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I realized about a third of the way through pool season that my youngest did not have a cover-up. (He ended up wearing his sister’s, which was waaayyy too big.)
This toddler-sized cover-up is just what he needs — made from soft, 100% cotton, this roomy hoodie will keep your little one from getting chilly after a long day in the pool. I actually love that it’s sleeveless since pulling wet arms through dry clothes is like getting your hand stuck in a peanut butter jar.
Cat & Jack’s Toddler Colorblock Hooded Cover-Up is $15 at Target and available in sizes 12–18M to 4T–5T.
Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ 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 – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
anon says
When do PBK backpacks usually go on sale? Kiddo is going into 2nd grade and needs a size upgrade.
I’ve also been poking around at Lands End backpacks, but it seems like there are lots of complaints about flimsy fabric. Can anyone here confirm/deny? Whatever I buy, I’d like it to last through elementary school.
Mrs. Jones says
Our kid has used Land’s End backpacks since kindergarten. I don’t think one would last 6 years but it would easily last 3. Our problem is it gets filthy because he slides it across the floor and stuff like that, so we get one every two years.
Cb says
I washed my son’s filthy backpack today, not realising there was a quaker oatmeal bar in one of the pockets. The look on my face when I opened the washing machine!
anon says
Ooooh no, that is the worst!
Aunt Jamesina says
No experience with LE backpacks, but my husband’s backpack that he uses constantly has come out looking almost new after a machine wash and air dry. I just close all the fasteners and run it in a load with towels.
anon says
Yeah, I play fast and loose with backpack washing rules. I wash them at least quarterly and haven’t lost one yet. My kids go to before/after school programs, and they get SO grimy from sitting on the floors, being dragged around during free play time, etc.
Boston Legal Eagle says
I like LLBean’s backpacks. It has held up through K and now summer camp and we’ll probably keep it another year (could last longer, but size).
rakma says
The Lands End backpack we bought for preschool just finished 2nd grade, and is in great condition. It’s been through the wash a couple of times, and there’s no real noticeable wear. We may be replacing it this year, but that’s for style reasons, not durability.
Anonymous says
Our Lands End backpack is not flimsy. We bought it last year for a kindergartener who is not kind to his possessions. It got super dirty over the course of the year, but the backpack is otherwise in great shape. I’m not sure that it will last him all the way through elementary (nor do I think he’s going to want the same backpack that whole time), but we’ll be good with at least another year or two out of it.
Anonymous says
For durability, nothing beats LL Bean.
anon says
OP here, and I agree. My oldest had an LL Bean that still gets reused for family getaways. The problem I’ve noticed is that the fabric gets caught in the zipper way too much for my liking.
Anon says
+1 for team LL Bean. That’s what I bought kiddo for K, considering my middle school backpack from 25 years ago is still in great shape.
DLC says
My kids have had Lands End and LL Bean and the LL Bean is made of more durable fabric. I like the colour choices of Lands End better, but not enough to buy a backpack that will not withstand my kids. Conversely, a friend of mine buys the licensed character back packs from Target which her kids love- she actually buys two so that when it falls apart mid year, she has another one of the same thing ready to go.
Mary Moo Cow says
We are replacing our PBK backapck and matching lunchbox after one year. It has holes and deep scratches in the material, and the zippers are fraying and catching in the zipper. I’ve been happier with the Target backpack and Lands’ End soft side lunchbox we bought for my other daughter. Our LL Bean backpack has held up well for at least 2 years.
I also wanted to buy to last from K-5, but my kids want a new color after 2 years and I usually cave.
Anonymous says
WRT the zipper – I was able to wash a PBK lunchbox on the gentle cycle (air dry) and the zipper got a lot better. I think too much gunk had gotten caught in the nylon zipper.
Anonymous says
Related question- I have a kiddo going into 3rd grade who is really outgrowing the larger size PBK backpack. I’ve been eyeing the PB teen backpacks but unsure if she needs a L or XL.
Any insight? Is the PB teen L the same as the PBK L?
anon says
I think the teen L is the same as PBK L.
Cb says
A thanks (albeit a broad one since I don’t remember who recommended it) but my nearly-5 year old loved the Brainquest Pre-K to K summer workbook. He’s never been interested in anything like that before but I bought it on a anyways, and that (plus a pile of Lego magazines) helped us weather a 4 hour delay in the airport.
Mary Moo Cow says
Yay! If he likes those, he might also like Kumon workbooks.
Anon says
What do you guys purposefully chose to drop?
Lately I’ve been thinking of this poem:
“ You want a social life, with friends.
A passionate love life and as well
To work hard every day. What’s true
Is of these three you may have two
And two can pay you dividends
But never may have three.”
