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There were years when I stopped shopping at J.Crew Factory, although I forget why now — I hated paying shipping, or some other odd annoyance-while-shopping-online reason. But the shopping experience has gotten better in recent times, and it feels like there are always extra discounts and/or free shipping codes to be had, so it’s back in the rotation. This bow-front sweater caught my eye for spring — I like the feminine detail that doesn’t feel too twee, and I like the bright, happy colors (fiery sunset, golden yellow, and navy). It’s $59 full price, available in sizes XXS-XXL. Today’s deal: buy one of anything and get another item free. Allrighty then. Bow-front sweater
Psst: wondering what else to buy there? Check out these sweater blazers, these drapey pants, the classic schoolboy blazer, and these pencil skirts. This reversible tank is also pretty nice.
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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?
Sleep Q says
Talk to me about putting your kids down “drowsy but awake.” (Knock on wood) we’ve been fortunate to have a decent sleeper in our 15 month old. When she has waking episodes in the middle of the night we’ve used CIO but if I recall correctly from reading the sleep books long ago we should be using it to help her get to sleep? DH generally puts her to bed but waits until she falls asleep in his arms. This is an issue because it takes forever and is difficult on me on the occasional nights I put her down because I’m not as tall and inevitably wake her in the transition from arms to crib. Do we just let her CIO until she falls asleep? For what it’s worth she’s also a terrible napper because of this too. Thanks in advance!
Cb says
Ugh, who knows? I’ve done it in conjunction with controlled crying when we did our first round of sleep training. We put baby down quite drowsy, gave him a kiss, and left. It might be harder with an older kid. Could you work to break the sleep association of falling asleep in dad’s arms? Maybe do a story once she’s in her cot?
rosie says
My daughter is not quite a year yet, so I cannot speak to this working in an older kid, but we used the book the Sleepeasy Solution (started when she was about 4.5 months) and found it very useful (plus so much more reader-friendly than some of the other sleep training books I looked at). It does talk about tips for what to do as kids are older, so maybe it would be useful for you. Although it’s a system where you do periodic checks when they are crying, and YMMV whether checks make it better or worse (we used to find they worked ok, now we avoid as much as possible). The book also addresses napping–the short answer is we established a routine that we do before bed do a slightly abbreviated version before naps.
Em says
We did let my son CIO when we put him down, but it only lasted for awhile around the time he was 6-9 months. By the time he hit a year, I would hold him for a few minutes and then he would let me know he was ready to go to bed and I could put him in his crib awake. By 18 months, we could just put him in his crib and he would go straight to sleep, either for naps or at night.
Anon. says
We also let our now 9-mo son CIO at around 6 months when we put him down. We had a few bad nights that he cried himself to sleep (15-20 minutes for us) but now he knows that after the bedtime routine and script (Goodnight baby [NAME]. It is bedtime now. Mommy and Daddy love you.) that it is time for sleeping. We turn off the light, turn on the noise machine, and lay him down in his crib awake. He rustles around finding a comfy spot and is usually asleep within 5-10 minutes. *Caveat: my kid has no interest in being rocked to sleep
Anonymous says
Definitely not falling asleep on her own at the beginning of the night can lead to night wakings. The condition you put her to sleep in should be the exact same position she will find herself in if she wakes up in the middle of the night (i.e., if dad holds her to fall asleep at bedtime and she wakes up at 2am and dad’s not there – of course she is unhappy/not as easily able to fall back asleep on her own). For a 15 month old, I’d explain to her that the way she was going to be falling asleep is going to change, then establish a new/slightly modified nighttime routine where the last thing you (or dad) does is put her in her crib, turn out the light, and leave the room. This will inevitably lead to some fussing/crying and it’ll take her a bit to adjust, but stick true to the schedule/sleep routine and she’ll catch on (and to answer your question – yes, leave her alone until she falls asleep). A lovie or blanket might help too if she’s not already using those. In addition to night wakings, I totally think teaching her how to fall asleep on her own will help you with naps too. I liked the Precious Little Sleep blog, especially her 3-part series on sleeping through the night. Sounds like your daughter already has the tools to be a great sleeper, good luck!
Anonynous says
We also needed to train our young toddler to tall asleep on her own. We used the Sleep Lady Shuffle. It was slow going due to illnesses, trips, etc. But when we finally got a good chunk of time it took less than a month.
And she was in a floor bed.
Naps are still mostly in the stroller if she’s with us. (She will sleep in a cot at school. But she will also eat broccoli at school, so who knows.)
Clementine says
DC Friends! We’re going to be in DC for a couple days next week. It’s two adults and a 2 year old and we’re staying in Capitol Hill.
I’m looking for: Great playgrounds, happy hour places where I can bring a kid and people won’t look at me like I’ve grown three heads, and any tips on where the best bathrooms to take a just potty-trained kid are (I’m assuming we will be visiting all of them…).
For food, people have suggested District Taco and Founding Farmers. What else?
Anonymous says
Good news– basically everyone on Capitol Hill has kids, so no one will blink an eye at you bringing your child to dinner/ happy hour around the Hill. For a playground/park you could go to Lincoln Park, or Marion Park might be a little closer to you depending on where you are staying.
What are you looking for in terms of food? There are a lot of options.
Clementine says
Thank you! We’re right by Lincoln Park, so good to know it has a good playground.
In terms of food, I think we just want options. It’s always nice to have a nice-ish place, something we can’t get at home (Ethiopian maybe?), and a gastro-pub to choose from.
Also, where can we get amazing sandwiches? We tend to eat our big meal out mid-day and then do something light and easy (Sandwiches at the park? Cheese board at home?) for dinner.
Anonymous says
If you’re staying by Lincoln Park and looking to eat relatively close by, I think you should look in 2 general areas– Barracks Row/Eastern Market or H St. Corridor. On Barracks Row there is a Matchbox (Pizza, Italian, good burger) which is very kid-friendly. Then up on Pennsylvania Ave. there’s Hank’s Oyster Bar which is one of my faves, the ever popular Good Stuff Eatery (burgers), and Soma Wine Bar to name a few. On H Street there are a lot of other options including Taylor Gourmet for sandwiches, and many fast casual options like Seoul Spice for Korean bibimbap bowls. Ethiopian is a great option in DC, but most of the Ethiopian restaurants I know are up in the U St./Shaw neighborhood, such as Keren and Dukem. But Ethiopic on H St. also gets good reviews, I just haven’t made it there yet.
As for great sandwiches– this is one area I honestly think DC is pretty lacking. I do like the sandwiches at A Baked Joint if you find yourself in the Chinatown/Mt. Vernon Square area at lunch.
avocado says
My picky kid endorses Matchbox and District Taco.
