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I am usually the laziest person on earth when it comes to a beauty routine, but the one thing I have never skipped is washing my face before bed. Maybe it’s because I was an acne-prone teen, but I never skip it. However, since I’ve started wearing mascara on a regular basis, I find that when I walk in the door after work I really want to take my makeup off right away. I’ve been stealing my son’s baby wipes, but these are very tempting. I like the brand Simple as a good value for a drugstore brand, and these wipes are compostable! I like that even in the description it says they only take 42 days to break down in compost. Also, when a friend had plumbing issues, their plumber said that even when wipes say they’re flushable, you shouldn’t flush them. The wipes are $7.99 for 25 at CVS and are available both online and in store. Compostable Wipes This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ 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 – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anon says
Any other daycare moms have tips on not getting sick all the time? I think I have a decent immune system – before having a kid in daycare I averaged maybe one cold/winter if that. But now my toddler is in daycare and bringing home a cold every few weeks and I’m catching 100% of them despite my best efforts. She and/or I have basically been continuously sick since early Sept. and it’s making me miserable and affecting my performance at work. Or any anecdata that this might at least be better next year? Our ped was not too encouraging on that front, she said we should see fewer secondary infections like ear infections as her immune system develops but we will still have 8-10 colds every year.
Cb says
The first year was the worst. I don’t think we had a week between 14-16 months where one or more of us wasn’t sick – we had the whole gamut, colds, ear infections, coughs, and HMFD. Then we went January through September with just one or two sick days. This season is on a similar pattern – in the last two months, my son has been snuffly off and on, and got sent home with a fever once, I had viral bronchitis which took me a month to shake, my normally hardy husband is home with a bad cold. A friend recommended elderberry syrup which I think may be junk science but I’m going to give it a shot. Will report back.
Anon says
No tips, but it will get better. My kid is 19 months now and so far it’s been better. She (and I!) has had a great run of health since her first birthday. Which I am sure I have just jinxed.
But man, that first winter was ROUGH. For her, daycare germs are real (even though they do so much to keep things as clean as possible!) For me, it felt like because my body has just been through SO MUCH it had no energy stores left to fight stuff off (and generally I am an extremely healthy person – I could count the number of sick days I took in the 10 working years before baby on one hand). Wash your hands constantly, and good luck getting through it.
Annie says
Just try to survive the first year. I have never been so sick as an adult as I was during our first few months of daycare. Three years in our toddler has an amazing immune system and we’re all rarely sick (knock on wood!) so the 8-10 a years sounds like a lot for the second or third year.
Anonymous says
Hand washing, mouth covering, and patience. It will be better next year. All the disinfecting wipes in the world won’t help most things, unfortunately.
FWIW my kids are now 1.5, 3 and 6 and while the youngest always has a runny nose, they are (knocking loudly on wood) generally very healthy.
Anonanonanon says
fwiw, if you’re planning a second, it’s not as bad the second time around from the parent perspective. I felt like I spent the first 2 years of my oldest child’s life with a perpetual chest cold, but I must have built up immunity because it’s been much smoother-sailing this time around.
Govtattymom says
It has gotten so much better for us! The first winter (when daughter was 3-6 months) was ok. I’m guessing this is because she was too little to interact with other kids. But her second winter in daycare was pretty bad. It seemed like she was sick every other week, and with some nasty stuff too. Fortunately, she turned a corner and has been healthy for the past year and a half (knock on wood). I can’t even remember the last time she had tylenol or went to the doctor for a sick visit! I hope you will have a similar experience. Hang in there!
Anonymous says
Echoing that it will get better. Hang in there!
Anonymous says
It will get better. Our first year in daycare was also my husband’s first year teaching high school. We were so sick. But subsequent years have been better. Caveat that you cannot move across the country – that will introduce a whole new set of germs.
Anon says
Just here to write SOLIDARITY sister. 14 month old started day care in September and the struggle is real. I, too, always considered myself to be a very healthy person, and I constantly feel under the weather now.
Anonymous says
I don’t personally believe in naturopathic immune boosters and I don’t think there’s anyway to avoid your toddler’s germs altogether, so this is just par for the course. I billed 88 hours my toddler’s first month in daycare because I was sick or home with a sick baby so much. It gets waaaaay better so chalk it up to growing pains and look forward to next year.
AwayEmily says
My first kid started daycare at 4 months and was not sick a single day for her entire first two years at daycare. I was like “what’s the big deal about all this daycare germ stuff.” Then my second baby…oh my god. Within the first four months of daycare he came down with pinkeye, the flu, HFM, strep, and RSV. So I guess I offer this story as evidence that maybe there’s not a whole lot you can do except live through it…our kids had the same parents, same hand-washing protocol, same genetics, and wildly different sickness experiences.
Anon says
Big disclaimer here that I am NOT a doctor but: after a particularly rough Fall one year involving Pneumonia I asked my doctor what I could do to keep from getting sick all Winter long, and she suggested I take Vitamin D supplements. So I’ve been doing that ever since. It might help, or maybe my kids just got older/more immune, but just my 2 cents. (Insert additional disclaimer here about please check with your doctor about type & amounts etc.).
H13 says
Like everyone else has said, it really does get better. With my first, someone was sick every 10-14 days for months on end. It was brutal. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is actually washing your baby’s hands when you get home. It’s not a perfect fix, but the adults always wash so I started with the baby too, even when they were little. It also helps set up a good habit. My 6 yo will wash hands when he gets home without being asked.
We also do elderberry. I have no idea if it works but everyone likes it and I don’t think it hurts. I make ours and it has the added bonus of making the house smell delightful while it simmers.
