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I hadn’t visited the Lord & Taylor website in a while until I recently was directed there by a sale aggregator email, and I was pleasantly surprised that they’ve updated their site (and logo). While on the site, I came across this washable and workwear-appropriate dress. As a person with narrow shoulders, I am a fan of the raglan style sleeve, which you don’t find much beyond baseball tees, and I like the additional seams along the waist and at the bottom of the skirt. I like that at each seam, the pattern is offset from the part it is connected to. This dress by MICHAEL Michael Kors is $165 and available in sizes 0–14. There is also a plus-size version of this pattern but in a different style for $110. Geometric Print Short-Sleeve Raglan A-Line Dress Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear. 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?
fallen says
I am curious about when you fit in a workout and what do you do? I used to have the most flexible work schedule and I am switching next week to something with a lot less flexibility, so I am trying to figure out the best time to work out. I used to just do a hot yoga class in the middle of the day which was awesome, but I don’t know how to fit that in with leaving the house at 7 am and coming back at 5 pm and then having the kids in the evening.
Cb says
It’s super tough. I aim for 2 hot yoga classes a week – I do one on Friday am when my office tends to be empty and one at the weekend. If I have a meeting where I won’t finish until 5:30 or 6, I’ll often go to an evening class since I’ll have already missed bedtime, so might as well make the most of it.
Leatty says
Can you alternate childcare responsibilities with your partner? DH and I alternate childcare responsibilities in the evenings so we can work out or do other things a few nights each weeks. I usually go to yoga on either Tuesday or Wednesday nights after work and once on the weekends. I’m not working out as much as I would like, but this season of life is hard.
Cb says
Yes, this! My husband goes to choir on Mondays and I tend to have one night a week out. Any more than that and life seems to fall apart a bit.
fallen says
I wish!! My husband works in private equity and has a long commute, so it’s unheard of for him to be home before 7:30-8:00. I guess I could work out then but we usually want to hang out with each other then.
Anonymous says
Can you workout together? I mentionned yoga classes above but DH and I also have ‘workout wednesdays’ where we workout together after the kids are in bed. Usually I walk or run on the treadmill while he bikes or rows. We don’t chat a lot but still nice to hangout together. We take turns picking the workout music and praise/tease each other about our choices.
You could probably also do an 8pm class if you can find one nearby and he can make sure to get home in time on that one day.
ElisaR says
and get a babysitter in order to it.
Anonymous says
I go to one right after work (DH does pick up) and alternate an evening one (DH does bedtime) and a weekend one (Sunday lunchish). I go to a studio that’s not my favorite one in the city as it’s only 5 mins from my house which makes it easier to get there and back vs my favorite one which is a 15 minute drive (turns a one hour class into 1.5 hrs). I go to my favorite studio about once or twice a month for the Sunday class.
In theory, I’d do yoga videos at home, but realistically I need the structure of a class.
Anon says
I go to the gym around 8-8:30, after my toddler is in bed.
Legally Brunette says
This, except I do Fitness Blender videos at home, which are free. Usually closer to 9 pm. I get an amazing workout and am probably in the best shape of my life.
AwayEmily says
ha, working out. Maybe after tenure.
But more seriously — I don’t do any formal exercise at this multiple-toddler point in my life, but I do try to walk for an hour a day. I fit it in by doing much of my commute by foot. Is there any way you could drive/public transport partway to work and walk the rest? Not as intense as a hot yoga session but every bit helps.
anon. says
Same. I’m chalking it up to a season of life thing. I was someone who pre kids worked out 5-6 days a week for YEARS so this turn of events is disconcerting to me, but I just genuinely cannot figure it out with any regularity. And now I’m pregnant again. So walking it is.
AwayEmily says
Yup, me too. I did regular Crossfit for four years and now — absolutely nothing. I figure I’ll get back to it eventually. Like you say, season of life. Work and sleep are higher priority now.
Anon says
The good news is there are lots of studies that you get the benefits of exercise if you do it regularly for years, even if you take time off from exercise (even many years).
Boston Legal Eagle says
Yep, this. The only formal exercise my husband and I do now with a 3 year old and 8 month old is when we happen to have a day off work and go to the gym. Otherwise, I consider my public transit commute (which will involve even more walking soon) and chasing after the toddler and lifting the baby exercise right now.
Anon says
Girl, same. I used to have a super flexible job (often working from home when I felt like it), so I had a lot of choice as to when I worked out. A year ago, I started a job with zero (ZERO) flexibility. They even mandate how long your lunch has to be (an hour, which is quite useless for me).
I work out at either 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., alternating either OrangeTheory or Pure Barre. For Pure Barre, I don’t sweat much. So I take a shower the night before, take my work clothes with me, and change after the 6 a.m. class and head straight into work. For OrangeTheory, I take the 5 a.m. class, skip the stretching and get back home by 6 so I can shower and get out the door by 7. I stretch later in the office when I have a few minutes of downtime, and I can close my door for privacy. My husband handles drop off (well, actually a sitter handles drop off but he’s home when I leave) and I handle pick up, so child care isn’t an issue with this scenario. The two memberships are expensive, and I’m lucky to be able to afford it. I do each class 3x a week.
I find that working out first thing in the morning works best for me because I’m not missing much time with my kids (they’re asleep!), it gets it out of the way, and I can go home and be with my kids. Once I got into the groove of getting up early, it’s really not that bad. Now even on the weekends, I will naturally wake at 5:30 a.m. And I am so tired at the end of the day, I’m asleep by 9:30 or 10, which really cuts down on late night snacking. It takes a while to get used to this schedule, but I like it now.
Anon says
I should also mention that I didn’t work out during the baby and early toddler years. So if you need to give yourself a breather, please do.
Anonymous says
Solidarity in the 5am OrangeTheory class! I love them so much. I also skip the stretching and am back by 6:05 to deal with the morning chaos.
GCA says
I wish I could get up early to work out while the kids are asleep, but my children have an extremely well developed spidey sense that mommy has left the room, and will promptly wake up. Meaning nobody gets any sleep. So it’s either at night after they’re in bed, or a half hour run before pickup. In summer, sometimes an early morning stroller run or an after-dinner family walk.
