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.
From the very beginning, I used Dr. Brown’s bottles and they worked really well for my son. However, a major complaint I had is that each assembled bottle has four separate pieces.
Cleaning them was pretty tedious, and it took me a while before I felt comfortable just sticking the whole lot in the dishwasher.
I also eventually bought the Dr. Brown’s microwave sterilizer, but it’s enormous and takes up valuable kitchen real estate.
Prior to purchasing it, though, I used these steam sterilizer bags. I threw all the pieces in there, along with my pump parts. You can use each bag multiple times, they do a good job, and they’re small. A pack of five is $5.99 at Amazon (eligible for Prime). Dr. Brown’s Microwave Steam Sterilizer Bags
Psst: Looking for more info about nursing clothes for working moms, or tips for pumping at the office? We’ve got them both…
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® 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 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Cb says
I mostly sterilized at home (before giving it up when I realized baby licks the floor) but these were really good in a pinch. I washed the parts at home and threw them in the microwave at the office.
Somewhat related question – my nearly 1 year old is still nursing every three hours when I’m around / drinking 3 bottles during the day. He’s eating plenty of solids but really still likes his milk. Happy to be guided by baby (and keep nursing am and pm) but was hoping to be tapering down on office pumping in the next few weeks. Any recs on the transition?
Added complication of what appears to be a dairy intolerance – my research suggests oat milk is the best sub but any additional recs welcome.
Anonymous says
Just start tapering. Cut out mid day feeds at home and redirect.
Anon in NYC says
For pumping, I always suggest a gradual approach. I cut 1 pumping session per week, so eliminating pumping took a few weeks for me.
As for nursing, I’d do the same. I’d start by cut out the nursing session that seems the least important to your son (the mid-day session for my daughter).
KateMiddletown says
Is the dairy intolerance yours or his, and is it via b-milk or have you given him dairy to eat? I’d consult your ped to see if you need allergy testing before experimenting with milk substitutes.
Cb says
Thanks! My health visitor keeps telling me he’ll grow out of it by 1 year but he seems quite sensitive to it and spits up after eating yoghurt, cheese, anything with milk in it. He also seems a bit congested afterwards. I’ve reintroduced a bit of cooked dairy to my diet (the occasional baked good made with butter) and this doesn’t have the same impact.
They don’t do allergy testing on the regular here (UK) but I’ll push with the doctor.
lawsuited says
+1 Check that he has a milk allergy. Most kids take some time to adjust to cow’s milk and then go on to enjoy it without a problem.
Knope says
This might not be the answer you want to hear, but if he has a dairy intolerance, I think you need to up the amount of fat he is eating in his solid foods before transitioning off of pumped milk. Oat milk simply doesn’t have the fat that kids need – it’s not an equivalent to dairy. If you currently do bottles in between meals, I would recommend replacing the bottles with high-fat snacks – avocado, coconut yogurt, foods cooked in olive oil, that sort of thing. If bottles are aligned with meals, make sure you are giving them AFTER the meal. Add fat to the meals and provide a sippy cup during the meal (this could be oat milk if you are providing enough fat otherwise).
I would aim to get him off of bottles completely during this – my pediatrician recommended no bottles after 15 months because it can interfere with teeth/palate development.
Good luck!
Anon in NYC says
That’s a good point about upping the fat in his diet. Perhaps you can speak with his pediatrician about vegan diets – our doc said that kids don’t “need” cows milk but the fat is important for brain development, so s/he may have good ideas for foods to add to his diet. Plus you’ll also need to find ways to add calcium to his diet.
I have heard good things about hemp milk and goats milk (if he can tolerate those) as alternative sources of dairy.
Cb says
Thanks, that’s really helpful! We’re mostly veggie at home and he does have a strong pref for vegetables and fruit so I am worried that his fat consumption in the absence of dairy is quite low. I’ve been trying to add nut butters, tahini, salmon, etc and add fats with olive oil. He loves coconut yoghurt and would happily eat it but unfortunately he spits it up as well.
I’m not in a massive hurry to make the switch but have heard the same thing about bottles so I’ll investigate with the doctor.
Aly says
I also make sauces and dips for my kid. She loves dipping anything (even her fingers) in a tahini dressing or peanut sauce. We do whipping cream as a treat with fruit, but since you are dairy free maybe you could do a coconut whipping cream?
J says
If you’re willing to do fish, at that age our kiddo really liked salmon salad. I’d usually mix leftover salmon, diced onion, and diced celery and then use mayo as the dressing. Maybe some salt and pepper to taste, but I really limited salt at that age, and the mayo has plenty. If you use full fat mayo, there’s a lot of fat there for you. The salmon provides great fat, too. I’d serve it open face on some bread or a cracker, but she just spooned it. It’s best if it can sit in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving. You could use canned, it’ll just be more watery.
GCA says
Good point about increasing the fat. My kiddo isn’t dairy-intolerant or lactose-intolerant, but was/ is just not the greatest fan of cow’s milk; in its absence we’ve added all of the above, plus other calcium-rich foods like broccoli, fortified soy milk, tofu and sardines (most of those are pretty decent sources of fat and protein too).
We also transitioned from bottles to sippy cups around 13ish months, and then at home when he got older, started using old 4oz baby food jars as teeny tiny drinking glasses…
On the pumping, I was down to 1 session per day at that age, then started pumping only to relieve engorgement and/ or provide enough breastmilk to put in the daycare sippy cup. Somehow my body adjusted to nursing only at home – we finally weaned completely at 19-20 months.
Anonymous says
Our ped was the same way. Our pediatric dentist is much more lenient. We got down to just am/pm nursing around 16-18 months, but kiddo wouldn’t accept pumped milk out of anything but a bottle. Dentist said not to worry about it. He doesn’t get too concerned about these “habits” until closer to 3.
mascot says
I used the Dr. Browns dishwasher basket to clean the bottles- it has slots for all the little parts. I didn’t bother with bottle sterilization.
