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This Anne Klein dress seems perfect for those of you who prefer wrap dresses for pumping and more — dresses like this are also great for weight fluctuations. I like the basic black with the abstract, colorful pattern, and it seems well reviewed over at Amazon. It’s $99, eligible for Prime, and (unfortunately) currently available in lucky sizes only. Anne Klein 3/4-Sleeve Printed ITY Wrap Dress
Here’s a wrap dress in plus sizes.
P.S. This month at Figure8 Maternity, nursing tops, sweaters, and cardigans are 20% off with code NURSINGTOPS2016 — and through August 31, Figure8 is doubling rewards dollars for all purchases (so you’ll get 10% back).
(L-3)
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
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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?
Anonymous says
So, my 2.5-year-old daughter seems B O R E D at daycare. I’ll be the first to tell you, my daughter is one smart cookie (said somewhat tongue-in-cheek; everyone thinks their child is the most brilliant, right?). She’s my first and only, and I’m a single mom. Don’t really know where to start, but her tantrums are making it clear to me that she needs more interactive learning experiences. I’d love to give her something that she can do, learn with, on her own, while I make dinner or breakfast. Is the answer to sign her up for some one-a-week class that Grandma can take her to while I’m at work? What does a 2.5-year-old *need*?
CHJ says
Have you tried having her help make breakfast and dinner with you? If that’s too much hassle, how about interactive creative toys (magnatiles, Lincoln logs, train sets, etc.)? Or art projects like crayons and washable markers?
OP says
I have tried including her in cooking with me, but she wants to do EVERYTHING all by herself — which is unsafe, esp with knives, gas stoves, etc. She has a huge train set but doesn’t seem too interested (maybe needs someone to show her how to play with it?). She has art projects, but again, just scribbles on the page until the page rips, and/or the crayon breaks, then throws it and screams. She LOVES playing with water — filling cups and dumping them out — so i will frequently park her in front of the kitchen sink while i’m cooking. But that’s not ideal for every single day. She needs some variety.
Anonymous says
Scribbles on the page until it rips is pretty standard at this age. Just give her a new piece so she can finish ‘drawing’
Anonymous says
Oh, good. This is all really helpful. The tantrums are not during meal prep time (usually) — they are when we pull into the parking lot at my apartment building. She calms down when I start to teach her things — about the car, about the dirt in the parking lot, about any random thing I have in the car — and last night she said she’s bored at daycare. Her daycare is a hybrid preschool/daycare program. They have structured activities during the day (which is what I would expect from preschool) but they have classrooms for children from 3 months through 5 years.
Thank you for all of the comments below. Sounds like she has totally age-appropriate behavior, and I can just let her play independently during meal prep times. I really like the idea of giving her some of “her” own cooking utensils, too!
Momata says
I think a few other ladies have mentioned that their kids all melt down the moment when they get home from daycare — like they are tired of being “good” all day and release once they get home. Like your kid, mine seems to come out of it if I spend some dedicated one-on-one time with her at that moment. My guess is she is PLENTY stimulated at daycare if this is what is happening.
Closet Redux says
What about an older neighbor kid? In my neighborhood we call these “mothers’ helpers” and they are generally in the 9-11 year old range, and play with the kid while mom is busy making dinner or whatever. So, like a babysitter, but in the house with you. The older child can challenge your toddler linguistically, physically, creatively, etc. without it being structured class-time (which I think is a bit unnecessary at this age).
Anon says
I would look into Montessori activities to play at home, involve her in all your housework- sorting laundry, washing vegetables in a basin on the floor, helping clean the house, etc. Kids love model play, especially if they contribute to dinner!
Anonymous says
Put a set of plastic containers, old pans, wooden spoons, etc. in a low cabinet or drawer and let her “cook” or use them as a drum kit while you prepare meals. At that age my kid loved the Melissa and Doug wooden jigsaw puzzles that come in a tray (the actual jigsaw puzzles, not the baby puzzles with handles on the pieces). Music is also great, and not just kids’ music.
A 2.5-year-old doesn’t need any special enrichment classes. Just talk and interact with her while going about your everyday routine. In the grocery store: “We need some apples. I like the green ones. Can you find the green apples and point to them? We need three. Let’s count them as we put them in the bag. One, two, three…” If she is truly bored at day care, perhaps she needs a program with more free play time, outdoor time, etc.
pockets says
Can you go more into why you think she’s bored and what about her tantrums indicate that she needs more interactive learning?
