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When my husband and I decided to send my son to daycare, I knew I would have to label his clothes. For the baby stages, I found that he went through at least one outfit change a day, and now that he’s practicing feeding himself I’ve noticed he’s more frequently coming home in a different shirt than the one I dropped him off in. To their credit, our daycare is very good at keeping everyone’s belongings straight, but it still helps to have everything labeled. I ordered these and have used them from the very beginning with no complaints. They’re very sticky, haven’t fallen off with multiple washings, and stick to both the clothing fabric itself and the tag of the clothes. In a pinch, I also used them to label sippy cups, and they’ve gone through the dishwasher and are still stuck tight! The labels are $9.24/pack at Amazon ($13.60 for two) and are eligible for Prime. Avery No-Iron Clothing Labels 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!
Poochy says
What are your favorite tummy-control underwear? I’m three months pp and my clothes all fit, but I’d like something to flatten my stomach a little for when I wear my sheath dresses to work.
Anonanonanon says
I just go with good ol’ classic Spanx. I tried high-waisted tummy control underwear, but it controlled everything so well it made my “uncontrolled” hips look HUGE. Plus, it would kind of dig in to my inner thighs. So, I prefer Spanx with hip/thigh control as well.
BPS says
+1 – I wore Spanx. Needed them for the hips/thigh/butt/stomach area.
Anonymous says
I used Spanx, too. Splurged on a fairly nice pair instead of getting the Target brand (which is so much less comfortable). But, I also used my Bella Band knock-off for this, too. It didn’t suck things in, but it did help smooth things out under my shirts without having another layer to deal with when pumping. I actually used it way more postpartum than during pregnancy.
Clementine says
Something I wish I had done when I had gotten labels is do last name only. That way, if you have multiple kids in a household, you don’t have to switch with hand me downs.
EB0220 says
Yes indeed. One of my lessons learned from 6 yrs of daycare.
Anonymous says
Does this work if you’re something super common like Smith? I feel like my kid may not be the only Smith in the class.
Clementine says
You might not be the only Smith, but I get the labels that are shapes (NameBubbles 4 ever!) and it’s very very likely you’re the only Smith who has your name on blue airplanes or purple unicorns or whatever.
lsw says
Good point. I didn’t do this my son’s last name (my husband’s surname) is a common first name so it seemed to borrow confusion. But I didn’t think about the fact that he would be the only Name with orange NameBubbles labels.
ElisaR says
I tried last name only and was reprimanded by the daycare – full name required! Oof.
Cb says
I had ones printed with my son’s initials which makes life easier. Luckily the recipient of our hand-me-down also has the same initials.
I also have been using old luggage tags for his wetbag, nursery bag, etc.
Anonymous says
Such a great idea. I’ve always been hesitant with clothing labels because of hand me downs and donations. I feel weird about my duaghter’s name ending up who knows where.
mascot says
We used NameBubbles for clothing labels and had no issues removing them when it was time to pass them on. I think that labels have come a long way from the fabric iron-on ones I had for camp in the 80s
Annie says
+1 Name bubbles stayed on as long as we needed them but are very easy to remove.
Anonymous says
Omg what? This is just dumb.
Anon in NYC says
I don’t think so. I don’t like the idea of my kid’s name on a shirt at salvation army.
GCA says
I think that’s a fair personal preference. We regularly cycle through various hand-me-downs, including from neighbors who have lived all over the country, and some have mystery names in them – I’ve often imagined the original garment-wearer must be 8 or 10 by now and living in Utah or Virginia or wherever my neighbors moved from! As for the actual labels – we just do kids’ last name (uncommon, and same as husband’s last name).
Anonanonanon says
No YOU are!
(just trying to engage on the same level)
ElisaR says
i don’t think its dumb – i wouldn’t want my kids name floating around on a shirt at Goodwill at all.
PS BE NICE! “This is just dumb” is not something I would let my kids say to another person and its not something you should say either.
Anonymous says
Why not? Do you have any not completely stupid reason for this?
ElisaR says
Anonymous at 1:47, I’m sorry you’re having a bad day. I hope it gets better and you can stop picking on strangers on the internet.
Cb says
Yeah, I didn’t think about it at the time but the name was too long for the tiny labels I wanted to order. I don’t think they actually work – kiddo still gets sent home in clothes I’ve never seen before but I feel better knowing I’ve complied with the nursery request.