ElisaR says
spidey sense. I don’t know how they do it.
Anonymous says
1. HIIT at the gym or at home very early in the morning, while the kid is asleep.
2. During kid activities. I see a lot of parents dropping their kids off, going for a walk or run during the kid’s class, and returning just in time for pickup. When my daughter was in pre-ballet, I took an adult ballet class during her class. Her class was shorter, so she waited in the lobby with a book until my class ended.
3. On weekends.
4. Lunchtime walks at work.
Anon says
omg adult ballet during a child’s ballet class is my dream! Sadly, there’s no adult ballet in a 100 mile radius of me.
Anonymous says
I jog or do a fitnessblender.com HIIT/weights video first thing in the morning, for about 40 minutes. Wake up at 5:45, actually get exercising around 6:20, done by 7. Then I help my son with breakfast, eat my breakfast, shower and dress and get us out the door by 8:10. Husband is a teacher so leaves around 7:15 or so. I find if I exercise on weekends I’m too tired to do all the playing/chores/errands I need to do; I do best when I’m sitting all day after exercising, which is sad but it’s what works for me. Also, my son is 7; I’ve been following this schedule roughly since he was 2.5, but couldn’t really manage it before then.
ElisaR says
unfortunately…. i don’t. sometimes on the weekend i can get something in. My husband leaves for work at 6:15am and isn’t home until late and my kids are little so it’s not possible at this stage of life. ( could get up at 4am but 5:30 is all I can commit to right now and that’s just enough time to shower and such before the babies wake up)
Anon. says
My current workout is a run/walk to daycare for pick-up. I work from home and it is 3.5m round trip. I aim for 3 days a week and then we usually have a long family walk at least one weekend day. Haven’t found anything else that I can consistently accomplish.
IP Attorney says
I do the BBG 30 min workouts using the Sweat App on my phone 3x a week after kiddo is in bed (so around 8-9 pm).
So Anon says
My building has a gym, so I can squeeze in a workout over an hour-long lunch break. I can take 5-10 minutes to change, 30-40 minutes to workout and 15-20 to shower and get dressed. It is not a perfect workout, but I go with the better something than nothing approach.
Emily S. says
I was irregular about working out until DD was …1? 1.5? Then it got easier and she was more predictable. So, to echo the above, try not to beat yourself about this in this phase of life!
Between babies and after second baby was 6 months or so, I did a yoga class once a week during my lunch break and tried to take walks with the family after dinner and on the weekends. For the past year and a half, though, I’ve been doing barbell lifting in my garage with DH after the kids go to bed 3-4 times a week. It is for real hard to get motivated to work out at 8:30 at night sometimes. I do miss yoga and will start a once or twice a week (gentle) class next month.
Maybe a patchwork approach is best? An am class once a week, lunchtime exercise another, playing and family walks after dinner or on the weekends, and whenever you can squeeze in even 10 minutes of stairs or calisthenics in your office. Whatever you enjoy and can fit in!
EB0220 says
I usually work out either around 5:30-6 before everyone is up or after they go to bed (either with husband or a babysitter). Occasionally I will run or bike at lunchtime. It’s not super consistent but I tell myself that it’s better to do something. My kids are 4 and 7.
Pogo says
Mostly lunchtime workouts, but I don’t go to a class – I have an on-site gym or run on a jogging path that is nearby my office so my workout is 50min or less, with shower.
I also jog w/ the stroller and bike w/ the seat, but caveat I only have one kid. Biking we tend to do as a family on the weekends, but jog I can sometimes fit in before dinner if I book it to daycare and then home.
I have attempted a post-bedtime yoga class (8pm) like, once. I am just not that motivated. I do manage an 8am class on Saturdays pretty consistently – my LO wakes up at 6:30.
Anonymous says
I like myself so much better when I have a solid exercise routine, but I haven’t been able to re-start a good workout habit in the last couple years since my third child was born. I used to go to the gym after the kids were in bed, but now they are going to bed later (8:30ish) and I find that I’m usually too tired to motivate myself by then. I prefer to be a morning workout person, but my bedtime has slipped really late and I have to fix that problem, first.
Right now, I try to go to a ballet class at least once per week, and run once or twice a week. I bike to work (~20 min), meet a friend at the climbing gym, or pop in a yoga DVD occasionally. I walk at lunch most days. I try to plan active things to do with the family on the weekends. Basically I cobble together approximations of exercise and figure that something is better than nothing.
anon says
Have any of you called to complain to the practice manager at a doc’s office? I had such a terrible experience yesterday with one of the OBs in my very large practice yesterday, and I’m at a loss for what to do. I’m probably too nice and hesitant to be THAT patient but at the same time, the doc brushed off and ignored what I was told was a serious issue last week by another doc in the practice and then the nurse chastised me for getting a shot so late when their practice kept forgetting to give it in weeks prior. Oh and they lost my consent paperwork for having my tubes tied so now I can’t get it done during my c section because it will not be in the time required for my state. I feel so powerless because it’s not like I can change providers this late and no one listens.
AwayEmily says
Ugh, I am so sorry you had this experience. There’s no excuse for that. You’re sure it’s too late to switch? I switched providers for a similar reason about halfway through my second trimester (no idea how far along you are).
And if it helps to gin up your courage to say something, think of the fact that complaining now could help other women in the future (at least, if it changes the doctor’s behavior).
Anonymous says
What state requires a waiting period before you get your tubes tied? That is nuts.
anon says
Ohio. And in our area, a number of hospitals and practices won’t even do it.
Anon says
I had my tubes tied with my c-section in Ohio and have no recollection of a required consent form at all–let alone a waiting period. I was reminding my OB that she needed to do it because everyone was being so informal about it. I was in the Cincinnati area, giving birth at a hospital in the Tri-Health system.
