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Cleaning baby bottles and pump parts is a drag — so many little pieces, and it’s always questionable how clean they actually are. Baby Brezza’s One-Step Sterilizer Dryer Advanced takes the guesswork out.
This sterilizer uses steam to kill germs and dries your bottles and parts as well. Use the control panel to sterilize and/or dry, or for storage (Everything stays germ-free for 24 hours if you don’t open it after sterilizing.) A replaceable HEPA filter is included so only clean air dries your bottles. It quickly cleans eight bottles and two sets of pump parts.
This sterilizer and dryer is $139.99 at Nordstrom and also available at Amazon.
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
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- 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
Anon says
Any FPIES moms here? Kiddo (8 months) has a likely FPIES diagnosis.
anon says
One of the big kids nutrition dietician influencers kid has this… I think growingintuitiveeaters
OP says
Thank you! Just checked her out.
Anonymous says
My first son was potentially FPIES to dairy. We saw an allergist but it wasn’t that helpful and she didn’t give a concrete diagnosis. Most of what I learned was online. He had chronic, long lasting reactions (intense vomiting lasting days) but he just grew out of it completely at 2.5. I cut dairy in my diet (breastfed baby) with my second kid at 1 month and haven’t trialed it directly yet. I’ve found a lot of support online, there is an FB group for FPIES specifically. Happy to provide any help as well. Having a child with this is really scary, isolating, and nervewracking, at least for me. We avoided a lot of social events and dining out and had strict protocols at our daycares but we got through it! The second time has been much easier for us. I think the learning curve is just steep at first. My niece was FPIES to more foods but grew out of it at a younger age than my son.
Anon says
Oh gosh! Vomiting lasting for days sounds terrifying. You’re right—it’s isolating and scary. Our oldest had an egg allergy, so we are used to hives and swelling and rashes, but the vomiting until passing out is something else…
Can you talk a bit more about daycare? I’m really worried that there will be accidental cross contamination or he eats something from another kid. I can leave a burner email if that’s easier. Thank you!
Anonymous says
If you’ve gone through the egg allergy then I’d treat it the same! The key for us is not going into too much detail for the daycare because it confused them and they didn’t understand it. We treated it like any other allergy and had doctors forms and an allergy plan. When he was younger the kids didn’t eat at one table anyways so he couldn’t reach the other kids foods. At our second daycare he was older and we had started educating him so he was at least somewhat aware of it. He brought his own food and surprisingly it wasn’t an issue. I used to always worry about him getting another kids bottle but I think the teachers were just on top of it. Depending on your food I’d just educate around risks – since ours was dairy I had to say other kids bottles, no class snack (goldfish) etc. I honestly don’t know how it wasn’t an issue with kids putting their mouths on everything but it somehow wasn’t?
Anon says
If your kids do aftercare at school, is there a quiet time enforced for homework and for how long? Do they go outside?
My kindergartner is enrolled in the aftercare program at her school. The school day dismisses at 3:30 and the aftercare makes them have quiet homework time until 4:30. This seems really excessive to me even for older kids (it’s a K-3 school so I seriously hope no one has an hour a day of homework!), but is especially frustrating for a kindergartner who has no homework. We typically pick up around 4:45, so she basically has no play time, and I don’t love the idea of paying for her to sit in silence. They also don’t seem to go outside at all, which seems really weird to me. Do we have terrible aftercare or is this normal?
Anon says
Ours does crafts during this time. Simple ones like origami or stuff with popsicle sticks and some days it seems to be just drawing.
Spirograph says
Our aftercare has 30 min of quiet homework time, I believe, but I want to say it’s opt-in? I’ve never looked under the hood of after care, too much; my kids love it and that’s enough for me. Ours has gym + all-purpose room (board games, crafts, various building things, foosball) + playground available. It seems like the kids can move between the spaces as long as long as they tell the counselors, who have walkie-talkies to let each other know Susie and Bobby are on their way out to the playground.
