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I always like a good wrap top, but they’re especially great after pregnancy when you want there to be a bit of room in your tummy/pooch area. I like the sash element here, and I also like that it has a separate system for nursing — they don’t expect you to open up your entire top to nurse or pump. It’s $49.99 at Nordstrom. Udderly Hot Mama ‘Whimsical’ Nursing Wrap Top
Here’s a plus-size option that’s available in navy.
(L-3)
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Anonymous says
My husband leaves for work today and will be gone for a few months. I’ve done this before, it’s nothing new, but MAN is it nice to have two parents around. Solo parenting is HARD.
I get everything done because that’s the only option, but being the only one responsible for everything is a lot. That’s all. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.
Anonymous says
Solo parenting is definitely tough. Don’t feel guilty about venting to DH when you do talk, text or email. He obviously can’t be a help with the in person stuff but sometimes having someone to talk to about the minutiae of parenting challenges can be helpful.
Anon in NYC says
Good luck! Solo parenting is definitely hard.
EB0220 says
Yep, it’s as much a psychological weight as a physical one.
NewMomAnon says
Hugs. Single parenting is draining. I hope you have some respite periods planned; I couldn’t do it without the couple days a month I get to be completely “off” of child duty.
AIMS says
Can we talk about transitioning babies to eating actual meals? My kid is almost 8 months and she eats well with the stuff we give her, but still drinks about the same amount of milk as on days when we don’t give her solid food. I’d like to give her less milk and more actual food, but not sure if now is too soon? I’m not looking to cut out the milk entirely, but I’d love to go from 3 bottles a day when I’m at work to just two with an actual lunch in the middle. Thoughts?
Anonymous says
It will probably be closer to a year before you see any reduction in milk intake. It’s hard for little people to eat enough to make up the lost calories if there is a reduction in milk. Introducing solids also coincidences with them becoming more physically active so they start burning through the calories from their solids pretty quickly. Do you give her a water sippy with meals or is the only drink offered milk?
The saying ‘food before one is just for fun’ is pretty true.
AIMS says
With meals we give water in a sippy cup. She usually eats meals in between bottles of milk but no real schedule beyond that and sometimes we skip if she’s out and about, etc.
Lyssa says
Agreed. My younger one pretty much kept up the same formula intake until 10-11 months, then dropped off a little, then dropped off very quickly during month 11, and now we just feed her when we eat. It all works out.
PinkKeyboard says
Mine didn’t drop down till close to a year. I didn’t believe anyone who told me that but it did happen!
Anon in NYC says
Same. Right around a year.
ChiLaw says
Same. She very much led the process of eating more food and then asking for less milk. (Thank goodness!)
CLMom says
I’ll be following this one because my daughter is just over 8 months old. So, your question is timely.
Anonymous says
It’s probably too early. Our pediatrician recommends upping to three “meals” a day about 8-9 months, with same milk intake. Milk is just so calorically dense it can’t really be replaced. I’ll follow with a link to her book (has great charts with things like amount of heme-iron in foods [clams have the highest amount! wish someone’d told me when I was anemic!]) It’s not pro-baby-led-weaning, which I know is popular on this site. (Apparently surgery is sometimes necessary to remove food from babies’ throats!)
Anonymous says
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pediatricians-Guide-Feeding-Babies-Toddlers/dp/1607749017
anon says
Too soon. Our baby kept drinking the same amount of milk until he was around 11 months, when he spontaneously dropped a whole bottle, and then we cut it back considerably after his 1 year appointment to no complaints.
HSAL says
Oh, this is interesting. My kid will be 9 months tomorrow and the doctor made it sound like we’d talk about cutting her down at her 9 month appointment in two weeks.
Meg Murry says
Around 9 months, once my son got the hang of actually eating food, not just smearing the majority of it all over himself, daycare told us that he wasn’t finishing his whole bottle or had to be encouraged to finish it – so we were able to cut each of his bottles by about 1 oz (from almost 4 oz to around 3 oz, 3x a day) but we didn’t cut down the number of bottles until he transitioned to drinking cow’s milk from a sippy cup with meals and snacks instead (and he still did a pre-breakfast cup of milk at home before daycare for quite a while).
If you do wind up cutting down on bottles, make sure he’s getting plenty of fats, not just replacing milk with fruits & veggies or simple carbs – for instance, cheese, full fat yogurt or avocado.
