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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 112 Comments · by

Makeup & Beauty Monday: Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup

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Acne Solutions Liquid MakeupAfter I gave birth and stopped nursing, I lost control of my skin and broke out in deep, painful pimples all over my chin. It became clear that my no-foundation look was not cutting it, so I ran to the makeup counter. The woman at the counter told me it usually takes one year (!) after having a baby for your skin to return to normal, and unfortunately, I’ve found that tidbit to be mostly true. While my skin was recovering, this foundation (which contains salicylic acid and has matte coverage) helped cover my breakouts and prevent the really deep zits from forming. I’m not a makeup expert, so fortunately, I could apply this just with my fingertips — no fancy brushes needed. It’s $29 at Sephora and your local Clinique counter. Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup 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 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
  • Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
  • J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
  • Old Navy – 40% off everything
  • Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs

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About April

April is a working mom, a longtime reader of CorporetteMoms, and wrote our morning fashion advice for working moms from April 2018 to October 2020. She has one child (born 2/17!) and she’s a public interest lawyer in NYC.

Comments

  1. GCA says

    I haven’t tried this, but my drugstore budget and I have had good luck with Maybelline Dream Pure BB cream, which also contains salicylic acid. In spring I’m often between shades, so I just mix two shades and blend.

    • AwayEmily says

      I also use the Maybelline BB cream and really like it. I use the kind without the salicylic acid, though (Dream BB Fresh).

  2. Anonymous says

    Timely post for me. I’m 3 months postpartum, BFing, and my chin is a MESS. I had monthly acne there before pregnancy, it mostly went away during pregnancy and now it’s back with a vengeance except it’s constant now and no longer just a few days per month.

  3. Double Jogger says

    I need a double stroller for pushing two toddlers at once. I know I want a side by side jogger – which option would you choose:

    A) A New Thule Urban Glide 2 Double. The dream double that I want. Con is that it’s more expensive at $650
    B) A New Bob Double. I love my single Bob – I can probably get this one on sale for $500 if I’m smart and not picky on color.
    C) A Used Bob Double. Usually go for around $250 in my area, but they seem to be pretty beat up.

    What would you do? The other thing is that I’m not sure how long I’ll need the double jogger for (but I know I’ll def need it for this summer).

    • Anon says

      I love my Bob single so I’d go with the Bob. I’d keep an eye out for a used one, but if none of them are in great shape, I’d get a new one. Keep in mind (for any stroller) you can use 20% coupons at Buy Buy Baby.

    • J says

      What is the used market like for the Thule? If I could sell it in a few years for $350-$400, I’d probably get that and then plan to be diligent about selling it to get a bunch of the money back.

      • Double Jogger says

        Mmmmm. I might just get more of my money back on the Bob as it’s a better known brand name around here than the Thule.

    • Anonymous says

      An outside-the-box suggestion: consider getting one of those bicycle trailers that can be used as a jogging stroller as well. They’re essentially side by side and much cheaper than a jogger by name.

      • Double Jogger says

        Thought about that one- they don’t fold down as easily and we were recently gifted a double bike trailer.

      • J says

        We’ve looked at these. My takeaway is that while they can be a jogging stroller, it really isn’t their purpose. The stroller function is secondary and looks really lunky.

    • GCA says

      This’ll be me next summer, so I’m also thinking about this very question. I have a single Bob that is pretty destroyed after 2.5 years of running – the canopy no longer unfolds all the way, the basket is tattered, the wheels need to be pumped regularly.

      Are you planning to use it for casual running (a mile to the playground, then a mile to the splash pad, then half a mile to the store, etc) or more sustained running (eg you solo parent frequently and want to get out for 3+ miles with both kids on summer mornings)?

      How old are the kids, and how long before they outgrow the stroller or complain about its intended use?

      How regularly do you think you’ll use it – what is the cost per use?

      And what is the stroller’s resale demand/ value? Are those used Bobs pretty beat up because they’re actually on their third or fourth owner? – because I can totally see that being the case in my area. The pre-owned Bob doubles I’ve seen are often, say, a 2012 Ironman model with the fixed front wheel.

