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I am really loving all of the fall workwear that Ann Taylor has been putting out lately. Their tops all seem very functional and stylish but not overly trendy. This top hits all of those marks for me, and it’s machine washable! I love the wide V-neck, the contrasting directions of the pinstripes, and the faux wrap style. This looks like a top that is easy to throw on in the morning but still makes you look put-together. I could even see it working as a slight step below business formal because of the pinstripes and navy. This top is $69.50 and is available in XXS–XXL. Pinstripe Wrap Top Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear. This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!Sales of note for 5.5.24
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Petite Mom says
I know this was discussed before but please share your tips for a smooth morning routine. I am becoming extremely stressed out to get son and I out the door, drop off at preschool, then commute to work for an hour. The best option for our family is to find a job closer to home and cut my 2.5 hour commute. Until then I need to survive. Any miracle beauty product that makes you look fresh without spending more than 5 min doing makeup? I also have to pack my breakfast and son’s breakfast. I’ve been doing sandwiches but these take time prepping.
Also, do you have any podcasts or book recommendations on how to stay calm in all the daily chaos? Thanks ladies! ?
Cb says
We prep everything the night before – my son’s clothes are made into outfits and stacked for the week, nappy and wet bag are on the door handle, lunches are ready to go. We shower in the evening so it’s get up, get dressed, breakfast, go.
I use a primer from The Ordinary, a light foundation, sometimes some eyebrow powder, eyeshadow that’s just more of a wash, and mascara – takes me 3-4 minutes.
EB0220 says
How old is your son? That might change my thinking but here are a few things that have helped us:
– Super easy lunches. I have some reusable food storage containers. I throw in some fruit, chicken nuggets, a few chunks of cheese and maybe some sliced peppers and hummus if I’m organized. Plus box milk. Total time: 5 minutes for two lunches. You can also do these all at once and refrigerate until ready. I don’t think it would take more than 10-15 minutes once a week to pack everything at once if you’re just putting in the ingredients. Sandwiches/wraps take longer.
– Snacks: I have an area in the pantry for snack items. Sometimes my kids pack their snacks and sometimes I do. They have a snack bag and they know which part of the pantry contains the snack items.
– Me getting ready: I almost always shower at night. Then in the AM just put on some foundation and straighten my hair. I wear bike shorts and a cami until the very last minute so I don’t get peanut butter, etc on my work clothes.
– Kids getting ready: I have them pick their clothes before breakfast, then get dressed after breakfast. Eliminates potential spills on school clothes. Both kids have been picking their own clothes since about 3. I just rotate out anything that’s not seasonally appropriate so whatever they choose is OK.
– Reset the night before: I don’t like doing everything the night before but I do try to at least reset. That means empty backpacks and shoes, jackets in their place.
– Get up a little earlier: Our day goes SO much better if I get up just a bit earlier than the kids. Even 15 minutes helps me get ahead of the game. If I don’t do that, it gets away from me quickly. Ideally I’m up 45 minutes before they are. My kids use the OK to wake clock so they’re never out of bed before 6:45.
I want to start that podcast! :) Calm in the Chaos is actually a great name for a book or podcast!
anon says
That sounds like a rough situation. I would try to automate everything. Pick out your clothes on Sunday and have them ready to go for the whole week. Minimal makeup routine — for me, that would be foundation, blush, mascara, and lip gloss. I have tried the IT Cosmetics full-coverage undereye concealer and it really helps on days when I’m tired, fighting allergies, etc.
For breakfasts, I might try grab-and-go things like fruit, yogurt tubes, breakfast bars, or dry cereal in a container. I loathe prepping sandwiches in the morning, so I hear you on that.
Totally agree that getting up and ready before the kids is key to getting out of the house in one piece!
Anonymous says
Simpler breakfast might help. Could you make a smoothie the night before? Or even prep it in the blender, put it in the fridge and blend in the morning? Maybe do a frozen waffle or granola bar as well? Those can be eaten with one hand. Could you do your makeup at work? Maybe do primer/BBcream before you leave and then keep eyeliner/mascara/whatever you use in your purse. Sometimes it’s not just the actual time it takes but the mental load of the number of tasks before getting out the door that’s stressful.
Anonymous says
For your breakfast, eat a granola bar. Keep a box in your car. For makeup, concealer and mascara applied when you arrive at work. For his breakfast, pack everything the night before.
Anonymous says
+1 to the recommendations to do as much as you can the night before and to get up before your son.
I don’t wear makeup, but I get up 35 minutes before the kids, which gives me time to shower, get dressed, make coffee, and get the kids’ breakfast ready. Once kids are up and dressed, I pack our bags while they eat. Lunches are all packed the night before, so just need to go into backpacks. I get my breakfast ready in the morning, but that’s usually just grabbing a baked good I made over the weekend, a jar of overnight oats from the fridge, or putting yogurt in a travel container.