AIMS says
Thanks all. It sounds like it may be too soon, but she really is eating a lot more solids and not just smearing them on her face, so I was thinking maybe it’s time to reconfigure her routine.
PinkKeyboard says
We are going camping and I have a crawler. She isn’t a fan of being contained or not crawling. I’m trying to figure out “baby armor” so we can set her free and not worry too much about cutting herself on the ground (it’s not a campground, it’s land my uncles own so broken glass has happened). We have little baby knee pads, shoes, I just need something for her hands. We will be watching her but I’d like to protect the ground contacting bits just in case we miss something. Can anyone recommend mittens she can’t get off or something similar? I’m bringing a tarp but I know she’s going to want to crawl on the ground and investigate the sticks and plants etc.
Meg Murry says
Can you just try socks on her hands? However, I suspect that for a determined kid, there isn’t going to be anything you put on her hands that she can’t get off with enough determination, and/or she will pitch a fit once she discovers whatever you put on her hands doesn’t come off.
Honestly, the only thing I can think of that she couldn’t get off would be socks that are duct taped on
Lurker says
I think there are medical mittens for kids that have to leave stitches or scabs alone. It is the kid version of the dog cone of shame. I would guess those are hard to take off.
MomAnon4This says
Is there an extra adult or big kid who can watch the crawler?
NewMomAnon says
Honestly, I would bring a bunch of tarps or blankets and create a zone of safety. I think my kiddo would have loved one of those big shade pavilion tents with a tarp on the ground underneath, or a big empty tent that could be zipped up to contain her. She would not have tolerated a pack and play though.
ChiLaw says
Same. We brought around picnic blankets (softer fabric with a tarp back) for our crawler during that phase.
NewMomAnon says
Mysteries are solved regarding talking/angry weekend with my kiddo! Two molars are starting to peek through kiddo’s top gums. Poor baby.
Question about pain meds: in past teething episodes, I’ve given Advil/Motrin only at bedtime because she was so distracted during the day that the new teeth didn’t seem to bother her. Obviously, this teething episode is bothering her during the day. Would you give Advil during the day for teething? I’m not anti-meds and probably lean toward giving more meds than most moms, but I’m a little leery of keeping my kid on OTC meds for days on end.
anon says
Yes yes yes. We had an all-day-screaming teether this weekend and absolutely gave him pain meds during the day. (He actually slept just fine, but was screaming in pain during the day.) It was really just two and a half days.
PregLawyer says
Ugh, we have had multiple angry weekends with my 13 month old. Lo and behold, two molars cut on the top this weekend. I’m homing he’ll be better soon.
We did motrin during the day on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Mainly because we are also transitioning to one nap, so we wanted to help him with the pain so he could sleep. I just gave him a dose about 30 minutes before nap and then 30 minutes before bedtime.
CPA Lady says
I’m not a doctor. Obviously. But why would you not give advil? Whenever my kid is sick or feverish or teething I have never hesitated to give advil for “days on end” (defined here as 2-3 days in a row). Is it bad or something?
NewMomAnon says
I don’t know – I’ve heard quite a few moms on here say it’s dangerous to give Advil for long periods of time? I expect that four molars coming in might actually take a week to 10 days. For two or three days, I would do it too (we definitely have for ear infections).
mascot says
I don’t think you need to give medicine for that entire time, just the days that she’s really struggling. Treat the child based on how they are acting – similar to what you do with a feverish, but happy, baby. I remember a study coming out last year (?) about how teething gets blamed for more pain than it actually causes. That there are some rough days, but since kids are cutting teeth for years on end, it’s not unmanageable pain for years.
Meg Murry says
Ibuprofen can do a number on your stomach (speaking from personal experience after my first was born when I was taking it like crazy), so I’d try to make sure to give it with food. I used to try to avoid giving my kids meds unless absolutely necessary, but then I had a series of dental work where I found ibuprofen really made all the difference in how uncomfortable I was (or wasn’t) and also a high fever with a headache and decided that I didn’t want to be cruel and withhold a medication that could make so much difference.
That said, I think the main reason they advise not to give Advil for days on end is that they don’t want parents using it to mask a high fever, etc – if a fever or sickness has been going on for days, it could be a sign that it’s something more serious that a doctor should look at, not just home-medicate with OTC meds.
I’d say check to make sure she isn’t running a fever first (to make sure there isn’t an ear infection or something else serious going on there) and if not and she seems like she is in pain to give her a dose with breakfast and another before bed .