I do think the quiet time at the beginning is partly so the aftercare can get their program set up — they’re likely taking over spaces that had a different use during the school day, and all the toys don’t just magic themselves into place immediately — but an hour is a long time, and I agree it’s weird they don’t go outside. Send her with some books or drawing materials. She doesn’t have to just sit and be bored because she has no homework.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Ours is also opt-in, to get help with homework at aftercare. K and 1 don’t have homework so it’s not an option/not needed. TBD on 2nd, but I’m sure it’s nowhere near an hour. Our aftercare is split into K/1 and 2-4, so the littler kids get more outside time in the beginning I think. Our program always asks for weather appropriate clothing because they try to go outside every day. Is yours a staffing issue? I.e. not enough people to supervise kids inside and outside?
Anon says
where do you live? as currently in Houston it is 100 degrees outside so it would make sense to not take kids outside, but they literally have to sit in silence for an hour, i think that’s a big expectation for such little kids
OP says
Midwest, the weather has been gorgeous this week, low 70s and sunny. It’s definitely not weather related.
anon says
Ours is run by the YMCA and has: first 30 mins: Check-In/Snack/Bathroom/Assembly (small group)
After that they do: Homework/Craft/STEM/Active Game/Bathroom – kids are either playing in small groups, on the playground or in the gym. Kids can do homework if they want but our kinder didn’t get hw last year and just played with her friends the whole time- and loved aftercare
Anonymous says
It has varied but when it has been mandatory for everyone it was no more than 30 minutes and you could elect to have your child read a book or color instead during that time. An hour does seem excessive.
Anon says
I live in Northern VA, and our aftercare is solely play based, especially at that age. Ironically, I know parents of older kids who are frustrated that there isn’t set aside homework time, but generally, parents seem to view aftercare as being the modern day equivalent of roaming the neighborhood with friends — lots of free time and free play.
I wouldn’t like that schedule either — my kids need that time right after school to run and play.
GCA says
That seems like a long time to sit inside in nice weather. Do they have arts and crafts and board games? Do they have staffers who take the younger groups outside? Our K and 1st grade didn’t have homework, but they had a ton of Legos, crafts, chess, building toys, etc. when the weather was bad.
Anonymous says
Seems excessive. Ours has a snack period right after school and then some quiet time but they can do art instead (maayyybe 30min max?). Then they go outside the rest of the time, even in winter, as long as it is not actively storming or intense downpouring.
That is a bummer. I would not pay for that. The free play outside with his friends is his favorite part, and MY favorite part for him. Do you have a YMCA-type option or a private preK that offers aftercare?
PLB says
My child’s aftercare at school does not have mandatory homework time. They do not enforce it at all for PK-K and parents choose whether they want their kids to have it for 1-5th graders.
I agree that an hour of quiet time for a Kindergartener is unreasonable especially right after school.
Anon says
Can anyone recommend any good books or resources for men while TTC? My husband has some anxiety about becoming a parent, both the run-of-the-mill worries like being unprepared or not knowing how to change diapers and also some specific anxiety about special needs. His sister was born with severe disabilities and it forever altered their family’s life in really dramatic ways (need to be vague to not totally out myself, but believe me when I say it was an extreme impact). It makes complete sense to me that he would be worried about this and I want to help. Are there good resources that are reassuring and that don’t have the opposite effect of increasing anxiety? On the mom side, I’ve heard people say that What to Expect When You’re Expecting just makes you freak out about everything and that’s the opposite vibe to what he needs. I can see him inching towards thinking that if we do everything perfectly, then bad things won’t happen, and that’s clearly not realistic. He’ll do therapy so just looking for book recs. Thanks!
anon says
Yes! I can picture it’s distinctive cover so I’ll describe it in case anyone else knows it because the name is fully escaping me: it’s a dark plaid cover, crimson, navy and green. Written for dads by [an otherwise qualified] dad, I believe.
DH really appreciated it. It’s not a linear, cover-to-cover read, more of a read different sections as they interest you. A lot about just overall pregnancy/childbirth type stuff but also info about how to support your partner, what they might be experiencing physically and mentally.
I will reply once the name comes to me!
anon says
I know that book! A friend gave it to DH and he said it was kinda silly but seemed to help.
anon says
The New Father. DH loved it.
anon says
While not geared toward men, I think Emily Oster’s Expecting Better might be helpful here. I really appreciate that she dives into studies to explain the why of various recommendations and presents actual numbers when it comes to risks.
Abby says
+1 to Expecting Better!
