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I’m a huge fan of Dagne Dover’s bags for work and just learned they make diaper bags too!
My pick is the Wade Diaper Tote — it’s a much chicer version of my old diaper tote. It’s perfect for moms who aspire to use their diaper bag for themselves post-baby. It comes in two sizes in a range of muted and sophisticated colors and has handy interior features like a laptop sleeve and a dedicated opening for wipes. This tote can be clipped onto a stroller or attached to a suitcase for babies (and parents) on the go.
A changing mat and extra pouches are also included.
The large tote is $185 and the small one is $155.
Sales of note for 3.28.24
(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 2+ items; 40% off 1
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles
- Lands’ End – 10% off your order
- Loft – 50% off everything
- Nordstrom: Give $150 in gift cards, earn a $25 promo card (ends 3/31)
- Talbots – 40% off 1 item; 25% off everything else
- 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 – 50% off entire site
- Hanna Andersson – 30% off all swim; up to 30% off HannaJams
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off sitewide; 50% off select swim; 50% off kids’ styles
- Old Navy – 50% off Easter deals
- Target – 20% off Easter styles for all; up to 30% off kitchen & dining; BOGO 50% off shoes & slippers for the family;
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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?
strollerstrike says
Waiting to hear back from a job – keep your good thoughts coming.
FTM question: Do you bring toys on your vacations? If so – any favorites, easy to pack toys for a just-turned-two year old?
We will be spending some time on a little farm in the mountains followed by an airbnb in a city. Schlepping along bags of duplo and books doesn’t seem right but no toys at all seems too harsh too.
Anonymous says
I do 5 paperback books (not hard cover) so they fit in a large ziploc freezer bag for storage. A large ziploc freezer bag with duplo, a couple dinky size toy cars, pad of paper and coloring pencils. Basically a kid sized bookbag of stuff. Using the kid bookbag creates an obvious place to corral the stuff when at the AirBnB so it doesn’t get lost.
I’d buy something during the trip to remember the trip with too. So beach vacation was sand bucket and spade that we brought home with us (stored their car ride snacks in it on the way home which was cute. First trip to the zoo was a giraffe stuffie that they still sleep with. An aquarium trip with an aquarium themed book and an aquarium puzzle.
anon says
We absolutely bring a good selection of toys to an AirBnB, and even to a hotel if we’re planning to be in the room at all. With toys our kids can play happily for hours. Without them, they drive us up the wall complaining that they’re bored. Favorite travel toys for us are magnatiles (they stack well), pop beads, a babydoll with packed diaper bag of baby stuff, and duplos. We also pack books and coloring stuff/sticker books.
anon says
For the record, my kids are 5 and 7. We packed less when they were toddlers, but bring more toys now that they’re older and have more complex games. I expect the quantity of toys will slow down as they get older and we allow more screen time. But for now we prefer that they play rather than tablet.
Our 7 yo also loves to read, so we end up bringing a 300 page chapter book per day, as she can polish them off very quickly if we’re in a car or waiting for restaurants, etc.
Anon says
Yeah, this. I can’t imagine not bringing toys on a vacation! We use them for times we’re hanging out in the airbnb before/after adventures, in the plane/car, while waiting for food at a restaurant, etc.
For a trip to Europe at almost-2 we brought coloring supplies, little plastic and wooden animals, probably a dozen picture books, stacking cups, 2 small stuffed animals, a toy car, and a soft ball (suitable for tossing inside).
Anonymous says
Yes – some bedtime stories. Think stuff that would be good for the car / plane too. At just before 2 we got mileage out of finger puppets, a few hotwheels cars, v small bag of duplo, and the hero of the trip a “boogie board”. Totally agree that it must all fit in one small bag. (Or into the carry on bag) We try to buy a book at our destination set in that location.
If driving totally depends on your kid but we had good success at 2 with a cookie sheet and magnets. Cookie sheet never left the car (maybe for. A quick wash!) We don’t do books / colouring in the car.
Cb says
We did a few things for a plane and then apartment stay at the same age – a pile of books (UK duty free has a great kids book selection so we picked up some more and they didn’t count for our stingy Ryanair carryon allowance), some cars, magnatiles, and bought a few puzzles when we got there.
AnonATL says
My kids only like 10 months, but lately I’ve been bringing a clear sterilite bin with a few blocks and toys when we take a day trip to the grandparents. I can also add water and let him splash his toys if it’s hot.