SC says
FWIW, my pediatrician recommended that we limit Tylenol and Advil to 3 times per week each, unless it’s to treat something more serious like a high fever. And FWIW, we don’t follow that advice strictly, and Kiddo has received either Advil or Tylenol everyday since Friday (I think just once per day, during the day). He has 2 molars and 4 incisors coming in, so I’m justifying it by telling myself that we won’t need to deal with teething again until his second-year molars come in.
PhilanthropyGirl says
We did Hyland’s teething tablets and teething gel instead, and seemed to make a big difference. (We just cut top second molars) – since they’re homeopathic I’m less concerned about using them for multiple days, like I would be with Advil or Tylenol.
PregLawyer says
Does anyone have a recommendation for a baby monitor (video) that will last longer than a year?
We’ve been so disappointed with our very highly rated Motorola monitor. It has a micro usb charging port which stopped working at about 9 months. We thought it was just the charger, but when we got a new one it still didn’t work. We’re now past the 1-year warranty mark and the $150 charger is just totally dead. I’m bummed because all the consumer reports-esque lists said this was the most reliable monitor on the market, and then when I dig into the Amazon reviews, of course tons of people have had the same problem. I started looking at other monitors on Amazon, and apparently a lot have the exact same problem with the charging port (I guess it’s a micro usb thing?).
Is there a monitor out there that lasts beyond a year? Or do I just keep buying new ones until I don’t need one anymore? We want a video monitor especially as our 13 month old is getting a lot more active in his crib.
CPA Lady says
We got the “Summer Infant Clear Sight Digital Color Video Baby Monitor”. It has lasted since 2014 and has been dropped many times. It’s $80 on amazon at the moment. I’ve been happy with it.
PregLawyer says
Thanks!
NewMomAnon says
Yup, I have a Summer Infant video monitor too. My daughter abuses the monitor part (which charges with a typical adapter, not the micro usb), and every time I plug in the camera, the monitor works. I’ve been using it since early 2014 with no issues.
MDMom says
We use a webcam (dropcam, approx $50) and a basic audio monitor (vtech, approx $30). Ot works great. At 13 months, I rarely use the audio monitor when I’m in the house but use it when im in basement or outside. I can access video via phone or laptop. So if baby is crying at 4am, I might bring up the app to see if hes standing up or still laying down (and thus likely to settle on his own). Otherwise I don’t watch the video.
eh230 says
We also use a dropcam. I’ve had other video baby monitors and like the dropcam way better. I use it the same way MDMom does.
hoola hoopa says
You could try getting a new battery. Our Motorola is ~4 years old and still going strong, but we did need to replace the battery about a year ago.
Elle says
Talk to me about toddler sleep. What time do your toddlers go to bed/wake up? How do high achieving women/parents schedule this time? Just need some ideas/input.
PregLawyer says
I don’t think I yet have a toddler, but my 13 month old goes to bed at 7:00 and wakes up at 6:45. It’s hard in the evening because I need to leave work at around 5:15 so we can get home by 5:45, get dinner for the kid, get him to eat, then give him a bath, all by 6:30 when we start the bedtime routine.
I love the 7:00 bedtime, though, because it gives me a big chunk of time to do work or relax after he goes to bed. We also wake up around 6:00 each morning. The next step will be incorporating a workout into the morning. I just have to get myself out of bed at 5:30. Ugh.
Anon in NYC says
My 13 month old goes to bed somewhere around 7:30ish (sometimes 7:15, sometimes 8pm) depending on the day, and wakes up anywhere between 6:30-7:30. Between leaving work/daycare pickup, we often don’t get home until 6:30/6:45, so we just couldn’t make an earlier bedtime work.
On a regular night, it’s often dinner around 6:30/6:45, which can take 30 minutes, and then clean up, nursing, and bedtime routine. We give her a bath 2-3x per week, so on those days it follows immediately after dinner, and then nursing and bedtime routine.
Syd says
22-month-old, sleeps from 7:30 PM to 6 or 6:30 AM. We start a bedtime routine a little after 7. It works because both my husband and I are home between 5 and 5:30 but it obviously feels rushed!
NewMomAnon says
My 2.5 year old daughter used to go down at 7:30 with no problems, with wake up between 5:45 and 6:30. Now, I am lucky to get her into her crib by 7:45, and she usually messes around in her crib until about 8:30. Wake up is between 6:30 and 7:30 (for some reason she wakes up on the earlier side on weekends, yay).
