This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This is the support tank I needed when I was hugely pregnant with my youngest.
This stretchy, seamless tank is perfect for layering. It features moisture-wicking, breathable fabric; invisible belly support; and a longer length to keep everything in place. The varying degrees of compression and flexible belly panel help alleviate heaviness and pressure.
Currently, it comes in black and white, but I’d love to see a range of nudes to match different skin tones.
Blanqui’s Everyday Maternity Belly Support Tank Top is available at Nordstrom for $72 or on sale at Blanqui for $36 (!).
✨✨✨Sales of note for Cyber Monday 2023✨✨✨
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Black Friday deals have started! 1,800+ sale items! Shop designer, get bonus notes up to $1200. Markdowns include big deals on UGG, Natori, Barefoot Dreams, Marc Fisher LTD, Vionic and more!
- & Other Stories – Today only, up to 50% off + free standard shipping
- Ann Taylor – 50% off everything plus extra 15% off your $200+ purchase! Great time to stock up on their basic suiting
- Amour Vert – 50% off sitewide with code – readers love this short-sleeved silk blouse
- Athleta – Today only, up to 70% off – Readers particularly love this wrap, these linen shorts, these shorts, these joggers, and their skorts in general
- Banana Republic – 40% off your purchase, including cashmere; up to 60% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 60% off everything & extra 20% off purchase
- Brooks Brothers – 30% off sitewide + extra 10% off your entire purchase & free shipping
- Club Monaco – 40% off your purchase
- Cuyana – Select styles marked 30% off; Classic Totes down to $187
- Design Within Reach – “Best Sale Ever”: 25% off Herman Miller, Knoll, HAY, Muuto, DWR Collection; 20% off everything else (readers love the Herman Miller Aeron and Sayl for office chairs)
- Eloquii – 50% everything; $19+ holiday steals; extra 50% off all sale
- Evereve – Up to 70% off clearance
- The Fold – Free global shipping today only! Up to 25% off everything + extra 10% off through Monday 11/27 – readers love this top, their suits in general but especially this one
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off almost everything; up to 50% off suiting & chinos; up to 40% off cashmere; extra 50% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 60% off everything, no exclusions + extra 15% off orders $100+- readers love the schoolboy sweater blazer
- Lands’ End – 50% off sitewide (readers love the cashmere)
- Loft – 50% off your purchase, including new arrivals
- Lululemon – Black Friday sales! Prices marked 30-60% off from my rough estimate.
- M.M.LaFleur – 25% off sitewide with code
- Quince – 5 days of deals! Saturday’s deals: silk blouses 2 for $100! Also sales on puffer jackets and select cashmere.
- Rag & Bone – 30% off everything, up to 80% off (readers love this blazer)
- Rothy’s – 30% off sitewide 11/20-11/27 — this is their first sitewide sale ever!
- Sarah Flint – 30% off sitewide plus get a $100 gift card for your next purchase on your purchase over $500 (ends 11/28)
- Summersalt – Up to 60% off (this reader favorite sweater blazer is down to $75)
- Steelcase – Up to 20% off sitewide (readers love the Leap and the Gesture for office chairs)
- Stuart Weitzman – Extra 25% off full-price and sale styles with code
- Talbots – 50% off entire site + free shipping — readers love this cashmere boatneck and this cashmere cardigan, as well as their sweater blazers in general
- Theory – 25% off sitewide + extra 10% off
- Zappos – 29,000+ sale items (for women)! Check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.
Kid/Family Sales
- Amazon – Up to 25% off car seats, strollers and more from Britax & BOB Gear
- BabyJogger – 25% off everything
- Bloomingdale’s – 20% off on select UppaBaby, Maxi-Cosi, Stokke, Bugaboo, Thule, and more
- Carter’s – 50-60% off entire site; extra 20% off cyber deals with code
- Crate & Kids – Up to 50% off everything plus free shipping sitewide; save 10% off full price items
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything + free shipping
- Hanna Andersson – 50% off everything + extra 20% off clearance
- ErgoBaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+Stroller
- Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
- Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Joolz, Baby Jogger Summit, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
- Old Navy – 50% off everything, ends today
- SNOO / Happiest Baby – 35% off SNOO, up to 60% sitewide (ends today)
- Target – Up to 40% off nursery furniture, plus sales on HALO Innovations, Graco, activity gyms, and Safety 1st strollers and cribs
- Pottery Barn Baby – Up to 70% off toys, gifts, plyaroom furniture and more
- Strolleria – Save 20% on select UPPABaby strollers, up to 25% off Bugaboo, up to 50% off Joolz, and additional deals on Silver Cross, Veer, Doona, Wonderfold, dadada, Clek, and Thule
- Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
Click here to see our top posts!
