This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Happy Thursday! I love all things Alexis Bittar, and this bib necklace is no exception — the gold/beige is such an unusual color for a necklace. It’s the kind of piece you can wear while pregnant, nursing, or beyond — lovely. It’s $345 at ShopBop. Alexis Bittar Crystal Embellished Sabre Bib Necklace
Here’s a similar lower-priced option.
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Zappos – 26,000+ 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 – 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
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
Click here to see our top posts!
And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Philanthropy Girl says
I just cannot get into the bib necklace look. They always look awkward to me.
KJ says
Ever since I was pregnant, I have found that I can’t deal with large or heavy necklaces anymore. I just want to be comfortable and unencumbered to the extent that I can. Plus they are a pain when I’m taking off my shirt for pumping.
CPA Lady says
How do you know when your milk has dried up vs. your kiddo going on a nursing strike? I’ve been mostly formula feeding my 5 month old, was still nursing her once in the morning and once at night, and have recently dropped the night feeding on nights when I work late (about half the time). Since yesterday evening my daughter has refused to nurse, and just gets super upset if I try to get her to. So, at this point, she has skipped two nursings. I am not terribly surprised if this is my milk drying up, especially since I don’t seem to be terribly engorged… thoughts? For what it’s worth, I’m a little sad but not devastated if we’re done, since my original goal was 12 weeks, and my new goal was 6 months.
Jen says
Does she take a bottle after refusing to nurse? Do you pump at all? If you pump when she “strikes,” do you get milk?
CPA Lady says
This morning I went to give her the normal first thing in the morning nursing, and she refused to nurse. She then promptly downed a 6 oz bottle right afterwards. I don’t pump at all, since she has never gone on strike before. I’ve actually pumped twice ever– once in the hospital and once a couple weeks post partum when I had an engorgement issue. A little milk leaked out of one this morning, but nothing out of the other. I guess I need to try pumping?
Liz says
To maintain your milk supply through a nursing strike or when baby is sick try to pump when the baby would usually eat. I don’t have any experience with nursing strikes, but my little one refused to nurse when she had an ear infection.
Mean Mommy says
Any chance you’re due to get your period? My supply dips when I have my period — which came back ~ 3 months postpartum, despite exclusively breast feeding.
Anonymous says
Squeeze your breast. If milk comes out, you have milk. If it doesn’t, you don’t.
BabyonBrain says
OK ladies, talk to me about spacing. I have a 6 month old and I’m anxious to start trying for another. It’s irrational as I’m sleep deprived, my supply is tanking and I could never afford child care for a second right now. I’m not really going to start TTC now, but it has been on my brain constantly. I’m 33 and conceived my first fairly quickly, but am anxious that #2 might take longer.
Is this hormones? Anxiety? Just pure craziness? Anyone have experience with 18-20 months spacing between kids? Anyone go through these emotions and eventually had common sense kick in?
CPA Lady says
As far as spacing goes, I found this article really interesting: http://www.thealphaparent.com/2012/07/what-no-one-tells-you-about-child.html
That said, I totally understand how you feel. When I was about 12 weeks postpartum I had this huge bout of baby fever and sort of thought about what it might be like to quit my job and become Michelle Duggar (not really, but kind of). Even though it would be super dangerous for me (post C-section), I occasionally sort of idly wish that I’m accidentally already pregnant again. I think it’s partly hormones and partly the overwhelming realization of how much you love your child– it’s easy to get swept up with “I want another one!”
pockets says
Alphaparent really bugs me. They have great articles like the one you mention, but then they have these ridiculously over-the-top breastfeeding is amazing formula is tantamount to child abuse articles like this: http://www.thealphaparent.com/2011/10/why-way-you-feed-your-baby-is-my.html
Ugh. I can’t even.
JJ says
I don’t say “I can’t even” a lot, but that blog post. I can’t even.
BabyonBrain says
Oh my goodness. That is deplorable. I’m heartbroken that I need to begin supplementing with formula, but I’m certainly not “anti-formula.” Ugh is right.