As for schedule – my kiddo used to go into her crib and fall asleep, and I would have several blissful hours to work, read books, do hobbies, take a bath, clean up my house, do laundry, etc. Now she wants me in the room with her while she is going to sleep. I take that time to read the news on my phone, respond to work e-mails from my phone, and read updates in my legal field.
Actually, I lied – I usually take that time to play Candy Crush, scroll through FB, and feel guilty that I’m not using my time more productively. But a girl can dream, right?
Closet Redux says
LOL, you got me for a minute. I was very impressed with dream version of you! “Read updates in my legal field” is something I haven’t done in, oh, 2.5 years.
PhilanthropyGirl says
You are officially my hero. Because that was my night last night, plus binge watching cupcake wars. And the night before that….
My 20 month old is in midst of adjusting sleep scheduled, but we typically start bath around 6, and I aim to have him in bed before 7. He sleeps until 6:30-6:45. On the days he thinks naps are for sissies, I aim to have him in bed as close to 6 as possible. Historically, he has been a 6 pm – 6 am sleeper. I have flexibility with my work hours and typically work 730-330 (no lunch break) – which was really nice when he was in bed by 6.
Two Cents says
18 month old — goes to sleep at 6:30/6:45, wakes up at 6:45 am
3.5 year old — goes to sleep at 8:30 pm (we always aim for 8 pm but if often slips), wakes up at 7 am
The 6:30 pm bedtime is really tough because I usually don’t get home by 6 pm. Our sitter feeds him dinner and bathes him, so by the time I get home, he’s ready for bed. I wish he could go to bed a little later because I hardly see him, but he is so exhausted by then so I know it’s the right thing to do.
PEN says
How do you handle the two different bedtimes? We are really struggling with a 7 month old and a 27 month old and trying to figure out the after-work schedule. Right now, husband does the toddler and I do the baby, though this doesnt work great and the baby is prob up too late.
Two Cents says
Sorry, I just saw this. My husband usually is home by 6:30 pm and puts the younger one to bed almost as soon as he gets home. Then I put my older one to bed later on.
If I’m home along with both, it’s much much harder. I end up putting my younger one to bed with my older one in the same room, then the older one and I leave together.
I also don’t put the little one completely to bed — just rock for a minute or so, and let him fall asleep on his own. He cries out initially but then usually rolls over and goes right to sleep. Daycare tires him out!
AEK says
18 MO goes to into bed at 7:30 (doesn’t go right to sleep usually) and I try not to get him up until 6:30 am, although he is usually awake and messing around for a while before that.
We feed him a separate dinner shortly after he gets home from daycare, so whichever parent did pick-up gets him started while the other can work a little later and come home during / after his dinner. Bath is between 6:45/7. Then books, songs, lights out, crib.
[We need to start family dinners but though we manage to get food together for him—usually last night’s leftovers or eggs or noodles otherwise—we can never get a family meal prepared this early, or we can’t both be home this early, so it just hasn’t happened yet. We eat later. Working parent fail!]
AEK says
BTW, he is still taking epic naps during the day— bedtime will move up once we lose that, I know:(
Thx says
What kind of naps is your LO taking with that kind of schedule?
AEK says
Yikes, “that kind of schedule” sounds so ominous:) He sleeps 2-3hours in one nap during the day. So about 11 hours overnight plus 2-3 hours of nap.
Thx says
Ha! It does sound ominous! I have a 20 month early waker, and I’m trying to figure out if a long nap is the culprit. He gets in bed around 7:30, asleep by 8, and up anywhere from 5:30 to 6:15. We can usually keep him in bed until 6:30, but that’s really, really pushing it. He sleeps 2 to 3 hours a day.
Amom says
We have 2 kids (4 and 1.5). Both go down at 7:30 (we start bathtime at 7pm) . Younger kid wakes up at 5:30 and older at 6:30. We have tweaked going to bed earlier/ later for younger kids but her internal clock is set at 5:30am. She also takes a three hour nap at school.
Momata says
2.5yo starts bath/books/bed around 7:15. She takes a while to wind down so we often start the routine with one episode of a TV show around 7. She naps from 1-3 during the week but usually doesn’t nap on the weekends.
