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The combination of the words “sweater,” “fleece,” and “blazer” will always pique my interest. I love that this is a more casual and machine washable blazer, but the herringbone pattern dresses it up a bit. I find with some sweatshirt blazers (especially in black) the color starts to fade after a lot of washing and wearing, so I think the herringbone can disguise that nicely.
For myself, I would buy the “sweet Bordeaux heather” color and wear it with a black top and black pants for an easy outfit.
The sweater blazer is on sale for $47.97 at Lands’ End, marked down from $79.99, and is available in regular sizes XS–XL, petite sizes XS–XL, and tall sizes S–XL. Sweater Fleece Blazer Jacket
Note from Kat: This is April’s last day writing for us – HUGE THANKS TO APRIL!!! You will be missed, April, please keep in touch!
Big thanks to all the applicants for the morning writer position – we will accept applications through this weekend and try to make decisions next week! Stay tuned!
Sales of note for 3.26.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything plus extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off all workwear
- J.Crew – Annual Spring Event: 40% off sitewide; extra 40% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – 10% off your order
- Loft – 50% off Lou & Grey; 30% off new arrivals
- Nordstrom: Spring Sale: Up to 50% off
- Talbots – 25% off your purchase, including markdowns
- Zappos – 37,000+ 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 – 40% off everything; extra 10% off your purchase with code
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 30% off swim; up to 30% off HannaJams
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off sitewide; extra 40% off sale; 50% off kids’ styles
- Old Navy – 50% off Easter deals
- Target – 20% off Easter styles for all; up to 30% kitchen & dining; up to 25% off TVs; BOGO 50% off shoes & slippers for the family; $100 off select Apple products
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
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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?
Make it stop says
One kid or the other is always humming.
Realist says
I wonder how much of the sounds of nature are just different species yelling “SHUT UP” at each other or their offspring.
katy says
approximately 42%
AwayEmily says
How do you handle kids with strong yet capricious clothing choices? My 4yo could care less what she wears, but my 2yo has….opinions. But they do not seem to be systematic opinions, more like “I DON’T LIKE THIS SHIIIIIRT,” followed by desperately trying to take it off himself (last week the shirt was fine) (if I insist he wear it, he usually forgets about how terrible it is ten minutes later).
I guess I could let him pick out his clothes but honestly the thought of negotiating over that (no, you can’t wear a just a t-shirt in December) makes me tired. Does someone have a magic trick? Maybe I just need to wait it out (though it’s been a couple of months now…).
anon says
It helps if the only available clothes in the dresser/closet are clothes that are seasonally appropriate and that fit well.
Anonanonanon says
This, or lay out 3 options and have him pick. Then he still gets a choice but they’re pre-screened. That usually worked with my kids for a while, until they remembered there was still other stuff in the drawer.
Anonymous says
Agree with this. Putting away summer tanks and sleeveless dresses is on my to-do list this weekend!
Pigpen's Mama says
+1
I haven’t had time to do wardrobe culling when no one else is home (thanks, COVID) — so far I’ve just insisted on a cardian and leggings with the too short sundresses…
Anonymous says
We are currently wearing those summer tanks over long sleeve shirts because someone just can’t bear to put them away.
Anon says
This. Then the only issue is that I have to not look at her (and pretend she’s not mine) when she ventures out in public in say a pastel green small scale floral dress paired with neon large-print floral leggings, but at least she’s seasonally appropriate.
AnotherAnon says
I’m a boy mom, but it is 100% my favorite thing when I see little girls out in public who clearly dressed themselves. Princess dress, jelly sandals, a neon headband, rainbow leggings, polka dot socks. You go girl!
Anonymous says
yup.
anon says
You have described my daughter.
Clementine says
Usually if you wait it out, it works.
I pick my battles. It has to be weather appropriate. So I’ll say things like, ‘You have to bring a sweatshirt.’ I won’t dictate though that it needs to match or be something I would pick.
Does this mean I definitely have the kid wearing Minnie Mouse leggings (pants), a Frozen nightgown (fine), and a unicorn hoodie on a random day? Yes, absolutely. With older kids (like 5+), I do natural consequences. You refuse to wear a sweatshirt? Fine. Not my problem when you’re freezing cold.