      • Double Jogger says

        That’s exactly what I’m finding!

        I’m also noticing that a lot of people either pass them on to someone they know having a 2nd kid or just hang onto them until the youngest kid is like 6 just in case they go to an amusement park or something.

    • EB says

      I think GCA’s comments above make a lot of sense.

      Just wanted to mention that someone posted a BOB on a resale page in my area the other day that she said she had “washed”. It looked brand new – shiny even! SO…I think you could hold out for one that is in structurally good condition and do a serious cleaning when you get it if it was worth that much to you to save the cash. Personally, I think I will do this myself when it comes time for it.

      • Double Jogger says

        Yeah- that’s how I got my single bob. It was super dirty but structurally good.

        I’ve been waiting around trying to find one of these, maybe I’ll call a couple consignment shops to see what they have.

    • anon says

      FWIW, I have the Thule and really like it. It’s a bit more streamlined feeling than the Bob.

      • Pogo says

        I have the Thule Urban Glide single and really like it. I got it new and will probably sell it and get a double with our next kid. Now that it is warm out I use it almost every day.

        I figure I don’t spend much money on myself for ‘fun’ stuff and definitely don’t spend much on kiddo (so many gifts and hand-me-downs). I decided I could splurge on this since running is basically my only hobby right now.

    • M says

      If you are going on real runs, my husband loves the Thule (with 80lbs of preschoolers). We were able to buy second hand in great shape. But it is a beast and not nearly as useful for just going around . For that, we’ve had pretty good luck with the mountain buggy duet, but it won’t last as long if you have big kids.

  4. Anon says

    I’m 3 years out from my last kid and my face still hasn’t returned to normal. I now get breakouts regularly and nothing seems to help. I went to a dermatologist who blamed it on hormones, and then lost all motivation to try other docs. Is this a thing? Have my hormones permanently changed or something? Do I have to just ride this out til menopause to see how they change again?

    • mascot says

      For years, I got really painful cysts on my chin that seemed to coincide with my period. About a year ago, I significantly decreased my dairy consumption and the incident rate went way down. I’d read that there was some correlation with dairy and hormonal acne. Now my chin seems to stay clear most months. I still eat the occasional pizza and cheese but cut out daily milk, yogurt, etc. Maybe give that a try and see if makes a difference.

  5. Outdoor toys? says

    It is finally spring!! We’re living in a house with outdoor space for the first time and looking to get some fun stuff for our front porch and small backyard. What’s been a hit with your kids? Ours are 2 and 3 months (I’m not expecting the three-month-old to play with anything yet, obviously).

    So far the toddler’s favorite outdoor toy by FAR is a $1 spray bottle that we let her use outside, so I’m very open to non-toy ideas, too.

    • Anonymous says

      I’d love to see this too! I think the general consensus I hear is water table. We got a splash pad/sprinkler thing for my 14 month old and she was not impressed, but I think that’s because the hose water was still so cold.

    • Anonymous says

      Try a water table – doesn’t take up a lot of room and baby will enjoy watching toddler pour the water through the different widgets. We got one that was just a water table – lots are combined water and sand tables as a combined water and sand table would have ended up being a mud table in the hands of our twins.

    • rakma says

      I handed my kids two washcloths and a bucket of water on the first really nice day and they ‘cleaned’ anything that wasn’t moving.

      Bubbles and sidewalk chalk are perpetual favorites, plus a ball. For outside toys, I really feel like the simpler the better. We do have a Little Tikes playhouse, but that’s really more about my lack of outdoor space as a child than my kids, because it gets much less use than the $5 bucket of chalk does.

    • Anonymous says

      If I had a yard, I would get a sand box and a water table in a heartbeat. My son could play in sand/water for hours.