Now if there was an easier way to label bottles!
Anonymous says
For the bottle labels we always just used masking tape and re-applied every time. But I was also obsessive compulsive about the bottles being fed in the order I pumped so labeled them with numbers, too. (so if it was pumped in the morning, she’d get it in the morning the next day, etc., etc.) But then our daycare decided to order everyone bottle rings and some labels as part of a “you all really need to label things, we’ll help you get started” initiative. The labels didn’t come off in the wash, and the rings were super easy to use.
EB0220 says
I keep meaning to write about this! This was my system: Full name label on bottle, small circle label on bottle lid. Red rubber ring for the bottle noting it was breastmilk. Then I would print a label or write on masking tape: Today’s Date Bottle 1, Todays’ Date Bottle 2, etc. On the bottom of the bottle or the other side I would put a label saying “Pumped on xx/yy” so I knew how old the milk was. I would usually leave the Bottle 1, Bottle 2, etc. on and just update today’s date each day.
Cb says
Ah, this would have saved me so much grief. I labelled the bottles (nursery is very stern about labeling) but not the lids and now I’m missing some.
EB0220 says
Yep, learned that the hard way with kid #1.
HSAL says
Can you just use a sharpie? That’s what we did for the name and date (which is all we needed). We used Dr Brown and if it didn’t all come off in the dishwasher, it rubbed away really easily.
Anonymous says
Blue painter’s tape & sharpie! It’ll stay on through the dishwasher if you want but very easy to remove. We label all school food containers this way (and I later learned restaurant kitchens do too).
EB0220 says
My daughter’s daycare gave a roll of colored painters tape to each baby. They were color-coded, so we got purple. That roll of purple painter’s tape was awesome. It lasted YEARS and I used it constantly.
KateMiddletown says
Where did you order them?
Cb says
I’m in the UK so used Woven Labels.
H says
I’m genuinely curious why you label your kids’ clothes. I’ve never labeled my 3.5 year old son’s clothes. He’s been going to daycare since he was 3 months old. We’ve only lost one thing.
avocado says
We didn’t lose much of anything at day care. She did misplace a ton of things at summer camp and school when she was around 5 to 8 years old, and nobody ever seemed to look at the labels so we ended up retrieving the things from the lost and found. We did have one item returned thanks to a label. It had been stolen(?) and then left on that kid’s school bus, and another kid found it, saw the label, and returned it.
The only time people really seem to look at the labels is when there are random pieces of identical sports uniforms strewn about during a competition.
H says
Ah, that makes sense. I wondered if it was more common for elementary aged kids.
Seafinch says
I never label anything. Never lost a thing with two kids at school. I thought that I was the only rebel!
Sarabeth says
We’ve never labelled before, but our kid just moved up to the two year-old room and the teacher asked us to do it, so we’re complying.
Anonymous says
At almost 3, the only things we have labeled are bottles/BM milk bags, little food containers, and one pair of shoes where we knew another child in DD’s class had the same ones.
Anoner says
Just wanted to say thank you for all the recs for feeling less frumpy. I’ve made a list of small things I can do to feel better about myself, starting with some tinted moisturizer and quick makeup tips. I also realized I should invest in nicer eyeglasses bc when I have to wear them, I feel major frump. I feel like I’m coming out of the post baby funk and need to invest more in myself. So thank you all- this group is the best.
Anonanonanon says
I commented this morning before realizing it was yesterday’s post.
One thing I’m doing post-partum is a clothing rental service. I do the Ann Taylor one but there’s lots of options. It helps me introduce new pieces into my wardrobe without committing to buying them for my changing body. However, if I really like something, I can keep it for at least 40% off retail. The best part is you don’t have to wash anything before you send it back, so it cuts down on laundry.
ElisaR says
ooh i never heard of the ann taylor one! that sounds interesting, might have to check it out. Thanks!
Anon in NYC says
Same!
KateMiddletown says
So apparently you’re supposed to keep your kid in a booster until they’re 4’9″. In real life when did you nix the booster for your kid?
Clementine says
…When they’re 4’9, at least 8 years old, and developmentally able to appropriately sit in the seat of a car using the seatbelt appropriately (e.g., not passing the chest strap behind their back).
mascot says
We haven’t yet- he’s just turned 8yrs, 60lbs, and 53-54″. I’ve been a little surprised at how many of our friends ditched the booster around this age. And some of these kids are smaller than he is. That Eastern VA Med School booster video scared me.