I give two choices. “Do you want Anna or Elsa?” “Blue or Green”. If they say ‘no, PURPLE’ I respond, ‘Sorry, not on the menu. Blue or Green.”
anon says
This is a rough stage. I went through it with my daughter. I found that fewer choices were better. Like if I knew I didn’t want her wearing a t-shirt because it’s cold, I conveniently found another place to store the t-shirts for awhile. We tried to establish a habit of picking out clothes the night before, so at least it wasn’t another morning battle. It’s annoying, and I’m afraid there is no magic trick. This is how some kids exert their will and sense of control. I guess the best advice I can offer is choose your clothing battles carefully. :)
Daughter is now 6 and still fickle about what she wears, but more in the sense that she wants to be “fashioned” in whatever style she wants to follow that day. I can now reason with her when something isn’t seasonally appropriate, for example.
Anon says
Give him two seasonally appropriate options and let him pick. We’ve done this for my daughter since she was about 16 months old (she got opinionated about clothing craaaaazy early).
Anon. says
This.
We have also moved getting dressed from his room to the living room. Less opportunity for him to argue he doesn’t like either and proceed to dig 15 shirts out of his drawer.
Anonymous says
During any clothing phase: a) kid picks the night before and no changes in the morning, b) only options in the drawer are weather appropriate. Granted, mine did it slightly older, but it was part of our bedtime jobs (we made a night and morning chart for the wall after too many problems). My girls also always wanted to wear dresses, so we instituted Pants Tuesday (or gym days or whatever), where they could pick but it had to be pants.
Anonymous says
My 5 year old is rough about this. Things that sometimes have worked for us inlcude:
-giving options as suggested above
-letting kiddo pick the pants or the shirt but not both (I’m not a mom who is cool with egregious mismatching)
-as kiddo gets older, she gets to help pick out the clothes we buy, so she is more excited about them and prescreens them
Right there with you says
All three of my kids have opinions on clothes. Some more capricious than others. I never understand people whose kids let them dress in what they want! Son, who does not have sensory issues, refuses clothes with buttons. Which is… a lot of clothes. This morning he wouldn’t go for the rain jacket, which is snaps, declaring it buttons, so things may be about to get worse.
I’ve just embraced it. Actual conversation between my DH and I last night.
Me: “Which shirt do you think DS will insist on wearing for photos?”
Him: “Probably spiderman?”
Me: “Okay, going to buy the girls dresses to coordinate”
My oldest DD cares a lot about fashion – for her getting to pull together looks and have an outfit is important. I try to let her help me shop more than I otherwise would, and just try to be suuuper patient when we narrow down 6 outfits to the one winner before an event. I think it’s helpful to know what they like and guide them that way. I generally think her style is pretty awesome, so that’s good at least?
My youngest at 18 months is starting to have opinions but is generally happy so long as she gets two choices and gets to pick one.
Anonymous says
Solidarity on the buttons. No particular sensory issues but my boys won’t wear buttons ever. Not even a henley. I think they are copying their Dad who only wear jeans/tshirts/sweaters in his science job. I use sweaters for all dressy events.
same poster says
I think it comes from when he was younger and random relatives would tell him he looked “handsome”! He used to point to those shirts and yell “no handsome!” So now, we are NOT handsome!
I did a sweater last year – good call on finding one to have on hold. We’re in Texas so it’s a bit more complicated. He also strongly prefers fun shirts to a plain t-shirt and when it comes to pictures I want him to feel like he’s “won” the morning. I figure ten years from now I’ll look back fondly on the spiderman phase???
Clementine says
Can we just have a moment to deeply sigh for relatives making random comments.
An uncle said to my kid when he was 2 and wearing a tank top, “Sun’s out, guns out”… and THAT is why my kid refused to wearing a tank top for a year, whining ‘I DON”T WANT MY GUNS OUT.’
Facepalm.
Anonymous says
I have never been able to deal with buttons with holes in them. I cannot stand to look at them on other people either. When I heard of trypophobia it was a major a-ha moment. Search it and see what your son thinks of the photos that come up. If they make his skin crawl, that’s why he hates buttons.
Anonymous says
I lay out all the kids clothes for the week on Sunday night. They don’t get to pick but I don’t pick stuff I know they don’t like. If someone complains, they can find an alternate tshirt/jeans if time before leaving for school or if no time, they can wear the alternate item the next day. . I do not have enough energy in the morning to deal with my kids picking their own clothes.