Mean Mommy says
Ugh, crap like that makes me want to formula feed out of spite.
Not only is that a totally nasty, unhelpful,and mean post — many of her points are wrong (contraceptive effects of breastfeeding) and/or conflate correlation with causation (e.g., breastfeeding rates and crime).
Pardon me while I mutter nasty names under my breath at my desk.
CPA Lady says
I actually almost posted something about how I don’t generally like Alphaparent, but that was a good article, I think… Alphajerk is more like it.
Other says
I was feeling defensive about my kids’ spacing (apparently 2 year spreads lead to all kinds of jealousy and long term problems) after reading that article – obviously irrational, but whatever, I’m recently post-partum. However, after seeing this post, I completely don’t trust the author’s interpretation of the cited studies on the spacing article. It actually makes me feel better!
Lyssa says
I was really enjoying the spacing article, but I kept kind of thinking “Has this *really* been shown as a cause, or just a correlation?” After reading that dreadful formula article, I certainly had my answer!
If I were somehow put in charge of grand cosmic punishments (which I should be), I would decree that the author have “Correlation does not equal causation!” tattooed on her forehead for all of eternity.
PregLawyer says
The breastfeeding wars make me so sad. The reality is that breastfeeding is a luxury that most of us simply can’t afford. It requires a mother to either be able to stay at home with her baby for an extended period of time, or have a job that allows her to take regular breaks in a private space for pumping. It’s just not feasible for so many women, even those of us who have office jobs.
I won’t be pumping at work. It’s too much of a production. So I’m going to be a formula mom. It will allow me to be more efficient at work, which will allow me to spend more time at home with my family, and it will allow my husband to participate in nighttime feedings and establish an early bond between him and his son — and to establish early on that we are equal caregivers.
I think it’s wonderful if you have the type of lifestyle that allows you to breastfeed for an extended period of time. But that is a privilege.
Other says
Well said.
mascot says
And this is why I have to read the Sanctimommoy snark page to clear posts like this out of mind. Formula feeding causes increased infant mortality and morbidity and delayed development? Awesome, because you know what else would have caused that for my child? My not producing enough milk. But thanks Alphaparent for reminding me of that awful week when they recalled all the powdered formula and my supply tanked simultaneously.
Rant over, Carry on
babies says
Ha – I never wanted 3 kiddos until my first was about 5 months old. It was irrational. My son basically stopped sleeping between 4 months and 8 months, and I had just gone back to work and was extremely (insanely) busy. My husband and I fought about how to manage schedules, night-wakings, and pick-up/drop-offs. It was really, really hard. Still, during this time, I became convinced that I wanted all. the. children, even though husband and I had never discussed wanting more than 2. Looking back, I realize that I thought I was “missing” precious baby time b/c we were struggling so hard to get through it (the phrase “you’ll miss this!” would literally reduce me to tears b/c right then, I just wanted it over and done).
I think, to a certain degree, that I felt guilty b/c I was gone so much, and I felt like I could choose quantity over quality? So I wanted to hurry up and get another baby on the way, and still have another after that, so it wouldn’t be the “last time” we’d be going through the baby phases and I would have a do-over of what I was missing. Or, that we’d have enough cumulative “good” time with the babies that I wouldn’t have regrets about missing time for work, but feeling guilty that I was still so dang frustrated when he wouldn’t sleep at night, even though it was actually time I could spend with him.
Anyway, lots of people have lots of thoughts about what the “best” spacing for the kiddos is, but I just wanted to share my thoughts if you really think wanting to try for 2 is more of an emotional knee-jerk reaction coming from somewhere other than the desire to have 2 kids close in age. In hindsight, I wish I would have chilled out b/c we probably are done after 2. I changed jobs, and then really enjoyed the ages 12 mos to 24 mos, and it could have been fun to focus on our big kid without the exhaustion/fatigue/limitations of pregnancy. We had our little girl, and I love the little relationship blooming between them, but I could have easily waited another year and really enjoyed the pregnancy and savored what will truly be our last baby.