Anonymous says
I ran everything through the dishwasher and never had any issues. Bottles, pump parts, etc.
CPA Lady says
Same. I think I sterilized everything once out of the packaging. After that it all went in the dishwasher in those dr. brown baskets. I boiled her pacifiers every so often.
Anonymous says
I don’t understand why a microwave would be a safer than a dishwasher. Especially if your dishwasher has a “sanitize” (hot) setting, isn’t it going to get things cleaner than the microwave?
Anyway, from the time I went back to work when my daughter was 3 months I only ran bottles and pump parts through the dishwasher and never had any issues. The hospital told me I could just wash everything with hot soapy water, which a dishwasher can definitely do.
anon says
I did the same. My LC told me there’s no added benefit to sterilizing bottles if you are washing them with soap and warm water anyway.
AIMS says
I just use soap and water and boiling hot water as needed. That I just pour into a big bowl or pot. I actually just keep a big enamel pot with a lid on my stove for just doing that and storing all the random little bits. It’s easy and seems to work just fine.
KateMiddletown says
this is a great idea! my dutch oven sits on the stove all the time for convenience sake, but i love the idea of using it as a storage/boiling container.
Anonymous says
Can anyone recommend a good OB/GYN in DC? I live in National Harbor and work downtown, so it really needs to be downtown. (I know there’s that great women’s health practice in Arlington, but that’s just not doable.) Thanks!
rosie says
Are you looking for an OB (& do you have a preference for delivery hospital)? I really liked Peterson @ Reiter Hill (office at 19th & L), but delivery at Sibley might not be convenient for you from National Harbor.
Anonymous says
I’m currently using the GW OB practice and I like it. FWIW I thought Reiter Hill was fine for regular Gyn appointments, but was really unhappy there when I got pregnant.
AnonMom says
Are you on dcurbanmoms.com? I mean, it’s not always a kind forum like this one, but you can find out EVERYTHING you’d ever want to know searching their archives. I was happy with RH and it’s the OB that delivered a lot of my BigLaw friends’ kids. Also had a friend that went with the midwives at GW.
Anonymous says
Ok, so this is my 3rd baby but i have blocked this part of my last baby’s life from my head. What do babies in the 2-6 month timeframe do when they are not eating, sleeping or pooping? About how much of the day is that?
I’m trying to decide what kind of childcare I’ll need as I dip my toe back into work. I make my own hours and don’t often need to be on the phone with clients, so to some extent I can work around the baby’s schedule.
Once she’s ~6 months I’ll be ramping back up to the point I’ll get full time care but until then I’m going to flex my hours, reduce my work, and fill with babysitters/family as needed.
FWIW I know this is totally kid dependent- I also know that my second screamed when not being held and never slept. But it’s looking like my 3rd is more like my 1st- chill, sleepy, happy. I just totally forget when they stop sleeping all day!
Anon in NYC says
My daughter was still taking 3 naps a day until around 4 months, so it didn’t leave a ton of time for activities. If I recall correctly, we usually had a window in the late morning and then again mid afternoon for errands/activities. Besides errands that I needed to run (which were an activity for her), I usually read books, we did tummy time, and I talked to her. Usually by around 6 months they can sit up (either supported or not), so that opens up the toy/activity options.
Anonymous says
Play on a playmat, go for walks in a stroller or carrier, sit in a swing or bouncer seat?
My 5 month old sleeps about 16 hours and is awake about 8, but her awake time is very concentrated in the evenings. She’s usually awake from about 4-9 pm, sometimes with a very short (30 minute) nap in the middle. I work 8-4 and she usually sleeps for about 4-5 hours of the 8 that I’m gone. DH is home with her full-time at the moment (he’s a professor) and has been getting a ton of work done while she naps or plays on her activity mat. Caveat is that she’s a super chill baby who pretty much only cries when she’s very hungry or hurt and doesn’t need to be held (she doesn’t even seem to LIKE being held and prefers to lie in her crib or mat and have “conversations” with us).
lawsuited says
At 2-3 months, my LO was still on an eat-sleep-eat-sleep cycle with 4+ naps during the day so activities were walks in the stroller/carrier between feeds. At 4 months he started sitting up and we introduced solid food, so his schedule was punctuated by meals at 7am, noon, 7pm with play time on his play mat, awake walks in the stroller and 3 naps during the day in the carrier or on a caregiver (4 month sleep regression y’all). At 6 months he went down to 2 naps a day so he had much more awake time during the day and he started crawling so needed A LOT more supervision at that point.
Anon says
We’re just coming out of that time frame now. My baby took 3-4 naps a day up until about 6 months, when we transitioned to 2. She had to be held for most of her naps until about 3-4 months old. In between naps and nursing sessions, we mostly played with toys, went for walks, and ran errands. My 2-3 month old was pretty content to just sit and be held or shake one rattle around for 30 minutes, but by 5 months, the entertainment factor/need for stimulation had increased quite a bit.
Anon says
Hi ladies, I have a doctor’s appointment with my OB/GYN tomorrow but I’m hoping to see if others have gone through this so that my worrying can subside a bit. I miscarried in April. It didn’t happen naturally so after waiting a few weeks, I took the pill rather than D&C. I went in for a check in a couple weeks after that and other than some residual blood in my uterus, everything looked fine and my doctor said to wait one full cycle before trying again. I got my period in June, ovulated (based on the OPK) and then had my period in July (last week) but I took a pregnancy test yesterday out of curiosity to make sure I didn’t have any HCG in my body and it seems like I still do since I got a positive. And then I retook it later in the day and got a positive again. I know people can get pregnant immediately after a miscarriage but I don’t really think I am since I’ve only had protected sex (I didn’t want to fully try until after two cycles since I wanted to make sure by body was back to normal (whatever that means)). Plus, I just had my period last week. So I really think this is just residual HCG in my body from the miscarriage. Otherwise, I’m worried it’s something else like a cyst or HCG that I will need to do a D&C, which will further delay when we can try again. I’m suppose to ovulate starting next week (based on my cycle) so I’m just wondering if you can still ovulate and try to get pregnant even though there is HCG in my body. Anyone else go through something similar?