Anon says
Not normally. My kid is 3 and mostly just wants to play pretend and we don’t need any toys for that. If we’re going to the beach and the hotel or AirBNB doesn’t have beach toys we do pack those and we pack some entertainment for the plane (currently her tablet and a few Water Wows) but we’ve never brought like legos on a trip.
Anonymous says
I am lazy and do not like to travel with toys that have lots of pieces. At that age we usually brought along some books and a baby doll or stuffed animal. In an airbnb there should be some plastic bowls, spoons, washcloths, towels, etc. that can be used for pretend play with the stuffed animal. For slightly older kids, we would bring a card game like Go Fish or Uno.
Spirograph says
Good thoughts!
If we’re flying, we usually let each kid choose 2 books and 1 stuffed animal that can fit in their suitcase. Any more than that, you’re asking for things to get lost. I’ve lucked out with many AirBnBs that had toys. Even if they don’t, they usually have some plastic cups or tupperwares that my kids are happy to build with in lieu of blocks. see also blankets and pillows.
If it’s a driving trip, we have car toys, too, and those often migrate inside once at our destination.
SC says
I always bring a carry-on size suitcase of books and toys, plus a tote bag or backpack of activities for the car/plane and restaurants. I leave some extra room in case we buy something on the trip too. For books, definitely limit to paperback since they’re lighter and smaller. Take a gallon ziplock of the Duplos, and let them double as bath toys. Pack the toys that can entertain him for longer periods of time. For vacations, and other people’s houses generally, I liked the Color Wonder markers and paper when my son was young. Since you’ll be outside some, you could also pack a deflated beach ball or any other small toys that are good outdoors.
AnotherAnon says
It’s been interesting to read all the different tips! For that age, I didn’t bring toys: just a couple books for bedtime since that’s part of our routine and his favorite stuffed animal. If it’s for less than a week kiddo was entertained just by exploring all the new stuff in the Airbnb (some kid friendly like Tupperware, some not like breakable tchotchkes and coffee table books). Enjoy your vacation!
octagon says
I pack small toys — at that age it was a matching game, coloring books/crayons, pipe cleaners.
When we travel to visit family, I usually do a Target pickup order with 3-5 inexpensive “new” toys that I don’t want to schlep — puzzles, maybe new books, etc, if that’s an option for you.
Anonymous says
Yes definitely. My kid is very happy with cars, so at that age we brought about 5 cars and random other things. At 3 we started bringing magnatiles. Also a lot of books. With two kids we need fewer toys?.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Favorite water bottles for kids? We’d like something that can go at the bottom of our stroller (i.e. won’t spill over if turned sideways) and can be used for both our 5 year old and 2.5 year old. Ideally something that will fit in the LLBean Junior backpack for our older kid to take to K this fall too.
Anonymous says
Thermos funtainer with the straw top – Walmart has them. They don’t leak and they last well unless your kid like throws it at a rock or something. Even then, just the plastic top cracked.
Anonymous says
+1. They also clean up better in the dishwasher than any other water bottle with a valve or straw; we have never had mold issues. When the straw/valve wears out you can buy replacement parts instead of buying a whole new bottle.
Anon says
This. By far the easiest to clean and I’m a stickler for potential mold issues. And it all goes in the dishwasher, unlike her camelback one that requires hand washing and where the valve I feel never truly cleans.
Clementine says
Camelback Eddy water bottles. Also have replacement valves available. We’ve tried metal, we’ve tried other brands… we keep going back to these.
anon says
We’re big fans of the Nalgene grip-n-gulp bottles, since my kids don’t have the finger strength to open lids but will destroy soft straws like the camel backs in a day because they just chew o them obsessively.
Anonymous says
We liked those too when my son was younger. They are also super easy to wash – only 1 extra piece for the valve. The 5.5 year old might prefer a regular Nalgene with a screw-top lid.
SC says
We’ve always liked these too. Kiddo’s daycare used them–each kid had their own with their name on it, and we got to keep them at the end of the year. The first one is 5 years old and still holds up.
CCLA says
We use thermos foogos (our kids are about the same age as yours). Used for years, only one broken lid, and for the little kid I like the silicone disc to prevent straw too removal (not sure if the funtainer has that too, but when I looked a few years ago I recall that might have been more of a choking hazard).
