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For those of you who are still in the stroller years, what are your favorite consoles? We almost never use our big stroller now unless we’re on vacation (H prefers to walk) but I am weirdly excited to see that they added a smart cell phone pocket on the outside of the parent console we always liked for our Baby Jogger City Elite stroller. (Oooh, this other console at Amazon has great reviews, a cell phone pocket, AND a zippered pocket. Nice.) The pictured stroller organizer is $29 at Nordstrom. Universal Parent Console Attachment
Psst: as I mentioned earlier today at Corporette — if you’re a Level 2-4 cardholder at Nordstrom and haven’t yet declared your Personal 10 Point day, you have until 12/24 to do so. Their big sale won’t start until 12/25, but they’ve already quietly started marking things down, so if you have any time today to take a swing through the site, do try to do so. Some great basics to stock up on (and many are washable, also) include this faux wrap dress, these pants, this blouse, or, for the weekend, these leggings or some denim.
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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?
Ms B says
We liked the Britax console for our Baby Jogger City Mini and Bob. Two relatively stable cupholders, mesh zip pouches on the front (good place to store baggies or a small wipe package), middle magnetized compartment that held a phone, iPod, headphones and keys. Add a set of the Childress side mesh saddlebags for snacks and toys on one side and loveys and a hoodie on the other side and you are ready for a full day of parenting.
PSA: Hard pass on the Baby Jogger parent console. Drinks do not stay upright in it and the middle compartment is not covered, which leads to mishaps when you fold the stroller.
I almost miss the stroller days (but not quite).
Anonanonanon says
I registered for a skip hop stroller organizer based off of reading the reviews for the UPPA baby stroller organizer (which were not great). The reviews all said the skip hop was a much better alternative for the UPPAbaby Cruz. Hopefully they were correct! I like that this seems to have a bit more of a hard shell, though, and a designated place where you can see your smart phone (since I’m often on-call)
Favorite Carrier for Toddlers? says
I would love your recommendations for your favorite carrier for carrying 1 to 2 year olds. We carry our 12 month old on public transit to and from daycare. We have used and liked an old original Ergo (front carry facing in towards parent) but it is getting hard to adjust (I think due to its age) and I am wondering if kiddo would rather face out now that he is older. Thoughts? Our local baby shop has Ergo, Lillebaby, Tula and Beca carriers.
Also, if anyone has any tips on how to get a toddler in/out of a back carry by oneself I’d love to hear it. Our son like being carried in our baby hiking backpack, but I just can’t figure out a way to get it on/off once he’s in there that feels safe for both of us.
Anon in NYC says
I don’t think you can forward face with the Beco toddler carrier (at least, that’s what I was told at the store where I purchased it). Personally, I tried on the Beco and the Tula and preferred the Beco. I thought it was more comfortable on my shoulders, and I felt like the Tula was a bit too wide to be comfortable. But, I’d recommend trying them all on and seeing what works for you!
NewMomAnon says
To get a toddler into a back carry solo – snap the waist belt so the carrier hangs down your hip. Pick up kiddo and hold on the same hip. Hold kiddo with the opposite arm, and use the free arm to bring the carrier up over kiddo’s back.
This is where I break with some of the official instructions….the official instructions generally have you switch arms, so you are now holding kiddo with the same side arm, and then reach the other arm around your back to slip it into the correct carrier strap. My arms didn’t work like that, so I would put the same-side arm around kiddo’s back, shuffle her up onto my back in the carrier pouch, lean forward so the straps hung down in front of me, and put one arm at a time into the shoulder straps while holding her with the free arm.
Also watch YouTube videos. I practiced several times in front of a mirror before I felt comfortable doing it in public.
NewMomAnon says
This is how I did in an Ergo – I don’t know about the other brands.
Anonymous says
Love my toddler tula. I used the regular ergo to age 2.5 though. I usually just snap on the waist, sit/kneel on the floor, kid climbs up on my back and I put the arm straps on. That’s for a three year old though.
Anonymous says
As they get heavier, the front carries can be uncomfortable for the parent. Even the carriers that allow front facing carries, generally don’t recommend them for higher weights.
Make sure you wear the waist band high enough for back carries. As they get bigger, they can see over your shoulder.
lala says
+1 for toddler tula. We recently took 2 of them on our trip to Spain for our 45lb 4yo and 25lb 2yo, it was so much more comfortable than our Ergo. Although you can’t start using it until 25lbs, so I would stick with the Ergo until that weight.