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
Just found out I have a partial molar pregnancy and will be getting a D&C this week. Anybody else go through a molar know what to expect? I’m definitely freaking out.
EP-er says
Hugs to you. I had a D&C for a later miscarriage, and would think that the process would be similar. The worst part was waiting for the procedure — both the days leading up to it and then all of the questions before the procedure. (They kept verifying I was there for an abortion, which is the correct language but hard to hear for a wanted failed pregnancy.) I was under anesthesia, so remember being wheeled into the operating room and that was it. Woke up, had period like bleeding, took two days off from work. (Procedure was on a Thursday, took off Friday, was back on Monday.) D&C was preferable to natural miscarriage for me — it was less painful, and quicker recovery. They did do a chromosomal analysis, which was helpful since I had had other failed pregnancies. Lean on your support system, take time to mourn the loss. We’re here for you!
anon says
Internet hugs. If you have the option to do the D&C at a dr office instead of at the hospital, I found it much easier/less waiting/less stressful. Not sure that’s an option for you, but worth asking. Of course this can be different for everyone, but for me the D&Cs I had were surprisingly fast, recovery was quick, and the hardest *physical* part for me was going under anethesia/feeling icky from that.
Anonymous says
I’m so sorry to read your news. I had a molar pregnancy and a D&C. I had the procedure in a hospital, and it was a pretty quick with minimal pain. I only needed tylenol- 3 once and then advil for a day or so. The staff were great and tried to get me home quickly. I needed to do follow-up blood work to check my hCG levels for a few weeks until things leveled-out. I went on to have two healthy pregnancies without any issues. Like all miscarriages, it stinks. I’m sorry again. Best wishes for a quick recovery!
Op says
Just what I needed to hear. I’ve done to much googling so I’ve read all the stories where they needed chemo drugs and had fertility issues. I think that’s rare, but of course the stories that get written up
Gift help! says
Gift suggestions for a 12 year old niece? She’s into cooking and baking, and I was going to get her a nice cake decorating set, but her parents are getting her one already. I got her a nice cookbook for her recent birthday, so I want to avoid something like that, and can’t find cake decorating classes around. She’s also big into softball and singing, but I don’t know what she might need for that, and the usual preteen phone stuff. Seems to dress very casually, though she was wearing make up the other day when I saw her.
Anonymous says
Michael’s offers the Wilton cake decorating classes and sells kits of required materials and equipment, which she’ll probably need for the class even if her parents are getting her a set.
Fancy sprinkles are a huge hit with 12-year-olds. Williams-Sonoma has them, and there are also some on-line sellers. Williams-Sonoma also has a very pricey kit to make a hollow cake filled with sprinkles.
Gift help! says
Oh, looking to spend about $40.
Anonymous says
Check out sweetapolitashop dot com for the absolute best sprinkles.
Anonymous says
How about an apron? Either a pretty one from Anthro or a Japanese-style linen one from Etsy.
Emily Sealy says
Softball seems to involve a lot of ponytails, so what about a set of personalized visors, scrunchies and hair accessories? Like, team colors, her favorite colors, favorite animals, etc. You could also ask her mom if she has a favorite water bottle and get an extra with a pack of stickers to decorate it. (Are vsco girls and their nalgenes still a thing? I think that would be popular with a 12 year old.)
Anonymous says
The youth are into Hydroflask, not Nalgene.
Anon says
For the cooking and baking, fancy sprinkles would likely be a hit. Or you could get her some fancy ingredients (King Arthur Baking is my go-to for different kinds of cocoa, flours, toppings, and I love their Vermont Boiled Cider for apple pies and fall cakes).
Anonymous says
One of those karaoke microphones with a built-in speaker would be fun. My daughter and her choir friends love to play karaoke when they hang out.
DLC says
Oh this is a fun idea! Or an audio recorder or a microphone to attach to her phone to make better quality recordings, especially if she is taking singing lessons.