Anon says
I should say, I’m sure there was a consent at some point, but there was no waiting period. It was all part of the consent on the c-section.
anon OP says
This is interesting and maybe the practice was wrong or that’s just their policy because I think they see a large Medicaid population. Good to know though I’ve been told they’re “looking” for my missing paperwork.
Anon says
That’s what I’m wondering–are they wrong on this too?
Anon says
My cousin is in Ohio and had her tubes tied without a waiting period, and I’m in Indiana (an even redder state) and my OB raised it with me and seemed perfectly willing to do it (we opted for a V for my husband instead). I know Catholic hospitals generally won’t do permanent birth control, and Medicaid has a mandatory 30 day waiting period (which is extremely controversial), but otherwise this seems really strange.
rosie says
Sadly, I wouldn’t feel comfortable complaining given that you are still relying on them for such an important procedure. My opinion changes if you could get something out of the convo — any way they can fix the lost paperwork issue (that is HUGE)? Did the concern that the most recent doc brushed off get resolved to your satisfaction?
Anonymous says
This. I wouldn’t complain for the sake of complaining until after you deliver, but I would call and politely but firmly request that someone fix the “lost” paperwork issue. I might also make a follow-up appointment with the doctor who raised the issue, or at least leave a message with that doctor’s nurse asking to discuss the issue.
octagon says
I would absolutely call the practice manager. The lost paperwork is enormous and INFURIATING. Their mistake is going to cost you time, money, and potentially ANOTHER FREAKING SURGERY.
I would get the practice manager’s name and email, send a politely worded email outlining your specific issues, and ask for their help in resolving this, especially the tubes tied.
rakma says
I might save a general ‘unorganized’ complaint for after you’re done with the practice, but might call now and see if anything can be done about the consent paperwork. Also, document any lost paperwork, forgotten procedures, issues that were brushed off, or anything else that does not sit right. Having dates and names now will make it easier to report later.
Also, is there a way to avoid the doctor who dismissed the concerns you had? Or get in touch with the doctor who raised the concern and have them review your last appointment? If it’s something serious and needs to be monitored, I’d want to make sure the proper monitoring was done.
Anonymous says
This. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I would complain (in writing) both to the practice manager, and to your insurance company (if this is an in-network provider) after you deliver.
Cb says
Recs for toddler socks? Realized that my 2 year old’s socks are looking awfully small this am. Do I buy multiples of the same pair to avoid matching things? I worry whites would get dingy fast since we don’t do a whites load and he tends to spend a lot of time stomping in the mud and puddles.
Anon says
I tried the all-white approach but the dingy-ness really bothered me, and I still tried to match levels of blackness on the bottoms. We ended up getting multi packs of character socks at Target, and DH turns folding laundry into a matching game. “Find both Jack Jacks! Hand them to Daddy! Now find both Mr Incredibles! Good job!”
AwayEmily says
YES I have a recommendation. They are to my mind the holy grail of socks. Effective grippers, they have enough structure that they don’t fall down and sag, they are thick, and they come in nice basic colors. Also they have lasted through three kids (!).
Here is how much I love these socks: I first encountered them as a hand-me down, spent an embarrassingly long time trying to figure out where they were from via Google searching, and finally contacted the person who gave them to me and asked her to go through her Amazon orders to help me figure it out.
They are the “N’Ice Caps” socks, but make sure to get the “solid color with gripper” ones or the “Heather Grey/White/Royal/Black Gripper” ones. The “multi/gripper” ones are a thinner material and not as good.
ElisaR says
this is the best endorsement for socks i’ve ever heard! checking them out now.
Anonymous says
Matching isn’t that bad if you wash them in a lingerie bag. That way all the socks stay together.
Also, in our house, odd socks ‘talk’ to each other so it’s actually fun if you get to wear odd socks. #lazymomhack
Cb says
Ah, this is where I’ve gone wrong! We need a sock basket, don’t we? I’ve just been putting them loose in the wash but I bet I could train my son to put his clothes in one basket and socks in another.
Anonymous says
You don’t even need a sock basket. Just keep the sock bag in the laundry basket and put dirty socks straight into the bag.
Anonymous says
you can also use clothespins to pin a large lingerie bag to the hamper/laundry basket.
I tend to just put them in the bag as I’m loading the washer though.
Anonymous says
Yes, use a bag. The washers in our building would tend to eat them otherwise.
GCA says
My holy grail socks, sufficiently grippy and long enough to cover ankles (size up!) are the triple-roll socks from Old Navy. They aren’t too thick, which means they work for spring/ summer/ fall.
Annie says
We are very happy with Jefferies socks from amazon — the ones with grippies on the bottom. We’re two years in and they’re still going strong.
Anonymous says
I go for a jog with the toddler, because he usually wakes up a lot earlier than my older kids. I usually trade off with my husband. I do a Barre3 workout a few mornings a week before the kids wake up — even if it’s just 10 minutes, it helps to move my body a bit. I walk to the subway. I keep telling myself I’ll start going to studio classes at 6 am one of these days, but this doesn’t quite work out with my life right now, so it is jogs and home workouts for now.
Anonymous says
I bought a bunch of the same socks from Uniqlo and have been happy with them.
Anon says
Caveat that my toddler has super wide and tall feet, so we need the thinnest (but decent quality) socks we can find, but I have been really happy with the tucker and tate low cut socks (I think it’s in-house at Nordstrom) (no grippers – easier to put on in her shoes) and the gap ankle socks with the grippers. Everything else we’ve tried has either been too thick or so thin they get holey really quickly and are kind of scratchy.
DLC says
I have a weakness for cute socks, but also an inability to keep them matched. So most of the time my kids wear mismatched socks- we just throw all the socks in a big bin after laundry and put on his feet whichever two we grab first. Matching socks is one of those things I’ve decided I don’t have the bandwidth to care about.
ElisaR says
me too. and maybe i’m fooling myself, but it’s kinda cute when they are severely mismatched.