Anon. says
Chiming in with another “It gets better.” We’re on our third daycare winter and it seems like they are getting progressively better. So far this fall/winter we’ve only been to the ped once for a nasty-sounding cough that was actually an ear infection. And I *knocking on ALL the wood* have not gotten any of it despite being pregnant so theoretically with a weakened immune system. So maybe pre-natal vitamins?
TheElms says
I’m living this right now. Baby started daycare at 5 months, now almost 6 months and is just getting over her first bad daycare cold. But it has resulted in lots of no sleep for her (and me as a result) and I can tell I’m getting her cold now (having avoided it for the first 5 days, probably just from lack of sleep alone). Do babies get better at sleeping while sick or is that not a thing?
Anon says
We are in this with our first year in preschool. DH has been sick almost every week for the last 3 months. The toddler and I have only either gotten mild versions (or missed some of them), but she carries everything home and he gets it. I am still on prenatals (TTC) and I think kiddo got my immune system (luck of the draw, BFing, who knows) – so I think those two things are saving us. It’s been miserable. We do lots of handwashing and I wipe down everything I can reach pretty regularly, but kiddo is a snuggler (and sleeps with us usually half the night) so there is no avoiding transfer. You’re probably already doing this, but we’ve upped DH’s orange juice consumption and made sure he’s taking a vitamin – not sure it’s made a difference. Plus all of the humidifiers and making sure that everyone is getting lots and lots of fluids.
EB0220 says
Agree with the others to hang on. I take one Vitamin or Immune Nuun a day and have hot water/lemon/honey when my throat starts tickling and that at least helps reduce the symptoms a little. FWIW my kids are now 5 and 7 and I can’t remember the last time I took either one to the doctor for a sick appt. So it does get better.
Anonymouse says
We’re on our second winter in daycare … and I hate to say it’s much worse. I think because now they play with each other more? The last three illnesses were all a week of missed daycare and work, and both parents were sick about 50% of that. We’ve tried upping the handwashing, but we live in a small apartment and so spend much of our weekends out and about, and I’m sure that’s another way we keep getting new germs. Hugs.
Cb says
Has anyone read Couples That Work? I heard an interview with the author on BOBW and thought it was really interesting. There is a lot of buzz around Fair Play as well but this sounded very research based.
EB0220 says
I am just reading it now. I like it so far. Her main point is to be intentional about your relationship and career decisions instead of making assumptions. Some of it seems like common sense (don’t make a major career decision without talking to your spouse!) but I think the 3 phases she defines are super helpful so you know what to look for instead of just being thrown off by the transition points.
Anon says
I read Fair Play and honestly I thought it was kind of bad. Functionality wise, the author doesn’t actually make the “sh!t I do” lists available to you (even though she says she does – they are nowhere to be found at this time, anyway). But content-wise I also dislike the stories and the spouse-labeling. The stories are almost unbelievable. I have serious and legitimate problems with my husband’s household contribution but he would NEVER blame me for forgetting an item at a grocery story or text me to see if kids need lunch. When he’s in charge he figures it out just fine. Our problem is that I’m the default in-charge of everything and if I can’t manage something his response is to always suggest I hire someone. The fact that I’m the household money manager and would like to keep us on budget means that I have to just do it myself or go through a very lengthy exercise of proving that we can have more “play” money if he helps. I feel like her household inequality was based in deep disrespect, and the spouse-labeling exacerbates the feeling that we should treat our significant others with contempt. Mine is based in deep misunderstanding. Maybe the cure is the same, and I did find some of the ideas helpful but I much preferred Laura Vanderkam’s approach.
Clementine says
Anyone have a plug-in electric car that fits 3 carseats across the back seat? Looking to replace our 10+ year old, 150k mile small SUV. Our ‘big’ vehicle is a 3 row SUV and we’re looking for something that could be used for the million quick trips around town.
anon says
It’s worth trying in the Chevy Bolt. I’ve ridden in one often (with only one carseat, though) and am always impressed at how spacious the backseat is. Internet is suggesting conflicting answers re three across, though I kind of imagine that three narrow seats could squeeze in.
HSAL says
I don’t have a specific recommendation, but from my rabbit hole of research when I was looking for a 3-across car, even if some fit three car seats, it’s not a realistic setup once the oldest moves to a booster seat, because it’s difficult to get them buckled. So if you’re going to be in a booster in the next couple of years, it might not be worth it.
Pogo says
I don’t know 100% that the Honda Insight would work, but I think most Hondas can fit 3 across, correct? I personally know two people who love their insight. Again not verified info but I think it might be built on the same chassis as the Accord? I park next to one at work a lot and it’s very similar sized – def bigger than the Bolt!
Walnut says
Suuuper late response, but I fit three Diono Radian’s across in a Buick Verano- not an electric car, but definitely compact as an example. Two are front facing, one rear facing and the drivers/passengers side front seats can’t be adjusted back for a taller driver or passenger (so my 6′-ish husband cannot ride comfortably in my car.) I’m 5’5″ and fit just fine.
I pink puffy heart love my car, so I was willing to do what it took to make my car seat configuration work out. If I were you, definitely figure out a way to give the car seats and car a test drive together to make sure everything fits comfortably.
Buble says
Do you all have recommendations for sources for buying home decor and toys that are not made in China? I was so disgusted/frustrated walking through Pier 1 this weekend, looking at all the cute Christmas stuff, but seeing everyyyyyyy tag say Made In China. It feels like a label saying “This is cheap and disposable.”
Cb says
Ugh, it’s really tough. I think even Etsy is saturated with mass produced stuff. We have ‘Not on the High Street’ in the UK which has gorgeous things but kind of defeats the purpose of avoiding things shipped from further afield.
Sal says
I’ve found this website (still made in the USA) to be a good place to start for things made in the USA: http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/. It’s a 90s interface but lots of good links.