KJ says
Ha, I have a 10 month old, and even though I *know* I don’t want another one just yet (At least ONE night of 8 hours of sleep would be nice first!) I find myself idly thinking about baby names ALL the time. Then I catch myself, like “What are you thinking?” But then I go back to considering how my name ideas sound with my daughter’s name. (In case you were wondering, Phantom Baby is also a girl.) I think it’s natural, but I’m not taking it as a sign that we need speed things along for #2. I’m also 33, so there is some time pressure, but not omg let’s try again immediately kind of pressure.
JJ says
So. I have two boys, 18 months apart. We knew we wanted a second child (and then maybe a third, but more on that later), but we didn’t intend for them to be *quite* as close in age.
No lie – the 6 months after that second baby is born is hard. Like, really hard. Your oldest is just barely old enough to be almost self-sufficient but not quite and the baby will need constant attention. It didn’t help that our second-born was also colicky, a terrible sleeper, had horrible acid reflux that required daily prilosec pills, and just a high-maintenance baby. Our first was SO EASY so this was a total shock to us. Maybe you’ll be blessed with an easy second baby, but it’s very possible that it can go the other way.
Our second was also born right at the beginning of cold and flu season, which meant that every time our oldest came home with a daycare virus, we had to attempt to keep them segregated to keep the baby from getting sick, getting a fever, and going to the hospital. Once the baby is older than 3 months, this get a lot easier, but it’s a pretty big stressor at a time when you’re sleep deprived.
And then! After six months, it all changed. Our baby was easier. The oldest was two and could tell us what he wanted and was fairly self-sufficient. The baby slept better and we got into a routine. The most important thing about surviving that earlier period was that my husband and I could completely trust each other to pick up the slack, give the other person a breather, assist where necessary, and just generally be a team and playing man-on-man defense.
My oldest turns three on Sunday (sniff!), and life is pretty awesome right now. My kids play together every chance they get. My oldest calls his brother his “best friend.” They can even play unsupervised for short bits of time. There are still times when both of them are sick or crying, but that will happen with kids at any age. We’ve decided we’re done with two kids (we can thank my second’s terrible baby phase for that) because we finally feel like we’ve got a handle on life now.
TL;DR: The first six months are so hard. But it gets better. I love that my kids are so close and that we’ll be done with diapers and baby phases in one fell swoop. Having a partner you can count on makes all the difference in the world.
BethC says
My oldest turns 3 tomorrow! (Sniff, too.)
2Under2 says
I was 33 when baby #1 was born. It wasn’t until he was 10 m/o that I thought, “getting pregnant wouldn’t be THE WORST.” I was exclusively breastfeeding and my period hadn’t yet returned. Because it took us a year to get pregnant with #1, I never went back on birth control. A couple months after I quit breastfeeding, my period still hadn’t returned. Whaddya know, I was pregnant! The kiddos are 22 months apart. It was a rocky transition at first. Not only was #1 entering a tantrum stage, we had a lot of other upheaval in our lives at the same time. Now, about 7 months in, I couldn’t be happier. Baby #2 is probably our last, but I’m going through a lot of the same feelings that babies above is going through. It’s bittersweet when you have a last first.
babies says
ha – “last first” is a far more concise way to state my point above. I still haven’t quite gotten over my fear of the last first, and hopefully won’t end up with 19 babies as a result.
Also, to the more practical point of the question, husband and I are starting to look past the baby phases, and think about what life with kids will look like. We are incredibly excited about traveling with the kids as active participants, and for them to start really learning and participating in the activities that we love (sailing, skiing, hiking, etc.). It would be much harder to start this phase if we had a big age spread, or if we ended up with a little “caboose,” as a dear friend calls her 3rd child who was born 5 years after her 2nd.
BabyonBrain says
Great insight, ladies. It’s refreshing to hear that I’m not the only one who has gone through this. I know I need to focus on recovering and caring for my little one, before I can start TTC. Despite exclusvely breastfeeding, my period returned after 3-4 months — I guess I was starting to think that was a sign that the universe wants me to start planning on #2! Instead the return of my cycle has really interfered with my supply, and I know getting pregnant would just make it worse.