So Anon says
My daughter has always had strong opinions on her clothing choices. At 2, she was an angel in the Christmas Pageant and brought her purse with her. What I did at that age was made sure that there were only acceptable choices that she could access in her dresser/closet, and then I gave all control to her. We also had clear rules about what was required: shirt, pants/leggings/shorts, underwear, and socks (if in winter). Sometimes, the choices have been… interesting. Its not what I would pick, but its not my body and I just don’t have the bandwidth to care about her clothing choices as long as they are seasonally appropriate. As she has gotten older (she’s 7 now), she needs no guidance or direction on her clothing. Honestly, her sense of style and self-confidence are pretty rocking and bold. Would I put two different plaids together, no. But it works for her.
anon says
+1 to just letting the kid pick
We let the kids pick (which leads to some rather clashing outfit choices, but whatever, they’re 3) but tell them “today is a long-sleeved dress or shirt day” and enforce some limits like “dresses need leggings or tights, if you want to wear jeans you need to pick a shirt instead”. Usually we try to only have seasonally appropriate clothes in their drawers, but right now we do have both tshirts and long-sleeved shirts.
Anonymous says
+1 that you just put weather-appropriate clothing in the drawer and hope for the best. My older son refuses to wear pants that are not sweatpants – even if we get the jeans with elastic waistbands or the “climbing pants” that look a little nicer but are still stretchy. Back when we still went to church in person, I would insist on nice clothes for church but I basically resigned myself to sweatpants every day at school.
My daughter puts together INSANE outfits, but I don’t pick that battle except on picture day. I will tell her she needs a sweatshirt and leggings in her backpack in case she gets cold, but I don’t try to force it at home.
Younger son is the least opinionated (so far), and will wear what I pick for him 95% of the time, especially if I help him put it on. He’s more concerned with the attention than the result.
Pogo says
Solidarity. LO has such strong opinions that I have taken to consulting him when I order new clothes. I do what everyone above says and try not to cringe at his clashing.
One trick if he really insists on a weird combo (like a paw patrol shirt with construction pattern pants), I will suggest he wear a neutral sweatshirt or long sleeve T over it. So he still gets Marshall and Rubble close to his heart but outwardly he looks more out together.
Anonymous says
I feel like Rubble totally matches with construction pattern pants! :)
My 5 year old daughter tends to be thematic. For example, one outfit this week:
Pink unicorn-print leggings
Cream tulle skirt with silver polkadots. It’s 2 years old, so kind of tutu length
Different shade of pink t shirt with a unicorn
White socks with multi-colored polkadots (to match the skirt)
Third shade of pink crocs
I have no idea what her teachers think, but she goes to a Montessori school, so they should at least appreciate that she’s obviously getting dressed independently.
chess? says
Any good apps or programs for teaching a six year old chess? She’s curious and I think I’d do a terrible job! Could use a refresher myself truthfully…
mascot says
No-Stress Chess set. I learned alongside my kid when he was about 6. The visuals on the cards of how pieces move make it really easy for kids to see, even if they aren’t reading a ton.
Anonymous says
Does it cover strategy, or just the basics of how the pieces move?
mascot says
Um, a little of both, but at an elementary level. When you first start, you can only move a piece if you have a card in your hand for that piece. Then at the next level, you get more cards (7 up from 5?). Finally, you progress to “regular” chess where you can move any piece and you don’t use the cards. So it’s less overwhelming way to learn to play because it limits what moves are avaible to you. We’ve not studied any strategies or sequences past that because my kid isn’t that interested right now.
Anonymous says
Thanks!
Anon says
last week i think it was there was a conversation about what items do you wish you had purchased – two of the items are ones that i’ve been strongly considering. i have almost 2.5 year old twins – is it still worth buying a learning tower or the tripp trapp stoke chairs? up until this point we’ve been using the ikea high chairs. i also really want to buy them a nugget, so not sure how i feel about spending so much $ at the same time. any thoughts?
Anon says
I’m the one who mentioned the learning tower and I definitely feel like the ship has sailed at 2.5 (unless you plan to have more kids). She’s pretty good now about standing on a stool and not doing anything dangerous, so it doesn’t feel like we need one at this point. It would have been most useful for us between about 15 months and 2.25.