    • J says

      Water table, small sandbox, bucket of water with paint brushes, watering can, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, little flag, pinwheels, plastic golf set. Our 2.5 year old isn’t really into her tricycle or Strider yet. She keeps some of her toys in a plastic grocery cart that she likes pushing around the driveway. She has just as much fun playing with rocks/dirt/trees/plants, etc. as the toys. She also has a playhouse with a slide, but for a small yard, I don’t think it is a necessity. The sandbox is really nice. We have one with a lid that was not very expensive (but is fairly small). I love that there is no prep time for it (versus filling up the water table and then draining it later). You just take the lid off, and it is ready to go. Then put it back on when you’re done. It is also much less of a mess than I anticipated.

    • Anon says

      My 3 year old likes his water table, yard tools (rake, broom, dustpan, shovels, etc. He loves “helping” my husband with the yard), bubble lawn mower, and basketball goal. Bubbles and chalk are also good. We also have kid size plastic adirondack chairs that are a hit.

    • Anon says

      For a different idea, get a garden (or some container gardens) – one for you and one for the kids. You grow some real plants, like tomatoes or marigolds, and the kids “grow” seeds which really means they just dig in the dirt.

      They learn about growing things from your garden, and they get to play in mud with their garden. I got mine each some dollar store dinosaurs to stomp around their garden, and let them “water” it each day. When I’m weeding my garden, they’re having the dino stomp on theirs. They haven’t grown anything yet in the 4 years I’ve been doing this, but they understand that seeds need water and sun to grow, and they will eat their weight in cherry tomatoes. I consider it a total win.

      • shortperson says

        growing carrots has been the best thing about our backyard. our kid is so proud to let all visitors dig up a carrot. you could also get a birdhouse and/or a bird feeder.

    • Rainbow Hair says

      I made a kidwash (link to follow) this weekend and it was stupid easy and SO FUN and I’m inviting everyone I know with kids to come over and run around in it! (I also have this thing about — I like Kiddo to see that Mommy can build things too, I guess, so it was fun to show here that.)

    • SC says

      My kid loves his water table and kiddie pool. He has a small watering can and a couple of gardening tools (a spade and a rake, maybe), and he’ll “help” us garden and taste the different herbs. He loves sidewalk chalk and bubbles. He also has a tiny, plastic, lightweight wagon that he loves pulling around. And he enjoys kicking balls into his soccer goal.

    • Anonymama says

      Large cardboard boxes. They can paint/draw/decorate the outsides, make them into boats and houses and cars and trains. Also some buckets/shovels, a few bendy tubes, some paintbrushes and washable paint.

  6. Anonymous says

    My insurance will cover the Spectra S2 fully, to get the Spectra S1Plus breast pump, there is an additional cost of $135. Is it worth it for that much of an additional fee? The pump itself only costs $200, so I feel like I’m barely saving any money, and that maybe the S2 would suffice? These are my first kids (twins) and so while I am hoping to breastfeed, I am also not 100% sure it will even work for me. I am sure that there could be scenarios where not having to be hooked up to an outlet is useful, but I do not anticipate a huge number of them. Thoughts?

    • AwayEmily says

      A question I can actually help with, woohoo! So, I have a Spectra S2 and it turns out that the battery pack for the Medela PIS works for the Spectra as well. I ordered the battery pack off of Amazon (“Medela Battery Pack for 9 Volt Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump”) — it was $28 and takes 8 AA batteries. It’s possible that there are cheaper off-brand ones as well but I was traveling on a long flight and didn’t want to risk it.

      I used the battery pack a couple of times over my trip and it worked great.

      So, my recommendation: get the S2 and then if you DO end up breastfeeding and in a situation where you need to pump without an outlet, then order the battery pack.

      • Pogo says

        I use this exact battery pack with my PISA and have used it several times (5 or 6?) and not needed to replace the batteries yet, so I consider it awesome. I do take the batteries out and store them in a baggy when not using. I find the suction on the battery pack (for my PISA at least) is just as good as with an outlet.

      • Anonymous says

        OP here: that seems like a genius idea. If there is an easy way to connect the battery back to the S2, this seems like the best solution

        • AwayEmily says

          Yup it is super easy — the battery pack comes with a little cord and you plug it right into the S2.