Anonymous says
I have a question that mostly about working but that fact that I am a mom plays in, so I was hoping you all could help. I am trying to decide between two jobs:
I have a job at an organization I usually love with a mission that brings me joy. I am also well paid ($120k – MCOL in the Midwest) and on track to be a vice president someday (5+ years). However, it is far from my house/daycare, my pay is much lower than my peers inside my org and external market (about 12%-20% lower), and there is some turnover looming on the horizon as our CEO will likely leave in the next two years or so. I have a good boss who understands this but feels his hands are tied, because…my CEO wants me to finish my advanced degree (I am ABD but the degree isn’t technically necessary for my job) and doing the work to get it would be time-consuming. However, if I get said degree, they promise to bring me up to market, but that would be 2+ years from now (and said CEO might be gone…).
I have a decently high probability of getting another job in the same city. The commute would be half and the distance from daycare (and the doctor’s office and, eventually, school) would be less than two miles. I could ride my bike to work (which is a big deal for me). I like the work of the other organization but don’t love it, like I love what I do now. Also, the pay should be between $135k and $140k.
Also in the mix is that my husband and I would like a third kid sometime in the next 2-ish years and the extra money would cover daycare costs for said kid.
I know that u;ultimately I have to weigh the pros and cons and how much things like mission matter to me, but I am wondering if people have experience, thoughts, or other considerations.
We are thinking about another kid
HSAL says
For me it wouldn’t be a question – more money, better commute, and still okay with the work? Absolutely. I’m leaving a job I love to work part-time closer to my house for the same pay. I don’t expect to like the work itself but it’ll be fine, and that’s outweighed by the benefits for me. Do it! Especially with another kid in the mix, getting more time and money is worth more than a mission to me. Could you still volunteer or stay involved somehow?
Anonymous says
That’s a really good suggestion!
Anon. says
This is almost no question for me – better commute alone might have done it, but more money and work that is still interesting (even if not 100% as interesting as current) is absolutely worth it. And maybe I have had a string of not great bosses but I’m always a skeptical of promises to raise salary that aren’t in writing, even more so if that person is potentially moving on and the promise is contingent on a ton of work on your part to get the advanced degree.
ElisaR says
even without considering another child – i think the new opportunity sounds preferrable.
anne-on says
100% go to the new company. I’ve seen people (and been burned myself) by good companies that just don’t respect home grown talent and pay them what they pay shiny new people from outside. Switch, you can always go back (and I bet if you do they’d suddenly have no issue paying you market rates without the advanced degree).
anon says
probably a silly question, but we are about to fly with our twins for the first time since they’ve been off bottles! do they sell milk in airports? i’ve never tried to purchase milk at an airport before, so it just occurred to me that i have no clue whether or not they have it. is this something planes have as part of their beverage service? also- at home we wash a cup or use a different cup before putting milk in it again. and when we were traveling with bottles we just brought extra bottles. what do you do with cups? we use straw cups
Anonymous says
Yes they sell milk in airports. Just rinse the cups with water. How much milk do they need?
Cb says
We just bring a sippy cup along and fill it up at Starbucks. Basically they charge you for a steamed milk or babycinno. They’ll typically do it free if you buy an adult drink.
octagon says
YMMV, but I’ve actually had a hard time finding milk in airports (unless you are willing to fill from the Starbucks courtesy bar). The convenience stores often stock chocolate but not regular, and not all flights have it. The last two flights we told our toddler he could have apple juice since there was no milk on flight.
So, hope for the best but plan for the worst, I guess?
Anonymous says
Starbucks will always sell you a cup of milk.
octagon says
This assumes that your terminal has a Starbucks, which is not always the case, sadly.
Anonymous says
Yes they sell it, and yes you can usually get it on the plane too.
AnotherAnon says
Just curious – What airline? I’ve never been able to get milk on a domestic flight with United or SW.
Anon says
American Airlines has refused to give me WATER for my toddler numerous times. And one of the times she had her own purchased seat! I was livid.
Anonymous says
Wow, that’s crazy! I’ve never had issues getting drinks from SW for my kids, regardless of purchased seats or lap infants.
Pogo says
That is awful. As mentioned below I fly almost exclusively Delta and JB and both have been super accommodating with or without seat purchase. Like pretty sure they let him just grab a handful of snacks when they came around w/ the basket.
anon. says
Second AnotherAnon. Don’t count on the airplane, this has failed for us in the past.
Anonymous says
Hmm. My son is 7 so we’ve been more beverage flexible for several years, but he usually asks for milk and I’m pretty sure they’ve had it at least sometimes? But maybe not always – foggy memories. We are usually flying American or Delta.
Pogo says
JetBlue and Delta have both given milk to me or other passengers on flights. They definitely have it on the plane if there’s a business or first class – just a question of whether or not they’ll give it to you in coach.
Anon says
Your kids shouldn’t need that much milk while in transit unless you’re flying to Australia or something. We normally do a big cup of milk at home and then just water while we’re in transit. I feel much more comfortable re-using a water cup than a milk cup.
Anonymous says
Just bring whatever you usually give milk in and the flight attendant can fill it for you. I generally bring my own milk onboard after a few flights that were turbulent where there was no meal service as a result. In quick service restaurants it will be with the bottled drinks like juice and soda. In Europe, drinking milk is less common so you may have to buy it at a Starbucks. Based on our travels so far, like every airport in Canada, US and Europe has a Starbucks.
If there’s under 2, the liquid restrictions are more relaxed so you can just bring it with you. To keep it cool, I usually just freeze it before we go and by the time we’re on the plane and they are thirsty, it’s defrosted.
Anonymous says
How long is the flight? Do they actually need milk? Once our twins were over a year we just brought empty water bottles to fill up at the water fountain for any <3 hour flights, which is so much easier. Alternatively, if you really want milk and are used to traveling with a cooler anyway from when they were babies, just toss in some containers of milk there that you can use to refill the straw cups.
LadyNFS says
I fly frequently with my toddler – I fill up a bottle / sippy cup with milk before we leave the house. If she needs it “topped off,” before the flight, I do it as others have recommended: Starbucks or other coffee shop, concession stand (some sell individual containers of at least 2% milk), or airport lounge. Admittedly, I am not keeping the milk cold (sometimes I will ask flight attendants to refrigerate, but that is usually on longer international flights). In my experience, some domestic flights don’t have milk and serve coffee with those individual sized creamers, so I would not rely on getting milk on the flight itself if kiddos absolutely must have it.
