CorporetteMoms

Updated: Oct 29, 2018 84 Comments · by

Maternity Monday: Ribbed Midi Maternity Dress

Maternity· Recent Recs

This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A woman wearing a Joie Womens Dresses Joie Dendra Midi Sweater Dress In RhubarbI like the ribbed pattern on this dress — it’s a little unexpected and it looks really cool. The elbow-length sleeves are flattering, and I think this is a nice sweater dress to wear to work. Note that Topshop has very similar options in non-maternity sweaters as well, including this mixed rib funnel neck swwater, which I like so much that I may end up recommending it on Corporette as well. The pictured dress is machine washable and available in limited sizes. It’s $75 at Nordstrom. Ribbed Midi Maternity Dress (L-all) Building a maternity wardrobe for work? Check out our page with more suggestions along both classic and trendy/seasonal lines.

Sales of note for 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
  • Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
  • J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
  • Old Navy – 40% off everything
  • Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs

See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:

Click here to see our top posts!

And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!

Comments

  1. NYNY says

    Not a mom, but an auntie seeking holiday gift advice from moms. DH & I had an idea to get magazine subscriptions for our nieces & nephews, who range from 6-16 years old. I have good ideas for the older kids, who have specialized interests and are ready for regular magazines (I was going to say “adult magazines” but I don’t mean p0rn!). I’m planning on getting the youngest girls Kazoo, and would love to hear feedback on it from anyone who has seen it.

    I’m a little stumped for two of the kids, and am looking for suggestions:

    – 12yo niece, calls herself a fashionista. Any tween/teen magazines that don’t promote eating disorders and feeling like you aren’t pretty enough?
    – 6yo nephew, just starting to read. What are good little kid early reader magazines?

    TIA!

      • anne-on says

        I think either highlights or national geographic kids would be great for the 6yo

    • Anonymous says

      Does the 12 year old have any other interests than fashion? Does she play any sports or is she into drawing or writing? I’d get an interest specific mag if possible.

      Girls Life is the best of the tween/teen fashion mags but still filled with skinny white girls.

    • lsw says

      For the younger one (and maybe older?) can you do anything from the Cricket family of magazines? My stepdaughter has loved Ask magazine. Cricket itself was a favorite of mine when I was your niece’s age.

    • Anonymous says

      If the 12-year-old is into reading and writing, there’s a cool magazine called “Stone Soup” which is billed as the New Yorker for the under 13 set :)

      I agree that Highlights would be great for the 6-year-old.

    • quail says

      Does she like a specific type of animal or have a pet? I was totally into Horse Illustrated at that age even though I did not own a horse nor was I ever likely to own one, though I went to horse camp in the summer for a few weeks. I actually learned a lot from getting that magazine about science-things (horse diseases, nutrition, etc) even though I had little interest in that topic, if you’re looking for some subversive STEM input. Maybe a dog or cat magazine would have the same type of stuff?

      Otherwise, what about an art/design type magazine for teens? I don’t know if such a thing exists, but puts the focus on what she can do with her interests other than simply looking a certain way.

      Finally, I also got New Moon magazine at that age. Google it – it’s for girls 8-14 and bills itself as “the girls’ magazine and online communities of girls, parents and allies raising strong girls in a still-unequal world.”

      • NYNY says

        She’s musical, but there’s a lot of music stuff in the family (her parents both sing in choirs and play piano, older brother sings and plays multiple instruments), so I think she’s covered there. She’s not really into animals or STEM stuff. She’s creative – loves to sew, draw, and write.

        On a scale of 1 to 10, how hippy-dippy is New Moon? I love the idea, but if it’s too granola, she won’t be into it.

        • Anonymous says

          What about Cicada? It’s from the Cricket family of magazines but it’s a literary arts magazine for teens – if she’s into drawing and writing she might like that.