Anonymous says
Sorry but you need to wait until tmrw.
OP says
Thank you. I know, I really just need to talk to my doctor and just focus on work today instead of just driving myself nuts thinking about this.
Anonymous says
First, I’m so sorry for your miscarriage – it is never easy.
I didn’t have anything exactly like this but I’m surprised they didn’t do a blood test to confirm your HCG levels were down when they did the U/S to check that the miscarriage was complete. I’d suggest asking your OB to confirm you HCG levels now if they don’t anyway given your current situation.
OP says
Thank you, I know this is definitely not easy and harder than I thought it’d be. I believe they are going to do a blood test tomorrow so hopefully that’ll give me more info. I think they thought the U/S was clear enough and my doctor seemed fine with me trying after one cycle so hopefully it’s all just fine and I was just freaking myself out by taking a pregnancy test for no real reason other than out of some weird curiosity.
rosie says
Sorry for your loss. I had residual material after a loss that just took a long time to fully be gone. I think it’s somewhat unusual, but I did get a period when my HCG was still elevated (I was under the care of an RE and was having my HCG levels monitored). I would suggest a few blood tests to see what is going on, maybe your dr will also recommend an ultrasound.
rosie says
Also, I think that recommendations vary as to trying again and there may not be super evidence-based advice here, so see what your dr says, but asks whatever questions you need to understand their recommendation.
Anonymous says
Sorry for your loss as well. And thank you for sharing your story. I know there’s no set standard of your body being “normal” but appreciate hearing what others have gone through. And yeah, I’ve heard different recommendations on when to start trying again but my doctor said waiting 1 cycle was fine. And yes, I believe they are going to do some blood work tomorrow to see what is going on so hopefully that’ll give me some answers and they said they’d recommend a path from there. I really hope I’m just worrying about nothing.
rosie says
I found it was a lot of hurry up and wait. You will need multiple HCG data points to see if you’re going up or down and how quickly. My RE offered a saline sonogram as another way to see what was going on that might help move things along as well, but I did not end up doing it. FWIW, I had been 11w pregnant and that is about how long it took, or maybe a little longer, for things to return to normal (physically). Hugs. It’s hard.
anon says
FYI – I think HCG can turn an ovulation prediction stick positive, so last month’s OPKs may not be accurate as to whether you ovulated.
Anon for Now says
My just turned one year old is having surgery this week and will require a one night hospital stay. It is laparoscopic and it is estimated he will be under general for 3-4ish hours. We will be at a pretty major medical center but not the children’s hospital (they didn’t have the right equipment for the surgery).
I’ll be spending the night with him and am working on a packing list for us. So far I have pump and parts, cooler, bottles, pacifiers, spare clothes that I can sleep in, super basic toiletries, diapers and wipes, kindle and phone plus chargers, PJs for him and clothes for him to wear home that should work with his incisions.
Anyone have any experience ? Or advice? He should be pretty tired afterward right? Should I bring a few toys to entertain him with? Or not necessary? He doesn’t really have a comfort object (other than my boobs).
J says
Oh man, internet hugs and best wishes. If it were me, I’d check out the pump situation at the hospital – can you use their hospital grade equipment? If so, in your son’s room? Understand if you’d rather just use what is familiar, of course. But I’d probably investigate so as to pack a few less things. But still remember your cooler and storage containers of choice. Or maybe they can refrigerate it? For kiddo, maybe a few board books and pictures of family members to look at?
An says
This is a great idea.
Anonymous says
I have no experience with surgery, just hospitalization. You are wise to bring diapers and wipes–when my child was unexpectedly hospitalized, the hospital did not provide diapers and we went through a mad scramble to obtain some. You might also like to have earplugs, a sleep mask, and layers of clothing (long PJ pants or sweatpants, t-shirt, socks, sweatshirt) to make sleeping in the fold-out chair more tolerable.
Our hospital expected the parent to remain in the room supervising the child at all times, which made it impossible to get coffee, eat a meal other than the provided “guest tray,” shower, or just get some fresh air. It is very draining to be stuck in the hospital room 24/7. If possible, plan for someone else to come relieve you for an hour first thing in the morning so you can grab coffee and breakfast, maybe step outside to see the sunshine, and freshen up. Be prepared to wait around for a long time during the discharge process.
Hugs and best wishes that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
octagon says
Be prepared for total confusion and anger as he comes out of anesthesia. Lasts about 30 minutes, but he may be completely confused and inconsolable.
This might be a good time to get a few new board books or toys. Also, if you have string lights, you could hang them up in the hospital room to look at, especially if they twinkle. (bonus that it will let you turn the overhead lights in the room off — they can be really bright). Good luck!
Betty says
My son was older than your child, but he has been under general anesthesia twice. Are you planning on or have you thought about whether you want to be with your child when he goes under general anesthesia? Our hospital allowed me to be with him (just one parent), and I held him as they knocked him out. I’m glad I was there both times, but it was really hard. The anesthesiologist prepared me well for what would happen, and nonetheless I nearly passed out walking out of the room.
During the surgery, have you thought about what you are going to do during the 3-4 hours? If you are someone who can totally zone into work, that can be a really effective distraction. Or maybe watching a funny movie on your phone/ipad.
I would ask the anesthesiologist what to expect when your child wakes up. It can be very confusing, and I echo that they can be totally out of control as they emerge. Ask whether there is a way you can hold your child when he wakes up. If he is in a crib, you can ask for a full hospital bed that you can sit in as well. After my son woke up both times, he was really groggy for the rest of the day but also really hungry (he had to fast before each procedure). He didn’t require much in the way of entertainment, but bringing a few toys is a great idea. Also, if there is any chance that your kiddo may be in pain after you get home, ask for the prescription now and have someone pick it up before you get home.
