS–1X.
Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
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- Zappos – 29,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
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- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
AIMS says
To the person looking for otter, koala and sloth cotton pajamas yesterday – I posted a long comment with links for each animal that for some reason never made it out of moderation last night and appears deleted now.
Check out the Lazy One – full price is just above $25 by 2 bucks but nice quality and frequent promos – they have sloths & otters. Carter’s and Leveret also have options within your parameters.
Anon says
Your comment is there now.
AIMS says
So weird! Thanks!
Anonymous says
Oh my gosh thank you!
AwayEmily says
I need some luggage advice….we’re going to Europe in July with 3 kids and planning not to check bags (there are a lot of flight transfers and it’s just too risky…plus there’s laundry where we will be staying). We currently do not own a rolling suitcase (I’m more of a duffel person) but would consider getting one. Or maybe a big backpack for me and my husband is better? We’ll also have a stroller and a Cosco Scenera Next with us. You’re all way, way more seasoned travelers than me — what do you recommend?
Anonymous says
How old are the kids? Can they all handle a roller suitcase plus backpack?
Cb says
I love my Eastpak citypak. My husband has the Cabin Zero. I really like having my hands free.
Anon says
I think your older kids could probably manage a rolling carry-on suitcase + backpack and you could probably fit the baby’s stuff into one of the adult’s suitcases, so that’s what I’d try. We have cheap, small-ish spinners from Target. I’ve found the spinner wheels are really key – it’s much easier for my kid to push the suitcase than pull it. I’ve never had a problem packing one person for a week in it, particularly for a warm climate where you don’t need a lot of bulky sweaters.
You do not want to take duffel carry-on – that’s impossible for a kid to manage and challenging even for an adult, especially if there are two of them.
Anon says
Can I convince you that checking luggage really is the way to go? Kids vary, obviously, but my 5 and 6yos don’t get enough sleep on a east-coast to Europe flight that they’re capable of pulling a suitcase through the airport, especially when it involves waiting in long lines for passport control, etc. I vastly prefer checking one 50-lb suitcase for the 4 of us and just collecting it at the end, compared to trying to wrangle tired kids and carry-on suitcases through multiple airports.
Also, is your stroller carry-on sized or are you planning to gate-check it? If the latter, double-check the airports you’re planning to transfer through since some (LHR and CDG, for example) won’t give you the stroller back during a transfer which is problematic if you’re relying on it for kid or carseat transport.
GCA says
Agree with this. What about checking a large suitcase for the five of you, and bringing 1-2 changes of clothes and bathing suits in backpacks? That way, even if your luggage doesn’t make it, you’ll have spare clothes (and laundry!) at your destination. Older kids can manage their own backpacks with clothes, books and snacks for the walk through the airport.
Anonymous says
This is what I would do.
Anon says
+1 – this is the way to do it. Assuming you’re using the Scenera on the plane, and have figured out the stroller situ – try to use the carseat as the “seat” on your stroller if possible – there are ways to do this with the existing stroller straps. Otherwise, definitely get one of those massive carabiners to hang the carseat from stroller, just beware you’ll have to play the balance game a bit.
Also – I gate checked my stroller at a US airport, expecting to pick it up at our layover in DBX but it was checked all the way to our Asian destination. Don’t be me.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I wouldn’t trust my kids to each push a rolling suitcase either, particularly not the younger one (4.5), through many hours of traveling. I would do a big checked suitcase with all of your items, and then backpacks for the kids plus whatever you can manage for each of you with a stroller. We are not seasoned travelers though, so maybe other kids are better at this!
Anon says
I commented above that your older two can probably manage their own bags, but on second thought I think I agree with this. Mine is 5 and does now manage her own rolling bag after a red-eye to Europe but that’s a fairly recent development and she’s a seasoned traveler who’s been to Europe half a dozen times. I wouldn’t count on a 5 year old being able to manage their own bag the first time they do a red-eye flight. Checking is an annoying expenditure of time (IMO) but the risk of the bag actually getting lost is very low.
I also second the comment about stroller drama in Europe. They often aren’t gate-checked and even when they are gate-checked, they don’t seem to get the same gentle handling they normally do in the US. Our stroller was destroyed on a flight to Italy. It looked like a baggage cart ran over it.
FYI there are special lines for families at passport control and security in almost every European airport I’ve been to. They’ll probably pull you out of line but if they don’t it’s worth asking.
anon says
Yes, worth asking especially with a baby, since they’re not always well0signed. One notable exception to this policy, though, is KEF (Reflavik), which is extra annoying because kids are always exhausted there because there’s no time to sleep.