Anonymous says
Lots of fast casual on H Street that works well for a light lunch or dinner. A lot of them also are available for delivery on UberEats or other services, if you want to order to your place after bedtime. Our favorites include BAB Korean, Farmbird, Buredo, and Cava. There is also a Whole Foods with a hot bar there, which makes for a nice easy breakfast location. (We also like breakfast/brunch at Tunicliff’s Tavern, right by Eastern Market, which has a pretty kid-friendly menu.) There are three tasty Ethiopian places on H as well — Ethiopic is the “fanciest,” but we’ve also liked the food at Addis and Quara. We live right off of H street with a toddler, and I can vouch for the fact that most everywhere is cool with kids (and there will be lots of young kids out and about). Some places are more of a tight squeeze (Queen Vic and Granville Moore’s, for example), so your mileage may vary on comfort.
anon says
Lincoln Park is a perfect playground for a 2 yo. If you want swings, you could also walk over to Sherwood Recreation Center.
If you want a gastro-pub, I’d head up to H Street NE. It’s just about equidistant from Lincoln Park as Eastern Market is. You could try Queen Vic (gastro-british), Granville Moore’s (belgium/moules) or Ethiopic (Ethiopian). All are great. Our favorite coffee shop of all time is also on H Street, called Sidamo. So good.
For breakfast, the best bagels on the Hill (perfect for the playground) can be found at Bull Frog Bagels.
For sandwiches to go, I’d to go to Taylor Gourmet on H Street. It’s the original location. You could also get tacos at District Taco near Eastern Market, or something greasy at Ben’s Chili Bowl on H.
Anonymous says
I’d also put in a plug for coffee at Wydown, also on H. It is in the lobby of an apartment building, and you have to ability to roam freely up up several stories of the lobby with your coffee. Not only is the coffee our favorite in the neighborhood, it is an excellent location to let your 2 year old wander. Heck, I’ll probably be there doing the same with mine.
M in DC says
Echoing everything above – I’d also add Maketto as an excellent lunch option on H St. Delicious food (including their Banh Mi style sandwiches) and great coffee/espresso.
Anonymous says
You’ve gotten some great reccs above. Also think about Union Market– a fancy food court with local stalls, not too far from you (longish walk or short taxi). Chiko on Barracks Row is great for fast and inexpensive but delicious Asian food, and is kid-friendly.
And personally, I’d skip Founding Farmers. I think it’s too loud, busy and expensive to be worth bringing a toddler to, and the food has gone way downhill.
Clementine says
Thank you all so so much! Any other thoughts or things we should definitely visit would be great!
Anonymous says
With a two year old, the Smithsonians really are great, especially the Natural History Museum and the Zoo, although be aware that this is a very crowded time of year. I’ve heard great things about the Postal Museum for toddlers, too. The American History Museum has a great play area for the under-5 set that my 2 year old loves (Wegman’s Wonderplace). He also loves just walking the National Mall (especially the Carousel and “GREAT BIG TOWER” at the end (also known at the Washington Monument)). The Wharf, a new neighborhood on the water, has lots of restaurants at a mix of price points and is fun to walk around (although, again, crowded, especially on nice days).
Anon says
Paging Bedtime woes – I replied to your comment on “playing quietly at bedtime” on yesterday’s thread. Let me know on today’s thread if you need more info!
Bedtime woes says
Thank you!
HSAL says
Here’s a mini-review for anyone searching for wireless nursing bras – I ordered both the Cake Cotton Candy and the Bravado Body Silk Seamless. I’m 6 months along (with twins) and recently went from a 36G/H to a 38H (UK sizing, equivalent to 5D). Ordered the XL in both. They’re both comfortable but I think the winner is the Bravado. The Cake is comfortable, decently supportive, but it’s a pullover style that you finish with hooks. The hooks are really loose, but the bra is fine without them. It might be nice to have that extra ribcage room later on. I really like the Bravado – 5 sets of hooks, which is intense, but especially with the foam inserts, it gives really good shape and I’d be willing to wear it out of the house. It’s comfortable and supportive, so I’m keeping them both, but will only buy more of the Bravado.
Cb says
I am small up top but have the bravado and it works for me as well after removing the foam pads. For cheap-y options, I like the H&M nursing bras and tanks.
Anon says
38I (6D) and the Bravado one was too small for me, so I think you’re right at the upper limit. I wear the Cake one to work and just call it fine.
Cb says
Is an 8 month sleep regression a thing?
We transferred baby to his own room and he had 7 glorious nights (1 wake-up) and then it’s all gone to pot. He’s up every 45 – 60 minutes for a big chunk of the night, it’s like he can’t make it through to the next sleep cycle. The only advantage is that he can now be comforted by my husband (before only nursing would settle him) so we can alternate nights of sleep deprivation.
Anonymous says
Is he teething? Try advil at bedtime and see if that helps. Babies are often not as bothered in the daytime when there are lots of things to distract them but waking at night because the pain is bothering them.
As an alternative, keep a food diary. My youngest wasn’t allergic but his tummy had an awful time with green peas – made him very gassy and he woke a lot at night.
lsw says
I personally didn’t find the idea of “sleep regression” helpful at all. In the first year, things just change so quickly. I feel like it’s impossible to know what’s the “new normal” or just a phase. I didn’t find it helpful to try to go back to how things were, because he was changing so much. I did find that when he was learning something new (sitting up, pulling to stand, crawling, etc) he would have a few nights of really restless sleep. That’s probably not too helpful but for me, it helped to roll with the punches and adapt rather than try to “solve” a sleep problem.
J says
This.
S says
If you think he might be teething try infant tylenol
Anon in NYC says
I absolutely found the 8 month sleep regression to be a real thing! But like others have said, it could also be teething.
Anonymous says
Ladies– talk to me about morning sickness and biglaw. I’m only 6 weeks into this pregnancy (which is my first) and I’m not sure how I’m going to keep this up if the morning sickness doesn’t subside until week 12. Six weeks seems like a looooong time when it’s so hard to get through a few hours of this at work.
avocado says
I was in law school, not biglaw, but I lived on Zofran for nine months. Experiment with food and drinks until you find what works for you, which may be highly individual. For example, it took me a few months to figure out that I couldn’t eat meat, poultry, or refined sugar, couldn’t drink anything but hot decaf tea, milk, and carbonated water, and couldn’t eat and drink at the same time. Protein-rich snacks also helped me a lot, as did fresh air whenever possible. Hang in there!
In House Lobbyist says
I found suckers to be helpful. And my dr said to eat whatever worked – so for a few weeks I found that a coke in the morning and a Hardees biscuit helped settled my stomach. I was usually fine after that. I also ate a lot of small snacks all day, like crackers, oranges and nuts. Sprite made me feel worse. Coke worked wonders for me.