My kids are 2.5, so this may not be relevant to you, but they also know that at 7:15 we need to stop eating, go pee, and get our shoes and jacket on to leave the house, so if they haven’t finished their breakfast by then they’ll have to wait until snacktime at school.
Anon says
what time do you get up and do your kids get up? trying to figure out my morning routine once we switch from nanny to daycare
anon says
I made the switch from a nanny to preschool last fall, and here’s what we do:
If both parents are home, we get up when the kids do at 6:30. Spouse A preps breakfast for the kids while Spouse B gets the kids dressed. Spouse A jumps in the shower while Spouse B supervises breakfast. Spouse B jumps in the shower while Spouse A handles socks, shoes, etc. Whole family walks out the door together at 7:50. By far what takes the longest in this process is the adults getting ready, but we can’t seem to make our kids stay in their room later than 6:30 and can’t drop them at school any earlier than 8:00, so this works for us.
If spouse is away and I’m solo with the kids, I try to wake up at 6:00 so I can drink my coffee and shower in peace. Or I get the kids dressed and let them play with electronic toys while I get myself ready, then feed them breakfast on the go (think granola bar).
Anonymous says
I get up at 6:00 and kids get up at 6:35. That half hour is sufficient for me, but I work in a very informal field and don’t spend a lot of time styling myself in the morning, so I know that doesn’t work for everyone.
Em says
I make Kodiak cake pancakes on Sunday for breakfasts for the entire week. I add frozen blueberries and flax meal for extra nutrients. We usually eat them at our counter with syrup, but when we are running late I warm them up with some butter, wrap them in a paper towel, and we eat them in the car. That may be a fast and filling breakfast option for you.
CHL says
This just sounds rough – that’s a long commute. I’m always on team mothers helper for things that need to be done but not by me. Could a high-schooler or similar come over on weekends and cook a weeks work of breakfasts (and maybe dinners)? I also know people who have a high school or college student come and get kids ready and off to school in the morning. Maybe something similar? I also subscribe to the school of getting up early enough to shower, dry hair, make up and coffee before kids get up. I generally throw on work clothes just before heading out the door.
Leatty says
If you have a partner, can you split the childcare responsibilities in the morning? On the days I take DD to daycare, DH wakes her, feeds her, and gets her dressed while I get ready. He times it so that she is ready to go by the time I am ready to go, so all I have to do is convince her to get in the car and go. After I leave, he gets ready for work. On the days DH takes DD to daycare, I get her ready and either WFH or get ready before I get her up. This works so much better for us than one of us doing it all (which we occasionally have to do due to business travel)
Anonanonanon says
Breakfast sandwiches are too complicated for a weekday breakfast. granola bars, yogurt tubes, pre-cooked hardboiled eggs, etc. are your friend here. It sounds like your son eats in the car? put a poncho on him in case he spills. Definitely shower and do hair to the extent possible at night.
June says
For breakfast can your kid eat at daycare? I give my two year old whole milk when he wakes up to hold him over (your kid could drink in the car) and then at daycare he eats whatever carb-y breakfast they serve with the yogurt I pack him.
We eat low carb so for breakfast I batch prep hard boiled eggs, baked bacon or egg cups, or make a protein shake. However, many days I don’t eat breakfast because if you eat low carb/high fat its easy to intermittent fast and skip breakfast because you don’t get hungry as often. I want to try bulletproof coffee (coffee with unsalted butter and coconut oil blended in) for days I’m on the road and don’t want to be bothered eating in the morning.
For makeup just pick what features need the most help. I have redness, oily skin, straight eyelashes and sparse brows, so a 5-minute face for me is concealer (under eyes and around nose and mouth), powder, brow gel, pop of blush, curled lashes and 1 coat of mascara. A damp beauty blender sponge makes the concealer application and blending super quick.
Anonymous says
2 kids ages 1 and 4. Spouse and I get up at 6:45, kids up 7:05, out the door in the car 7:30. We shower the night before. I rewet my hair and apply hair products in the morning – curly hair so I air dry. Get dressed – changed wardrobe to all coordinating neutrals that I know fit, so dressing takes 2 min. Put bathrobe over clothes. We send kids’ breakfasts with them to early care – make them the night before, although sometimes need to chuck the oatmeal or waffle in the box at the last minute. Kids’ and adults’ bags are packed and by the door except for breakfasts the night before. I try to get my bag in the car the night before, unless I’m bringing food for myself. We give the kids milk immediately on awakening and then physically get them dressed/supervise the same. It’s very fast since we adults are already dressed and done with breakfast. I put on makeup in the parking lot at work – bb cream, lipstick and sometimes mascara.
Anonymous says
Thank you all for sharing your tips and routines!
Anon says
Tips for surviving croup? None of us slept more than an hour straight last night.
Anonymous says
Hugs—croup is the worst. Has the pediatrician prescribed either steroids or nebulizer meds to reduce the inflammation?