I’m not quite sure how to handle booster seats for guests in our car (we keep a bubble bum for these times). I’m inclined to make it a family car rule, even if they don’t have to do it in their own cars.
Blueberries says
I just watched the video. My kids will fit in their car seats for at least a few more years, but I will plan on making booster seats a family car rule. I’m also rethinking how I sit/move around when a passenger in a car.
Anonymous says
How small do you make finger foods for a 6 month old? Spoon feeding has not been working at all, but our doc said we have to make finger foods into about half the size of a pea. I think our DD has decent fine motor skills for her age but she can’t pick up something smaller than a pea. I’m not eager to go against our doctors advice but I’ve seen a lot of BLW sites that talk about giving kids much bigger things to gnaw on. Curious if anyone here got similar advice from a doctor and how you handled it.
Anonymous says
Oops sorry supposed to be a separate thread!
Anon says
Umm I fed them peas, those gerber puffs, blueberries, and slightly overcooked mini shells pasta. Closer to 9 months, I started to add things like small strips of avocado (rolled in wheat germ or something to make it easier to grab), cooked carrots and zucchini cut into strips or crinkle cut, scrambled eggs, and ravioli cut in fourths.
Smaller than a pea is ridiculous imho but I did cut “chewier” things into pea-sized bites until I could trust them to chew it. So things like cooked chicken, cubed ham, cheese bites, bread with hummus, etc – all around the 9 month window as well.
Cb says
Yeah, half the size of a pea sounds like an exercise in frustration. I think bigger is better, they can hold on an gnaw. I get nervous about things cut about the size of a dice, that seems like it could easily get sucked back. I started with spears of bananas, puffs, etc.
Anonymous says
We didn’t do finger foods until a month or two later because baby did not have pincer grasp and would gag on something even as small as half a pea. By 8 mo ths though we would do a pea, half a black bean, half a blueberry, etc.
Anonymous says
Size of a pea is more appropriate – or as small as you can cut something without basically mashing it. Try to keep it to pretty soft stuff – e.g. larger pieces of scrambled eggs worked really well for my little one. Peas / carrots / corn kernels etc. from frozen bag all worked well and saved me the pain of cutting carrots that small. Mummums to knaw on. Keep putting cheerios on his/her tray. On the plus side, at that age the nutrition they are getting from solids is pretty small, so the advice I got was that whatever they actually get in their mouth is bonus.
anon says
My 8-year-old is only 54 lbs., so he’s going to be in the booster for quite a bit longer. He hates it, but I’m not willing to budge on this.
avocado says
In real life when do you nix the booster? When the kid can sit as described here: https://www.babycenter.com/404_when-can-my-child-switch-from-a-booster-seat-to-seat-belts-a_71328.bc
My 11-year-old seventh-grader is 4’6″. She has long legs and one of our cars has relatively shallow seats, so we finally took the booster out of that car after she demonstrated that she could sit safely. The other car has deeper seats, and she’s going to be in a booster in that car for a while longer.
Anonymous says
My kids are tall, but I feel that 4-9 is a little short still (maybe we have long legs). I told my 8YO that when she is 4-11 she can ditch the booster seat. She’s about 4-9 now.
Anonymous says
Your child is well above the 99th percentile for height?
Anonymous says
Yep, my 9-year-old is still in a booster and will be for a while (we’re all vertically challenged over here, and he’s only 60 lbs and 4ft 3in). In the car we take for long distances he still rides in a full-back booster (and he prefers it because he can sleep in it since he has side wings), but we are a little looser around town and just use a regular booster or bubble bum with baby sitter.
Little sister is 7 and still in a 5-point harness booster and will be for a LOOOONG time, since she’s even smaller. She is also OK with regular booster for 10 minute rides around town but definitely not for longer trips.
I should say that DH really wants to move them both to regular boosters or even take the 9-year-old out of the booster sometimes (because “we never had boosters back in my day…”) but I stand my ground on this.
And we definitely have a family car rule when we take friends – we bring extra boosters and the car doesn’t move until everyone is seated appropriately. Am slightly horrified to find that some really tiny kids ride around WITHOUT EVEN BUCKLING THEIR SEAT BELTS!