Anon says
Heading Home with Your Newborn covers infant care basics well. But…are you sure he really wants a biological child? Whenever you TTC you’re kind of rolling the dice and there’s a possibility the child will have a terminal illness or a severe disability. Obviously no one wants that, but if you can’t come to grips with the fact that it’s a possibility, I’m not sure you’re ready to become a parent. Therapy seems way more important here than a book.
Anon says
I think it’s important to just answer the question and not judge whether YOU, an internet stranger, think he’s ready. Obviously people can’t post every personal nuance here.
Anon says
Ok… But this clearly isn’t an issue that Expecting Better or Heading Home with Your Newborn is going to solve.
Anon says
OP here. Please assume that a man whose life has been irrevocably altered by family disability is aware of the risks. Seems odd I have to add that.
Anonymous says
hi OP, I had a similar situation. My brother passed away almost 10 years ago from his illness, an extremely rare genetic disorder. I had the same anxieties and I think Emily Oster helps, and I think speaking directly to your OB about all the tests and options you have along the way to confirm baby is as healthy as possible. To me, this was very empowering. I recognize I am privileged that I live in a state where I still have the right to make decisions about my pregnancy and whether to carry a child to term.
Isabella says
Fooey. DH and I both felt all those same anxieties (plus more) when we were TTC. I think we were more ready than the average couple, even if we weren’t the most prepared ever.
anon says
I think it is totally normal for someone who has the experience OP’s husband does to have anxiety about this, and that doesn’t mean he isn’t ready to be a parent. He knows better than most of us that having a biological child is rolling the dice; he’s trying to manage his anxiety around that. To me that’s a sign of emotional maturity, not a sign of being unready to have kids.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Heading Home with Your Newborn is a good one for practical tips of baby caregiving. Both husband and I liked the fact based approach (no pushing of b-feeding for example). As for the anxiety, I’m not sure – maybe Expecting Better to assuage some of the anxieties of everything having to be done “perfectly”?
Anon says
I got Dude! You’re going to be a dad! for my husband and he really liked it. it’s a quick read, so I was able to read it as well. It was very …calming (maybe not the right word, but right as compared to all of the other books geared towards mothers) and kind of funny.
Isabella says
We got this one too, and I thought it was funny but DH found it condescending. YMMV.
Anonymous says
Okay, not a book, but, my husband took a class at the hospital for dads, and it included how to change a diaper. It would be a bit odd for your husband to take that now when you are not pregnant, but I would see if there is a class like that offered to be able to say “Hey, DH! You can take this class and ask questions about this stuff!” My husband had held a child exactly 1 time before we became a dad. He never changed a diaper. He’d never made a bottle or anything like that before.
Anonymous says
Another vote for Heading Home with your Newborn for infant care basics. Both my husband and I also really liked The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, which gives you good practical advice about how to soothe a crying baby when you can’t stick a boob in its mouth, but I think some of that advice may now be a bit outdated in terms of safe sleep practices. I think it is still probably really useful though – swaddling, shushing, bouncing.
One thing to keep in mind – a newborn can easily go through 10 diapers in a day. So you will likely get plenty of practice before you even leave the hospital.
Anonymous says
He might also like “Becoming the Parent you Want to Be,” which is more about thinking about what you want to impart to your children and how that might show up in your parenting. It doesn’t advocate for there being one right way to be, within broad parameters, which might be helpful for combating the anxious thought that you have to do everything perfectly.
Anonymous says
Also try the daddy bootcamp, which might be more useful once you’re actually pregnant but it helped my boyfriend to find other dads and discuss common worries.
Anon says
Thanks all for the recs!! These look great. We have an old copy of Expecting Better that a friend just gave me, but we’ll pick up the others too.
Anon says
This sounds really tough. But it does sound a positive step that he’s actively talking about this.
My book recommendation might seem like it’s coming out of left field. What I’m picturing is if the concern is less about the mechanics of taking care of a baby or pregnancy and more so interested wrapping his head around becoming a parent. I read a book called “Act Natural” by Jennifer Traig. This is absolutely not a parenting book. But more of an anthropological look at parenting concepts and beliefs throughout history. It’s pretty eye opening to see how human kind has survived this far. I’d say definitely look at the reviews on-line before you buy. But if I was looking for something on a lighter note that might make less nervous about becoming a parent. This book really helps paint a picture of how much better we are at parenting now than they were in the past.