Anon says
Nope, there’s a disc thing on the bottom of the lid attached to the straw mouthpiece so once it’s assembled the straw can’t be pulled out.
Pondland says
We like the pottery barn kids metal canisters. Leakproof and monogrammable.
EDAnon says
We use adult sized contigos from Target (non-chocking hazard ones).
Sends good thoughts says
What are my obligations for work if my kid tested positive for COVID?
I just found out my 3 year old is positive. I am obviously very anxious and he seems okay but does have symptoms, so frankly I was surprised and now just hope everyone is ok. I am fully vaccinated as is my husband. I have no plans to go to work while my son is quarantined.
My boss is freaking out. I haven’t seen him since mid last week but he’s made this all about him. He keeps sending me emails with all sorts of questions and copying the head of our organization. I am deeply uncomfortable but when I pushed back by phone why this was necessary he freaked out, yelled that this was all reasonable and hung up on me. I obviously have a super toxic workspace. Putting that aside, what are my obligations ?
As I understand, I am not required to even stay away from work under the circumstances though I will.
Cb says
Your boss is awful, and I am so so sorry. A reasonable workplace would ask you to keep up with anything urgent but understand that your physical presence isn’t possible and working with a 3 year old at home means that things get pushed etc. The vaccines are incredibly effective but still, you don’t want to be out and about in the world. Is your big boss more reasonable?
Anonymous says
How are you not required to stay away from work? We still have that the sick person must quarantine 10 days from diagnosis and family must quarantine 14 days from end of sick person quarantine. Obviously rules vary but I can’t imagine somewhere allows people to go to the office when their kid has covid. Company definitely has obligations to warn other employees of possible exposure.
Anonymous says
The CDC does not recommend quarantine for vaccinated people who are exposed and have no symptoms.
Anon says
This.
Anonymous says
I totally read OP’s post as ‘not fully vaccinated’. The whole thing makes more sense if they are fully vaxxed.
Anonymous says
I’d threaten to take PTO or FMLA for the entire time your son is home. If you are on FMLA, you are not allowed to work at all.
Send good thoughts says
Sorry – I should clarify – the issue isn’t that boss wants me back in office or even that I don’t want to work from home. He wants me to document information about when I was last in the office, who I spoke to, what time I left and he wants me to take a test immediately.
My understanding of the law is none of that is required for me because I am fully vaccinated and have no symptoms. Our official rules for entry say you can come in even if exposed to a close contact as long as you are fully vaxxed and have no symptoms, and I don’t mind sharing basic info, but this all feels insanely intrusive given the total context. I’m just wondering what I actually should do/can be asked to do.
Anonymous says
Oh, I read it as unreasonable micromanagement of your work while you were WFH. Yeah, contact tracing is not his job. I’d refuse to engage and/or send him to HR to clarify the policies.
Anon says
so none of this is really a ‘law’ it is guidelines. there is nothing to say that even if you are vaccinated you can’t be asked to take a test if you were exposed to someone who is positive. i understand that you are super stressed since your kid is positive, but it sounds like your boss is trying to do contact tracing? again, i understand the CDC guidelines say that is not necessary, but if your boss wants to, is it really such a big deal?
Anonymous says
HR should be setting company policy, not the boss.
Anonymous says
Omg take the test and confirm when you were last there and who you spoke to for contact tracing purposes. What is wrong with you?
Anonymous says
First of all, I hope your son and anyone he’s been in contact with are OK.
Your boss is obviously way out of line. Do you work for a very small organization where this has never happened before? My large company has a system for tracking positive tests and likely exposures based on voluntary reporting. It’s centered with corp security, and direct managers are not involved. If there’s a way to cut your boss out of this and work directly with whoever is actually in charge of health and safety at your company, do it.
Since presumably need to provide child care for your son anyway, I’d just take sick leave until he’s clear of covid and can go back to his normal childcare arrangement, and tell your boss to jump in a lake (not really, but he needs to leave you alone). Your local health dept should be in charge of contact tracing. The only thing your employer needs to know is the date you were last in the office and the date your son tested positive.
Anonymous says
This is all wrong.
Anonymous says
My daycare’s policy for travel is to get a COVID test 1-2 days before travel AND another test 3-5 days after travel (and stay home until a negative result comes back). I understand the back-end, but why do we need a test ahead of time? Since I’m already taking a bunch of time off, I’d rather not take another afternoon off work to get the earlier test. But what are we gonna do.