Anon says
I haven’t taken her to the ped since it’s “mild” according to what I found online (no stridor except when crying). She’s just waking up at night due to coughing and refusing to go back to sleep. When she’s healthy we rely pretty heavily on CIO to get her back to sleep after nighttime disturbances, but that feels cruel when she’s sick, especially when the crying is making it hard for her to breathe.
I’ll call the ped and see what they say.
govtattymom says
Not to be an alarmist, but maybe consider taking her to the pediatrician if it progresses. My daughter’s croup got worse as time went on, and the pediatrician said I should probably have taken her in earlier. She also emphasized the need to visit the ER if it gets really bad.
Anonymous says
Definitely call the ped. We also generally let our kids fuss back to sleep, but when they’re sick and having trouble breathing/coughing, it’s really helpful to be able to give them albuterol.
rosie says
Please call your nurse line or on-call peds and let them tell you when they want to see you, not the internet. And no, don’t do CIO when she’s sick (I’m not anti-CIO, but the book we used to do CIO was very clear that sick, even teething, meant comforting not CIO). Also, you haven’t said how old, but I assume we’re talking at least an older toddler/preschooler here, not a younger infant? Because I think that may impact when she needs to be seen. Sorry, I know it’s not awful to be dealing with a sick kid and your own sleep dep, but this is what the peds office is there for.
Anon says
I called and they want to see her, so we’re going there this afternoon. Hopefully they can give us a nebulizer or something. She’s 20 months, fwiw, but really big for her age – bigger than many 3 year olds.
rosie says
Hope they can get her (and therefore you!) some relief.
Pogo says
I’d also consider (and tell the ped you’re considering to make sure it’s ok) some kind of co-sleeping situation while shes sick. My coworker said when hers had croup the only way the baby would sleep was on her chest in the rocker – because she was elevated, and comforted by her mom. I also co-sleep when my son is sick, as it’s the only way any of us get rest. After he’s 100% better, we CIO again to reset back to sleeping in his own crib.
Anonymous says
Nebulizer will help quickly. We do steamy showers 3x/day and I had an older pediatrician to tell me to bang on her back with a fist (not hard of course) when the steam was running. Works well.
Anon says
@Pogo – we tried co-sleeping last night out of desperation but she thought it was just a fun slumber party with mom and dad haha. Rocking/holding upright usually doesn’t work either. She’s a very affectionate kid when she’s happy but when she is mad she does. not. want. to be touched and gets hysterical if you try to hold her (I’m kind of the same way tbh, so I get it). I really appreciate the suggestions though and will talk to ped about sleeping arrangements.
buffybot says
My instinct was warm steamy showers, since it sounded like congestion to me (and that’s usually what makes my son feel better when he has an ordinary cold). But my doctor told me that the distinctive cough was really caused by inflammation/swelling, so that heat could exacerbate it. She recommended cool air – walks outside, a fan blowing, etc. That seemed to help.
anne-on says
Ugh, I am SO sorry, croup is terribly scary. Nebulizer meds (albuterol/budesonide) made a HUGE difference for us and generally turn things around in just a few days so I’d definitely ask about those if you haven’t yet. The mask/noise of the nebulizer scared our son, so making nebulizer time also iPad cartoon time was what made it much more bearable.
Otherwise, sleeping mostly upright, and a humidifier helped a lot with comfort.
Anonymous says
Steamy bathroom and prayers.
ElisaR says
it’s so rough. My doc said both steamy showers for the wet air and going outside and getting some dry cold air. In a pinch, you can hold the baby in front of the refridgerator. Obviously you can’t do that for too long, but when it gets scary and they can’t breathe it’s a quick fix. Also we use a towel under the mattress to prop it up a bit.
Anonymous says
+1 – alternate steam and cool.
Get medicine from doctor says
This is late but hopefully it gets through moderation. Definitely go to the doctor and get the oral steroid (ours was administered in one dose at doctor’s office for a 1 year old). Croup can get worse over time. There’s no reason for kiddo to be in discomfort any longer. Hope your little one feels better soon :).
HSAL says
Need recommendations for a new kids’ table. We’ve been using the IKEA LACK side table and little stools for the last two years, but with three kids trying to use it, I think we need to upgrade. Kids are 4 (but small) and two (big) 16 month olds. I have my eye on the nesting table/chairs from Crate and Barrel, but it’s spendy. I want something with decent surface area, so I think the other IKEA tables are too small. Suggestions?
Anonymous says
We can get easily 3 kids around the IKEA FLISAT, but they’re only 34 months (~28 lbs), so maybe that wouldn’t work with a 4-year-old in the mix.
HSAL says
I do like the storage in the table so maybe that’s worth another look. Thanks!
Anon says
Why not get a couple more LACK tables?
HSAL says
Space – I don’t want three individual tables. Plus one of them chewed some paint off the corner so the current table is looking rough. I loved the yellow version but they don’t make it anymore.