        • quail says

          It was pretty hippy-dippy as I recall – like I remember reading a story about a celebration of getting your period. I’d say overall a 6. But more so just clearly not typical teen girl magazine/ empowery than hippy-dippy as such. It’s also a little individual-dependent because a more mature 12 year old might be put off by some of the stuff accessible to 8 year olds.

          What about a sewing magazine like Threads (just found that via Google, no personal knowledge) or something? Could be cool to get new ideas and stuff every month.

    • Jax says

      Side note re: magazines promoting eating disorders or not feeling pretty enough…

      For our generation, it was magazines and supermodel worship, but for the next generation I think it’s coming from YouTube makeup tutorials, Instagram, following celebs on social media, etc. Girls have access to a whole internet full of damaging ideas and expectations.

      I have an 11 year old daughter and I’m getting really uneasy with what she can access on her Ipod. It’s really hard to know what’s she getting into when she’s relaxing in her room and I’m starting to panic a bit.

    • PhilanthropyGirl says

      Ranger Rick Jr. for the six year old? I loved Ranger Rick as a child, but junior is ages 4-7, so probably more reading level appropriate

      American Girl Magazine is billed ages 8-12. Maybe that would suit?

      • avocado says

        Wow! I had no idea. Any ideas on a good age range for this? I am thinking my almost-10-year-old mini-feminist is still a bit young.

    • Another BigLaw Parent says

      +1 to Highlights for the 6 year old. I don’t have any good recommendations on fashion magazines, but if any of the older kids ready for “regular” magazines likes fun or fascinating trivia knowledge, I’d highly recommend Mental Floss.

    • NYNY says

      You guys are the best! I’m going to try to pop into a B&N to look at Highlights, Nat Geo Kids, Teen Vogue, American Girl, New Moon, and the entire Cricket family, plus look at what sewing mags are out there. Thanks!!!

  2. lsw says

    Man, I love this dress so much. I wish it had been around when I was pregnant!

  3. Kelly C. says

    For holiday cards this year, I uploaded a great summer photo of toddler for the main photo, put in a small family photo in that was taken 8 months ago, and had them addressed and mailed directly by the company making the cards. I feel so accomplished that is checked off my list. Maybe next year we will get professional photos, but it just didn’t work out this year.

    • Anon says

      My main gripe with Shutterfly is that you can’t filter for only the cards that are able to be mailed-by-them. I am totally willing to pay $1 extra per card to NOT have to wait in line for Christmas stamps at the PO, not have to print out mailing labels, etc. Totally a first world problem, but also totally a life saver.

      • Kelly C. says

        What?! We use them and I guess I just happened to choose one of the cards that could be mailed. Next year I will have to remember to double-check before I put in time to one of the designs.

    • avocado says

      My solution for years when we don’t have any really great photos (which unfortunately is most years–I need to up my photography game) is to choose a card with 6 or 8 photos and show a range of things we’ve done over the course of the year. The photos on those cards are so tiny and blurry when printed that you can’t really tell if someone is squinting or something.

  4. blue says

    My tall 3-year-old sized out of his convertible car seat. I’m looking for a 5-point harness that will transition into a booster. Any suggestions or models to avoid? Thanks!

    • Anonymous says

      We just got a Graco Tranzitions for our 5 year old and I love it. It’s narrow like a Diono (17 inches across), it has a five point harness that’s good to 65lbs and it turns into a highback booster and then a backless booster. I liked it so much we bought another one for our second car and one for my mom’s car. It also has two cup holders.

    • mascot says

      Britax Pioneer is what we have, the Britax Frontier is the fancier version I believe. High backed booster that can be used with 5pt harness or regular seat belt. I think the high backed boosters are more comfortable (and maybe safer) on the rare occasions that my kid falls asleep in the car. We keep a BubbleBum on hand for extra riders or when we need to send a booster for carpool.