Anonymous says
What is day care actually going to do if you skip the pre-travel test?
Anonymous says
Is it before travel back? Like 1-2 days before departure? That’s how I would read that. Like not before travel to leave on the trip but before you travel from your destinations back home. Most flights require a negative test within 72 hours prior to departure so it seems similar to that. Then by the time kid is back at daycare they have had two negative tests in a week or less and they can be reasonably certain that kid doesn’t have covid.
Anonymous says
Domestic flights require a negative test?!?
Anon says
I flew domestic last week. No testing, or even temp check. Masks required (though this wasn’t heavily enforced in the airports), but no screening.
Anon says
No they don’t. Some destinations (e.g., Hawaii) require tests but most don’t and there’s no test needed to fly within the US.
Anonymous says
Looks like they just adopted the CDC recommendations for travel by unvaccinated people which recommends the pre-departure test for domestic flights. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html )
Anonymous says
Yeah I think that’s right. The recommendations are so that you don’t unknowingly spread it to your travel destination, though, and shouldn’t affect daycare at all.
anon says
It’s really hard for daycares to create travel policies (they’re not public health experts), so it sounds like they just copied CDC guidance without tailoring it to include only what they care about.
My guess is that they don’t actually care about the pre-departure testing, but don’t feel like they can/should modify what the CDC says for their own policy.
S says
If you do need to do it can you just do drivethrough testing on the way to school? At least by us samedaytesting has a drivethrough and I can get my kids tested at a specific reserved time.
Anon says
sibling question. The other week i took one of my 3 year old twins to an OT eval. I told both together that Twin A was going to an appointment bc their pediatrician said he should have his joints checked (i realize that is not exactly what an OT does) and Twin B went to a new park with our nanny. I explained that if Twin B ever needs to have something checked we will make sure to take him too and that everyone is different. Fast forward two weeks and sometimes Twin B wants to know when it’s his turn to go to the appointment. Twin A will likely be starting OT soon. Tips for how to navigate this? In the book Siblings Without Rivalry they emphasized how you can’t make everything equal and i think there was an example where just bc one kid needed a new sweater, didn’t necessarily mean the other one should get one too.
Anonymous says
Can you enroll B in something like gymnastics class with the nanny while A is at OT? Then they are both going to separate but similar activities.
Or over time B will just get used to it.
Anonymous says
I’d just draw a line here. Twin A needs help with his joints, you don’t.
anon says
Yes, and you might need something in the future that Twin A doesn’t – just setting the expectation that not everything may be the same, but in a very calm, blasé way.
Clementine says
Something we talk about in our house is that everybody gets what they need, but not necessarily everything they want. We talk about wants vs. needs and at 3 they really start to get it.
I would talk about it being their need, that different people need different things, and then talk about what they want. (Special one on one time? The sticker prize twin got from the doc/therapist?) Honestly, this is something I swear I have had to teach adults about – just because somebody else gets something doesn’t always mean it’s ‘not fair’ that you don’t get the same thing.
Anonymous says
I have twins. Twin B will mostly likely be jealous of the one on one time Twin A gets via you taking him to OT. Start come kind of tradition like Twin A gets a donut on the way home from OT and then take Twin B out at a separate time with the same frequency for the same treat. This assumes OT is like once a week and not every day. 15-20 minutes for the solo trip with Twin B to get the donut or whatever will go a long way. Pick something fun for Twin B to do with the nanny when Twin A has OT.
anon says
I also have twins. I think this is slightly trickier than with different-aged sibs because they’re so used to always getting the same things just because they’re the same age (they both got new beds at the same time because they outgrew their cribs, they get new winter boots and jackets at the same time because they grow at the same rate, whereas older or younger sib might not need new ones yet, etc) but also there are going to be things like this and attempting to make it equal and fair is just going to be a headache down the road.
One of my 4yo twins has eye dr appointments and we just treat it as “Twin B goes to the dr while Twin A stays home with mom and that’s okay!” and haven’t gotten too much push back. For things where we can be equal we definitely do do that (e.g. they alternate who gets to go in the pool first at swimming lessons or who gets to come on errands), but we don’t go out of our way to make everything equal when there’s no good reason.
Anon says
Any recs for a popsicle mold?