My friends have been trying to get together more lately and want to get together on a work-night. I love them, but frankly I’d rather be able to see my daughter after work and spend time with my husband (even though that’s what we do every night).
Anonymous says
I try not to drop but to modify instead. I don’t like the idea that there are hard stops. Things ebb and flow. So maybe they get together every Thursday for drinks and you only go the first Thursday of the month.
It’s actually really good for DH’s relationship with the kids when he gets one on one time with them so I don’t feel guilty about missing the occasional evening.
Cb says
Someone once told me there were the ideal job, the ideal location, and the ideal people, and you get to pick 2. I really like my job but the location is a pain…but the insane commute is worth it for my husband’s happiness (he LOVES where we live) and the quality of life it provides for our kid.
But in general, I refuse to sacrifice myself/my family at the altar of an academic career – I work hard but I’m not working constantly the way some of my colleagues are (or purport to be), I’ve reconciled myself to the fact that I can’t maintain the GORGEOUS garden we inherited from the previous owners and instead am embracing a wilder look, I’ll donate money rather than time for school-related things, and I walk and cycle loads, rather than have a formal exercise routine.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Yeah, I’d agree that I’m embracing more moderation instead trying to “excel” at everything, all at once, which is impossible. And there are seasons in life where some aspects take priority, but those can change. So right now, I balance as best as I can in working, taking care of the kids, going on date nights and occasional trips with my husband. As noted on yesterday’s thread, girls only nights or trips are not a priority right now, but I try to see friends when I can and try to connect via text and fb instead. Same principle for causes I care about – can I volunteer everywhere and spends hours calling representatives right now and solve all the problems? No, but I can donate my money the best I can, on a more or less consistent basis.
Mary Moo Cow says
I’ve let unfulfilling friendships go. When I was the only one of the circle who had kids, and they were more social during the week, I bowed out a lot. Now that 2 of them also have kids, we hardly ever socialize but there is a lot less pressure and more grace/forgiveness not to hang out. Also now that my kids are both in elementary school, I am more likely or willing to meet during the week. I also lean out, professionally. I’ve stayed in my low key, lower paying job to enjoy a very generous amount of PTO, holidays, and sick leave.
anon says
This is a hard question, and probably one I need to consider more often.
I exercise, but going to a boutique gym and being beholden to a schedule is not a priority right now.
My friends are frankly hard to plan with, so I’m accepting that spontaneous is almost better. (Last night, for example: I’m drinking wine on the patio, come over if you want to join me. And several did.)
I am doing medium-well in my job, and that has to be good enough. I’m not slacking, exactly, but I don’t have the energy or desire to kill it and grow my career. Post-pandemic, especially, my family’s needs come first.
I am spending more time with my parents and siblings because life is short, and I strongly value those connections both for myself and for my kids. There is a reason why I stayed in a red state when I could’ve run away.
I am not volunteering anywhere, for anything. But I can donate money, share social media posts, and have conversations with people.
DLC says
For me, it’s definitely job that gets dropped. Or rather career advancement. I love my job, but the way to make more money is added responsibility that i neither have the interest of aptitude to take on. I always thought that it was frustrating that there is this idea that to be successful in your job means climbing to the top of the ladder, but honestly I’m a really good worker bee. My husband’s the same way. And maybe we will never have the vacation home or multiple European vacations, but is that really the point if having a higher paying job would make us miserable and stresses every day?
Making time for my friends is a priority. Making sure my family is doing well is a priority. I try to have standing dates to see my friends because otherwise I know inertia will lead me to just stay home with the kids after work. I took the Science of Well Being course from Yale and the research shows that connecting with other people makes people happier, and I notice that is true for me, so I try to make time for it.
But that’s me- i think knowing what recharges you is important, and if that’s time with family, then it’a fine to prioritize that over a social life.
Lily says
I think it’s fine to prioritize seeing your nuclear family over friends, but I also think you need to be OK with the fact that your friends might not be there for you in the way you would like when you resurface when your daughter is older, or if you are going through a hard time unexpectedly and need them around. I know the feeling of wanting to just stay in and veg on the couch, or do bedtime every night, but once you are with your friends hanging out I think you’ll be happy you did it. If it’s like once a month, I say make the effort (assuming you like these friends, which presumably you do). If they’re asking for once a week, totally reasonable to set limits. Also, you will be modeling having an active social life for your daughter, which I think is valuable. Kids should learn that their parents are whole people separate from them.
Gift Help Please says
Cross posting for my ideas since I’m at a loss.
Going to a big joint bday party for three kids I have never met, age 9 to 11, boy and 2 girls. What do I bring? Sort of last minute so not really in a place to order anything specific. Gift card for each kid & a hostess gift for the mom/hostess? What amount and what kind of gift card? Is there a better idea I’m missing? One joint gift for all the kids?