Betty says
I was in biglaw with my first. I would experiment with what works for you, and go with that. I found that lemon anything was all that I could handle. I kept a puke bag in my purse for rides on the T because the smell and motion nearly always set me off, and I would wait to eat breakfast until I got into the office. I also found that it helped if I avoided becoming really hungry, so I did small snacks pretty constantly.
My office was down the hall from the bathroom. I thought my trips to the bathroom to yak would be a giveaway, but no one noticed. Randomly puking mid-conversation with a paralegal was noticed, but she was amazing and didn’t say anything.
However, do not hesitate to talk to your OB or call and request an appointment if the morning sickness is interfering.
K says
Yes, talk to your dr. I’m 14 weeks with twins and the only thing that has helped my (all day) nausea was Diclegis. It’s not worth suffering through every day when there are available options beyond small snacks, ginger, sea bands, etc. I hope you start to feel better soon!
lsw says
I’m not in biglaw, but I ended up being sick until about 30 weeks, and it made work REALLY hard. If I knew now what I knew then, I would have gone on Dicleges INSTANTLY – $300/m be d@mned. No shame in meds, and I wish I had fought harder for myself and realized that I didn’t have to feel like garbage for 7 months.
shortperson says
it’s a know your office thing, but in that situation i would just tell people the situation. at my biglaw firm people are super nice and go easy on you if there’s a reason — someone in my office got almost a month off for an extremely minor concussion (during which time he recovered in hawaii) but they are harsh if people screw up without explanation. they are going to find out you’re pregnant relatively soon anyway so you might as well just tell them now, and that you’re having a hard time.
J says
Yes, I told my boss when it was obvious that it was affecting my work performance. I was around 9 weeks and it was month end. I had like 50 hours less than normal. I was really lucky that once it passed, I was really productive. We had a big case going on at the time, so I had to be. I definitely earned back any goodwill I lost. But honestly, if you’ve been hardworking before now, you won’t lose any goodwill. People get it.
FWIW, attorney but not big law. Medium firm in a medium city.
Anon says
So, I puked for 9 months. With Diclegis starting at month 5. In BigLaw. I told people on my teams right around 8 weeks because it was very likely I would need to run out of meetings. I also used the seasickness bands and wore long sleeves, but a coworker (not on my teams) noticed them and asked so she got “read in” too. Fortunately mine was worse at night than in the morning, so I only had to puke at the office once, but I kept lemon heads and gallon sized ziplocs in my desk to help. Small frequent meals were helpful as well. The whole office got told once I made it out of the first trimester, but feeling that bad there was no way I’d be able to hide it from my teams and everyone was super supportive. Also wish I had gotten on the diclegis earlier.
Ranon says
I was sick from week 5 to 16. Diclegis ( I took two at night) and sour patch kids all day were what helped me survive. I ate about twice a day. Breakfast I could stomach a bagel and dinner time I could usually handle a baked potato or a bowl of cold cereal. Fight for yourself with your physician, meds are there for a reason.
anon says
I was sick until 30 weeks and the only thing that helped was diclegis. I know work is demanding but be kind to yourself – some women truly get so sick that it impacts their work. It just happens and it sucks, but don’t compare yourself to others who have been blessed to have easy pregnancies.
OP says
Thanks for all the kind and helpful words. My doctor recommended the b6+Unisom option rather than actual diclegis. Did any of you try that?
I was hoping to wait until 8 weeks at least to tell my teams. However, I think having my door closed all the time (I’m unfortunately right next to the kitchenette… holy smells) and looking like death in meetings may give me away sooner.
Anon says
Yes. Unisom knocked me out out for 12 hours at a time (taking only at night) which was incompatible with my BigLaw job, and I of course couldn’t take it during the day. And it didn’t work as well as the Diclegis – my theory is that the time release of the Diclegis is what made it work for me, I wasn’t getting hit with the sleeping pill part all at once. My insurance required that we “try” the OTC option, but once we established that wasn’t working, after several rounds of fighting, they finally caved, and my doctor had given me samples in the meantime. I think my doctor was loathe to write the prescription because there was a lot of fighting and back and forth with insurance to get it filled, but with a lot of pointed direction from me, it finally got done.
rosie says
Similar experience. Try the b6/unisom for a short time (I guess it helps some people and your insurance may require you to have tried it before they’ll cover diclegis), then ask your dr for samples of diclegis and an rx. I found that I adjusted to the diclegis after a couple of days and it no longer made me super drowsy. I took it morning & night for most if not all of pregnancy.
For smells, consider getting tea tree oil or ointment (unless you find that smell problematic). Put on your wrists, even near your nose, to try to block out other smells.
CCLA says
I’m 10 weeks in and tried that combo starting around 7 weeks with zero effect. I’ve been on dicelgis now for a couple of weeks, just two at night, and it helps a lot. I wouldn’t wait too long to ask for the rx if the OTC isn’t helping much.
CCLA says
There is also a savings card type option for diclegis if your insurance is being cr@ppy about it. Go to diclegis dot com, navigate to “save on diclegis” under the “resources” tab.
K says
I tried B6 and Unisom at first and it didn’t work well for me, similar to the experiences above. My insurance company gave me a hard time about covering Diclegis as well, and my dr’s office had to fill out a form indicating that I had tried other methods (including B6 + Unisom) before it would cover Diclegis. I believe there is an offer on the Diclegis website to order the meds for $1 per pill as long as your dr sends them the prescription, so that may be a route worth taking if your insurance co is giving you a hard time.
Frozen Peach says
I worked in BigLaw and was sick the whole time. All you can really do is crowdsource and keep trying things until you figure out what works for you. This site is a great resource.
my go-tos:
-peppermint oil
-hot peppermint tea with lots of sugar to sip in meetings
-jolly ranchers (a dip in blood sugar often set me off)
-chug a protein shake first thing in the morning
-lots of snacks with protein throughout the day
-ZOFRAN.
Em says
I had good luck with ginger chews from Trader Joes. I thought they tasted awful, so I would force myself to get them down, but once they were down they would give me 15-30 minutes of relief.
Natives-PSA says
Kids Navy blue natives are $19 on amazon right now! Lucky sizes (mostly toddler) for the cheap pricing and it’s only the navy- but my girls rock the navy all summer since it matches their stuff better than pink or purple ;)
lsw says
Thanks! Just ordered a pair!
AwayEmily says
I ordered a pair too — thanks for the heads up!
anon says
Nice! I love these shoes.
Natives-PSA says
Amended- pink is $21 for a few sizes as well :-). My size 11 5 y/o will be happy.
anon says
Have you been to a Myrtle Beach resort vacation? Thoughts?