Anonymous says
No recommendations for a specific mold, but a recommendation as to the contents. Plain juice freezes very hard and is unpleasant to eat. A smoothie with fruit, yogurt, and juice makes a better textured popsicle.
GCA says
These have held up well for a few years: https://www.target.com/p/koji-ice-popsicle-molds/-/A-50517198#lnk=sametab I think we got them from Target but you can find them elsewhere online as well. They’re large, easy to clean, and pretty easy for an overenthusiastic toddler to fill and click the sticks into.
Pomme-Grenade says
After 3 years of buying different kinds of mold and never be happy with them, I just bought a Zoku popsicles mold and they are amazing. Thee mold is in silicone and it easily release the popsicle. I got the fish molds for my 5 years old twin and they are super happy. You can those at amazon.
Anonymous says
+ 1 ZOKU. I laughed at my hubby when he bought these (Like this is a serious set up….) BUT they are THE BEST. (we have the fish ones too). Perfect size. No need to thaw at all to get one out. So far we mostly just put whatever yogurt is in the fridge in them. One juice box foes surprisingly far.
anon says
We like the Zoku Mini Pop Molds. They are a great small snack size for kids.
We use smoothie juice like Naked Strawberry Bananna or Bolthouse Farms that we get at the grocery store, which is super easy.
Anonymous says
Lekue! The smaller size is perfect for preschoolers.
Anon says
TW. Pregnancy loss.
Sad news in my family yesterday. My sister had a miscarriage at 18 weeks. An IVF baby she fought for, too. It’s her third child and she lives very near by so we already have her covered on childcare and providing meals, but she’s not saying much. Will there be a D&C or is an induction more likely given how far along she was? How soon after finding out about the MC do those get scheduled typically? We’re trying to arrange work schedules to be there for her this week. She’s had MCs before but around the 7-9 week mark. She’s a no BS, stiff upper lip kind of girl – going there and just being around / waiting for her to cry on my shoulder or open up isn’t going to happen and wouldn’t be welcomed. We’re incredibly close but we’re also not wired the same. Anything else we can or should be thinking of?
Patty Mayonnaise says
I’m so sorry for your sister. I don’t have any specific advice, but you’re being so so supportive. She’s lucky to have you.
Anonymous says
D+C vs induction is part personal preference and part medical situation. eg. If the baby stopped developing at 12 weeks and miscarriage was discovered at 18 weeks then D+C may be more appropriate.
Just continue to emphasize that you are there for her, whatever she needs. There’s not a lot else to be done right now.
Anon says
I’m so sorry to hear this. I am wired similarly to your sister. For my MCs, I preferred to have everything else taken care of so I could mope / recover from the D&C, then I wanted a house project to distract me. So childcare and food is great, and maybe also offer to run any errands or be her buddy on any distraction missions? Or maybe a gift in the way she likes to be distracted – a book or some decorations for her garden or a new water bottle or hair ties or whatever.
Anon says
I’m wired like your sister too. Maybe some light reads on kindle? Agreed on distractions just to let her get out of her head a bit.
Anonymous says
Can someone please explain why a tubal ligation, major abdominal surgery performed under general anesthesia, is fully covered under the ACA as preventive care, but a v a s e c t o m y, a 15-minute procedure performed under local anesthesia in the doctor’s office, is not?
Anonymous says
Not saying I agree with this, but perhaps because pregnancy could endanger the life of some women, but getting someone pregnant can’t directly harm the health of a man?
Anonymous says
Yeah, but my husband’s getting me pregnant could endanger my life. It’s also a lot cheaper for the insurance company to give him the snip than to pay for my prenatal care + delivery or my tubal ligation. We aren’t on the same policy, but over the population of policyholders the insurance company would come out ahead by paying for they guys to get the snip.
Anonymous says
I just don’t know that the concept of “preventative care” has been extrapolated to benefit someone other than the insured. Of course it doesn’t really make sense if the company is insuring both of you though. FYI, planned parenthood offers vasectomies.
Anonymous says
Misogyny. Want to make sure poor women don’t have too many babies. Can’t expect men to be responsible for reproduction prevention.
Anon says
I thought this was part of the women-centric changes in the ACA which included free contraceptives, free breast pumps, requirements for pumping locations at work, etc. I hadn’t realized that vasectomy weren’t included, but I though the push was for the pill and IUDs for free, with tubal ligation likely getting swept in.