    • June says

      I believe the only difference between the S1 and S2 is that the S1 runs on battery. If that’s not the case, this may not be applicable. But I found being able to pump on battery was extremely helpful. I had to go through bouts of exclusively pumping because my baby had feeding issues, and if we were out I could keep the pump in my bag and pump without looking for a power source. At home I could walk around and prep food, unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, change diapers, get the baby up from a nap, while moving the pump around the house.

      There’s so many unknowns that at this point I would just get the free pump and later on decide what you need. Having two pumps is not a bad idea if you plan to leave one at work anyway.

      I did not buy any pump or pump parts while pregnant. My plan was to breastfeed on maternity leave and never pump. But my baby was premature so I had to start exclusively pumping. I rented a Medela symphany for 3 months. My insurance did not cover a spectra but fully covered a medela PISA. I hated the PISA, so I paid full price for the Spectra S1 (I think $160, so not that much more than the $135 you would have to pay) when my baby was 3.5 months old. I only pumped until he was 7.5 months but the cost of the S1 was so worth it to me.

    • rosie says

      I EPed (for a singleton) for a year. I would suggest getting the S2 through insurance, and then if you find you need something else, buy the Spectra S9–I got it for about $130 on Amazon. The S9 is compatible with all the same parts, is battery operated, and is smaller than the S2/S1. I keep my S2 at home and then use the S9 for trips and work, much lighter. I think having 2 pumps if you end up seriously pumping is useful. Happy to answer more questions if you have them.

    • lawsuited says

      I have the Spectra S1 and found it invaluable not to have to be connected into an outlet: most notably: pumping in the car when attending court or other events out-of-town, and pumping in my office where no outlet it accessible. In general, it was great that I could choose where I pumped based on where I was most comfortable pumping and not where there was an outlet.

    • Anon says

      I am usually either pumping at work at my desk (mostly now) or at home (when on leave). I can count on one hand the number of times I had to pump without an outlet, and for those times, a simple, cheap medela hand pump did the trick (and I still used it at home sometimes because for me it was quicker and easier). So I would save the money for now and see how it goes.

    • anon says

      I EPed and found the S1’s battery to be incredibly helpful. I could use it easily in the car, and it ended up being a life saver because there actually isn’t an outlet close to my desk in my office (I never noticed this until the time came).

    • anon says

      I am a twin mom and exclusively pumped (never got the hang of timing two competing nursing sessions and definitely couldn’t swing tandem nursing). Having a good pump was so important because I was seeking supply for two babies. I brought my Medela Obamacare pump to live at work and rented a hospital grade pump for home (I take public transportation to work). It wasn’t cheap, but we would have been buying formula anyway. I’m sorry to say, you will end up experimenting with lots of baby supplies and some will be a total loss.

      • Anonymous says

        I second this– I exclusively pumped for my twins for 9 months and you want the BEST pump to keep up a supply for two and just to stay comfortable. I can’t testify as to the Spectras, mine are two so I used the Medeal Pump n Style, but I wish I had rented the Symphony from the hospital instead because it was much gentler and quieter (though freaking enormous).

      • Anon says

        Thirding the importance of a good pump! I EP’d for 12 months for twins with the S2 and didn’t ever miss having a battery pack, but did buy a car charger.

    • consultant's wife says

      I don’t think the battery is worth the extra $$. I have the Spectra S2. On the couple of occasions I’ve had to pump in the car, I used a $10 DC to AC power converter that plugs in to (what used to be) the cigarette outlet. The fan on the converter is a little noisy but the suction felt the same. Link to come in reply.

    • consultant's wife says

      Stuck in mod. I don’t think the battery on the S1 is worth the extra cash. I have the Spectra S2. On the couple of occasions I’ve had to pump in the car, I used a cheap power converter that plugs in to (what used to be) the cigarette outlet. The fan on the converter is a little noisy but the suction felt the same. I haven’t yet experienced needing to pump somewhere that I couldn’t at least get to the car.