Anonymous says
I’m very late to this thread but I was more like your husband in this situation (sibling died a few weeks after birth from an undiagnosed congenital defect, cousin had a different congenital defect in the same organ that required a lot of treatment although they are fine today, both me and my parent were diagnosed with cancer in a short period of time with no family history of cancer – my grandparents who smoked a pack a day never got cancer and died of lung disease). ,
All of this made me extremely nervous about TTC due to questions about genetics, or environmental impact, or just who knows what.
Honestly, the thing that helped me were:
1. My oncologist, who helped me contextualize how random many of these events are and how the odds are still so low. So I don’t know if genetic counseling is available to you but that might be one option.
2. Talking to a friend who works with a wide range of children with disabilities as a doctor – your husband’s situation sounds quite extreme and disabilities in kids can take many forms that are always heartbreaking but can be more manageable.
3. For books, Expecting Better, Happiest Baby on the Block, and Oster’s book about the first few months. Basically any books that focus on the stuff that happens with most typical babies.
Good luck!
Anon says
Thank you for this thoughtful comment.
anonn says
DH read the Dr. Sears Healthy Pregnancy book and really liked it, so I read it to on Kindle and then bought the hard copy because it was such a good resource. Its pre, post and new born care to age 2 I think. If your guy is a dooer it gives practical tips, and makes everything seem manageable.
Abby says
Recommendations for work pump bags? Just returned to work this week after maternity leave!
I primarily WFH, but have 3 work trips coming up this fall (flying) and would love to hear all the recs and products I should have to pump. Hoping to transport the milk back home, but am willing to pump and dump if it becomes too much extra stress. I have a spectra and a willow, but would ideally only bring the Spectra with me.
pumping on the go says
For travel, I liked to just put my Spectra in a backpack or tote bag I already had. I got a soft insulated lunchbag from Target for transporting milk, and then I could throw that back inside whatever I was using for the Spectra. During travel, I’ve preferred pumping in the airport or right before heading there, using a hand pump in the plane bathroom if necessary, and then pumping on arrival in the hotel. YMMV with respect to whether that schedule will work for you, but I will say that I’ve found that, after my kid is a couple of months old, I’ve been able to be pretty flexible with my pumping schedule without any long-term impacts to milk supply.
Cornellian says
I would also just use a normal bag for your pump. My reccommendation would be to ask the hotel or conference center where you’re staying if they have a freezer. Hotel room fridges are finicky and don’t hold the right temperature, and then you have to deal with having liquids at TSA. If you can show up with your liquids frozen, it makes TSA easier and obviously is safer than having it in a too warm fridge for a couple days, followed by a flight. In my experience they were happy to take a ziploc full and hold it for me.
The only products I’d think about are those portal sterilizer bags that use a microwave for parts, and making sure you have extra parts and a good cooler for transport.
You might also ask if your company will pay for you to fly your milk home! there are companies that specialize in it.
anon says
Anyone have an alarm clock for kids (7 yo) they like? I’m specifically looking for one that you don’t have to turn on every night–like a progammable one. Hatch is too expensive but I’d go up to about $40-ish. Thanks!
octagon says
We are still using the OK to Wake, and it works well.
Anonymous says
My kids all have Amazon dots with alarms set. Bonus is I can control them from my phone so I can snooze them or wake them up as needed. My kids like to wake up to music.
Anon says
no specific recs, but as a kid I had a standard digital alarm clock that did this, so maybe look into those.
baby gadgets says
Are devices like this worth it? Giving birth to #2 soon and #1 was an infant 6 years ago. We’re at an age and point in life where we’ll pay for little conveniences like this.
Also, talk to me about Baby Breeza. I plan to BF initial but will not BF when I go back to work, so we’re already preparing for formula life. Worth it or not?
Any other fun or new devices out there that maybe weren’t on my radar 6 years ago, when I was also pinching pennies more than I am today?
Abby says
I have this and it’s great, but they just released a new product that will wash, sterilize, and dry your bottles for you, and I’d look into that vs this one if I were buying again. I also use a snoo, and would recommend to families that can afford it.
Not a device, but my baby loves the Lovevery gym & toy subscriptions!
