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I love the feel and look of silk, but the upkeep is a pain. That’s why I love all the new washable silk options. Everlane has gone a step further with a machine washable silk blouse that you can also throw in the dryer!
Everlane’s iteration of the washable silk blouse features a relaxed fit, point collar, and two utility pockets. It comes in six spring-ready colors (I’m drawn to the soft buttercream). This blouse will pair with both a pencil skirt for work and jeans for the weekend.
The blouse is $110 and comes in sizes 00–16. It’s available in black, bone, blue-grey, covert green, powder blue, and buttercream.
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
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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?
Pogo says
We are starting to talk about transitioning back to the office so pieces like this are getting me excited! However with pumping, silk seems like a TERRIBLE idea. A drop of milk in the wrong spot would look awful the rest of the day.
I decided this morning after what has been and continues to be A Month, I’m going to treat myself to some new headshots for my promotion. In my old ones I am blonde and pre-kids. There’s just far too much sparkle in my eyes (kidding, sort of).
Leatty says
Oh man, I can’t trust myself to wear silk even when I’m not pumping, so I definitely couldn’t trust myself to wear it when pumping. I’m still working remotely (and probably will be for most of this year), and I am not looking forward to returning to the office, especially if I’m still nursing. At that point, I’ll probably just quit pumping altogether to avoid the hassle of schlepping all of my pumping equipment to the office each day (yay for open floor plans with no storage).
Congrats on your promotion! You should definitely treat yourself to new headshots. I’m still rocking mine from a decade ago when I was much thinner, my skin was clearer, and I was less sleep deprived. I think I’ll hold off until my kids are sleeping through the night again.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Congrats on the promotion! Haha, my LinkedIn picture is almost 5 years old – agree, there is just too much enthusiasm in that picture. I got professional headshots then and I may do the same now, although I never look that formal or wear that much makeup in real life.
anne-on says
Congratulations on the promotion!
Funny story – I had new headshots taken in January 2020 (our firm changed their visual style and we all had to get new ones done). During lockdown, every single time my son saw that photo (which was often, because it’s how you display on Teams calls if you’re not on camera) he told me how much younger and prettier I looked ‘back then’, you know, like 3 months prior. Thanks kiddo for pointing out the stark visual reminder of how much pandemic life sucked the youth right out of me.
Anonymous says
Awwww … I bet some of that was also things like makeup versus no makeup if it makes you feel any better! And lighting!
Anon says
A few new print boden wrap dresses have been my covid weight gain savior (and the fact that I am a clumsy eater, the prints hide so much!), but I imagine they would do the trick for pumping too!
anonamama says
Headshots! An office! So exciting. For my one month in office post baby and pre pandemic, I used Ann Taylor infinite style subscripton service. If it’s still around, I really liked it (once I figured out sizing). +1 to boden wrap dresses and as usual, a plug for Rochelle Behrens button downs. I wore a boden ottoman dress (not pump friendly) for headshots and was very happy with result.
EDAnon says
I cannot imagine going back to the office but I do need new headshots. I look so young and well-rested in my old ones (and I got one set whole pregnant and look puffy). Does you work do them? Or should I pay a photographer?
Night Light says
Can anyone recommend a good night light, maybe projector style to put something on the wall/ceiling, or ok-to-wake night light? I’m seeing Hatch a lot. Is that worth it? Any other ideas along these lines to help our 3 year old who is at her core a good sleeper but having a lot of disrupted sleep lately. TIA.
CHL says
We have the Twilight Turtle and My Tot Clock and have liked both for many years.
Anon says
Love the Hatch.
Pogo says
+1 team Hatch
Anon Lawyer says
Me too. I set it to change from red light/gentle rain noise to green light/bird song when it’s time to wake up and it works like a charm (i.e., she can sleep through it if she needs more sleep but grasped quickly I won’t get her up before it.)
Also, I bought the adult version for me and love that too. It has a sunrise light alarm and plays meditations and sleep stories.
Anon says
I am super cheap, but Hatch is worth it. You can adjust the OK to wake settings on your phone!
AnonATL says
Same. I was considering buying one for my soon to arrive nephew and my husband goes “we paid how much for that”. Then I reminded him that we have used ours every single day (nap and nighttime) in the nearly 10 months since our son was born. It has gotten its $50 of use.
AwayEmily says
We had the OK to Wake when our kids were babies and switched to a Hatch when they started room-sharing. I really wish I’d had the Hatch from the beginning — SO worth it to be able to control from your phone.
Anon says
Another vote for the Hatch if you’re interested in the ok-to-wake capabilities. It doesn’t project anything, but adds light to the room and can play sounds (birds, waves, music, etc) if that’s something you think would be helpful.
We’re also pretty cheap about buying this sort of thing but would definitely do it again.
Anon. says
Another vote for Hatch – we actually bought it when my twins were 2 but I wish we had it from day 1.
Anonymous says
Late to comment but you can buy covers for the Hatch that will project shapes if you feel strongly about that piece.
anonn says
another plug for Hatch. My MIL loves it too, we send it with our 3.5 year old when she goes to stay, easy peasy. Bed time was getting wayyy too drawn out so we started with soft sounds and a blue light 15 min before “lights out” and then it gets louder and pink at “lights out” and that’s when we turn off her lamp, kiss and leave. once it’s blue she speeds up, quits asking for water/ice pack/more books etc. amazing.
Anon says
We were on vacation this weekend and spent a lot of time on playgrounds and it was really jarring to see how timid my 3 year old is compared to other kids her age and even younger. She will do the short straight slides meant for babies and once in a while we can coax her onto a swing but that’s it. Meanwhile I see kids who look half her age running and jumping everywhere, climbing up ladder structures and going down twisty slides. She won’t touch the scooter we bought her, and frequently demands to be carried when she’s on an unfamiliar set of stairs. It’s not just athletic stuff where she is very cautious/fearful – she’s terrified of water (we’ve never been able to get her into a pool or lake) and she’s so afraid of potty training that we’ve put it on hold for now. She also hates dirt and getting dirty (she once started sobbing because she thought a freckle was dirt and was hysterical when she couldn’t rub it off), which seems weird for a little kid. I know this is probably just her personality to some degree, but is there a point at which it’s considered something like anxiety that requires treatment? I don’t think we’re helicopter parents.
Anonymous says
I think you’re at the point where you are concerned, so it is time to talk to your pediatrician about it.
Anonymous says
+1. Sounds like it might be a sensory sensitivity.
Anon says
We discussed it in the context of potty training and the ped didn’t seem too concerned. She said they don’t worry about lack of potty training until close to 4. As for the other fears she said it’s normal and not something we have to do anything about unless it’s affecting our lives, which it’s not (other than potty training). We’re lucky that she’s pretty comfortable with new people and has no problem separating from us (I think because she went to daycare at a young age) and no bedtime fears, so the impact on us is pretty minimal. It just feels kind of extreme to me and I hate the idea that my kid might be suffering and not getting help she needs.