I’m looking for an easy state-side family-friendly vacation spot and Myrtle Beach came up. I had never considered it before. The resorts look a little dated and cheesy, but I can handle that if the kids are happy.
grey falcon says
Spent lots of my childhood vacationing in the Myrtle Beach area. If you want something a little less hectic, I would suggest going just south on 17 and looking at places in Surfside Beach/Garden City area. Plenty of homes to rent that are walkable to the beach and they have a more old-school beach town vibe, whereas MB proper can get a big Spring Break-y. Garden City has a pier, an arcade and batting cage, and is a short drive to Murrell’s Inlet, which has lots of seafood restaurants.
Anon says
Also spent many early childhood summers there, but by the 2000s it had turned into too much a party crowd. We switched to Isle of Palms, South Carolina just outside of Charleston (initially at the Wild Dunes resort and then as we got older just renting a house) and have never looked back in 15+ years.
Anonymous says
Is he teething? Try advil at bedtime and see if that helps. Babies are often not as bothered in the daytime when there are lots of things to distract them but waking at night because the pain is bothering them.
As an alternative, keep a food diary. My youngest wasn’t allergic but his tummy had an awful time with green peas – made him very gassy and he woke a lot at night.
Bottle Strike? Sort of? says
Advice appreciated, please. My 6.5 month old will not eat more than 4 ounces at a time. He’s been bottle fed formula since birth. Typically during the day, he quickly sucks down 2 ounces and then the next two are a battle, if he consumes them at all. He has better things to do, like rolling after his brother’s toys. The real issue with this is that he is getting all his formula nutrition at night. He’ll easily eat a bottle at night, but is still maxing out at 4 ounces at a time and is up several times a night to make up for what he’s not getting during the day.
The kicker is at 4.5 months old, he was drinking 5 to 6 bottles a day, 6 ounces each, and sleeping through the night. He was consistent with that schedule for about a month until he got sick and we just can’t get back on track. We’ve tried recreating his nighttime environment during the day, switching up temperature, switching to faster flow bottles, switching actual bottles (straw bottles like his brother uses), listening to music, watching TV, looking out the window, sitting in a room with NO stimulation, etc. This started before we introduced solids but solids certainly didn’t help. Last night he did finally sleep through the night again but now he’s maxing out at barely 24 ounces a day. He seems young to have plummeted in formula in take this much.
For what it’s worth, we prioritize bottle over solids. When the bottle fails, we try to wait at least half an hour before solids. He’s typically getting solids for breakfast (baby oatmeal with peanut butter and formula – clearly filling) and solids again for dinner (last night I upped it from 2-3 tablespoons). He devours any solids we give him and I can’t blame him, I would prefer a nice meal to a bottle, too. But he’s 6.5 months!
He is meeting milestones. The pediatrician told us at last visit just to increase solids to try to get him to sleep through the night again. He’s also perfectly plump so weight gain hasn’t been an issue but I’m worried that it will become one if we keep on this road.
avocado says
I don’t buy the whole “food before one is just for fun” refrain. At that age my baby was so incredibly hungry she just wasn’t satisfied with milk alone. We started solids at 6 months, and very soon she was devouring three jars of purees, three bowls of baby oatmeal, and a baby yogurt each day, in addition to a quart of milk and formula. Is there a reason for restricting his solids?
Em says
I think it is true for some babies, in that you don’t need to stress if you kid isn’t enthused by solids before 1, but agree it wasn’t true for my kid either. He was eating 3 solid meals a day by 7 months.
Bottle Strike? Sort of? says
Nope! I was just afraid of giving him too much and destroying my chances of him taking a bottle. This is really helpful. I follow my gut about 95% of parenting and don’t get too caught up in rules except when it comes to feeding for some reason. I nursed my first for a few months, found it extremely stressful, and I think the whole experience just never left me. He fought nursing, then he fought the bottle. I have a lot of stress about baby feeding. I am so glad they turn into toddlers. Thank you for this response.
avocado says
Follow your gut with feeding too, as long as you are being safe about choking, etc.! For what it’s worth, my kid also hated bottles and preferred the sippy cup. Probably worth a try if you haven’t already.
Anonymous says
I posted below but if it helps, the twin who loves solids is the same one that was a nightmare to nurse and bottlefeed. As in I constantly had to pace back and forth in a quiet dark room while nursing or bottle feeding him. I was so so happy that he loved solids.
Cb says
Could you sneak a few ounces of milk in other ways? Mixing into cereal or adding a bit to purees?
Bottle Strike? Sort of? says
Yes! We’re using it in oatmeal right now. I’m going to start counting it in his daily totals for my sanity, right now we’re putting it as more a footnote. I’m calming down now. You are all wonderful.
Anonymous says
This happened to one of my twins. He was super into solids and didn’t need as much formula/BM. His brother had zero interest in solids until like 10 months. Babies are super variable so 6.5 months is not necessarily too young to be really into solids. At 24 ounces he’s not far off the recommended amount of formula. I’d follow your peds advice and increase solids. Trying doubling what you are currently giving him for dinner.
Bottle Strike? Sort of? says
Thank you! I will. Last night, I did get him to drink a little more formula via giving him his brother’s cup, and then with the increase of food last night he did give us a 7-hour stretch last night. I appreciate the reassurance.
Meg Murry says
Try including high fat foods in dinner if possible – avocado, for instance. And absolutely count any formula in his cereal toward the formula total for the day, especially if most of it goes in him and not all over the table and his face (or count half of it if he’s still wearing more than he eats). The main thing about the “food before one is just for fun” is to make sure parents don’t substitute high fat high calorie food like formula/b-milk with lower calorie lower fat food like fruit purees and cereals. But if he happily eats solids, keep giving him solids.
Any chance he has an ear infection, hand foot and mouth or something else that would make sucking on a bottle painful?
Bottle Strike? Sort of? says
Great points. What other high fat foods do you recommend? He loves avocado and is accepting of full fat yogurt. Yesterday I mixed in fruit puree with the yogurt. Most of his meals right now are veggies.
I thought of the infection or illness thing but I really don’t think that’s the case. He’s fussy when he’s tired or presumably hungry but otherwise is a happy guy. Teeth could be an issue but it’s been going on for over a month. Babies a trip.
Bottle Strike? Sort of? says
I just searched – I don’t know why that stumped me. Beans! Lentils! Eggs! Got it. :)
Aly says
Egg yolks were my savior food. She loved them fried or scrambled in butter. But then, who wouldn’t?