Anonymous says
I would check a bag I think you’re setting yourselves up for a miserable travel experience. But if you don’t want to do that I would do a small backpack for use during the flight plus a bathing suit for each child old enough to hold it, two rolling carry on sized suitcases, and a daypack sized backpack for your husband and whatever day bag you’d like to use on the trip for you.
Anne-on says
I have mobility issues so I’m team roller bag all the way. I really like the Monos rolling bags – my middle schooler uses the ‘carry on’ – I can get 3-4 days worth of his clothing in there, or 1-2 nights of adult outfits with toiletries/hair dryer/shoes. I can easily do 3-4 nights in the carry on. I’d do a rolling bag plus whichever duffel/backpack you like best. My husband (and lots of people) rave about the Patagonia ‘black hole’ bag, which is too big for me. I’m partial to the Lo & Sons small catalina deluxe bag, the separate bottom compartment is great for shoes/laptop or dirty clothes. I could easily do a 7-10 days with the Monos plus Catalina if I had access to a washing machine.
Anonymous says
Having just lost my bag in CDG recently I think you have a healthy suspicion. However, physically schlepping between transfers is also a fraught experience so keep that in mind. If you’re committed to no checked bags, I would have one adult get a 22″ spinner and have the other adult get the MLC from Patagonia. I would then have each non-stroller child carry a backpack. Get some luggage straps for the carseat to go over the handles of the stroller, and put that child’s backpack or duffel in the underbelly of the stroller.
Note that some airlines weigh checked baggage (AirFrance for sure does this) so they have forced me to check my 22″ spinner even though it fit on the plane coming over to Europe.
Anonymous says
99% of European airlines will force you to check a 22 inch spinner. International carry on size is different than North American carry on size and they are much stricter than they used to be.
AwayEmily says
Thanks for the advice so far!! this is super helpful. To answer some questions: one of the reasons we are not checking is that our friends who we are meeting there have a direct flight two days before us and so will check a travel crib, booster seats for the big kids, and diapers (yes, we are VERY lucky to have these friends!).
I actually wasn’t planning on having the 5yo and 7yo carry anything except a backpack with their stuffies/ipads/coloring stuff. I figured we’d put all the grownup + kid stuff in the two big backpacks or backpack + roller bag. Am I nuts to think this is possible? It’s summer so clothes are small, we each only need like 3 outfits plus PJs, we’re all going to be wearing sneakers the whole time so we don’t need extra shoes…it doesn’t seem like THAT much stuff, I guess.
Anon says
I don’t think it’s nuts but I’d want 5-6 days worth of clothes for the adults and big kids, more for the toddler in diapers. You’ll spend a lot of time doing laundry if you only have 3 days worth of clothes and a family of 5.
Anonymous says
Lay it all out and see what you can fit, but I think with 3 kids you can’t carry everything in 2 carry on size backpacks (or bags of any kind) – you are going to need some rolling bags, or the kids are going to need to carry their own clothes in a backpack, which they probably won’t do willingly for any distance. My husband and I each just got an Osprey carry-on travel backpack (Fairview 40 and Porter 46) for a trip to Europe. We loved them but still brought another carry-on bag for our son’s clothes, and we only had about 3-4 days’ worth of clothes. If you need any outwear or a second pair of shoes, the space just goes fast.
FWIW, we were very happy with the backpacks. The Fairview has a more comfortable ventilated back and hip belt than the Porter’s hip belt; the Porter has a slightly larger capacity and was cheaper. We got them because we were worried that our existing carry-on rolling bags were too big for European size limits, and buying new bags was as cheap as checking bags on our discount flight. We also thought it might be hard to roll a suitcase over cobblestones at our destinations. The latter concern was probably overblown, but we kind of wanted to get a different kind of bag anyway if we were going to be buying something new since we already had rolling bags.
Anonymous says
PS – we only did 2 loads of laundry and it was not time-consuming, except that the house had a washer but not dryer, so drying clothes took a lot longer than it does at home. I think air drying may be a lot more common in Europe.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
+1 – it’s more common everywhere in the world except the US.
ANon says
i would still bring an extra pair of shoes for everyone
Anon says
I don’t think I’ve ever brought more than one pair of shoes for kids, and these days almost never bring more than one pair (sneakers) for myself. Worst case you can buy some shoes in Europe, but I’ve never had to do that. It’s not worth packing a backup pair, at least for me.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Again, I’m not one to talk about packing light or having flexible traveling kids (ha!), but I will say that on our last trip away, both kids got bodily fluids, including blood from a nose bleed, on their clothes, so I’d for sure pack extra for them. And FWIW, I used to travel a good amount and have never actually lost a bag (knock on wood), just had some delays in it arriving.