Also, don’t forget to take care of yourself! Don’t be surprised if you are exhausted for a few days after, both from not getting great sleep at the hospital and from the emotional hangover piece. Hang in there!!
BC says
My son was only a few months old when he had to go under general, but at the hospital we were at (not a children’s hospital) treated us as VIPs as the parents of an infant patient. I was so stressed out that I didn’t quite realize it at the time, but I think the staff would have done practically anything we asked. So don’t be afraid to ask for what you need, even if it is only for your own comfort.
Anonymous says
That’s a good point. One of those things is food – they have soup/juice/crackers/soda on the floor somewhere, and would likely happily give you some. Probably toiletries if you forget anything, too. And pillows and blankets to make nighttime more comfortable.
rosie says
My baby was younger when we had an overnight (and it was a children’s hospital), but I got a voucher to get a hospital meal since I was pumping.
Anon for Now says
Thanks all, these are great. I’ve added some toys and books to my list. I don’t know that I’ll be in a great mindset for work, but I’ll put some new books on my kindle. I assumed I’d be with him when they put him under anesthesia but didn’t know about the fear, etc. coming out of it. Good questions for the doctor.
I know it is a low risk surgery but man I am getting freaked.
NewMomAnon says
A friend who spent several overnights in the hospital with her kiddo mentioned once that she totally forgot to pack for herself – you will also want your own pj’s, slippers, change of clothes, toiletries, and maybe a pillow/blanket, as well as phone charger. Ask whether the room will have a bed you can share with kiddo, or if you’ll be parked in a recliner. I would also bring snacks because I am not my best self when hungry.
And kiddo may be really groggy and/or sleepy; it may be intensely boring and lonely for you (crossed fingers that it’s boring, actually). See if a friend or four can be available via text (rather than a loud phone call) for chatting with you while kiddo is sleeping, with the understanding that you may not feel like reaching out to them. Hugs!
J says
Snacks are such a good idea.
KateMiddletown says
On bottles – what’s the best way to find out what kind your baby will take? I know people register for full sets, but my oldest didn’t take most of them well and we ended up using playtex drop-ins with the brown nipple. I have a few freebie singles of different brands – should I just try them all and see what takes?
Knope says
Yes, try and see what works, but stick with one kind for at least a few days even if the baby refuses to see if it’s a “this bottle” problem or a “this isn’t a boob!” problem.
Cb says
I bought one of lots until I found ones he would take (Dr Browns and NUK latex). Ask around your friends who’ve recently had babies – I bet loads of them have purchased multipacks that their babies rejected. I gave all my rejected Medela and Tommee Tippees to a friend.
Anon says
Dr Browns is so good, I wouldn’t really try anything else. Yeah, just get one or two until you know baby will take it.
lawsuited says
I purchased many, many of the Born Free Breeze bottles before my LO was born because I liked their 2-piece design best. My son didn’t take to them immediately, so I bought a couple of Dr. Brown’s bottles to get him used to a silicone nipple and then transitioned him to the Born Free bottles I already had.
The best advice I got from other moms was to use a variety of bottles so your LO doesn’t develop a preference, so I continued to use the Dr. Brown’s as well as Philips Avent ones from time to time.
NewMomAnon says
Or! You might be really lucky. We registered for the Avent bottles and it was the only kind kiddo ever used until she switched to sippy cups (which she greatly preferred).
Anonymous says
Has anyone taught a toddler/preschooler a foreign language that isn’t a native language of one of the parents? DH and I aren’t fluent in any foreign language, but I would love my daughter to be and we live in a college town so there are a lot of native speakers of other languages available for this sort of thing at a relatively affordable price. If you’ve done this, did you think it was worth it? What age did you start?
Anonymous says
So the idea would be private language lessons? Or would you get babysitters and specify you’d like them to interact with your child in the target language instead of English? Or would you look at a language school geared toward a particular cultural community (I’m thinking of Chinese, Polish, Hebrew, etc schools that are common in some metro areas). There are a lot of options, but I think it’s very difficult to achieve true fluency without a consistent immersion environment.
My husband and I are monolingual, but we had a Spanish-speaking nanny, and later sent our children to a Spanish-only in home daycare. About half of the children there had at least one native Spanish-speaking parent, but all the kids generally spoke to each other in English despite the care providers using only Spanish. Our current center is not explicitly Spanish-speaking, but many of the teachers are native Spanish speakers and they teach the kids basic words and nursery rhymes. My kids have great (to my ears, at least) Spanish pronunciation and know many songs, how to count, colors, etc, but I’m pretty sure they are not conversationally fluent. They probably understand Spanish pretty well, as the teachers talk among themselves in Spanish frequently. We have friends who are native French speakers, and my kids (and I) understand a decent amount of French, but nearly always respond in English. Their kids play with my kids in English, but the parents talk to the kids in French.
If you live in a diverse area, there are probably language-specific events for kids. I know my local library has story hours in multiple languages, and there are community events geared toward specific cultural communities where the primary language is not English. I’d check out those types of things before jumping into classes.
Anon in NYC says
Not exactly the same thing, but my daughter is in a foreign language immersion preschool right now and I love it. So much so that I’m considering trying to find a foreign language pre-k/k/elementary school program for her. If that doesn’t work out, I think I will definitely be hiring someone or enrolling her in foreign language classes. DH and I do not speak this language, but we have relatives that do (although not a daily presence)
In terms of the structure of the school, I would say that roughly half of their day is in the foreign language – like circle time is entirely in the other language, and a lot of their instruction is a mix between English and not. My daughter started her program at 2 and now at 3 it seems like she really understands her teacher when the teacher speaks to her. She is able to respond to questions, follow directions, etc. She will often respond in English first, but when prompted can respond in the foreign language. I catch her singing nursery rhymes in this other language, and sometimes she asks me for help in the other language. I think at this age it’s important to keep it “fun” rather than overly school-like. So, songs, or learning about colors by playing games, etc. If we don’t put her in a foreign language immersion elementary school, I might consider taking lessons with her so it is a joint activity.
lawsuited says
Put your kid in a diverse daycare/preschool/school and this will happen on it’s own. My husband and I and our families speak nothing but English, but my LO knows more Portuguese words than English words because of the other kids at his daycare. It’s hilarious that I was worried that his language skills weren’t progressing, only to discover when talking to the daycare staff that it’s just his ENGLISH language skills that aren’t progressing :P
Anonymous says
It’s very common where I am to put kids in French immersion (Canada). But that’s because it’s a huge advantage career-wise in certain areas of Canada if you are fluent in French.