Anonymous says
I think you should go back and discuss it in that context.
Anonymous says
I would push harder on this at the next pediatrician visit. All of the things she dislikes or fears seem to have a sensory component. Is she picky about food textures, touching things like play-dough or slime, clothing, hairstyles, etc.?
Anon says
She’s pretty picky about food, could very well be a texture issue, but not picky about clothes and hair and plays with playdoh normally. I get that water has a sensory component (although she’s fine in the bath, and I’ve always gotten the impression it was the deeper water that was scary to her in a pool) but what’s the sensory component for stairs or scooters or using the potty?
So Anon says
It may not be a single sensory issue, but a constellation of different sensory things.
It sounds like this is concerning to you. Has your daughter had an eye exam? (Beyond the one that they do down the hall at the pediatrician office…) I’m just curious if the pool, slides, heights, fast motion has an eye sight component? Also, if this begins to impact your lives more, Occupational Therapy is really awesome for working on sensory challenges, gross motor coordination, and similar things.
Have you asked her daycare teacher how she is in the group setting? Daycare teachers tend to have a pretty good read on kids’ behavior, and it may be helpful to know whether her hesitancy is consistent across settings or is more apparent when she is with you.
Anonymous says
For stairs and scooters, the sensory component is proprioception.
Anonymous says
Yes sensory stuff can be more complex like proprioception or the vestibular system. I didn’t realize it until recently but I think my daughter had some issues with her vestibular system when she was a younger toddler. Like TERRIFIED of swings or anything spinning.
Anon says
Could some of this be pandemic fallout, i.e. were you not doing playgrounds until recently? Definitely no harm in talking to your ped, but it could also just be a matter of time / more frequent exposure.
Anon says
No, we’ve been doing playgrounds since they reopened in June 2020 and the fear of water and dirt and stuff like that predates the pandemic. Anxiety around new people would make sense post pandemic but oddly that’s one area where she seems normal or even confident compared to other kids her age.
Anon says
yea my twins used to be fearless on the playground, but thanks to covid they didn’t go to playgrounds for a long time and now they are much more timid and all they want is to be pushed on the baby swings, which in my mind defeats the point of me taking them to the playground since i want them to tire themselves out!
Anon says
We’ve set a rule for my twins that swings are the last thing we do before leaving the playground, otherwise that is also the only thing they want to do.
Anonymous says
So true. I always set a timer and said I could only push until it went off. We were at a playground yesterday killing time during a sibling activity and I was SO HAPPY to see that my youngest can finally pump on the swings. He spent the whole 30 minutes just swinging (and trying, unsuccessfully, to coach the little girl next to him on how to do it).
Anonymous says
Is she in preschool or daycare? If so, can you ask the teachers if she seems within the range of normal and/or if her fears cause issues at school? Their feedback might give you more data to bring to the doctor.
Anon says
Yeah she’s in full time daycare and they seem to have no concerns. They’ve described her as sensitive and cautious and commented that her gross motor skills are behind many of the other kids, but it doesn’t seem like something they think needs fixing and overall their reports about her are very positive and they say everything is on track developmentally. I was actually kicked out of preschool for being too fearful so I suppose I should take comfort in the fact that she’s able to have a normal preschool experience.
Anon says
At first I thought this was going to describe what my six year old used to be like, but I feel like it goes a bit beyond. I’d discuss it with your ped – there’s OT for getting used to swimming for example!
But this is a lot like my six year old and the good news is that this year she finally decided to learn to swim – and she has! Her little sister is a total daredevil and just like the other kids you are describing. She’ll still cry when she gets her outfit for the morning dirty at breakfast and has to go change or something.
We discussed it with my ped but it feels like every time they say “ok let’s watch it” by the time we come back, she’s gotten a bit better so we move on. She’s really blossomed in kindergarten. Maybe you have a late bloomer like we do.
Anon says
Thanks, this is reassuring. I think there’s definitely an element of being a late bloomer, and some of her fears have resolved themselves with time and/or exposure. The question below about the beach trip reminded me that on our first beach trip she was terrified of the sand and wouldn’t walk on sand even with shoes on. We basically lived at the beach last summer watching her build sandcastles. And she had a very bad fear of elevators she’s mostly overcome too. She still wants to hold hands when we go on elevators but it’s nothing like the hysterical screaming that used to happen. I’m hoping this summer we can spend a lot of time at a zero entry pool and get her more comfortable with swimming.
AwayEmily says
My daughter has had serious bouts of anxiety (people, dogs, etc). What made me feel better was researching strategies for helping kids deal with anxiety (I liked “Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents”) and putting them into practice. We ended up doing a lot of validating the fear, working on strategies, and safe exposures. Hard to know whether that helped, or time helped. Either way, she showed improvement and it made me feel better to be actively doing something.
CPA Lady says
^ agree, this book is very good. I particularly enjoyed reading it because I can be an anxious parent and my instinct is to allow my child to avoid the things she’s fearful of, rather than supporting her as she learns to face her fears. This book gave me good language and strategies to use with her and with myself. OP, if you are an anxious parent, you may be projecting a bit of your own anxiety onto the situation.
In good news, while kiddo was a very anxious 3 and 4 year old, things are much better now. She has blossomed into a much more confident 6 year old. She is still nervous to try new things, still cautious, and is still quite attached to me, but she has really come out of her shell the last year or so (she’s been back in full time in person school since January) and is doing great.
Anonymous says
Not an expert, definitely talk to your doctor, but my understanding is that if a kid (or anyone else) is experiencing anxiety about something, the worst possible thing is to avoid the anxiety-producing thing. What you need is repeated exposures to help overcome the anxiety and steps to help acknowledge and move through the anxiety as it occurs. Otherwise, you make the anxiety even more powerful and you end up missing out on normal, enjoyable things.
anonymommy says
So hard to feel like our kiddos are struggling! My son spent the first several months of (pre-covid) tumble tots class watching from the sidelines and often crying. My aunt is an early childcare specialist and daycare director — talking to her was so reassuring! I’d try to find someone you trust who can give you some tips — daycare director, pediatrician, zoom child psychologist — mainly so YOU feel confident in your approach. FWIW, she encouraged us to keep going to class but let him participate at his pace. She said she routinely has kids in class that don’t participate for the first few months, but reminded me that they’re still learning by watching. Also, maybe you can “practice” the slide etc at home if that builds her confidence?? Or give her a “task” at the playground so she gets more comfortable. Honestly let my son at that age bring his pan and spatula to pretend cook the woodchips. Other kids ended up playing too. So, I looked nuts bringing three spatulas to the playground, but he did have a blast and that was his way of interacting. Sounds like you have a very observant little one who may just take some extra time getting comfortable!