Sarabeth says
For toys, Bella Luna is where I window-shop online.
Home decor is harder. 10,000 villages, but that’s a very specific aesthetic. Then there are lots of small places, both online and brick & mortar, but harder to make a recommendation that would be remotely comparable to Pier 1.
AnonLaywer says
I bought a wooden flower stacker from Bella Luna – it’s stunning; I love it.
Anonymous says
Home decors- look for local craft sales especially this time of year!! There are a ton of artisans out there. You can also keep things super minimalist to help.
Anonymous says
Yes Bergdorfs. Honestly you get what you pay for. Pier One is and always has been about volume of cheap low quality goods. If you want nice Christmas stuff look for European made or local artisans and you’ll need to go to specialty shops and be prepared to spend.
Pogo says
Toys I have found lots of options at small local stores which either source from the US or Europe. For decor that’s made in the USA, you’d probably need to buy from local artisans at markets. But I like some of the fabric and felt decor from say, Crate and Barrel (even tho it is very likely produced abroad). If I didn’t have a ton of hand me down Christmas decor I’d do it all over in fabric and felt, instead of the plastic-y garland and electric lights that I have. But I’m lazy, and I figure I already own it all!
In House Lobbyist says
I love Grimm wooden toys. I think I love them more than my kids but I buy one every year. They are pricey but make great decor!
Anonymous says
Husband just got his vasectomy scheduled. I want to plan a fun trip or outing or buy something to commemorate this happy occasion.
I know that sounds weird, but it was his idea (well, he brought it up as the practical thing to do since we don’t want more kids), he is 110% on board and we are finally coming out of the dark dark infant and toddler years.
I’m not talking like a second honeymoon, just some kind of acknowledgement that we are (happily) past the kid having years and moving into the next phase.
We are buying a minivan this winter and I don’t want *that* to be how we remember closing the door to this lovely but thankfully OVER period of life.
lawsuited says
Take a trip! Even if it’s just a long weekend. As you say the infant and toddler years are behind you, I’m presuming your kids are old enough to be left with others so the two of you can get away together. The most precious gift for busy parents is alone time.
Anonymous says
Definitely a trip! We’re saving a second honeymoon for when our youngest is five and we can easily leave them with grandparents.
Anon says
On RHOC someone threw a ‘balls voyage’ party. It is peak Housewife nonsense and it still makes me smile when I think of that episode.
Anon says
Oh sweet, dumb Lydia who thought her husband was actually losing his balls.
Anon says
I would do the trip, but schedule it for once it’s confirmed he’s shooting blanks (usually 6-12 weeks post-V) so you can celebrate by gardening w/o protection.
Anon says
We’re not gift-buyers usually, but we splurged and got each other jewelry to commemorate. I spent 5+ years either pregnant or miscarrying or bfeeding, and then he got the V and confirmed he was shooting blanks, so I got a beautiful right hand ring and he got a fancy watch. Both to celebrate the permanent end of a really tough era and to remember the sweetness of the baby stages. For the first year or so, my ring was a reminder that my body was my own again, but now it’s evolved into a nice symbol of how little and vulnerable they were.
Anonymous says
This is so sweet I love it!
AwayEmily says
Now that my kids are getting older and wear their pajamas for a full year, then hand them down to the next kid for another year of wear, I think I want to invest in some nicer/more durable sets. Is Hanna the way to go? Has anyone tried their Amazon Moon and Back brand? How’s Primary’s durability? I’m looking for 4T two-piece pajamas that won’t get super stretched and faded (we have some 3T Gap and Target ones that look like rags after 2 kids).
Anon says
I like many things about Primary, but I don’t think the quality is amazing, especially for the price. I only have one kid who only stays in each size for ~6 months, and her Primary clothes (PJs especially) still get quite faded. Hanna seems much higher quality to me.
buffybot says
I can’t comment on Primary but the quality of Hanna seems excellent – really durable and they don’t fade/pill. Plus, cute prints! Also, they pretty regularly do 30-40% off sales.
Seafinch says
Hanna, definitely. We have pairs that five kids have worn for a year plus at a time and they still look great. Black Friday or other sales will have great prices.
Anonymous says
I’ve been really impressed with the Hanna pajamas we just got. We have a set direct from Hanna and also a set from their Amazon brand. I think the Hanna brand is slightly nicer, but they’re pretty close. I would also note I think with the 30% off on the main site (which seems to run a lot), the prices are about the same as Amazon, so unless you’re worried about needing to return, I would do the regular Hanna.
Pogo says
LOVE Hanna. I stalk them and buy on sale. I also have a summer set (“short johns”) and winter set, so that he’s only wearing them for 6mo which increases potential hand-me-down-ness (but you’re right, once you get to a certain age and they wear stuff for longer, the jig is kind of up).
Boston Legal Eagle says
Now that my older one is 3.5, I’m going to try Hanna as my go-to for pajamas – they fit better than our other Gap and Old Navy ones, and I want these to last for DS2, which I think they will. I can’t comment yet on how they will look in a year or two, but so far they look and feel great. I wait for sales and have added some to our Christmas list.
Buble says
Honestly, I’ve gotten 100% cotton sets off Amazon that cost under $10 and had great luck with them lasting for years. I’m not sure what your standards are for faded/stretched, but for shorts/tshirt combos it doesn’t seem that important. The key to me is no synthetic fabrics — the kids are comfy, and they just get comfier with time/wear.
AwayEmily says
Our Gap ones are 100% cotton but pretty thin cotton, and they have holes around the cuffs/waist, and just generally look super scraggly. With the Target ones the problem is more the stretching — they keep falling off my daughter’s waist (and she is not exactly a beanpole). I’m very open to the idea that there are cheap amazon ones that are great, but I haven’t found them yet.