Spirograph says
I remember carpooling with a neighbor, his mom driving, when I was probably 10 years old and he was about 7-8. Short, skinny little thing. Conscientious, rule-following little me sat behind the driver’s seat and buckled my seatbelt. He gave me a funny look and incredulously asked if my parents make me buckle my seatbelt. Then, the whole drive, he bounced around the car from the front seat to the back, kneeled facing backward to look out the rear windshield, stuck his head out of open side windows, basically every unsafe thing in the book. His mom didn’t even try to stop him, just told him to be quieter. I was aghast and told my mom about it when I got home and she never let me ride with them again.
My kids aren’t old or tall enough for me to even think about ditching a booster seat any time soon, but I’m with you. A close friend of mine lost her husband to a car crash + no seat belt, and safe seat belt & car seat use is non-negotiable for me.
lsw says
Best tape to repair kids’ books? (torn covers, etc)
Spirograph says
Clear packing tape.
But there’s a limit to what I will repair. If the kid fully rips the cover off the book, it just stays off. If the book gets totally destroyed, I throw it away and buy a new copy if it is a classic/favorite. After a suitable mourning/consequence period, depending on how it got destroyed.
Anonymous says
Super Canadian answer but – clear hockey tape is the best. Stronger and more flexible than clear packing tape.
Anonymous says
Hahaha, thank you! I didn’t think of that because I’m American, but my beer-leage hockey playing husband bought a bulk order of clear hockey tape a couple years ago. It will be a couple more years til all the kids start helping him use it up, so I’m going to raid the stash!
BC says
Silly question: what’s up with the Horizon milk boxes? Shelf-stable milk weirds me out, but I’d like to consider all options for my kindergartner’s lunches.
avocado says
They seem to be pasteurized at a higher temperature than ordinary milk. My kid thinks they taste weird. We used to send milk for lunch in a Thermos Funtainer, and it stayed plenty cold.
Anonymous says
Shelf-stable milk is very common outside of the US.
Anonymous says
Apparently most (all?) organic milk is ultra pasteurized and shelf stable. In Europe it’s not refrigerated. It’s only sold in the refrigerator section in the US because room temperature milk freaks Americans out! Horizon is what we drink at home and I don’t think it tastes weird at all when it’s cold. I wouldn’t drink it at room temperature though (for taste, not health, reasons) and so I’m not sure it’s a school lunch solution.
Can your kid buy milk at school? At our elementary even kids who bring a lunch can buy milk.
Anonymous says
I grew up drinking Parmalat milk boxes at school – they’ve been around a long time.
ElisaR says
I always wondered about that too!
I used to always buy Horizon (cold) milk but then I read the cornucopia institute dairy report and saw that particular brand tested as *not actually organic* in their results….(my wording not theirs)
Anonymous says
Whoa. I thought the “organic” label was regulated (as opppsed to “natural or “non-GMO”) and you can’t say you’re organic if you aren’t??
ElisaR says
i know, right!? i thought so too. I guess the USDA is strict on their organic label but not strict enough? I’ll post a link after my comment to the report and you can check any brand to see how true they are to the “organic” ethos.
It has to do with grass-fed cows, what they are consuming and how they are treated.
ElisaR says
https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/dairy/
SC says
We take Horizon boxes with us when we go out and think Kiddo will want milk, but we won’t have easy access. It works well to have after the park or pool or a hike, at the grandparents’ house (one set is lactose intolerant, so they never have milk), or on a road trip. Kiddo has never commented on the taste.
Anonymous says
Not strictly a parenting question, but I think this site is kinder than the main site. My DH is what I’d consider a workaholic. He does great in his job (and brings home significantly more money than me, to be fair) but he’s always going above and beyond and doing work on evenings, weekends and family vacation. He’s not in Big Law or something like that where these long hours would be expected – his job is a pretty standard 9-5 but he puts in way more than that because he’s passionate about his job. I would say he contributes 50/50 to the chores and childcare, but I feel like I have to assign him specific tasks – eg if I say you need to cook dinner these nights, he will do it without complaint. But I feel like a nagging taskmaster, and when he’s done with his chores, he pretty much retreats into his study to work. We only have one child who’s still quite young and goes to bed around 8 pm. I would love to hang out with him then, but he views this time after our child has gone to bed as sacred work time. When I tell him I want to see him, he acts annoyed and says his workday was already interrupted from 5-8 pm (by daycare pickup, dinner, the bedtime routine, etc) and now he has to get back to work. To be clear, I think he’s a good dad and he’s very engaged with our daughter when she’s awake (and she absolutely adores him), but I definitely feel like she and I are not as important to him as his work.
