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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 76 Comments · by

Finally Friday: Drape Front Cardigan

Everyone· Machine-Washable Work Clothes· Recent Recs

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Long Open Front Cardigan: Barefoot Dreams® Drape Front CardiganThis cardigan has 800+ positive reviews over at Nordstrom and looks deliciously soft. I have yet to bite because it looks a bit more robe-like than what I usually want/need — but it does look pretty cute as a robe in some of the other pictures where they’ve styled it on top of lingerie. The sweater is machine wash/tumble dry, available in 11 colors as well as regular and plus sizes, and is $92. Barefoot Dreams® Drape Front Cardigan (Speaking of, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! Did anyone else end up spending way too much time hand-addressing Valentine’s cards and candy packets to everyone in your kid’s preschool class? Just me? Alrighty then.) (L-3)

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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Comments

  1. layered bob says

    Is there a way to anticipate/predict when your p e r i 0 d will return after a baby?

    Context: My daughter is going on six months. I had a copper IUD placed at 8 weeks pp. Perhaps due to baby’s incessant, round-the-clock nursing, haven’t had the merest whisper of Aunt Flo, but at this point I am getting nervous about suddenly beginning to bleed again in public with no notice. Does this happen? Should I just go around wearing a pad all the time? That seems excessive since it could be many more months yet… but I don’t want to be caught “unprotected.”

    • mascot says

      1) Carry supplies in your purse, car, office etc. like you did when you were a teenager and had unpredictable cycles. You may have a heavier cycle with the copper IUD, but you can probably still tell when you’ve started. You could probably wear a panty liner if you want more backup, but a pad’s overkill.
      2) My IUD (Mirena) didn’t stop my normal PMS symptoms like tenderness, a little bloating, carb-craving etc so watch for those. If you are really at a loss, can you get the cheaper ovulation prediction kits and see if your cycle has returned.

      • layered bob says

        “like when I was a teenager…” you’re so right; I’d forgotten what that was like. I had 10+ years of clockwork cycles so I’m a bit at a loss when I can’t just *know* when it’s coming.

    • TK says

      In my experience, no way to predict – I nursed for a year, period didn’t return until 3 months after I stopped.
      A good friend exclusively breast fed and her period came back at 4 months pp.

      When mine did come back, it returned with a vengeance – heavy, heavy bleeding for 2 weeks. Could not have predicted – ever since the baby I no longer get the PMS b**b swelling or hunger spikes that I used to, and I’m not nearly as regular as I used to be. So every month it’s an unwelcome surprise (since I’ve been TTC for about a year.)

      But enough about me. I if I were you, I wouldn’t wear a pad every day, but maybe just keep one on hand.

      • Claudette says

        Interesting — I’ve been expecting my period to return any day now, since I stopped breastfeeding nearly a month ago. I’m impatient, also wanting to start TTC again, so I guess it’s good to know it could be another couple of months.

        Like the OP, though, I do worry about it returning out of the blue. I carry a Moon Cup with me wherever I go now!

    • Cdn lawyer says

      Completely anecdotal, but from conversations with my mom friends it seems like if you’re nursing, you either get it relatively soon (3months ish postpartum) or don’t get it until you stop. I didn’t get it until I had pretty much weaned and definitely had PMS warning signs that it was coming.

      • Anonymous says

        Ha, counterpoint: I nursed exclusively until baby was 13 months, then continued morning/evening nursing until baby was 16 months. Period returned when baby was 8 months.

      • Betty says

        With my first, who was EBF, my period returned at 8 weeks PP. With my daughter, also EBF, I had one period at 9 months then not another until 13ish months when it became more or less regular. So it can vary from one PP to the next.

        I agree with having something on hand, but you couldn’t pay me enough to constantly wear a pad. I loathe those things and think they are one of the worst parts of the PP phase.

        • layered bob says

          pads are the worst. that has been one of the best things about the past 15 months (6 weeks of pp bleeding excepted… yuck.)

    • EB0220 says

      No way to know, I don’t think. My daughter was born in July 2014, I weaned her in October 2015 and just got a little baby period in Feb 2016. I had Mirena, then BCP.