Redux says
We have one we love from Pottery Barn. Our specific model is no longer available but it seats four chairs around a rectangular table with open drawers underneath. It’s been great for our two kids (eldest is now 5) and we’ve used it as a little dining table for 4 kids at once. It’s real wood and super sturdy.
FP says
I feel like a broken record lately with my Costco recommendations – but we recently purchased the Macey table and 4 chair set from Costco’s website (there was a coupon that brought it down to $225 from $270). It is EXCELLENT quality and feels like it will last us a very long time. It’s worth it at full price without a doubt.
Anon says
We have the Ikea LATT, but I don’t think you could get all three kids around it at once. It works for a 4 year old and my 4-year-old-sized toddler.
Anon says
Best tips for making mom friends? My son is in preschool so I am on a first name basis with the other moms in his class but struggling to move to the next step with any of them (or with other moms I see around with similarly aged kids). What’s worked for you?
HSAL says
I added a few moms on Facebook, then just invited two couples over a couple months later. I talk to them several times a week and we meet up for lunches on occasion. Honestly, seeing their online behavior gave me a hint at whether I wanted more of a friendship. It’s definitely not foolproof though, so I also threw a pre-party at our house before their spring musical and invited more parents. Basically just do something to take it to the next level.
Anonymous says
“Wanna meet up at the park Saturday morning? I’ll bring coffee and bagels.”
lsw says
I have also left a note in the kid’s cubby with my cell number so they can text when it’s convenient for them.
Anonymous says
Email or text to invite them to join an activity you are doing. I’ve done meeting up at the playground, meeting up at the skating rink, train museum, paw patrol movie or ice cream shop. Usually I just say ‘thinking of taking Kid to the ice cream shop on Saturday afternoon, let me know if you’d like to join and we can figure out a time that works’.
If they are old enough to be done with naps, I usually suggest Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I avoid Saturday morning playdates as I love hanging out at home in my pjs until lunch.
If you’re looking to convert them to hanging out with out the kids, after a couple of kid playdates I’ll usually mention a movie or paint night or other adult activity that I’m thinking of going to.
Anon says
Yes, I will not do a Saturday morning playtime unless I already reallllly like you. I prefer post-nap playtime (and maybe a drink) to bridge the witching hours between nap and dinner/bed.
ElisaR says
we have done a trip to the park after daycare (getting tough as it gets darker at night) with 4 or so kids…. super casual and sometimes we trickle over to pizza afterward. Kids love it and moms get to know each other.
anon says
and then hope that when they say yes, they don’t then cancel, reschedule and then cancel again….why is it so hard to make mom friends. we live in an area with so many people who are from here and it can be very hard as a transplant
NYCer says
Have the kids in the preschool class started having birthday parties yet? We always had to invite the entire class (if we invited anyone) to preschool parties, so the parents end up knowing each other fairly well by the end of birthday party season. It also gives you a pretty good chance to find out if you click with any of the other moms/parents. If you’re chatting with someone at a party who you like, suggest a play date the next week or weekend!
Sarabeth says
Yes, birthday parties were where it really happened for us! But starting around 3.5, we also reached out for playdates. At that age, a parent always stayed, so we got to hand out with the adults as well. Not all of them became friends, but some definitely did!
EB0220 says
Honestly, I invited everyone in the class to kid’s birthday party via a physical invite and asked them to text their RSVP. Then we had each others’ numbers and could text for playdates, group outings, etc.
blueberries says
I invite the family over for playdate + early dinner, go to all the birthday parties, and invite folks for coffee/a walk during the workday (if they have a flexible schedule or it’s easy for me to go to them).
Anonymous says
I’m trying to decide what kind of stroller to buy and could use your input. I have a three month old and we’ve just been using the stroller frame that goes with the Chicco car seat for now. We will use it primarily for a walking commute to daycare, and may occasionally use it on metro. I was pretty set on the city mini GT, but now am considering the Mockingbird because you can reverse the seat to do rear-facing. Will the desire to do rear-facing go away relatively soon? Will it be annoying that you can’t collapse the stroller while the seat is rear-facing? Thanks so much!
Anon. says
If I wanted to use it rear-facing, I would be super annoyed not to be able to collapse the stroller while the seat was rear-facing. Presumably you’re leaving the stroller at daycare during the day and will need to fold it up every morning when you get there?
Anonymous says
I have the City Mini GT and am quite happy with it, but depending on how long your walk to daycare is it would be really nice to be able to reverse the seat so you can interact with your kid more. That being said, totally agree that if you can’t collapse it while the seat is backwards it is totally not worth it.
Cb says
You’ve been super smart not to buy the stroller right away so you can consider your needs. The City Mini is a dream to push but once my son switched from the bassinet to the main compartment, I missed the rearfacing capacity. I mostly wore my son though for the first 18 months or so and even now, I’ll throw him on my back so we can have a chat.
ElisaR says
i love the city mini GT. Been using it for 3.5 yrs now. Only issue is the small storage space underneath. I get why the rear facing is appealing but I think the baby gets more stimulation by looking out at everything and certainly by 6 months or so they benefit from seeing the world!