S says
So, it’s been 7 months since the birth of my baby. I am still breastfeeding mornings & evenings, and pumping once a day (20 minutes – get 4 oz total). My period started yesterday. What does this mean? Is my supply going to tank? I was under the assumption that as long as you are breastfeeding, you should not be getting a period ….
Anonymous says
It’s pretty normal to have your period and your fertility return around 7-8 months even if you’re b-feeding, because your kid gets on more solids at that age and takes less milk. Think about all the people that have kids ~18 months apart! Your supply will probably dip before your period, but a few days into your period it should return to normal.
S says
Good to know, thanks!
Anon in NYC says
Mine returned at around 5 months and I nursed until 15 months. My supply dipped in the days leading up to my period, but it picked back up after it was done.
Anonymous says
You’re thinking of exclusive breastfeeding, where you are feeding 8-10 times per day or more. Nursing/pumping three times per day isn’t going to suppress your menstrual cycle.
Seafinch says
I exclusively breastfed all three of my kids, at least 8 times a day and my period came back at 10 weeks, 11 weeks and 13 weeks post-partum. It never impacted my supply and I nursed for 22, 16, and 27 months.
Anonymous says
I was exclusively breastfeeding and got my period back at 6 weeks. I had oversupply and nursed until at least 2 years
shortperson says
my dh and i both default to work, but are getting better about explicitly making time for each other. tell him time w you is time he needs to allocate into his day, it’s not “free” time to default to working. i’d also ask him at a relaxed time why he overworks like this.
Anon in NYC says
I’m sorry. Do you feel like he meaningfully engages with you outside of parenting on the weekend when there is less structure than a work day? If/when your kid takes a nap on the weekend, does he retreat to his office? Do you have date nights with him?
BC says
I would suggest to him that you two sit down and discuss family/work time management a la Laura Vanderkam. One of her principles is not to overstress each 24 hour period, but to allocate tasks to blocks of time over the week. Maybe you guys can agree that he’ll retreat to his study in the evenings M, T, Th, and on W, F, S, and Sunday you can hang out after bedtime, or something like that. Is it possible for him to stay late at the office a few times a week, so that he can focus on family once he is home the other days? It seems like this is the kind of thing you could come to a solution on, especially if he doesn’t have external pressures requiring immediate responses in off-hours.
S says
My husband also gets back to work after we are done with housework for the day. However, his attitude is definitely – I hate it, I don’t want to do it, but I have to do it. This is also consistent with his personality (he receives 500+ emails a day, and by the end of day there are <5 left in his inbox!). I would say he doesn't do it everyday, and even if he is working, I sit right next to him watching some tv, which makes me feel connected. In your case, I suggest you communicate your feelings to him, and suggest some together time or some compromise (i.e., work in the living room instead of the den).
Spirograph says
Gosh, this sounds so hurtful to you and I’m sorry. It’s not fair for your husband to act like you and his family are a distracting obligation rather than a first priority. I’m usually not one to jump right on the therapy train, but it might be really helpful for a neutral party to help navigate conversations about why he’s making these choices and how they’re impacting your marriage, and establish some boundaries for work time.
Anonymous says
Maybe look at scheduling specific date nights? Like on Tuesdays and Saturdays (or whatever) after kiddo’s bedtime, you two hang out until you go to bed or something?
Anonymous says
This is what we do. Also, if we are both working from home, we try to do it together in the dining room instead of one person there and the other in the home office.
Anon says
This is really tough. What does he say if you tell him this explicitly? “Honey, I feel like kid and I are second priority to your work. You choose to work in the evenings rather than spend time with me, and that makes me feel neglected.” Does he promise to get better and never does? Does he blame it on “having” to work, and then does he talk about finding a different job or different expectations? Or does he not see it as a problem?