Anon says
Also, you can bring milk (and water) through security for toddlers. We do it all the time. Just allow about 10 extra minutes as they do have to check it to make sure it is actually milk.
anon. says
Yes – this. We’ve bought the boxed milk individual sizes from the store for this. They usually have to scan it separately but then you know you have it.
I’ve also heard if you call the TSA Cares hotline number and tell them in advance you’re traveling, it helps if you have any concerns. I haven’t done that and been fine, but some of my friends traveling with babies/ toddlers have done so.
Anonymous says
One caveat about bringing the boxed milk is that because the scanners can’t see through it (the boxes are opaque) they are supposed to hand-search your luggage and give you a pat-down to allow it through, even when traveling with a toddler. (Without a toddler they just wouldn’t allow it.) It seems to be 50-50 on whether or not TSA agents enforce this, but I’ve definitely had it happen.
The only way to bring milk and definitely avoid extra searches is to bring it in unsealed or clear containers, but this requires a cooler/ice packs.
Anon says
We bring it in sippy cups (that don’t leak) in an insulated lunch bag with a small ice pack (which we then use while traveling when out for the day etc.). They open the sippy cups and wave what looks like a litmus test strip (testing for explosives or what not). But you do need to budget an extra 10 mins or so for them to do that.
Pogo says
Correct, this is actually the case for any special liquids (medication, b-milk, milk or juice for kiddo, etc). It is totally up to the mood of the TSA agent and their level of knowledge about the product – my husband has a liquid medication in individual packages that they must not realize are actually liquid, because they always take one look at it and his letter and waive him through. Have had extra screening (both w/ and w/o baby) for b-milk. Have also had TSA let me walk through without so much as a glance. I also have an epi-pen and they never ask me for my letter. Totally depends.
AnotherAnon says
I wasn’t even going to weigh in but since everyone is suggesting you bring your own milk – I want to say I’ve done this and it is a huge PITA and we almost missed several flights due to waiting for the TSA to test milk. You can buy milk at airports: most places sell shelf stable milk (which is fine – my kid thought the taste was weird but he drank it). Second the suggestion to get it from Sbux since they usually don’t charge you for it and they will ask if you prefer whole, 2% or skim. Good luck! It will be fine. If you can use water, definitely try that, but my kiddo prefers milk for comfort and it puts him to sleep so we always do milk (he’s 2.5 now).
Anonymous says
When we were in the straw cup stage, we used to travel with a package of disposable cups + lids + straws. The river site offers many options. Yes, I know disposable straws are the devil, but so is trying to get a reusable straw clean in a hotel sink.
IP Attorney says
We always bring a straw cleaner with us when we travel for our reusable straw and it works really great to clean when traveling!
Anonymous says
This. We actually use less disposable stuff when we travel vs everyday because a straw brush takes up less room in the luggage vs disposable stuff.
Anonymous says
They do, I would check the airport directory map to make sure. If you want to share the airports, I may even be able to tell you. All coffee shops will sell it to you, some restaurants, plus they typically have it at Cibo express and those types of places. You can also make a request from the flight attendants when they board – usually there’s limited supply online and there’s a chance they’ll hand it out for coffee or something unless you ask.
anon says
Also, Mcdonalds often has milk containers.
EB0220 says
I can usually find it in the airport but when my kids were little I would bring a few of the small Horizon milk boxes just in case. I did have a few TSA pat-downs because of that but still worth it.
Katy says
I had no issue flying to and from Europe with bottles of milk and icepacks to keep it cold. (Helps if kid is under 2 as i think that is technically where the liquids rules are relaxed, but it is not like security actually asked about the age of the child – so i am sure at 2.5 or so it would still be fine).
Redux says
Alright, y’all, I want to make a slip-n-slide. Any tips for solid DIY options (I assume that the slip-n-slides of today are just as flimsy and tear-prone as the slip-n-slides of my youth, but correct me if I’m wrong!)?
AnotherAnon says
Probably not the safest option (is there a safe slip n slide?), but we used to unroll a whole box of heavy duty black trash bags on a slope, then set the hose at the top and turn it on. If my brother was in charge, he’d add dish soap but I don’t think that’s really necessary, especially for smaller kids.
EB0220 says
I have a ton of heavy duty black trash bags and a hill in my front yard. I know what I’m doing this weekend!
Redux says
Yes, I think we might use landscaping plastic!
Pogo says
+1 we use landscaping plastic from the hardware store.
Tryingnottobefrumpyintheburbs says
Question for anyone who has had upholstery professionally cleaned: we have a very nice chair and couch from Room & Board. Both items are relatively new (less than four years old) and structurally in excellent condition. The issue is that both pieces of furniture are unfortunately light colored and have fallen victim to many kid-related stains (barf, spit-up, etc). Has anyone actually had success with having a professional clean furniture or is this not worth our money? TIA!
IHeartBacon says
Absolutely worth it. I have a toddler and several pets with cream couches. I get the couches professionally cleaned 2x a year. Our dining chairs are not used as frequently so those only get cleaned once every other year.
lsw says
Oh yeah. Professional couch cleaning is amazing. I used it with my dog and now with my kids.
anne-on says
Totally worth it. Stanley steemer does this relatively cheaply too.
Ifiknew says
Anyone have a 2 year old and newborn at home on maternity leave? My toddler has never been in daycare and will start school this fall. I have help every day after 12 until bedtime, but I’m on my own generally from 7 am to noon.
The newborn wants to be held a lot and I cannot find a good baby carrier, any recs? I have the solly baby wrap which doesn’t seem secure enough and I feel like I need to hold his neck up (he’s 4 weeks old)
He hates the car seat, screaming everytime he’s in. What am I doing wrong? I feed him and put him in.. I feel like we need to go places to keep the toddler occupied but driving with a screaming baby sounds painful.