    • JM says

      I have the S1 and the S9. I take public transportation to work and pump three times at work in a Mothers Room (I don’t have a private office). I also travel. I found the S1 battery pack to be a lifesaver. I almost always pump without an outlet. The battery last all week and I only need to plug it in to recharge on the weekends. The S9 uses the same parts and it works for occasional travel but the suction is not as good as the S1. I used the S9 exclusively on a 4 day business trip and developed a clogged duct on day 3.

  7. Anonymous says

    Has anyone had experience with the “Mindful Return” e-course or something similar? My firm has recently added lots of resources for new parents and will pay for moms returning from maternity leave to take the course. I’m wondering if it’s worth the time?

    • NewMomAnon says

      Look into what it entails outside the course – my firm covered new parent coaching for folks returning from leave, and billed at as taking “only 45 minutes every two weeks!” But actually, those 45 minutes generated a giant to-do list of things to do in the interim, and I found myself often spending 3-10 hours between sessions. I’m sure it would have been valuable to continue, but I *really* didn’t have the time to add that obligation in on top of my regular work/parenting obligations.

  8. NewMomAnon says

    It’s been a while since I had cash to put in savings (other than retirement accounts), but I got a big tax refund and some unexpected large expense reimbursements (!) and would like to stash it away for a year, when I might be in the market for a house. Last time I did this, CDs got decent interest rates but now they look terrible. Anyone have other thoughts on a short-term investment getting 2-3% return?

    • KateMiddletown says

      If it’s just 2% you want, many online CDs are yielding that for 12mos (Ally Bank is who I use)

    • go online says

      American Express personal savings is now up to 1.55% for savings, and 1.75% for a CD. That’s where we keep our emergency fund and sinking funds. Better than what you can find at a local bank, and easy to use. The rate has gone up a few times already this year.

    • ANP says

      We’re going to have five figures’ worth of cash on hand for about a month (selling our home/renting back/closing on a new home a month later) and I asked our financial advisor about a short term spot to stash it where it could work for us. He suggest some sort of bond I think? He’s swinging by at the end of this week to discuss but I would gladly report back afterwards!

    • Anon says

      dollar savings direct . com 1.8% on a regular savings account. We recently switched and have been very happy.

  9. June says

    My son is in daycare and I need some ideas for teacher appreciation week. I was thinking of bringing in fruit salad and bagels or a pretzel tray. My husband said gift cards for dunkin donuts, starbucks etc. The baby has three regular teachers and I’m not sure what each of their favorite coffee shops are. Also what would be a decent amount? FWIW I plan to give the teachers a larger monetary gift at christmas, or if my baby leaves the room before that.

      • Moms Solo says

        This what I do plus a growler of cold brew and coffee fixings from our local coffee shop that they can share. They get TONS of food (mostly junk).

    • AwayEmily says

      My recommendation: a really heartfelt card for each of them, preferably with some specifics about why you appreciate them (something great you observed them doing, a particular way they deal with your child that you think is awesome, etc), and then cash. We did $40 for each of the three teachers but I think $20 is more standard where I live (MCOL city).

      From talking to friends who are teachers (daycare and preschool), the sense I get is that (1) they want to feel like parents actually notice all the effort they put in and (2) they very much appreciate giftcards but sometimes it can be a headache to keep track of them all, and so cash is a lot easier.

      • Two Cents says

        + 1 Cash all the way. I have so much regret thinking of all the giftcards over the years that I never used, forgot about, lost, etc. Ugh. If you feel you need some sort of card, do a Visa gift card they can use at any store.

    • Rainbow Hair says

      My preschool is out of control on this front. This week, for every day there’s a different category of cr@p we’re supposed to bring in. Like, “pamper day” … wouldn’t the five teachers rather get $10 in a card than a stupid candle/nail polish (they may or may not like!) from each of their 12 students? “appreciation in bloom” ok cool now you have a whack of flowers/potted plants?

      I told my husband this year I was just going to draw the assignment on the outside of a card and put cash on the inside, and call it a day: lipstick on the card, $ inside; flower on the card, $ inside; cupcake on the card, $ inside, etc. He told me we should play along and I volunteered him to do it. He said he would and… now he’s out of town, so it’s back on me. BOO.