If you’ve had those conversations, then I think you need to decide what you want to do about this. If he doesn’t change and this is your life, are you okay with that? If not, how much longer are you okay with it? What does he need to change in order to help you be okay with it? Lay those out for yourself (maybe with the help of a therapist if you’re struggling) and sit with that for a while. Talk through it with him (maybe with the help of couples counseling) so he knows the limits of your tolerance and just how serious this is for you.
I wish you luck. Feeling last on the priority list isn’t a good feeling from the person who is supposed to be your partner.
anon says
Not ok. My dad was like this. He and my mom had a terrible marriage and finally divorced after 32 years of a really bad marriage.
ER says
My husband and I definitely do this. After the kids are in bed, we each run for our laptops and work until we are too tired to work anymore. (We each work long hours – I’m in biglaw and DH is something similar.). That being said, we view it as a “together” activity as much as other couples watch TV. We try to go out for a dinner date every month or two. Sometimes we send emails to each other during the work day.
It sounds like there are two things in play: First, you don’t feel like your husband values spending time with you. That is a big problem and worth discussing (maybe with a counselor). Second, you have free time after dinner, and your DH (by his assessment) does not. Have you thought about whether you can hang out with other people during this time – gym with friends or book club with a friend in your neighborhood – to fill that void?
Anonymous says
Yeah, I have to agree with part of this. More often than not, hubby and I go our separate ways after bedtime. We work, watch our own thing on tv, exercise, head out with friends, etc. A few nights a week we do something together, but more often than not, it is our “me” time. I agree you need a few nights a week as a couple, but having your own stuff is important, too. (I only agree with part of it because hubby and I don’t work well beside each other, lol.)
OP says
I have friends, I love reading and baking, I watch TV, it’s not that I can’t entertain myself sometimes. But he never ever wants to hang out with me or kid and treats it like a chore he HAS to do, not something he gets to do. Weekends are even worse – if I plan an Official Fanily Activity out of the house he will come, but when we’re hanging it at home he defaults to working (or half-working/half-playing with kid if I’m out or want to do something on my own). We never have quality family or couple time except when we go out and do something. And I plan that thing and basically have to tell him we’re doing it. He never shows any interest in doing family or couple stuff. That’s whats frustrating to me, not that he sometimes works in the evenings.
ER says
Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you can’t entertain yourself! I just thought it might be that it could be helpful to create some fun activities with other people. But they way you describe it would be really frustrating to me, too. Sending you guys good thoughts.
4:02 Anon. says
I also did not mean this to be hurtful. I agreed and commented because that has actually been me. Hubby definitely has more hobbies than me, and there has been tension before about the amount of time he devotes to them. Finding more of my own activities made a big difference for me/us.
Anonymous says
He’s horrible. Get a divorce. You’d be better off alone.
S says
Sorry, didn’t thread properly.
Book tape! says
I don’t think threading works on my phone but there is actually a product called “book tape” for repairing ripped books. It’s wonderful! Available on Amazon of course.
lsw says
Thank you! Also will check out hockey tape.
Where is Aunt Flo says
Was inspired by an OP above. I’m 9.5 months into BF, and still no period. I pump about 3 times a day during the week (nurse the other 3-4) and EBF on weekends, throwing in the occasional bottle of pumped milk or formula. My doctor says it’s standard for periods not to return until BF is over. Anyone have similar experiences?
OP says
Clarification- I nurse the other 2-3, about 5-6 total feeds a day during the week – a mix of pumping and nursing. Weekends it’s about 6 nursed feeds plus the occasional bottle if we’re out and about.
Anon says
I got mine back at about 9 months PP (while still BFing). My FB mom’s group has had wildly varying experiences while EBFing (anything from 2 months to 18 months PP), so I think it just depends on you.
Anon2 says
Yep, breastfeeding does help repress return of fertility, but exactly when it comes back varies by woman. Generally, there’s a greater chance of it returning when baby starts sleeping long stretches at night and/or starts eating more solids (and taking less milk) but those are big generalizations. I also think it’s typical for each woman to have her own “pattern” that holds consistent for each baby, regardless of the baby’s individual behavior. I had RoF at 15 months pp with my first (still nursing) and am still waiting at 11 months pp with my second. I am tracking my fertility signs this time around, though, which has been really helpful for peace of mind.
Anonymous says
I got mine back at around 11 months after each of my three kids. Warning that the first period postpartum can be quite heavy – don’t worry as it usually settles down within a few cycles.