Anon says
Doesn’t seem worth it to me if you have a dishwasher. We didn’t do any separate sterilizing, and I believe that’s the current recommendation for healthy full term babies.
My first is also six and the one piece of new baby gear I’d buy today if I were having a second is the Slumberpod.
Anonymous says
Sterilizer: not worth it if you own a dishwasher (we brought 31 week old twins home from the NICU at 39 weeks and nurses said sterilizing bottles wasn’t necessary, but do wash them with hot water after each use!)
Baby Brezza: not worth it for us. Didn’t measure formula correctly, temperature was weird and my kids didn’t care. I preferred a formula pitcher but that’s probably overkill for a singleton.
Extra conveniences: a decent high chair that’s easy to clean. A night nanny (I know this is crazy but you asked). 7 extra sets of fitted sheets, burp rags, and socks. Both a jogging stroller AND a car seat stroller. A car seat/base in every car, including grandparents if you see them more than once a quarter. A fun play mat for tummy time. A pack n play. Infant toys. These are all things I kind of tried to be frugal/intentional about with my first but were essential for my sanity with multiple kids. Congrats!
Anon says
Brezza not worth it. There have been faulty machines and you have to clean that water dispenser regularly otherwise it is gross.
The sterilizer is most definitely worth it even if you plan on using the dishwasher. If you have an extra $300 bucks there are UV sterilizers that look like tiny tiny fridges.
AwayEmily says
Can’t speak to this or the Brezza but recent innovations that were around for my third kid but not my first two are the Slumberpod (truly a game-changer) and the Snoo (not a miracle but made things easier on the margins; we rented ours).
Anon says
We used our bottle sterilizer even though we also had a dishwasher. We didn’t run the dishwasher enough to keep enough bottles clean if that makes sense. It was easier to hand wash bottles and then put them through the sterilizer. We also used it to sterilize pacifiers. We used tap water for formula (I know some people disagree with that but that’s we did) because our BF baby transferred easier to exclusively formula if the formula was warm. It was easier to use slightly warm tap water than to try to warm up a bottle. I’ve also heard that the Breeza is a pain to clean and doesn’t mix the formula very well. I really liked my Halo bassinet to keep the baby in our room next to our bed. This is also controversial but the Owlet sock was sooooo worth it for my own peace of mind. And I liked the video monitor that it came with, which we still use to check in on our 4.5 year old when she’s playing in her room.
anon says
Right now you can’t get the Owlet sock – they had to pull it and seek FDA approval. A new one is supposed to be released this fall, but you’ll have to get a prescription for it.
Anon says
It came back on the market in June. You can get it from any major retailer right now. No prescription needed unless you want a medical grade device.
anon says
Not sure if this was available 6 years ago but it wasn’t when my 7 year old was born . . . a Haakaa pump. I had a low supply and this helped me when my 3 year old was born with collecting extra milk with little effort.
Anon says
I used a Hakaa six years ago.
Abby says
Check out Boon Trove instead of Haaka. It sits in your bra, so less likely baby can cause it to fall off while nursing.
Anon says
I may be an outlier, but I loved the Baby Brezza and it was one of the most helpful baby items we bought. I combo fed from the beginning and we kept it in the nursery and found it super convenient to be able to make a bottle quickly in the middle of the night or morning and not have to bother with going down to the kitchen to make a bottle. We just used tap water and it was fine. Another benefit was it was easy for grandparents or other visitors to help make a bottle.
Anon says
the poster last week whose daughter was looking for ghosts arriving from NY, did they show up? i thought of you this morning as my daughter insisted we add ice and food coloring to the cup of soapy bubbles she made in the shower last night and insisted that when i get home i wave a wand and say a spell to turn it into snowflakes that will last forever
Anonymous says
Semi-related, we got Gustavo the Shy Ghost based on the recommendation in that thread, and it was a hit!
Cb says
Oh that was me, I’m so glad you liked it!
Sara says
Any suggestions for something we can bring with us on a trip for a 3 year old to sleep on? I read that she is too young for an inflatable mattress but I do want her to be comfortable if possible!
Anon says
3 isn’t too young for an inflatable mattress. That’s what we used for travel at that age. She could also sleep in bed with you if you’re ok with it.