Anonymous says
My nanny starts today. Confetti emoji! Is it ok to actually write down what I expect her to do, above and beyond actual child care? Like while they’re napping do a load of baby laundry, clean up after their meals? She has babysat but hasn’t nannied before. I will also give her a mini orientation when she gets here about pay and expectations (which we discussed during her interview but on a high level) but tips appreciated.
Anonymous says
Do you have a contract? All this should be in there!
Anonymous says
Yes that’s what I’m writing this morning. Maybe I should look for a template at park slope parents.
Anonymous says
Yes, theirs is great.
Anonymous says
Presumably you discussed all of this with her during the hiring process, so sure! Put it in writing. I would stick with just the outcomes you expect, though, not how to achieve them.
Anonymous says
Yes, we discussed it all previously. But I also interviewed six people last week and didn’t sleep all weekend with a teething twin, so who agreed to what is running together. I’m writing a contract so it will all be on paper. Thanks!
Anonymous says
I made a 1 page document with kiddos schedule on it (when we had a nanny nap was still a thing) and a few chores and put it on the fridge. We also discussed it with her on the first day. In our contract (and interviews) we asked if the nanny would be willing to do some light housework while our child napped, so we put those on the sheet.
Anonymous says
Yes, you should have a contract where expectations are laid out. I suggest putting that the primary responsibility is childcare and then kid-related chores is schedule-permitting. Also, pay, days off, sick leave, etc. And then I’d do a separate “logistics” doc that might evolve as the kids’ needs change, and you can include day-to-day details there as long as the big picture is agreed upon in the contract. I would talk through both docs with the nanny.
anon says
I’d be up front about expectations on what “clean up after meals” means too. Like, I’d be really nice if at least most days the nanny loads the dishwasher instead of you coming home to a sink full of dishes. Easier to set the expectation and adjust than have to say that later on!
Anon says
After a bit over a year and not really feeling a lot better I think I’m ready to stop seeing my therapist. I keep thinking this and then chickening out when its time to bring it up during a session. Any advice? Thanks.
ElisaR says
i was nervous to “quit” but you know what, you can always go back! I would bring it up as something you’re considering and once you decide for sure just let her know. I also wrote my a personal thank you card for her skill and professionalism and let her know my appreciation.
Spirograph says
Are you open to staying with the same therapist? If not, I wouldn’t bring it up during a session; that sounds like it would be unnecessarily uncomfortable for everyone. Make a separate phone call to the therapist or scheduler, or even just an email to say, “I’ve decided it’s time for me to make a change, I appreciate your help over the last year and know you’ll respect my decision.”
Anon says
I just want to point out that it’s not going to be uncomfortable for the therapist. They’re professionals and they know how to handle it. Don’t worry about it being awkward for them.
Emily Sealy says
You could do what I do when I leave a hairdresser: just feign an unpredictable schedule at check out and then never schedule a next appointment. If you have an appointment scheduled, I would cancel it today. If the receptionist asks for a reason or to re-schedule, you can simply say you aren’t ready to reschedule. Don’t volunteer anything if you think you would be persuaded to come back. It may help bolster your resolve if you already line up an appointment with a new provider before you cancel.
Anonymous says
This, except that there may not be a receptionist involved in the scheduling.
Anon says
Okay, but if you can’t use your words to tell your therapist this, then you probably aren’t ready to quit therapy.
Anonymous says
Nah, some therapists are just bad or a poor fit and it’s not worth dealing with their judgment and bargaining when you try to drop them.
Anon says
I was just as nervous. I told her “I think I’m in a better place now and would like to stop seeing you regularly.” And she said that’s totally fine and can let her know if I’d just like a session once in a while.
They are used to it! Good luck.
octagon says
You don’t have to quit cold turkey – keep a lifeboat nearby at first. Whatever frequency you’ve been on, triple it. So if you’ve been going weekly, say you’re feeling much better and would like to schedule something for 3 weeks from now, and see how it goes. Then a few days before that appointment, consider if you still need it. If not, it’s easier to cancel and say that you’re doing well and will contact if you need a future appointment.
Anonymous says
This would make sense if the therapy had been beneficial, but it sounds like this therapist was just a poor match. I’d cut ties and look for someone more suitable.
Anonymous says
I did this recently and said “Thanks so much for helping me these past few months and for giving me the tools to work through ____. I think I’m ready to drop the weekly appointments and go to appointments on an as-needed basis. Can I email you a week before or so if I’d like to schedule another?” and it was a non-issue.