Anonymous says
Is Muzzy still a thing? Seriously, we loved that as kids.
lala says
Our kids go to Spanish immersion despite the fact that my DH and I speak very little Spanish. We love it, even though sometimes I have to google what certain words mean. There is also a lot of brain development that happens when kids learn a second language, so we see that as one of the major benefits, even if they don’t keep it forever.
I think if you are going to hire someone I would definitely do it as more play based. The come over to play with your child and speak the language. I wouldn’t push anything academic/tutoring at this age.
Anonymous says
best sneakers for preschool boy with a wide/thick arch/midfoot area? He’s rejected that last six pairs I have tried.
Anonymous says
Have him fitted at Nordstrom or Stride Rite in store.
lala says
+1 to fitted at Nordstroms. Plae ended up being the best fit for our son with the same type of foot. Keen tennis shoes work for him as well.
Anonymous says
I can see this. Keens look wide on my child, but seem to work well enough. She’s only starting to get to an age where she’d complain though. So I just have to go with whether they fall off or not to know if they really fit.
eh230 says
Not sure if you are still reading, but my preschooler has a very thick and wide foot. He can only wear Tsukihoshi tennis shoes (Keen sandals are sometimes ok). We get ours from a local kids’ shoe store, but you can also get them online. We love them! They have held up great, and are completely washable.
Fertility Doctors says
How did you all find your fertility doctors? My city only has one option available. After 2 unsuccessful IUI attempts and a 3rd round starting now, we’re starting to think about IVF.
The metropolitan city to the east {45 minutes away} has many more options for fertility doctors. My OB only has a recommendation for doctors in my city. How did you all research your doctors? Did you ask friends? How did you broach that subject?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Anonymous says
I googled “best fertility clinic NJ”, there were two options, I asked my GYN who she recommended and went with it. In part because they were also very convenient. Are you not satisfied with your current practice? 45 moms would have been unsustainable for me with daily visits.
Fertility Doctors says
I just want to make sure we have the best doctor. The fact that there is only one option close to me makes me feel a little helpless. I can do 45 minutes, my boss has been very understanding.
octagon says
Recommendations (and warnings) from friends helped me find the right doc for me.
Be aware that depending on what you need, you may have appointments weekly (or more frequently) and usually need to be there first thing in the morning.
Anonymous says
Also ask here!
Fertility Doctors says
Any Fertility Doctor recommendations in Dallas? ;)
Jeffiner says
You’re one county too far east for me :) I’m doing CARE Fertility and have to visit both the Fort Worth and Bedford offices depending on what we’re doing that day. I’ve had two failed rounds of IUI as well, but I told them to skip ahead to IVF for this cycle. They were highly recommended and are nice enough. I can’t say I love them, but I’m probably biased because I’m upset that I’m not pregnant yet.
Fertility Doctors says
Jeffiner – I am in Fort Worth! Willing to go to Dallas. The 3rd round of IUI is to buy time for researching IVF doctors. I’m at Fort Worth Fertility now.
rosie says
Recommendation from my PCP (and I am fortunate to live in an area with multiple, highly-regarded clinics that have locations close to my office–it is a lot of monitoring). You can look up clinic IVF statistics, sart [dot] org. I did not look at it before choosing my RE for IUIs, and then after 6 IUIs w/an RE I liked I was going to stay with that clinic through at least one IVF, but worth looking at as your deciding.
H13 says
What is your favorite brand of wipes? I am looking for something economical (daycare goes through a ton) and without fragrance. I’ve used Target Up and Up for years but I don’t care for them anymore.
Anonymous says
We use Pampers sensitive. No scent. I doubt they’re cheaper than Target though.
Cb says
Water Wipes. I like the feel of the Aveeno ones but they dry out so, so quickly. We use cloth diapers so tend to just use a washcloth at home but the water wipes are nice when we’re out and about.
EP-er says
If you have a Costco membership, the Kirkland brand are awesome. I always give them for shower gifts.
ANP says
Kirkland brand, available at Costco.
Em says
+1 they had a sale on them a few months ago and I bought so. many. wipes.
NewMomAnon says
These were our favorite too – soft, big, and the perfect amount of moisture.
Anon in NYC says
Honest.
AIMS says
Pampers Sensituve. Order on amazon for best price.
Anon says
+1 – if you have a BJs membership, they ALWAYS have $3-4 off coupons for their huge boxes, making it super economical.
Anonymous says
They’re cheaper at Target, especially if you have the Red Card and do a subscription (15% off).
Anon in NYC says
I was using Pampers Sensitive and thought they were great, until my daughter started reacting to them (redness and irritation). Switched back to Honest and it disappeared. Maybe pick up a single pack and see if they work for your kiddo before buying a large pack!
lawsuited says
I use the Pampers Sensitive wipes which I’ve determined are the best combination of low-fragrance, effective and economical after using Honest Co. (expensive), Water Wipes (expensive), Huggies Natural Care (ineffective), Pampers Natural Clean (ineffective), Kirkland (hard to find unscented version but otherwise good). I buy the Pampers Sensitive wipes in a 16 pack for $20 and you really can’t beat $1.25 per pack. I’m curious about the new Pampers Aqua Pure wipes but they are more costly.