PinkKeyboard says
I’d just start giving him more nutritious baby food. Ones with beans, meat, eggs, etc and keep up the cereal for iron. For an example, at 7 months mine was eating (and only 8 months now): 2 scrambled eggs, piece of toast, fruit (1/2 pint raspberries for example; beefy Asian noodles (at least a cup worth) with green beans, 1/2 pint blueberries; turkey fried rice (at least a cupful) and a bunch of canned pears. She takes 3 bottles currently, but would be happy to skip all of them if I substitituted a high value snack like a yogurt pouch. I think some kids just realize there is food and it’s WAY more tasty than a bottle.
Books for Young Kids on Differences/Racism? says
My 4.5 year old said the other day that he didn’t like playing with two of his construction worker dolls because they have “medium chocolate brown skin” (we’re white). He wasn’t really able to explain why he said it. We live in
a city and he attends a preschool where there’s some diversity among staff and students. I’d like to read some books with him to reinforce that everyone looks different, and that while it’s ok to notice that some people look different, we don’t treat people differently based on how they look. Suggestions?
Anon for this says
Is it possible that he is being made fun of or excluded at school because he is white? This happened to me as a white child in public schools with racial quotas that put white kids in the minority and signaled that white people were “bad.”
white lady says
I’ll second this on the off chance it is happening. I went to public, inner city schools that were generally less than 10% white. (I am white.) When I was younger, I thought I had ugly skin compared to my classmates. As I got into high school, and particularly in the context of playing sports, I earned the nickname Snowflake. Good times.
Anon says
There’s a Sesame Street book called “We’re all different” or something like that. There’s also a board book called “Shades of Black” that talks about how everyone has different skin colors.
I always bring it back to hair/ eye color. “You still like X even though their hair is yellow and yours is brown, right? And you like Y even though they have green eyes. Skin color is the same thing – it’s just what is on our bodies, not what we’re like on the inside. It’s okay to not like someone because they’re mean. It’s not okay to not like someone because you don’t like their body.”
Frozen Peach says
We’re Different, We’re the Same!
It’s my favorite kid book on this issue. My girlie loves it and I love its message.
Mama Llama says
We are dealing with a similar situation. Some things that we have done are talking about how it’s OK to like whatever color you want for coloring or picking out clothes, but it’s not OK to say you don’t like certain skin colors. I have asked, “How would you feel if someone told you that they didn’t like your light skin?” She was able to articulate that it would hurt her feelings and we don’t want to hurt others feelings by saying that. I have talked about people we know with darker skin and how all skin is good skin. Her school is diverse, and I will be mortified if she says this stuff there. This is tough, and I think you just have to keep at it. Kids this age have a powerful desire to sort people, and they tend to ascribe positive qualities to people who are like them. There is a good chapter about this in the book Nature Shock.
NewMomAnon says
We have The Skin You Live In, which is about different colors of skin that goes far beyond “white/black/brown.” My only criticism is that a few pages get pretty deep into “You’re not [various bad things]” and if a kid misses the You’re NOT part of that, it gets confusing. I taped those pages together for the first year or so we owned the book, to avoid confusion.
Mama Llama says
I have concerns about those types of messages too. A lot of material seems to be like, “Some people have darker skin, and that’s OK.” Well, I really don’t want to be introducing the idea that it somehow wouldn’t be OK or acting like it’s some flaw that we should benevolently overlook. (On the other hand, I don’t want to gloss over that society treats people worse because of their skin color.) This is the same reason that I’ve never played William Wants a Doll for my daughter, even though I love Free to Be You and Me – I don’t want to put it out there that some people think boys shouldn’t have dolls. Perhaps this is naive of me though, since these messages come from our whole culture. This stuff is hard, y’all!
NewMomAnon says
Oh, no – The Skin You Live In uses really cool language to describe different tones and colors of skin, without ever really referencing traditional racial categories. For instance, “Your coffee and cream skin, / your warm cocoa dream skin . . . / Your chocolate chip, double dip sundae supreme skin!” It’s just those few pages where it lists negative things. I take a very proactive role in editing books.
Anon says
Aw that sounds really sweet. I’m actually a WOC and the “darker skin but that’s ok” subtext is something I’m also sensitive to – this book sounds perfect.
NewMomAnon says
Kiddo and I have a running conversation about the different colors of our own skin – how our lips are a different color from our bellies, and our finger tips are a different color from our palms, etc. This is possibly a stretch, but I hope that by having her see the variety in her own skin, she’ll be more likely to treat people with a variety of skin tones as being like her? And The Skin You Live In plays in well to that message, because it creatively describes a skin color (usually in reference to food, of course), and then we’ll try to figure out if we can find that color in our own skin.
I do live in minor fear that kiddo will blurt out in public that a stranger has “warm apple pie skin” and then I will have to engage in an awkward conversation with said stranger. But it hasn’t happened yet so fingers crossed.
Anon says
Lol, I would be very honored by a description of warm apple pie skin :)
octagon says
Todd Parr books are good for this — the Family book, and It’s Okay to be Different, and Be Who You Are.
Anonymous says
https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/childrens-books-about-diversity/
https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2015/08/picture-books-that-teach-kids-to-combat-racism.html
https://smile.amazon.com/Colors-Todos-colores-nuestra-piel
Legally Brunette says
I love this top in the yellow. Great pick! I have never ordered from J Crew Factory – is the sizing the same as regular J crew?
Coach Laura says
And is the white version sheer or ok without an underlayer?
NewMomAnon says
Can we talk about kids shoe sizing? I’m so confused….kiddo has solidly outgrown two pairs of size 9 shoes, which we bought at least a year ago after a fitting at Stride Rite. One pair of size 10 shoes is too big, and one pair is just right. She walks out of size 11. This weekend I bought her a pair of 9/10 shoes from Target, and they are huge.
What the what.
Anonymous says
Same problem as adult sizing – nothing is standardized. Payless carries half sizes which I’ve used in between better quality shoes in brands that only had whole sizes.
Anon in NYC says
Oh my goodness, I was JUST mentally complaining about this yesterday. I wish there was some sort of brand comparison for kids sneakers because right now my kid only wears 1 brand of shoe (she’s super picky) and I’d love to be able to buy other shoes for her without all of the angst.
Delta Dawn says
Is there someplace (preferably online) that I can order matching boy swimsuits for a baby and a toddler? I need 3-6 months and 2T. Target is my usual go-to but doesn’t have any smaller than 9 months to match the 2T big brother. I find most places seem to have different styles for baby v. toddler. Is there anywhere I’m missing?
BC says
Carters/ Gap/ Old Navy should work.
NewMomAnon says
Jojo Maman Bebe has matching swimsuits – sizes vary, but there was at least one sunsuit that went from 0 months up to 6 years.
NewMomAnon says
Also Tea Collection.
lala says
+1 to Tea Collection being where we get our baby + toddler + preschooler matches
NewMomAnon says
And Hanna Andersson.
Artemis says
Gymboree has cute suits in all different sizes for matching purposes, they hold up well, AND many of them have functional drawstrings which my noodle-bodied boys desperately need.
