Finally Friday: Straight Leg Pants

Can I just say how tempted I am to quit pumping at 5 months? This morning, in a silly attempt to save a couple bucks on milk for my iced coffee (decaf) when I have gallons of milk at home, I packed up a cup in one of the kids’ Thermos cups and put it in my Medela PIS bag (yes, dumb) with the intention of mixing it with my iced coffee at work. Of course, it wasn’t closed properly and leaked all over the bag, meaning I had to spend 20 minutes in the car cleaning it up, will have to spend an hour later dealing with washing out the bag and components, and possibly have a broken pump (afraid to turn it on and check). On top of that, I think Starbucks charged me for a latte anyway. And I wouldn’t even have been carrying the pump back to work if I weren’t so busy yesterday afternoon that I had to pump in the car on the way to daycare (yielding only a measly less than 2 oz.). AND, baby doesn’t even drink the milk (bottle refusal – 3rd kid in a row) – he only eats up to 6 oz of it per day mixed with purees (so I am up all night feeding him). And I was up til 2am working at home, and had at least 2 night feedings after I finally went to bed (lost track). And the only reason I went to get iced coffee is because I am so tired from working late and the months of sleep deprivation and need a pick-me-up (even if decaf). And today is supposed to be my “off” day but I am at work anyway because things are too busy and a partner is going on vacation and needs me to fill in, and I don’t want to turn down work after being on leave. Conclusion – I really want to quit pumping, but would feel bad for my baby! (I pumped for the other two 12 months and about 9 months)

How did you decide which maternity clothes to save and which to pass on? I hope to be pregnant again, but not for 3-4 years. It seems silly to save everything for that amount of time, and I don’t know what will look hopelessly dated by then and what seasons I will be pregnant in. On the other hand, life happens and what if I end up pregnant sooner rather than later? And I probably will be even less willing to spend a lot on maternity clothes then than I was this time.

Thoughts?

So after yesterday’s mention about nurses at a hospital warning against swaddling (why? hip dysplasia? breaking free and smothering with a blanket? Did some study come out that I haven’t seen?) made me think – are there any other “new” theories or rules about infant care that have come out in the last few years? My cousins are all starting to have their first babies, and I don’t want them looking at me with horror when I suggest swaddling or something, the way people get upset at a grandma suggesting honey for an infant’s cough or other outdated advice. My youngest is not yet 4, but it seems like the current advice is always shifting. And don’t get me started on all the new products aimed at babies that didn’t exist when my kids were little – I don’t want to even go there.

The things I can think of that have changed since my oldest was born 8 years ago (or maybe just become more widespread):
-Recommendation to wait until 6 months for solid food, instead of the old 4-6 months advice
-Push toward baby-led weaning away from spoon feeding
-In some circles, skipping baby cereal altogether
-Rearfacing until 2 (or older) becoming more mainstream/widespread and not just the fringe
-Drop-side cribs being deemed dangerous and phased out

I know things I had to teach my parents and in-laws involved no honey, waiting on introducing certain high allergen foods, babies sleeping on backs instead of stomach, rear facing infant seats, no baby walkers that walked around anymore (replaced by stationary exersaucers), no antique cribs with wide spaced slats, no baby bumpers or soft blankets in the crib.

What else is out there that I need to learn if I’m going to watch my new baby cousins and not be completely out of touch? Or products that we recalled or highly discouraged now so I don’t offend someone by offering it to them?