Buble says
FWIW here are ones that have worked well for us — no holes whatsoever, still look fine, don’t fall off my kiddos (who are pretty much chonks but still):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AR93YOC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MZR9L7G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1
AwayEmily says
Thanks! We actually need long sleeve/long pants ones but I bet those brands make those versions and I will try them out.
Anon says
Hanna, definitely.
EB0220 says
Our favorites by far are Boden nightgowns.
PinkKeyboard says
My Mom got my older daughter some CrewCuts ones and they are super thick, soft, nice, bright colors. No fading, and I wash on hot and dry on hot.
AwayEmily says
oooo I hadn’t considered this, thanks! I’m going to order a pair of Hannas and a pair of CrewCuts and maybe a Boden for good measure, then I will try to report back in three years :-)
anon says
Any experiences with milk oversupply? It sounds like it should be a good problem, but not when I engorge sometimes more than once per day, and baby is throwing up every morning because the milk flow is so fast. Baby is 10 weeks and so far EBF (he is big and growing well, since he’s obviously getting plenty of milk, but it’s been rough with all the choking and puking). The lactation consultant has strongly urged me not to pump at all, which makes sense, aside from getting a few ounces out in the morning with the haakaa to relieve pressure. We were doing okay for a while, but baby is sleeping more so here we are again. How long does this take to even out?
And no, pumping and donating is not a good solution. That just prolongs the problem, and when I looked into it I found that the milk bank in my area has extremely strict health screenings and repeated blood tests that I just don’t have the energy for right now.
Any experiences with this?
Sarabeth says
I had a real struggle with this. I would say that when you feel uncomfortable, it’s ok to pump just a very little bit, just enough to relieve the discomfort. I always used the Medela manual pump for this purpose. Alternatively, just do manual expression. It will get better over time as your supply regulates and baby gets bigger and therefore better able to control their end of things. But if you’re really engorged, don’t try to just ignore it – that can end up causing mastitis, which is extremely unpleasant.
For the actual nursing, I found that I had to let baby nurse enough to get letdown, then pop her off and let myself spray into a rag for a bit. When the flow calmed down enough, baby went back on. This was sometimes stressful, if baby was hungry and crying, but it helped her not to get overwhelmed.
FWIW, if you think you might donate later, you can just keep any excess milk in your freezer, labelled by date. I ended up donating a ton of milk when my kid was about 6 months old, because we were moving to a new house. By that time I had enough energy to deal with the screening process, and it applied retroactively. Alternatively, if you just want it gone, plenty of moms will take milk off your hands through less formal channels.
op says
Thanks. I’ve been lucky so far and haven’t had an infection or even any major clogs, but the clock is probably ticking on that one. You’re probably right about popping him off and letting letdown happen, but yeah, it sounds stressful. I will try it, though.
Anonymous says
Block feeding?? Did your LC suggest this at all? FWIW my supply is finally slowing down a bit at 4 months. Definitely was still leaking at 10 weeks even if baby didn’t sleep longer or skip a feeding.
op says
Yes, I am block feeding in the evenings. I think it is helping, very very slowly. And yes, I am still leaking like crazy, lol. This is my first so I had a suspicion this wasn’t typical, but also wasn’t sure until I compared experiences with friends and they were goggling at me.
Anonymous says
Eh I know lots of women who had oversupply including myself. I think so many people struggle with EBF or with supply ( either because they supplement too early or really do have low supply) so oversupply is like “what’s that!?” It really does get easier and more regulated with time and like the commenter said below the first 3 months of bfing are just kinda crazy. At 3 months it gets easier and at 6 months it’s a breeze!! You’re doing a great job by the way.
H13 says
+1 for block feeding. It is the only thing that worked for me.
Anonanonanon says
Block Feeding. I quit BFing my first over a supply of too much but was happy to know about block feeding the second time around, it took a few days but it helps
AwayEmily says
A couple of things:
1) Like Sarabeth said, feed a little for letdown, then break to catch the spray then finish.
2) Feed reclined! This helped me the most — basically, I would feed the baby lying almost on my back so that gravity was working to slow the flow.
3) It is almost certainly a temporary thing. With both my kids I had oversupply and mentally was WAY more stressed about it with my first because I thought it would be like that the whole time. With my second I realized that the first three months of breastfeeding are just nutso in many ways and not necessarily indicative of how the next nine months will go. 10 weeks is still pretty early; I bet your body will figure out how to regulate.
op says
Ooh, good idea on reclining. I’ll see if baby will play along with that. And thank you for the reassurance.
GCA says
+1 to the reclining nursing and using the Haakaa for a little passive pumping to relieve engorgement. I had a slight oversupply and a strong letdown, but the former resolved after a couple of months when I went back to work and couldn’t pump as frequently as I nursed. And the latter – I nursed reclining a lot and baby became used to it as she got bigger.
LSC says
I struggled with this and it was so miserable! My heart goes out to you. Using cabbage leaves for engorgement helped me, and did not adversely impact my milk supply. It takes time to even out. Continue using your Hakka and take ibuprofen and use cold to control inflammation. You got this!
ElisaR says
oh man this was me. I would stand in the shower and hand express. It was out of control. My sheets were totally saturated. If you’re wondering how far one can shoot milk out the answer is ACROSS THE LENGTH OF MY SHOWER. I like “oh wow, I hit the wall!” But I didn’t want to pump and found hand expressing relieved me a bit.
ElisaR says
i will add that baby was overwhelmed but eventually caught up and things regulated.
Anonymous says
This sounds really hard. I remember the mornings of being so engorged when kiddo started sleeping all night where I thought I would burst. And also had a quick let down that sprayed all over. It would be rough to feel like that all the time.