OP says
thanks for the input! i have one taller step stool, but might need to get a second one to avoid them trying to stand on the same one at the same time, which is most certainly not large enough for two
Ashley says
As someone who bought the tripp trapp chair at 2.5, I say go for it! It is great for having kiddo at an appropriate height to sit at the regular table. The best part IMO is the adjustable footrest, which really helps them balance in a way that a booster seat on regular chair cannot. I expect we’ll be able to use it for years because it’s so adjustable.
anon says
I loved our learning tower at 2.5, but by 3.5 my twins are more likely to just bring over a kid stool or chair, since they can do that independently whereas it takes both of them together to move the learning tower into the kitchen. So if you’re done with kids after the twins I’d probably skip the learning tower.
We don’t have tripp trapps, but I still covet them at 3.5 when my kids wiggle all over during meals, so I say yes to that! Even big kids can use them.
Anon says
We put our learning tower in the basement at 2.5. Kiddo (now 3) prefers to use chairs or a step stool, I think because she can move them around herself exactly where she wants them.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I mentioned the Stokke chairs and I’m still thinking of getting at least one and my youngest is 2! Perhaps a Christmas present from the grandparents. I think they will last us a while. We never had the learning towers but at this point, my 4.5 year old can reach counters with a small step stool and the younger one is either not interested or does what big brother does so we see less need for that now.
Anon says
now if i go for the stokke – do we think i am ok with just the chair, or do i need the high chair version so i can buckle them in? and wow, i just went to the site and they are practically sold out of every color
AwayEmily says
I would definitely still get a Stokke at 2.5. We no longer use the buckle for my 2.5yo, it’s much easier to let him get in and out himself. Our 4yo uses hers daily and will likely to so for years.
DLC says
We got a keekaroo high chair (so not as sleek as the Stokke, but same idea) for our first child who is now eight and she will fight her younger siblings to sit in it. I even sit it it sometimes when I just want to perch.
I’m trying to convince t husband to get Stokkes for the other kids, but he is so over buying baby gear! :(
Anonanonanon says
Now I’m thinking of a Stokke, too. Pop an affiliate link on the blog tomorrow so you get your due, Kat!
Thank you April! says
April, you will be missed!!! Have really loved your contributions here!!!
Anonymous says
Hear, hear! The Rubbermaid produce containers you recommended have made dealing with the pandemic grocery situation so much easier.
Spirograph says
Yes, thank you, April!!
Anon says
Thank you, April!
Realist says
Thanks April!
AnotherAnon says
Yes: thank you and I will miss you!
Anon says
For those who have tried therapy before…I started talking to someone in late August just about some anxiety and depression I’ve been feeling during covid times and I’m…not sure it’s helping? I feel like I just talk to her but am not getting any real like solutions or guidance, or otherwise feel like I’m making any real progress. Is that normal? Do I just need to give it more time? Or should I try someone else?
Anon says
I’ve gone to therapy a few times and never really felt I got anything out of it. I think it just doesn’t work for some people.
Anonymous says
There are so many truly terrible therapists out there. Someone I know encountered one who actively fed the problem she was supposed to be addressing, then another who used the sessions to discuss his own problems. If you manage to find one who is both competent and a good fit for you it can be worthwhile. Very few of these people actually exist.
A former colleague of mine had a theory that people who go into fields like counseling, drug treatment, etc. do it primarily because they identify with the issues from their own experience. In my observation working with the criminal justice system, that is largely true. The wise, steady, stable types who would make the best therapists are not the ones who are drawn to the field.
Boston Legal Eagle says
It’s cliche but I think with therapy, once you find the right person, it just “clicks.” I’ve tried several therapists before I found one who just got me and asked the right questions and provided the right amount of sympathy without pity in a way that others didn’t. I’m not sure if the ultimate goal is to find solutions, for me it was more acknowledgement of my feelings and struggles, and an examination of certain thought patterns (from childhood and my specific personality).
Realist says
I think different therapists have different styles and you may need one that assigns more homework or takes more of a lead in the process. Maybe consider looking at coaches, which aren’t quite the same as therapists, but that might have the mindset you are looking for. For my own struggles during this turbulent time, I know that what helps the most is getting back to the basics–healthy food, healthy exercise, healthy sleep. So I have been focused on getting support for those good habits, as well as making time for volunteering as I strongly feel the need to have an active role in doing what I can to make my community better and get out the vote. I’m the same way in that just talking with a therapist about the things that spiral in my head everyday is not very helpful.
Clementine says
I think that before you decide it doesn’t work for you, you should try another therapist. I also think that style has a lot to do with it.