Anonymous says
My kid is similar. I observed a lot of children bc I was worried about it. By nature, he is a more cautious but stubborn child and frankly, does not love outdoor play as much as indoor play. I think it was made worse by being being an only child who is not around older siblings to test his boundaries.
We continue to expose him to new things but we carefully consider what boundaries (or battles) we want to push. He is 5 and srefuses to ride his scooter or bike. We did sign him up for swimming.That has been a challenge but he needed to get over that fear. I am less concerned about him learning how to ride a bike than learning how to swim.
anon says
One of my kids was super anxious as a toddler – terrified of water, wind, ceiling fans, our living room, the kitchen, and age 3 was when it was strongest (although it continued until he was about 5). Our pediatrician wasn’t super worried, and since it got better over time, we didn’t do anything about it. He wouldn’t get into a pool until he was about 5.
EB says
My son was like this, although to a somewhat lesser degree. He was so shy and nervous, afraid of the sand, and the water, and I would watch toddlers half his age clamoring all over him on the playground and wonder when he would gather the nerve to try the swings. And then one day, he just grew out of it. He’s still sweet, caring, and cautious, but grew into all of the other experiences in his own time. I totally understand your worry though, and can’t say I wouldn’t at least get some reassurance from a doctor or therapist about some of the more anxious/obsessive type behaviors you mentioned, like the freckle. But really, chances are, she’s totally fine :)
Anon. says
My son has been very cautious about physical stuff like this (jumping, slides etc) and I have really noticed a difference in his confidence/physical risk taking since we got him in a gymnastics class a couple months ago.
Anon says
just need to vent. sometimes i feel like a total imposter reading and commenting on this board. i am well educated and spent my late teens and twenties thinking i’d have a ‘big job’ like many of you on here, but instead i work part-time doing something that i really like, but definitely did not require my fancy education and am not well paid, though DH and I have plenty. well my parents were visiting over the weekend and while they were lovely with the grandchildren, hearing them make comments about the childcare challenges of a dual working couple where both people have “real” jobs did wonders for my self-esteem. i am well full aware that i don’t have the same pressures and challenges that many of the people on this board face (honestly, i’m in awe of all of you supermoms), but it’s already something i feel super insecure about.
Redux says
I have a medium-big job as I work in government so high responsibility but relatively low pay/prestige. I have come a long way from my youthful ideas of what success looks like and can’t imagine my life in one of the jobs I thought I’d have when I was young. Honestly you sound like you are in a sweet spot. Doing something you like part-time and your household has plenty of money? Damn girl! If that’s not success in your eyes I think you should reevaluate your measurement tool (and this goes without saying but your parents do not get to determine the measure— those comments are judgey and not helpful and can take several seats). It sounds like you’ve got a good thing going!
Boston Legal Eagle says
I constantly have to challenge myself on the definition of “success” because it was ingrained in me that success = study a lot, work a lot and get paid a lot with a fancy title. Not saying I don’t want those things, but I also know that I would not be happy working a ton more (and I already work a lot) to get the fancy title. I’m sorry your parents made you feel bad – just remind yourself that whatever situation is working for you and your spouse is what’s best, however that may look. And it probably doesn’t look like everyone else’s!
Spirograph says
Ouch, that’s hurtful and I’m sorry. I wish “real” wasn’t a word people used to describe 9-5, 52 weeks a year jobs. It’s a lazy verbal shortcut that minimizes non-traditional schedules in a way that is really unfair and inaccurate. I’ve been guilty of it, myself, and apologized as soon as I realized what I said, but I wish it wasn’t something that society had ever put in my brain.
FWIW, I’m jealous of your part time job that you really like. I don’t know if you chose it intentionally or have grown to love something that you didn’t mean to be a permanent solution, but if you’re happy and it works for your family, I hope you own it. Your late teens/early twenties self probably lacked imagination on how many ways there are to “succeed” in life (I know I did at that age), so don’t compare yourself to her expectations.
Anonymous says
It’s all perspective. Great for you that you were not in a tight position on childcare. I’m not in a ‘big job’ and I couldn’t be happier. So am in awe of the women at my workplace who manage it but I was a stressed out mess. I’ll look at leaning back in more when kids are at college but even if that doesn’t happen I have a long list of hobbies to keep me busy.
OP says
i have also dealt with childcare stress when a kid is sick, DH is out of town for work and I have meetings, but my parent was implying that it is less stressful for me bc my job isn’t “real” and in some ways it is probably less stressful than those of you who deal with sick children/nanny not coming, etc. when negotiating a multi-million dollar deal or performing surgery or something, but it still didn’t feel great to hear that said out loud
Redux says
What makes a job “real” by this measure? Prestige? Pay? Stress? Unless your job is literally not a job (like you are reading novels and posting reviews on goodreads for no pay) “real” is a meaningless term here.
OP says
don’t understand why this was in mod for half the day, but thank you for your kind comments. trust me when i say that yes, i am extremely extremely grateful for my situation, we are not exactly rolling in money, but have enough to meet our needs, though if i earned more we could definitely change some things in our life to make it easier, take different vacations, etc., i am also in something kind of niche so if i were to suddenly lose my job it would not be so easy to find another and if g-d forbid something were to happen to DH (we have good life insurance) I would not be in a position to support our family. the truth is there are definitely people with part time more “real” jobs (i know some doctors who work part-time), and I do feel like they deserve more respect than i do.
Anonymous says
I hear what you’re saying, and I get it, but it makes me feel a little sad. I hope that you know that people deserve respect no matter what their job is! You respect a person because they’re *a person* striving to do right by themselves, their family, and their community. You can have different expectations of someone who has attained a particular level of education or professional achievement, but that doesn’t make them any more inherently worthy of respect.
Anon says
This board is such a tiny slice of the world, don’t feel down on yourself! Fwiw I was something of a prodigy, in college classes full time (though still living at home) at 16 went to a very prestigious college and an excellent grad school and now have a job that pays $50k, is unrelated to my grad degree and doesn’t require any “fancy” education. I have college classmates who are literally curing cancer, designing self-driving cars, developing Covid vaccines, arguing before the Supreme Court, managing hedge funds etc etc and my job is fine but completely pointless as far as societal benefit and not at all prestigious. I had a big-ish job in my 20s (not as prestigious as the things I listed, but related to my grad degree with very long hours and high pay) and I did enjoy the intellectual challenge of the work and definitely the paycheck, but I always knew it wouldn’t be compatible with kids for me because I wanted to spend more time with my kids than that kind of job would allow. I don’t think I’d want to stay at home completely, mainly because I don’t want to become financially independent on my husband or feel guilty about spending money on things I want but don’t need, but a low key job with a max 40 hour workweek (tbh, quite a bit less now that we’re working from home) is the right balance for me. Hugs!
fallen says
any easy delicious cake recipes? I think I want to bake a cake for the first time for my daughter’s birthday! she hates chocolate so not a chocolate cake. i bake quite a bit but have never baked a cake.