Anonymous says
Just don’t schedule or call and cancel (you don’t need a reason other than scheduling conflict) and then focus your effort on finding a new therapist. Good luck!
Anonymous says
+1 to ghosting them basically.
Anon says
This past weekend, my mom had the audacity to use a zoom catch-up with our five year old to say, sorry you could not come to my surprise party for my birthday, we missed you. This is after I told my dad several times we would not be able to attend because I’m immunocompromised, pregnant and they run with an anti-vax crowd. In my mind, this meant that I wouldn’t tell my five year old that we missed out on a birthday party for someone she loves and we would celebrate on my mom’s actual day. My kid got very sad in the zoom call, buried her head in my side and I it broke my heart.
I texted my mom afterward to say that wasn’t ok (in case she didn’t realize), she upset my kid and I was upset. Her response: I just wanted her to know she was missed. When I replied that it came off that she wasn’t invited to something fun, she simply said, I never said she wasn’t invited.
My mom has a history of pointing out such technicalities (so she doesn’t have to admit to or apologize for being wrong) with me, but she’s now using my kid. To make matters worse, her own mom did this to me and destroyed any relationship we had. I’m beside myself, wondering what this means for navigating future interactions with my parents and wondering why she doesn’t see she is repeating the same mistakes SHE herself didn’t like.
Before thinking I am taking this one incident and blowing it out of proportion… it’s a pattern but this is the most egregious example and the first time my mom has so obviously used my own kid to try to hurt me. I welcome any advice, thoughts, commiseration or thought provoking ideas while I wait to see a new therapist. Reached out to initiate that appointment this morning, I am not equipped to navigate this myself.
Spirograph says
I’m sorry, it sucks when family members hurt your kids’ feelings. Our Thanksgiving featured my grandparents acting indifferent to my kids, who’d been very excited to see them for the first time in two years, so all the empathy. Hugs, family can be tough sometimes.
A few thoughts:
1. It’s over, and you can’t make people act the way you want them to.
2. Focus on your kid – sometimes people (even people we love) say or do things that hurt our feelings. She needs to know that’s OK to be sad about that, and that you are always going to be there for her to talk to when she’s feeling hurt.
3. There’s a lot to unpack about how you’re reading this as intentionally hurtful on your mom’s part, and seeing echoes of how your own grandmother behaved to you. I’m glad you’re going to talk to a therapist about it. I’m sure she’ll give you some good strategies for a follow-up conversation with your mom.
4. Text is not a great medium to communicate when you’re upset…
anon says
That sounds really hard. I don’t have advice directly on point on what to do next, though I’d be tempted to tell kiddo exactly why going was a bad idea that you declined. If it helps, in situations where I might have to do something that ruffles feathers, my rule of thumb is that my priority is protecting my kids, not keeping adults happy.
Anonymous says
I have a sister like your mother and it can be really hard. I agree that she is doubling down to avoid apologizing and admitting she screwed up. I find this kind of thing very difficult to deal with because a simple apology from her would go a long way to healing the relationship. I think, however, that she wasn’t trying to make a mean comment, but was unknowingly unkind. I don’t think she’s deliberately trying to hurt you through your child. She’s thoughtless, not putting a lot of thought into how to hurt you. It still sucks, of course.
octagon says
Oh, I am so sorry for you. To the extent that you are talking about covid with your kid, I’d encourage you to be transparent: Grandma has friends who haven’t gotten their vaccines so we couldn’t join them for the party, because our job is to be safe. Grandma knows that we won’t come to parties with those friends, so we will see her another time. You don’t have to take the blame for this – you made a defensible decision and it’s fine to help your kid see Grandma’s culpability in the events.
Anon says
I agree with this . It is sad that we have to miss unsafe events, but we need to take care of ourselves.
Anonymous says
This is just how most people are–selfish and thoughtless. You have to learn to let it roll off. I’d move on, avoid making a big deal out of it with your kid, and keep a bit more emotional or actual distance from your mom in the future if this is a pattern.
We all want perfect parents who don’t have needs or foibles and exist only to support us, but that’s just not how life is. This kind of behavior is pretty mild in the grand scheme of things. Plenty of people don’t have parents at all, were abused or neglected as kids, etc. One day your kids will judge you too.