CCLA says
At least the 7yo and prob the 5yo I’d think could do a small roller, and I’d do that so you have some more room and aren’t trying to scrape by on bare necessities, esp with the smaller euro bag sizes. We never check luggage and everyone gets a carryon size roller plus backpack. 6yo handles hers on her own, 4 yo sometimes does but mostly one of us ends up rolling it for her (one parent rolls their own suitcase plus 4yos, and the other parent rolls their own suitcase and holds 4yos hand through busy parts). We don’t have the stroller to contend with though so know your 5yo. Also cannot say enough about the personal items that have luggage sleeves, which makes for so much versatility in how to combine things as you move. You could consider something like the lo and sons catalina for an additional bag in lieu of or in addition to a small roller, it is sizeable and has a luggage sleeve.
Anonymous says
I would have each adult take a traditional rolling suitcase that meets European carry-on requirements (smaller than US) plus a large backpack to go under the seat as a personal article. For each kid who is big enough, a backpack plus a carry-on with spinner wheels. Spinners are easier for kids to handle but don’t hold as much and are more prone to wheel damage, so for adults I prefer traditional skate wheels. If you don’t have a suitcase for each person you are going to waste a lot of your vacation doing laundry.
Anonymous says
Can you provide more detail? Which airlines? Are you on the one ticket or changing airlines and separate tickets? Are you going through Heathrow?
I’ve travelled to Europe with 2-3 kids every year since 2012 except 2020. Doing carry on only for the first time this year but had to purchase new carry on suitcases that were small enough. You need to exactly fit the carry on requirements for each airline, not just the first airline like with checked luggage. Post back with more info and I can tell you if it’s doable and/or if it’s wise.
AwayEmily says
We’re flying Delta all the way. Transferring through DTW to CDG. then on the way back, it’s Cannes –> CDG –> JFK –> our final destination.
My friend who’s coming and checking a bag is happy to bring the travel crib, diapers, wipes, swim diapers, extra clothes if necessary, and the big kids’ booster seats. And then I think we’d check that bag on the way back since it wouldn’t matter if it got lost.
Anonymous says
Okay, so I think you can do it. If you’re flying Delta then I presume any intra France flight are Air France which actually had a sensible size limit for carry on luggage (55cm high including wheels but check your width/depth). Make sure you know the operating airline for any codeshared flights to double check luggage rules.
I recommend one pair of sneakers and one pair of sandals per kid. 3 days of clothes per kid minimum. You will have to do laundry every second day but that may be worth it to you. Your stroller will need to be small and carry on sized like Mountain Buggy Nano. Do not rely on gate checking your stroller. I have gate checked when boarding and had a layover in LHR, no one knew where the stroller was. Basically left us at the gate with two babies, a toddler and a ‘good luck’. They kept telling me it was going to Zurich but I knew it had not been tagged for Zurich. DH had to go through customs at LHR and found it on the luggage carousel.
DH – small backpack with snacks/his electronics plus wheelie with his clothes
You – small backpack with snacks and your electronics plus wheelie with your clothes and baby clothes
Baby – diaper bag for underseat (counts as hand luggage), and stroller (carry on item)
Kid 1 – small backpack with toys/ipad and wheelie
Kid 2 – small backpack with toys/ipad and wheelie
Make sure you take a baby carrier for baby because at some point you may end up pushing two older kids in stroller while you wear a backpack and your DH babywears, wears a backpack and pulls two wheelies. I also like a carrier for walking baby around on the plane when I need to stretch my legs. Use packing cubes and roll clothing. Going carry on is about maxing your luggage allowance – you might need 4 wheelies to have enough space but don’t expect kids under 6 to reliably pull their own wheelie the whole time.
AwayEmily says
Thank you! especially for the baby carrier tip — I’d been waffling on that.
TheElms says
I would check 2 bigger bags (split clothes between each so if only one shows up initially everyone has a change of clothes) and bring more stuff, but if you are really committed to carry on I would do the following:
-Stroller with the Cosco Scenera strapped into the stroller with the baby riding in the car seat (google for videos on how to do this). I’ve done it with a Mountain Buggy Nano and it works well.
-3 spinner rolling bags (international carry-on sized) – for you, your husband, and oldest child to push.