    • Anonymous says

      mine came back around 9-10 months PP. I nursed exclusively until 4 months, then scaled back when she started solids. I supplemented iwth formula about 40/60 breast milk from months 6-8 then was down to about 2 oz/day of breast milk in month 8 so I quit. I started taking my BCP again around 6 months.

    • Anonymous says

      I and all my BF mommy friends had it come back between 9-11 months. I think babies often start taking more solids and less BM at that age, and the reduction in prolactin triggers the restart. A warning that the first one is pretty heavy and very different from pre-pregnancy. I never knew what the super tampons were before!

    • Anonymous says

      Dumb question but does the Copper IUD stop it? I have Mirena and haven’t had one since.

      • layered bob says

        nope, the copper IUD makes periods heavier…. or at least it made mine heavier, the last time I had an IUD.

  2. JJ says

    I own a similar cardigan from Barefoot Dreams and it’s like wearing a wonderful blanket. I mostly wear it around the house and maybe for running errands, but I love it.

    • JJ says

      I should add, I bought it when it was marked way down a few years ago during an Anniversary Sale. I don’t think it’s worth full price for wearing around the house.

    • Momata says

      Same. I was given one as a gift when I gave birth. It was perfect for lounging with baby and for nursing, but it’s very thick and shapeless – I have never worn it out of the house.

  3. Butter says

    I’m a huge fan of the Bobeau One-Button Fuzzy Fleece Wrap Cardigan, which I just noticed is now on sale in a ton of colors. It’s super soft and the button offers the perfect amount of coverage while still allowing easy access. I just ordered a few more – this with black leggings and a black nursing tank is probably going to be my uniform for the next few months.

    • lsw says

      I ended up returning this because it seemed really thin. I liked that it was fuzzy and soft on the outside but was disappointed it wasn’t on the inside. I think I was expecting heavier because of the word fleece. Are there different variations where some are warmer?

  4. Anon says

    I am 39 weeks and super nauseous and have no appetite. Anyone know if this a pre-labor thing or is it more likely I am getting sick?

    • mascot says

      I’d go with pregnancy related Could be lack of room and mushed organs, could be your body prepping for labor. There are all sorts of “lovely” things that happen those last days/weeks. Take it easy, eat/drink what you can.

    • MomAnon4This says

      Keep eating what you can, you’ll need your strength!
      It might be pre-pre-labor — are you dilated yet? dialated? I’m not sure of the word – is your cervix open?

    • Jdubs says

      I would say it could go either way! I totally thought I was starting labor… but ended up with a fun 24 hour stomach bug at 39 weeks. Fun times!

    • NewMomAnon says

      I felt kinda crampy and “off” for about 5 days starting at 39 weeks – DH kept telling me it was “just gas” and I needed to stop eating so unhealthy. It was very early labor, which I finally realized when I started getting the infamous “bloody show.”

    • Meg Murry says

      Could be either, unfortunately. Even if you don’t want to eat, you should try to at least have some fluids (water at a minimum, broth or juice would probably be even better), because dehydration can also cause contractions.

      Althouth I’ve heard at least 2 stories recently of late pregnancy women going to the hospital because they were throwing up and worried about dehydration – and wound up going into labor at the hospital.

      Either way, if you feel like crap and you are at work you should probably go home and rest. But you may want to leave your current work files on your desk and otherwise straighten up your office as if you aren’t coming back for at least 6 weeks, just in case.

  5. Betty says

    Childcare woes: After discovering that our nanny played on her computer all day, largely ignored the kids, and would tell me that she was out and about with the kids while she was actually at her own house, we let her go. Her last day is today. I am simultaneously relieved and panicked. I have been on the hunt for a new nanny for two weeks now, with very few prospects. I FINALLY talked over the phone with someone who seemed great earlier this week and we talked about her coming over to meet the kids. Aaannnddd… radio silence. My mom will provide care for two weeks (and next week is winter break in NE so my DH is home). So I have three weeks, but still trying not to panic. Seriously considering just forking over the cash to an agency to find someone for us.

    Oh and as for the Valentines for the preschool set: Our preschool requested handmade valentines. I almost sent in globs of wet toilet paper as that is my daughter’s favorite “art and craft” and according to her, a glob of wet toilet paper is love.