As somebody who has had a few therapists over the course of a lifetime, I have made the most progress with two therapists who were very similar: both were slightly sarcastic, very direct, call you out women. I didn’t make progress with a male therapist who I found kind of condescending and an overly gentle but very compassionate woman who was very… gentle… but didn’t actually help me address anyone. (Note that a friend had referred me and I totally see why this was a good fit for my friend who needed someone very empathetic and nurturing.)
Anonanonanon says
This. someone very direct was what I needed.
I’ve been twice. Once I was immediately like “this person is wacky, why would I trust their input?”
The second one I saw, was so practical and I’m forever grateful. I only had to go once. I expressed my guilt at hating being a stay at home mom, and he said “plenty of women work and have kids. There’s nothing wrong with that. You just don’t know them, because they’re at work.” I also talked about how my degree was in something I was passionate about and I wanted to be working but my husband didn’t want me to work, that I fantasized about post-divorce life, etc. A lot more that I won’t get into. He just said “well, it sounds like you know what you need to be happy. What’s your first step to get there?”
It was so practical, so simple, and exactly what I needed. I filed for separation and applied to jobs not long after.
Anon says
This is a little different, but I went to couples therapy a few times and really disliked it. It made me feel like a hopeless basket case, and that our relationship was doomed. We talked about sensitive issues with no resolution or breakthroughs. The therapist didn’t help us change the dynamic or come to a new understanding at all. My partner took me out for pancakes afterward where I openly wept at the table.
I think the therapist was inexperienced, which is why the therapy was lacking, but the experience has made me dread the thought of therapy ever since. It’s so easy to tell someone to just try a different therapist, but it’s hard to actually do that if you hate the thought of dredging up your painful private emotions in front of a stranger, who may not respond with the support you need.
That said, my husband and I did make huge progress by reading a book together on relationship issue and by taking a short couple’s class.
anon says
I think you can try someone else and see. I don’t know how often you have appointments, but if it’s been weekly since August, I would think that you have a sense of what the relationship is by now. I think the guidance I expect to get from therapy is not “I have this problem, therapist tells me how to solve by doing X” but rather “I have a problem, therapist asks probing questions to get me to understand my role in the problem (e.g., maybe there is nothing I can do, maybe I enable, etc.) then we talk together about how it would feel to act/respond differently to problem.”
I also just think that it’s hard to talk about COVID stuff and feel like you’re making progress. Right now, I think that validation of my feelings around COVID stuff and some reframing are what I hope to get out of therapy. Because generally it sucks and there is so much unknown.
I would think about how you feel immediately after a session. Do you feel like your mental burdens have been eased a bit? Do you feel better, even a little (even if I cry in a session, I usually feel relieved to have talked through it with my therapist)? At least this is the standard I apply — sometimes between sessions I doubt the helpfulness and think about stopping, but then I think about during and after the session and seems like I should keep going on balance.
Anon says
In addition to different personalities, there are different modalities of therapy – some people do more of an analysis approach that involves discussing and understanding, and some do more of a cognitive-behavioral therapy approach which is more about getting skills to understand and change your thought patterns. There are probably other types, too. Depending on what your goals are, might be worth trying someone with a different approach. (Sort of like how you could deal with similar physical challenges by running, yoga, or dietary change depending on real goal). There are also lots of CBT workbooos that I’ve read about on this site or the main site, so that could be a good complement to a more analytical therapist.
Io says
If you’re more type A, you may appreciate more of a CBT based therapy. There are also several CBT apps.
If you didn’t need therapy before coronavirus, you may not actually need it. Anxiety and depression are normal reactions to certain events. (Like grief and depression are normal when someone close dies. Only complex grief requires therapy.)
However if you did need therapy but didn’t have time before you may need to try out a few therapists. Or even consider if you need medication.
Baby naps says
Anyone have tips on getting a nearly 3 month old to take better naps? He’s a cat napper and will consistently only take 30 minute naps during the day. He sleeps well at night with a regular 8 or 9 hour stretch followed by several hours until our 7:30 wakeup time. I know this is “developmentally appropriate” at this age, but it sure makes it hard to get anything done. DH and I are both working from home with him now temporarily between the end of my maternity leave and after the in-laws visit soon when he will start daycare. I feel like I spend half my work day trying to get him to nap or stay asleep. I’d also like to set him up to be a better sleeper before sending him off to daycare.
We are trying to transition off the swaddle, so I’d rather not do that during naps. He’s eating about 5oz every 3 hours. I’m also trying to avoid plopping him in the baby carrier so he doesn’t become too dependent on that. We just broke him of the habit of needing to nap on one of us.