Anon says
This is so, incredibly unhelpful.
DLC says
I’m so sorry. I think there are a lot of wise comments above.
My MIL was a very difficult, passive aggressive person. She passed away unexpectedly when my daughter was five. On the one hand, I’m glad i don’t have to navigate her with my daughter, but on the other hand I’m sad that my daughter won’t know her grandmother. Because regardless of what she did, my MIL loved my daughter a lot. I have to be very careful not to say mean things about my MIL in front of my child, because much as I have lingering issues with my MIL, that is for me to figure out with my therapist, not something my daughter needs to be burdened with. I want her to remember her grandma as someone who loved her and took her to do fun things.
Your mother is not going to change, so i don’t know that you need to engage her on this. I think maybe focus on what you want her relationship to be with your daughter and proceed from there. I would be very careful of letting your mother draw you into using your daughter as a pawn. She will figure it out. I completely support your COVID boundaries, and I think teaching your daughter to see her grandmother with empathy might be a better route for your daughter in the long run.
Anon says
Kid #1 got their second COVID vaccine over the weekend. Because all our kids are at least half vaccinated at this point, I thought nothing of letting kid go play at the neighbors’ house over the weekend.
Kid #1 woke up with a cough. I’m sure it’s just normal kid stuff, but also: the stress of ‘what if it’s COVID and I’ve exposed their entire family to it!’
Not a fan. 0/10, would not recommend.
TheElms says
I’m sorry, that stinks. For what its worth I think what you did would is reasonable. If I were the other parent I’d appreciate a call / text to say kid 1 has a cough I’m getting a covid test and will let you know the results, but I wouldn’t be mad or anything.
Anon says
I’d actually just as soon have you not tell me until you know whether it’s actually covid or not. I’m just so worn down with the worry over things I can’t control.
Anonymous says
Same. I am extremely COVID-cautious. The person sitting next to me in a meeting (I was masked, she wasn’t) notified the group that she had developed a fever later that day and was getting a COVID test. This information did nothing but make me freak out for 24 hours until she updated us with the results. Just notify the other parents if the test is positive. The parents knew what risks they were taking when they agreed to the play date.
Spirograph says
This. I’d only want to hear about it if there’s a positive test result.
NYCer says
+3. Just wait until after you get your child tested.
Cb says
Yeah, I’d appreciate the heads up but I wouldn’t be mad. They invited your kid over which implies they are comfortable with the risk.
Anonymous says
I would want a heads up even if the test is negative so that when my kids started coughing too, I would be able to tell myself “oh it’s probably Neighbor’s cold.” Obviously we would still test for school but I’d be way less stressed out.
Anon says
Honestly? I don’t think you need to feel bad. There was nothing even mildly irresponsible about your decision – and you can’t see the future.
Anonymous says
Yeah I don’t think you did anything wrong and as the other mom Id find it bizarre if you apologized.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Agree with everyone that it seems like you all ARE doing the responsible thing by getting everyone eligible vaccinated. The fact that a highly transmissible but likely mild (especially with vaccine) respiratory illness may be spread (and your kid may have something else anyway) is just a risk you take for a reward of having kids socialize.
Not trying to say that Covid is over and we’re done, as I myself have an unvaccinated 3 year old, but at some point, the risk calculus changes, especially if everyone involved is vaccinated.
Anonymous says
I would rapid test your kid and text your neighbor after. “FYI kiddo woke up with a cough, rapid test was negative. Will let you know if there is anything to worry about.”
I would like the heads up but not until you can at least tell me you did a rapid.
Anonymous says
This. If their kid catches the cold they won’t worry as much while waiting for their own test results.
Anon says
Ugh, thanks guys. This is literally exactly what I texted neighbor this morning. Kiddo needs a PCR to go to school so kid is getting the ol’ nasal swab this afternoon.
I will just say, thank heavens for a great pediatrician with readily available telemedicine appointments.
Anonymous says
The model’s hair, makeup, and expression are hilarious. Definitely not how I’d feel about wearing this top.
Anonymous says
I know, right? She’s really feeling her tank top.
Gestational Surrogacy says
Are there any parents via gestational surrogacy here? If yes, what words of wisdom to you have for someone (me) who is in the early stages of evaluating whether to press on with fertility treatments, quit altogether or purse alternative paths? I specifically ask about surrogacy as we have genetically normal embryos and are fortunate enough to be able to afford what I understand the cost to be. I’m located in Boston in case there are any geography-specific nuggets of wisdom or resources to share.