Anonymous says
All of the horrible hormonal and invasive methods for women are covered, but not the simple method for men.
anon says
At the time of the ACA, it was viewed as very important to get contraception fully covered. My first IUD, pre-ACA, cost me hundreds of dollars, even with insurance. I’m very grateful that IUDs are now free. This provision was a huge step forward and fought vigorously by conservative and religious groups (see, e.g., lawsuit by Hobby Lobby and Georgetown). Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Yes, a great next step would be to add vasectomies.
Anonymous says
That’s all very nice for you. I have also paid for an IUD (with insurance) and gotten one free under the ACA. With both of them I ended up constantly starving, 15 lbs over my normal weight, exhausted, and generally miserable. Now I have to come up with thousands of dollars to pay out of pocket for a BC method that does not ruin my life or require me to undergo general anesthesia and major surgery. We can afford it, but it doesn’t seem fair.
Anonymous says
I agree with anon at 12:23. This is unquestionably a good thing. Vasectomies should be covered as well, but it’s good health policy to include every form of contraceptive care for women as preventative care and it was something a lot of us fought very hard to get. It’s dismissive and snarky to say “that’s all very nice for you” when it’s great for MILLIONS of women and other people who need the care.
There are tons of different birth control methods you could try, including non-hormonal IUDs, birth control pills, rings, and patches, and condoms. If you want a lower cost vasectomy, try your local Planned Parenthood. A lot of them offer it for lower price tags than you might pay if you got it elsewhere out of pocket. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/vasectomy/how-do-i-get-vasectomy
anon says
Wow, no need to be a jerk. Covering contraception was a good next step for women in general, not just me. I’m sorry that you haven’t found a good option–that sucks. But previously it would have been very expensive for you to even try options. Now those options are covered. It’s not perfect, but it was progress over where we were pre-ACA.
Yes, I agree vasectomies should be covered too.
Anonymous says
Wow your attitude isn’t ok
Anonymous says
The ACA doesn’t require coverage but nearly all private insurance does cover it.
Anon says
I agree this is part of the woman centric ACA stuff. I have zero desire for a tubal ligation and will make husband get snipped when we’re 100% sure we’re done, but I agree that including permanent birth control for women only is better than nothing.
AnotherAnon says
Gift ideas for a night nanny? It’s her last week with our twins. We adore her. She lives in a different part of town, so I can’t get her a spa or nail salon gift card. Is cash too impersonal? Or should I do some silly baby footprint memento?
anon says
Cash money (which, incidentally, is a phrase my 3 year old has some how picked up on and runs around saying “I love cash money.”)
NYCer says
We gave ours cash.
Anonymous says
Whatever amount you’d want to spend, give that in cash, and if you want to add something sentimental or “self-care-y” on top of it, go for it! But cash is king here.
Fingerpaints says
The internet is giving me too many unvetted choices and I don’t have the ability to get to Michaels etc.
Favorite fingerpaints for a very young child (< 1 year, I know I need to supervise 100%)? I want my daughter to make something for my husband's first father's day (Jackson Pollack, here we come!). Any tips on how to make this go as smoothly as possible?
Anonymous says
Finger paints marketed as such tend to have a weird oily/gel look on the paper. Day care had the kids use regular washable paint as finger paint, which looks nicer. If she is close to age 1, I also like the Do-A-Dot markers.
Spirograph says
The paints aren’t as important as the paper. You really want to get fingerpaint paper — it’s thicker and won’t disintegrate quite as quickly when slathered with goopy paint. Tape the paper down on the corners, too. When my kids were really little, I’d usually put a few dollops of colors that don’t make brown when you mix them in different spots on the paper and just let them go to town. Drop cloth if you’re doing this over a rug or carpet. If it makes sense in your house, you may want to just set up on the kitchen floor rather than a table.
We have crayola finger paint that is washable and completely adequate. I’ve never compared against other brands.
Clementine says
Do it in the bathtub or outside. Put your kid in a diaper. Take pictures of them spreading the paint everywhere.
I vote you just go to Target and buy the nontoxic stuff. Crayola is fine.
I personally love painting feet and doing little footprint pictures. Looking at my kids, I still can’t believe they were ever that small.
avocado says
My favorite early day care art projects were the ones where they made handprints or footprints and the teachers turned them into pictures. The cutest was a butterfly where footprints were the wings (left foot printed on the right and right foot printed on the left).