Anon in NYC says
Mine was much heavier than normal for about 1.5-2 years (just for comparison’s sake). I wish I had realized that it would be heavier – I was completely unprepared for a cycle or two!
Anon says
Mine has been back 4-5 cycles and still way heavier; also way shorter (think 28-29 days) whereas before it was a pretty lackadaisical every 5-6 weeks (oh how I miss that). Some days I weigh the thoughts of 9 months of puking (well, plus another tyrant) vs. 9+ months of no period.
Moms Solo says
Mine didn’t come back until I stopped. I dropped to morning and night, and then just morning and still no cycle. Started again about 2 months after I stopped completely.
Aunt Flo says
Thanks, ladies! I’ve also heard when it comes back it does so with a vengeance. SMH.
anon says
Yep. I’m 14 months into BF, but now we just nurse morning, after work and at bedtime and still no period.
Anonymous says
Mine came back around 13 months pp, I think. I was still nursing at the time and continued after with no problems.
Just a PSA: Ovulation can come back before periods, so don’t count on your period to tell you whether you’re fertile again for family planning purposes.
Anon2 says
Ovulation *always* occurs before your period (otherwise it’s not your period, it’s breakthrough bleeding). Often the luteal phase between your first ovulation and first period are not long enough to sustain a pregnancy, which is why many people won’t get pregnant before their first period, but you will always have ovulation first.
EB0220 says
I didn’t get mine back until a month or so after I weaned, both times. My sister’s started 3-4 months postpartum when she was still EBF. I think it really really depends.
Anonymous says
I’m 11 months into breastfeeding and still no period. I nurse morning and night and pump once during the workday. On weekends I nurse more because she is a comfort nurser. Anecdotally a lot of my friends have had a similar experience to their own mothers. If your mom nursed you and you know when her period returned it might give you a sense of what to expect. My doctor was actually fairly concerned that my period hadn’t returned yet with such infrequent breastfeeding and wanted to do some additional testing, but when I told her my mom’s period didn’t return until she weaned me at age 2, the doctor was less concerned. I don’t know if it’s related but my mom and I also got our periods very late – both of us started cycles at age 15. Fewer periods ftw!
LH says
Did anyone here have postpartum hyperthyroid? I was the one who posted yesterday thinking I had it – my OB called in bloodwork and it appears that I was right. I’m being referred to a specialist for treatment but I have to admit I’m feeling a little freaked out. I know this isn’t cancer and is very manageable with meds, but I’ve always been a pretty healthy person and the idea of needing daily medication for the rest of my life is scary. I’m also (vainly) scared of gaining weight. I lost the pregnancy weight and then some so easily (due to my thyroid I guess) and I really don’t want to gain it back. I’ve also really been enjoying not always being colder than everyone else for the first time in my life! And I’m worried that I’ll need to take meds that aren’t compatible with nursing and I’ll have to suddenly wean my daughter. I had a rough start to nursing (and supplemented with formula, so I know it’s fine) but now it’s something I’ve really come to enjoy and the thought of having to quit cold turkey makes me very emotional.
LH says
Ughhh wrong place! Third person to do this today.
EB0220 says
Yes, me. I completely freaked too. I was diagnosed almost 6 years ago and had/breastfed another kid after diagnosis so plenty of experience to share! Feel free to email me if you want to chat. [email protected]
BKDC says
Taking the train from DC to NYC for the first time with my 4yo and 2yo. What’s the best way to keep them entertained on the train? We don’t have ipads and are concerned about introducing them to the kids now because we can’t put that toothpaste back in the tube. We’re not anti-screen at all; just concerned that they will either 1) fight over the ipad and/or 2) will ask for it constantly. Any words of wisdom on getting through this train trip? Should we just sit in the dining car? Anything we should consider when boarding at DC or Penn? We expect to only have a few pieces of carry on luggage.
We’ve taken Amtrak plenty of times, and we know how long a the trip can feel when it’s just adults traveling. Just worried about keeping the kids contained and entertained without terrorizing other passengers. The 4yo will sit quietly with sticker books and coloring. The 2yo is a little harder to control. Advice please!
Ella says
We let our kids watch way more ipad in the car then not and it’s never been a problem. I’d vote ipad and shared headphones personally. Otherwise plan on doing A LOT of walking up and down the aisles.