Anon says
Our eldest slept on a mattress on the floor starting at just over 2 (she climbed out of her crib!) so a 3 year old on a blowup mattress would be fine
Boston Legal Eagle says
We used the hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed. I don’t think 3 is too young – why would it be?
Boston Legal Eagle says
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWQMM4V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
NLD in NYC says
Also have the hiccapop and have used it with our 3 yo. If she can sleep in a separate bed you can get pool noodles to put under the fitted sheet to serve as a bumper.
Anon. says
Seconding this rec. We started using this for travel at like 20 months when my kid outgrew the PNP.
Anon says
Is there a bed available? Using the inflatable mattress as a bouncing pad was just too irresistible for my kid, so it didn’t work for us. We bought inflatable bed rails since they took up relatively little room in our luggage and there was a bed available to us at our destination. I was glad we had them since the bed was a bit higher off of the ground than what we were used to and I did worry she would roll right out. I’ve also seen small cots that are up off of the ground that would work too depending on how much space you have.
DLC says
Where are you going? We often just have our kids sleep on the couch or put the couch cushions on the floor. But also- we go camping a lot and our kids just sleep in a camp pad with a sleeping bag.
Anonymous says
We use a camping pad and an indoor sleeping bag (“slumber bag”).
Babyquip? says
I’m the poster from yesterday with the hiking pack question. I was looking into rentals and there are a few outfitters with them, but babyquip keeps popping up in my search results as well. Has anyone rented gear through that service before? I found several highly rated people on there with one available for the dates I need.
Is the pickup/dropoff process pretty easy? I’m leaning toward having the person meet us at the airport so we don’t have another stop along the way.
Anon says
i have used babyquip twice – once to rent a jogging stroller for a trip to Boulder, and once to rent a jogging stroller to a town in Long Island. In Bolder they dropped off at the hotel, the hotel staff held it for us and we used it and left it with them for pick up. In long island we were staying at a house, but they also were able to just leave it, and we left it out for pick up. it worked well for us. i think i’d be too nervous to use it for something i could not survive my trip without, but it was super convenient for us
NYCer says
I have not used it, but friends of mine have. They used it in Florida and said that it was great. Smooth, on-time delivery, and the stuff they rented (a crib and stroller) was in good condition.
Anonymous says
Have not personally. Curious about the business model, seems like it basically gets local moms to build up gear inventories. I wonder if the gear’s quality/history may be not be super stellar.
There’s a lady in our local parents FB group who’s a “vendor”; she is from one of the fancier neighborhoods and is very vocal / active in the group. She consistently talks about her babyquip business and is very quick to scoop up all the nicer used kids stuff that others are selling / giving away. In VHCOL city so lots of premium items floating around but at the same, the FB group has many members from the neighborhoods with Title 1 schools.
Yes, I’m BEC-levels annoyed with her and my kids are in elementary school (I’m not in competition with her for used baby gear). Just seems she’s taking advantage of generous neighbors for personal benefit.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
PSA – I just signed DS #1 (Rising K-er) up for various day camps offered by our Y for school holidays/closures during 2023-24 – including spring break 2024!
Lots of open slots now, but I feel like once the school year starts in a few weeks things will fill up fast. I figure if we end up traveling for anything I booked, I’m more than happy to get the Y credit and I know someone will be happy to be off the waitlist :)
Anon says
This is my plan for summer 2024. Our parks & rec camp starts registration in November, but lets you drop weeks without penalty until May. So I plan to just sign up for the whole summer and drop weeks as we finalize vacation plans and specialty camps.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I too am already thinking about summer 2024. Our town’s camp is supposed to be very good, but from what I’ve heard, you have to register immediately once registration opens up.
Anon says
Same. And ours is in person reg only.
Cb says
Well done! I’m waiting for October break sealife camp spots to open but I should probably just book the 2 days we need at the leisure centre.
Anon says
Sealife camp!! I’m jealous of your son.
Cb says
It’s so cool! They go rockpooling, build beach shelters, sandcastles, etc. It’s chilly (Scotland in mid-October) but you dress the kids for it and they have a ball. They got to drive an underwater rover last time.
Anon says
How fun! This Midwesterner is very jealous 🤣We’re planning to spend more time in Maine next summer and hopefully my kid will get to do some similar camps there.