Knope says
I actually prefer Huggies Natural Care on effectiveness, so YMMV!
lsw says
Kirkland for daycare, Water Wipes at home.
EP-er says
If you have a Costco membership, the Kirkland brand are awesome. I always give them for shower gifts.
Anonymous says
I’m 26 weeks and am seeing my first stretch marks. What are your tips for further prevention and treatment?
Spirograph says
This isn’t what you want to hear, but there’s not much you can do about it. Moisturize well with lotion, body butter, etc, and minimize weight gain to the extent that is healthy for you and your pregnancy. But your skin has to stretch, and some people are more prone to stretch marks than others. FWIW, they may be temporary. Nearly all of mine had faded to the point of being unnoticeable by a year PP.
J says
I used lots and lots of BioOil. My understanding is that it is largely genetic, but it was worth it just in case ;) I was very lucky on my stomach and sides, but my butt (which is very prone to stretch marks) didn’t fare as well. I got some on my upper thighs and was very pleased with how they faded. The ones I really didn’t see coming were on my b00bs. They didn’t even become visible or materialize until kiddo was weaning from BF’ing. But since they’re usually covered and small, I’m not too concerned (the b00bs and the marks). I would often follow the BioOil with a Palmer’s chaser. It actually helped it absorb better.
Anon says
I have a lot of stretch marks from teenage growth spurts/puberty weight gain and loss, so I figured I’d get a ton from pregnancy as well but wanted to minimize if I could. I used Josie Maran whipped argon oil every day from about 4 months on, belly only in the morning and head to toe at night. It was $$$ but figured I was pregnant and was allowed to pamper myself. It was so rich, indulgent and self-care-ish and I didn’t get a single stretch mark to boot. Who knows if that’s from the cream or genetics or whatever, but it’s a great moisturizer anyway and I highly recommend. QVC has the best price, of all places, and one tub lasted me about a month.
Anonymous says
I’ve always thought it was interesting that people say they’re genetic because my mom got a ton and I got a ton on my thighs and butt during puberty/freshman 15 but when I was actually pregnant I got none. I slathered myself in Best Nest Mama Belly Butter and I didn’t gain much weight (and gained nothing in the third tri when stretch marks normally appear). Baby was a chunskter despite my low weight gain.
Anon says
Apparently younger skin is more prone to stretch marks. I also got them in puberty but not while pregnant in my late 30s and my OB said older skin is more elastic. That seems totally counterintuitive but I know several others with the same story.
ElisaR says
my older skin feels very elastic lately so that makes sense….(sorry that made me chuckle)
KateMiddletown says
I used something super fancy last time around, but I’m currently obsessed with Palmer’s stretch mark massage lotion. It’s cheap and smells great and absorbs really nicely.
anon says
I used the Honest Co Belly Balm and got no stretch marks. I also cut out added sugar and tried to eat lots of foods with collagen. Also I think i’m just lucky (I was 33 FWIW)
Anonymous says
Try the L’Occitane 100% Shea Butter, but also try to prepare yourself for the likelihood that stretch will be unavoidable for you. They are largely genetic so can’t be helped, but they do fade and won’t be noticeable for ever.
CPA Lady says
What do you do when your life is pretty good all around, very stable and comfortable, but you just want to have fun adventures?
Rationally I know I’m just bored and I’m not going to do anything stupid. But what are some small interesting things I can do as the 75% solo parent of a 3 year old? Is this a ludicrous thing to be even asking?
NewMomAnon says
Lol. Give kiddo a squirt gun of paint inside the house? That’s an adventure!
But for real – I’ve taken kiddo on a number of overnight adventures – camping, staying at a friend’s house, staying at grandma and grandpa’s house, a short B&B stay, etc. I’ve also made it a point to do one “new” thing each weekend (new to me, at least). That means I have to look for new things, even if it’s as simple as a new exhibit at the local art museum or a fire fighter’s museum or a new indoor playground.
And I took an online class through a local art school. I would like to take another but I don’t have capacity right now. It stretched me in ways I hadn’t expected.
Anonymous says
Travel? I took a solo trip to Europe with my 2.5 year old and it was surprisingly fun. We went to visit a friend of mine so I had childcare help (she and her BF love kids but don’t have any) and we didn’t really do that much, but I got to eat good food, drink good wine, hang out with my one of my best friends and spend some quality time with my kiddo exploring a new place.
anne-on says
Is there a gym by you that offers ‘fun’ or unusual classes? I took my then 3-yr old rock climbing on an ‘I need to get of of the house this winter or I will lose my mind’ trip and we both really enjoyed it! I’m also trying aerial yoga for a friend’s bridal shower activity and really looking forward to it!
Otherwise – what about a small but challenging new hobby? Hand sewing? Music lessons? Foreign language? I’ve promised myself music/voice lessons as soon as kiddo is older and I have more free time.
Anon in NYC says
Do you want to do it solo or with your kid? For things with kiddo, I find that when I’m solo parenting that it’s really fun to break out of my routine. Take kiddo out to a restaurant for dinner, try a new playground, buy relatively inexpensive but fun toys (bubble machine, water table, sidewalk chalk), go to a kids theater/music/art performance, have a playdate, etc.
Spirograph says
If it’s ludicrous, I’m there with you. With all the caveats that I’m not trying to be insensitive, I have definitely been a little jealous of divorced friends with joint custody because they get to have “off” nights and weekends with fun adult things!
My advice:
Take your kid to things that are fun for you. Bring snacks, and mentally prepare yourself that you’ll need to cut off earlier than you would like, but you can definitely bring a 3 year old to museums, wineries, festivals, and anything else you’d like.
Take your kid on day or weekend trips. I recently took all 3 of mine by myself on a long drive to visit family a few states away for the weekend. I’m not saying it all went smoothly, but it actually felt really good to just do something I wanted to do and drag them along and make it happen. My husband got the weekend to himself, so that was a win-win.