This would be potentially for a second child. The first was was conceived via ART, but #2 is proving to be unsuccessful, scary, panful (physically and emotionally) and I’m fast approaching my limit.
Thanks in advanced.
OP says
Wanting to clarify — I realize that not all occurrences of surrogacy are the result of fertility treatments. I’ll take words of wisdom about (1) making the choice to pursue alternative paths to expanding your family, and (2) surrogacy in general – process, or otherwise, (3) about anything else of relevance! Adulting is hard, and you all are quite brilliant and experienced. Thanks, again.
Anon says
Not me personally but i know two people who used surrogacy with their own embryos and both were because they couldn’t safely carry a baby. For both couples it was their first and only child (well one couple had twins). If you can afford it and are so determined to have a second then go for it, just make sure to find a good attorney who is very familiar with the process in your state
Anonymous says
I suggest doing some reading on the serious ethical issues involved with surrogacy (including gestational surrogacy), including the resulting legal issues in different states and countries. It’s important to truly understand what you would be asking another woman to do, and whether you would feel comfortable with the standard of care that would be required to try to make it as ethical as possible under a legally and ethically murky framework.
Anon says
Did anyone have a preschooler in play therapy for anxiety and/or issues with rigidity and emotional regulation? We’re in the process of getting my almost 4 year old a referral and I would love to hear anecdotes about people’s experiences even though I know each kid and therapist is different.
Anonymous says
no, because she was 4 during COVID and not only did the world shut down but then once it opened up we got on a waitlist a mile long, at which point she was already starting K.
She’s in K now and it has really helped…but she would have benefitted tremendously to have play therapy in K. If you are not already on a wait list, get on one ASAP.
So Anon says
Yes, my oldest did a bit of play therapy when he was young (maybe in kindergarten?) with the goal of helping him with anxiety, rigidity and processing big feelings. The play therapy was during the very long wait that we had to be seen by a developmental pediatrician. The biggest benefit to us of play therapy was that she actually referred us to OT, and OT was the biggest help for my son. OT helped my son (and me) develop strategies related to rigidity and emotional regulation, and many of those strategies were adapting the environment to help him learn how to handle sensory overwhelm and the dysregulation that accompanied the overwhelm. Once he was less dysregulated, OT and I worked on helping him with his anxiety. I later learned that play therapy isn’t great for kids like my son (autistic), but I appreciated the comprehensive approach that our play therapist took.
SC says
My son has been in play therapy for several years (3.5-6.5 years old) for similar issues. It’s one of several things we’ve done (also individual therapy, OT, and medication), but I think it’s been a really important part and has really helped him and, really, all of us. (His therapist has quarterly sessions with parents to discuss how things are going, language we can use, how we can reinforce what he’s doing in group, etc.). Due to Covid, about 1 year of his play therapy was virtual, first with a parent and then with another child. Kiddo is doing much better with emotional regulation and rigidity now, he’s met the clinical goals we set about a year ago, and he’s being stepped down from weekly to every other week to see how it goes.
Anon says
Anyone have experience with painful s$x following a c-section? I did a lot of ab/pelvic floor work postpartum, and it seemed like it was getting better. Then, I started running again around 6 months postpartum. Everything seemed fine for about 6 weeks. I had been running a bit more each week (had gotten to running about a mile with no break), and then this past week starting having back pain and painful s$x again. Looking mostly for anecdotal advice– I’m not sure whether I just need to take a break from high impact activities for a while or if I need to go ahead and try to find a pelvic floor PT. Or is this just my new normal?
Anonymous says
I would 100% find a pelvic floor PT. If you happen to be in DC, I suggest Nora at Washington Wellness (takes insurance! amazing provider!). And be wary of a PT whose approach to pelvic floor is just to do kegels. That may be part of it, but relaxing and lengthening those muscles can also be super important.
anon for this says
Different anon but do you happen to know her last name? There isn’t a therapist with that first name at Washington Wellness currently.
12:24 anon says
Arnold. Good luck!
Anon says
My pelvic floor PT basically told me no high impact for a long time/maybe not without surgery. I’d try biking or something like that and see if it improves. Continuing high impact can set you back and be really discouraging if your body isn’t ready.