Spirograph says
Mine are 20 months apart. I’m still on maternity leave with #2, so I have no long term perspective, but I’m surviving. I’m actually not nearly as exhausted as I thought I’d be, but I’m sure that will change when I have to go back to work and can’t take a 3-hour nap every morning. I nursed baby #1 for a year and got pregnant basically the instant I weaned him… so, as I remarked to my husband the other day, I haven’t had my body to myself since 2012. We kind of planned that, though; I didn’t take BC at all after baby #1 because we wanted kids close together in age. We haven’t decided whether we want a third or fourth yet, but I got my BC prescription filled today. I want a little more space between the potential next one for 1. financial reasons — I do not want to afford 3 kids in daycare! and 2. So I can have a break, physically. The thought of being pregnant again right now makes me want to curl up and cry, even though I had very easy pregnancies by all objective measures.
My son has been kind of cranky since the new baby was born. Part of it is that he’s just getting into that willful toddler phase, but I’m sure part of it is the baby. If he were a little older/more verbal, I think that would have been smoother. Also, I have no idea how I’m going to sleep train again because I really don’t want infant waking up toddler in the middle of the night while she cries it out.
I was kind of hoping for another boy, since they’re so close in age (and then I totally would have been able to justify #3 in hopes of a girl) — I figured that would streamline future activities and they’d be natural playmates, etc. But of course I love my little girl, and her brother is totally smitten with her (all his little toddler angst is directed at me and my husband), so hopefully they’ll still play well together.
2Under2 says
If anyone has advice on how to sleep train w/a toddler next door to the infant, I’d love to hear it.
JJ says
We had white noise waves playing pretty loudly (relatively) in my toddler’s room all night. I think that helped drown out the sleep training crying.
Queen of Nacho Picchu says
I sleep trained my 17 month old son, and now have a 1 month old daughter that I plan to sleep train in a few months. My son sleeps in his own room with a white noise machine and my daughter sleeps in our room for now. I’d like to eventually have my daughter sleep in my son’s room. Anyone have experience sleep training an infant with a toddler sleeping in the same room? Do you just go for it and out them in the same room when sleep training and expect that the infant will wake the toddler? Or do you sleep train the infant in your room and then move them into the toddler’s room once they sleep well?
NewMomAnon says
This is for Queen of Nacho Picchu – check out the archives for the Mommy Shorts blog. Her kids were a little older, but she did sleep training while they were in the same room.
Spirograph says
Thank you for suggesting Mommy Shorts! We have the same two-kids-in-one-room plan, and I feel a lot better about it now. My toddler’s a pretty sound sleeper and goes to bed with no problem at the moment (knock on wood), so maybe if I’m lucky he’ll be as cooperative as the author’s daughter.
NewMomAnon says
Mommy Shorts is one of my favorite mommy blogs. It’s gotten a little ad-heavy since she quit her day job, but it’s still really good. If you want a belly laugh, read the comments in the post about things husbands do during labor that infuriate their wives….
2Under2 says
Mommy shorts makes me believe we can do this. Thanks for the recommendation! Sleep training starts TONIGHT. Wish us luck!
Jen says
I have a 16 month old and have only recently started thinking seriously about a second. As in, I am FINALLY not Majorly Annoyed by the idea of giving up my body as an incubator then dairy for the next 1.5-2 years :) I am a few years younger than you (had my first just before turning 30) so am tossing around the 2 vs 3 idea and if we go for 3, we need to get on it sooner rather than later. Childcare for 2 vs 3 is going to be somewhat a non-issue as I think we’ll be hiring a nanny for #2 (and #1) so adding #3 into the mix is just a matter of increasing the nanny’s rate vs a whole new kid in daycare.
