1) C is trained on an ok to wake clock. Except he's interpreting it as a must wake clock lately. How do I convince him he doesn't HAVE to get up when it turns on?
1) C is trained on an ok to wake clock. Except he's interpreting it as a must wake clock lately. How do I convince him he doesn't HAVE to get up when it turns on?
2) Disposable swim diaper recs?
I've used the Huggies little swimmers and Pampers splashers and both worked just fine for both of my kids.
We used reusable swim diapers more, but when we used disposables it was the Huggies little swimmers. They were fine, just big at first. They didn't come as small as DD really needed.
How did sleep training effect your LOs over night wake-ups? I swear I read all these stories about sleep training and how the child final slept 6/7/8 hours, I might need a dose of reality. I finally gave sleep training a try this past weekend (DD almost 5 months). I have been putting her in the bassinet drowsy but awake and staying on the bed (she's still rooming in). She cries for <10 minutes, and then sucks her thumb and is asleep. So yay on that front. However, she is still waking up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). To be fair, before she was up every hour, so 2-3 hours is an improvement but I was hoping for at least one 4-5 hour block. Will it get better or should I start planning overnight sleep training for once she hits 6 months?
I'm traveling away from DD for work for the first time today
Working/traveling/pumping moms - have airlines allowed you to carry on your breast pump as an additional carry-on bag and not have it be subject to the normal carry-on limits? My research indicates it should be considered a medical device that isn't included in the normal two-bag allowance, but I've also read some reports of airlines being dicks about it in practice.
I've never had an issue carrying my pump bag, carry-on luggage and a medium sized purse.
I'm traveling away from DD for work for the first time today
Working/traveling/pumping moms - have airlines allowed you to carry on your breast pump as an additional carry-on bag and not have it be subject to the normal carry-on limits? My research indicates it should be considered a medical device that isn't included in the normal two-bag allowance, but I've also read some reports of airlines being dicks about it in practice.
Yes. I've done it recently on Southwest, United, and American. All were very nice about it, although it depends so much on who you get. You're right about how it should be treated, and I haven't had a problem with it. I just tell the gate agent it's a breast pump when I go to board, and they wave me through with my 3 bags.
The one problem I have is that my Spectra S1 is a weird shape to fit into a bag (most pump bags seem to be shaped for the cube-like PISA). Unique to the S1, since it has an Li battery, it cannot be gate checked and go into cargo so it has to be in a bag that fits overhead or under the seat. Since I fly out of a small airport, usually on small planes, overhead space is next to nothing. How to pack everything is a struggle, and I"ve tried a variety of configurations -- none totally satisfactory. If you don't have an S1/pump with a built in battery, or you fly on 737s/larger planes, it shouldn't be such an issue. On recent flights my pump bag has ridden in the flight attendant's closet, or they've moved my seat to a row without a seat mate so the pump could ride in an empty seat next to me or on the floor in front of the empty seat, etc.
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
Juice--Load them up with fluids to get them to pee a lot (more opportunities for success). We don't keep it in the house regularly M&M's--Or whatever rewards you want to use.
How did sleep training effect your LOs over night wake-ups? I swear I read all these stories about sleep training and how the child final slept 6/7/8 hours, I might need a dose of reality. I finally gave sleep training a try this past weekend (DD almost 5 months). I have been putting her in the bassinet drowsy but awake and staying on the bed (she's still rooming in). She cries for <10 minutes, and then sucks her thumb and is asleep. So yay on that front. However, she is still waking up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). To be fair, before she was up every hour, so 2-3 hours is an improvement but I was hoping for at least one 4-5 hour block. Will it get better or should I start planning overnight sleep training for once she hits 6 months?
I think at that age she may still be hungry or thirsty overnight. For us, sleep training was more about letting go of the burden of nursing or rocking to sleep when it meant that took up hours of our time.
Although, I didn't sleep train DD1 until way later so I'm not really a good resource for this.
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
My DS HATED diapers and PTing was super easy. Hopefully you’ll have the same luck!
Keep towels and spray nearby. I had it in my kitchen and DS would be walking in the pee by the time I grabbed it to cleanup. There were a lot of accidents on Day 1.