  10. lawsuited says

    Definitely do a gift card. Even if you don’t know what coffee shop they prefer, they can probably get use out of a gift card to any major coffee shop. I think a Starbucks card can be especially nice as a treat even if people don’t go there for their coffee every day. Alternatively, a gift card to Target or similar would be good.

  11. Meg Murry says

    Todays “oh crap” moment – realizing my son needs a white shirt, black pants and black shoes for his first band concert on Thursday. All things he will probably only wear one time before he outgrows them. And of course he’s just started to become picky about his clothes, and he’s super skinny. Great.

    Time to spend my lunch shopping online, and we’ll probably still wind up running to a store tomorrow night. Blech.

    • mascot says

      Try Walmart/Target or any other place that might sell school uniform type clothes. Also, Gap chinos with the adjustable waist fit my slender kid.

    • Meg Murry says

      Well, I managed to find things that *might* fit from Target that say I can pick them up tonight. We shall see. I’m not even 100% sure if it’s a black and white requirement or just “clothes other than t-shirt, jeans and sneakers” but I’m going with black and white to be on the safe side.

      Yes, there was a note sent home about this a week or 2 ago, and yes, I signed it, but then I put it out of my mind and forgot all about it until just now. Crap crap crap.

    • Pogo says

      Do you have a local moms listserv or FB group you could blast to? Mine is great about this – someone will say “Totally forget Sally needs to wear tie-dye tomorrow – she’s a 4T” and within in hour several people will respond with offers.

    • BeenThatGuy says

      This was me last week! Combo of Target and Kohl’s saved the day.

    • KateMiddletown says

      Might I suggest you stop by Once Upon A Child? AS you said, 100s of kids have worn their concert clothes 1x before outgrowing. (You can’t skip laundering used clothes though, IMO, so it might add to your workload.)

  12. Pogo says

    Recommendations for baby bento boxes?

    Now that baby Pogo is taking lunch and snack every day, I’ve been sending multiple tupperwares to segregate food items but the bento box seems like a great idea. However looking on Amaz0n most seem too big – 9″ in the long dimension, intended to hold a normal sized sandwich. I don’t expect I’ll be sending him with normal sized sandwiches for quite some time. Does anyone know of a brand that makes baby/toddler sized bento boxes?

    • shortperson says

      i am a planetbox evangelist. got the rover for my baby and it’s still in excellent condition three years later. she brings it to school every day. it was not cheap but does not need replacing. and is dishwasher safe.

    • AwayEmily says

      YES! We’ve been using the “Bentgo Kids” Leakproof Childrens lunchbox daily for a year and it has been great. I like that it is just one piece rather than lots of tiny boxes, and the inner part can go through the dishwasher. And the sizes are perfect for toddler food. It really is leakproof (I’ve sent soup/yogurt/etc in one of the compartments).

    • anon says

      Depending on what you send, I use silicon muffin cups and ziplock small rectangle (two) or gladware medium square (four). I bought the fun shapes (roses and hearts), which keeps me entertained even though I don’t think my kids really care. I like having a lot of sets (three lunches to pack), and these are easy to replace.

      • Anon says

        We are packing 3 lunches as well, and do the Rubbermaid Lunchblox because they’re easy to replace or customize based on the size of the foods. And yes we have a ton of them so we don’t have to do tupperware dishes every single day – we can rinse them and do a batch wash in the dishwasher every couple days.

      • NewMomAnon says

        I use the silicon muffin cups (cheap on Amazon) and the Amazon basics 3-compartment containers. The two small compartments are a good size for cut-up fruit and shredded meat, and the bigger compartment can hold a cheese stick, some crackers, and a dressing-size container of peanut butter (no allergies at kiddo’s school, knock on wood) or dried fruit. Or two sandwich quarters and some carrots.

        One question I’ve bumped into – I often send kiddo with heated meatballs or leftover ravioli or soup, and the thermos portion size is so big that I either leave the container half empty or it comes back looking untouched. Has anyone found a very small container that can keep food warm?