1yo starts books/milk/bed at 6:30. He usually only gets one or two catnaps during the week but makes up for it with a 2hr morning nap and a 1 hr afternoon nap on weekends.
Kids eat dinner around 5:30. Husband (who does pickup) makes their dinner and I usually get home while they are eating. We sit with them but during the week we eat our own dinner after they go to bed. We do family breakfast most mornings, and family dinners at least on Sundays if not also on Saturdays.
Anonymous says
My 2.5-yo goes to bed at 9pm and gets up at 6am. She sleeps 2.5 hours at daycare for a nap. I try to get her to go to bed earlier, but she never passes out until 9/9:30, and on rough nights, she’s up til 10.
Famouscait says
20 month old goes to bed around 6:30pm; wakes up around 7am. Lots of mornings I get him up and dressed from about 7:15 – 7:30am while my husband showers. Hubby drops kiddo off at daycare while I get myself ready listening to NPR as loud as I like.
During the week, we get home with him anytime from 4:45 – 6pm. We play a little on the porch, hubby and I hang out with him in the kitchen while he eats (we unload the dishwasher, clean up, etc.) The we all go upstairs for a little bit of playtime in his room before books and bed. We take it night by night, meaning if kiddo is happy and not rubbing his eyes, we may read a ton of books and color, etc. If he’s already cranky when eating, we do a quick bedtime routine.
Anonymous says
I have a 1.5 year old and a 3 year old. Bedtime has slipped about an hour in the last couple months, and now we shoot for getting them in bed by 8 and 8:30, respectively. Our evenings are basically solid family time after work — one parent makes dinner while the other supervises kids playing, we eat, sometimes go for a quick walk, and bedtime routine starts right after around 7:15-7:30. One parent does bath/shower (my kids get filthy and are covered with sunscreen and bug spray at daycare, so they almost always have a bath) while the other cleans up the kitchen. Usually husband and I divide and conquer stories/songs if we’re both home, because the 1.5 year old does not have the attention span for 3 year old’s favorite stories. 1.5 year old used to reliably fall asleep in the 15-30 minutes before 3 year old got in bed, but lately she’s been waiting up for him. They share a room and often stay awake until 9:30 singing and chatting with each other. Both typically wake up between 7 and 7:30, and take a 2.5 hour nap at daycare. I’m not sure the younger one is getting enough sleep, but they’re usually happy kids and honestly I have no idea what to do about it. They’re in their beds, but I can’t *make* them sleep.
Closet Redux says
The vision of your kids chattering together in their beds is so sweet!
Spirograph says
Oh it’s sweet, but definitely rage-inducing sometimes. Go the &%$! to sleep, kids!
anon says
16 month old gets put in bed at 7:45 (falls asleep between then and 8:15), gets up at 7 (often starts talking to himself around 6:30 in a half-asleep way, on and off). He also still takes two substantial naps (usually 1 hour morning, 2 hour afternoon). We did not intentionally set this schedule, but he just fell into it. Bedtime used to be a bit earlier when his afternoon nap was more like 1-3, but it’s now more like 2:30-4:30. Unless something is very wrong, we have never permitted him to get out of bed before 6:45, but he’s also happy to play in his crib in the morning (which is not the case for everyone). We don’t get home in the evening until 6:45, so 7:30 has really been about the earliest we can get him to bed if we still have to eat dinner after getting home.
anon says
edited to add: I mean, we start bedtime routine at 7:30, immediately after dinner.
anon says
and edited again to comment that we do bathtime a few times a week in the morning, to make bedtime as streamlined as possible.
Elle says
Thank you. These address some of my concerns, especially those regarding dinner timing and getting home. We currently try to start bedtime around 7:30 with the goal of being in bed by 8, but we are in an extremely independent phase and bedtime seems to be taking longer and longer and I feel like she’s often not going to sleep until “too” late. We try to start bedtime earlier when dinners allow it. I think I just need to start being more firm regarding the stalling.
NewMomAnon says
Is your daughter around two and a half? Because the stalling in my house is epic and getting worse. Last night my kiddo recited the story of how she got bit on the slide last week, and then demanded a band aid and an ice pack (the bruise had faded by Saturday night), and then asked for a snack, wanted her hair braided, and requested three trips to the bathroom (at which point I said she could go in her diaper). She also told me about her imaginary friend’s sad tummy.
I don’t understand why toddlers hate sleep. Not at all.