    • Anon says

      I love the Britax Frontier. It goes up to 90 pounds in harness mode, then 120 in booster mode, so I hope that gets us all the way to the age 10-12 recommendation. (And if it doesn’t, then we can swtich to the mifold or whatever the latest option is at that point.) The side wings are a little big, but they can still see out the windows and lean forward to see each other with no problem.

    • EP-er says

      We have a couple of Graco Nautilus 3-in-1s for Grandma cars. I like them (cubby + cup holders are a nice touch) but they are heavy to be taking in & out of cars. But if it is mostly going to be in your vehicle, the kids and I like them.

      • avocado says

        The Nautilus is a great seat, except that the giant armrests make it difficult for the child to reach the seat belt buckle in booster seat mode, high-back or backless. Our kid was in the 5-point harness in the Nautilus until she was almost 8 years old. We kept her in the 5-point harness for years after she was perfectly safe using the seat as a high-back booster because it was easier for her to buckle and unbuckle herself with the harness than with the seat belt. When she got big enough for a backless booster, we bought the Graco backless-only booster instead of taking the back off the Nautilus for the same reason.

        • EP-er says

          Yes, this is great point. We have moved it from a 5 pt to a booster and back to a 5 pt, so I kind of forgot about this. My son was able to figure it out, but it was a bit finnicky for him to do himself in the beginning.

          I just saw (2:45 PM EST) that amazon has the Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat – Midnight on a lightning deal for 35% off for the next 4 hours.

    • Cdn anon says

      Are you on facebook? There are some groups run by car seat techs, where you can post your vehicle type and your child’s stats, and get recommendation on what seats will work best. Some seats don’t work well in some cars.

  5. Anon for this says

    I need to have an HSG and I’m kind of freaking out about it. I never had an IUD so I haven’t dealt with anything like it before. I have had a few colonoscopies under conscious sedation and I would really like to push for that option but I don’t know if a doctor would do it that way. It seems like women undergo so many very painful procedures with little to no pain management but men have the option of being knocked out for most of their procedures. Why is that?

    • NewMomAnon says

      I haven’t done HSG, but I’ve had some procedures done while conscious with good pain management, and it still freaked me out. For me, the difference is that I need anxiety management as much as pain management. If the doc won’t do conscious sedation, will he or she give you a scrip for Valium or something?

      • Anon for this says

        The anxiety is a big part of my battle too. As this is part of TTC and anti-anxiety meds are a no-go once pregnant per my doc, I’m not sure if my doc would be on board. They also won’t do the cervix softener as that can cause a spontaneous abortion. However, I’m having the HSG after my period and before ovulation so it is pretty impossible to be pregnant at that point in time. I’m also curious if anyone else who had an HSG had the softener first. My procedure will be done at a Catholic facility (no other choice at the moment) and I wonder if that is where the concern for the possible spontaneous abortion comes from. Ugh I hate this.

        • NewMomAnon says

          I would push back on the “no anxiety meds while pregnant” edict; that is not supported by medical research. I think Valium is a no-go, but there are other options (including nitrous, zoloft, and probably some others that I don’t know, per my OB psych).

          • Anon for this says

            Yeah. Mine is more as needed (flying, stressful trial, medical procedures) so pre-TTC was treated with the one off xanax. I guess xanax, ativan, valium are all no’s in her book. For flying she suggested benadryl. I rolled my eyes so hard. I luckily haven’t needed to fly since March. I did research myself to double check and that class of drug can cause cleft lips and heart defects in fetuses apparently so it’s not all bogus.

    • mascot says

      I can speak to a “drug free” IUD experience. Other than a couple of ibuprofen beforehand, I didn’t have any pain meds with IUD insertion. My doctor offered to numb me, but said that injecting the local would be painful and then we would have to wait until when/if it took effect. Her recommendation was that the 60-90 seconds of discomfort wouldn’t be much worse than the anesthetic. So I went with that option and just gritted my way through it. I’d already had a baby and some surgery/injury recoveries so I was okay with the idea of temporary pain that I knew would end shortly.