Anon says
Crayola Washable. Available most places with kid’s art supplies. Our favorite way to do it was outside in the grass if weather permits or in the bathtub if it doesn’t — plan on taking a bath immediately afterwards, but the paint will come right off the tile (and the baby!)
Anon says
We have Crayola paints and paper from Target that work well.
Anon says
I feel like I’ve seen where you put the paper in a bag, squirt some paint in there, close it, and then let the kid “paint” by pressing on the outside of the bag. I don’t do mess, so if my kid has ever done fingerpaints it would have been at preschool, but that’s how I would do it. I also had luck (crayola washable) with putting a little bit on a plate and letting her use a brush from the dabs on paper, but that was probably closer to 18 months.
My best tip though (DD is 3 for reference) is to go watercolors (if you’re just painting on paper). They come out of virtually everything and don’t make a mess in the same way actual paint does.
Anon says
For a kid <1 year, I'd probably make something edible. There are recipes on the internet. I'd reserve actual finger paint for a kid who is big enough not to eat it.
Camping with kids says
Going car camping for three nights with my kids by myself next week. They are 9, 4, and 1.5. Other than hiking and lazing around, and making a camp fire, any other ideas for things I can plan/ bring to entertain them?
anon says
Sidewalk chalk and scooters are fun for making a course on the road in front of the campsite.
Small figures (like little people or my little ponies) are fun for building fairy houses with rocks, sticks and leaves.
Uno or other card games are fun.
SC says
Agree with card games. My kid likes filling out Bingo cards for hiking and camping trips. You could bring washable, nontoxic paint and a tarp and let them paint rocks and sticks and leaves. I also suggest bringing camping/outdoorsy stuff that doubles as playing and learning–magnifying glass, binoculars, a compass (maybe with a scavenger hunt setup if you’re feeling industrious), flashlights, etc. Bring a couple of books–we’re always really tired after hikes.
Anonymous says
Oh goodness voluntarily?!
Anon says
This is my thought especially with a 18 month old! Tell me your secrets please!!
OP says
Hah! Yeah, I question the whole thing myself sometimes.
Cabin fever, I guess. We haven’t really gone anywhere the past year, I have a slow period at work, but my husband can’t take the time off right now.
I’ve taken them hiking by myself but never camping, so I’m trying to keep my expectations low.
Anonymous says
You could do some nature based crafts if that’s your thing? A lot just involve bringing glue/paper/markers. Like draw a tree. Gather leaves to collect and glue to tree. Also books and scavenger hunts on plant identifications etc…can you tell my family is a bunch of nature nerds? Is there anything at the campsite? We’re going this weekend and there’s a lake for swimming plus a small playground.
Anonymous says
For the 9 and 4 year olds, I highly recommend scavenger hikes. You can download guides and buy books, either generic or trail-specific.
For campsite play, card games, Yahtzee, Bananagrams (if 4 y/o can read), buckets and shovels, trucks, and agree with the suggestion for small plastic figures. If there is a large clearing such as a picnic ground, a ball to kick around, a frisbee, or a kite is fun.
My absolute favorite campsite entertainment as a kid was a hammock. We currently have one by ENO.
Anonymous says
For an 18 month-old, I really like a hiking backpack with a frame. You can use it to contain kiddo even while you aren’t wearing it, like while you are wrangling the older ones in the bathroom or for meals.
Anon says
Regular poster, but anon here. Job hunting advice? A vary good job opportunity was recently posted. In house position at a top company that is stable, in the location I want, in the specialty I want. I follow these positions and not many come along. Normally I’d apply in a second, but I’m waiting to see if I’m pregnant and if not we’re moving to IVF. I’m at an age where I can’t put off TTC number two any longer, if there is going to be a number two. I’m partner track counsel at my firm, but my practice is moving more towards my non-preferred specialty. I don’t think I can stop the slide. I’m ok with my non-preferred specialty but its definitely non-preferred. The new job would pivot back to the preferred specialty. New job is also at a current client so it will likely get around that I’ve applied if I make it past an initial round. I can’t look elsewhere without burning bridges that would also potentially harm my future at current company if I went past the first round and didn’t get the job. Should I apply anyway? I feel very stuck.