That said…are you going back to work in a few weeks? If so, I’d be cautious about trying to decrease your supply drastically. Once you’re pumping during the workweek, you might find that things even out pretty quickly. For me, a bit (not your situation, I realize) of oversupply was a blessing when I was pumping.
Anon says
One of my friends told me her favorite baby age was 8/9ish months-15ish months and now with 18 month old twins I totally see why. Yesterday we were at the park and one of mine was having a total meltdown while a 14 month old was sweetly giggling in the swing next to him. I miss my babies, know that more toddler-like behavior is to come and am sad that baby stage is gone. We know that we don’t want more kids, but now I kind of understand how people end up going for another. It makes me sad to think that the best age is over. Any tips to try to enjoy what’s to come?
Anonymous says
I think everyone has a favorite stage, but unless that person has grown children how do they know?? There’s many awesome things about elementary school children or teenagers. Every stage has good and bad parts. I LOVED 18 months – 24 months. We could do sooo many fun activities together, DD was talking more, still super sweet, etc…And now at closer to 3 years old she’s getting more independent with dressing herself and putting shoes on. And her imagination is off the charts I love it. Yes when she has tantrums they’re intense and she has a lot more opinions know, and we can’t sneak anything by her. But frankly 14-16 months was hard because of the lack of verbal skills. I mean I don’t think kids peak at 15 months and it’s all downhill from there lol. That’s a little ridiculous. But yes I think there is potentially something biological that happens as your child gets closer to two and you’re like awwww I want a baby (even if you don’t).
Anon says
+1 to this… 14-16 months was my absolutely least favorite age. My kid was cutting molars, learning to walk (late walker), basically non-verbal and, honestly, cute but a complete nightmare to deal with. I have a 22 month old now and since 18 months life has been wonderful. I absolutely ADORE this age. Yes, she melts down but she’s young enough that it’s totally expected (ie., no one is pointing and staring at my kid thinking she’s too old for meltdowns), she can talk to me and she is still really sweet and eager to please. From friends who have older kids, it sounds like most kids go through a really difficult phase somewhere between 2 and 4, but it doesn’t last for that whole time (eg., either terrible 2s or threenager but not both) and everyone says that having 4+ year olds is amazing. I’m not and never have been a baby person, though of course I adored my own, but it’s wild to me that someone would suggest it’s all downhill from 15 months. Having kids you can talk to is beyond incredible, and at 18 months they are just on the very cusp of that.
Anonymous says
One more thing – you have 18 month twins you’re totally still in the thick of it!! Do you have a local twin moms support group?? My friend who has twins has just been able to take a breath and now they’re almost three years old. Unfortunately the baby years just were not enjoyable with the twins. But now they’re inseparable and play together all the time and she has time to exercise and work more. So I guarantee that 8 months – 15 months was NOT the best stage that she missed.
H13 says
Every age has challenges but you are on the cusp of so much fun stuff! Talking and pretend play and verbal expressions of love. Big kids are so great. There is an ease that comes around 5 where you can just chuck them in the car and do fun stuff. There is always more to look forwrad to and the best way to enjoy is to try and be present. It is cliche but true. Between now and age five, however, I have found it helpful to try and think about how big and amazing the world is from the kid’s perspective. It also means it is totally overwhelming at times but the delight in every new experience (snow! really good cheese!) makes up for the meltdowns most of the time.
Hang in there!
Boston Legal Eagle says
Based on a sample size of two, my favorite baby stage is 4-9 or 10 months – after the rough newborn stage but before they’re too mobile. Both of my kids are now older than that, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing else to come! Toddlers are tough but can be very lovable and once they acquire language, it’s like they change overnight into little people who can actually communicate back and have their own opinions. I have a feeling that I’m really going to enjoy ages 4-9/10 as well. And teenagers go through a lot, but they are becoming independent young adults, which I’m sure is really cool to see and changes the parenting relationship.
You are in the thick of it right now, especially with twins. Pretty soon you will have two who are out of diapers and done with naps! Incredible. I’m not going to say enjoy every minute of it because I hate that phrase and think it sets everyone up for disappointment, but just try your best to find a few enjoyable moments here and there, and then just get through the days as best as you can. Take many breaks and take care of yourself.
So Anon says
I truly adored that age (8mos-15 mos) with each of my kids. My mom always told me that she loved each of our ages. I think this is a bit of a gloss on reality, but I also think it is mindset. So far, each age comes with challenges and fun stuff. My kids are 6 and 8, and I absolutely love where they both are. My oldest, 8, has the greatest sense of humor that makes me genuinely roar on a regular basis. The best, though, is that his laugh is still the same as it was when he was the 15 month old toddler, and hearing that laugh is just the best noise when it comes from a place of genuine enjoyment. My six year old is still an absolute cuddle bug and she is such a caring person. And it is so much fun watching her hang with her little buddies and have her own world. The three of us made dinner as a family last night. I had such a great time having two little helpers who could genuinely help cook and then also helped clean up. I do miss the baby stage. Every once in a while, I get a glimpse of them as a toddler in something they do or say, and I miss it. But then I see the amazing little people that they are, and I’m good with where we are. Also, sleeping is awesome and they can get their own drinks/snacks.
Anonymous says
18-24 months is tough because they are really trying to communicate but often don’t have the language skills to do it well yet. My toddler is 2.5 and I love this stage because he says the darndest things.
Anon says
I had a colicky newborn so every stage is so much more enjoyable than where we started. At least my child doesn’t require constant soothing anymore!
