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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 73 Comments · by

Washable Workwear Wednesday: Mixed Media Tie Front Blouse

Machine-Washable Work Clothes

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Mixed Media Tie Front BlouseThis machine washable, mixed media tie front blouse looks fabulous for work and beyond — easy to wear and easy to launder. Try it with a long pendant necklace to make best use of the wide neckline. It’s $59 at Nordstrom, available in pink, gray, and black. Amazon has it in a few more colors, as does Macy’s. Mixed Media Tie Front Blouse Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear. This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
  • Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
  • J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
  • Old Navy – 40% off everything
  • Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs

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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!

Comments

  1. Where babies come from says

    Any suggestions for good books explaining where babies come from? Looking for something for my 7 year old who is asking more questions. Told her ‘a baby grows in mommy’s belly’ when I was pregnant with her brother but need to actually explain ‘the birds and the bees’ now.

  2. mascot says

    It’s Not the Stork and It’s So Amazing are both good options. I’ve heard that American Girl has some books too, but not sure what ages those are geared to.

    • avocado says

      The American Girl books don’t cover anything about reproduction, just the general “growing up” stuff. The American Girl Body Book for Younger Girls is appropriate as soon as girls start asking questions. My daughter read it at age 8.

  3. Paging GCA says

    I saw your questions from yesterday and wanted to chime in – I was in a similar position with my first and so desperately wanted to prove to myself and my boss and my coworkers that I could do it all that insisted that I would still be involved in the event despite it being 6 weeks post-partum. Once baby arrived I was hit with PPD, and had to back out entirely. I imagine it was supremely irritating for everyone at work who had to take over at the last minute, and it would have been far, far better if I had just planned not to be involved at all. My baby is almost a year old now and I’m still angry that I ruined the first 6 of the 12 weeks I was at home with him stressing about work.

    • GCA says

      Thanks for your perspective, and so sorry this happened to you! It’s not that I feel a need to prove myself – I’ve been with this company for two years now, and at the moment it’s my unicorn job (certainly compared to my previous ones). I do have a plan A formulated now (that involves being out for 8-12 weeks), but want to build in room for myself to remain engaged on the project in case I feel better than expected earlier than expected…

  4. NYC says

    Very specific question here, but I have an Uppababy Cruz I love and baby #2 on the way. #1 will turn 2 exactly when the second is due. I don’t expect to need to take them both out solo too often (oldest will stay in fulltime daycare while I’m maternity leave, and husband is normally with us all weekend so we can take Cruz + existing umbrella stroller), so I’m considering not getting a double stroller.

    However, I’d like some sort of sit/stand board to use with the Cruz very occasionally. I think the standing only board that Uppababy sells won’t be a hit with my lazy toddler, so seeking compatible sit/stand recommendations. Thank you in advance!

    • Walnut says

      Even if you’re not planning to get a double stroller, do the research to know which one you would buy if the need arises. I had grand plans of wearing+keeping the oldest in a single stroller and that went out the window in a hot minute when it was 100 plus degrees for weeks on end. I bought the Baby Jogger City Select double stroller and love it.

    • AIMS says

      I just went thru a very similar situation, also in NYC so same walking and space concerns. We got the ride along board for the Cruz and my 2 year old loves it but it’s hard in the cold for going anywhere beyond playground or corner store. I’ve also done the Cruz for toddler and baby in an ergo but I don’t love baby wearing, ymmv.

      So now we broke down and got the UB double umbrella stroller. It’s great. Fits in most doorways, and works for both kids. It’s made my maternity leave much more pleasant!

    • shortperson says

      im a mountian buggy nano evangelist and the mountain buggy nano duet JUST came out. a month after we bought our double. consider it!

    • Anon says

      I found it easiest to babywear and let the toddler keep sitting in the stroller. It has serious advantages in certain situations, like daycare pickup (don’t have to lug a stroller inside, which can be difficult depending on the daycare layout), grocery shopping (most carts only have one space for a kid to sit and it isn’t safe to put a carseat in a shopping cart), and if you want to nurse on the go (I became pretty good at nursing baby to sleep in a carrier).