AwayEmily says
Minor parenting victory: our scrappy little city elementary school’s aftercare program only runs mid-October to mid-May and not on Fridays. This makes life very hard for working parents. And so after a summer of lobbying, I managed to convince our local JCC to run a bus to the school to pick kids up for their after-school program. I’m SO happy to not be scrambling for coverage again, and we’ve already more than met the minimum number of kids needed. Yay!
Boston Legal Eagle says
Excellent!! I feel like aftercare struggles are such a problem in many cities, and one issue that parents will really show up for. We had hundreds of parents show up (virtually) to a school committee meeting where they were discussing making every Wed. an early release day without childcare options. That was immediately voted down, thankfully.
Anon says
That’s not a minor victory. Go you!
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Girl, not minor. This is awesome and inspiring.
Also…rhetorical question…WHYYYYYY Mid-October to Mid-May?! Like, why not just at least align with the school calendar?
Anon says
Correlated to the months with less pleasant weather, I’d guess. It does seem strange to me to have aftercare only part of the school year, but I’m guessing someone was assuming kids could play outside with neighbors in early fall and late spring.
AwayEmily says
Thanks!!! This is such a relief.
As to why it’s that weird schedule…it’s that way for all the city schools. I think it’s because of staffing/funding issues. The programs are all grant-funded and free (this is a city where almost half of kids are below the poverty line) and I suspect they just don’t have the resources. My long-term goal is to get at least our own school’s program to charge on a sliding scale so those of us who CAN afford it can subsidize better coverage for everyone. This is my first year on the PTO, so we’ll see how it goes…
Anonymous says
Silly to complain about but I promised my oldest a trip to Mexico to visit SIL. We finally settled on this weekend, and now there’s a hurricane.I decided this morning to cancel the trip and reschedule at some point. SIL is safe but has no electricity. I’m just bummed. I was really looking forward to a break and hanging with my oldest.
Anon says
That isn’t a silly thing. What a bummer for both of you! Hope you can reschedule soon, and your SiL gets through the hurricane fine.
Paging CB - Question about kiddo mixing up letters says
I saw you got lots of responses about mixing up letters being totally normal. That’s definirely true, but if you suspect there is more to it (even if it’s just a gut feeling), I would start pursuing an evaluation now. Dyslexic learners are often incredibly bright and verbal, which can mask dyslexia. If your kiddo is dyslexic, early intervention makes a huge difference. I would not take a wait and see approach for long. You don’t want to borrow trouble, but that gut feeling is often right when it comes to dyslexia. Just wanted to offer my perspective as a mom of an incredilble kid with dyslexia.
Cb says
Thanks, I think we will see how things go until parent teacher conferences in October and then see. Reading just seems like hard work for him in a way that surprises him given his verbal skills, real love of language (tonight, we came up with all the expressions that had to do with dogs, introduced my English / Scottish family to “my dogs are barking…”)
Anon says
I don’t think that’s atypical at all. I promise I’m not saying this to brag but just for context.. I was an extraordinarily verbal kid to the point that a pediatrician acquaintance of my parents told them I was the most verbal toddler he’d seen in 40 years of practice. I tested as gifted in K based on IQ screening. I didn’t learn to read until I was in first grade and almost 7. I don’t have any kind of learning disability and very quickly became an avid reader who was way above grade level. My understanding is that reading is something that just sort of needs to “click” in the brain, and the click happens for different kids at different times, and the time at which it happens isn’t closely correlated with IQ or spoken verbal ability.
Your son just turned 6, right? That’s still so young!
Anon says
That’s awesome! Sounds like a good plan. Hopefully it sorts itself out, and, if not, there are amazing and effective interventions for dyslexia. It can also be a real gift to think about the world slightly differently than those around you. I heard a teacher at his specialized school say once (paraphrasing) that parents coming in saying things like “he/she is so verbal and has a fantastic command of language despite thier dyslexia,” but they leave saying “he/she is so verbal, imaginative, and has a fantastic command of language because of their dyslexic brain.”
Anonymous says
Not necessarily for the OP but another possible issue is attention. My kid has adhd but is super bright. We only figured it out when we thought she was dyslexic and did some focused testing. Turns out she didn’t have the patience to sort out D vs B, and would skip to the end of sentences to just “get to the point.” Sort of obvious in hindsight but she’s a girl and don’t have the classic symptoms.