    • MomAnon4This says

      Um, I think globs of wet toilet paper are hysterical. I have crafts my son made and gave to me special and they are balls of scotch tape. So, yes. Like when the cat gives you a dead mouse. Thanks!

      I have no experience with nannies, but you might want an agency nanny for the duration until you find someone on your own?

      Honestly, it sounds like you’re under control for the next month – jealous. You’re doing great.

    • Claudette says

      Don’t stress! You can absolutely find, interview, and reference- and background-check someone in three weeks. How are you looking? We posted with local universities and got zilch; when we used Care[dot]com, we got 70+ applications, of which maybe 10% were worth pursuing. Admittedly, the site is clunky and the customer service is sorely lacking, but that is how we found our current awesome nanny. . . As well as the dud before her, ugh. I commiserate with your current combination of relief and panic! You made the right decision and will now find someone great. :) Good luck!

  6. HSAL says

    Yesterday I filled out Valentines for my four-month old’s infant class. Last night I thought about whether the other parents would skip out, and if all the kids would get valentines from my daughter and she wouldn’t get any, and how irrationally sad I’d be. Told my dad about it this morning and he said “yeah, you’ll worry about that until she goes to college.” Anyone else absolutely ridiculous about it?

    • MomAnon4This says

      That’s really sweet of your dad, actually!
      My son is 7 is and is super-smart, and the only thing I worry about is him fitting in socially, being a good friend, getting good friends in return, etc. I don’t think that’s absolutely ridiculous or irrational at all! You’re a good mom!

    • Pigpen's Mama says

      Awwww. I didn’t do Valentines last year for the infant class, but I did this year for the tot class. I also addressed one to my kiddo from mom and dad so she wouldn’t be left out in case the teachers did pass them around in class!

      • Momata says

        Me too. It just occurred to me that the “Friendship Ball” today is probably a thinly-veiled Valentine’s Day party. Whoops.

      • FVNC says

        I didn’t do valentines, either. I did send in a bunch of strawberries and other goodies for the Valentines Day party, so I don’t feel too guilty. My 2.5 yr old asked for ice cream at the “birthday party” this morning (I guess she meant the V-day party?) so I think as long as she gets some sweets, she’ll be fine.

    • Walnut says

      I watched tons of parents in the infant class parade in with what appeared to be time-consuming valentine’s day things. All I could think of was, “Who on earth has time for that??” followed by “Ugh…I JUST got rid of all the holiday treats.”.

    • MDMom says

      I sent in some bags of chips for the infant room valentine’s day party. That was it. It was not a statement about my (or um baby’s) lack of love for his classmates. I figure their communal colds, coughs, and other viruses are how they share love. I’m sure this will worry me a lot more when he is a year or two older.

    • Random says

      I try to keep the mom guilt tapped down to a minimum, but I’ll admit I felt a little bad today that I didn’t send in my child with a valentine for his teachers. I know *they* probably don’t care, but it would have made him feel special to give one to them. I saw at least a few other kids give them flowers or a little candy trinket.

    • NewMomAnon says

      I cut hearts out of my toddler’s “paintings” so I could dispose of the piles of kid art around my house, then wrote “Love, [Kiddo]” on the hearts and sent them to school today. How I viewed the project: basic, unattractive, phoned it in.

      But kiddo was so proud this morning! She kept telling everyone, “I made dat!” Remind me to file this away for when I’m feeling guilty about not achieving Pinterest-level Valentines in a few years – it’s about the kid. Not about my craft skills.

      • OCAssociate says

        This is genius and I wish I had thought of this instead of tacky Paw Patrol valentines!
        I did make sure to include one extra card, knowing my kid will probably want one of the cards for himself, since he picked them out.

    • Anonymous says

      I dropped DD at daycare this AM to find 4 valentines in her cubby (she’s 2.5 and i think they are from kids in her older toddler as well as the younger toddler class), AND a valentines parent pancake breakfast. I hadn’t showered yet and most certainly did not have any valentines. I briefly considered running over at lunch with valentines i could pick up at CVS…then went to starbucks instead. She’s two. They’re all two. We’ll make heart pancakes for daddy who we really love this weekend.