Anon says
OP – That’s kind of what I was thinking. I was successfully doing medium impact– like circuit workouts with cardio/plyo moves and light running. I am just thinking I ramped up too quickly… even though I thought I was going slow. I’m just not sure what a pelvic floor PT would do other than tell me to rest and redo some of the ab/pelvic floor work I did to begin with.
Anonymous says
I realized big and unexpected improvements from about a year of regular yoga practice a few years after my baby was born. I realized what had happened when I suddenly no longer feared center work (allegro with jumps) in ballet class. If I could go back and do it again, I’d have started yoga as soon as my doctor allowed and/or would have tried Restore Your Core.
Anonanonanon says
This. I’m generally not a yoga fan (not because of anything wrong with yoga I just get bored in it) BUT post C-section is was the best thing ever. I started in a class that was primarily older people then moved to more challenging classes. Made all of the difference.
Anon says
Has anyone done raddish cooking club for their kids? Was just targeted and wondering if it would be fun for my very into cooking 6 year old (or if it’s unnecessary since she already has kids cookbooks…)
Tea/Coffee says
My mom is actually getting ready to sign DD10 up for her second full year, we love it. And by we, I really do mean DD :-). The recipes are REAL recipes, not “fruit on a frozen waffle,” the instructions are well written, they get a useful utensil thing each month, and DD is learning useful skills and having fun. We have made several of the recipes multiple times.
I WILL say that I make her do it herself… it really is her cooking, I perch on a kitchen stool with a glass of wine. I will offer suggestions and answer questions, but did not actually help her roll out any ravioli :-). There is no way she would have been able to do this at 6YO. That said – do they have age brackets, etc? never occurred to me to ask.
If you’re okay with providing hands-on help and/or they have age appropriate adjustments, I think it’s a fabulous find.
anon. says
My cousin’s daughter who was 7 LOVED Raddish – fully obsessed, cooked the meals for her family, etc., during the height of the covid lockdowns. They made a thing of it, had “fancy” dress up dinners, etc. She’d highly recommend for interested kids.
OP says
Thanks guys! Super helpful!
Anon says
My daycare recently requested that parents for my 2 year old’s room bring a book for a book exchange next week. Which sounds great! But gave some specific rules: new, completely paperback (no hard covers), non-gender specific, and no more than $5.
Which “sounds” simple but I’ve only really bought board books for my kid so far and most of the books I’ve put on a “wish list” for my kiddo are more than $5.
My first though was Scholastic, but their website says deliveries are not guaranteed before Christmas with standard shipping. Our Target had no paperback toddler books that are not for coloring.
I hope other moms are not finding out new last minute tasks to keep up with daycare.
So long story short, any recommendations?
Thanks!
Anonymous says
B&N
Pogo says
If you have an Usborne person near you, I feel like they may have stuff on hand that would fit the bill.
Anon says
I’d ignore the $ guidelines and just say I got it on sale. With that in mind, Amazon? Walmart?
NYCer says
This is what I would do too. “Press Here” and “Mix it Up” have been a hit for toddler birthday’s recently. I think they are around $8 each on Amazon.
TheElms says
A lot of the I can read series are $4.99 in paperback on Amazon. We have Ty’s Travels: Zip Zoom and my 2.5 year old loves it and has done for a while. The Barenstain bear books in paperback are also typically around $5 on Amazon.
Tweeter says
Ours does this too and I ignore the $& guidelines and buy a nice book my kid would also like to receive.
Anonymous says
Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson. I started reading it to my child around 1 and it is still one of our favorites five years later. The paperback is currently under $5 on Amazon
Anonanonanon says
Spend $7 or $8 if you have to just to get it done. I wouldn’t think twice about it. If someone goes through the trouble to take the time to look up the book you got and what it cost they have issues
OP says
Thanks for the great suggestions! I appreciate the reality check that it’s sometimes better to bend a rule than over think it. ;) I’m going to keep this in time for the next inevitable daycare demand.
I looked up Snail and the Whale and it looks adorable!
Sleepsacks for tall toddlers says
I know I’ve seen recommendations here before for sleepsacks for tall toddlers, but my search skills are failing me. We want to keep our very tall daredevil 13 month old in her crib for as long as possible, and she’s outgrowing (outgrown) her current sleepsacks.