    • MSJ says

      I didn’t have any pain killers beyond OTC tylenol or motrin (can’t remember which) and no anti-anxiety meds and it was fine. Weird but not painful from what I can recall (only three years ago, but a big blur in the whole ivf, pregnancy whirlwind – and the start of a non-stop year long regime of being poked and prodded but ended up with wonderful twins).
      But yes, certainly investigate if they could prescribe you something to be more comfortable. And if you do go down the route of IVF, I do recommend sedation for the retrieval. And a killer playlist to calm yourself down for all the injections.
      Good luck!

    • Pogo says

      A few comments…

      I had both an HSG and a sonohysterogram. The latter hurt WAY more. I think for them to do it correctly it needs to hurt a bit – they’re injecting something into your cervix! The first doctor who did the HSG was too “nice” according to my RE, apparently when I started whimpering she was like “ok you’re all set!” but didn’t get all the pictures she needed. So when my RE did it, she really went for it and just kept saying “sorry almost done almost done sorry”. DH was there and I squeezed his poor hand to death. I think I took valium both times.

      Which leads me to… um, why can’t you take valium/xanax/etc if you’re not actually pregnant yet?? Your doctor sounds a little intense. Is it your OB or a RE? I was given valium for my transfer as well (though the transfer didn’t hurt nearly as much as the HSG or sonohysterogram – literally about 2 seconds of cramping).

      As for the retrieval, most doctors WONT let you do it unless you’re under sedation. I was fine and had only minor cramping and spotting, but other women in the recovery room with me did not seem to be as chill about the whole thing.

      • Anon for this says

        Thanks. I haven’t asked specifically if I can take an anti-anxiety but I will. My doc is actually usually pretty chill which is why I was surprised she was so against my anxiety meds earlier in our treatment. Maybe I misunderstood and it was only if I was actually definitely pregnant and not a TTC/2 week window issue. It’s a regular ob/gym but she works closely with an RE I’m getting referred to. They are in the same building. Thanks for sharing your experience.

        • Pogo says

          Sure! and hope I didn’t scare you. I’m probably somewhat of a wimp – I take valium before I get dental work done, too. Like you it’s more about the anxiety than the pain – dental work doesn’t *actually* hurt if you’re numbed properly, and all the cervix-poking of my life combined was still probably less than 2 minutes. Really not terrible in the grand scheme of things, but it’s the fear factor that gets you.

    • RR says

      My experience was that it wasn’t really too bad during, but I had crazy cramping after. I remember walking down the hall alone back to my husband (why I was left to make my way down a long, deserted hospital corridor alone is another question) feeling like I was going to throw up in the hallway (because of the cramp pain–happens to me sometimes with bad menstrual cramps too). So definitely load up on ibuprofen–I’d do 800 mg about an hour before, which is what they gave me post-c-section, just to ward off the crampy feeling.

      FWIW, I’ve done IVF twice, and I somehow ended up doing the egg retrieval without sedation both times–just a local (and a valium for one of them). The HSG felt similar to me to the egg retrieval, just on a lesser scale–like really bad menstrual cramping. Manageable, but not fun.

    • Half Baked says

      I had an HSG, and it wasn’t very painful at all. I took the recommend amount of OTC ibuprofen before the procedure and had normalish cramps afterward. Never had IUD either so can’t compare, but I don’t have a super high pain tolerance or anything. Good luck!

    • Anonymous says

      I’ve had HSGs. They hurt, and then they were over. So, so brief – under a minute. For me, it wouldn’t have been worth the time to sedate me. When they were over, I dressed and drove myself to work.

      That said, I’m confused about the medical advice you have been given. A doctor won’t do an HSG if there is any chance whatsover that you are pregnant. So the no anti-anxiety meds, no cervical softener, etc. for the HSG procedure makes zero sense to me.