AwayEmily says
I usually bake Funfetti from a mix — I don’t like cake so it doesn’t matter to me, and the kids like it just as well as homemade.
EB says
100% this. I buy the funfetti mix with pudding mix in it, it’s actually incredible, and then I make my own buttercream icing. It cuts way down on the number of ingredients, but you still have the homemade elements of it, and canned icing is so terrible that you’re making your cake way better. So the bang for your homemade buck is high in the icing and low in the cake part ;)
Anon says
I made a blueberry crumb cake for my daughters first birthday when we were still trying to avoid giving her “real” desserts. Easy and delicious.
Cb says
Smitten Kitchen summer strawberry cake? Or her basic yellow cake.
fallen says
ohh that’s perfect! i also saw someone else recommended in the main forum to another person asking about strawberry recipes. my daughter loves berries too.
anon says
+1 to the strawberry summer cake
Cb says
You can use whatever fruit you have around as well / frozen fruit. I’ve done it with berries, with apples and pears.
Anonymous says
I’ve had good luck with this cupcake recipe:
https://www.glorioustreats.com/perfect-vanilla-cupcakes-recipe/
And I’m a huge fan of Rose Levy Berenbaum’s Cake Bible, which includes the following:
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/all-occasion-downy-yellow-butter-cake-102289
I’m not sure if I have made that particular recipe though, as my son is a die-hard chocoholic. The Cake Bible version includes weights and more detail, which I find helpful. Her recipes work fine in 2″ high pans though – ignore that note about increasing the batter in each pan.
Anon says
I just made a strawberry pound cake for mother’s day and it was moist and delicious. I used a couple drops of red food coloring to enhance a more ‘pink’ color for my 1.5 year old daughter’s enjoyment. I followed this:
https://www.callmepmc.com/fresh-strawberry-pound-cake/
NYCer says
I have the best success with boxed cake mix plus homemade frosting. I would use funfetti for a child’s bday!
Spirograph says
Yes, I have made cakes fully from scratch but for a kid’s birthday cake, box cake mix is just as good (if not better!) and MUCH easier. I only use homemade frosting, and that makes a big difference. Not complicated highbrow buttercream, just beat softened butter, milk, confectioners sugar, and a little vanilla until it’s the right consistency. If you want to be a fancy, make two rounds and put jam and fruit between the layers to go with the funfetti!
Anonymous says
The book Snacking Cakes by Jossey Arefi has a lot of great recipes, most of which don’t require frosting. For a more traditional cake with frosting, try the blogs Grandbaby Cakes and Sally’s Baking Addiction.
The only real skill required to bake a good cake is the ability to spot the signs of a good recipe (e.g., for chocolate cake it needs to include oil and hot liquid; butter-based chocolate cakes are dry). None of the three sources above will steer you wrong.
GCA says
Agree on oil-based cakes. We’ve recently enjoyed Smitten Kitchen’s blood orange (cara cara / regular oranges also work) olive oil cake and I actually have a vegan lemon cake in the oven for my kid’s birthday tomorrow.
Cb says
The smitten kitchen vegan olive oil chocolate is also very very good.
Anonymous says
And the frosting/glaze recipe for this one is great, very easy (I’ve used it in a pinch to turn banana bread muffins into “banana cupcakes”).
katy says
I made an awesome chocolate cake this weekend, to occupy time on a rainy afternoon. Google “Whitewater Chocolate Oatmeal Cake”. You don’t actually taste the oatmeal. I have the actual cookbook which recommends a 9″ springform pan. I picked this receipe because I had all the ingredients in my pantry. Personally I can never seem to get the smitten kitchen cakes quite right.
I iced with store bought icing, but it would be awesome piled with whipped cream and some fruit.
Anon says
This is delicious and the icing is the best: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/article_4072a023-0954-52f3-adef-a7e0e9dfe60c.html
Anonymous says
Almond cake with mascarpone and cream cheese icing?!? I must have this cake.
Anonymous says
If you are making buttercream frosting, here are my tips:
1. Use organic powdered sugar that doesn’t contain cornstarch. Check ingredients, as some organic brands do contain cornstarch. The cornstarch in conventional powdered sugar gives frosting a weird metallic taste.
2. Have the butter at around 65 degrees. For me this takes about an hour out of the fridge.
3. No matter what the recipe says, cream the butter with the mixer before you add the sugar. Otherwise you risk butter lumps.
Anonymous says
American buttercream, that is.
AwayEmily says
A fun question: does anyone have a fitted hoodie they like? I feel like “boxy” is very popular these days, but I’d prefer something more slim-fit. It’s so tough to tell from the online photos.
Anonymous says
No specific recommendations, but I think you’ll find this if you look for a hooded running shirt. Not sure if that is the material you’re going for. But true activewear is typically fitted.
anne-on says
I would say all of the Lululemon hoodies are very body conscious, I typically size up in them so that they aren’t quite as tight/so I can layer underneath.
Meg says
Vineyard Vines hoodies are fitted without being tight.
Anon says
I find North Face styles are typically not boxy.
anon says
Check out Gettees, HOODIES – DISTRICT HOODIE – Cherry. It’s stylish, fits nice, holds up really well, and the pocket is divided so you don’t get that dumb belly look from the pocket! Plus made in the USA by a small company that treats employees well. Worth every dollar. https://gettees.us/collections/women/products/womens-district-hoodie?variant=14288273276981
Anonymous says
I love the Zella (nordstrom brand) zip up hoodie with dolman-ish sleeves.
AwayEmily says
All such great recs! Thank you!
Anon says
Our first beach trip with the LO is coming up. I’m a first time mom and have no idea what I might need. Baby will be 11 months and we are renting a house. What things might be helpful? I have sunscreen and swim diapers and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Help!
Anon says
Something to provide shade on the beach.
Anon says
I consider myself pretty paranoid about sun exposure and we’ve never brought a canopy to a beach vacation. If you’re staying right on the beach, it’s not hard to come indoors during the most intense hours of sunlight (little kids nap then anyway) and use sunscreen, hats and long sleeve rash guards for protection the rest of the time. I think this would be an essential if you want to spend an entire day at the beach but to me the whole point of renting a house at the beach is that you don’t have to spend the whole day on the beach.
Anon says
True, I was parsing this as spending the whole day on the beach. If you’re just there for a couple hours in the morning then long sleeves and hats and sunscreen are totally sufficient.
Anonymous says
I don’t know, I just prefer sitting under an umbrella myself. But maybe my eyes are sensitive to the sun? And sometimes it’s just plain hot!