    • Katala says

      No recs, but wanted to chime in to say I was in a similar situation (oldest in daycare, almost always with Dad if out with 2) and did just fine with 2 singles (jogging stroller + carseat and toddler in the umbrella). We did end up getting a double because I thought it would be easier for shopping, zoo trips etc. and while I suppose it is sometimes, now that our umbrella broke I miss doing the 2 stroller method. Just to say you may very well be happy with that arrangement! Double strollers are BEASTS. I would not want to deal with one in NYC unless I were in an elevator building with ramps etc. so I would not have to muscle that thing up any stairs.

  5. Adoption says

    Ready to begin pursuing adoption, but completely unsure how / where to start. Sign up with the state foster care system? Private agency (and if so, which one?) Talk to an adoption attorney for resources / recommendations?

    We’d prefer a newborn but understand that it increases the wait time … would consider older kids, provided they are younger than our 4 yo biological kiddo. Has anyone here been through the adoption process?

    • Anonymous says

      Check your state government’s website. They should info on the process for both public (via foster care) and private adoptions. In many areas, the wait for a newborn through the public system can be as much as 10 years so definitely get on the list (usually a course has to be completed including a social worker home visit) and then look into private options as well.

      Good luck with everything. The more open to different ages and abilities and relationships (open vs closed) you are, the faster you will likely find a child but be careful that you don’t take on more than your family can handle.

    • AlsoAnon says

      First, I’m so excited for you! We’re currently moving toward adoption with our foster; would say we’re 2/3 of the way there. Foster is 1 y/o; was placed with us at 6 weeks. General recommendations: use an agency – they are free and will help you navigate the myriad requirements. Attend orientations of several agencies in the area, if possible, before settling on one. I’m in TX so I can only speak to this state’s requirements, but I’m happy to talk more on the subject. You can email me at canigiveyousomeadvice at the mail of g. Facebook has also, surprisingly, been a pretty good resource for me after we got licensed and I needed doctor recommendations, etc.

      • AlsoAnon says

        I misspoke: domestic adoptions do not usually require a fee from the agency you’re working with. Foreign adoption is a different story. Not sure which you’re interested in pursuing.

    • AlsoAnon says

      Stuck in mod. Am currently fostering to adopt, using an agency. It took us two years to become licensed (not typical – 3-6 months is normal) and four months to be placed with an infant.

      • Anonymous says

        Also a foster parent – it’s not as simple as ‘you sign up and they give you a baby’. Very complicated, but for us very worth it.

        To give you a general idea of what an ‘adoption from foster care’ timeline looks like in my area, here is my friend’s experience which I would describe as unusually smooth and quick:

        Get licensed and have baby (6 mos) placed with family. Birth parents are given plan to work, plan is extended, visits are weekly. Parents fail to work plan and plan is switched to termination of parental rights (TPR) after about 18 months. Parents are given copious assistance and opportunities to demonstrate their ability to parent. All relatives are queried to see if there is a family member willing to take baby (note: this can often happen even when no family member has stepped up before and can be heartbreaking so know that). Parents agree to voluntarily sign away parental rights under the condition that Friend and her family adopt kiddo. Kiddo is 3 and just got ”dopted’ 2 1/2 years after they got placed with my Friend and her family.

        I would absolutely encourage you to look more into fostering, but would add that it’s definitely not an ‘easy’ way to adopt. You’ve got to be very okay with being in limbo to foster.

        • AlsoAnon says

          +1 to all this. We need more foster parents, but it’s definitely not easy, fast or certain (and my my foster is a wonderful baby).

        • Adoption says

          Op here. Thank you for this perspective. My husband and I are aware of the heartbreak that may follow from a failed adoption through foster care and feel prepared for it, but we’re worried about how the uncertainty / possible loss of a sibling would affect our son who is currently 4.

          We’re financially able to consider a private infant adoption, but there’s such a need for foster parents … with the opioid epidemic, our local system is getting flooded with kids whose parents are addicts.

          • Anonymous says

            We are also able to and have considered private adoption and have intentionally chosen fostering. Similarly, we have a 2 year old and considered his needs before opening our home. I spoke with a number of adults whose parents fostered when they were kids and they were overwhelmingly encouraging that we should foster.