EB0220 says
I am genuinely curious about your comment. How did you conclude that the tantrums mean that she’s bored at daycare? FWIW, my 2 year old is very precocious and she loves helping with chores – cleaning up, putting things away, “sweeping”, washing herself, etc. A slightly older kid could be good, too, if you have friends with older children. My 2 year old loves to do whatever her big sister is doing and they can keep each other entertained pretty well.
Momata says
I am also curious about the link between tantrums while you do meal prep, and the conclusion that she’s bored during the day. It sounds like she’s bored and hangry during meal prep. If that’s the case — I will often get kid started on the vegetable part of her dinner while I make the rest, as this keeps her occupied, staves off the hangry, and gets the vegetables eaten. I keep sliced toddler crudite (cucumbers, peppers, carrots, and ranch dressing) in the fridge at all times.
Maddie Ross says
100% this. I also tempt with carrots, or at the worst finger fruit like grapes or blueberries, while I cook at night.
Spirograph says
Honestly, this sounds like normal 2.5 year old behavior… they have a short attention span. It is important for my sanity that my kids can entertain themselves for at least a half hour or so while I cook dinner… so my solution (assuming the weather is prohibiting outdoor play, which is always my first choice because quiet!) has been to basically kid-proof the entire house and let them run amok. They take mixing bowls to the dining room to bang on and sing songs, run laps between the front and back door, or play in the family room or their bedroom out of my way. I occasionally let one or both help me if I’m just making something that requires dumping and mixing, but otherwise I tell them I’m cooking and they need to stay away from the stove because it isn’t safe. And our kitchen is tiny, so that basically means stay out of the kitchen. Sometimes there’s a mess to clean up afterward, but that’s life with little kids, right?
Anons says
+1
anon says
I agree that there seem to be 2 separate issues here – possibly daycare is not a good fit, and then what to do with the kid while cooking. Or what the kid can do that won’t frustrate her? Unless I’m misunderstanding? I just don’t see how they are related. How old are the other kids at daycare – are they her age and older, or mostly younger? She might do better in a slightly more preschool situation, as she’s on the cusp. (The line between daycare and preschool is murky in my experience, but I know that at 3, my son was much happier in preschool with 3 and 4 year olds than he was at his old daycare, where he was basically the oldest kid there). I think independent play at 2.5 is hard. Any play is educational, so I wouldn’t worry about that, but getting a child that age to play alone, especially when they are tired and hungry, is a challenge.
In House Lobbyist says
My daughter this age loves to help in the kitchen. I let her wash things at the sink such as potatoes, apples or even plastic dishes. She also loves to clean so I give her a spray bottle with water and vinegar and she goes to town cleaning the floors, table, cabinet doors. We also give her a bowl with a little water and a spoon to mix with. All those seem to keep her occupied during meal prep. She also has a toy kitchen in the kitchen so she does her own cooking too. And washcloths – she loves to fold washcloths!
NewMomAnon says
I love the idea of the spray bottle with water and vinegar! I will have to try that.
PhilanthropyGirl says
DH is a SAHD, so we don’t have the daycare piece of the puzzle, but my precocious 2YO is a monster when he gets bored. There are two things that help significantly:
1. Outside time – Minimum 60-90 minutes daily. Given the torrential downpours we’ve had the past couple of days, my house is a disaster, my son isn’t sleeping well, and everyone is cranky. If DH gets him out for an hour in the AM and I get him to the playground for an hour in the PM, everything is better. Fewer tantrums, less mess, better sleeping and eating, more cooperative.
2. Toy Rotation. We have a small house, so I rotate out of necessity because I can’t have all of his toys out at once. But there is a huge downward spiral in behavior when there are either too many things out or the same things have been out longer than about 4-6 weeks. Behavior immediately improves with new toys in rotation. By new, obviously, things that have simply been packed away for a while; I don’t go toy shopping every month.
I do think others are right that these are pretty age typical behaviors. Mine is super clingy when I come in the door – I have to use the bathroom before I leave work because there will be a melt down if I have to pause our time right after I get home. She probably is craving interaction with you after missing you all day, which is why she settles down when you start teaching her things. Maybe if your evening routine permits even 15 minutes of dedicated time to transition from work/daycare to home before diving into supper and chores, that would help?
rakma says
I found out yesterday that I didn’t get the dream job I applied for. Trying to look on the positive side (my work is already established where I am, so I don’t need to prove myself at 6-9 months pregnant, or take a maternity leave so close to my start date) but I’m still pretty bummed.