Anon. says
Agree re: sunshade. Get yourself a decent beach tent. We have this one and have used it on the beach, in the garden in the summer… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072J63CPP
And beach clothes: long sleeve shirt, shorts, crocs or water shoes, and a hat. We liked this hat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015WUMKA
Also, baby sunglasses if you’ll be spending lots of time on the beach. Julbo is a good brand.
Anon says
Beach toys like a bucket and shovel, if the house doesn’t provide them.
katy says
+1 to this.
We went to the beach at that age and had a full body swimsuit (legs and arms) it was fantastic.
I would also recommend croc type shoes / natives over sandals. Esp if LO is walking.
If you plan to go on a boat and frankly for swimming at that age an actual lifejacket is great. The super small size may not be readily available in the house or if you rent a boat etc.
Anon says
you definitely don’t need much! agree with something to provide shade. also, there is a chance your kiddo hates sand. as a kid i apparently cried every time it touched me, which also meant that i did not move from the beach blanket. i’d highly recommend a long sleeve swim shirt/pants so you don’t need a lot of sunscreen. a hat. if you have the space at the house, maybe a large plastic bin or a super cheap baby pool so kiddo can splash around outside.
Anonymous says
Yes, my son hated sand at that age – it was a shock! He grew out of it quickly.
Anonymous says
We got a small blowup pool for the beach- it was great to park the baby in for her to play with a couple bucketfuls of ocean water and some other toys. It was like $5 at marshalls, and easy to carry because i would just blow up when we got out there.
Anon says
+1
AnonATL says
We took my son to the beach like a month ago and I highly suggest a large blanket or mat (or the blow up pool suggestion). He immediately tried to eat a fist full of sand and choked a little on a shell remnant.. It was easier to keep him from eating it with a large barrier underneath. We also used a beach tent mostly because my husband is a vampire at the beach.
Spirograph says
A big beach blanket towel in case your baby hates sand. We’ve never used a tent or canopy (some beaches don’t allow them), but we did have umbrellas for shade. If you go to a beach that offers chair & umbrella service, I found it well worth the price to carry fewer things and have easier set-up while wrangling a small child.
Definitely a sun hat with a chin strap and preferably a neck cape, and long sleeve swim shirt. I’d do swim trunks for a boy or girl — cute little girl swimsuits are not practical for sitting in sand or sun protection. An 11 month old probably won’t do well with flip flops, but some kind of swim shoes, crocs or similar would be good.
If you don’t bring a blow-up pool, a big shovel so a grown up can dig a little pool in the sand for baby to splash in.
Anon says
For hats, we love the Sunday Afternoon ones. Excellent sun protection and they stay on.
Mary Moo Cow says
For the house, a pack and play, a gate if baby is mobile, and some sort of high chair – we rented all of these so we didn’t have to pack. We used the rental company recommended by the house agent and delivery was streamlined. When our babies were that age, we had an arrangement that one parent got quiet time on the beach while baby napped at the house and swapped days- a solo walk on the beach was amazing!!! We also broke up the day by going down early in the morning and late in the afternoon to minimize sun exposure. Our girls were really interested in the beach chairs and bottles of sunscreen and rolling around in the sand at that age and not much else. For activities, scope out local playgrounds, aquariums, kids museum, etc. before you go; I learned that my baby is not like teenager me and did not chill on the beach all day, so we needed to have daily activities. Have fun! It can seem daunting but it can be a wonderful vacation!
Anon says
YES to solo time while baby naps. DH and I went to Turks and Caicos when our daughter was 10 months old and it was honestly not that different than a vacation without kids because we stayed at a primo snorkeling sport and took turns snorkeling while she napped and when she was awake we went out to eat or chilled at the beach, which is exactly what we would have done without a baby. Our other vacations with her have been fun but much less like childfree vacations.
Realist says
I love those swimsuits that cover everything (like a romper in swimsuit material, we got ours from Hanna Andersson). Add in a Sunday afternoon hat and I basically only had to put sunscreen on baby’s arms and below the knees. Which was so much easier than worrying about all the sensitive little areas if they just have on a normal swimsuit and no hat. YMMV.
AlmaT says
Co-sign the coverall swimsuit. Did not do this with my first but am a total convert with my second. I like the ones from Coolibar.
TheElms says
If there is a long walk (possibly even a short one) to the beach, a wagon to bring all your stuff. Also, you can plop kid in there too. Our first beach trip was when kiddo was about 15 months. She was a good walker at that age but walking in sand was way too hard for her for more than a very short distance.
anon says
Also, re swim diapers, remember that they’re not real diapers! So good to put on the kid when they’re going to be sitting in water, but if you’re carrying them with a swim diaper on and they decide to pee…
Anon says
+1 they catch solids but don’t contain liquids so you can’t use swim diapers on dry land or you’ll get pee everywhere. I also don’t really understand how they contain the poo of a breastfed baby, since it’s more liquid than solid. We never really went in pools much at that age so it wasn’t an issue we faced but I’ve always wondered how that works.
Anonymous says
I think this is why lots of pools don’t allow kids who aren’t potty-trained, swim diaper or no. Or, they require rubber pants over the swim diaper.
CCLA says
A little late but in case you check this later: baby powder (or corn starch). It bonds with the wet sand and sloughs off so easily, makes sandy kid cleanup a (relative) breeze!
ifiknew says
Activities on the plane for my 2 and 4 year olds? More concerned about the newly turned 2 year old. Also, anything I should pack that I might not consider? This is our first plane trip with the kids.
Anon says
All kids are different but the last time I flew my daughter was one month short of 2 and it was really easy. She was super interested in everything going on in the plane, loved chatting with us about the trip and what we were doing, and was able to sleep a little bit when we told her it was time to sleep. Tons of snacks also help, although I’m not sure how that will work with the pandemic/masks. I think screentime also would have worked by that age, but we didn’t need it.
Anon says
We had an 8.5 hour flight with our twins just before they turned 2 and it was surprisingly easy. At that age my kids still napped on planes, so that occupied some time. We just packed tons of activities (and snacks) and had them ready to pull out as needed. I can’t remember everything but I know we included color wonder markers (can’t draw on anything that’s not the special paper), playdoh, books, family photo albums, and stickers. If tv works for your kids a tablet and headphones is also a great way to eat up 20-30 minutes.
Anon says
“If tv works for your kids a tablet and headphones is also a great way to eat up 20-30 minutes.” …or 10-12 hours depending on your kid. :) We had a 12 hour drive back from Florida over the winter and I think my kid watched 6 straight hours of Daniel Tiger and I’m pretty sure she would have watched another 6, but we cut her off.
DLC says
Yes! We flew to Taiwan one time and my three year old watched the same four episodes of Doc McStuffins the whole flight. And she laughed uproariously every single time in the same spots. She was in heaven.
Anon at 11:03 says
I would have loved that kind of 2yo! At 4 they’re just starting to have enough attention span for an entire 1.5 hour movie.