Elle says
2 and 2 months, so just about there! You’re not alone. We are working on it and will probably have a couple of difficult days/nights but hopefully she’ll then get the limits. :-/
EB0220 says
I have a preschooler (4.5) and toddler (almost 2). I have been trying a bunch of tweaks to bedtime and seem to have finally found a system that works for now. We usually get home about 5:45-6. I try to have dinner that can be made quickly (either pre-made or simple), so we finish eating around 6:30. They play for a bit, then have a small snack. We usually start the bedtime process around 7:30 with bath, potty, brush teeth, pajamas for both kids. Then my older daughter plays/reads/(ahem) watches a video while I put my toddler down – usually around 8:15-8:30. I read with my preschooler until a bit before 9 and then tuck her in. My toddler takes one 2.5-3 hr nap and my preschooler usually naps for 1.5-2 hrs. It takes a while, but I get some alone time with both and my preschooler seems to need a long wind-down period.
Anonymous says
My 4.5 year old goes to bed at 9 (with bedtime routine starting at 8:30) and wakes up betwee 7 and 8. This has been his schedule for at least 2.5 years (I can’t remember further back than that). If he sleeps late in the morning, I just work at home and take him to school when he is ready. I don’t get home until 7, so we need a later bedtime, but it does suck in that my spouse and I have no me time or couple time.
Jen says
My kid is 2.9. From 18 mos-2 and a bit she slept 8:30pm-7am and napped 1:30-3. She started fighting the nap and now sleeps 7:30-7:30 (or 8) without a nap. She sleeps like a rock and is nighttime potty trained- she’ll get up to pee maybe 1-2 nights/week, wake me up to let me know (thanks, kid) then go back to sleep. Otherwise sleeps right through.
TK says
25 month old.
Dinner is toddler-only at 5:30. Parents eat after he’s in bed.
Bath time e/o day or so, beginning at 7. Potty / brush teeth happen before bath time (on bath nights), then he picks 3 books to read before bedtime. Goes to sleep quickly with pacifier, nightlight and music between 7:30 / 7:45. Very rarely wakes up. Almost always sleeps until around 6:30, earlier if he wakes up with a poop.
Still does a 2 or so hour nap every day between 1 – 3. We are very lucky.
We’d eventually like to do family dinner, but it’s rare that both parents are home by 5:30, and we’re not sure how to keep kid occupied (other than t.v.) while one parent preps a meal for the three of us to share whenever second parent gets home (between 6 – 630).
Anonymous says
4 yr old and 18 month old- only the 18 month old still naps (1-2 hours/day)
5:30/6 – arrive home – one parent gives quick snack (handful cheerios/apply slices plus water sippy)
6-7 – one parent plays with kids while other cooks (we switch off every night)
7 – supper
7:30 – bathtime/story time
8-8:30 – kids fall asleep – 4 yr old on her own, toddler being rocked by parent with bottle
wake up anywhere between 6:30-7:30 (usually toddler at 6:30 and preschooler at 7:30)
child flying without me says
Hs anyone had a family member fly with your child without you? My sister is going to take my 4 year old on one leg of a trip. Any tips/experience? I’ve flown with him alone and never had anyone ask for his birth certificate or anything, though I’ve had it on hand. Thanks in advance!!
Anon in NYC says
I would check with the airline about what they would require. There may be various forms of proof that your sister will need to show that she has permission to travel with him.
EP-er says
I sent my 4 yo on a solo vacation with my parents. I made sure to send an extra insurance card with a notarized permission to treat letter, as well as a copy of his birth certificate. None of it was needed, but I felt better that they had it. Are you meeting up with your sister the same day?
RDC says
Domestic or international? Definitely check the airline requirements; you may need a notarized letter allowing your kiddo to travel.
Maddie Ross says
I’d worry so much less about that domestically. The whole reason they are concerned about that internationally is because of the difficulty of returning an abducted child from some place else in the world. Domestically, it’s much easier to get an abducted child returned. I only needed a birth certificate when I was still doing infant in arms and had to prove age. Now they just ask me to confirm her name at security (and sort of ask her now that she’s old enough to respond).
Anonymous says
Question. When did your kids stop consuming (eating? drinking? unclear.) pouches of pureed fruits/veggies? I have a 2.5-yr-old who just moved up to a new classroom at daycare. The new classroom doesn’t do sippy cups or bottles or pacifiers, and I’m wondering if I should phase out pouches too?