    • layered bob says

      best thing about our daycare is that they actively discourage parents doing valentines etc. such a relief.

  7. Ciao, pues says

    Tips on good plane toys for a 2 year old? Taking a long trip and hoping to have some new surprises to keep kiddo busy/ happy. Props if easy to transport/ hard to spill! So far I have those invisible ink markers/ coloring books and magnetic tiles. (links to follow). She’ll have her own seat (sadly, for my pocketbook) so a little bit of space. Thanks!

    • FVNC says

      Sticker books and new story books work well for us. If you’re so inclined, videos like Daniel Tiger or Peppa Pig with noise cancelling headphones. Not a toy, but lots of snacks that take a while to eat. My kiddo knows that bagels are her special airplane treat; they are great because it takes her forever to eat half of one (chewing through the crusty outside takes a while!).

    • Betty says

      Stickers, playdoh, travel magnadoodle, toy purse filled with cars and finger puppets, novelty snacks (whatever you normally don’t buy), travel train track and train (Thomas the train has one with a plastic track that collapses). Plus you can individually wrap each little thing which buys a lovely additional 30 seconds.

    • Lyssa says

      My mom got my son a Colorforms Take-Along for Christmas, and it was great. Completely held his attention for a long while, amid all of the other, bigger Christmas excitement. We are definitely getting one for the next plane ride.

      These things: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=colorforms+take+along&tag=googhydr-20&index=toys-and-games&hvadid=86275536145&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7428520450559140233&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_65y1po4tky_e

    • CHJ says

      My aces in the hole:

      – I Spy books
      – Playdoh and small plastic dinosaurs – she can stick the playdoh on the tray table and make dinosaur scenes
      – Magnetic doodle pads
      – Tootsie roll pops

    • Anonymous says

      my not quite 2.5 year old has flown at 6, 9, 18 and 2. 18 months was by far the hardest (and she had her own seat). For the 2 year olds:
      1. STICKERS, oh my god stickers. Millions of them.
      2. crayons and paper.
      3. special airplane treats. I buy fruit snacks for airplanes ONLY and they are like toddler crack. Plus, they work like gum for ear popping. Buy a lot of these. Lollipops too if you allow them. Also, the ludicrously expensive juices with the plastic character on top are another vice of my daughter’s. We spent a good 15 minutes “making fizzy juice” by mixing airplane seltzer and airplane juice, then putting it into this cup for her. she has a future in bartending.
      4. etch a sketch thing with magnetic pen
      5. if it’s a long trip, load up your ipad or phone with downloaded cartoons or games. If you have Prime, you can download any movies you’ve bought for viewing in airplane mode. We bought DD toddler headphones ($9.99) and she used them to watch spongebob(!! i really regret this) on the jetblue TVs adn was mesmerized. I also had Frozen loaded adn ready to go on my phone if things got desperate, but they did not.
      6. put all of these things in her Very Own Bag that she can carry around. We also put in her blanket, her baby doll, and a couple other bags of things for her to amuse herself looking at.

      We spent a lot of time looking out the window, reading the in flight magazines, and exploring the bathroom (she loved the tissue dispenser. Also, we flew while she was potty training which was extra fun—but i am proud to say accident free!!!)

      • Ciao, pues says

        Why do you think 18 months was hardest? We’ve flown at 22, 17, 12, 7, 2 months. 2 months was by far the easiest though I was too nervous to enjoy how easy it was. 22months was hard because she was so active– up and down, kicking the seat in front of her, skipped her nap, the whole 9 yards. I’m hoping to be more prepared for that with extra special treats this time. This list is great!

        • Anonymous says

          18 months was the worst for us because she was like you described your 22 month trip- super active but not able to focus on distraction. It wasn’t awful and in general she’s a good traveler, but by 2 she could sit and color or watch a 15 min movie or do stickers in a way she wasn’t ready to do at 18 months. The 6 and 9 month trips were easy because she just slept for 75% of the time.

    • OCAssociate says

      Window gel clings, Lollipops, stickers, NEW book/coloring books, magnetic play-sets/scenes, travel magnadoodle, lots of snacks (preferably ones that are time-consuming to eat).

      I also like the Melissa and Doug Water wow books – they color with a pen filled with water.