The only baby contraption he likes is the baby Bjorn bouncer and Im constsntly bouncing it manually. Is there anything else that does this nice of a up and down motion that can be motorized?
Finally, my 2 year old who’s been potty trained for 4 months is having accidents left and right since the baby arrived. I know regressions are common but shes adjusted so well to her brother and is very loving etc. We’ve had no other issues at all except for the potty. How do we fix?
Thanks so much for input. You guys are all the best.
HSAL says
It’s a limited-use item, but I love the Nesting Days carrier. You can wear it as a shirt or over a shirt, but I liked it so much better than other wraps. They say it goes to 18 pounds but I would say my babies started sagging in it around 14 pounds. For older babies I like the Tula. They have an infant insert up to 15 pounds.
Good luck on the rest! That’s so tough.
Anonymous says
Baby ktan baby carrier. Just look at the size guide to get the right size for you. We use the fisher price bouncy seat that still needs manual bouncing but it vibrates, so i rarely bounced my daughter.
Pogo says
+1, got a lot of mileage out of the ktan.
Anonymous says
Look for a local babywearing group in your area. Most have a ‘learning library’ where you can try out different wraps/slings/carriers to see what you like.
The car seat crying will get better. I walked more with the double stroller when the car seat hate was high.
For accidents, just take your toddler regularly (every 20 mins or at least after every meal/snack). It will get better as the stress of adapting to new baby is reduced.
Anon says
Baby K’tan for the early days and then the lillebaby once they’re a little older. Technically you can use the lillebaby from birth, but as someone new to babywearing, the K’tan was much less intimidating with a newborn. My 33 lb almost 2-year old still fits in the lillebaby, so well worth the investment.
As for car seat crying, for us the baby just had to outgrow it (got better around 12 weeks, which I know sounds like an eternity). Can you get the toddler some toddler headphones to help block some of the noise and put on the radio for you?
My kiddo loved manual bouncing in the FP bouncer, but then we switched to the FP swing on higher speeds (4-6 I think) and that did the trick.
FVNC says
Listen, I’m impressed you’re coherent enough to type out a well-worded list of questions and articulate your issues. You’re doing amazingly great!
I second or third what others have said about the car seat — you just have to give it time. My older kid loved her car seat from day 1; my younger hated it for a few months but by around 4-6 months (sorry, it really was a while) he became perfectly content. My older one never cared about the baby crying in the car, so we just went where we had to go, despite the awful screaming.
Same thing for the regressions, just give it time. My daughter was 3.5 when baby was born, so she’d been potty trained for a year. All of a sudden started having accidents at night. She loved her little brother, no animosity. Again, after a few months the accidents stopped.
OP says
You guys are the best, thank you so much. I wish I had a group of moms like this IRL!
EB0220 says
I second finding a local babywearing group. They are really helpful and will let you check out carriers to try. My personal favorite carrier for about 6 weeks and older is the Kinderpack.
drpepperesq says
get yourself a fisher price swing! it’s huge and hideous but my kid LOVE LOVE LOVED it. i think i shed a tear when he became too big for it.
CCLA says
Another vote for k’tan. Also loved the nesting days mentioned above but found after 6 weeks or so I preferred the k’tan for out and about because I could more easily throw it on over something.
For the carseat, you mention you feed baby and put into carseat – if baby has reflux, it could be a matter of discomfort with the positioning and pressure and baby might be more comfortable if you wait 10+ min after feeding. But ultimately I’m with the others that crying in the car shouldn’t stop you from getting out, baby will get over it eventually.
Our first kiddo who loved up and down motion was placated by the FP swing/cradle combo with the front to back motion at high speeds. You got this, mama!
Buddy Holly says
My child hated the carseat until close to age 2 and also was only soothed by intense up and down movement. For the carseat, I used to try all these tricks and finally just accepted it would be nonstop screaming anytime we had to be in the car together. It sucked, but finding space for myself to accept the situation was important and I wish it hadn’t taken me so long. The one trick that sort of worked was to put baby in the carseat and then bounce the carseat on a yoga ball for a minute or two. That would sometimes buy us a few minutes of calm, at least enough to load up the car. I also agree CCLA in giving the baby a few minutes to burp and settle after eating just in case it is a reflux issue.
For the up and down motion, I never found anything mechanical that really worked. (The Snoo was not out yet when my baby was born–but that price tag, yikes!) What worked best was holding baby and bouncing on the yoga ball. When the baby was older, I could use my Mei Tai carrier to hold her while on the yoga ball. I spent so, so, so many hours on the yoga ball until we could sleep train. Hugs.
AnotherAnon says
Best flotation assistance device for a (small) 2.5 year old? We’ll be at a friend’s pool for the 4th. He will be within my arms’ reach at all times.
Redux says
Puddle Jumper.
Anonymous says
Depending on how small, a Puddle Jumper may not be the best at that age. My skinny but tall 2/5 year old is able to wiggle out pretty easily. If you’re getting specifically for this age and stage, I’d get one of the Speedo vest ones that is sized for a lower weight.
CHL says
Second the speedo vest.
Katy says
an actual lifejacket? (can’t get out of it…)
Pogo says
Total vent, but we are starting the IVF process for #2 and already having the same scheduling drama that plagued me for half a year with #1. Going to miss reporting to the c-suite when they are on site so I can start TTC (and even so it’s going to be months later than I’d like, because my RE books up so fast).
It will all be worth it, again, right?
Anon says
Aw hugs. It will be worth it.
Anonymous says
Maybe? Have you looked at other clinics? Mine had no problem scheduling all but my intake appointment and retrieval at 6:30am, so I didn’t wind up missing more than a day and a half, and there was no wait to get in with the RE- there were black out periods where no retrieval’s were done but other than that the practice had 6 REs who provided great coverage.
Pogo says
Ugh, yeah it’s the stupid intake appointment, the monitoring is of course all before work. I really do need to stay with this practice since they have my embryos frozen.