Famouscait says
The semi-annual kids consignment sale is coming up in a few weeks in my town, and I’m wondering what I should be on the look-out for. Kiddo is currently 16 weeks old. He has what he needs in terms of clothes and such, but I’m wondering if there’s gear that he’ll need (like a Bumbo seat, for example) for the 6 – 9 month stage that I could get used? We’re also taking him on a trip to Europe and Scandinavia this summer (when he’ll be 9 months old) so if there’s gear that’s useful for traveling, I’d appreciate any suggestions.
POSITA says
Here are a few things I would look for:
I would look for sleep sacks that correspond roughly to the size your kid will be this summer and next fall. Something lightweight for summer and warm for winter.
Since you’re traveling, I’d look for an Ergo if you don’t have one already.
Your little one will probably be ready to push a walker around 9 months, so some sort of stable push toy would be good. Ours got a lot of use starting around month 8, but she was on the early end of walking.
My little one also really liked knocking over soft blocks at that age and stacking stacking cups. By about 10 months she loved her ring stacker. That would be easy to get now and he can gum the rings for now. Our little one also really loved big sensory balls from 6 months – 16 months. Totally obsessed.
You might also keep your eyes out for soft and barely used shoes for when your little one starts cruising. Something super soft with a leather sole is good.
We were glad we picked up a bag of toddler silverware at a sale. It got a lot of use starting just after 1 year. It’s easy to stick in a drawer until you’re ready for it.
Our little one really liked her bumbo from about 4-5 months, but was sitting independently by 6 months. It was a really limited use product for us.
Hope that helps!
mascot says
+1 to an Ergo and a walker. My son adored his walker that I picked up for $5 at a consignment sale. Also, washable swim diapers and Halloween costumes are nice to get at a bargain.
Meg Murry says
It isn’t a need, but an exersaucer or jumper is a good thing to pick up used if it otherwise looks clean (just throw out any fabric based toys, and wipe down all the plastic surfaces with diluted bleach.
Great for containing kid for a few minutes so you can cook something or fold some laundry.
I’ve also gotten good deals on second strollers – so you can look for either a small keep in trunk type if you currently have a giant one, or vice versa if you currently have a compact one to put in the trunk and you have a garage/shed its nice to be able to leave a large on there for walks.
anonnie (advice on Pack N Play) says
I am hoping to get some wisdom from the collective. After reading many old posts, it appears that there is a strong consensus that a Pack N Play is a good place for a newborn to sleep and then, once they are too old to sleep in one, it still has multiple uses.
I’ve been researching Pack N Plays and the one that I found that I thought I liked–Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat, Winslet–has some bad reviews on amazon that are making me wonder if it’s the right one. (The concerns raised by the bad reviews sound like things that I would not be happy with.)
Does anyone have a recommendation for a Pack N Play that they really liked and were able to keep using in various ways after the baby was past the newborn stage?
Thank you so much in advance!
noob says
I believe this is the one that we have:
She slept in the Newborn Napper until she was about 2.5 months and just a smidge too long for it. It provided a cuddly, curved sleeping space that I think was better for her sleep than the flat surface. She hated having her arms swaddled at that age, but the napper kept the startle reflex at bay.
I think I used the changing station once — her room with the diaper pail was just ten steps away, plus it looked a bit flimsy for anything but a fairly immobile, small baby.
Since she’s been in her room since she was 3 months, I’ve only used it for clothes storage or to put her in while I get ready (without any clothes in there). But we’re going to use it as a containment device in the living room once she’s more mobile.
We never used the hanging toy thing — by the time she would have been interested in it, she was too big for the napper, but she enjoyed the hanging toys at the Pack N Play at my parents.
I’d say make the choice based on the color you like, the accessories are pretty short-lived I think.
Famouscait says
We used this Tiny Love rocker/napper exclusively when the baby was a newborn. We chose it instead of a pack n play because we could move it from room to room around the house as needed.
http://www.tinylove.com/en/cozy-rocker-napper
anonnie (advice on Pack N Play) says
That looks adorable! That’s what I initially wanted, but somehow I got persuaded towards the bigger Pack N Play models… How old was your any when he/she outgrew it? I assume that once the baby is too big for it, that’s pretty much it and it is no longer of any use?