Anonymous says
I can see why that would be the best “baby” age as after that they are really toddlers and then preschoolers, but in general I am enjoying my son more and more as he gets older (he’s 7 now). I mean, I do get sad thinking about things he doesn’t do anymore and missing having a snuggly little baby, but seeing his joy when he learned to ride a bike without training wheels was easily one of the best moments of my life. Also, if he had never been a preschooler, I never would have heard him singing to himself, “my p*nis is big right now but if I stop playing with it, it will go back to normal.” He was a pretty easy toddler–possibly because he talked early and often so didn’t get so frustrated about communication issues, but some of it is also just his easygoing temperament–so that transition wasn’t bad for us, but I found ages 3-4 tough. Actually I find every age tough. So maybe that’s part of my lack of regrets!
June says
I thought 9/10 months to 24 months was the worst! After my kid turned 2 he became so much more fun to do things with, meal times and eating out became easier, and he’s just more fun to spend time with since he can talk/communicate more. I loved the 3 month to 9 month phase, but I also love the phase he’s at now (he’s 27 months).
GCA says
I realized I have no recollection of my son between 15-18 months (just photos and videos!) because he was a crap sleeper and I was so utterly sleep-deprived. Around 18-20 months he became a lot more verbal, at 2 he slept through the night consistently, and since 2.5 he’s been positively delightful – very high-energy but no drama. All of those ages were fun in different ways; for me, it’s fun to watch their little brains in action, even if it’s not easy to corral a strong and physically coordinated toddler. Son is now 4.5 and as annoying as he can be sometimes, he’s a joy to hang out with/ read to/ take to kids’ theater shows etc.
Anonymous says
My twins are 2.5 and while yes, there are more meltdowns than when they were babies, they also have the funniest conversations (both with us and each other), are getting so independent (no more of the days where feeding them took both hands), and are just enjoyable to interact with in a way that babies aren’t quite.
Also, solidarity, twins are hard and basically every stage for a singleton seems easier.
Twins says
As a twin parent, it’s just a different ballgame. The early days were about survival. I am also in the camp that it largely gets better. After age two, the economies of scale kick in for twins and they start playing with each other. They are so much fun as little people
Anon says
You have lots of amazing moments to look forward to. They start developing imagination around 2 and make the most amazing conclusions about the world. I.e. when mine saw flamingos at the zoo for the first time she confidently labeled them snake-ducks.
H13 says
Any recommendations for an audiobook subscription service for a 6-year-old?
So Anon says
Do you mean audible or are you looking for specific books? I get three books a month through audible, and generally one is for the kids. We got great mileage out of the Humphrey series.
H13 says
Was wondering if there was something aside from Audible out there. Would love to more books per month.
DLC says
We get audio books from the public library through the Libby app. Also, for younger kids, there are a ton of story podcasts that we love an listen to constantly.
Anonymous says
Yeah, we just use the library & Overdrive, and my son also looooooves podcasts.
octagon says
What podcasts do you like? I think we got the recommendation for Be Calm on Ahway Island here, which has been great for bedtime but I’d love more in a rotation.
Hiatus says
Finn Caspian
Anonymous says
Story Pirates, Radio Adventures of Dr Floyd, Wow in the World, Circle Round, Brains On, Smash Boom Best
DLC says
We like Story Nory, Sparkle Stories, Eleanor Amplified, and Story Pirates. Though Eleanor Amplified and Story Pirates might be a little high energy for bed time. We also like the BBC’s Listen and Play and Playtime- those have song, stories and a pretend activity.
Buble says
I like bedtimefm’s Story Time.
Stories Podcast is ok but you do have to scroll through about 3 minutes of ads to get to the actual story.
LT Disability says
Looking for some outside advice. Posted on the main board last week but it showed up late and I’m not sure I posted enough info.
I am working with a financial adviser I trust but right now am struggling with a recommendation. She’s recommending that I get long term disability coverage at a whopping $8,500 annual premium that would effectively replace my income at 100%. We live far below our $600k annual income (I’m $500k of the $600). Buying a policy that matches our income coupled with that annual premium sounds insane. Objectively, we can afford it, but I work 100% commission in a very cyclical industry and this is the first year I’ve broken $300k, so assuming $500k is what we’re trying to replicate in the insurance feels way off. I have peers who in the Great Recession made $0 for 12 consecutive months so I don’t (and can’t) count on this level of income to be consistent forever – I can hope for it and work for it, but can’t plan on it.
I’m 35, average health, one toddler and hoping for #2 soon. Only noteworthy debt is our mortgage, which is 68% of current value.
I guess my question is, does that premium sound ridiculous or do I need to get over it and this is just a cost of adulting? We’re going through all of our estate stuff now, which is very past due anyway, and it’s all just hard to stomach on a number of fronts. TIA
So Anon says
Are you getting this on the private market or through your employer? On the private market is much more expensive than through your employer. Things to consider: Replacing 100% of income is not typical. LTD generally replaces a percentage of income, so check the definition of income to see how it handles commission income (averaged over the last 12 months)? If it is a set benefit amount, then that would make more sense for the price. How long is the duration (is it only for 5-10 years, age 65)? The general level of income replacement is 66% with the optional level to buy-up to 80ish%.
Anon says
You need to run the numbers on how much income you will need if you become disabled, and then buy that amount of insurance.
Blueberries says
Paying so much to replace 100% of income when you don’t live on 100% of income even with work expenses seems bonkers to me. I suppose you could end up in a situation where you require nursing home care + need to maintain your household (and pay for extra help to replace your labor) and then it might be useful to have so much coverage (assuming you’re in the US with our weak safety net). Why is the advisor recommending it? Also, how are the payments treated tax-wise? Tax-free versus taxable makes a huge difference in how much you’ll get.
At your level of income, it should also be possible to build up reserves fairly quickly so you can at least partially self-insure.
OP says
This is my direct line of thinking. I think adviser and I aren’t on the same page. This is the gut check I needed to continue thinking through this with her.