For the actual transfer, what was stressful was planning work trips, because you really only get like a 48-hr lead time on when you need to go in for transfer. Just dreading dealing with that again.
anon says
You really don’t! It’s a lot of paperwork, but people transfer frozen embryos between clinics all the time. There are services you can pay to do the actual transportation, but I also know someone who arranged to pick up the tank herself and zip it over.
RR says
Ugh, I hated the scheduling so much. I think I’ve shared here before that I actually ended up being in the middle of a jury trial for my egg retrieval–a really unfortunate combination of my cycle starting early and the retrieval having to be sooner than anticipated because of how things were progressing. I had to tell the court I had an unavoidable medical procedure that had to happen that day and I wouldn’t be in until late morning/early afternoon (luckily, I was second chair, so the trial continued without me). I had the first appointment, did no anesthesia beyond a local injection, drank tons of coffee, and had my husband drive me to the trial and sit in the audience. I had to cross examine a witness and argue against a JMOL that afternoon. I still don’t know how I got through that day. My second IVF actually went much better (although I still ended up in the office that afternoon because I make poor life choices).
Anon says
DH, then toddler then me just had a cold (I am feeling like 90% better as of today, DH was fine last night, and toddler was about the same as me as of this morning). Trying to work from home today per my usual and DH looks like death warmed over, is complaining he doesn’t feel good and has what I suspect is a migraine, although it’s hard to tell, because at best all I get in terms of symptoms is “I don’t feel good,” but it sure looks like my migraines. So looks like I will get next to no work done today (as my toddler is sitting behind me in my chair playing with the PBS kids app) and have two children to care for today. GAH, this level of sickness is only supposed to happen in winter. Man sickness is the worst.
Anonymous says
Why are you doing this? You don’t need to take care of him.
Anon says
There is something nasty going around right now. My toddler just had a really bad cold and spiked a high fever that kept her out of daycare for a week. The ped said she’d lots of kids with the same illness. And tell your DH that if he can’t take care of the kid, he at least needs to just lie in a dark room and not be a burden on you.
Anon says
I banished him to a dark room with a bucket an hour ago (although I can still hear the moaning and groaning) after informing him that if he puked on my carpet he was no longer welcome in the house. A migraine sufferer myself, I am mildly sympathetic, but geeze.
Emily S. says
Man sickness is the worst. Hugs! Hope you all are well soon.
Just the facts maam says
Is there a week-by-week pregnancy guide that just gives the medical info without trying to be all cloyingly cutesy and/or spend half the words telling me how I might be feeling emotionally about all this? (i.e. not The Bump or What to Expect) #nopatienceforthis
Anon says
I think it’s monthly not weekly, but Mayo Clinic guide is good and very factual.
Anonymous says
Second the Mayo Clinic guide. There’s just not that much change week to week, it’s more month to month.
Anonymous says
Yes, buy the Mayo Clinic guide to pregnancy. I had the digital book on my phone. Very helpful straightforward and not full of ridiculous adds like Ovia.
AwayEmily says
I liked the Ovia app. It’s not entirely just-the-facts but it’s closer than the other two you mentioned.
Anonymous says
Alpha mom might be more cutesy than you’re hoping that for but it actually more on the funny side (with medical info as well!).
MNF says
Day 3 back at work. Both me and baby girl have adjusted fine — no tears at all, except… she just rolled over for the first time and the au pair sent us a picture! Having all the feels.
Now, she’s only 11 weeks and rolled from back to front. Does this mean we have to discontinue the swaddle? We use the love to dream and it’s like sleeping potion for her.
CCLA says
Congrats on a successful first few days back! And yep, time to ditch the swaddle. We used the Velcro ones and swaddled arms out for a transition period to keep them snug, but I’ve seen the zipadeezip recommended here before, which if you are using the hands up love to dream swaddle might work for your kiddo since their hands could still contained but by the face.
anon says
yup, time to keep arms out. i have twins and one adjusted to arms out no problem, whereas the other took a night of lots of wake ups. there is a zipadeezip swaddle which is safe once babies are able to roll over, and arms are in the sack, but are able to move. honestly, just switch to a sleep sack now
i went away for the weekend on a girls weekend – first one since becoming a parent – and one twin took her first steps. surprisingly i wasn’t that sad about it. glad to hear that work is off to a good start!
Anonymous says
I used swaddles until my son could roll WHILE SWADDLED, which is harder but he did figure it out the very night before I went back to work at 12 weeks (approx 4 weeks after his first roll I think?). Then I started letting him sleep, swaddled, buckled into our swing until I got up the courage to rip than bandaid off. This was Harvey Karp approved so I went with it.
PS – my son was a rolling prodigy but never did anything else physical early. He has a huge head and would lead with it, so I think he had some momentum or something.
Anon says
Your PS made me made laugh so hard.
Anonymous says
We moved to a Magic Merlin sleepsuit when the rolling started and it was awesome.
avocado says
My employer is proposing to hold an “optional” mindfulness retreat at a yoga ashram in response to the fact that we are chronically understaffed and overworked. The accommodations are dorm-style, and the dress code is extremely conservative. I am not comfortable sharing a room or bathroom with my co-workers, practicing yoga wearing anything other than a tank top and cropped leggings (I get hot easily and don’t like loose fabric flapping around), or meditating in a roomful of my co-workers. I am not opposed to yoga, dorms, or meditation, but all of these things seem too intimate to share with my co-workers. And I don’t take kindly to restrictive dress codes, especially for activities that are supposed to be relaxing and restorative.
This whole thing is super weird and out of bounds for my employer to demand, right? I think the focus should be on getting vacancies filled and managing the organization properly, not putting the burden on the staff to deal with the excessive workload through mindfulness.
HSAL says
That’s horrifying – it’s like a letter to Ask a Manager. And yes, absolutely weird and out of bounds. It sounds like it’s in the early stages, so definitely push back. I’m sure you’re not the only one who has a problem with this, so try to get a group and point out that it’s not addressing the underlying issue. What type of workplace is this? Besides nuts.
avocado says
You have hit the nail on the head–exactly like an AAM scenario! Ha. We are what I would call “quasi-academic,” and mindfulness is a big fad throughout the organization at the moment. I am going to push back. The more senior I get, the more it seems to fall to me to speak up about stuff like this.