Anon says
She definitely doesn’t have an attention span for a long movie but she can watch the same short TV show like DT or Peppa over and over and over. I think the repetitiveness makes it more entertaining for her, like the person above said she laughs hysterically at the same things every time. Kids are weird :)
So Anon says
How long is the flight? If the flight is more than a few hours, I’ve had success with bringing a few small new toys and individually wrapping them. A kiddo would get one new toy per hour. For the “toys,” I would do a sheet of stickers, a Melissa & Doug water wow toy, wikistix – those kind of small easy things. I’m a big fan of bringing a back-up set of clothes in a ziplock bag for everyone, including a fresh t-shirt for myself. If your 2 year old is in pull-ups or diapers, bring more than you think you need. Last thing you want is to be stuck in an airport or on the plane and only enough diapers for the next hour. Do you have kid-friendly head-phones? I have some that are made of soft material and go entirely around the head.
Anon says
Combine snack and playtime to stretch it out and get more minutes of attention.
– Cheerios, uncooked spaghetti, and (nontoxic) playdough. Use the playdough to stick the spaghetti to the tray table and then thread the cheerios on the spaghetti. All cheap, not worrisome if they snack on it, and easily thrown out.
– Also goldfish crackers and a couple of the drink cups – practice pouring a fish or two between the cups and then eat it. And repeat.
Anon says
Definitely a shirt and a small washcloth for yourself. I can’t tell you how many times one of my kids have peed or vomited on me during a flight.
So Anon says
Same!
Anonymous says
+100
Anon says
I’ve never been peed or vomited on, but my kid always seemed to have diaper blowouts on flights. There’s something about the pressure changes that makes everything come out. Definitely pack extra pants and way more diapers and wipes than you think you’ll need.
Anon says
Anyone with constipation-prone kids have advice about how to avoid problems when traveling? DD’s diet is very typical bland kid diet of bread and dairy (mac and cheese, pizza, grilled cheese, quesadilla etc) but at home she eats a lot of fruit – specifically blueberries, strawberries and grapes – which keeps her regular. Now that we’re traveling again, it’s hard to get fruit into her, since a fruit cup sold in a restaurant usually has a lot of fruit she won’t eat. We can buy her favorite fruits at a grocery store once we get to our destination but it’s still a problem on travel days and even one day without it can do a real number on her digestive system. The only portable fruit she likes is bananas, which contributes to the problem instead of solving it. Pre-pandemic we would take baby food pouches with us for her to eat in transit, but she’s decided she’s too grown up for those now. Is dried fruit the answer? She says she doesn’t like it but we could work on it.
Anon says
Do applesauce pouches also count as too babyish? I’d try her on dried prunes/plums–my kids adore them even though they don’t like all dried fruit.
Anonymous says
There are also pouches of what amount to baby food marketed to older kids. See, e.g., Plum Organics Mighty Mornings, Plum Organics Super Smoothie.
Katala says
Dried fruit is probably the answer. My pickier younger kiddo won’t eat them except for raisins, but we could probably work on expanding that if we needed to. My older will eat prunes which are great for his constipation. His favorite are dates, which are also supposed to be good for digestion. They’re very sweet so that can help. Maybe dried blueberries? Have you tried freeze-dried? completely different texture and I know they do strawberries.
anon in brooklyn says
Olly Probiotic and Prebiotic dummies help a lot with constipation for us.
AwayEmily says
My kid is similar…our approach while traveling is (1) focus a LOT on hydration as a way to keep things moving (including juice boxes if necessary), (2) shelf-stable pear fruit cups, (3) ducking into a grocery before a playground visit and bringing a container of blueberries with us, (4) prunes
Realist says
I would try magnesium gummies and overdosing Vitamin C maybe? If you use Vitamin C, determine her bowel tolerance before the trip. You don’t want to overdo it too much during travel and have problems in the other direction.
Anon says
My kiddo loves munching on dried cherries or dried cranberries. The sugar content is more than I love, but it certainly gets her moving. To make it fun for travel, could you do special travel trail mix with some dried fruit, chocolate chips if it won’t be warm or maybe mini m and ms, maybe mini marshmallows and a low sugar cereal (maybe Kashi cinnamon)? Also I consider grapes and blueberries very travel friendly if you just rinse them (slice the grapes since we’re still at that age in our case) and toss them in a hard plastic container with a paper towel.
Anonymous says
Bring a big plastic baggie of berries. They’re fine and portable.
Anonymous says
This. My daughter has allergies so I have to bring all her food for the flight. A couple ziploc bags or containers with grapes and berries is the answer.
Anon says
Umm, can you not bring grapes or blueberries with you while traveling? I frequently bring a lidded container of grapes on plane trips for snacking…and blueberries seem just as easy. I don’t usually bother with ice packs or anything as long as they’ll be eaten within 6-8 hours, but I think you could bring a cooler bag and ziploc baggies to fill with ice inside the airport if you want to avoid the security hassle.
Anonymous says
If your kiddo is over 4, she can have the Phillips Fiber Gummies. I eat those myself when I’m traveling and can’t get enough veggies. I do find they are mildly bloating but I usually have “success” the next morning if you know what I mean. Even under 4 it just says “consult your pediatrician.”
Anonymous says
YES to dried fruit (coupled with hydration) for constipation. I would suggest providing juice as a treat for extra fluids. I find that grapes travel reasonably (e.g. don’t go mushy out of the fridge for a period of time).
Anon says
I would pack the blueberries, strawberries, and grapes. They travel just fine without refrigeration.
anon says
I would wash them ahead of time and let them dry out before packing, which I think helps with them in storage, but agree that these fruits pack and travel fine.
Katala says
We will wash berries in water with vinegar (maybe 2:1? I just dump in some vinegar) if they’ll be kept for more than a few hours. It seems to really cut down on any mold issues and maybe helps them last longer before getting mushy. My kids haven’t complained about the taste, but I’m sure you can rinse with water after. The idea is to kill the spores that come with them from the store.
Anonymous says
Bring fresh fruit with you. Apple juice + general hydration helps. Happy Tots makes a fiber + protein bar that my kiddo will eat if she’s hungry enough.
Anonymous says
If you can’t pack berries, why not just load up on them before you leave (breakfast) and maybe try to get a smoothie (bottled or fresh) on the road?
Daycare bottles says
Help me remember when and how to transition an older baby off of bottles at daycare. I have a 9 month old know this is supposed to happen by age 1, but I just can’t remember how we got there with my others. I still pumping and sending three bottles, supplementing with formula it needed.
Leatty says
We used a transitional sippy cup (the Nuk learner cup). The spout is soft, so the transition isn’t as jarring as a transition to a hard spout sippy cup.