            I’ll add that we have had kids come and go and our son (and other kids in our life) occasionally ask about them but are shockingly resilient and able to deal with the change.

          • Anonymous says

            (Same anonymous)

            In our area, they have a program called MAPP and encourage what they call an ‘informed choice’. Basically, they say: go through the class and see how you feel. If you still feel like fostering is for you, awesome! If you’re not sure, no problem!

            I’d reach out to a local agency with a good reputation (ask family court lawyers, btw) and see if they offer something similar.

          • Anonymous says

            I think they key with foster care is you have to genuinely want to foster. You really have to be into the idea of providing a temporary home. Absolutely be open to adoption but if going into it you’re not fully on board with the temporary nature it isn’t for you.

    • me too says

      I have not personally (but am strongly considering) but my understanding is that if you are set on an infant, domestic private adoption is the easiest and fastest way of going about that (albeit pricey). I know a family that waited only 4 months before getting an infant.

      • SC says

        Similarly, in my state, domestic private adoption of infants is pretty fast.

    • KateMiddletown says

      Pregnancy hormones are making me weepy thinking about the great parents these lucky kids will have in you ladies. So many hugs, and I hope your journey is smooth.

    • rosie says

      I have a question on this as well. My 10-mo is currently just below the height limit for her Chicco Keyfit 30. Already have the Britax Marathon Clicktight w/ARB, but have not even begun to figure out installation. We have a few trips coming up over the next month that are going to be longer driving trips. Should we try to switch to the convertible beforehand, from a comfort and/or a safety perspective? I think it would be slightly more convenient to keep her in the Keyfit, but open to being persuaded to switch earlier. She generally does so-so in the car, complaining-wise.

      • Anon says

        If you want her to sleep in the car on these trips, I’d keep her in the Keyfit. We have/had the same seats, and the Britax can barely recline in our cars. It is much more comfortable to be in the infant seat for sleeping.

        • rosie says

          Thanks. We do hope she’ll sleep. Do you mean it can barely recline b/c of the space in your car? I’m worried to see what that looks like when we attempt the install.

          • AIMS says

            We have it in a small car now and had it in a tiny one before, and it’s fine. But my tolerance for small spaces may be a bit higher than average.

          • AIMS says

            Also: to the extent that the switch is safety related, I would switch before a big trip since more driving naturally has more potential for accidents. Obviously, hopefully not, but that is why we put kids in car seats after all.

          • rosie says

            I will need to do more digging about the safety aspect. I cannot tell from the CR article whether the head hitting the front seat issue is because people use infant buckets to the weight limit so the baby has actually outgrown it height-wise, or if this happens even when the baby is within the height limit.

          • Anon says

            No, not because of the space in our cars, but because they’re just not designed to recline in the same way. It just depends on your trip. If you’re planning to drive a lot during the evening or after bedtime, it would be easier to sleep in the infant seat. If she’ll be awake during most of the trip, looking out the window is nice. But when they’re small they don’t really see out all that much.

      • For Redux says

        If she’s that close to the height limit, my guess is she’ll be more comfy in the convertible, even if that means she has to sleep sitting upright. And I agree with the poster below that she’ll enjoy getting to look out the window better.

    • Redux says

      Thank you!

      Convertible recommendations? We have the eldest in the Britax Marathon Clicktight and don’t love it. It’s really wide and very uncomfortable to ride next to, even in our roomy Subaru Outback. Having two of them next to each other would effectively eliminate the middle seat option (but maybe that’s inevitable). In addition, despite its name, I find it bafflingly difficult to tighten. Are there other options people like?

      • Anonymous says

        Love my Clek Fllos – narrow like Diono Radian but a shorter seat pitch so the front seat doesn’t have to be so far forward. If you expect to carry a third passenger regularly, install one seat middle and one seat window so the spare seat is next to the window.

        • lala says

          We have the Clek Foonf and love it as well. It also cleans up really nicely, but it is tall when rear facing.