Sarabeth says
I like our lillebaby, but past one I prefer a back carry anyway, so a tula would also be fine. You probably can’t use a toddler sized lillebaby or tula until your kid is at least 2 (unless he is really tall for his age). Our kid is on the shorter side, and we didn’t switch to a toddler carrier until she was 3. Ergos are slightly smaller than lillebaby and tula, so I’m not sure if they would work as long, but I wouldn’t rule it out.
Solo back carry: I buckle the carrier around my waist, then “superman” the baby onto my back (youtube videos will show you how to do this – basically, swing him over my shoulder so that he sits on my back). Hold with one arm while I put the other through the strap, then switch sides and repeat. Awkward the first few times, but now it’s easy, and he knows the process.
anon says
Is this crazy? I am hosting a new year’s brunch in my 1000 sq ft apartment for aprox 12-15 adults, 5 preschoolers, and 4 infants. Is this a bad idea? Well, its too late for that – I need ideas for kid activities. I am already thinking of doing a balloon drop in one of the bedrooms to entertain the kids. My guess is that it will be too cold to do much outside. What are some fun, on-theme (or not) activities for a bunch of preschoolers?
H says
Playdoh, stickers, coloring (print out templates), a movie in the other room if parents are ok with that. The parents of said preschoolers might have some good ideas for you too.
Anonanonanon says
amazon prime a giant pack of “sticker scenes”… which are just pieces of paper with a blank “scene” and a sheet of coordinating stickers. Super cheap and you can save the ones you don’t use for your own kids to use at restaurants etc. Of course, you run the risk of ending up finding stickers stuck to things in your apartment.
I imagine the children will be bugging their parents most of the time regardless of what you try to set up, depending on the age.
Anon in NYC says
I think you’re totally fine – sounds fun! I’d make sure you pack up whatever toys you know your kiddo absolutely would not want to share, but don’t underestimate how much the other preschoolers will want to play with “new” toys and books.
BC says
I don’t think you’re obligated to do this, but if you want to grab some coloring books and have a bucket of crayons, it wouldn’t hurt. Or buy some cheap masks for pretend play:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKWHHTC/ref=asc_df_B06XKWHHTC5310771/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B06XKWHHTC&linkCode=df0&hvadid=192263181792&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10893585138719457078&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004072&hvtargid=pla-307222593496
NewMomAnon says
This may be overly ambitious, but what’s your menu? Could you come up with a “decorate your own” or “construct your own” food item for the kids? You could do a yogurt parfait bar – kids can pick out their yogurt, their fruit, granola, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, whatever, and then construct their own parfait.
Otherwise, coloring sheets and crayons is a cheap, awesome way to entertain preschoolers. The balloon drop sounds awesome too; consider having a mini dance party afterward to shake out the extra energy. A little playlist (honestly, like 4-5 songs) of high-energy music, maybe including a limbo or conga line to keep the kiddos engaged, would be fun.
We also went to a party last year where they had a “make your own snowman” table. They had big marshmallows, twizzlers, pretzel sticks, mini chocolate chips, and maybe candy corn? And maybe some other decorations I don’t remember. My kiddo never got to the final snowman because she kept eating the components, but it was fun.
Anonymous says
I do this every year. Kids play with my kids toys. Stuff like trains and legos and kitchen play works great for multiple kids to play at the same time. We eat at the dining room table (with foldable tables added) so I usually put out christmas/winter themed coloring sheets and a bunch of crayons on the kitchen table. I find trying to coordinate an ‘activity’ is lots of hassle for me and minimal extra enjoyment for kids. One year I let kids add icing and sprinkles to gingerbread cookies (their parents supervised) as a treat to take home and that was popular.
Anonymous says
Assuming you have a preschooler with toys of your own, I don’t think you really need to plan activities; in my experience they mostly play with each other or run around the apartment and thwart parental plans. I would have a place set up where you can park them in front of a movie though in case it gets too loud or crazy – they will probably have fun either way, but the adults may want some quiet. And consider designating a “kid-free” space and telling them all that when they are running laps from one end of the apartment to the other screaming they can’t cross this line. This will give the horrified people without preschoolers a small refuge. (I witnessed this in action at a recent party; one of the moms just decided to create and enforce this policy and it worked pretty well).
Carrier question says
Can’t reply in line, sorry. I love our kinderpack for toddler years. Soooo much more comfortable than ergo for back carry– we grew out of our ergo at 18 mo, and didn’t get the kinderpack till after 24 mo– I have such regrets about not getting it earlier. I can carry a 35+ lb kid for several hours/more than 3 miles comfortably. By that age, he was old enough to understand directions and I could just squat down and have him climb on my back – easier than other methods.