How did sleep training effect your LOs over night wake-ups? I swear I read all these stories about sleep training and how the child final slept 6/7/8 hours, I might need a dose of reality. I finally gave sleep training a try this past weekend (DD almost 5 months). I have been putting her in the bassinet drowsy but awake and staying on the bed (she's still rooming in). She cries for <10 minutes, and then sucks her thumb and is asleep. So yay on that front. However, she is still waking up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). To be fair, before she was up every hour, so 2-3 hours is an improvement but I was hoping for at least one 4-5 hour block. Will it get better or should I start planning overnight sleep training for once she hits 6 months?
After sleep training, ds continued to wake up for 1 overnight feed for a few months, and dd slept through the night, but would wake up early and I'd feed her (often around 4-5 AM) and sometimes she'd go back to sleep, sometimes she'd be up for the day after that. But that was with doing CIO both when I put them down, and for any wakeups (other than the time I would feed ds) overnight. Both were early wakers in general and still are. And my kids now (at 10 and 8) are the best sleepers of kids I know. I tell them lights out, and I don't hear from them again until 7 AM unless they are sick. And they've been this way despite a few setbacks along the way where we consistently reinforced our sleep routine and expectations. When I look back on the decisions I made when my kids were babies, sleep training is by far the best one I made.
Yes. I've done it recently on Southwest, United, and American. All were very nice about it, although it depends so much on who you get. You're right about how it should be treated, and I haven't had a problem with it. I just tell the gate agent it's a breast pump when I go to board, and they wave me through with my 3 bags.
The one problem I have is that my Spectra S1 is a weird shape to fit into a bag (most pump bags seem to be shaped for the cube-like PISA). Unique to the S1, since it has an Li battery, it cannot be gate checked and go into cargo so it has to be in a bag that fits overhead or under the seat. Since I fly out of a small airport, usually on small planes, overhead space is next to nothing. How to pack everything is a struggle, and I"ve tried a variety of configurations -- none totally satisfactory. If you don't have an S1/pump with a built in battery, or you fly on 737s/larger planes, it shouldn't be such an issue. On recent flights my pump bag has ridden in the flight attendant's closet, or they've moved my seat to a row without a seat mate so the pump could ride in an empty seat next to me or on the floor in front of the empty seat, etc.
I am going to be traveling with my Spectra S1, and my bag for it should fit under the seat in front of me (thankfully I'm in Delta Comfort, so I should have more space). I'm traveling on a tiny CRJ 900 today, so I may have to gate check my roller bag, but that's fine - I just don't want to be separated from my pump! I also printed out a copy of the TSA rules for breastmilk, just in case I get a screener who doesn't know what they're talking about...
You can always get an employee who is wrong on policy and/or an asshole, but I would try not to let a 5 year old article freak you out too much.
I do carry with me the TSA rules on breast milk and the breast pump policy from the airline I'm flying, but I haven't ever needed them. I have had one bad TSA experience at BWI with an agent who put me through an excessively invasive pat down because I wouldn't let them open the bagged breast milk (I had a ziplock bag full of 6 oz. Lansinoh bags that I didn't want to spill everywhere). But ultimately everything got where it needed to go.
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
Let me know how it goes!!! How old are the girls?
I want to try now. I think we’re ready. But my Twin A is going for his adenoid surgery at the end of the month so we’re gonna hold off until he’s healed.
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
I have an only child who is almost 3.5. We almost never do play dates, although I would if someone asked us to. I'm not really the type to be the first to set one up. Occasionally we'll get invited to a daycare classmate's birthday party or something, but that's about it. I figure he gets enough social interaction at daycare 40 hours a week. He also has some similar age cousins that he sees fairly frequently. It seems most people I know are pretty busy on weekends and reserve that for family time, not scheduling additional playdates. Or maybe it's just that no one is inviting my kid anywhere, lol.