Anon says
We would send a cup for water with meals to daycare. We started putting some milk into a cup after 1 and gradually increased it until everything was milk over the course of a couple months
Gestational diabetes says
I just got diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 31 weeks. Does anyone here have any useful resources/tips/things that helped you? I’ve had hyperemesis that was really severe until about week 25 so I was living off fruits and bread (with a strong aversion to anything containing protein, like eggs or meat), so those are obviously off the table now. Luckily I can tolerate some protein now without throwing up. I don’t get my glucose monitor device until later this week, but I am trying to be very mindful of what I eat (limited carbs, upping protein significantly, lots of veggies). I am really craving fruit but trying to limit it to half an apple or so a day, and some berries. Any tips for meal plan websites, breakfast recipes, etc. would be much appreciated!
Katala says
No personal experience, but I understand that pairing a carb with protein and fat will blunt the sugar spike. So apples with peanut butter, bread with cheese, berries with nuts or similar combos. It will help a lot when you can check your sugars to see what works for you, but you may not need to limit carbs as much as you are now if you can be mindful about what you eat with them.
Mathy says
Hi there, had GD with my second pregnancy. It wasn’t a problem with my first. General recommendation is to have fasting blood sugar <90 mg/dl and two-hour postprandial is <120 mg/dl, with <30-50 grams of carbs at each meal and <20 grams of carbs for snacks. They'll also tell you that you just really need to make sure you're matching up carb intake with protein and fat intake – so with your fruit, have some cheese or peanut butter. Strawberries and raspberries in particular are good options that have low blood glucose impact. For your veggies, I really loved having them with dip – I made one with greek yogurt and the Buttermilk Ranch seasoning from Penzey's.
I will say that I went way lower than those carb amounts and essentially aligned with the plan set out by Lily Nichols in her book Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. She also has Real Food for Pregnancy, which is mostly the same approach and has different recipes. I highly recommend you buy the GD book, but if you're not wanting to purchase those, at the very least, follow her on Instagram or Facebook. She goes deep into the physiology of why GD likely started and how to take care of yourself and feel great.
You mentioned breakfast – I often did 1/2 c plain, full-fat greek yogurt with 1/2 c strawberries and 1/3 c grain-free granola (Target has the Nature's Path brand, which I liked). For lunch/dinner, I often made a skillet of Trader Joe's chicken sausage, Trader Joe's butternut squash zig zags and spinach cooked in olive oil and a bit of butter, then topped with Parmesan cheese. I think that throughout the 6 or so weeks I was officially on GD protocol (baby came early), I had a single postprandial over the 120 mg/dl. My fasting was often above 90 but not so much that my OB wanted me on metformin. If you have trouble with fasting glucose, try a protein & fat snack before bed (cheese stick, some people swear by chocolate milk).
It sounds like you're doing a great job with this! But just in case – I had a heavy dose of shame and worry when I was diagnosed and my husband was really, really concerned about this triggering anxiety/depression. However, this is something that you can definitely take care of, and it sounds like you're doing what you can to ensure a great pregnancy and delivery.
There will be some extra monitoring in the last few weeks of your pregnancy (non-stress tests, mine were at my OB's, just sit for a while with a monitor on), and of baby once delivered. My child had some low blood sugar issues but that cleared up by day 2.
I will say that GD kicked me into gear when it came to my health and I've kept track of blood sugar after pregnancy, mainly because I'm a data person. I was freaked by the statistic that 50% of women who have GD are later diagnosed with Type 2. I'm happy to say that my a1c is well under the pre-diabetic level and my PCP is pleased with how I've managed that. I am much more in tune with my health now.
OP says
Thank you, this is super helpful! I too am really freaked out by the statistics on developing T2 diabetes later in life after having GD. 50-60% risk is huge.
Anonymous says
Yes, scary – but you can do so much to prevent this. Watch your blood sugar, find out what works for you, and stick with it.
Mathy says
I have a long reply stuck in mod. Check out “Real Food for Gestational Diabetes” by Lily Nichols.
Also, forgot to mention in that reply that through my GD I realized that my blood glucose levels were highly impacted by the stress I was feeling — once I realized that, I did my best to minimize stress. Also, a quick 10-15 minute walk after meals helps stabilize blood sugar!
Lottie N says
Walking after meals helps stabilize and avoid spikes. You may find that eating foods at different times of the day affects your blood sugar differently. For example, I could tolerate carbs much better in the evening that in the morning. Nuts and yogurt are a great was to get fat and protein at once. It’s a lot of trial and error. Be meticulous at the beginning when tracking your food, and you’ll be able to see patterns that will make meal planning much easier as you get through the end of your pregnancy.
Be patient and kind to yourself. I really struggled with the diagnosis as a very healthy eater that had zero of the risk factors; I felt like a failure and robbed of the traditional pregnant experience with cravings, etc. I found the sub reddit for gestational diabetes great for food ideas as well as general commiseration. Everyone’s tolerances are different, but Halo Top ice cream was one treat that many seem to tolerate well without glucose spiking.
I was required to go to an educational 1 hr course with a dietitian where they helped explain the diet and glucose monitor and gave a pretty detailed meal plan guide with 3 meals and 1-2 snacks. They gave portion sizes for carbs and also full meal ideas to get you started. I’d ask your OB if they have any resources like this. A lot of it seemed intuitive to me, but it was great to not expend any extra brain power on what 1 15g serving of carbs looks like for pasta or bread.
Good luck, and it will be over before you know it!
Anon says
+1 to walking after meals, if you can find time.
Scilady says
Iowa Girl Eats has a great post about what she ate during gestational diabetes
https://iowagirleats.com/i-have-gestational-diabetes/
Anon says
+1 I was going to recommend IGE too.
Anon says
I’ve had it twice. Honestly kept me healthier those pregnancies – and at least it won’t be for long!
Berries are great. Eat lots. Enjoy.
Basically anything paired with nuts or peanut butter was fine for me
Avoid all juice! Also avoid grapes and watermelon!
I had lots of cheese and yogurt. I could eat an ice cream before bed actually and it was helpful.
I dropped lattes and substituted with regular coffee. Milk didn’t work great for me.
Just experiment a bit and you’ll get in a rythm. the nice thing about GD is the feedback is pretty immediate and it’s easy to identify a culprit!
And FWIW I’m on the thinner side and follow a good diet and I’ve had it twice. Actually the only people I’ve known with GD have met those criteria! So it’s nothing to do with you!
Mattress pads says
Anyone have waterproof mattress pads that really work? My 4 year old is not quite night time toilet trained yet. When he does wet the bed it’s a lot and he’s been soaking through the waterproof pad that we have, which is also not holding up well to all the washing. He’s in a full sized bed, if that matters. (I think what we have is the one from the Wamsutta brand from Bed Bath and Beyond.)
Or any other tips people have for night time toilet training? We do a night wake up to pee at midnight, but it’s starting to get old.
Anon says
I’m a big fan of diapers at night for kids who wet the bed. It contains the mess and lets everyone sleep. For many kids, it’s not behavioral, but just a matter of physical readiness. I treat a diaper at night like any other hygiene product (tampons/pads, incontinence products for older people, etc).