Cb says
I’m not super plugged into the birthday club theme, but I’d do cash… I feel like unrestricted cash feels like a treat for kids? Even $10, I think that’s a generous gift for kids you’ve never met.
anon says
My kids like gift cards to Target and Barnes and Noble. For kids you barely know, I think $10-15 is more than sufficient. Cash is fine, too! It’s a novelty for tweens.
NYCer says
What is your connection to these kids? Are your kids friends with them? You are friends with the parents?
I would probably just put a $20 bill in a card for each kid and call it a day, but agree that less (or a gift card) would also be fine.
Gift Help Please says
Distant family. We haven’t kept in touch but trying to be better.
NYCer says
Ah ok. In that case, I think $20 each in cash or gift card would be nice.
Gift Help Please says
Thank you! And thanks everyone!!!
Anonymous says
I would do a Target, Amazon or local ice cream shop gift card. Either to all 3 or to each individually.
My 9 year old daughter would love any of the above.
Anonymous says
Please send me good vibes for potty training my almost 3yo today! We’ve had no successes so far this morning. Just peeing in undies. Hes definitely aware of pooping/asks for privacy to poop in diaper. Just hasn’t figured out how to release pee on the potty. He needs to be potty trained by September for church preschool so we’re starting now. My DD was almost 3 and was super ready/easy.
AIMS says
We had this issue with my youngest. What finally did the trick was being naked and a potty in every room (IKEA Cheap, plastic potties are perfect for this).
Anonymous says
Good luck! What worked with my three year old guy was putting him on the potty in the bathroom while the tub was filling up for his bath. Note: this is definitely not the “oh crap” method, and that book stressed me out and I basically did the opposite of everything that book says. Worked so much better for our family.
Anonymous says
OP here – yeh we definitely didn’t follow oh crap! For my DD. I was lazy and just waited until she asked for a pink potty and she basically did it herself after that.
anonn says
even if you don’t do the Oh Crap method, it has some good take aways, the best for us was to put her on the potty at all transitions. so at wakeup, before leaving, when you arrive, before sitting down to eat, after eating etc. just getting the wins. At home go comando/naked, potties everywhere. Since he’s almost 3, make a big show of throwing away the diapers.
Anonymous says
Has anyone switched daycares and regretted it? I had some issues with our current daycare and then got off a waitlist I’d joined before my almost 2 year old was born at a different place so we are going to try it out but I have some hesitation. After we gave notice, current place has stepped it up and keeps asking if we’ll reconsider.
Cons with current place were:
– Never met teachers, not allowed back in rooms per covid, no idea of schedule.
– Teachers appear to rotate from what I see in pictures and sometimes half of class would be outside, sometimes kid who is in 2 year old room is in my kids room, no clear consistency (this was issue when they said my kid moved rooms but we kept seeing him in another room)
– When I pressed on these issues, directors husband who is sort of administrator basically yelled at me. (Director apologized afterwards)
– Transitions have been difficult and not transparent. We’ve had to push and they don’t clearly explain decision making
– Enter same daily things into app whether they happened or not, it’s just a farce
– very academic focused (worksheets etc)
– likely understaffed but how would I know
– some other issues like insisting on combining bottles awhile ago against our wishes until our kid threw up and then finally stopped combining
Pros of current place
– 2 blocks away
– Kid loves it, director very involved and reachable, knows everything about my kid, they do creative activities for older kids (some stuff clearly too advanced for 2 year olds though like letters?)
– started uploading more photos online and highlighting that they were doing circle time, learning new things, etc once we gave notice
– not much illnesses
– small community oriented type of place, really seem to care about the kids
New place is:
– farther away, couldn’t walk but still only 10 minute drive
– experiencing director turnover and related staff changes but communicated to me (3 calls from the board, interim director, classroom parent)
– more expensive
– allows you to dropoff and pickup in classroom, allowed my kid to visit the room and play with the kids
– is a co-op so some parent tasks but allows tons of parent involvement
– test to stay for covid (but doesn’t require masks for kids or teachers – not sure if that’s a pro or con to me!)
– play/developmental focused
I think it makes sense to try the new place but it’s a hard choice for me for something potentially better in lieu of something pretty decent.
anon says
I switched daycares when my youngest was 1 and I was not loving the center we’d been at for 5 years already. There had been some leadership and staff turnover, and it was unsettling. Even though the new place was further away and the culture was much different, I never regretted the choice to switch. Communication was better, which is HUGE for me. The cons on your list sound like pretty big cons, TBH! I don’t think you have much to lose. Your kid will adapt and love his or her new caregivers, too.
Anon says
+1 We switched daycares when our old daycare lady we thought we loved moved states, and the new one turned out to be way better. Didn’t even know what we were missing before. DD adjusted just fine.