Which brings me to a suggestion I adapted from shared custody arrangements: Schedule off nights and weekend for yourself. My husband and I have started doing this and it’s pretty helpful. It’s nice to have free time you can make decisions about, not just “I need to do XYZ at this day and time, so you’re in charge of the kids.” On Tuesday nights, I can just do whatever after work. I can work late, I can go to the gym on my way home, I can meet friends for drinks or dinner, I can go home and have dinner with the family, whatever. It’s my choice, and it helps me feel less trapped and bored by my family and responsibilities. On Thursdays my husband gets the same deal.
NewMomAnon says
I 100% agree with this. Shared custody means I get time to recharge and do adult things, and I often suggest that married couples arrange some similar blocks of “time off.”
The flipside of it though is that when I’m on, I’m 100% on; there is nobody to entertain kiddo while I cook dinner, nobody to clean up afterward while I play with kiddo, and nobody to throw in a load of laundry while I put kiddo to bed. So it can be exhausting. Just a small word of warning.
H13 says
+1 to a new kind of class. I have been taking a dance class once a week that has had an incredibly positive effect on my mood. I’ve also done online art classes which are low cost, portable, and fun. I did mine through Creative Bug. The art classes are easy to do for an hour after kids are in bed.
I’m really digging Spirograph’s idea for a scheduled night off. I often feel like I “use up” my claim to time away from the family for early morning or evening work obligations or my dance class (which is ridiculous, I know). I like the idea of a standing chunk of time to myself and my husband having the same.
anon says
I like to take a quick trip. Even if it’s just for an overnight to the city 3 hours away, it is something out of our normal routine. We did one of these a couple months ago with our 3.5 year old and it was really fun. We do have some good friends who live there so we hung out a lot with them, but even if we hadn’t, it’s just fun being somewhere different, if only for 30 hours. And I’d totally do something like that with just my son, if DH couldn’t go.
SC says
It’s not the same as actually going on an adventure, but I find that reading, doing puzzles or crosswords, and other stuff that makes me use my brain keeps me from getting bored and restless. TV definitely gives me that feeling of “I gotta get outta here.”
If you have a hobby, you could set a challenging goal. I enjoy baking, and I’ve challenged myself with some big (for me) projects this year–a fancy birthday cake for MIL, and a gluten-free, dairy-free cake for a family gathering.
And, sure, take Kiddo to different events around town or take some short trips.
Weekly Kid Appointment says
DH and I are going to hire someone to drive my son to his weekly OT appointments this fall. Logistically, there is just no way that we can go from our places of employment (30-45 minutes away from his school) to his school and back to the OT place (which is close to where we work) every week by 4pm. The only reasonable way to get from his school to the OT place is on the interstate. I’ve used care dot com before to hire a nanny/sitter, so I know that it comes with a ton of work re: screening, interviewing, etc. Adding in the logistics of finding a good driver makes this task feel even more onerous than it generally is. There is also a nanny service in our area that — for a steep price — will help you find a nanny/babysitter, including someone for as few as 8 hours per week. Even though the nanny service is pricey, I’m leaning towards paying the money for the help in finding someone reliable. Have any of you hired a nanny/babysitter who will do a lot of driving? Or have another approach/solution to weekly kid appointments?
Anonymous says
Honestly nearly all adults are capable of this
Em says
Couldn’t you find someone you trust as a nanny/babysitter and require a background check, including driving violations? Consider verifying insurance coverage, as well.
Anonymous says
I would want someone who’s 22+ (I just don’t trust college-age people to drive safely), can pass a background check and could provide proof of insurance. If they would be driving my vehicle, I’d also check with my own insurance agent about whether we needed additional coverage.
avocado says
We used a nanny service to hire sitters who would drive. They handled the background checks, including driving records, and verified auto insurance coverage. We had some issues with the minimum hours required by the service, which were much greater than the coverage we actually needed.
Anonymous says
A driving nanny is the solution that worked for us and not just for medical things but for all activities.
Definitely agree that the person needs to be older. (I don’t even let college-aged nannies take my kids on freeways. They may be good drivers but they are young and lack experience and maturity to make me comfortable.)
Also, consider the vehicle. If you can swing letting them use YOUR car that would be ideal. We have made this happen because one of us has been able to work from home, so nanny comes to our house, gets our car, and gets kid from place to place. That way I know it’s a safe car and the carseats are installed properly. Check with your insurance agent to make sure you don’t need additional coverage.
If that’s not an option, I would screen based on the type of car they would be driving. This is awful in many ways I realize but it’s what it takes for me to feel like my kids are safe.
anon says
A friend did this for their kid for therapy and had the best luck crowd sourcing it on facebook – lots of older family friends or people are willing to pick up a couple of hours here or there for something to do.
KateMiddletown says
Looks like Honest Baby is 45% off on Pr!me day w/ a coupon, for those who were talking about the wipes earlier
ifiknew says
what kind of sippy cup should I be transitioning my daughter to? She drinks water out of sippy cups, but milk is still in bottles lying down.. what are your favorite brands? Thanks in advance!
Anon in NYC says
We tried to jump straight to the Munchkin 360 cups at 6 months old and that didn’t work. Instead we used a soft spouted cup for a little while (Munchkin brand, I think). It seemed like a nice in between from a bottle to a straw cup or a “real” cup. Once we realized that she could suck liquids through a straw (principally because she ate fruit pouches without any help), we switched her to a straw cup. We currently use the Thermos straw cups. They have an insulated one that we use for milk.
rosie says
My 14-mo will drink water out of anything (take n toss, 360, straw, my camelback bottle, etc) but is particular about milk. We started using the Philips Avent sippy cups (they have a soft spout & handles) only for milk and that’s been successful so far.