— Husband gets his own bag (assuming his clothes are the biggest). You and the toddler get a bag. Two older kids split a bag. I would bring at least a 2 pairs of shoes for everyone if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
— One parent will get to push a spinner bag and a stroller, while carrying a backpack or push two spinners. I’ve done a regular wheeled suitcase and a stroller with a 3 year old in it while wearing a backpack and a baby in a carrier and its fine (not fun), but a spinner would have made it much easier!
-4 backpacks (oldest kid can put their backpack in the stroller basket or on a spinner bag, if needed).
— Parent backpacks are full of snacks, changes of clothes for the plane/extra clothes that didn’t fit in the spinner bags, toys and diapers/wipes for the toddler, and a book/kindle/laptop for each parent.
— Kid backpacks full of entertainment for kids and/or a change of clothes space permitting/ and or snacks.
Boston Legal Eagle says
“I’ve done a regular wheeled suitcase and a stroller with a 3 year old in it while wearing a backpack and a baby in a carrier and its fine (not fun), but a spinner would have made it much easier!” You guys are superheroes, really. The logistics of traveling with many little kids in an airport is anxiety-provoking in me.
AwayEmily says
I am taking very careful notes on all of this, thank you.
I really like the idea to lay it all out and see. I’m going to do that in the next few weeks to see how much stuff there actually is, and that should give me a better sense. I’m definitely okay with doing laundry — we’re going to be home for 2 hours each afternoon so the baby can nap anyway, so I don’t think it will be a huge imposition. And miraculously our place has a dryer.
Anonymous says
FWIW – I always napped on vacation when the babies napped. Made for a more restful trip. But you could easily throw in a load before you nap.
Anon says
Yes, definitely recommend laying out. For me the kid stuff ends up taking up a ton of space, more so than the clothes – tablets and headphones and snacks and water bottles and toys for the plane, stuffies and white noise machine for sleeping, thermometer and basic medicine, etc.
And I would definitely bring more than 3 outfits for each kid – if one gets dirty during the day they have to change and then you only have one left – could end up doing laundry daily. 5 seems more realistic.
French laundry says
just keep in mind that a lot of the French apartments laundry machines and combo wash/dry which means
a) they take forever
b) they are tiny
c) my clothes never feel dry
still better than when I used to wash my clothes in a bathtub when studying abroad in Paris 20 yrs ago, but we recently had one of these machines in Europe over spring break and it was a pain
Atlien says
A spinner that you can strap/hang the car seat on
Anon says
Please hit me up with all your favorite toddler toys for a long flight. Links would be awesome. Kid is a squirmy 2 year old and it’s a 10+ hour flight so I will need to introduce a lot of new and exciting toys during the flight. Already have the water pen for painting. Thank you!
Anon says
Tablet
snacks
new markers, stickers, playdough, window clings.
Anon says
I’ve flown a lot with my kid, including some 10+ hour flights, and have never really packed toys. Screens started entertaining her at a surprisingly young age, before turning 2. It wasn’t necessarily actually watching the TV/movie (although there was some of that), but also just playing with the screen and pressing random buttons is very entertaining for a 2 year old. Planes and all the new people are also really exciting for kids that age. I wouldn’t expect much sleep, but I wouldn’t stress too much about entertainment.
Anon says
(But I do pack lots of snacks!)
Anonymous says
Yes I feel like SNACKS were always our main entertainment. I miss the AirMall catalog as ripping that up was fun for my son. The Lauri Toddler Tote was decent. Crayola color wonder markers and paper.
Anonymous says
I just spent an 8 hour flight watching a toddler! She enjoyed the iPad, stickers, running away down the aisle, approximately 400 snacks, throwing empty cups, and chewing on mummy’s hair.
GCA says
Water Wows, window clings, honestly just a large roll of painters tape, new books, small vehicles/ animals, Tegu blocks/ a small quantity of magnatiles, and nothing that will roll away down the aisle or under a seat and you’ll never find it again…
Anon OP says
Ha, thanks. I actually ordered some triangular shaped crayons that won’t roll!
Anonymous says
If your kid has never done screen time, this is the time to utilize it. We got a kindle fire and downloaded some shows (Daniel Tiger, IIRC). I was pretty anti screen time (lol POOPCUP me) but it’s essential for a flight this long. Stickers/those gummy things, and a Kleenex box were big hits at that age. You could maybe have him/her put cheerios on a string but mine didn’t have the patience or fine motor skills for that at 2.
TheElms says
Would definitely suggest screens for at least some of the time. Around 2 is when they started to work for us for 15-30 minutes at a time and that break is great. Remember to practice wearing the headphones before you go on the flight.