Anon says
Woolino has a toddler sleep sack that is ginormous. I think it fits up to at least 4T. My 100%ile kid was done with sleepsacks before he grew out of it.
Anon says
+1 for Woolino. My decent-sized 4 year old could easily still wear their largest size.
Anon says
+2 my 4 year old is 99th percentile height and wears girls size 7-8 clothes and she still fits in the largest Woolino. They’re giant.
Anonymous says
We use the largest size Kyte sleep sack.
Pogo says
I think the Woolino is the one that gets mentioned on here – pricey but really good quality and can last til kid is 3 or something.
I also had success buying the larger sizes of Halo direct from the website.
Anonymous says
For a daredevil who is climbing out of the crib, I’d ditch the sleepsacks. IME they do not deter climbing, they just make it less safe.
Anonymous says
The largest size halo sleep sacks worked for my 99th height percentile toddler until at least 2.5.
TheElms says
Second this. The XL size would still fit my 38 inch toddler (but she’s in a toddler bed). But I think 38 inches is around the max even though the bag says it goes to 40 inches.
anon. says
This is bizarre, every book I look up is $7. I’d just break the rules and order Blueberries for Sal, runaway bunny, the gruffalo, or I love you stinkyface in paperback.
Anon says
I clicked on the post link but it seems like the price has gone back up to $72. Bummer!
Bottle Refusal says
My 4 month old is refusing a bottle after taking it fine from birth to ~12weeks. We’ve started daycare part-time, and I can tell the caregiver is starting to get frustrated by a cranky, hungry baby. We’ve tried everything, different positions, bottles, temperatures, times of day, other people giving the bottle, paced bottle feeding, etc. Nothing works, and I’m feeling exhausted and defeated (will have to start full-time work again soon). Tonight I’m going to run out to Walmart and try latex nipples, fingers crossed. When I’ve searched similar threads in the past, I see all the advice, but not a lot of info on how bottle refusal resolved (or how long it took), or how to navigate daycare in the meantime. Anyone out there have words of wisdom/encouragement/commiseration?
Anonymous says
My daughter refused the bottle around that age. We had success with the Nuby brand sippy cups with the soft silicone spout.
Anon says
Our baby refused the bottle around that age. It took about a month of trying something new every day. We had a giant spreadsheet of all the variables (we are engineers) and recorded everything. We even used a laser thermometer to track temperature of the milk. Eventually we figured out that she preferred drinking from the Comotomo bottles, but that the bottles don’t heat up very fast so the milk wasn’t warm enough. Now we heat the milk in Spectra bottles and pour it into the Comotomo bottles. I don’t have a magic solution, but I can commiserate!
Since you mentioned that she used to accept bottles but doesn’t anymore, have you checked if there is a lipase issue?
Anon says
DS did that around that age. He was getting distracted while eating. We had luck walking around the room with him while he was eating (so that he could look at things while eating). This was also a sign for us to go up a nipple size.
Also are you still doing a dream feed (or late night feed)? Around that age, we started noticing that it was sometimes affecting DS’s daytime consumption. Like, some days it seemed like he needed it, but some days he would have a big bottle at the dream feed and then refuse to eat in the morning, etc.
DLC says
Are you feeding her pumped milk? And if you are, did you taste the milk? My baby stopped taking the bottle around six months and it turns out I had high lipase milk. I ended up having to scald my milk. It’s completely strange and mysterious because she took a bottle fine til then, and also I never had this issue with my other two kids. She was still a little fussy with the bottle once I started scalding my milk, but at least she would mostly take it.
My friend had a baby that refused the bottle, and the baby ended up changing her feeding cycle and just sleeping during the day and feeding through the night.
Anon says
+1 to your last sentence. My baby (now a healthy active elementary schooler) refused the bottle, we tried all kinds of bottles, routines, different people feeding him, etc. He held out. We even tried the thing where I went out for hours and there was no recourse other than the bottle, but he still refused. He just ended up feeding all night and I was miserable at night and working in a daze during the day. If I had to do it again I would maybe take a few months of unpaid leave until he started eating solids well during the day, at which point things settled down. We could give him rice cereal mixed with bmilk, or bmilk through a spoon, and it would go down fine – he just never took the bottle and went to sippy cups and straws.
Ashley says
No advice here but I follow Karrie Locher on insta (postpartum nurse/infant care educator) and she recently did several posts and stories on this. Maybe worth looking up?