J says
We had the best luck with the Tupperware tumbler and lid sets. They’re hard, so the opposite of the conventional choice, but some of the soft, starter ones are actually pretty difficult to get liquid out of.
anon says
I would recommend more of a sippy cup at first, but I really like these for transitioning to an actual cup:
https://www.oxo.com/products/baby-toddler/on-the-go/oxo-tot-transitions-open-cup-trainer#tot-navy
I personally am not a fan of the straw cups simply because it’s more pieces to wash, but some kids really like them so YMMV.
Anonymous says
She actually drinks great from a Munchkin 360 cup (water), so should I use that for milk too?
Anonymous says
You can totally put milk in a 360 cup!
ifiknew says
oops that was me, OP above
anon says
How much do you spend on kids’ everyday shoes? I’m talking about the main pair of shoes that they wear to school and/or daycare. My kids are typically wearing out their shoes before they outgrow them, and I’m not buying cheap stuff. I’d say I’m spending around $40-50 per pair on my elementary school kid and $30-40 on my preschooler. Maybe my kids are just ridiculously hard on shoes, but even my son’s 2-month-old Keens look sad and worn. But he blows through the cheaper stuff even quicker, so I don’t know what the answer is! Just resign myself to buying everyday shoes once a quarter? Have them rotate between pairs? Buy cheaper and replace more often?
H13 says
I feel your pain. Honestly, I have come to terms with buying shoes frequently. My 5 year old just wears them out completely. I have tried buying cheaper ones but he goes through those in 3-4 WEEKS. The best I’ve found are something with a leather toe cap and solid sole. I found a pair of mostly leather Stride Rite and they have lasted us six months which is a new record. I think they are the SR Prescott sneaker.
NewMomAnon says
Do you rotate the shoes? I make kiddo give her shoes a day off between wears, so we alternate between two pairs. It lets the shoes dry out thoroughly between wears. They still look rough, but I guess I don’t care whether her play shoes look pristine.
KateMiddletown says
+1. My daughter (8), a shoe lover admittedly, has about 5-8 pairs that fit her right now, including impractical fancy shoes that shes been gifted and tries to sneak into her school uniform lineup. She wears black maryjanes or sneakers every day for school, and for the mary janes I’ve bought Cat + Jack from target ($20) and end up buying two a year. Sneakers two a year, too, typically Skechers ($30-40). Since she’s not a little kid running around all the time, we definitely get longer wear, but anything I’ve purchased at target looks like garbage within a month or so.
anon says
I probably should, but it becomes another wardrobe battle to fight, especially with my daughter. (Who is way more into clothes than her mama, that’s for sure.)
NewMomAnon says
Do you rotate the shoes? I make kiddo give her shoes a day off between wears, so we alternate between two pairs. It lets the shoes dry out thoroughly between wears. They still look rough, but I guess I don’t care whether her play shoes look pristine.
Anonymous says
I spend a lot because I have fussy feet so I know the importance of quality shoes, but my kids have 1 pair of shoes per season (we live in California so it’s basically 6 months of tennis shoes and 6 months of sandals…years we go to the show I look for hand-me-down boots).
Keens ($50) last us over a year – if their feet don’t grow we have even handed them down so used them for over 2 years, and I wouldn’t say my kids are gentle on their shoes. But that doesn’t mean they look nice, just that I don’t really care so long as they fit and stay on.
For tennis shoes we used Stride Rite until they reached early-mid elementary and then found a fancy pair of Nikes ($80 but they have lasted a year and they look so nice).
If my kids wore out shoes as fast as yours seem to, I would double down on my strategy and just make sure to look for sales on quality shoes because I would hate to buy even more frequently (Nordstrom is my favorite because you can buy ahead when there is a sale and return if they don’t end up working out.)
J says
$40-50. Kiddo usually has a pair of sneakers (usually Nikes), a pair of Keens for winter that are more waterproof but still sneakers, and a pair of sandals (Skechers or Keens in the past, Keens right now). I think it helps that we use different sneakers in the summer and winter. Other stuff is cheaper, like Target or Old Navy (dress shoes, some cute slip-ons, fashion and winter boots).
J says
I’d check into the warranty of some of the nicer brands. I want to say that when we bought our latest Keen sandals, the woman mentioned something about it. But I could be dreaming.
Anon in NYC says
I sort of feel like unless my kids shoes have holes in them or she’s outgrown them, they’re good to wear even if they look sad and worn. But all of my kids’ shoes cost around $35-45. I think that’s just what they cost now. I do try to price shop a bit, or buy ahead when there’s a sale, but my kid will only wear one brand of shoe so I’m sort of stuck.
Spirograph says
This is me, too. I do save my older kids’ outgrown-but-not destroyed shoes to use as backups for younger siblings, but generally I buy each kid one new pair of shoes every time the old ones become unwearable. My daughter has a pair of “church shoes” too because it was too ridiculous for her to wear her giant sneakers with her pretty dresses, but my sons don’t have dress shoes. (I bring my daughter’s sneakers to church in my purse so she can climb more safely on the playground afterward.) They all also have a pair of water shoes and/or flip-flops for summer, and boots for winter.
Flip flops were ~$5, water shoes in the neighborhood of $15, sneakers and boots $40-60. Dress shoes are from H&M and <$20.
My kids (especially my oldest) are ROUGH on their shoes, but their feet are also growing really fast so it's about 50/50 whether they fall apart before they're outgrown, but usually they last about 6 months
lala says
My son similarly wears out his shoes and Plae has been the answer for us. It’s the first pair of shoes that has lasted more than 4 months, so I am really excited about them. He now has a sandal and tennis shoe pair that he rotates for the summer, so maybe that is helping the longevity?
I think they tend to be $40-$60 per pair, but it’s worth it to me for them to have well fitted shoes that last.
Anonymous says
For a Keen type sandal or good brand running shoe, I find they don’t last beyond two seasons max if they are getting heavy everyday wear. Youngest kid has the hardest feet to fit – wide arch or thick midfoot area so I’d be happy if I can just find anything to fit, regardless of the cost.