Anonymous says
Definitely apply. Also tell them you don’t want your current employee to know. They’ll probably respect it.
anon says
In house counsel here. If you ask the client to keep your application confidential, they should be willing to do so. We always, always do. We’ve all been there and 100% understand the risk.
I’d apply now. If you get an offer, then you can negotiate maternity leave.
S says
Absolutely apply. I took a new job while TTC. I did ensure I’d get unpaid maternity leave if I was under the year mark for FMLA with HR before taking the job.
Mary Moo Cow says
Do it! I wanted out of my job and my goal job opened up while I was TTC. I got a call for the interview after I was pregnant, interviewed at 12 weeks and didn’t disclose, accepted the job when I was about 5 months along and disclosed to congratulations, then started at 6 months pregnant. I didn’t qualify for paid leave but taking maternity leave wasn’t a big deal. I’ve now been there for 6 years.
Anon says
Apply. I hesitate to tell this because it is my story and almost certainly will not be yours – but I turned down a job because we were TTC and had been in the midst of fertility treatment for awhile (including IVF). Baby was finally born 3 years later; I found out I was pregnant shortly after I’d finally taken another job. It all worked out in the end, but I feel pretty silly now looking back. All of this is to say that IMO no need to account for a pregnancy until you’re actually pregnant.
Anonymous says
My current in house job is not a client of my previous firm, but the hiring manager was very close to some partners at my previous firm, and they have regular lunches. The in house company kept my interest private, everyone was very surprised when I resigned. The hiring manager even asked if there was anyone I wanted to avoid meeting with during the interview process, because I would be concerned about privacy. Keeping certain information private is a part of the job as in house counsel, so they should be accustomed to it.
So Anon says
I know I’m late to reply but I just want to add that you should absolutely apply. Timing is a weird thing on both the hiring and TTC front, and nearly impossible to game. Think about it this way – what is the less than ideal that could happen? You get an amazing job at a company that is *hopefully* family-friendly when you are pregnant/in the midst of TTC and become pregnant, you take maternity leave and are excited to come back to a new job? Go for it!
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
Looking for some support/commiseration…just a vent.
I nursed/pumped DS #1 for a year. Lost my sanity. And because I hold on to weight/gain while nursing, I held on to weight until I weaned.
DS #2 is almost 6 months. I’m nursing/pumping and also supplementing – basically combo feeding this time. I have a more intense job and it’s harder to pump (and I make less via the pump this time around). I never planned on going for a year, and right now…I am really thinking 8-9 months max, even sooner if my body quits. I skipped my last pumping session yesterday and I think it def slightly affected supply….and I kind of just don’t care. I still look pregnant and finally feel like I have bandwidth to exercise and better monitor my diet. I wish BF wasn’t such a time and bandwidth suck, because I do love nursing….
Boston Legal Eagle says
Hugs! I stopped pumping at work with both of my kids at around 9 months (and had decreased to 1 pump by then, so was doing combo feeding), and with my second, I was able to still nurse mornings and at nighttime for another 3 months. Permission to drop a pumping session or stop altogether granted!
And I didn’t lose the baby weight until my youngest was closer to 2. With a toddler and a baby, it just wasn’t a priority, but they got older and I was in a better place then, plus WFH ever day helped a lot. My body is permanently different than pre-baby though, and that’s ok.
Anon. says
I wrote a very similar post last fall. I pumped and nursed with #1 for basically a year. I stopped pumping around 7 months with #2 (and weaned entirely around 10 months). I was feeling super guilty about quitting on #2 early but dude, it was the best thing for my mental health. It felt like a huge deal and I cried, and now 6 months later barely a blip. I loved nursing #1 but my second was much more acrobatic and it just wasn’t the sweet bonding experience as it was with the first. We bonded other ways and it made trading off bedtime easier.
You have this internet stranger’s permission to stop pumping right now (in a way that doesn’t lead to pain obviously). Being just DONE is a perfectly valid reason to stop.
Anonymous says
Pumping and nursing are not necessarily the same thing. I’d probably nurse morning, pump while you eat lunch, nurse after work, nurse before bed. That should keep your supply going for a while and then you can re-evaluate in another couple months. Or quick now. But I really enjoyed nursing once I stopped stressing about pumping/combo feeding.
If you’re stressed about weight, you can do WW while nursing. It’s a reasonable plan esp. if you don’t buy their food and focus on real foods. Not trying to imply that you should at all but it helped me get my eating headed in a healthier direction.