      • Anon says

        I have the Advocate in my car, and my husband has the Marathon. They are significantly different to tighten. My Advocate is much easier and tightens closer to my child. I like it soooo much better. But the Advocate is even wider.

  7. Anon says

    We switched our twins out of their Keyfits to convertible seats around 7 months and they got so much happier in the car, I think because they liked sitting up higher than in the reclined infant seat. YMMV, but I’d suggest switching before the long trips to see if it lessens the car complaining!

  8. Living in a small house long term? says

    Those of you with personal knowledge, can you talk to me about staying in a small home as your kids get older?

    I grew up mostly with Mom/Stepdad/half siblings in a 2-story, 4 bedroom 3 bath suburban home.

    My husband and toddler and I live in a 1400 square foot home built in the 1920s, one story, 3 bedrooms 1 bath. The floors are wooden and creaky and it isn’t particularly sound-proofed. White noise machines are our friends. all three bedrooms and the one shared bathroom are off of the same hallway and in close proximity. We will probably have one more kid. We will probably be able to add another small bathroom (taking from a closet/hallway) but there is really no way to expand square footage.

    I’d like to stay in our current neighborhood long term. The local schools are close (elementary is a 10 minute walk!) and good. My commute to work is wonderful and honestly, a main factor in buying our home in this neighborhood. But I do not anticipate we would be able to buy anything larger in this area. Prices are shooting up, we don’t anticipate huge pay increases, and our mortgage is already at the top end of my comfort level. To get more space, we’d probably need to move further to the outskirts of our medium sized, MCOL city…meaning less diversity, more driving and less walking, way longer commute (and therefore less time with kids).

    But because this wasn’t my experience growing up, I am having difficulty imagining how our family will function in this home in 10 years. Will it be way to much to be in such close proximity when we have, for example, a 13 year old and a 17 year old at home? Will they need more space? Will this mean they never have friends over (I mean, our living room can really seat only 4-6 people comfortably)?

    To be clear, I realize people all over the world live in much closer quarters all the time, I’m just looking for descriptions of how that works.

    • AwayEmily says

      We are in a similar situation, with two kids (infant and toddler). Following!

    • BC says

      I grew up in a smallish house, as did my husband, and we have chosen to raise our family of 4 in a 1400 sq foot house (+ finished basement) in a close-in suburb rather than increase our commutes for more space. The area where I grew up had a lot of similarly-sized homes, so I saw how many friends grew up that way. I shared a bedroom growing up and to this day, bedrooms to me are essentially closets you sleep in. The clothes stay there and you sleep there, but there’s no reason to spend any other time there except for activities requiring concentration (like studying or practicing an instrument if the shared living space is being used for something else). It was key for my friends who hosted a lot that there was some kind of “swing space” in their house. One family finished their attic and it was a video game/ tv hangout for the teenagers. The basement was like that for another family. Someone had a lofted bed so that the floor was more open for guests to crash on a beanbag chair while watching a movie, etc. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the living room, but as teenagers, it was nice to have a separation from younger siblings or parents when we were hanging out as a group.

      • CPA Lady says

        Agree with this description of what a bedroom is.

        We had kind of an unusual living situation growing up. My grandfather lived with us in the master bedroom (with its own bathroom) of our house. My sister and I shared a room until I left for college. This was great when we were little. By the time I was a teenager, I wasn’t thrilled with the arrangement, but it was fine. I basically only slept in my bedroom. It wasn’t a hangout space for me. My mom, dad, sister, and I all used one bathroom that was on the hallway by our bedrooms. It was also fine.

        If your kids have friends in this neighborhood it’s likely that they’ll all be used to smaller spaces.

        FWIW, learning to share communal space is a skill that a lot of kids do not have when they go to college and then have roommates as young adults.

      • Jacque says

        Re: Teen hangout spaces. Today’s teens *aren’t* hanging out. Google the article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation” and prepare to be disturbed.

        Speaking as a mom of a 12 year old, the picture of the girl lying in bed with her phone is 100% accurate. I have to drag my kid out of her room and out of her bed, because if she has any down time she’s flat on her back texting friends or watching videos. She has one BFF that will come over, but these big 6th grade parties or sleepovers? Not happening. Every night is a virtual sleepover with group texts. The kids rarely hang out in person. Even my 7 year old daughter would rather lay in bed and watch Netflix on her tablet than any other activity!