Anonymous says
I loved having a rear facing stroller. I had the Quinny Buzz and later the Stroll-Air Duo. I loved being able to chat with them all through the toddler age as we walked along. I don’t think mine ever asked to be turned front facing – at least not before they were pretty much uninterested in the stroller anyway. I found both strollers easy to flip the seat around to fold.
Not 100% sure but I think a friend said that the British Speech Pathology Association actually has a formal recommendation that recommends rearfacing strollers because they allow more engagement with speech.
rosie says
I think having the reversible seat is nice. I liked it when she was an infant, and sometimes will use it in reverse so we can talk more (she’s 2.5). We have the Uppababy Cruz and you cannot fold it with the seat in reverse either, but it’s not that difficult to switch the seat — does require 2 hands, though (so would be annoying if trying to fold up the stroller to get on the bus, but I personally wouldn’t mind having to do it at daycare after drop off, if you even have to fold your stroller at daycare).
Since it sounds like you walk a lot, I’ll also say that having a lot of basket storage underneath was a big attraction for us with the Cruz, as we walk commute & walk to get groceries and other errands. We also had the Chicco Keyfit caddy as our first stroller and the basket on that is pretty big, so we were used to having it. Sometimes I do wish that we had a three-wheel stroller as our main one instead of a four-wheel, though, for maneuverability.
Anonymous says
+1 LOVED our Cruz. My only whine is that I wish we had gotten the Vista from the start as we (unexpectedly) had a second less than 2 years after the first, and had to upgrade.
rosie says
I have seen ads for the Mockingbird and am intrigued. Seems like it’s an easier fold (one-handed and stands up smoother) than the Cruz? And a lower price point? I have my complaints about the Cruz but cannot say I regret getting it because it’s generally a workhorse for city, car-free living.
NYCer says
We have (and love) the Cruz as well. Personal preference, but I would not want a stroller that doesn’t have the ability to have a rear facing seat as my primary stroller. My baby is 8 months now, and I still enjoy having her rear facing and I think I will continue to enjoy it for a lot longer. We also really appreciate the big basket underneath the seat.
[Caveat, baby is not in daycare, so we rarely if ever have to fold the stroller. It is easy to fold, but you do have to turn the seat around which takes about 5-10 seconds.]
qcgc says
So I have a city mini gt (the double) and a Cruz. I love the city mini but for commuting I would consider the Cruz. You can make the seat rear facing and the basket underneath is huge.
Anon says
I was worried about not having rear-facing abilities (I have a Minu, and like it, but small was the goal for me). We switched from a carseat caddy stroller to the Minu at 6 months, and by that point I don’t think I could have gotten more than a few more weeks of rear-facing out of my kid. So if you know you have a kid who is generally more into seeing things than looking at you, I think you can get the CityMini.
Looked at the Cruz; bought the City Mini says
Very similar story here. We looked at both the Cruz and the City Mini, I slightly preferred the steering and folding on the City Mini, was worried I’d really miss the capability to rear-face (other than in the infant bucket), but ultimately didn’t feel like I could justify the increased price of the Cruz just for rear-facing. He was a cranky stroller rider from the beginning (front facing but reclined or rear facing in the bucket seat), but became *great* once we were able to do front-facing without the full recline (for us this was at about 4 months). He just really wants to be able to see what’s going on and I don’t think he’d tolerate rear-facing for any significant length of time now (6 months).
anon says
Suggestions for what undergarments to wear for moderate exercise while bre@stfeeding? I am 5 weeks pp and just starting to take vigorous walks and light jogs. I am extremely top heavy at the moment — probably an H cup. And my nursing bras are not nearly supportive enough. Will I cause myself problems if I cram into my pre-delivery sports bra? No underwire, but it is quite tight.
ElisaR says
i just got some sports bras at target in a larger size than my previous ones…. I think cramming in too much might not be comfortable.
Scilady says
Moving Comfort/ Brooks has some sports bras that have velcro straps. They are supposed to be for adjustment, but I also where them while bre@stfeeding in case the need arises. The Juno and the Fiona are ones I have, although I think they might have a couple more. You can look for them at various sites, as I can normally find them on sale somewhere.
EB says
I have both of these and while they are $$, I wholeheartedly recommend them. I run in them. You can undo the straps to nurse, and they are both unbelievably supportive, even for someone with a larger chest (DD, not H) who runs. I have worn mine into the ground.
anon says
+1 for the Brooks Juno. I bought one in a bigger size while nursing.
Pogo says
On the river store there is a knockoff called the SYORKAN that is much cheaper. The quality is worse than Brooks but until you stabilize on size it would be a good alternative.
Anon says
Are you prone to clogged ducts? I always got one when I wore anything remotely tight or constricting so you might keep that in mind.