Gymboree has matching rash guards for almost all their suits but I usually end up getting rash guards from Land’s End on sale (they have all kids’ sizes!) b/c they are long-sleeved and hold up great to the ravages of chlorine and salt.
mascot says
Hanna Andersson has good suits and covers those sizes.
Turtle says
Somehow I’m inside of 3 weeks from my due date!
Can someone offer some no BS advice about what I need to pack in my hospital bag and have in my house for when I get home post-birth as far as pads, etc for the physical recovery of giving birth? Tired of reading blogs and lists that include everything from essential oils to luxury items, and sisters/friends who are helpful, but also not really at the same time. I’m a practical girl with Amazon Prime … I just need someone to simply tell me what I need! TIA!
Anon says
Extra long phone chargers and maybe a small power strip (and maybe an extra charger or two for at home for the places you intend to sit and nurse – cluster feeding is a thing). I had a c-section, so my list may be different. Chapstick and hand cream (hospital and home). Colace (home). Heavy duty pads in a brand you like (Always has a flex foam now that I found pretty comfortable as far as pads go) (a few for the hospital, mostly home). Extra pair or two of maternity yoga pants (okay for leaks, and the waistband didn’t bother my incision, used at hospital under the gown to feel less exposed, but lived in those first few weeks at home). Tylenol and Advil (home). Extra water bottles for at home. Nursing bra (I only wore mine home from the hospital, not while I was there). Travel size tolietries for the hospital. List of phone numbers for your husband to text or call in case you are too tired or enthralled with baby. Also remind your husband to put a pair of PJs, tolietries and change of clothes in his bag – apparently a lot of new dads forget their own PJs if they’re not usually PJ wearers.
Anon says
Oh, and underwear that works for pads if that’s not what you usually wear. And that you don’t mind getting stained. I ordered 10 new pairs from gap body that I really liked.
Anon says
And lanolin if you plan to BF. My DD had tongue and lip ties so she was pretty rough on the nursing and copious application staved off the cracking and bleeding. LC’s will sometimes give you some, but it can take a couple of requests to get it.
Also forgot that a file folder will be helpful to corral the paperwork, forms, etc. that you will get over a couple of days. And a pad and paper to write notes down on.
Mama Llama says
One thing I didn’t think of the first time around that I really could have used was a breast-feeding pillow like a Boppy. I had a tough time getting my baby into a good bf-ing position using the hospital pillows, and it was so much easier when I got home and had the Boppy. For my second I plan on bringing one.
Boston Legal Eagle says
+1 to this. Next time, I am totally bringing my Boppy because those hospital pillows just did not work. Also agree on the n*pple cream (although the hospital should give you some).
We had newborn photos offered at our hospital so you can consider packing a cute outfit for baby (bring several sizes! Our newborn-size outfit ended up not fitting our newborn…) if you’re into that.
Delta Dawn says
You really don’t need much at the hospital. They have pretty much everything you need for physical recovery– big pads, stretchy undies, a spray bottle for cleaning your undercarriage (and a nurse will help you). The things that you find helpful at the hospital, you can take home with you (extra pads, spray bottle, etc).
These things are not for physical recovery but are the only other things I brought: one cozy cardigan or robe, house shoes with a hard sole for walking to the bathroom (they will give you socks but I liked the hard sole for hospital floors), phone charger, facewash/moisturizer, minimal makeup bag, dry shampoo. One comfy and stretchy outfit to wear home. A blanket for baby’s carseat on the way home. One or two little outfits for baby to wear home.
For recovery at home, again I would take the things that you liked at the hospital home with you. You will want about 6-8 weeks worth of pads for bleeding. Thick ones at first, but by the time you go through your hospital stash, you will likely be able to use regular ones. I liked the extra long ones because of unpredictable flow. If you end up having a c-section you may want a small stepstool to help you get in and out of bed for the first few days. You may want some old towels to lie on in bed if you have very heavy bleeding, so you can throw the towels away later. I would have some pain reliever (which kind depending on your preference and whether you are nursing) on hand because sometimes everything just hurts. If you have a c-section, they’ll give you an Rx, and when that runs out you may want some OTC pain reliever.
And, this is not for physical recovery, but I’d have 3-4 pairs of soft yoga pants, 6-7 nursing tanks or regular tanks, and 3-4 soft open cardigans to wear over them. And I’d wear them every day on repeat so you don’t have to think about getting dressed but can still be in clean clothes. If you are nursing, the night sweats can be very intense for the first couple of weeks, so you may have to change clothes when you wake up to feed the baby– it’s good to have extras.
J says
For the night sweats, I often slept on one of those giant Costco Egyptian cotton beach towels. Just laid it on my side of the bed and then slept with my normal covers over me. Otherwise I would wake up in a pool and we’d have to change the sheets. This way it wouldn’t totally soak the sheets. I could just switch out the towel when I woke up during the night and then change the sheets in the morning.
Don’t judge. It’s all about survival. And not changing sheets three times a night with a new baby and c-section wounds.
NewMomAnon says
Anon’s list is great. If you are planning to try nursing, I would also add n*pple cream to your birth bag. I liked the Earth Mama Angel Baby better than Lansinoh – it was softer and easier to spread. And snacks! My labor ended after the kitchen had closed, and I was so grateful for the box of cereal and pudding cups I had packed. The hospital will provide you with all the pads, undies, peri bottles, etc you need while you’re there. You could pack some if you have a favorite brand though.
For once you get home from the hospital – if you have a v*gin*l birth, they will recommend baths to help you heal. (For a C-Section, I’ve heard that the support belt is super helpful) I think they don’t recommend Epsom salts for the first X period of time, but after that they do. So have some Epsom salts on hand. I brought home the donut pillow from the hospital to use in the bathtub, but otherwise didn’t need it. I ended up stocking a variety of different pads, because I found that wearing just one type resulted in chafing. In retrospect – I should have just bought some undies to trash. And our house had two bathrooms, so I bought an extra peri bottle for rinsing to stash in the other bathroom. I also liked the Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Spray – I think it’s just a witch hazel spray, but it didn’t feel as medicinal as the Tuck’s witch hazel pads.
I also liked having some dark towels because things were a bit messy postpartum. I sweated like crazy postpartum, and needed to make an emergency run for more pj’s so I didn’t have to do middle of the night nursing sessions in soaked clothes. And I scattered snacks and reusable water bottles all over the house so I would be fed and hydrated wherever I was.
This falls in the splurge category but – I loved having a thermostat that I could control from my phone. Nursing in soaked pajamas at 2 am when your thermostat is set to 65 degrees and you can’t change it is miserable. I also left throw blankets and pillows all over the house so I could get comfortable wherever I ended up nursing.