I also have work-sponsored LTD (paid out post tax, so that’s even better) that wasn’t calculated into the initial target amount, I’ve learned, so we need to revisit that. Hopefully that brings down the premium about substantially.
So Anon says
Full stop. This sounds like over insurance. With LTD, there is a very good chance that one policy would be off-set against the other (your employer-sponsored LTD would offset the amount you received from the other policy, leaving you with a minimal benefit). You need to see the specific policy language to check this, but it could easily result in you paying a huge premium to almost no benefit.
Florida vacation ideas says
Any suggestions for a hotel or resort in Florida to stay in early January? Or even a cabin/air bnb rental type of place? We’d like to take our toddler on a first family vacation. It will be me, DH, and our 20 month old. We’d love to be on a beach and also have a nice kiddie pool. Family-friendly activities nearby would be good too. Or a resort with a lot of stuff to do so we don’t even need to leave (this would be DH’s ideal… he’s nervous about logistics of traveling with toddler and all the stuff he requires). Neither of us have been to Florida beyond Disney or work travel. Thanks!
Anonanonanon says
Just a heads up that you need to look in South Florida. North and Central Florida will not be beach weather in January. Will certainly be warmer than most of the country, but will still get down in the low fifties likely.
Last time I was in South Beach in Miami (about three months ago?) I noticed it was MUCH more family-friendly than it was even a year or two ago, so that might be an area to explore. It would be walkable to the beach (which has playgrounds!) shopping, chain restaurants, and places Walgreens for essentials. The public restrooms on the beach were in much better condition than they used to be. I noticed much fewer homeless people as well (I mention because I was there about two years ago and it had surpassed “local flavour” into “I’m getting agressively approached all the time in a way that feels scary”). They have contractors on the beaches who will set up your umbrella and let you rent loungers, which is nice with a toddler. The Art Deco buildings are iconic and will help you adults feel like you went somewhere cool. Confirm any hotel pools are heated. I don’t have a specific hotel recommendation, but I would value A. walkability to the beach and B. the possibility of a segregated area in the room to put toddler to bed so you don’t all have to lay frozen in fear in the dark at 8 PM. When you look at hotels, look for proximity to the beach and green area on the map in the Art Deco historic district or City Center (which has Lincoln Rd. which is a walkable area of shops and restaurants). I’ve stayed at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel which was geographically perfect, but I wasn’t with children for that trip. I would recommend it over a boutique hotel with a child, though.
If you find a house rental with a pool or a hotel with a pool in the Boca/Del Ray area near the beach there’s plenty to do (Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, the beach, etc.) Even though it will be warm, you will still want to confirm the pool is heated.
Keep in mind winter is The Season in South Florida, so prices are pretty expensive.
NYCer says
I agree that Miami is a surprisingly easy/fun/good place to go with toddlers. We have stayed at the Fontainebleau with a kid, and while it is not the hotel I would pick in Miami for just me and my husband, it was great for with a kid. There is a separate kids pool, it is right on the beach, there are several eating options, there were lots of other people there with kids, etc.
Also, you can basically go out to eat anywhere in South Beach at toddler dinner time (in the 5 o’clock hour) and have no issue.
Clementine says
The Hollywood Beach Marriott was great for a relaxing long weekend with my husband and our kiddo. It’s right on the Broadwalk which was nice, it’s not an all inclusive but was lovely, and it’s calmer than either South Beach or Ft Lauderdale proper.
Alternately, not sure if it will be warm enough, but I’ve heard lovely things about Sanibel Island on the East Coast of FL.
Anon says
Ft Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach. Family friendly. Directly on the beach. Short ride to the airport. Our dream vacation is not a family friendly Florida hotel, let’s be honest, but it hit all of the notes for us and was really nice and welcoming of us and our 8 month old.
Anon says
I was childless when I stayed there, but One Hotel South Beach is lovely and seemed very kid-friendly without sacrificing the adult experience.
HSAL says
South Seas Resort on Captiva Island (near Sanibel) is amazing, but I can’t speak to the January weather.
Pogo says
It would be chilly. We go to the Naples/Ft Myers area, and when we’ve been in January it’s def not beach weather.
Anonymous says
+1 – just came to post this. That said, a little kiddo will probably like the sand better than the water. If you just want to play in the sand in play clothes rather than swim, it would work.
shortperson says
we had a wonderful time at the ritz carlton south beach. free food for kids under too IIRC. great beach setup for babies and easy to walk places. but we’ve also been to south beach in january at othe rtimes and been freeeeeeezing.
PJs for short chubby baby? says
Reminded by the above pajama post. Are there any brands that have cotton pjs 12mo+ size that run shorter and wider than Carter’s?
My 9 month old is short and squat, with delightfully chubby thighs. She is in 9 month clothes for most things but we’ve had to move her to 12 mo pajamas. Carter’s is what we have right now. They are already getting too tight in the thighs but the 18 mo size is going to be way too long. ( I really like the one piece footie style.) I know all brands will be snug fitting starting at 12 mo, but are there any other brands out there that might fit my short, squat baby better?
Anon says
My chubby baby just fit better in the two peice PJs (still Carter’s) after a certain point. It was sad – I miss the footies!
Anon says
Gap or Hanna for us, and nothing footed – we cuff the pants and sometimes sleeves because my large kiddo has short limbs (but a super long torso).
AwayEmily says
The Carters fleece PJs are much more loose-fitting than the cotton ones — maybe try those?
Anon says
i’ve had to do the footless one pieces, which honestly, once they start walking is better any way bc those grippy things on the bottom of the feet can be hit or miss.
AwayEmily says
Especially after the first go-round…I feel like the grippies worked relatively well for the first kid but by the time they were passed down, they were basically useless.
GCA says
I actually like the two-pieces better for cold-weather diaper changes – just cuff the pants & put them in socks for bed.