        I don’t believe my daughters are friendless freaks–kids just don’t have downtime. My kids go to grandma’s house for before/after school care while their dad and I work. They have dance classes on the weekends. Their friends all have similar schedules of daycare and activities. No one has a free Friday evening to gather all their friends together and have a party, so they chat on their phones from wherever they are with whatever scraps of time they can cobble together. Remember how many hours we spent bored growing up? These kids never have that! They have activities and somewhere to go every day, so when they get a chance to go lay around and mindless scroll through their phones, that’s all they do.

        We’re a family of 4 living in a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home. It was our “starter” house and I’ve decided it’s going to stay our forever house. WE’RE NEVER HOME. I work 50+ hours per week. The kids go to grandma’s house for before/after school care and summers. We have dance and tutoring and church, on top of school and work. Our house is the spot we blow into at the end of the day, and recover on the weekends.

        I like my small kitchen because I can clean it quickly. I like that my pre-teen has the small bedroom, because if she had a bigger room she’d never leave it. We’ve never yet run out of hot water, or hit two people fighting over the bathroom in the morning but we’re also not shy about letting family members in to use the bathroom while someone else is in the shower.

        Bigger house = more of my weekend family time spent cleaning. New house means more of my free time spent trying to move into and style a new house. I would NEVER lengthen my commute to have a bigger house. I’ve been dragging the kids back and forth to daycare for 8 years and don’t want to spend another minute commuting with my kids. They fight. I scream. It seriously sucks.

        • Living in a small house long term? says

          Interesting point about how socializing has changed, thank you.

    • Anonymous says

      I grew up in a 3 bed/2 bath with my sister until I was 14 and she was 9. We shared a room and all of us shared the getting-ready bathroom– it was fine. I admit it was nice to have the second toilet downstairs and we used the 3rd bedroom, which was actually a master-on-the-main, as a playroom/tv/reading room. We still had sleepovers and friends over and just made do– sleeping bags in the playroom, usually. We moved into a huge house when I went to high school, with 6 bedrooms and 5 baths, and in retrospect I think it was a little much (and a BEAR to keep clean, we had to stop getting cleaning help when the mortgage was more expensive). I vote for using the “extra” money for cleaning help if you need it and maybe saving up for a small addition to your home (like one more room and bathroom) if you really like the house and location.

    • AIMS says

      I’ve only ever lived in large cities and so have only lived in apartments. My situation growing up sounds a lot like yours, except without a sibling but with a live-in grandma for part of that time. It was fine! Fun, in fact? I had friends over, my parents had dinner parties, we had sleepovers and houseguests… the thing is that when you’re in an environment like that two things happen: 1) people around you are usually in similar situations so it’s not weird that there’s no basement playroom for slumber parties and you have 5 friends in a small room (to the extent that i had friends with more space to entertain, we did spend more time there as I got older, but this was not a big deal) and 2) because there is more to do and kids can walk places, you spend more of your time outside your house (like I don’t have a backyard now, but I have several great parks steps away, so it’s ok?)

      I now have two kids in a 2 bed, 2 bath apartment so will be basically recreating the whole thing. I think it will actually get easier as they older because baby stuff takes up way more room and I can’t have 2 year old go hang out on her own outside. To be honest, I think I would be nervous if I couldn’t hear them and know what is going on in every part of my house (the biggest craziness always took place in suburban basements when I was growing up, not in apartments with parents who were down the hall but that may be just my experience). Anyway, trade offs to everything, but I wouldn’t trade a great commute and having a kid walk to school for all the space in the world.

    • avocado says

      We have one tween in a smallish house with very small rooms and tiny closets. The older she gets, the more limiting it is. Our family room only has space for one couch that seats three adults or four kids, and we can squeeze six adults or eight kids around the kitchen table. Only one person can comfortably work in the kitchen. We don’t have storage space for outgrown toys, which is becoming a problem as there is some stuff she really needs to pack away but is not ready to let go of entirely. Clothing and book storage is also a problem. Out of necessity, I am a ruthless purger.