I also agree that your cons of current place seem pretty big to me, and I am someone who usually prioritizes distance above almost all else.
Aunt Jamesina says
I agree with this, this daycare doesn’t sound “pretty decent” to me based on what you wrote. Clear and accurate communication is so important, and even more so when you aren’t allowed in to meet anyone!
Ashley says
I would go, 100%. To me, your list of cons for current place includes multiple deal-breakers. Worst case scenario, if place 1 is so desperate to keep you, you could probably switch back in a few months.
anonM says
Hm I may in the minority here. Not much illness is huge. And teachers rotating/kids moving classes wouldn’t be necessarily a big deal to me if there is some reason — our school has yourger kids “visit” the next size up — versus what our old daycare did where all kids were in one big room before 8:30 am –> so much illness spread.
For possible new place, do you have a good idea of what the co-op means on your end? And what is the schedule like – is there summer care?
Anon says
Yeah kids at my daycare spend time in different classes for an hour or two here or there based on student to teacher ratios and to make sure there aren’t too many kids in a class if a teacher has to step out or something comes up. I never thought of that as a problem – just a temporary fix to make sure class sizes are reasonable. My daycare has had some issues but I always trusted the teachers and was able to communicate openly with them, and my kids are happy there and have friends, so we stuck it out. I do think daycares are a tough business and you have to give them a little grace at times as long as most things are running well.
Anon says
I’m one of the people that said I think the cons about the current place are kind of big, and it is not about the rotating teacher thing. The biggest one for me would be never meeting the teachers. The worksheets in daycare and the farce app updates would be big deals to me too, but not as much as not being able to meet the teachers. But obviously everyone has their own priorities and my daycares probably had their things others wouldn’t have put up with.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
FWIW these reasons sound a lot like why we’re switching daycare/pre-school for our kids come Fall (plus the new place is 1 mile away vs. 3.5 miles – huge difference on city street driving).
It’s been a great place for the kids, and teachers and directors are lovely, but it’s clear the owners are not doing a great job and there’s not a ton of transparency.
Anon says
I didn’t read your whole list but we robably the top priority for me is admin that are clear communicators and open to discussion and questions-there is nothing worse than feeling like you don’t know what’s going on with your kid and just have to trust that it’s all good even when things feel weird or you are confused. So for that alone I think your switch sounds like a smart choice.
Backless Booster Seats for Small Car? says
Looking for suggestions for backless booster seats for a small car. Currently my 8 y.o. and 5 y.o. are in car seat type boosters and it is getting cramped. Would love any info on what seats you either like or dislike. Extra bonus if three booster seats could fit in a small backseat (Hyundai Elantra) although I’m wondering if that’s just fantasy. Thanks!
Spirograph says
I don’t know if they fit three across but we have the $25 Graco booster seats from Target and they are 100% adequate. Ours have removeable covers and cupholders that tuck into the bottom of the seat when not in use (you definitely couldn’t use these 3-across, but they’re convenient for my kids in minivan middle-row captain chairs!).
Anon says
+1 this is our travel seat and it’s been great. We only have one kid so can’t comment on three across but we’ve used it in tiny cars in Europe and it’s so much easier than a car seat-type booster.
Anonymous says
I have three kids and I dreaded the day they were out of the five point harnesses because you can’t have the seats right against each other and need room to buckle. Would the 5 year old be okay with a five point harness in a Graco Tranzitions?
For backless boosters I find the Clek Oobr is the best because it is narrow and it latches in place so it doesn’t move around.
For travel we use the mi-fold boosters but I don’t love those as a day to day booster because the twins are not great about maintaining good position for the shoulder belt.
Anon says
Are you comfortable putting one of your kids in a travel vest type harness? We use that in our third car that has a tiny backseat and it works great (and also for travel). We have the Ride Safer Travel Vest and have used it with my daughter since she was 3.
Bey blade? says
My daughter asked for a bey blade (the boys in her class are into it and she wants to play too). Anything I should know? Can I just buy her a random one on Amazon or there is something special? They are 5
Spirograph says
Oh nooooooo
My adult answer: You can just buy her a random one on Amazon, they’re all basically the same, pick one that’s a color she likes. There are the “real” Japanese (? I think) ones that have metal components, and there are also cheaper all-plastic versions.
The answer according to my kids: All beyblades are unique and have different strengths and weaknesses. You might want to ask her if she wants one in particular (they have names).
She’ll also need some kind of launcher, these don’t always come with the beyblade. The simplest ones are a little circle thingie with a zip tie-looking pull tab, but you can get ones that have strings or are bidirectional if you want to be fancy. If she’s playing with other kids, they probably have a “stadium” she can use, but if she gets more into it (heaven forbid) there are also Japanese vs American stadiums.