Delta Dawn says
I have a long reply in mod, but one thing I forgot for home recovery: a bottle of magnesium citrate. There may come a day after you bring your baby home that you realize you haven’t pooped in a week. Pour over ice and drink like a sprite.
BC says
+1 million. That was the worst part.
GGFM says
Hospital bag minimalist here, in part because we took a cab there and didn’t want to lug too much stuff. At the hospital the only thing I ended up using from my bag were my normal travel tolietries (toothbrush, shampoo, chapstick, etc.), n*pple ointment (which didn’t really work), a water bottle with a straw (but the hospital provided these too), baby clothes for leaving the hospital, a change of clothes for myself, nursing bra, and a phone charger. I packed an emery board on the recommendation of a few friends who were surprised by their newborns’ sharp claws. I was too timid to use it to trim the kiddo’s nails, though there were longer than I expected.
For everything else I needed I just used what I got at the hospital – gowns, mesh panties, pads, peri bottle, pills – ibuprofen and colace – etc. Not the most attractive look, but I was too exhausted to care. They gave me extra pads and meds to take home so I didn’t need anything from the store right away, which is to say that if you are a heavy Amazon prime user you may be able to get by without buying much ahead of time.
I’m due with my second in a few months and the only things I would do differently are bring a nursing pillow to the hospital like others suggested, some caloric snacks for the middle of the night, and have a stock of thin but heavy flow maxi pads at the house since the giant hospital ones weren’t necessary after a few days and were a bit uncomfortable. I also live close enough to the hospital and drugstore that it would have been easy for my partner to pick up missed items – if the trip to the hospital was on the longer side then I’d maybe err on the side of overpacking.
Anon says
Second the emery board. Hospital refused to give us one, something about liability or some other nonsense, and my DD had talons.
NewMomAnon says
My doula recommended biting kiddo’s nails off. I did eventually, but the idea of biting a brand new baby’s fingernails was just too much…
lsw says
Stool softener. Padsicles. Diapers (for you). I frankly didn’t want to mess around with giant pads (I always have leaking with them, which is why I use tampons). Diapers were also great for holding in the padsicles.
One thing I did not expect – how much WATER I sweated out and otherwise lost in the first two weeks. I do not exaggerate – I was drinking between a half and a full gallon of water overnight. It was insanity. I had a lot of swelling and gave birth in July, so YMMV. So we had our bedroom set up with several full water bottles and a brita pitcher.
You got this!
Anonymous says
If you need advice on pads…I found that 1-2 packages of the purple pads from Always was more than enough. Then you can move to the orange/green pads. About 24hrs after birth I switched to the purple pads (which are still very large) because the HUGE hospital pads were kind of overkill. Also Tucks medicated pads and dermaplast spray (which you’ll be able to take some home from the hospital). Having a refreezable ice-pack was helpful 1-2 weeks after birth when I was sore. I only brought 2 pairs of pajamas (including yoga pants I could go home in) to the hospital and a change of clothes for my husband, and minimal toiletries. I did bring minimal makeup cause that made me feel normal. OH! And this may count under “frills” but I brought a pretty pillowcase/my own pillow so the pictures are nice.
Also…all the snacks. But thats cause I like to eat all the time!
mascot says
I’m a little vain and felt anything but pretty by that point. I took dark colored pajamas, a little bit of makeup and I think a hairdryer. By the second day, I was ready to get showered and change out of the hospital gown and be a little more presentable. Our hospital pictures turned out pretty well so I am happy that I put in the extra bit of effort.
And yes, all the snacks.
EB0220 says
Haha, you’re my kind of person! My first kid was 4 weeks early, my husband was out of town and the dr didn’t believe I was in labor. So my hospital bag was very minimal. Here’s what I think you really need: phone, chargers, nursing bras/camis, maternity pants + shirt for you to go home in, going home outfit and blanket for kid, carseat for kid to go home in, slippers, lots of high-calorie but non-crumbly snacks, your own toiletries, CHAPSTICK. It might be worth asking the hospital what they provide. They gave me n*pple cream, tucks pads, dermablast spray, the huge pads, diapers for baby, sugar water to help baby latch (I did not know this was a thing), halo sleepsack swaddlers for the baby, nasal aspirator, giant water cup. You will be soooo thirsty so have a huge water jug whether provided by the hospital or you.
FTMinFL says
Yes, SNACKS. For the hospital and for home. With my first I would get ravenously hungry between meals at the hospital. With my second, 80% of what I brought to the hospital was food and I was happy as a clam.
To echo what everyone else has said, use everything that the hospital offers you and take home multiples of what you like. Peri bottles were the greatest thing ever for several weeks post-delivery.
CCLA says
Depends (or better yet the Always version)…I far preferred these to wearing thick pads for the first 1-2 weeks post delivery. Extra long phone charger, dry shampoo, flip flops or slippers that you don’t care if they get ruined for hospital stay. We liked having our bose portable speaker. An empty reusable shopping bag or similar to take home all the baby stuff they give you (ours sent diapers, onesies, blankets, etc. – basically anything that was in the isolette drawer). Also, dermaplast which someone above noted, but the BLUE can specifically, and not all hospitals provide dermaplast so I wouldn’t bank on being able to get it there unless you know they have it. The peri squeeze bottles they give you at the hospital are great – I asked the nurse for a couple of extra so I could stash one in every bathroom of the house, which was awesome for convenience. Also loved the earth mama angel bottom spray.
Anonymous says
I honestly didn’t use much of what I packed. Here’s what I used:
-flip-flops for taking showers in the hospital
-camera
-phone and phone charger
-a nursing nightgown and robe (I stayed in the hospital gown for the first 24 hours after delivery, but on the second day it was nice to shower and change into clean clothes, but you’re getting checked all the time so a dress/robe is better than pants)
-going home outfit for baby + thick blanket because it was winter
My hospital provided me with thick socks with grippy bottoms, Tylenol, Colace, prenatal vitamins (you’ll continue taking them if you’re nursing), heavy duty pads, Tucks, a peri bottle and lots of stuff for the baby (thermometer, formula, diapers, wipes, swaddles, receiving blankets, hats, bath supplies) — if you’re not provided any of that you’ll want to pack it. You’ll want to take as much as you possibly can home with you, so leave room in your bags.
I wore the giant mesh underwear thing for 24 hours (with an ice pack) and then switched to the thick hospital pads. I wore those for maybe 3-5 days after coming home and then switched to thin Always pads, which were fine. I had some Depends on hand but didn’t end up wearing them. I never used or needed the numbing spray and I had a second degree tear.