EP-er says
My kids still eat them at 8 & 4. We call them astronaut food and mostly just get the applesauce. It is just so convenient! No need to phase out if your kiddo still enjoys them and you don’t mind buying them.
mascot says
My almost 6 yr old still begs for applesauce pouches so I’m not sure there is a hard stop age wise. He likes regular applesauce too, but thinks pouches are fun. If kiddo is progressing on self-feeding and is good about a variety of textures, I wouldn’t worry too much about an occasional pouch snack or side or treat.
Anonymous says
We phased them out as a regular food around that age but continue to use them as a treat for older kids. Car trip and want something that won’t be messy but half way healthy? Fruit + veggie pouches are great for 4/5/6 year olds that can handle them without making a mess. Also keep a few on hand for when they are sick and won’t eat much.
pockets says
I occasionally eat my daughter’s pouches. So maybe 35? :)
Anonymous says
This.
Maddie Ross says
My child is way less into them now (3 yo) than she was a year ago. So long as you are using the normal applesauce or fruit/veggie ones (GoGo Squeeze or equivalent) and not the ones meant for infants that take the place of purees, I would say keep using as much as they want.
Anonymous says
Curious why there’s a distinction here? They seem pretty similar ingredients=wise – if anything, baby ones seem healthiest?
hoola hoopa says
The distinction makes zero sense to me, either.
We started to discourage them on the basis of cost/waste (ie, applesauce pouch relative to serving of applesauce out of a multi-serving container), but it was really a ‘self-weaning’ scenario.
I assume the OP is using them as snack or otherwise in addition to eating the same foods with a fork – but if it’s the *only* way that your child eats those foods, I’d definitely work on getting them accustomed to the more solid versions.
Anon because I've complained to too many people irl says
I’m 7 months pregnant. Today my 18 month old woke me up at 5 am because she fell asleep early with a low grade fever last night. I took her for a walk to let my husband sleep a little longer (and because it’s too hot by 7, so why not, if I’m awake anyway?) and apparently pulled my groin or something, because by the time I got to work I was limping, and 2 hours later straight up could not walk at all without excruciating pain. Daughter was in a great mood, so she went to daycare in spite of being a little warm, because really how bad could it be if she wasn’t cranky? Got a call at 1:00 to come get her b/c suspected hand foot and mouth. Husband has VIP meeting this afternoon, so I got to limp around carrying patient zero, and get to do it again to confirm the diagnosis with the pediatrician in a couple hours. Oh, and yesterday she was playing a hilarious game where she put her pacifier in mommy and daddy’s mouth, and brother wanted in on that action too, so wheeeee it’s going to be a Hot Zone in my house!
FML. It’s so sad, it’s actually hilarious.
NewMomAnon says
Hugs. Seven months pregnant is a tough time. Sounds like you need someone to baby you a bit tonight…can you ask your husband?
Edna Mazur says
Sympathy, that really sucks.
My kiddos had HFM recently and our pediatrician said my husband and I probably wouldn’t get it because chances are really good that we had it as kids and were immune, so there is at least that ray of hope for you and your husband.
Agree you should get some babying in yourself tonight.
NewMomAnon says
Our ped said the same thing, but I call phooey on that. My kiddo has had it twice, and I’ve had it twice with her. The first time was no big deal, just a few sores in my mouth (kiddo had the most amazing rash but was otherwise unaffected the first time). The second time I had sores covering my finger tips, the bottoms of my feet, and all the way down my throat. It was manageable but not fun. I ended up taking baby ibuprofen because I couldn’t swallow pills.
Which is just to say, this too shall pass.
Anonymous says
Yeah, I got HFM too… but just the first time my daughter had it, not the second!
And as someone who is pregnant and trying to keep up with a toddler and it’s hot out and ugh, I am sooo impressed with you. At this point, I call in backup way too often!
Mini Rant says
Is it really impossible to put the new thread on this s*te up sooner? I am up so much earlier than I was pre-kids and I have so much less time during the day. It would be great to be able to spend 5 min here with my morning coffee when I get to work and be able to post a question or two but inevitably the new thread goes up at 10 or 10 30 and by that point I am already struggling to juggle 17 different things. I don’t think most people come here for the recommendations so much as the community and it would be nice if the threads – even if empty – went up closer to 830/9 am. I certainly think you’d get more traffic.