OP says
Thank you! I will check it out. Would love others recs too!
EB0220 says
Probably too late but huge +1 on the kinderpack. The version with the mesh panel really breathes well and I can still carry my 45+ lb 5 year old in my toddler kp.
Nursing woes says
I returned to work a few weeks ago; around that time, my baby developed a bad case of reflux. The combination has led her to rejecting the breast unless she is really sleepy. We now have her on baby Zantac and have been working with a lactation consultant, but my supply is quickly dropping. I feel like our breastfeeding relationship is coming to an unplanned, abrupt end and I’m really sad.
NewMomAnon says
Aww, that sounds hard. No advice, just….it’s OK to be sad.
Anonymous says
Have you tried advil? My LO started teething around 3 months and got really fussy when nursing but advil took the edge off enough for her to nurse comfortably. Hugs.
NewMomAnon says
I think – but not sure – that advil can only be administered after 6 months old. Babies can only have tylenol up to that point.
Anonymous says
That sounds right – advil is my go-to now but I’m sure it was tylenol if the advil wasn’t approved.
Anonymous says
I’m sorry, I know from experience reflux can be so rough. I hope the Zantac makes a difference for you soon. Don’t give up hope though, babies (and b**bs) are nothing if not unpredictable.
NewMomAnon says
I lied! I have one piece of advice – don’t judge your supply based on what you pump. Judge it based on whether baby continues to suck when nursing (once the reflux is handled, that is). It’s possible to continue nursing during nights/weekends, and supplement with formula if pumping isn’t working for you – I nursed evenings and weekends for a year at a friend’s suggestion.
CCLA says
Our daughter suffered from horrible reflux. Zantac helped at first but the real difference maker was prevacid, since you can develop a tolerance to zantac over time. Prevacid works differently and made a night and day difference for us with feedings, so if zantac isn’t cutting it and the reflux is interfering with feedings, I’d push to see a pedi GI sooner rather than later (our pedi, and I’ve heard this is true for others, woudn’t prescribe anything stronger than zantac and instead referred to specialist). We were already doing formula by then but had the same issue of DD not eating unless tired, and even then she’d cry an ounce or two into the feeding and refuse to go on. Those were dark days; I will sing the praises of prevacid forever and ever for the difference it made for DD. Good luck mama!
NewMomAnon says
When did you get rid of your stroller? Kiddo is almost 4, and I realized that I haven’t used her stroller since….August? and even then, we used it maybe every other week. She has walked through malls with me, giant festivals, street fairs, art shows. But then, sometimes we like to walk to school and she can be a pain in the butt on those walks, so it’s nice to have a stroller to contain her even though she can walk it herself. I’m tempted to get rid of my nice stroller and keep the cheap umbrella stroller, but she’s so heavy that the cheap umbrella stroller doesn’t work very well anymore.
Anonymous says
We started using the micro mini kick scooter for our walk/bus/train commute to preschool (with some scooter towing) and dropped the stroller at 4. The scooter is a great in-between crutch if you have one that is small and light. We also attached a little strap to the handlebars to make towing easier.
NewMomAnon says
We have a scooter and kiddo loves it, but it’s terrifying – she goes so fast and our walk to work is on sidewalks next to busy streets. I also need one that folds. It’s a giant pain to have to carry it when she “gets tired” of riding.
avocado says
I hear you on the scooter. Mine got a Razor scooter when she was around 5 and I got so many bruises on my legs from carrying that darn thing around when she got sick of riding it. She is almost 11 now and I still don’t like letting her ride it anywhere because she always wants me to carry it for her in the store. I prefer the bike–at least that can be locked up outside.
Anonymous says
If you happen to have the micro, you can actually detach the post from the base really easily and put the 2 pieces in a bag or something. My son usually plods along unless he’s racing a friend and brakes reliably at street corners but obviously this is a know your kid situation. It is a leap of faith.
Jen says
Do you have any plans to go to somewhere like Disney before she’s 6? I’d consider keeping it if you have room. My 4.5 year old hasn’t sat in a stroller since she was 3, EXCEPT when we went to Disney and she just needed a place to sit and rest (and nap). Umbrella strollers are too light and the ones you rent at Disney are awful.
If you don’t have plans for that kind of trip (IMO, the zoo is fine. Mine did a zoo day without the stroller easily this summer), then ditch the stroller.
NewMomAnon says
She goes to Disney with her dad each year, and I am a giant introvert, so I will probably pass on that experience. She’s done the zoo comfortably with no stroller. I think I’m convincing myself that we’re done with it. Yay!