Famouscait says
It turns into a chair-type thing, so we should be able to use it still for a while. We moved my little boy into his crib when he was about 2 months old. I think the pack n play is a good choice if you think you’ll be traveling by car often and need to take a crib. Otherwise, I prefer the Tiny Love because we could move it from room to room. He’d sleep in it in the living room during the day when I was home on maternity leave, we’d move it to our bedroom while we ate/watched a movie at night, and then back to the living room for overnight. I think he liked it’s small size/coziness, and it’s ever so slightly inclined when laying flat, which seemed to help his colic. We liked that it took up much less space than a pack n play.
RR says
I have that Pack N Play for my 3rd, who is now 18 months. Honestly, we never used the cuddle cove. I’m not sure it’s safe for sleeping. We only put her in it a couple times while showering or something–so using it as a very second choice bouncy seat. But the PNP itself is great. The changing table was fine. I wouldn’t put her on it now, but when she was little and we were using it it worked great. We still use it for travel. But, if you are paying extra for the cuddle cove, I’d forgo it and instead find one with a changing table that folds up and down or a better storage section for diapers and wipes. All the Graco pack n plays are the same solid travel playpen/bed. It’s the extras for infants that distinguish them.
We had this one with our twins, and I LOVED it. Should have bought it again. http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Pack-Silhouette-Playard-Farrow/dp/B00BDBWTCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424368112&sr=8-1&keywords=graco+silhouette+pack+and+play
anonnie (advice on Pack N Play) says
Ooooh! Thank you!!!!
I clearly think everything is adorable today, but in all my searches I didn’t come across this one. Does the changing area (or what I assume is the changing area) get folded back or does it always have to be out like that?
Anonyc says
Late to the game–we had the same model (different pattern) and used it as a bassinet for all three kids, then a travel sleeper. I highly recommend. The changing station is great in the beginning, and when kiddos start rolling/moving/escaping we switched to changing them on the floor (which was also when they were pushing the weight limit for the changer). The bassinet attachment you can eventually ditch and just use as a regular PNP for travel and the like (ex: sleep training an infant in your room because you have an older sibling/shared bedroom situation).
We have always lived in small city apartments and it’s great to have a bassinet/infant sleeper that folds up and has other multiple uses. I’ll also highly recommend getting gently used PNPs and leaving them at grandparents or other places you will visit regularly (one less thing to pack and worry about).
Sarabeth says
We have, and love, the Guava Family Lotus Crib (pardon the super-hippy name). Our daughter started sleeping in it at 6 months, so we didn’t get the bassinet attachment, but I’m sure that it is equally well made.
Why we like it: non-toxic materials, packs down small and light, and has the side zipper. The zipper seems like a small thing, but it’s actually super-nice for our daughter to be able to get in and out of it on her own. My back is pretty happy not to be constantly bending down to pick up a 17 month-old.
Watermelon says
+1 on the Lotus. The zipper is great for side-lying nursing and then not having to move a sleeping baby
Famouscait says
Question about flying to Europe with a 9-month-old: nonstop flight vs. 1 layover. The nonstop flight equals 9 hours of travel time. One stop makes it approx. 14 hours of travel time. The cost for nonstop is considerably more (~$800) Is it really worth the extra cost to fly nonstop? We will have never flown with the kiddo before, FWIW, and he will be in his own seat.
Spirograph says
$800 per ticket, or $800 total? Actually it doesn’t matter, for that much money, I’d suck it up and deal with the extra 5 hours. Plus getting to walk around on the layover might be exactly what you need for your sanity after the first flight.
FWIW, I did a (much shorter) flight by myself with my son when he was around that age, and it went really smoothly. There’s hope! Good luck!
Amelia Bedelia says
I have flown 14 times (!) with my seven month old. I would answer a resounding YES to the nonstop flight, whatever the cost. I’ll explain my reasons, though, as they may not be worth it to you.