        • Anon says

          We use the 10 oz Foogo jar. It’s probably still a little big for what you’re saying, but it keeps stuff warm and holds a kid-size portion of soups and pastas. It’s the smallest size I’ve found that doesn’t leak.

          • NewMomAnon says

            Yeah, the one we use now is a 10 oz too. It’s just so big. I’d love something small enough to fit in kiddo’s flat lunch box, that would hold 4-ish oz of meat/etc. I’ve found that when the bigger sizes aren’t filled all the way, they cool down more quickly.

  13. Anonymous says

    Thinking about the question above – is a Bob worth it? We have a Maclaren umbrella and a caddy stroller but need something a bit more ‘serious’. I’d love to buy a used Bob, but the older models don’t have an adjustable handlebar which between me at 5’2″ and my husband over 6′ we do seem to need. I’m having trouble stomaching paying $400 for it though. Alternatives? Or is it worth the cost?

    • ANP says

      Totally worth it! I’m 5’4″ and husband is 6’1″, so I feel you on the adjustable handlebar — but we got a single BOB with our first (who is now 8.5) and it’s lasted through three kids (youngest will be 3 in July) and it’s never been an issue for either of us. Both of us push it on walks and run with it. A great stroller is SO worth the money because it makes a big annoying thing just…easier. Not sure how many kids you have but one nice thing about the BOB single is we can have another kid pop onto the front of the stroller if s/he gets tired so it’s a de facto double stroller when necessary. Now, my caveat is that we have our BOB and that’s it — other than having a double stroller for the years when we had two really little kids, it’s always been our sole stroller (no umbrella stroller, for example). After 8.5 years with this thing it’s still in great shape and I know will hold its value for resale. Highly recommend!

  14. Rainbow Hair says

    I recognize this is ridiculous, but I’m still here for the tips!

    My marriage is very stereotypical 1950’s TV family: one parent stays home and manages everything in the house, groceries, cooking, cleaning, and that leaves the other free to work, including sometimes unpredictable travel. Except in my marriage, I’m the ‘dad.’ My husband does all the household stuff and is pretty great at it.

    But UH OH! He’s out of town now. This is arguably the first time in Kiddo’s memory that he won’t be there at bedtime. I know the routine because we do it together every night I’m home, but she’s worked up about the fact that he won’t be there.

    Any tips for making it smoother? Should I try to do what he does and what I do when we do it together, or make up some totally new “this is what we do when it’s just us” thing? She’s three and very into routines.

    I should take her out to dinner, right?

    • anon says

      Can he either Facetime or text a good night video to play for her? My kids also love to send very elaborate emoji paragraphs to feel connected to an absent family member. We will open a text conversation to that person, give them the emoji keypad and let them go to town. Also ice cream doesn’t hurt in any toddler situation. So Mommy/Kiddo ice cream time with whipped cream before bedtime might be nice.

    • Mrs. Jones says

      You might see if Dad call call/skype to say good night just before bedtime.
      I wouldn’t necessarily start some elaborate new procedure that you will then feel like you have to continue forever.

      • Anon in NYC says

        I agree about the skype/facetime before bed. Once my daughter was around 2-ish, we try to facetime once or twice with DH when he travels (about once a quarter, for a week at a time). But this is very much a know-your-kid situation. My daughter is fine with it and doesn’t get upset, even if it does prompt a lot of discussions afterwards about where daddy is. We facetime with grandparents and aunts/uncles so she knows the deal. She is excited to see him on the phone.

        I would stick to routine. You can certainly plan a fun thing to do as a special treat – dinner in the park / at a restaurant, but keep the bedtime routine the same.

    • anon says

      We are somewhat similar – DH works, but handles most of the nighttime routine (I did things like the dishes, while he handled bath and pretty much everything else). When my kids were younger and Dad was out of town, we did take out and a movie, so totally different. Which my kids loved. But you know your kid best…at 3, she’s old enough to choose. Maybe give her two clear but different options?