      Also, since you seem to be getting advice that runs counter to everything I’ve ever been advised or read, educate yourself some more on the timing of scheduling it. I intentionally fudged (with guidance) a bit to have a few more days padding before I ovulated so I would be certain to be able to TTC that cycle.

    • Anon says

      I had an HSG a few months ago. During the procedure, it felt like pretty intense cramps, but the pain stopped immediately afterwards. So, maybe 30 seconds of pain total. I look some OTC meds prior. Spotted afterwards for a couple of days. I had to show up early enough to take a pregnancy test – they wouldn’t do the procedure until they had a confirmed negative. Could still TTC that cycle.

    • Edna Mazur says

      I’d describe it more as uncomfortable with mild cramping afterward. Not nearly as bad as period pain. Went to breakfast with my husband afterward and work was fine.

      It was cool getting to see my Fallopian tubes. My doc was the one performing the procedure so he saw what he needed to live and in person.

    • anne-on says

      Water, lots and lots of water. It definitely helped. Other than that – practice your deep breathing, and if you can, try to find a spot to lay down and relax/meditate for a bit – perhaps a mother’s room or lactation room?

    • PhilanthropyGirl says

      Water for sure.

      Feet up if you can manage it. I remember putting mine on my computer tower.

      Look for excuses to stay at your desk – call or email instead of walking to a colleagues desk/cubicle. If you have to walk – take it slow.

    • RDC says

      Agree with all of the above, plus a maternity support belt has really helped reduce contractions for me.

  7. NewMomAnon says

    My daughter just popped her third (diagnosed) ear infection of this season – we usually top out at 4 ear infection diagnoses in a year, so we’ve never gotten to the threshold of having the “ear tube” talk. I suspect that she has actually had more that didn’t get treated. She’s almost 3, and she was supposed to outgrow this by now….I am going to talk with our pediatrician about it, but would love some talking points/data points/options. I hate that she’s on antibiotics so much.

    • AnonMN says

      following. My son was just diagnosed with his 3rd this season, and we’re so done. Antibiotics cause yeast infection, so more meds get added to the list. I’d love to jump on the tube train, but wondering if i’m missing the downfalls.

      • Em says

        I don’t know if things have changed, but my sister and I both had tubes around 18 months that left holes when they fell out, meaning we could never put our head under water without ear plugs. We had custom-made ear plugs but they were not a good solution for young kids (I couldn’t really hear with them in), and I never learned to swim as a result, despite years of swimming lessons. My sister is an ok swimmer, but not strong.

        • Anonymous says

          @AnonMN, have you tried probiotics to prevent the yeast infections?

          @Em: not a thing, at least not now. My kid could submerge with tubes, and after they fell out.

    • Anonymous says

      I’d start with the American Academy of Pediatrics official position statement on treatment. Then ask the doctor to explain if they are recommending something else, and if so, why. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/3/e964

      “Key Action Statement 5B: Clinicians may offer tympanostomy tubes for recurrent AOM (3 episodes in 6 months or 4 episodes in 1 year with 1 episode in the preceding 6 months). Evidence Quality: Grade B. Strength: Option.”

    • Mrs. Jones says

      Ear tubes at age 15 months completely stopped our son’s recurring ear infections. The surgery was NBD.

    • anne-on says

      We got tubes when my son was 2, and had 6 ear infections when we agreed to do the tubes (and another one before surgery). He got 1 ear infection the year after that (awful cold that turned into sinus infections for the whole house), and then none since then. For two working parents, not having to deal with the sleep disruptions, missed days of work/daycare and the multiple antibiotics/recheck appointments was amazing.
      His pediatrician and ENT were also both concerned about his speech – too many infections at that age can impact their hearing so it can lead to speech issues. We did have to delay swimming lessons, but really, it wasn’t a big deal. And the tubes came out when he was about 3.5 on their own – no recurrences since.

    • RR says

      One of my 3 had lots of ear infections and ended up with tubes. It was life changing. Super easy, quick surgery, followed by four years of no ear infections until one of them fell out (at which point she got her last ear infection and burst an ear drum, ultimately leading to another surgery–something I think would have happened earlier without the tubes).