So I’m playing hookey today, cuddling with DD who is getting over a summer cold, and allowing myself to wallow for the day. I might even go get a pedicure later.
Closet Redux says
Ugh, sorry to hear this. Treat yourself gently! My plan, after interviewing at 5 months pregnant for what turned out not to be a dream job, is to take it easy in my current gig (which I wouldn’t be able to do in a new gig) and think about looking for something new after the baby comes. Hang in there!
Anonymous says
What do you do about art play areas at home for toddlers? We have a small kitchen and spend most of our time in our den. I have an almost two year old – we have been playing with the water coloring books but I feel like I should be branching. Crayons? Finger paint? There’s not a great space outdoors either. Just shouldnt worry too much?
Relatedly, favorite art supplies for the toddler age range?
Anonymous says
Fat crayons and piles of cheap coloring books and blank paper to scribble on. We had finger paints and play-doh and never got them out much. They do plenty of that stuff at day care already and I was just too tired to deal with the mess at home. When the kid was a little older we did a few tracing and cutting workbooks to develop fine motor skills. Simple mazes and dot-to-dots are fun too once they are ready.
Anonymous says
To cut down on mess we often do art time while toddler is sitting in the high chair while we prep supper. Usually crayons and paper but playdoh is good too.
PhilanthropyGirl says
Yup – we use our highchair too. I thrown down a cheap vinyl tablecloth and let him go to town. We just did finger paint, which was mostly rubbed in eyes and licked off fingers – but coloring is popular here. I like the beeswax crayons, because mine is such a chewer.
Momata says
Whenever we get a huge cardboard box (which is often – thanks, Subscribe and Save), the crayons and stickers come out. The kids (2.5 and 1) love sitting in the box and drawing all over the inside of the box, which is handily confined. It makes for fun interactive play too as I can take orders for decorating the outside of the box (airplane, pirate ship, etc; who is on the airplane with us? what color is the pirate ship?) and then we go from there playing airplane or pirates. One big box will last us several days.
BTanon says
This is brilliant. Love parenting in the Prime age.
Meg Murry says
Along the same lines as this and the play-doh thread below:
Rather than have my kids play with play-doh at a table (and squash it into the table and drop it all over the floor, etc) I cut open a box or paper grocery bag and let them play with play-doh on the floor there. Then clean up involves just picking up what play-doh we can, and throwing away the box with all its play doh scraps. We use Amazon boxes, cereal boxes, paper grocery bags etc.
This also works for letting them draw with crayons or markers when they still tend to scribble off the edge of the paper – put the coloring paper on a something disposable like a box or newspaper and let them color on the floor.
pockets says
We got an easel from Hape that has a whiteboard on one side and a chalkboard on the other, and has a roll of paper that can go down the whiteboard side. We do crayons and chalk, and recently branched out to painting on the easel (although I haven’t really figured that out). I thought fingerpainting would be a huge mess, but my daughter only wanted to cautiously dip one finger in every color and then put that finger on the paper, so it was much neater than expected.
Play doh is a huge hit but so annoying. We got a bunch of modeling clay in many different colors for like $2, and it doesn’t dry out like play doh does. This is both a positive and a negative. My daughter now makes food out of the clay and tries to serve it to us.
anon says
I am pretty mess tolerant, so I may be the wrong person to ask. But 2 tips for keeping small spaces relatively clean – in a pinch, the open door of a dishwasher can be a good work surface. And use the tub! My son paints in the tub while bathing all the time with a mixture of shaving cream and food coloring. (We rent and don’t care about the grout, but I think it can stain – go easy on the color or just use plain shaving cream). You can also set up regular painting or other projects in there, not while bathing. Also, FWIW, my son is 4. He’s not super interested in arty stuff now, but he is definitely more interested than he was at under 2.
anon says
Also, the Artful Parent blog is a good resource. There is some content specifically for young children – look at that, as a lot is more geared toward older kids.
pockets says
I got a great no-mess art project from her book. You need two pieces of contact paper and colored tissue paper squares, and feathers if you’re feeling fancy. Lay out one piece of contact paper sticky side up (might need to tape down). Have child put tissue paper squares and feathers on that piece. When done, use the other sheet of contact paper (sticky side down) to make a feather-and-tissue-paper sandwich. Attach to window. Stained glass.
Anonymous says
Love this!