We do white noise and a dark room in his crib for all naps.
Thanks from an unproductive mom!
Anonymous says
If he’s sleeping that long at night at less than 3 months, you’ve already won the baby sleep lottery. Unfortunately, there is no way to force a child who doesn’t need a nap to take a nap. If you somehow manage to do so, it will mess up his nighttime sleep. Since WFH with no outside help is just a temporary situation for you, I’d embrace the baby containers and carrier and try to trade off with your husband as much as possible during the day.
Anonymous says
This.
Pogo says
Yeah have to second this, and don’t worry about sending a baby to daycare who only naps 30min at a time while being held. That’s what most moms I know do, and daycare gets them into shape in no time.
anon says
My kid napped in a swing at home and a crib at daycare. There was no way that I could replicate the daycare nap scene so I decided he could just learn to nap 2 different ways until he outgrew the swing. Daycare is magical about getting kids on a good nap schedule in a crib- don’t worry about “prepping” the baby.
OP says
Thanks. I figured the answer was be happy he sleeps that well at night and wait for naps to level out on their own. Aren’t we always hoping for some magical solution to fix an annoying thing our kid does.
Will keep putting him in the crib for his nap and deal with the early wake ups for now.
Anonymous says
For both my kids I couldn’t handle the cat naps (looking back that was probably anxiety). Both kids would sleep exactly 40 minutes in the crib, but could be either held and rocked back to sleep at that point or plunked in a carrier and either way would do 1-2 more sleep cycles. So we did that for a few months for each kid until naps naturally lengthened. With the first kid I tried all kinds of cry it out nap training at thT 40 min mark and it’s one of my biggest regrets. So pointless.
Clementine says
With my first, I really thought that I was doing something ‘wrong’ because his sleep habits weren’t what I thought they should be. I spent a lot of time trying to get him to sleep/nap. And honestly… it really stressed me out and I wish I had allowed myself grace to just… chill out about it.
Now? I get my babies on a schedule of eating every 3 hours. I give them the opportunity to sleep but if they don’t want to, that’s fine! I don’t stress it. I will happily let kiddo nap in a swing or just play on the floor. It sounds like you’re doing great things like giving the kid a quiet, dark place to sleep. I do find that some kids need to fuss for a couple minutes before going down, so I set a physical timer for 3 minutes to make sure they have a second to just chill out.
It sounds like you’re doing all the right things! Other people may give you tools that worked for their kid, but what I’ve learned from parenting quite a few babies (5? 6?) is that kids are different and some kids just have different sleep patterns.
Anonymous says
This is anecdata, but I think kids who sleep well at night (and that’s REALLY good sleep) are often bad nappers. Personally I would just roll with it and put him in the carrier if you need to get stuff done.
Mrs. Jones says
+1. Our kid slept through the night like a champ and was never a great napper.
Anonymous says
Same.
Anon says
Yep, DD basically never napped for more than 30 minutes as an infant, and quit napping completely shortly after turning 2, so there was only a brief window of about a year when she took real, solid crib naps. But she slept through the night when she was about 6 weeks old and has consistently slept 12+ hours without interruption since she was about 6 months.
It makes sense, right? Long, solid night sleep = less need for daytime catnaps?
AnotherAnon says
Frivolous but would love to hear your thoughts. Since March I’ve been wearing only tinted sunscreen. Sometimes I wear mascara. I would like to get some new foundation, but I think my usual IT Cosmetics Bye Bye is too heavy. Is there anything you like that’s pretty light?
Anon says
My light foundation is the Neutrogena mineral sheers pressed powder. I just find powder foundation lighter in general. The complexion rescue hydrating foundation stick by bare minerals is pretty light as far as liquid (cream?) foundations go (lighter than the bye bye in my opinion). I also like the Bobbi Brown skin foundation stick and don’t find that overly heavy either.
AwayEmily says
I also use Neutrogena mineral sheers pressed powder. In addition, I use Maybelline tinted BB cream. I find the two of those together work well.
New Here says
Following along here….I’ve used Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue in the past and liked it, but not sure if I want to stick with it. I sometimes want a bit more coverage, but my Jane Iredale BB cream feels too heavy.
TheElms says
I also use the Maybelline tinted BB cream and like it. My skin is oily so I layer a Clinique pressed powder over it and that seems to work well.