    • anon says

      Do you think she is being overtreated? Our ped told us most ear infections actually go away on their own. We seem to encounter them only on weekends and keep my son up all night, so we go to urgent care, which always gives antibiotics. But it has only been 1x/year so I’m not worrying about it. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/02/25/172588359/pediatricians-urged-to-treat-ear-infections-more-cautiously

      On the other hand, I can totally understand not wanting to watch and wait and keep taking time off work to go to the doctor while also having an unhappy kid in pain!

      • anon says

        PS – I just actually read the article I linked and it includes an interesting idea – the safety net prescription you can fill without having to go back to the doctor if it doesn’t get better on its own. That seems like a great option.

    • Kelly C. says

      I’m glad you asked this. We are dealing with what seem like recurrent mild ear infections. Our doctor is following the AAP recommendations (discussing either antibiotics or the “wait and see” approach). We treated the first bad infection with antibiotics, but are taking the “wait and see” approach right now for a mild infection that does not seem to be bothering our 2.5 year old daughter. The doctor is ready to prescribe antibiotics if she complains of pain over the next couple of days, and tells us we can expect recurrent mild infections as my daughter seems to be getting them after every mild cold.

      Has anyone had any luck at preventing infections or treating ear infections with natural remedies? I purchased Wally’s ear oil at a natural store after reading a few good things online and not seeing any harmful side effects. However, when I tried it on my own ears, the smell of it (maybe the lavender oil in there) seemed to give me a mild headache similar to the type I get when I am around heavy perfume, so that doesn’t seem to work. Another website suggested onion juice, and I’m wondering if I should try that.

      Full disclosure. We are a pro-medicine family. My daughter is completely vaccinated. I’m not opposed to antibiotics if they are needed. I just feel that there might be something natural that we could be doing to help keep her ears a little cleaner and help prevent infections from every minor cold. I know we can’t use qtips, and I don’t want to put anything in her ear canal. I just feel that there should be SOMETHING we could rub on the outside of her ear, near the entrance to the canal, to help keep it clean and help prevent bacteria from invading at that point. Anyone have any luck with anything? Or do some kids just get an ear infection after every mild cold? I hate the idea of my daughter being on antibiotics every month, but perhaps we need to just do the antibiotics a few times and then push for tubes if this continues to be a problem?

      • Kelly C. says

        I should also clarify that I’m not asking for medical advice. We will of course keep in contact with the pediatrician on this. I’m just wondering if anyone on this board has found a good way to help keep the ear area clean that seems to help prevent ear infections.

        • mascot says

          Ear infections occur behind/internal to the ear drum, right? It seems like bacteria in the sinus cavities may be more to blame than whatever is on the outside of the ear. (I’m not an ENT so this could be all wrong). We just wiped out the outside of the ear during baths and that seemed to keep things clean enough. I had really tiny Eustachian tubes as a child so I got constant ear infections even without other risk factors like daycare. Some kids are just more prone to them.

      • Anonymous says

        Why can’t you use q-tips? I regularly dry my 2 year old’s outer ear with q-tips – just the areas I can actually see – otherwise he’d have paint in his ear all the time. Lots of saline (nose) and fluids (drinking) seems to keep things at bay for us for he has a cold. Some kids are definitely more prone to ear infections or chest infections or sinus infections than others.

        Keep following the AAP guidelines – too much antibiotics isn’t great for kids and those recommendations are backed by research.

      • anon says

        Not a doctor but a former swimmer and I am pretty sure that the kind of ear infection you get from a cold is not from bacteria/viruses entering the ear canal from the outside – that would be an outer ear infection, like swimmer’s ear, which can be prevented by administering ear drops made from 50/50 mix of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Swimmer’s ear makes the outside part of your ear hurt to the touch.