So Anon says
I had this issue as well, so I always pumped or nursed right before strapping into the sports bra.
op says
No clogged ducts yet, but yeah, this is one thing I’m worried about. Being sure to thoroughly empty first seems doable, though. Kiddo is a marathon feeder, so he will happily help.
Anonymous says
If you haven’t already, get yourself an underwire nursing bra. It wouldn’t be enough for jogging but might suffice for walking. I got one a few weeks postpartum (and I’m a similar size) and never looked back. Anita makes great ones.
Anon says
This. From someone who is an H non-nursing and several sizes north of that nursing. The Brooks one is too small even in their largest size. I think you’re looking at an underwire sports bra (non-nursing) if you’re going to be jogging – I think Panache makes one. I solve this problem by not doing high impact exercise, which is not an approach I recommend.
Anon says
The only nursing bra that fits me and provides some support without underwire is the Bravado body silk full cup bra. I wear it on walks. I’m about a G. Not sure i’d run in it, definitely shell out for a new sports bra if you are serious about running. Nordstrom can do nursing bra conversions if that is a feature you want to add to a non-nursing bra.
High Chair says
Anyone feel strongly about their high chair? We are in the market. Our 7 week old is our third and last baby (thought we were done with 2, gave away our old one), so I don’t feel the need to invest in the top of the line. Looking for the mvp to get the job done.
Thanks for your recommendations!
Redux says
Honestly? The used fisher price high chair we got for free from a neighbor. It has been a workhorse between our two kids and we keep it around for the frequent meal-time visitor. It’s easy to use and easy to clean. It’s definitely not the high-fashion stokke some of our friends opted for, but I have never regretted going the cheap and easy route. Craigslist/ FB marketplace/ freecyle all the way.
Anon says
ikea. it is cheap and easy to clean and is very highly rated. i have many friends with fancy high chairs who’ve abandoned them in favor of the ikea ones.
rosie says
We have the Oxo seedling and it’s done the job at a not top-of-the line price point. Reclines if needed, adjustable height, wheels (I really wanted wheels), in theory can be taken apart for storage. I machine wash the seat and straps every so often although generally wipe clean as-needed. But if you do end up with it, make sure you wash on no/low spin as I snapped the inner plastic framing in the seat and now it’s taped up still works fine.
Anonymous says
IKEA Antilop? Cheap, easy to clean, totally functional.
anon says
+1
Anonymous says
+2. I had a chicco one with my first and it was fine, but got the IKEA Antilop with my second and really liked it. The footprint is smaller so it takes up less space, it’s easy to move since it’s light, and it looks more modern. Super easy to clean, too, since there’s no cloth. My only complaint is that I would have liked the straps to be removable to clean more thoroughly.
Butter says
+3 Love the Antilop. We got ours for free from a listserv. After a year and a half, kiddo moved to a booster at the table (no tray, just pulled up to the table) at his demand. Had really wanted a Tripp Trapp but am really glad we didn’t invest in one after how little he used and/or cared about the chair.
Emily S. says
We had the Antilop and then moved into the Fisher Price booster with tray. I think if I had to do it again, I would skip the Antilop and just start them in the Fisher Price booster. An extra high chair takes up so much space, and with the booster with tray, they can sit with the family at the table. It’s all plastic, too, so very easy to clean.
Anon says
Yes. We have the Graco Blossom. The fabric inserts are washable, my kid is a messy eater, and I think we only had to wash once a month or so if we generally wiped it down with a wet rag post meal – not a huge deal. Straps can be washed too (critical). It comes with a booster seat, which is helpful if you have extra older kids (your own or guests), or for travel once your kiddo is sitting, or once your toddler decides to eat at the table. It reclines, for post-meal naps. It takes up a bunch of space, but we have a big kitchen, so that didn’t bother me. Super stable – my very large toddler can rock and scoot it across the kitchen without tipping it if you forget to lock the wheels. At 2.5, we just started talking about maybe moving it to the basement because we just stopped using even the booster (independence, lordy), but we’re pregnant with #2, so I think we’re just going to leave it in the kitchen to be ready for the next kiddo. When kiddo climbed out of every PNP and crib at 18 months, the high chair was the only place to contain kiddo if you needed to do something non-baby safe.
Scilady says
Wise hive, I need some help!
I’ve been brea$tfeeding/ pumping for one year and I am ready to stop. But how do I stop? There seems to be very limited resources on this issue.
Current feeding schedule:
– Wakeup – nurse at home (occurs between 6 – 7:30 am)
– Pump 1 at work – around 10:30 am
– Pump 2 at work – around 2:30 pm
– After daycare nurse – around 5:30/6 pm (sometimes, not always)
– Before bed nurse – around 7/7:30 pm
I tried to go from 2 pumps to 1 at work (occurring around noon) which is mostly working. Do I then start decreasing the amount of time I pump? What next?
Also, she has stopped taking her bottles of pumped milk at daycare (maybe she drinks 3 oz, with lots of food and water). I’ve been giving her the second bottle on the way home to keep her full (and prevent the after daycare nursing). If she doesn’t drink this second bottle, she inevitably wakes up in the night hungry and wanting to nurse.