      • Rainbow Hair says

        Oh this is a good idea! I wish she watched movies, but unfortunately she seems to have inherited her mother’s attention span (or maybe she’s just a kid). But I think I can do something like that: takeout to eat at home then swim for a minute, OR go out to dinner together. Something like that…

    • NewMomAnon says

      How long is he out of town? If it’s just one night, stick with the usual routine and be ready for a challenging wind down. Only consider changing the routine if he’s gone for 3 or more nights.

      Also, I’ve found that the actual steps of the routine are less important than the confidence you project in transitioning between them. So if you know the current steps cold, do that instead of waffling on some new routine.

      Also, consider getting takeout and eating it as a picnic at a park. One of the best things you can do for bedtime prep is to wear your kid out beforehand with fresh air and exercise.

      • Rainbow Hair says

        Excellent advice about confidence between steps, AND about a potential park picnic!

        • NewMomAnon says

          I plan to spend all of Mother’s Day outside with kiddo, including three picnics, because then she won’t destroy the house and there won’t be any dishes to wash. Bonus: tired kid means early bedtime.

    • K says

      Nooooo! We bought our now 6 1/2 yo a bike last summer from Target, and I think it was less than $100. Or somewhere right around there. But I remember looking at some alternatives at Walmart that were more around $70 or $80.

    • KateMiddletown says

      Walmart has great bike options. And you can order online and pick up in store so you don’t have to F around. My then 6 year old got one for Christmas last year ~$50.

      • KateMiddletown says

        And I’m so glad I didn’t spend more on it since it’s like pulling teeth to get her to ride it. (She did say she would be soooo much more likely to ride her bike if she had a doll seat on the back, which is what she’s getting as a gift for her first communion this weekend.)

    • anon says

      Uh, no. Where are you looking for bikes? A 6-year-old does not need the same quality of bike you’d find at a specialty shop. Sporting goods stores, Target and Wal-Mart all have good options around $100.

    • Anonymous says

      They don’t need to cost $300 but I would not get a cheapo from Target or similar. It’s worth investing some cash on a good bike for 6-year-old who may develop attitudes about bike riding from their first experience. Really recommend going to a local bike shop to find something that fits (and is properly adjusted for your kid). You can resell a bike that you spend more money on, because it will still be in great condition when your kiddo outgrows it. You can also look for used bikes – local bike shop might be able to help with that.

      (I say this as the most casual of riders, but my kids have been very into biking and I’m so glad we spent the money on good bikes that have grown with them and most importantly that FIT them and are solid quality so kids can just ride and not worry about parts falling off.)

    • NewMomAnon says

      I have yet to buy kiddo a brand new bike – every garage sale and sporting goods swap in my town has a plentiful selection of high quality used kids bikes for cheap. I would also check Craigslist at this time of year.

    • Anonymous says

      Look for a good quality bike second hand and spruce it up with accessories – bell, streamers, basket, spoke thingys as applicable to your kid.

    • Anonymous says

      I got a 16″ Specialized off of Craigslist for under $50. This is an item with a short lifespan – buy used!

  16. avocado says

    A bike for a 6-year-old does not have to cost $300. The entry-level Trek models are less than that at full retail and can be purchased for much less in good condition used. There should be a FB group for used bike sales in your area. Check local bike stores too—some take trade-ins and sell them used. I got my kid’s Trek mountain bike nearly new for something like $150 at our local bike store.

    • CHL says

      All helpful – used high-quality seems to be the way to go, but many of you seem to be happy with Target as well. I’m not a huge biker so it’s hard to tell how important different qualities are when they’re so little.

      • NewMomAnon says

        I’ve ridden both; you’ll find that a Trek or higher quality is lighter weight, has smoother braking, and the handlebars might turn more smoothly. It may also be easier to adjust the seat height, which is a big deal for little kids bikes. If you’re buying a bike with gears that shift or hand brakes, you’ll notice a big difference in usability between the Target/Walmart bikes and a higher quality bike. But I think bikes for 6 year olds usually don’t have gears or hand brakes, so it’s probably weight/ease of braking/seat height adjustments.

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