I have flown three times on stopovers (because of necessity, i.e., to small cities where no direct service available). Inevitably, the following happened:
1. baby needs to nurse/eat at PRECISELY the same time we are either landing, beginning deboarding process, or waiting in line to board. This equals screaming baby and frazzled mummy because baby must wait.
2. baby falls asleep 20 minutes before we land. Leaving plane awakens bebe and baby refuses to go back to sleep on layover because the terminal is SO exciting. This equals fussy baby.
3. baby has a blowout when about to board. This one was really fun. admittedly, this can happen on a nonstop, but I like to minimize the times I am boarding when bad things can happen.
4. on one flight, baby had ear infection. If we had TWO take offs and TWO landings that would have been miserable for baby and mummy (of course, this probably will nto happen with you, but do you know how well your child travels? are take offs and landing painful? if so, it is worth the cost to minimize).
5. if you are traveling with stroller right to the plane (which, admittedly, I do not do), it is a MAJOR pain to take child in and out of stroller to board and leave plane. I’d want to minimize that. I travel with baby in a wrap (and now ergo, because older) and I like to minimize the amount of times I put baby in and then remove.
6. with a 14 hours total travel time, baby will at least need to sleep part of the time on the layover. Terminals are noisy and it is almost impossible to find (a) a clean/private place to nurse if you desire that; and (b) a quiet place to nap. If your child is not a deep sleeper (mine is not), this makes the layover unbearable and makes for VERY cranky bebe when board second flight. Much easier to get child to sleep in a dedicated row.
If those reasons aren’t a big deal to you, then save money.
NewMomAnon says
My 12-month old is really, really interested in the toilet and likes to be with me when I am using the toilet (because who doesn’t want observers in the bathroom, amiright?). I don’t think she is ready for potty training, but I’m thinking of getting her a potty seat in the (probably naive) hope that it would keep her seated and out of the way instead of dropping things in the toilet/unrolling the toilet paper/flushing the toilet, etc while I use it. I know there are risks to “forcing” toilet training early, but is there any downside to letting her sit on a potty seat before she is really ready for potty training? Has anyone tried this and had good/bad/neutral experiences or advice?
Anonymous says
I don’t think it would cause any problems. My kid got really into watching me go to the bathroom around that age. We put a potty seat in the bathroom for the same reasons you mentioned, but he didn’t care to sit on it and instead would continue to cause mayhem in the bathroom. I particularly enjoyed the phase where he would try to push me off the toilet so he could see what I was doing. We potty trained him when he was about 2.5, so I don’t think early exposure to a potty seat caused any long-term issues.
BethC says
My daughter showed an interest around 14 months, so I bought two potties for upstairs and downstairs. She sat on them when my husband or I used the bathroom, but didn’t get much out until she was 2. When we finally decided to start potty training at 2.5 it was a breeze
I think it’s a good approach as long as you are sure to avoid any pressure.
PinkKeyboard says
Question: I’m 18 weeks and was hoping to find a Mom’s group in my area but it seems like everything I find is for stay at home mom’s and meets at fabulous times like 10:30am….. Does anyone have ideas for finding groups that accommodate working mothers? Most of my friends live fairly far and it would be nice to meet some people in my area.
Newly pregnant says
Are you in NYC? I’d be happy to meet up!
PinkKeyboard says
Philadelphia, darn!
pockets says
I went to those while on maternity leave, then made friends with the working moms in the group and now meet them on weekends or after work.
mascot says
Yeah, I agree with Pockets. Also, when baby gets a bit older, you can do baby music classes or story time or some other enrichment activity with weekend hours. It’s a good way to meet other parents, many of whom also work. I’ve made friends with parents in my child’s schools too since you seem them regularly at pick-up and drop off.
PinkKeyboard says
It didn’t occur to me to go on maternity leave and just carry on relationships, thanks! This is like when my driver’s side door handle broke and I was climbing in the car… cue my husband asking why I didn’t just reach over and open the door. Face ->Palm.