      • Anonymous says

        +1 to what the former swimmer anon said above. There’s a difference between inner and outer ear infections. Totally different things.

        With respect to “mild” ear infections, per my kids’ ped, the current guidance (not sure from whom, AAP?) is to watch mild infections and see if they clear. So if severity is judged on a scale of 1-10, under 5 is watched instead of immediately given meds.

      • Anonymama says

        There is a lollipop like thing (clear pop on Amazon). Created by a pediatrician, that is supposed to help kids suction the fluid out of their ears and prevent discomfort from ear infections, and help avoid antibiotics. I ordered them but haven’t actually tried them yet.

    • EB0220 says

      I don’t have talking points but ear tubes seriously changed our life. My oldest was sick more (by a factor of 5) in the year before she got her tubes than she has been in the almost 4 years since.

    • Onlyworkingmomintulsa says

      After 5 ear infections for my little guy between last Dec-June, we were referred to an ENT who recommended tubes. I was hesitant at first because he was so on the cusp of a “wait and see” prescription as well, but we had his hearing tested with an audiologist in the office and she found he had some slight hearing issues so we went ahead with the tubes. It was a 20 min surgery, recovery was minimal and only one ear infection since that we only had to use drops. Fingers crossed for this winter, but we have been really happy with the results!

    • NewMomAnon says

      So, for clarification – our ped grades ear infection severity on a 1-4 scale, with 1-2 being “wait and see,” 3 being “antibiotics an option” and 4 being “absolutely must have antibiotics now.” (that is in no way medically precise, but it’s how I’ve interpreted the scale). My daughter is apparently very tolerant of pain, and every time I’ve become concerned that she might have an ear infection, she is at a 4; so these aren’t “mild ear infections” that would allow a wait and see. The doctor has literally never given us a choice on antibiotics, and looked at me like I was nuts one time when I asked whether this was a “wait and see” situation. These are full blown, interrupting sleep, interfering with hearing, oozing, painful ear infections. That’s why I say I think she’s probably had mild ear infections we didn’t catch.

      One year I did a series of chiro adjustments, and we didn’t have any more ear infections – I’ve scheduled a visit for next week, and I’m crossing my fingers, but we’ve had three colds this year and each one led to an ear infection. I suspect she just has tiny Eustachian tubes.

      • AnonMN says

        +1 this is similar to us. Our last ear infection landed him in the ER for dehydration (I thought he just wasn’t getting over the stomach bug as he kept throwing up at random times) turns out it was an terrible ear infection. So I don’t think our pedi is crying antibiotic too often, she actually tends to be very conservative about these types of things. He just has terrible ear infections and is young so he can’t tell us he is in pain.

      • Lurker says

        If they are that often, could you buy the tool you look in the ears with and ask the doc to show you what to look for? I almost did that for myself when I was having chronic ear issues and was getting sick of running to the doc to make sure it was swelling and not infection practically weekly. I was going to buy my husband the tool to check my ears himself.

  8. diaper backpack? says

    I’m thinking of switching to just using a regular backpack as a diaper bag. Any backpack recs that would work well for this and are reasonably cute? Thanks!

    • GCA says

      Vera Bradley backpack from the Preppy Poly collection? (I have a tote in the same material and use it for work, seems pretty sturdy and high-quality to me.)

    • Famouscait says

      I was just on the Baggallini website last night for a travel purse and noticed they had some decent looking backpacks. Their things are all well made and lightweight.

    • Diaper Backpack says

      Yessss! Do it! Having both hands free is amazing. We’ve been using my previous laptop commuter backpack (Timbuk2 Madrone…out of production unfortunately) since birth and it still works for chasing around a 16mo old. Two features I find helpful: outside side water bottle pockets to stash keys/binky/puffs while on the go and chest clip to keep straps together so the backpack can hang from the back of a chair at a restaurant or from certain stroller handles.

ABOUT

WORK WITH US

SERIOUS STUFF