Anonymous says
Yep. Just did this exact trip and the iPad made it so easy. A bunch of downloaded Netflix shows + a trip to the dining car for a cookie = happy child.
Anonymous says
You can show DVDs or video on a laptop if you have one – that is a little easier to reclaim post-trip than a tablet, and what we used to use before we bought a Kindle fire.
Anon in NYC says
The train itself will be an intriguing activity. I would mentally reframe the trip in terms of 20-30 minutes quiet, sitting time, and 10-15 minutes of active, walking time like to the dining car. I wouldn’t worry about sitting in the dining car, but maybe try to get a 4 seater in the non-quiet car.
I would pick up a few brand new (small) toys and dole them out slowly (try to save some for the trip back). Can you get window stickers? That might prove to be a fun activity.
Spirograph says
Right, this is what I was going to say. We haven’t taken Amtrak with the kids yet, but we’ve been on some long Metro rides, and that in itself is entertainment for the kids. Plus Union Station is SO EXCITING for preschoolers, they might still be talking about it for the first hour. I remember the passing scenery between DC and NYC being pretty interesting, too. I’d wait to hand out the ipads as a last resort.
Knope says
Get a bunch of those “I Spy” books – both of your kids can try to find things. The 4 year old can listen to music (I’m not sure that would keep a 2 year old occupied) and might be old enough to listen to podcasts, if you’re ok with that – there are a bunch for kids now (check out “Wow in the World,” for instance). For the 2 year old – Melissa and Doug waterbooks. If she’s past the point of trying to eat random things, maybe play-dough or the less-messy kind of slime?
BKDC says
Thanks for chiming in. My guys are pretty good in the car and will actually sit there and enjoy the ride (provided Moana soundtrack is playing on repeat). I think I will get a Kindle and let them watch movies. We’re trying to travel light, and it might just be easier to do that rather than bring all the toys.
DLC says
Pretty much the only time my 6 year old gets iPad time is while traveling. She knows this and knows better than to ask for it at any other time.
I had to sit in the dining car the last time we rode Amtrak, and it was actually pretty great to have the room to spread out on the table.
I also wanted to say (having taken the Amtrak from DC a couple times) at DC Union Station, find the RedCap and have them show you the elevator to the train platform level. It is a little tricky to find, and this way, too, you can skip the line at the gate.
BabyBoom says
Do you plan your weekends with the kids? Not just long weekends – but all weekends? I just started listening to Best of Both Worlds (great recommendation!) An early episode is on planning your weekend to make the most of them. I always have a running list of things I want to do, but other than sports activities I don’t actually plan them. I’m going to try it, but worry this will just lead to dashed expectations.
Anon says
I’m not sure what you mean by plan, but by Thursday or Friday I have identified at least 1-2 things I want to get done for that weekend and then we do them. E.g., Saturday morning we are going to the pool, Sunday morning we are cooking brunch at home (or eating brunch at XYZ place, with or without friends A&B). Sunday afternoon let’s go to the coffee shop with a play space and then while LO naps in the car on the way home we will knock out X, Y, Z errands. I find the best success rate when I am 1) flexible with timing, 2) have a back-up plan (e.g., if it’s storming, we will go to pool in afternoon or tomorrow) and 3) always think about how and when to fit in nap and food times, because while my LO is flexible, she definitely needs 3 meals and 2 naps a day at relatively evenly spaced intervals.
SC says
We don’t plan our weekends to the minute, but we usually make some plans with other people, and we tend to follow the same general rhythm. When Kiddo wakes up, we give him his usual breakfast and let him have screen time until we wake up. Then we usually have a morning out-of-the-house activity. We often have a few ideas (park, pool, zoo, aquarium, children’s museum, brunch) and choose one based on weather, moods, and timing. We usually come home for lunch and then have quiet/nap time. In the afternoon/evening, we let Kiddo play at home while one parent does chores and the other parent runs errands, then we have dinner together. If we have more specific plans, we’re pretty flexible–this just tends to be how things play out when we’re left to our own devices.
Katelyn says
Dropping in quickly on an already very long thread to say thanks for the clothing labels rec– I JUST realized this morning that I needed to buy them for my toddler now that he’s out of the infant room at his daycare, and this was such an easy one-click thing to check off my to-do list. <3