And to make life more fun, she’s allergic to dairy so we have to use a milk alternative.
Suggestions??
GCA says
I’m right with you, daughter is 14 months and transitioning to toddler room so I’m taking the opportunity to ditch the pumping and bottles. Would like to keep nursing through this winter’s cold season and then wean.
Are you looking to stop pumping, or stop pumping and nursing? In your shoes, going to 1 pump is a start, and decreasing time is a good next step – I’m now pumping for 10 minutes around 3pm and that’s enough. When you get fed up you can basically quit pumping altogether, provided it doesn’t give you clogged ducts. Then drop one nursing session at a time.
On the hunger front, I’d try to fill her up with high-fat high-protein foods (avocado, nut butter) at dinner or pre-bedtime snack so that she’s not waking up hungry. My kids are the same way – as infants and young toddlers they wake up legit hungry once or twice in the middle of the night.
Last q: Is she truly allergic to dairy or does she have a dairy sensitivity? My daughter outgrew her dairy protein sensitivity at 10 or 11mo and now consumes cow’s milk, yogurt and cheese with alacrity, so if that is an option it could be a useful way to get more calories into her.
Anonymous says
– reduce your midday pump time until you get to around 5 mins and then you can just stop.
– don’t try to drop every thing at once, focus on dropping the pumping for now, it will make for a smoother transition.
– FWIW I nursed to about 18 months with just nursing morning and bedtime. I generally offered after daycare until around 14 months but they weren’t interested. If you are dealing with a milk allergy, it’s a lot cheaper if you nurse morning and evening and then you just have to do soy formula once per day. For milk allergy, you can’t switch to a milk alternative like rice, soy or almond milk, until they are 2 years old you need to use soy formula (not just soy milk) or the speciality hydrologized milk formulas. Soy yoghurt etc was fine for our oldest but soy formula increased her eczema so we had to use the expensive super hydrologized stuff. Around 16 – 18 months all three of my kids self weaned, I suspect in part because my supply slowly tanked.
— if you do want to wean entirely then I found the morning feed the easiest to cut but it may depend on which feed your kid is most attached to. E.g. if Dad can put her to bed for a few days, then you can drop the evening feed first.
Anon says
I’d see how long you can go until your first pumping session at work. Then maybe you can eliminate the second one.
anon says
I had the same questions as you about a year ago, and fully thought I wanted wean, but it seemed impossible and stressful. Are you 100% sure you want to be done with nursing, and not just pumping? I cut back to no pumping at 13 months and it was easier than I thought it would be, similar to what you’re doing. cut back to 1 session for a week, then stopped all together but had the pump just in case for a week.
And then my doc suggested to keep nursing through winter for the antibodies, which made sense and she had a pretty healthy winter. She seemed to nurse all day on weekends for like 6 more months, which was fine I guess. But refused bottles after 17 months, even from a sitter before bed. We cut nursing back to just after work, bedtime and morning until maybe 22 months, cut out after school at 23 months, then night at 24 months (had a sitter for a 2 nights, then stopped offering and she didn’t ask) and totally done by 26 months (again, stopped offering and she didn’t ask). I basically stopped stressing about it and then waited until she grew out of it, but also was terrified we’d be nursing at 4.
2 Cents says
I’m there too with my 18-month-old. We’re down to:
—nursing in the early am (up at 5 for a snack, on and off nursing until I get up for the day—baby is, blessedly, a late sleeper)
—nursing when I get home from work
—nursing to sleep
Basically, nothing during the day. This took off once he started drinking more water and didn’t request a bottle of breast milk during the day. I weaned myself from pumping by going from 3 sessions —> 2 —> 1 —> none as long as I was back before 12 hours away from baby (bc I’d hurt at the beginning otherwise!).
Anon says
I dropped pumps slowly (about a week for each session I dropped) by extending the time between pumping. Then when I was down to one pumping session, I shortened the time I was pumping by 5 minutes every few days until I was done. I quit pumping at 9 months, and then when I went to wean off the nursing at 18 months, I dropped the evening feed first (DH was still unacceptable to toddler for bedtime, but we switched to rocking and cuddling rather than nursing). Basically if she got hysterical she would nurse, but otherwise I would not offer and redirect if she was less than hysterical. It would be every other day, then every three days, then eventually it was fine. Then the morning one was the last to go (and easiest) because I could take her straight downstairs just for breakfast (which distracted her from the nursing).
lsw says
What’s entertaining you right now about your kid(s)?
My three year old is potty-training and has started clapping for me after I pee if we’re in the bathroom at the same time.
My 13 year old plays “20 Questions” solely about obscure characters from The Office with my husband every day right now. I can’t participate because I have barely watched the show but I find it hilarious.