In House Lobbyist says
I’ve been using cushion foundations from K beauty and love them. You can build them up for more coverage or keep them light.
anonamama says
+1 for this sweater blazer. I bought the longer version in leopard and it is a game.changer. for my WFH wardrobe. Super cozy and warm, I can throw it over most outfits and look put together on a (surprise) video meeting, great length for neighborhood walks (even leaves me feeling a little chic) and I’m planning to wear over a sweater dress to upcoming outdoor dinner for extra warmth without bulky coat. Appears that Lands’ End is at a permanent 40% off, but sometimes it has gone to 50%. And thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
AnonATL says
How are we storing our sweater blazers? I bought one from Talbots and it’s definitely a sweater material but quite substantial. Do you think hanging it will stretch it out too much?
I’d rather not fold it
anne-on says
I saw this the other day and it is saving me SO much drawer space:
https://www.today.com/style/how-hang-your-sweaters-without-ruining-them-t118188
Thermometer says
Favorite thermometer that isn’t a rectal? This is for a toddler+ in age. TIA.
Anonymous says
Vicks Comfortflex. It looks like they are back in stock some places now, too.
Pogo says
We have the Exergen temporal one. It works fine!
Anon says
We got a forehead one (Braun) to practice for temperature checks at school and my toddler LOVES it and thinks it’s the coolest toy ever. The ear thermometer has always been (and still is) pretty traumatic for her. I always thought forehead ones weren’t that accurate but apparently they’re better than ear thermometers? https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/fever-how-to-take-the-temperature/
OtterMom says
Inspired by the stokke and keekaroo discussion above. I’m thinking about getting one or the other (or similar) for my 8 mo. We have a hand me down high chair that isn’t doing it for us (it’s a traditional Graco cushion one, but my sister broke/lost the foot rest, and my DD hates the shoulder straps). I’m thinking about investing, but I don’t know if they will be tall enough to reach our table (which is counter-height). For those in the know, do these adjust to be able to be pulled up to counter height? Because if not, we’d be stuck with the small trays that you can buy for them – not only is that an extra expense, but we would like a larger area especially for when she gets older.
anon says
The Stokke doesn’t — the max height for the seat portion works for our standard height table, but would be pretty short for any sort of taller counter or bar setup.
rosie says
As another option, you could get a chair that attaches to the table, as long as it’s not a pedestal table and not glass top. The Inglesina is great, and easy to travel with if we ever do that again.
Sf says
Poo question ahead (if you want to skip it…).
Does anyone have experience with a 9 week or older infant still pooing 10-12 times a day? The doctor isn’t concerned but it just seems like so much. He’s small but so was my first. It’s also green but not frothy or mucusy. He’s not fussy except while he’s pooing. And he’s just on breast milk right now.
Anonymous says
So a little bit of a grain of salt on this one because it was 5 years ago…but I remember my whole 12 week maternity leave being entirely like this – poos at least every time kiddo ate (breastmilk, too), green in color. Pediatrician wasn’t concerned, and kiddo was/is fine. Kiddo was not fussy when she pooed. Only when tired.
Anon says
Mere anecdata but – I had this problem when kiddo as a newborn liked to nurse in little bits every hour. She never got the fatty hindmilk, and the foremilk is sugary so it goes through the digestive system too quick (thus…green). The solution for us was block feeding on a schedule and not letting her fall asleep while nursing.
It also happened again after she got a tummy bug from daycare; even after she was over it, if I ate any milk at all, she would have green poo. I had to cut dairy for a month before her system regulated again.
Neither one seemed to cause her distress, but caused problems with daycare and “helpful” strangers observing diaper changes. Good luck!
SC says
We had the foremilk/hindmilk issue and green poo because I was pumping. Baby was a preemie and didn’t have a good suck-swallow reflex for a while. I had to nurse, bottle feed, and pump for a while (6 weeks? I don’t remember.). But then Baby got the hang of things and didn’t need the bottle feed but also wasn’t eating everything I was producing, so I pumped until empty and froze. That meant Baby got the foremilk, and I was freezing the hindmilk. I spaced out feedings a little more, pumped less frequently, and gave him recently pumped milk when he did have a bottle so that he would get the hindmilk too. It took a couple of weeks to adjust.
Anonymous says
At least if he’s pooping a lot there hopefully aren’t as many blowouts? My daughter pooped only once or twice a day even as a newborn but that meant that 90% of them were blowouts.
Coach Laura says
April – I will miss you. You’ve been the best!