      I’ve read suggestions to individually wrap small things so they get to open a “present” every hour or so, but I’ve never managed to have time to do that while packing. Maybe have some plastic easter eggs with a small treat inside each, so there’s something to open?

    • Clementine says

      I watched a 2 year old be thoroughly amused for 40 minutes on a flight with a pack of those little tab-style almost post-it notes that you use to flag a document.

      You read that right- 40 minutes of pulling the tab out, getting it stuck on baby’s finger, sticking it on the back of the seat, to mom, to your neighbor’s laptop…

      • Meg Murry says

        Along the same lines, someone else posted here that they amused a toddler on a long flight with a roll of blue painters tape, which I thought was pretty darn genius – sticks to everything but comes off easily.

        Loading up your phone or tablet (or even better yet, an old phone or tablet) with family pictures, both of the kid and the people you are going to visit was also a good suggestion I’ve seen here – my kiddo LOVES to see pictures of himself.

  8. Toddler face cream? says

    My two-year-old’s cheeks are really suffering this winter, but when we put on lotion, he says it hurts or itches. Notwithstanding that he is two, so his statements may or may not be true, can you recommend any gentle lotions for toddler cheeks? We’ve tried Johnson & Johnson, and one apiece from Honest Co. and Burt’s Bees. Aquaphor doesn’t hurt him, but he wipes it off pretty quickly and it really mucks up his clothes.

    • Ciao, pues says

      Coconut oil is basically my answer for any baby skin irritation. Gentle on skin, edible, and smells great. It’s worked for us for everything from diaper rash to scrapes to dry skin.

    • Clementine says

      Coconut oil? Actully, I have discovered that earth momma angel baby nipple butter is awesome for chapped lips/skin.

    • MDMom says

      I use coconut oil for daytime and aquaphor at night. Aquaphor is extremely effective but my baby is too little to purposely wipe it off. I don’t have any issues with it messing up his crib sheet though (he sleeps on stomach so I’m sure it rubs off on there)Would he keep it mostly on at night?

      • mascot says

        We alternate coconut oil and aquaphor for chapped skin around nose and mouth. It takes a few days to clear up, but works and doesn’t sting.

    • NewMomAnon says

      I swear by coconut oil for most things related to child skin too. I’ve been using hydrocortisone for the really chapped toddler cheeks and nose. Sometimes I’ll use my own face lotion (Neutrogena with sunscreen) or some Gold Bond Ultra Healing if we’re in my bathroom and I’m thinking about it.

      A note on coconut oil; it comes in big jars and lasts forever. I wish I would have separated mine out into smaller vessels before using it as a diaper cream, so I could have kept some for cooking and/or my own face. Don’t be me! Divvy yours up into right away into smaller jars. Or use a spo0n instead of your fingers.

    • Anonymous says

      Cerave Baby products are great. Recommend the wash and the lotion.

    • Anonymous says

      Have you varied when you apply it? After bath may be less itchy. When DD had eczema as an infant we used CeraVe lotion.

    • Meg Murry says

      Straight up vaseline also works. My son gets wind burn on his cheeks if he’s outside in the cold for even a little while, and the most horrid raw skin between his lips and nose whenever he has a cold from licking his lips and/or the snot (gross but true). I sneak in when he’s sleeping and slather him with it so he can’t rub or lick it off.

      If you have any leftover lanolin tubes around that works well for chapped skin too.

      Are you or daycare wiping his face with baby wipes? Those do a number on my kid’s face, as I discovered when out and about with no paper towels or tissues and a snotty kid.

      My oldest gets horrible dry skin from the number of times he has to wash his hands or apply hand sanitizer a day, so we have him wash his hands (and face) with Pond’s Cold Cream at night before bed to help combat it – my kids call it “lotion soap”

      • mascot says

        I thought Boogie wipes were some overpriced gimmick, but they really do work and save tender skin when kiddo has a cold.
        We are likewise battling chapped hands from too much hand washing at school. I apply aquaphor before bed and a heavy duty hand cream before school.

  9. lsw says

    It’s a boy!!!!!!! And looking good on chromosome front. Just got the call from the NIPT test. I feel like I can finally relax! And make more jokes about a geriatric pregnancy.

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