Anon says
Ohh if you’re in academia, this is WAY less weird. Work/life boundaries are much blurrier in academia. My husband works out with colleagues all the time and shares hotel rooms with colleagues (he only shares with men, due largely to my preference, but co-ed sharing is not unheard of).
avocado says
It’s not real academia, though. More like a think tank. We always get our own hotel rooms when we travel.
Anon says
I think it’s definitely weird and a *terrible* response to employees being overworked – I agree that filling the jobs is best, but in the absence of that, give your employees a cash bonus for overtime work!. But I also think your reaction is a little over the top. You don’t need to be in your preferred workout gear for yoga – just take it easy and don’t exert yourself if you’re worried about sweating. And I don’t think staying in a dorm and sharing a bathroom with a same sex (or even opposite sex) coworker is that big a deal. This does not sound like my idea of a great time, but you’re acting like they asked you to shoot puppies.
Mrs. Jones says
This is horrifying. Definitely speak up if you can.
Anon says
So…don’t go? I don’t know what you mean by the quotes around optional but I would take them at their word if they tell you it’s optional. I can’t imagine you’ll be the only person who doesn’t go.
Pogo says
The dress code is the weird thing for me. If you’re at a yoga retreat, by definition isn’t the dress code whatever you want because you’re… doing yoga? on a mat on the floor? I would feel uncomfortable if my employer held an offsite recreational event AND told me I had to wear specific conservative clothing. That strikes me as really cult-y. When we have offsite recreational events, people wear shorts and t-shirts or whatever is appropriate.
Anon says
The conservative dress code presumably comes from the ashram, not the employer. I agree it’s really weird for employers to tell their employees how to dress at an offsite retreat, but I think it’s a little different if the venue enforces a dress code.
Blueberries says
This sounds awful. What are the planners thinking?! I agree that, instead of burdening folks with this trip, they should do their jobs.
anon says
this sounds horrible! how will this help with burnout. if they want to do something like this, have someone come to the office and do a mindfulness workshop for a couple of hours (i still think that is a waste of time, but might appease their desire to engage in the mindfulness trend). instead – spend the money to do what needs to get done to fill the vacancies, maybe give everyone an extra vacation day to recharge, or provide some extra meals in the office or something to help people deal with feeling overworked. an overnight yoga trip sounds like just another burden and way to make people feel more overworked. who are these crazy ppl who think of these things!
Anonymous says
I would push back but focus on how this is going to take you away from work when you are already short-staffed (or cut into weekend time, which is worse), be potentially alienating to team members who are not into yoga or have different beliefs or physical abilities, and won’t solve underlying problems.
anne-on says
I’m not even kidding, this literally IS a meme on instagram/LinkedIn/etc. In fact, can you send them this?
https://www.fastcompany.com/3057303/fixing-mental-health-in-the-workplace-requires-a-lot-more-than-a-yoga-room
Law mama says
This article really helped me understand my reflexive anger at workplace wellness initiatives. It may give you some helpful framing if you decide to tackle the underlying problem with this idea https://theface.com/life/why-were-made-to-feel-guilty-for-work-stress
avocado says
This article and the one anne-on linked above perfectly encapsulate my feelings about the whole thing. They are putting the burden on employees to cope better instead of fixing the underlying issues. The same way that “self-care” reframes systemic problems as individual failings, especially for working moms.
anon says
Late in the day, but did anyone have success sleep training night only (no naps)? MIL watches LO and refuses to CIO for naps.
anne-on says
Yes, very much. FWIW my son napped terribly until he was older and we could cut him down to 1 nap a day. It sort of ‘clicked’ for him at that point. We sleep trained much earlier (around 5-6 months old) when I went back to work and that was a much faster/easier success rate. We did Ferber, and it took a solid 3 nights but it was like night and day once he got it.
AnotherAnon says
Yep! From about 5 months to one year, we did CIO at bedtime only because day care refused to let him cry. Every baby is different, but one thing I liked about CIO is that it made naptime transition easier so I could focus on that rather than grappling with the caregiver over nap routine. I know CIO is not for everyone, but it worked for us. We gave ourselves a 10 minute window and I kid you not, kiddo fell asleep at minute 9 every. single. night. Good luck!
Em says
+1 we only did CIO at night because I wasn’t about to tell daycare they had to let my baby cry and disturb all the other babies. It went fine.
OP says
so glad to hear this!! MIL is feeding our 9 month old a bottle for nap and then feeding another when he wakes up at 30-45 minutes to get him back to nap, she loves him a lot and she nearly killed us when we suggested the idea of CIO.
so we will just try bedtime, fingers crossed.
anon says
I’d push back on the bottle after the wake-up. Ask her to give him more before nap (though isn’t the pattern: sleep, eat, play, sleep?) and use a pacifier at the wake-up. Just my take.
Anonymous says
Yup. We did CIO night training with both my kids. My oldest was a bit rough – it took a couple of nights and some mom tears – but my youngest got it immediately. That said, both are in daycare and we’ve never done it for naptime. The oldest was perfectly fine with naps in ways she wasn’t for bedtime up until she dropped them entirely. The youngest still doesn’t go down well on weekends, but it’s been such a blip, it’s not been worth it. I think they pat them all down at daycare.
Super Annoying AutoPlay Ad says
Kat – There was a post a couple days ago about auto-play video ads at the bottom that won’t go away. I’m currently getting a Microsoft ad ‘Empowering us all” which has a video that autoplays. Even when I close the ad it returns over and over again. Could you please look into it.
Ny bound says
Ny area people- what are some family friendly neighborhoods in Brooklyn, queens or the Bronx? My partner got a job offer in ny and we are looking at neighborhoods to move to. I am already working remote. We are bringing two kids under 5, and will need to start one in public school soon, so schools are obviously a big consideration. His office is on 8th Avenue I think. We are ok renting but would like to buy and not switch schools.