AwayEmily says
I tend to agree. At 4.5, my daughter was still waking up with wet diapers/pull-ups every night. Then, every few weeks, she started waking up dry, and then a month after her fifth birthday we realized wow, she hasn’t actually peed in her pull-ups in days. And since that day she’s been diaper-free. I completely credit this strategy to advice I got from my mom friends to just wait for her to be ready. I was very tempted to do a night-wakeup strategy when we day-trained her at three and they dissuaded me from it, which I am very glad about.
Anonymous says
Yes to physical readiness. But once you’re ready to really try to get rid of the diapers, you need a *good* waterproof pad. We have quilted ones similar this: “RMS Ultra Soft 4-Layer Washable and Reusable Incontinence Bed Pad – Waterproof Bed Pads, 34″X36″” I put it under the sheets, on top of the (also ostensibly waterproof but not really) mattress cover. My daughter just does. not. wake. up. even if she wets the bed. I’ll go up in the morning and she’ll be sleeping soundly and peacefully in a giant wet spot.
We’ve had good luck with a bed-wetting alarm, specifically Wet Stop 3 (multiple colors available, pink was key to cheerful adoption). But we didn’t even try that until she turned 6, and at 6.5 she is only about 50/50 dry nights if not using the alarm.
Boston Legal Eagle says
My 5 year old is still in nighttime pull-ups. He day trained at a little before 2.5. But nighttime is different and we’re in no rush to get nighttime done until he’s ready and I’m not eager to wake up at midnight every night.
Anon says
We have the quiet waterproof quilted cotton mattress pad from Company Store on both kiddo’s queen and our king (she crawls in our bed at some point most nights), and I can confirm that despite a thorough soaking, the mattress underneath stays bone dry. If the accidents are regular (e.g., more than once a week would be my threshold) I’m not sure how much is training and how much is biological readiness, but maybe consider nighttime pull-ups for a few weeks or months? DD was dry in her nighttime diaper consistently before we pulled it, but otherwise I was all for keeping her in it at night as long as possible because I have enough on my plate without providing daily bedding changes. I would say we pulled it at night about 6 months after she mastered daytime.
2 Cents says
Fwiw, my friend uses wee wee pads under the mattress cover for her 4 year old. Works better than the mattress pad and leads to quicker cleanup in the middle of the night
Anonymous says
So, my story on this is that wee wee pads trap heat because they’re pure plastic underneath. I put one under our sheet when I was very pregnant and afraid my water would break. It was really hot after just 10 mins
Anon says
Nighttime training is an age thing, so maybe just put him back in pull-ups until he can keep them dry consistently?
For waterproof covers, we just have cheap ones from Amaz*n (Linenspa Premium Mattress Protector) that have held up to multiple kid and pet accidents, but I also have friends who swear by the kind that encase your entire mattress so that it’s totally protected.
Katala says
We finally got one of the ones that zips around and encases the entire mattress. It’s the only thing that’s worked for us, but I didn’t try a ton of different versions of the elastic ones.
Now can someone please convince my husband that our just-turned-6 year old is just not ready and sleeps too soundly to stop the pull ups right now?? My sleep is terrible due to pregnancy anyway, and multiple bed wettings per week is just not worth it. Telling kid to wake up dad instead doesn’t work, I still wake up. ugh.
Anonymous says
I would try purchasing a new one (no specific reccs, ours came from Amazon), plus layering a towel and a garbage bag (cut open so it lays flat) under that. So mattress, garbage bag + towel + waterproof pad + sheet in that order.
I also always have two waterproof mattress pads to swap out at the inevitable midnight peeing thru the sheets.
For reducing accidents, we stop fluids by 6 PM and ensure that kiddo has gone potty right before bedtime, plus used nighttime diapers (huggies overnights, specifically). I know some other people swear by the sposie pads.
Anonymous says
We had one from Garnet Hill that worked well and wasn’t plasticky. During night training, I put a waterproof pad (the old-fashioned rubber/flannel type) on top of the fitted sheet to avoid midnight linen changes.
I also waited to night train until she was staying dry all night with a pull-up and then obviously peeing in it after she woke up, but I’m lazy. That was around age 4.5.
Pogo says
I use “incontinence pads” from Amazon layered over mattress pad.
OP says
Thanks, all!
He does stay dry when we do the midnight pee, but if we forget he will wet the bed, usually in the early morning. I’m a night owl so the midnight waking isn’t too much of a hardship- I usually wake him before I go to bed- though I wonder if it’s bad for his sleep. He has gotten up once or twice to pee on his own, so I guess I’m being hopeful since we used up all his last pack of pull ups. I guess I just have to weigh if I would rather buy a better mattress pad or another pack of pull-ups ?.
Anonymous says
Ymmv but at 6 we still take our kiddo to pee when we go to bed (between 10:30-12) because if we don’t he’ll wake up at like 5:30 am or 6 to pee and not go back to sleep. At 11 pm he doesn’t really wake up, so he gets a lot more sleep when we do it this way.
Anonymous says
Pull up! I fought the pull up with my first two kids and for kid #3 I just don’t have it in me to do all the laundry. She never wore them for daytime (with the exception of one airplane trip) but wears them at night. She almost never wakes up wet so now at 3 we are going to not buy anymore the next time she’s done with a pack.
When I was anti-pull-up we did two sets of sheets with two mattress protectors so we could rip off and not have to remake the bed.
New nanny troubles? says
I have a 9 month old. We had a nanny from 5-9 months and now have an au pair. Au pair seems great but I do not monitor her all the time or anything. When baby saw nanny in the morning, tons of smiles. Always. With au pair, less or no smiles in the morning but not freaking out/crying. At the end of the day baby seems happy and has had good naps. Is this just normal development or should I be worried baby doesn’t like the au pair? It’s been 2 weeks. First kid, maybe that’s obvious ?. Thanks for any thoughts.
Anon Lawyer says
9 months is old enough that separation anxiety starts to kick in. It’s probably developmental rather than anything about the au pair – she is just now old enough that she realize “wait, au pair coming means mama/dada are leaving” but then once you’re actually gone, she will move past that quickly. You actually might get some freaking out/crying soon too, but also doesn’t mean she hates the au pair and isn’t happy.
Anon says
we’ve had the same nanny since my twins were 14 weeks old. we’ve gone through periods where one or the other, though one in particular who really likes mommy, has major bouts of separation anxiety (like absolute HYSTERICS), despite loving our nanny. i’d probably have the same anxiety that you’re having, so i want to say that i agree it is completely normal, but if you are concerned, maybe do a bit more monitoring to allay your concerns?
Pogo says
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0124XEUUQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Pogo says
ugh threading fail. meant for waterproof mattress pads above!