Anonymous says
At parent teacher conference yesterday my first grader’s teacher reported that at recess he holds hand with a little girl in his class. Be still my beating heart. :-) (They are friends but it’s just so cute to me.)
GCA says
we decided to get kid 2 her own toddler backpack as she transitions to the toddler classroom.
him: but what cute animal should be on it? (kid 1’s is a giraffe)
me: penguin: no
fox: not quite
owl: also no
*stroke of genius* raccoon. her spirit animal is a raccoon. (she is fond of taking all the clothes out of the kids’ dressers and depositing them all over the house; I once found her sippy cup stashed at the bottom of the laundry basket; and the other day she managed to climb into the infant car seat on our living room floor and then couldn’t get out. )
Husband and MIL took the kids to the science museum on Monday. Within a couple of hours, Kid 1 had some kind of anxious meltdown about the museum closing and locking them all in. (It’s funnier in retrospect; not so funny for DH, who had to pull the toddler away from what she was doing to console the big kid and take everyone to lunch.)
Pogo says
My kid just started declaring it’s someone’s birthday (usually Baby or Moose, his favorite toys) and singing them a very broken Happy Birthday and then clapping and shouting “yay!”. Obviously something they learned at daycare and so precious.
Anon says
So cute!
Anonymous says
My 1 y/o doesn’t talk too much, but sings Baa Baa Black sheep, on key and almost all the words.
My three year old calls squirrels “squirrelers” and butterflies “blooderflies” and I refuse to correct her.
lsw says
My 3yo says “skay-rulls” and I love it!
FP says
I feel like I am searching for a sippy cup that does not exist and would appreciate any wisdom or recommendations! My 14 month old currently uses the nuk active sippy cup for his milk and water at daycare. We send in water and milk daily in a lunchbox. I’d love to move him to a straw cup or better sippy cup for water, but everything I find either leaks or is super bulky and I can’t fit it in his lunchbox with his lunch. My first went to a daycare where they provided milk with open cups in the toddler room, which was great, but our new daycare has you provide everything so I’m stumped on how to send his milk in for lunch in once we are done with the nuk soft sippy cup. Any suggestions?
Anonymous says
What counts as too bulky? The Phillips Avent My Bendy Straw Cup and the Munchkin Weighted Straw Cup were the top picks of toddlers in our daycare. If you get the bigger versions they don’t have handles, which can make them easier to fit places.
Anon says
I think you can buy lids for the 360 cups? I would not do the munchkin weighted straw cup because the pressure differential created by cold milk lead to constant leaks for us.
Anonymous says
I wouldn’t recommend the 360 cups for travel–you can get lids but in my experience they don’t snap on securely and so the cups still leak if they’re on their side.
AwayEmily says
14 months is prime time to switch to the 360 cup.
Toddler coat? says
Any recs for a coat for a toddler boy in the Midwest? I’m too paranoid to let him wear it in his carseat, so need something that comes on and off fairly easily.
JTM says
Upper Midwest here – we do a fleece jacket under the car seat straps, right now she’s in this Cat & Jack jacket from Target – https://www.target.com/p/toddler-girls-fleece-jacket-cat-jack-153/-/A-54536553?preselect=54424518#lnk=sametab
Then when she’s out of the car we do a puffy coat, I got hers from Costco that also came with a fleece lined hat. Sometimes we’ll put the coat on backwards over the car seat straps if she’s extra chilly in the car, but we park in a garage so normally we don’t need that layer until we’re out in the elements.
anon says
there is some patagonia coat that people on here always talk about as being car seat safe. i cannot recall what it is, but maybe someone else can chime in
lsw says
Yes, we have it, and love it. I think it’s the Nano Puff.
lsw says
I just double checked and what we have is/was called the Down Sweater Jacket.
Anonymous says
It’s the Nano Puff. We have it and love it (and live in the upper midwest). It is a huge game changer and we couldn’t handle two kids without being able to load them in with the coats on. However, when we only had one, we totally made it work taking the coat on and off. We just bought one from old navy that was pretty big and relatively cheap during a winter coat sale.
I would buy the Nano Puff in like August when the old colors are on sale. I won’t buy one at new price (even though I can hand it down).
Anonymous says
Thin fleece or down that you can layer under another warmer coat. I love the 3-in-1 jackets for this; Cat & Jack makes a good cheap one, but you can also get them at LLBean, etc.
Anonymous says
Also in the Midwest with a 4 year old. We’ve done fleece, sherpa-lined hoodie, and packable down for car seat jackets. Then we also have a regular heavy coat for outdoor play. I really prefer the packable down to fleece, because we have a ton of cold wind in our area. I just bought kiddo’s new car seat jacket for this season yesterday. It is a Columbia packable down with a fleece lining. It is reversible. The only downside is that it has a hood. I prefer the car seat jacket not to have a hood because that’s less comfortable in the car. But kiddo really liked it and said she wouldn’t mind. We’ll see how it goes.
https://www.columbia.com/toddler-double-trouble-reversible-jacket-SC5505.html