Does anyone's kid just completely disregard the OK to wake clock? My 3.5 year old DS lately has just been jumping out of the crib to get me even though I've told him repeatedly to wait until the light goes on, and that its OK for him to play quietly alone in there, etc. He's coming out at like 7:15-7:20 and I have it set for 7:30. I suppose I could lock him in, but it doesn't seem worth it over coming out 15 minutes early. But its still disconcerting to me to have him at my bedside waking me up.
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
Barely ever. DD isn't an only anymore, but it hasn't changed since DS was born. Honestly there's not much time for play dates. She's in FT daycare, and does swim lessons on Sat AMs. She still naps in the afternoon on weekends, so that really only leaves Sun AM, and that's my one morning a week to chill and drink my coffee from a cup instead of a travel mug. No thanks to rushing off anywhere!
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
Let me know how it goes!!! How old are the girls?
I want to try now. I think we’re ready. But my Twin A is going for his adenoid surgery at the end of the month so we’re gonna hold off until he’s healed.
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
2-3x a month? More often in the nice weather . But really its because I want to hang with the moms and my kid isn't annoying me to play when there is another kid around. Usually its a loose text to 2-3 or my other daycare mom friends on a weekend with "we're heading to XYZ playground at 9:30 if you guys are interested!". In the colder weather we kind of do a rotating house playdate with booze lol, or hit a local museum or kids place.
beerloverSusie thanks; we’ve been following the same model but I wondered if we were the odd ones out. I feel the same that BB gets enough socialization with kids M-F at daycare but then I wonder if she might want some 1:1 time on the weekend with her friends. It also seems like there are parents who do seem to get together more often or that’s my perception anyway.
I think we will carry on as is. There are so few hours in the weekend and between swim classes (when she’s enrolled) or if we decide to enroll her in dance that will be even fewer hours for us. I didn’t want my kid to suffer bc MH and I tend to be more introverted (he more than me).
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
2-3x a month? More often in the nice weather . But really its because I want to hang with the moms and my kid isn't annoying me to play when there is another kid around. Usually its a loose text to 2-3 or my other daycare mom friends on a weekend with "we're heading to XYZ playground at 9:30 if you guys are interested!". In the colder weather we kind of do a rotating house playdate with booze lol, or hit a local museum or kids place.
When the weather is nicer I’ll definitely mention that we’re going to the playground after pickup most Fridays and if ppl want to join they’re welcome to. I do like the socializing for me as well; but I just don’t seek it out as often. We’re more like once a month.
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
DS was an only for over 10 years and we hardly ever had play dates. I felt guilty at one point because he kept asking, but he was always in daycare and then before and aftercare at the daycare, and sports, so I figured he was fine and it has been fine. As they get older they’ll naturally end up having sleep overs and hang outs. I don’t think you need to worry. I also really disliked hanging out with moms just because our kids are friends. I did a few play dates where i dropped off or took someone’s kids, but not until around the age of 10.
2-3x a month? More often in the nice weather . But really its because I want to hang with the moms and my kid isn't annoying me to play when there is another kid around. Usually its a loose text to 2-3 or my other daycare mom friends on a weekend with "we're heading to XYZ playground at 9:30 if you guys are interested!". In the colder weather we kind of do a rotating house playdate with booze lol, or hit a local museum or kids place.
When the weather is nicer I’ll definitely mention that we’re going to the playground after pickup most Fridays and if ppl want to join they’re welcome to. I do like the socializing for me as well; but I just don’t seek it out as often. We’re more like once a month.
I definitely wouldn't feel obligated to seek it out more often than you want to. I agree with others that 40+ hrs/wk at daycare is quite a bit of socialization and if you prefer family or down time on the weekends that totally reasonable.
1) C is trained on an ok to wake clock. Except he's interpreting it as a must wake clock lately. How do I convince him he doesn't HAVE to get up when it turns on?
2) Disposable swim diaper recs?
We had that issue with our ok to wake clock for awhile. My son would very tiredly say “my bunny clock says it’s awake time.” We had a lot of discussions of what to do if you see the clock says awake time but you’re still tired (go back to sleep). I don’t know if he just outgrew it or if he finally understood? My kids still mostly get up right at 6 when their clock says it’s ok to get out of bed.