Anonymous says
We “adopted” a family for Christmas, and one of the kids is a 9 year old girl who has asked for a “Disney doll.” Any ideas on what would be age appropriate? I have younger girls, so they love the animators collection. But that seems “young” for a 9 year old.
Pogo says
I would think if they have one that’s American Girl sized, a 9yo would be into it.
Anon says
I have a 7 year old. From what I can tell of her friends, 9 year olds are still very into Disney Descendants. I’m not sure you could find any (they’re a hot toy this year), but they have Barbie-sized dolls of the main characters. They’re also very into Legos, and there are multiple Disney-themed sets you could buy. The Lego Elsa Jewlery Box is on all of the second graders lists for sure.
SF says
toddler tooth brushing! I wanted to chime in to say thank you. I’ve had a week of successful tooth brushing by telling my toddler (almost 3) that i need to brush out the “elephants, dinosaurs, giraffes, etc” from his mouth. He also likes to suggest animals for me to find. He asked me to brush his teeth for longer this morning! I got the suggestion from here, so wanted to express appreciation and pass it forward if another mom wants to try it :)
ElisaR says
i picked that trick up from this site too!
Anon. says
Same! We look for new animals every night.
Anon says
i’m going to have to try this!
Anon says
That would never work with my 2YO, but I will say brushing has gotten better since a) the dentist lectured her on how she gets a turn and then mommy gets a turn and b) I’ve been letting her have her turn first and then taking my turn. Haven’t had to wrestle her to the ground in a month!
Anonymous says
I’ll have to try that. 2-year old DD is a horrible tooth brusher. Both she and her brother (4) do marginally better when they get to use our phone timer (including picking the “ring” for when the minute is up). Sometimes we do well with “upside down brushing” with the 2 year old– we recline her so she’s horizontal and call it upside down. Bonus there is you can see the upper molars better.
Anon says
following up on above, where someone said that their kid can fit into the same size PJs for a whole year. Is this how toddler sizing works? like 2T is for age 2, 3T for age 3, etc.? and they can actually wear the same size for more than 3-6 months at a time? (first time parent over here)
Anonymous says
Yep, that’s how it works in theory (but definitely not always in practice).
Anonymous says
Depends on the size of your kid but yes their growth is explosive for the first year and then slows down (a bit). I have a tall child so she’s not yet 3 and in 4T. But I’d say most sizes last 9 months? Again, tall child over here
Anon says
My 2YO is in 5T now, so for me, no. But I will say she was in 4T for close to 9 months, so maybe we’re finally slowing down?
AwayEmily says
We have a very average kid — always right in the middle of the growth chart. And yeah, I would say we get about 9 – 12 months use out of the T sizes, depending on the brand, your tolerance for slightly-too-big or slightly-too-small clothes, and whether it’s from the girls or boys line (in my experience, even within brands, girls clothes run substantially smaller than boys clothes).
anon says
+1. The replacement rate slows down considerably around age 4, IME.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Yes, their growth slows down a lot so you can get 9 months – year out of clothes. Different brands fit differently so you may find one that fits your kid better. For example, my average to tall but skinny 3.5 year old fit into Primary’s 3T before he could fit into Old Navy’s 3Ts without swimming in them.
Anonymous says
Yes. My 4.5 year old is extremely tall and blasted through all sizes up to 4T, but just WORE OUT PANTS BEFORE THEY GOT TOO SHORT. Looking at a year for some shirts these days! At some pint the start growing UP more than OUT, as in the tummy starts shrinking, which helped us squeeze more life out of shirts. Pants still get too short before they get too tight, though— legs seem to be growing faster.
Salmon mom says
Kid is currently almost 5. We find that other than pjs (which are supposed to fit snug) EVERYTHING else is outgrown relatively fast. There isn’t much lasting a full year. We are mostly putting him in boys XS these days and I feel like that may last a year. It’s crazy how fast he goes through shoes.
We have a family with a kid less than a year younger we give our kids clothing to when he is done and basically he has clothing for two years at this point.. he is several sizes behind in terms of shoes. It all depends I guess. I’d be excited for a winter where he doesn’t go through more than one pair of boots.
Anon says
Theoretically yes, but my 20 month old is in 4T. We’re going through clothes sizes at least as fast as we did during infancy. I think she was in 18-24M clothes the longest (around her first birthday).
anon says
I’m considering buying a cute vanity for my 5-year-old girl’s big Christmas gift. Any recommendations? She’s still kind of hard on stuff, so I’m trying to strike a good balance between durability and inevitable replacement when she ages out of it. (Or, maybe a small wooden table for her room would have more utility?)
Anonymous says
you could almost definitely get something possible even for free on a swap and buy
Anonymous says
My daughter has the Pottery Barn Kids vanity, and it’s really lovely.
Salmon mom says
We mostly buy consignment but don’t for socks, underwear, sweatpants (they just don’t seem to be donated very often) and shoes. So once every six months I place a order for this kind of stuff. Where is a good one stop shop for that kind of stuff? Looking for something in Canada with sound labor practices.
Anonymous says
I didn’t research labor practices, but we get a lot of stuff from Joe Fresh and have been satisfied with the quality. (My kids are into hockey, so my husband went looking for a Canadian brand that actually does that for their graphic Ts.)
Anonymous says
…and now I *did* actually look up Joe Fresh labor practices, and sadly it does not fit your criteria. I’ll have to find somewhere else to order from, too, now that I know. Here’s to being an informed consumer!
Anonymous says
We buy joe fresh whenever it’s on consignment or secondhand- the kid clothing (not the shoes or accessories haha) lasts forever.
We are trying to do better with our purchasing and would love a one stop shop for everything we have to buy new.