      Most families we know have enormous houses with large sectional sofas, huge dining tables, and basements where large packs of kids can hang out. We are not able to host the large sleepovers, multi-family potlucks, political events, Girl Scout meetings, sports team parties, etc. that other families can host. My kid complains that there isn’t enough room for her to walk around on her hands the way her friends can do in their houses. And our lack of a proper laundry room or mudroom (we just have a laundry closet) is a huge barrier to acquiring the large dog she wants.

      On the other hand, if we lived in an urban area where small houses were the norm, I don’t think it would be nearly as much of an issue, at least not socially. And I can’t even keep up with the cleaning and maintenance on our little house. I have no idea how I’d keep a giant one clean.

      A single bathroom would be a dealbreaker for me. My husband likes to sit in there with his phone forever, and sometimes someone else needs to go Right Now.

    • Anonymous says

      Most surprising hack I learned from my European MIL was storing kitchen panty items in the basement. I’m convinced it’s the secret to teeny European kitchens. They have a tiny basement with floor to ceiling shelves on one wall for dry goods (paper towels, pasta, rice, canned vegetables, plus carrots/potatoes) and a small deep freeze. They do real wreaths and trees at Christmas time so they have minimal Christmas decorations to store.

      Make thoughtful decisions about your furniture – eg. konmari style folding for kids clothes plus a couple under the bed drawers means they don’t need a dresser. Get a sofa bed in case you have guests or sleepover with kids friends. There are lots of great options. Check out Pinterest or various NYC apartment living blogs for ideas.

      Check out Ikea – not just the US site but some of the international sites as well for inspiration. Lots of ideas for inexpensive multifunctional furniture and small space design. You can put an extra sink/toilet/shower in a very small space with the right fixtures.

      For design choices – keep the wall colors light throughout. My SIL’s house has all the interior walls on both floors painted white and she uses bright artwork to add interest and personality. I copied a bit and my whole mainfloor is light hardwood and light grey walls with minimum white curtains/blinds and I love it. So bright and airy.

    • Anonymous says

      I have a smallish older house. I love my neighborhood and commute. I tolerate the house.

      1. no quiet spaces? as kids get older, they have homework and hard things to do. Is there a quiet space to work? With good lighting?
      2. hang-out spaces? kids may have friends. they may want them to visit. A space can be arranged to be social but if it truly can’t or it’s not a priority, that won’t be good. we are social animals
      3. space for your kids’ things. mine are hoarders. they love all sorts of things. they are not into marie kondo. You can purge (and should), but if the play soccer or basketball or rollerskate in the park, you need to handle that.
      4. +1 on extra bathroom. One stomach bug may destroy your bathroom overnight. Or plumbing mishap. Spares are important.

      • Anonymous says

        +1 on the figuring out space for kids sports stuff – do you have a basement or backyard shed that can be used for bicycles/soccer balls etc?

    • Anon says

      No insight, but I do know a family that was in your situation, stayed in the house, and when the kids got to high school, added on a second story. It worked out really well for them to build upwards, and their house was beautiful both before and after. Not cheap, but by the time their kids were that old, finances weren’t as much of an issue.

      • Sabba says

        +1. A colleague of mine loved her neighborhood, but her house was very small. Her and her husband’s incomes kept growing, so when their kids were 9 and 7 they did a huge remodel of the house to add a second floor, double its size and modernize everything. She is very happy with it, though the remodel cost almost double what the original house did (she bought at a good time and the neighborhood got better over the 12 years they lived there prior to the remodel).

    • Living in a small house long term? says

      OP here. Thanks to everyone for their responses, this is really helpful. I hadn’t thought about the aspect of other kids having similar homes…that is true, though our house is on the small side. We’ve only been here a year so don’t yet have a ton of neighborhood friends. Also the point about kids spending more time outside the home as they get older.

      I don’t really worry about storage. We are moving from apartment living in a bigger city, so we are used to purging/organizing/etc. and we do have a small storage area in the basement and a garage.