How did sleep training effect your LOs over night wake-ups? I swear I read all these stories about sleep training and how the child final slept 6/7/8 hours, I might need a dose of reality. I finally gave sleep training a try this past weekend (DD almost 5 months). I have been putting her in the bassinet drowsy but awake and staying on the bed (she's still rooming in). She cries for <10 minutes, and then sucks her thumb and is asleep. So yay on that front. However, she is still waking up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). To be fair, before she was up every hour, so 2-3 hours is an improvement but I was hoping for at least one 4-5 hour block. Will it get better or should I start planning overnight sleep training for once she hits 6 months?
How long is the first block of sleep? DD2 was a tough sleeper and at that age she would give us one longer block of usually 4 hours after she went down, so bedtime at 8 and first wake up around 12AM. But then after that was every 2-3 hours. She finally started sleeping longer blocks around 6-7 months, but still had 2 wake ups over night. Then she started getting ear infections and it all went to shit anyway. Sending hugs, the sleep deprivation is why I hate the newborn stage the most.
How did sleep training effect your LOs over night wake-ups? I swear I read all these stories about sleep training and how the child final slept 6/7/8 hours, I might need a dose of reality. I finally gave sleep training a try this past weekend (DD almost 5 months). I have been putting her in the bassinet drowsy but awake and staying on the bed (she's still rooming in). She cries for <10 minutes, and then sucks her thumb and is asleep. So yay on that front. However, she is still waking up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). To be fair, before she was up every hour, so 2-3 hours is an improvement but I was hoping for at least one 4-5 hour block. Will it get better or should I start planning overnight sleep training for once she hits 6 months?
I would think that she is waking up to eat still. Around 6-7 months you can start weaning her of night feeds and then she should start sleeping through.
Anything outside of the standard list (potty, undies, puppy pads etc) that you found helpful while potty training? We are using MLK to tackle it with the twins. They hate hate hate wearing diapers, so I am cautiously optimistic.
strength, lol. We started because S showed all the signs at 2.5--saying he didn't want diapers, using the toilet regularly, excitement for undies, telling us when he had to go to the bathroom...but after a week we stopped because he hated it so much.
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
I think I am the odd one out. We have only one kiddo and I try to do something with other kids as often as possible. HOWEVER, that is mostly because I get bored doing one on one with him. He is at daycare M-F and then on weekends he has either swim lessons or gymnastics one of the days. I try to do at least one other "thing" with friends over the weekend--meet at the museum or playground, go for a hike, meet friends at the pool, have a friend over, etc. 100% of the time it is MY friends we are doing things with, but they have kids too, so it's a win-win. I DESPISE just spending time alone at home with him. It is so boring. He loves it but would lose my mind if I had to do it for more than a couple of hours a day, lol.
How often do you have play dates for your kids? I’m particularly interested in if you have an only child.
I’m wondering if BB needs more 1:1 time with kids her age/her friends or if we’re ok with the occasional play date every so often.
My 7yo only child has never had a playdate. He sees his friends 5 days a week, and weekends are for family time imo. In the summer, he saw school friends a lot at the local pool, and he hung out with them there. He goes to birthday parties when invited, but that's it. He's never asked for a play date.
1) C is trained on an ok to wake clock. Except he's interpreting it as a must wake clock lately. How do I convince him he doesn't HAVE to get up when it turns on?
2) Disposable swim diaper recs?
Your first question is confusing me. How do you know that’s what he’s doing? Is he getting out of bed and crying that he doesn’t want to be awake yet?
1) C is trained on an ok to wake clock. Except he's interpreting it as a must wake clock lately. How do I convince him he doesn't HAVE to get up when it turns on?
2) Disposable swim diaper recs?
Your first question is confusing me. How do you know that’s what he’s doing? Is he getting out of bed and crying that he doesn’t want to be awake yet?
He appears to be dead asleep and then pops up suddenly standing as soon as it turns on. He's a lay in bed kind of kid. Today he asked to lay back down and to have me turn off his green light. I asked if it woke him up and he says yes (he's also 27 months, so everything is with a grain of salt).