FP says
Congratulations! One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is a pacifier for baby, if you are going that route. My hospital was very pro-b-feeding, and didn’t supply pacifiers. On night two at the hospital we dug it out of the bag and the nurse was like – Oh I am so glad you brought one! Most people don’t know and suffer through the nights…
anon says
I have a babies r us gift card for $100! What do I do? The online shop is shut down and not sure if I can get to a store any time soon. boo
Anon says
I think bed bath and beyond was exchanging them for a slight discount, but not sure how long that lasts.
Anonymous says
https://hip2save.com/2018/03/31/stuck-with-a-babiesrus-gift-card-heres-what-to-do/
Anonymous says
So…..I think I’m pregnant but too afraid to take a test. (I had a miscarriage in October and, while I want another kid, don’t really want to go through that again.) I’m a week late, and I’ve been extraordinary regular since having my daughter 3 years ago. I haven’t noticed any symptoms like what I had with her—at this point I had extreme fatigue and thought I had the flu. I had no symptoms at all with the MC, so that’s what’s scaring me.
I plan to test Saturday so I can have my husband there. I don’t know what I’m really looking for, other than hair pats and commiseration?
Jeffiner says
Hugs. I know exactly what you’re going through. I was so scared to take the test last month that I was an emotional mess for three days.
I plan really fun non-pregnancy compatible activities on days I have to take a test, like going out for sushi or cocktails. So even if its negative, I have something to look forward to.
Good luck!
NewMomAnon says
Hugs. Give yourself space to feel whatever you feel.
Spirograph says
Hugs, I hope you are at peace with whatever the result is. Fwiw, I had very different symptoms when I was pregnant with my sons that with my daughter, plus every pregnancy is different. And bodies do weird things without pregnancy, too.
Help me dial down breastfeeding says
My baby is 3 months old and I’m so over breastfeeding. I’d like to swap a feeding or two for formula, but the challenge is I’m terribly prone to clogged ducts. Like I get them several times a week even though I’m doing all the things you can read anywhere to prevent them, and have seen 2 lactation consultants who both were baffled. (And this is part of why I’m over breastfeeding.) So dropping feedings scares me.
I’m already trying to adjust to baby sleeping longer stretches at night—setting my alarm to pump instead of being able to rest. If I don’t empty them via pumping, I get clogged ducts. It’s like a breastfeeding treadmill I can’t get off of. Help!
Aly says
I had horrible oversupply that peaked at 3 months – clogged ducts, mastitis for days, and galatoceles. To decrease my supply, I used sage (like the spice). Google Kellymom and sage for the dosage. It worked like a freakin charm. I also chugged peppermint tea until I nearly floated away, though I really think the sage is what helped the most. If you are totally done with breastfeeding, power to you, but know that once I got rid of my constant clogged ducts with this trick, breastfeeding became much more pleasant. Just my experience – because I, too, was so frustrated and over it
Help me dial down breastfeeding says
Quick question — how did you know you had oversupply? I assume it would be obvious … I don’t think I do because when she nurses well I feel empty, and when I pump I get 3-4 ounces (total from both sides). I would not mind continuing breastfeeding if my boobs did not constantly rule my life as a result of the clogged ducts. Thank you for your help!
NewMomAnon says
Does your kiddo spit up a lot? My kiddo would nurse until I was empty, and then would spit it back up because she had overfed. I had wicked oversupply but didn’t realize it. In retrospect, some of the warnings should have been; aggressive letdown when kiddo would latch (like, milk shooting out of the other b**b, and kiddo latching then releasing a bunch of times with milk running out of her mouth to alleviate the high flow), lots of clogged ducts and lots of discomfort.
For me, it didn’t start to even out until I had been at work for 3 months or so, and started limiting kiddo’s night-time nursing. I think kiddo liked to nurse when she was stressed, and not necessarily when she was hungry, and my body didn’t know the difference. Whereas a few months of a regular pumping schedule and less night-time feeding reset my milk production at a lower level.
One thing to try – do you get a good letdown with your pump? It took me a month or so to figure out the right combo of pump settings to get a good letdown, and then I could pump until I was empty. Until I figured that out, I found the hand pump was actually better.
Anon in NYC says
I would probably approach it from two angles – one is the cabbage leaves/sudafed/sage approach to reduce your supply. The second is to ever-so-gradually reduce your pumping sessions, like, shave off only a minute or two from each pumping session at first and maintain that pumping time for a few days, and then reduce again by a minute or two.
Anonymous says
It doesn’t sound like you actually have an oversupply, so if you want to still nurse sometimes I wouldn’t go the route of reducing supply. Have you tried sunflower lecithin for the clogged ducts?
Aly says
+1 on this as well. I also took this and would recommend
MMGreenf says
I was also going to suggest Lecithin if you aren’t already taking it!
Help me dial down breastfeeding says
Yep, I have been taking lecithin daily for about a month. Can’t tell a difference. Thanks, though!!
anon says
Does anyone have the UPPAbaby Mesa Carseat and not drive an SUV? We have a Honda CRV but plan on hiring a nanny once the baby is born and obviously do not know what type of car the nanny will drive (makes me so nervous to have someone else driving my kid, but we live in a driving city) so we want to make sure the infant car seat will fit in a lot of different cars. After reading reviews of the Maxi Cosi, it sounds like a lot of people have trouble with that fitting in their car and same thing with the Peg Perego. We are a bit limited as to our car seat choices because we are having twins and the stroller options that fit two car seats are more limited, so we are beginning with a snap n go. Just trying to find out if people have issues with the UPPAbaby Mesa fitting in their cars
Anon says
I don’t know anything about the Mesa seat, but we also had twins and our snap-n-go stroller (BabyTrend, not the Joovy TwinRoo) could take any carseats, so I’m not sure if you’re actually as limited as you think you are. FWIW, we loved our Chicco KeyFit 30s and they fit really well in small cars, in my experience.
Anon says
I don’t know anything about the Mesa seat, but we also had twins and our double snap-n-go (BabyTrend, not the Joovy TwinRoo) could take any carseats, so I’m not sure if you’re actually as limited as you think you are. FWIW, we loved our Chicco KeyFit 30s and they fit really well in small cars, in my experience.
Anon says
Fits in a BMW 3-series. I mean, all carseats are a little tight, but it fits. Especially if only one in the car, you will be fine.
Aly says
I had horrible oversupply that peaked at 3 months – clogged ducts, mastitis for days, and galatoceles. To decrease my supply, I used sage (like the spice). Google Kellymom and sage for the dosage. It worked like a freakin charm. I also chugged peppermint tea until I nearly floated away, though I really think the sage is what helped the most. If you are totally done with breastfeeding, power to you, but know that once I got rid of my constant clogged ducts with this trick, breastfeeding became much more pleasant. Just my experience – because I, too, was so frustrated and over it.