In terms of activities these are things that have worked for us on 10+ hour car trips around this age:
– Pop tubes (these are right on the edge of too noisy for a plane I think so ymmv)
– Sticker “activity” books: https://a.co/d/avBIQie
– Regular stickers and paper to stick them on
– Reusable puffy sticker to make scenes scenes: https://a.co/d/gknGKve
– Post it notes and painters tape and a couple matchbox cars (make roads, garages etc)
– Pop it fidget toys
– 2 cans of playdoh and some small plastic animals
– Tegu magnetic blocks
– Color Wonder coloring book and markers
– Imagine Ink books: https://a.co/d/5UOHZh8
– Magnetic drawing board with pen: https://a.co/d/dvJhxOy
– Fidget cube: https://a.co/d/btvpjpd
– A Montessori style quiet book: https://a.co/d/eK1IuOY
– A favorite book or two (if your kid likes being read to – or if you have a tablet you can get Kindle versions of kids books)
anonM says
For a similar-aged kid, the most exciting was “new” old toys — my family member was on the same flight and brought some old plastic animal toys/figurines and they were a hit. I don’t think you need a lot of actual “new and exciting toys.” A great idea I read after the fact, naturally, was to “wrap” some old/resale toys in tissue paper to give throughout the flight. You could even talk another passenger into “giving” the 2yo the toy to make it more exciting. The bonus here is if it gets lost/left behind at any point on vacation, it won’t be a big deal.
Anon OP says
I love this idea of having someone else give him some wrapped toys. We’re in business so perhaps even the flight attendants would be up for doing that. And by new I really just mean toys he hasn’t seen before, I don’t care if they are used.
Great advice from everyone here! I just placed a huge Amazon order (including a tablet – he has had very limited screen time so far but is obsessed with watching Elmo so I think it will successfully entertain him for a bit).
An.On. says
Almost once a week for the last month I’ve gotten a call from the daycare saying my kid has a fever so I need to come get them, but when I bring them home and check their temperature it’s normal and they’re not acting sick at all. I’m starting to get frustrated, last time it happened the daycare director didn’t want me coming back the next day because supposedly my kid was sick. My kid isn’t even two years old or I would seriously suspect them of faking it just so they could come home, but I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. Should I push back on this with the daycare or just suck it up?
Anonymous says
I think you should speak with the director and the teacher to find out what’s up. It’s unlikely they are trying to ge grid of your kiddo. Maybe kiddo is having issues at school? IME it’s always worth a conversation when the issue is not pressing.
Anonymous says
Agree. I’d also find out how they measure the temperature. We went through this a few times when kiddo was about 5-8 months. Kiddo would cry, they’d check her temperature using a forehead thermometer, and, not surprisingly, it would be elevated because her face was hot from crying. We’d get her home, check her temperature rectally, and it would be normal.
Anon says
This happened to us pre-Covid when my daughter was also not yet 2. I think I posted it about it here at the time. I will say in our case even when we got a normal temperature reading at home and/or the ped, my kid usually had an ear infection and needed meds. In hindsight I think they were picking up on the behavioral changes that came with sickness, and sending her home for the reason, but they don’t have a “cranky babies can’t attend daycare” policy so they said it was a fever. It hasn’t happened since Covid, and she’s generally been sick way less.
If your kid is not sick at all when this happens, I’d push back more.
Doodles says
Suggestions for birthday gifts for my 3 year old boy? He has a 5 year old brother so it feels like we have so much stuff and all the big things covered. I’m out of ideas… except maybe a bigger play table for their play room (which one?)
Anon says
do you have a nugget? tonie box? something to add onto something you already have, like a specialized magnatile set? at age 3, mine were just excited by the balloon and cupcakes
anon says
Which areas in, or around, the Grand Canyon are must-sees or must-dos for a family with older kids? Trying to book a trip to the area and am completely overwhelmed. I think one of my kids would really enjoy Hoover Dam. I would personally enjoy Lake Powell for the water activities. We’ll likely be flying into Vegas, if that matters.
Another option would be to go to Zion, and then the south rim of the Canyon, back to Vegas.
Anonymous says
I think it’s worth visiting the north rim as well as the south rim. Much quieter, different view, totally different vibe.
Anonymous says
If you’re going to spend time near the south rim, Wupatki National Monument (pueblo remains), Walnut Canyon (cliff dwellings), and Sunset Crater are all nearby and very cool, depending on how much time you want to spend in the area.