      The issues that may arise is that we don’t have a ton of quiet/quiet spaces (bedrooms are relatively large but as I said before, not a ton of sound proofing) and we don’t have hang out spaces. We are planning on having two kids share the bigger bedroom when young but maybe eventually splitting so they each have a separate bedroom when they are older (depending on gender of second kid). Dining room is small.

      It is one of those things that is totally fine for us (we aren’t big “hosting” people and so we are comfortable with the trade-off of not having the type of home where we can have 16-person holiday dinners or huge potlucks…though we can do some of those things in the small backyard in summertime), but I don’t want to force those constraints on the kids, if that makes sense.

      Unfortunately, there is no real basement or attic to finish, building up would be prohibitively expensive, and we don’t have a big enough yard to build out.

      Maybe if the stars align building a hang-out space above the garage could be an option…

  9. AIMS says

    Is there some reason that baby Bjorne bouncers seem to have such a wide price range? I’m looking at one that is $89 (Walmart) and one that is $259 (Bed Bath) and can’t tell the difference.

    By the way, thank you for all the baby bouncer/swing responses earlier, very helpful!

    • rosie says

      It’s possible that the cheaper ones don’t have as many recline options and/or cannot convert into the chair for toddlers.

  10. Family travel says

    Looking for some ideas for a week-long domestic vacation with young kids (4 and 1) in April.
    We are based in the Bay Area, and have already taken family vacations to NYC, DC, LA/ San Diego, Chicago, Portland. Am thinking of heading to New Orleans, but am not sure if a week is too long. Hoping to keep flight time to not more than 6h. Would love to hear your ideas on where to go this spring break!

    • AlsoAnon says

      IMHO a week is too long to spend in NOLA with young kids. I do love NOLA though. It’s very inexpensive, has great food, and is very walkable. I’ve heard it has a great zoo but I’ve never visited. Just my two cents.

    • shortperson says

      resort hotel in phoenix? we just stayed at the westin kierland villas. with all the stuff to do there + in phoenix (childrens museum, science museum, spring training (?), little hikes) you could easily spend a week, and it would be a short flight. or, obvoiusly, hawaii.

  11. LittleBigLaw says

    In a few weeks I’ll be going on my first business trip while pumping, and the hotel has refrigerators in the rooms but not microwaves. I’ll be gone three days and normally wash and sterilize all my pump parts at the end of each day (I just throw everything in the refrigerator in between pump sessions). What have others done in this situation? Bring/buy a countertop sterilizer? Skip sterilizing all together? Something else?

    • Anon says

      Sterilizing tablets? You’ll need a large non-metal container which could be bulky for travel, but I would think that’s your best bet! We did that while on vacation, and I was able to buy the container at our destination

    • lala says

      I bring a small dish soap container (or buy one when I arrive), and wash the pump parts in the bathroom sink. I stopped sterilizing with the second kid, and just made sure to wash in really hot water.

      • shortperson says

        ditto. but you can prob ask your hotel to microwave it for you if you must.

    • lsw says

      I didn’t sterilize. I kept in the fridge in a ziploc between sessions, then washed in the sink + used the medela wipes. My baby was not a newborn at this stage, though.

      • Katala says

        +1 I never really sterilized beyond the first use of something or sporadic other times. I used the sterilize setting on the DW for my oldest, but didn’t have that option for the youngest. They’re fine. In hotel, I just washed in the sink.

        Does the hotel have microwaves you can rent?

    • AIMS says

      I just used boiling water. I bought an inexpensive electric teakettle for my office, boiled water and then poured over the bottles/parts.

  12. On traveling and pumping says

    Ask the hotel if they have a microwave you can have in your room (if you say it’s for medical reasons it’ll definitely be free if cost is an issue for you). If it’s any sort of business hotel they will easily accommodate.

    However, I second the advice to bring dish soap and wash in hot water/store in fridge/use wipes. I did this as soon as I was back on the road (baby was 4 months).

    • LittleBigLaw says

      Thanks all. Hotel says no microwaves available, even to rent, so I’m glad to know not sterilizing isn’t the end of the world.

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