CHJ says
My son’s daycare does the messiest art projects ever (seriously – this week it was something with glue, glitter, putty, and feathers) and I am perfectly happy to consider it outsourced. At home, we just have construction paper, coloring books, crayons, and markers. Plus Crayola bathtub finger paint – that stuff is great.
anne-on says
Ditto. I am NOT a crafty person. I can deal with play doh in small doses but that’s about it. Coloring books, crayons, and construction paper (stampers if they were recently part of a goodie bag) is about all we keep at home.
NewMomAnon says
Easiest “craft project”: send child outside with a bucket of water and a bunch of paintbrushes. Have them “paint” bricks, sidewalk, patio, deck, etc with water. It’s a surprisingly zen activity.
I leave a big bucket of crayons, stickers, coloring books and paper on a small table in the kitchen (it’s a little Ikea end table). We also have an Ikea easel with a chalkboard and a whiteboard. The Ikea easel holds one of those big paper rolls; kiddo will often unroll a big sheet, sit on it, and color around herself.
Paints, Playdoh and glue come out only when mama has the patience to clean up. Washable fingerpaint cleans up easily. I could live without Playdoh. I don’t keep glitter in the house.
In House Lobbyist says
My toddler loves art. We try to limit it to crayons, paper, construction paper and scissors and glue sticks that she has mostly free reign with. The markers and paint need adult supervision so I keep them put up. She loves to “cut” – tear – construction paper into pieces and glue stick to another piece of paper. We also do a lot of hand and foot tracing because I am not the best artists at drawing stuff.
Sarabeth says
For paint, we set her up on the floor of the bathroom – all the surfaces are easy to clean. Sometimes she strips down, gets in the tub, and paints all over her body. Afterwards, a quick shower is all the cleaning required.
NewMomAnon says
Has anyone’s kiddo had a UTI? My kiddo is complaining that it hurts to pee, and is asking to go potty constantly, but doesn’t do anything once she’s sitting. She’s also a mess because of the preschool transition, so I’m trying to figure out if the potty requests are a stalling technique to stay out of class.
Anonymous says
UTIs can be common when kids are learning to potty. I’d get it checked out by the doctor. Untreated UTIs can turn into kidney infections and those are a super PITA to get rid of. Encourage water over juice/sugar foods as those can feed the bad bacteria.
Spirograph says
We had this same exact thing happen also during daycare transition. Turned out to not be a UTI, but was worth the pediatrician appt to rule it out. Only problem is that my son now thinks it’s really cool to pee in a cup, so you can imagine how that goes…
NewMomAnon says
To be fair, it is kinda fun to pee in a cup. Thanks! I’ll see how she’s doing tonight and then talk to the doc.
Carrie M says
+1. It wasn’t a UTI, but it was red and obviously uncomfortable – my toddler was almost inconsolable. I’ve had a UTI, so as soon as she said it hurts and was hold her diaper, that was my first thought.
The nurse practitioner wiped her well inside with an alcohol-based wipe, and then gave me a few more to use during the next diaper changes. Those wipes, plus a couple of cool baths with baking soda (no soaps or shampoos), and some diaper-free time to let the air get at it, really helped clear it up quickly.
But definitely worth a visit to the doctor if she seems really bothered by it.
Glider Suggestions? says
Any suggestions on gliders in the $300-400 (or ideally less!) price range?
anon says
Apologies if this is obvious or unhelpful, but at least in NYC, gliders are something people are constantly getting rid of – a good candidate for buying used. We got ours free and reupholstered it ourselves. Its a Dutalier and I don’t love the design, but the price was right.
NewMomAnon says
Used is your best bet. Cr**list usually has a ton of nice ones in the $150-$250 range in my city. I will warn you about new ones; you get what you pay for. My ex got one from Target in the $300 range a few months ago, and it is already breaking. Mine was about $600 (we had a ton of coupons and gift cards so paid less than $200). The cover has pilled, but the glider mechanism works great 2.5 years (and miles of rocking) later.
My other suggestions for quality would be the “discount” stores for the big furniture stores. We have a C&B outlet for the ding and dent items and similar outlets for the big-name furniture places, as well as a Macy’s discount furniture warehouse in my area.
MDMom says
We have the $120 storkcraft one. My mom had one she has had for at least 6-7 years that has been loaned out for different grandbabies and held up fine- I mean, it looks used, but still glides smoothly. We just got ours 3 months ago so can’t say much except that it still works great for us. If I recall correctly from reviews, it might be best suited for relatively small people. Feels sturdy to me, but I am petite.
Would never get one that didn’t have removable cushions or cover- mine has already been vomited on twice.